USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter released his 25-player roster on Thursday for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Jamaica. Christian Pulisic returns to the team after missing last month’s games with an ankle injury, while 18-year-old left back Joe Scally earns his first call-up after a promising stretch at Gladbach and forward Jesús Ferreira, 20, gets his first call for World Cup qualifiers.
Don't understand why LDLT isn't getting a longer look. Has been good in Holland and in his limited USMNT looks. Yellow cards / injuries versus Mexico and suddenly you could have Lleget/Busio and Acosta playing in Jamaica with limited bench depth behind them?
The roster is good but had a chance to be really good (even excluding Dest). Why no De la Torre? He plays vertically (a Gregg favorite term) and can offer better possession ability than either Lleget or Roldan. No Dike is another mystery? In good form and considering these two matches might be (let's be real...they will be) very physical, would benefit us to have a forward who can bang with opposing center backs. And what's the deal with Cameron Carter-Vickers? Not a single mention...yet he plays regularly for Celtic, even scored recently. I think that is a step up from McKenzie. I understand calling in "your guys" but there comes a point when winning trumps all that and you need your strongest team. You're dealing with professionals many of whom now have 6 WCQ games under their belt (in addition to any Nations League and Gold Cup games) so some of these names continue to baffle me.
I don't understand not bringing in an additional true striker. Jesus is amazing as a CAM/Shadow 9 role for FC Dallas, and is in top form, but he is not a true striker like Pefok or Dike, and Dike has been in good form of late. The depth at wing is somewhat concerning with Pulisic's injury history. Could be down to 3 wingers if he catches a knock.
It's incredible how both the USMNT and Mexico will have just completely different lineups for this game and the Nations League Final in June. I know there's also a game at Jamaica, but there's a real chance here for Berhalter to put Martino on the hot seat
Don't understand why LDLT isn't getting a longer look. Has been good in Holland and in his limited USMNT looks. Yellow cards / injuries versus Mexico and suddenly you could have Lleget/Busio and Acosta playing in Jamaica with limited bench depth behind them?
No LDLT is crazy. Dude breaks lines and dribbles around and through players. Just dumb. Roldan? Lleget? Arriola? No creativity. Very one dimensional.
The roster is good but had a chance to be really good (even excluding Dest). Why no De la Torre? He plays vertically (a Gregg favorite term) and can offer better possession ability than either Lleget or Roldan. No Dike is another mystery? In good form and considering these two matches might be (let's be real...they will be) very physical, would benefit us to have a forward who can bang with opposing center backs. And what's the deal with Cameron Carter-Vickers? Not a single mention...yet he plays regularly for Celtic, even scored recently. I think that is a step up from McKenzie. I understand calling in "your guys" but there comes a point when winning trumps all that and you need your strongest team. You're dealing with professionals many of whom now have 6 WCQ games under their belt (in addition to any Nations League and Gold Cup games) so some of these names continue to baffle me.
I don't understand not bringing in an additional true striker. Jesus is amazing as a CAM/Shadow 9 role for FC Dallas, and is in top form, but he is not a true striker like Pefok or Dike, and Dike has been in good form of late. The depth at wing is somewhat concerning with Pulisic's injury history. Could be down to 3 wingers if he catches a knock.
It's incredible how both the USMNT and Mexico will have just completely different lineups for this game and the Nations League Final in June. I know there's also a game at Jamaica, but there's a real chance here for Berhalter to put Martino on the hot seat
I thought we were trying to play a more creative style of soccer. You can't do that with these backup retreads.