World Cup 2022 - Qatar

[Pruitt]

Qualifying begins in less than 3 months...

[degenerasian]

That's actually nations league and gold cup qualifying.

So Canada will be playing US virgin Islands, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and French Guinea. Top 6 teams go into League A. and Top 10 teams qualify for the Gold Cup. This mini-tournament really should be called, "crush your opponent by as much as possible", as it'll all come down to goal difference.

[Pruitt]

That's actually nations league and gold cup qualifying.

So Canada will be playing US virgin Islands, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and French Guinea. Top 6 teams go into League A. and Top 10 teams qualify for the Gold Cup. This mini-tournament really should be called, "crush your opponent by as much as possible", as it'll all come down to goal difference.

Apologies.

I only gave the text of the email a cursory glance...

Canada’s Men’s National Team begins the journey to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ this Fall at BMO Field as they play host to Dominica on October 16 in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying.

Clearly, I should have read it twice.

But if any one is planning a road trip to Toronto to see this epic match, let me know!

[degenerasian]

Canada plays at US Virgin Islands on September 9. That's the game to go to.

[Pruitt]

I've seen Canada-St. Lucia and Canada-Curacao.

Games that set the sport back 50 years.

[The Sybian]

But if any one is planning a road trip to Toronto to see this epic match, let me know!

Too dangerous in Toronto, I'll park in downtown Newark, NJ and walk through the ghetto to get to Red Bull Arena instead.

[mister d]

Lets get this.

[wlu_lax6]

Okay so I am ready to retire the 2022 is a long way away thread in favor of this one for WCQ.
So we have Pulisic picking up Covid and no Zardes due to hamstring injury putting him on the shelf 2-4 weeks, Ream left his game early this week (no update), Arriola has a hammy and did not play against ATL, Dike has not played since the Gold Cup, Jozy had foot surgery, Musah has an ankle injury and is still not back.

[P.D.X.]

Pulisic should be fine for EL Salv no? Really the only one that causes me concern on that list.

[The Sybian]

Pulisic should be fine for EL Salv no? Really the only one that causes me concern on that list.

He has to test negative before he can travel. Since he is vaccinated and so far asymptomatic, it's a good chance he can get cleared on time, but who the fuck knows. Musah I'd like to see, but I don't think it's a big deal. Zardes and Ream out is good, so they won't steal time from younger guys. Zardes could be good against El Salvadore, but I'd rather see just about anyone else get minutes. Dike has potential and i'd like to see him more, but we don't need him now. Arriola is a bit player at best. Shame, I loved the guy on the youth teams and really thought he'd turn into a regular started for the full nationals, but injuries have been a problem his whole career. And Jozy... is he even a consideration anymore?

[degenerasian]

As long as they are not ready against Canada, that's all good!

[Rex]

USA’s got a striker problem. I mean it’s the same striker problem we’ve seen coming for a while, but it’s exacerbated when Sargent is playing mop-up duty for a relegation team, Pefok hasn’t played for a month, Zardes is hurt, Dike is hurt and Hoppe hasn’t played since the Gold Cup. And this for a position that you almost have to rotate if you’re playing 3 games in 8 days.

Pulisic possibly being out does not help this. By the grace of God he got vaccinated. Did somebody literally force the needle on him?

[P.D.X.]

Is Dike confirmed hurt? And why no mention of Weah?

[Rex]

I guess you could put Weah up there. It's out of position, but at least that's somebody who is currently playing.

Even if Dike comes back, he hasn't played since the Gold Cup, where he wasn't great.

[HaulCitgo]

Have they ever had a striker in the history of the program? All day since they have answers in other places.

[Nonlinear FC]

I mean, sure, you can go back and McBride was a pretty decent striker. Altidore had at least one cycle where he was a competent striker. Dempsey and Landon aren't really classic #9 guys, but they sure put the ball in the back of the net just fine.

