2022 is a long way away USA Soccer Thread

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Mar 11, 2021 3:40 pm

USMNT Concacaf Olympic qualifying roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union; Wayne, Pa.), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes, Alamo, Calif.), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; Oxnard, Calif.)

DEFENDERS (6): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; Lompoc, Ca.), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake; Las Cruces, N.M.), Henry Kessler (New England Revolution; New York, N.Y.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire FC; Bolingbrook, Ill.), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; Colorado Springs, Colo.)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; Denville, N.J.), Hassani Dotson (Minnesota United FC; Federal Way, Wash.), Ulysses Llanez (Heerenveen/NED; Lynwood, Calif.), Djordje Mihailovic (CF Montreal/CAN; Jacksonville, Fla.), Andrés Perea (Orlando City SC; Medellin, Colombia), Sebastian Saucedo (UNAM Pumas/MEX; Park City, Utah), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; Bloomington, Minn.)

FORWARDS (4): Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; McKinney, Texas), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; Plantation, Fla.), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC; Orlando, Fla.), Sebastian Soto (Norwich City; San Diego, Calif.)

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:17 am

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:36 am

I'm so hyped for this generation/squad.

Also, how fucking great is mUSAh?

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:10 am

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:36 am I'm so hyped for this generation/squad.

Also, how fucking great is mUSAh?

Increases the pain when the squad does not qualify for Tokyo in the next few weeks....I blame Atlanta United for holding back players...well that and lots of our good young players are first team Euros and not released for next week.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:13 am

I guess I'm a little less worried about the Olympics, given all the other competition we have this summer. Also, maybe that squad will feel like underdogs and pull something off? It's not like we're sending a bunch of college kids out there.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:25 am

tennbengal wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:17 am

Fuck yeah!

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:27 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:13 am I guess I'm a little less worried about the Olympics, given all the other competition we have this summer. Also, maybe that squad will feel like underdogs and pull something off? It's not like we're sending a bunch of college kids out there.

I don't know, I mean the lack of Olympic qualification the last number of chances comes to me as a bit of a depth, development, and such warning indicator. It is a hard qualification (only 2 teams) but wonder if that ties to the lack of recent success getting into the world cup.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:49 pm

Going back to the last cycle a big part of my diatribe post was the major gap we had in the young/professional (20-26) range players. And missing the Olympics was, as you point out, a bit of canary in the coal mine for that group.

But given the amount of incredible talent we have in this age range right now... It's almost a complete and total reversal of that trend at this point.

We've said it a bunch, and I think for us oldheads, it's hard for something of this magnitude to really sink in. I detailed a few pages back, but we have a legit starting lineup of world class players (at least playing on top level teams in the top leagues) of guys with only 1 or 2 over the age of 24.

That's a remarkable change from having to put fucking Wondolowski out there (ffs). The days of relying on Altidore and Bradley and a host of other guys in the sunset of their career in MLS are over.

Post by **brian** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 2:06 pm

I'm not convinced they're not gonna qualify. Key game is the first one on Thursday against CRC though. They win that, then should be able to beat the DR and that clinches a semifinal game to qualify against likely either Honduras, Canada or El Salvador and I like their chances in that game as well.

But lose to CRC and all of the sudden that Mexico game is a must-win.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:08 am

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Chituru Odunze (Leicester City), Zack Steffen (Manchester City)

DEFENDERS (10): John Brooks* (Wolfsburg), Reggie Cannon* (Boavista), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Miazga (Anderlecht), Erik Palmer-Brown (Austria Wien), Tim Ream (Fulham), Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma), Chris Richards* (Hoffenheim), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg), Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids) Tyler Adams* (RB Leipzig), Luca de la Torre (Heracles), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

FORWARDS: (6): Daryl Dike (Barnsley FC), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna* (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent* (Werder Bremen), Tim Weah* (Lille)

* Indicates player will depart after March 25th match against Jamaica

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:16 am

I guess Juventus wasn't psyched for McKinnie to leave? Too bad, would be nice to see this young group come together.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:18 am

Berhalter said he has "a knock".

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:24 am

So who's our starting 6 & 8 out of that midfield pool?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:40 am

Gotta think Adams is the 6. Does Musa play the 8 for Valencia?

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:02 pm

I think he plays a winger at Valencia, but I also think the way they are talking about him he could play as an 8.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:24 pm

Transfermarkt has RW as Musah's main position, with LW and AM as his "other" positions.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:43 pm

I made myself laugh in my head with "AM = a midfielder".

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 1:04 pm

Interesting update on Alvarez. It helps that Jonathan Gonzalez has fallen of el tri's radar after picking the bad guys
https://sbisoccer.com/2021/03/berhalter ... m-decision

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 1:07 pm

Right, and now we're recruiting from a position of strength, not desperation. Makes a huge difference from both perspectives.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 2:34 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 1:07 pm Right, and now we're recruiting from a position of strength, not desperation. Makes a huge difference from both perspectives.

