EVERY 60 DAYS the ASN 100 Editorial Panel gathers to evaluate the current state of the United States men's national team player pool. OK, we don't actually "gather"—the panel is scattered across the continent—but we each submit rankings listing the top 100 U.S.-eligible soccer players, in order, based on the following hypothetical:

Sunil Gulati just fired Jurgen Klinsmann. (I know—inconceivable. Humor us. We're in the helicopter pilot seat now.) There's a World Cup match tomorrow. And we have to submit a detailed depth chart ranking American players from 1-100.

We don't base these rankings on long-term potential or past successes but rather on what we think the players are capable of doing right now. It's a time-consuming task and it sets us up for all sorts of ridicule—see the Comments section below the ASN 100 grid if you don't believe me—but it's also a lot of fun and it sparks plenty of conversations.

Including this one—a virtual roundtable discussion featuring a few of the panelists who helped develop the ranking.

(Note: The previous No. 1 player, Tim Howard, is not eligible due to his self-imposed hiatus from the national team, and we've kept Landon Donovan off the list too because he is a few short weeks away from retirement.)

JOHN GODFREY: There's a new man atop the ASN 100: Fabian Johnson. He received three first-place votes and two second-place votes, edging out Clint Dempsey by the narrowest of margins. Travis Clark, you, like me, had Fabian at the top of your list. Why is he the best active American soccer player today?

TRAVIS CLARK: When looking at the U.S. performance on the field in Brazil (where it measured up against the best talent out there) it was clear to me that Johnson was the U.S. national team's most dangerous and important player. That's not a knock or slight on Tim Howard, who was great, but rather a reflection of what kind of a threat Johnson was on his flank going forward on the overlap.

He's the first player I would pick if I were in charge of naming a starting XI for the U.S., and that's what it comes down to for me. His signing with Borussia Monchengladbach hasn't seen him take flight in terms of production, but I have little doubt that the move will be ultimately beneficial this season, and help him continue to excel in a U.S. jersey.

JG: Jon, you had Clint Dempsey at No. 1, and Fabian Johnson second. Was it an easy decision? Did you lose sleep over this?

JON ARNOLD: Yes to both. I believe the record will show I filed my ballot around 2 a.m. after a Copa Centroamericana tripleheader.

Both Clint Dempsey and Fabian Johnson clearly get more rest than I do, but I think Dempsey is doing more than Johnson at the moment. Part of that is just the rhythm of the season: The Seattle Sounders are rounding into the home stretch while Borussia Monchengladbach is only just beginning the Europa League and has played a handful of Bundesliga matches.

With full respect to my friends at @ThisIsASN (and Fabian Johnson), Clint Dempsey has been the best U.S. player since July. Easily. #usmnt

— Doug McIntyre (@DougMacESPN) September 21, 2014

I agree with Travis that the move will be beneficial and that Johnson will become the Americans' most dangerous player, but right now—the third word of the site's name and what we're ultimately trying to capture—Deuce should be the Ace. He didn't hurt his case with that U.S. Open Cup win either.

JG: Noah, I know you would have listed Tim Howard as the top guy had he not gone on hiatus. But let’s look a bit further down the list: You were one of three panelists who ranked Matt Besler outside the Top 15. What’s the thinking?

NOAH DAVIS: We've seen him play recently, correct? He had somewhere between a good and great World Cup— better than expected probably—but he's been more or less average since returning Stateside. A regression isn't surprising, nor should it be too concerning, but the ASN 100 is all about what can you do for me right now at this moment and I think there are 15 players I would pick over him at present.

JG: So what jumps out at you on the latest list? Did we, as a group, really get something right? Get something wrong?

ND: I'm surprised Luis Gil was so high. I had him at 25. I know he's been a solid starter for Real Salt Lake and a fixture on the U.S. youth teams, but I'm not ready for a world in which he's the 25th best player in the country. Maybe in a couple years, but a lot of his ranking now seems based on potential and narrative rather than results.

JG: I agree. Many of us are guilty of playing Fox Mulder to Luis Gil's UFO—we want to believe. Maybe there will be a confirmed Gil sighting in the coming MLS playoffs. If not, his ranking needs to drop. Josh—what's your take on the new ASN 100?

JOSH DEAVER: Nothing especially egregious jumps out with the latest ranking. As always, Wil Trapp (38) and Michael Orozco (40) are too low for my taste. Will Bruin (62) is also being slept on. If I’m nitpicking, Gyasi Zardes’ (36) rapid rise may be a bit of a stretch as it’s based on, really, only two months of production with a very good team—even if it does include 15 goals in 17 appearances. Toward the bottom of the list, I’m glad to see Shea Salinas (87) make his long-deserved debut.

JG: The trickiest part of creating each ASN 100 is balancing players' current form with their overall body of work. I watch every L.A. Galaxy game these days, and I'm convinced that Gyasinho is one of the top 5-7 American strikers right now. Can he sustain it? Will his output drop when Landon Donovan stops feeding him beautiful passes? We'll find out soon enough. But the guy buries his chances. It's encouraging to see that in a 22-year-old MLS sophomore.

Your turn, Brooke: Advocate for somebody who deserves to be on this list but didn't make the cut.

BROOKE TUNSTALL: Wow, give the new guy the hard question! I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen out of Robbie Rogers at left back for the Galaxy. He’s not a lock-down defender but he isn’t a turnstile back there and, obviously, he gets forward very well.

Last year you could see the burden of all he was carrying weighing on him but this season he’s much more relaxed and confident and given his history with Klinsmann and his skill-set, which is similar to Beasley’s, I think he’ll he a January call-up… if he’s healthy.

Check this out and kiss your productivity goodbye. The ASN 100 - http://t.co/2TIJMqSROU

— Kyle Kepner (@KyleJKepner) September 16, 2014

JG: I agree on Rogers. I had him at No. 87 on my list. Eighteen caps, two U.S. goals, 27-years-old, Klinsmann pal—I think we'll see him wearing the Bomb Pop soon.

Brian, Tommy Thompson, Jordan Morris, and Quincy Amarikwa all made their ASN 100 debuts with the Sept. 2014 ranking. Which of these three has the biggest upside?

BRIAN SCIARETTA: I would say Jordan Morris. I watched him in training with the U.S. in Prague and he certainly fit in nicely. He has the speed, strength, and the aggressive nature which I like in a player. I would also say that Thompson could overtake him if Morris decides to stay at Stanford beyond this season. Thompson is fun to watch and will be a key part of the U.S. U-20 team next year. Morris is too good for college and if he can join the Sounders next year, it will be easier to rate these three players since they will all be in the same league. There is no question that Jordan's ceiling is very high.

JG: Who is the one player you would like to see make this list, and why?

BS: I would go with Steve Birnbaum. The MLS Rookie of the Year race this season has focused on Harry Shipp, Patrick Mullins, and Tesho Akindele but Birnbaum has actually been the most consistent rookie throughout the season. He broke into D.C. United's starting backline, he has stayed there, and he has been an important part of the team's turnaround. He's made some mistakes along the way but he has quickly learned from them. He really should be part of the ASN 100 right now.

Also, Ventura Alvarado is also catching my eye right now, as he is earning occasional minutes for Club America of late. Club America is a very talented club—maybe the best team outside of Europe. To be in the mix for minutes at that club is no small feat and I hope Alvarado is in the next ASN 100.

Do you have an opinion on the latest ASN 100? Continue the conversation right here, and we'll respond to your take.