And while Sargent hasn't torn it up the last year or so, he's also a baby... give him a minute. Not to mention Dike was playing hurt most of the GC and Hoppe wasn't even given a shot at that position.

There really are only a handful of international level #9 that consistently put the ball away at that level. You need a solid plan and you need to be dangerous going forward. A LOT of quality sides do just fine without a classic striker-type player.

[The Sybian]

Have they ever had a striker in the history of the program? All day since they have answers in other places.

Landon was a striker for much of his USMNT career. Dempsey was for a bit. Jozy had a couple years where he was good. McBride was solid.

[P.D.X.]

Ebobisse maybe gets a sniff?

[Nonlinear FC]

Ebobisse maybe gets a sniff?

Went to my high school!

(And was often overshadowed by his classmate, Gedion Zelalem, who signed with Arsenal prior to his freshman year.)

[The Sybian]

Ebobisse maybe gets a sniff?

Went to my high school!

(And was often overshadowed by his classmate, Gedion Zelalem, who signed with Arsenal prior to his freshman year.)

Just had a conversation about Zelalem. I was more excited about him than Pulisic.

[Nonlinear FC]

I probably said this on whatever version of The Swamp that was around at the time:

My buddy / co-coach and I watched every game of that team's run to the state final. About 2 or 3 games in, we concluded that Ebobisse was actually a better prospect than Gideon. This wasn't a slight on Gideon, just pointing out that Ebobisse was a more dominant player from a physical standpoint. Gideon had better vision and better touch on the ball, but he also was the type of player that often floated away from the heart of the action for stretches of games for no real apparent reason.

Anyways, I think he weighs in around 150 or 160 (definitely more towards 150 when I saw him up close, maybe even lighter.) Same issue we all saw with Busio... You don't need to be a big guy to be a quality midfielder (obvi), but you have to show that you won't just get muscled off the ball every time. We were really worried that once he started playing against adults, he'd have trouble at the next level.

[degenerasian]

Wynalda and McBride, that's pretty much it for pure strikers.

[wlu_lax6]

Wynalda and McBride, that's pretty much it for pure strikers.

and of course Striker

[The Sybian]

Wynalda and McBride, that's pretty much it for pure strikers.

and of course Striker

Well done.

[Rex]

I probably said this on whatever version of The Swamp that was around at the time:

My buddy / co-coach and I watched every game of that team's run to the state final. About 2 or 3 games in, we concluded that Ebobisse was actually a better prospect than Gideon.

Damn, and here I was thinking that Duke just develops players better than Arsenal.

[Nonlinear FC]

I probably said this on whatever version of The Swamp that was around at the time:

My buddy / co-coach and I watched every game of that team's run to the state final. About 2 or 3 games in, we concluded that Ebobisse was actually a better prospect than Gideon.

Damn, and here I was thinking that Duke just develops players better than Arsenal.

HA!

The thing about international scouting, as you guys know, is that they start zeroing in on kids when they are 11 and 12, sometimes even younger. Gideon was signed to an amateur deal with Arsenal when he was 12/13. He was technically (skills-wise) far and away the best player on his Olney Rangers team. Jeremy was on that team, which was pre-Academy, one of the best programs in the country... which is how scouts found Gideon. Like I said, Jeremy wasn't as technically sound, so scouts didn't put him in the same class.

You sign a 12 year old, who weighs 120 pounds soaking wet and you expect him to mature and bulk up. Or you think his skills will be enough to get him through as he matures. Whatever the case. Gideon just didn't quite pan out... happens all the time.

[The Sybian]

I probably said this on whatever version of The Swamp that was around at the time:

My buddy / co-coach and I watched every game of that team's run to the state final. About 2 or 3 games in, we concluded that Ebobisse was actually a better prospect than Gideon.

Damn, and here I was thinking that Duke just develops players better than Arsenal.

HA!