Yeah plus a good young core in Europe means eyeballs. If your dream is playing to Tigres, Pumas, and such Mexico is a fine choice. But if you see Weston, Dest, Konrad and such running around Champions League it may make you think about shots for more $.

Wonder how much the agents get involved in these types of decision.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:29 am

First Olympic qualifier is on FS1 today at 5:30.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:11 pm

Really too bad about TAA being left off England's roster.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:33 pm

Not too psyched they pulled the 2:30 PST start time in Guadalajara.

Post by **brian** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:35 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:33 pm Not too psyched they pulled the 2:30 PST start time in Guadalajara.

Not TOO hot today, could be a lot, lot worse. I tend to worry more about the altitude in general anytime we're playing in Guadalajara or Mexico City.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:50 pm

Well this is starting in an exciting manner. Big missed opportunity by the US, Ocoha standing tall and a yellow that sparked some pushing and shoving. Ref is going to need to be on his game or this will get Concacafy

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:55 pm

Anybody got a stream. FireTV wont even let me set up a sling free trial. TV sucks now

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 5:04 pm

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:55 pm Anybody got a stream. FireTV wont even let me set up a sling free trial. TV sucks now

If you can stream FS1 that's where its at.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 5:13 pm

Ref is actually doing a nice job. Better team is not winning right now.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 5:18 pm

Three years of obsessing about this tournament and I totally blanked on it starting today.

If you don't love Jesus by now, I don't know what to say.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:21 pm

Ochoa is very good. Big physical goalie. Different than Rimando (who he replaced at RSL).
Costa Rica must have 15 corner kicks today and way more chances.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:23 pm

Thought of the night
MLS has been good for the USMNT but the benefit of the MLS to the other CONCACAF nations has been even better.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:35 pm

Man we were living right tonight.

I was going to ask whether the keeper was Dallas or RSL, those were the only two possibilities. He looked very good.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 7:54 pm

That was intense. They were totally gassed at the end.

wlu - I actually wrote a lengthy "article" on bigsoccer back in the early 2000s about that. It is obviously a huge boon for US players, but the fact that all these other countries can put their players in a back up league to FML is huge. If the only really good team in your country is Alajuense or Olympiad (or whatever) having all these slots on MLS teams is a huge benefit.

I'm not advocating, but there were times in many European leagues where they got really militant about non-native players (limiting slots.)

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 3:32 pm

So putting all olympic qualifying here. Haiti went full goofy. Lots of players could not get visas and then they f'd up the covid protocols. So 10 men and a field player is the goalie. Game is on FS2

Post by **brian** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 3:42 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 19, 2021 3:32 pm So putting all olympic qualifying here. Haiti went full goofy. Lots of players could not get visas and then they f'd up the covid protocols. So 10 men and a field player is the goalie. Game is on FS2

That appears to be going as well as you’d expect. Down 3-0 at halftime.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 6:01 pm

Took a bit for the States to get on the boards the other night. But they are into the semis regardless of the outcome against Mexico. Ochoa did not start in the pipes and the US actually used a bunch of new players. They did not really pick up until Dotson came in.

Technically all 4 teams are still in the hunt to play Mexico and the US for a spot in Tokyo. But Canada and Honduras play each other. They need a draw to both go through. Figure they will fight hard to not play Mexico (and if the US wins that could be fun)

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:02 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 6:01 pm Took a bit for the States to get on the boards the other night. But they are into the semis regardless of the outcome against Mexico. Ochoa did not start in the pipes and the US actually used a bunch of new players. They did not really pick up until Dotson came in.

Technically all 4 teams are still in the hunt to play Mexico and the US for a spot in Tokyo. But Canada and Honduras play each other. They need a draw to both go through. Figure they will fight hard to not play Mexico (and if the US wins that could be fun)

Canada's draw with Haiti has to be an epic pantshitting, no?

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:10 pm

My only caveat here is that U23 eligibility has been expanded this year by one year so that everyone who would have qualified for Tokyo 2020 can still qualify. So really, we are looking at one extra year of talent. But even with that said, on the A/B team I don’t think anyone is 24 yet except for Yueill and Miles Robinson. There are more guys on the A/B team that will qualify for the *next* Olympics than that.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:38 am

It's nuts that there's a plausible A team that doesn't include Reyna.

I'm not even into the wasted energy of arguing the point, just noting that it's crazy how talented we are on those A/B teams.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:59 am

I think you have to swap Reyna for Weah there. My short term fear is that there isn't a ton of O23 talent yet. 2026 should be really nice though.