The thing about international scouting, as you guys know, is that they start zeroing in on kids when they are 11 and 12, sometimes even younger. Gideon was signed to an amateur deal with Arsenal when he was 12/13. He was technically (skills-wise) far and away the best player on his Olney Rangers team. Jeremy was on that team, which was pre-Academy, one of the best programs in the country... which is how scouts found Gideon. Like I said, Jeremy wasn't as technically sound, so scouts didn't put him in the same class.

You sign a 12 year old, who weighs 120 pounds soaking wet and you expect him to mature and bulk up. Or you think his skills will be enough to get him through as he matures. Whatever the case. Gideon just didn't quite pan out... happens all the time.

Damn, can't believe his Arsenal call up was 7 years ago! 2014, he was getting significant minutes in Arsenal's pre-season matches, and played really well. He was on the bench for their first couple of games and seemed to be a first team player, but he had an injury that kept him out for a few months and didn't get back into the first team. They sent him on loan to Rangers and he got off to a fast start, then fell out of favor. Went on loan to Holland, and ruptured his ACL and missed more than a year and never got back to form. I don't know if he ever would have hit big without the injuries. He was really small and probably not physical enough for the EPL. His vision, creativity and footskills were sublime.

[Shirley]

I mean, sure, you can go back and McBride was a pretty decent striker. Altidore had at least one cycle where he was a competent striker. Dempsey and Landon aren't really classic #9 guys, but they sure put the ball in the back of the net just fine.

And while Sargent hasn't torn it up the last year or so, he's also a baby... give him a minute. Not to mention Dike was playing hurt most of the GC and Hoppe wasn't even given a shot at that position.

There really are only a handful of international level #9 that consistently put the ball away at that level. You need a solid plan and you need to be dangerous going forward. A LOT of quality sides do just fine without a classic striker-type player.

Good timing - Sargent with a brace today for Norwich!

[Nonlinear FC]

And a nice assist.

Maybe I'm just seeing random bits of "data," but jeez some of these early season scorelines are BONKERS.

[tennbengal]

This is really a nice bit of news and sorta unexpected given that he was supposedly leaning toward playing for Mexico...(yes, I know he still could eventually, but this should hopefully signal that we will finish cap-tying him here):

[wlu_lax6]

This is really a nice bit of news and sorta unexpected given that he was supposedly leaning toward playing for Mexico...(yes, I know he still could eventually, but this should hopefully signal that we will finish cap-tying him here):

SBI was talking about this particular thing. The point was get him in camp with his young buddies from youth teams (reyna). Even if you don't cap tie him by his choice having him in camp is important.
https://sbisoccer.com/2021/08/the-usmnt ... e-cap-tied

[HaulCitgo]

Bello! It can be done. Guess all these guys played somewhere as youth but really impressive to see someone hyper local get on a national team.

[mister d]

No Hoppe, Busio and Richards makes me a bit sad.

[P.D.X.]

Sames with Williamson. Also interesting that there's 8 forwards and only 5 middies. Seems like it should be better balanced if our plan is 4-3-3.

[Nonlinear FC]

No Hoppe, Busio and Richards makes me a bit sad.

Going to wager that all three of these guys are in various stages of "need to make a mark on the club/play well for their club before the transfer window" stages of their young careers.

Pretty surprised Hoppe hasn't already been moved, frankly.

[Nonlinear FC]

Sames with Williamson. Also interesting that there's 8 forwards and only 5 middies. Seems like it should be better balanced if our plan is 4-3-3.

Yeah, but as we talked about upthread, most of the guys we list as forwards are outside-in flank attackers that easily shift and swap with their outside midfielders and even overlapping defenders. Dest is barely a defender in our 4312 or 433.

[P.D.X.]

I hear you, just not stoked to see Roldan & Lletget that high up on a WCQ positional depth chart.

[Nonlinear FC]

I hear you, just not stoked to see Roldan & Lletget that high up on a WCQ positional depth chart.

Ah, yes, that.

[wlu_lax6]

No Tim Weah....thigh injury.

[P.D.X.]

Guh... moot on Williamson anyway. Went down with a non-contact knee injury last night. Doesn't look good.