Considering this line-up/squad etc has occupied around 75% of my thoughts since last Wednesday at 4:00AM GMT (also known as Black Tuesday amongst US Soccer fans), I have put way more effort into this than I'd care to acknowledge publicly (the things we'll do for 2 Twitter likes, 1 reply and a retweet!). Anyway, this starting XI and general roster was trying to find that blend between experience, rewarding the good players we have who are in form, going full on futuristic freak-out and taking into account our own personal MLS play-off predictions.
First things first with formation. I highly doubt we're going to go to Portugal and play two strikers and one DM. It has to be taken into account that while planning for what is ahead is a priority, Ramos (likely) is not going to do his own standing any favours by going on the offensive in Portugal and getting caught on the break and losing 4-0. Personally although I like the Portugal team, I don't think they're the most efficient team in Europe by any stretch and it's not a crime to admit that they struggle without Ronaldo on the field (they needed him to come off the bench and rescue them against Andorra this month, for example), so having a solid unit on the field to do jobs within their own defensive'attacking units is the way to set up against them. I've given a backline with a mix of experience and youth protection, and feel our own strengths in this game could be on the counter so there is a lot of pace on the outside also, but I'll get to that quickly.
GK: Time to give Horvath a real shot here. I expect Hamid and Gonzalez to make the squad along with one experienced GK who hasn't made the play-offs, such as Rimando. You could guess Howard, but I feel to bring him along as a 3rd choice may send a wrong vibe and come across as disrespectful. I also feel he'd prefer time off at his age also, but Rimando seems like the kind of GK that would not have a problem with such a short-term role. Failing that idea, someone like David Bingham of San Jose could get a nod. Other MLS dependent options include Sean Johnson and of course Guzan, but I feel by the time this squad is named they will still be involved.
Horvath
Hamid
Gonzalez
Rimando/Bingham
The D: I'm thinking the Fire are a first round exit. Luckily, this means getting a look in a decent game at Brandon Vincent at left-back since his season will otherwise be done and he has had a fine season, and we should all pray he continues this momentum heading into the January camp and beyond. Genuinely, his play and general sophomore season should excite us all at a problem position, and with seemingly a good head on his shoulders, I see no reason why he can't continue to develop! Yedlin is one of our best players, period, regardless of age, and he's having a good season on a decent team in the strongest league in the world. It's the most comfortable I've felt about RB since Steve Cherundolo. Although Cameron is likely not going to be a mainstay in 2022, you don't just cast aside one of your best players in a heartbeat. His experience is crucial to the development of the next generation of defenders (Miazga, Glad, Carter-Vickers etc). He's your captain in this game, and I have him in there until his body breaks down whether that's 2019 or 2020. By that point, you'd have to hope Miazga is ready to take over, so what better way to learn that partnering Cameron here.
Cameron
Miazga
Yedlin
Vincent
Glad
Adams (?)
Carter-Vickers
I really want Adams in here, but wouldn't be shocked if the Red Bulls are still involved when this squad is announced.
Midfield. Some of these positions pick themselves. Pulisic is the first name on the teamsheet. Luckily due to Yedlin's play, I have him wide-ish, but either supporting Wood or dropping a bit more centrally dependent on the play. Johnson is rounding into form and again, although doubtful to be a major player come 2022, the youth need competition from the vets, and when your vets have as much natural talent as him, it's a good place to start learning and competing. Having said that, there's also no reason to think Johnson can't be a key players over the next 4 and a half years despite age, you pick your best performers in the moment also, and all successful teams have those near mid 30s players to round out a team. Danny Williams also deserves another look based on current play. He's currently starting and battling against Manchester United and his career resurrection has been fun to watch, and can provide good experience next to: one of the fan's flavours of the moment, Weston McKennie. Has a number of starts under his belt for Schalke and would be promising to see him pull on the jersey for this game. Again, this isn't Schalke B, it's the first team he'd got starters' minutes for. In the same vain as Bob Bradley calling up youth in the fall friendlies to success, I think Weston rightfully gets the rub here. I'm also happy with giving Arriola another test. I'm intrigued but still not convinced by him. He'll be free due to DC being out, and I like his spirit and potential. He needs to work on that end product but he's still very young and should be given every bit as much time as some of the others on here.
To round out, again, MLS dependent:
Pulisic
Johnson
Williams
McKennie
Arriola
Diskerud
Acosta
Rowe
Lennon
Gonzalez (?)
Saief
Gonzalez is my wild-card here. I invite him, and see if he accepts. I'm encouraged that it's specifically been reported that Ramos maintains dialogue with him. Also some fans need to drop this notion that if a player is selected to a national team it means they'll suddenly relinquish their club standing. Why wouldn't Monterrey want him getting exposure. With LigaMX selling lots to the Portuguese league (isn't half the FC Porto starting XI Mexican?) this is a fantastic opportunity for them as a business to showcase him and have him return as a full international. I'd love to see Lennon get a second half cameo also. I also think it's a real shame that someone like Lee Nguyen likely won't be rewarded for a fantastic domestic season with a national team call-up, but if anything, he would be my speculative Diskerud replacement.
I've been sneaky and went with a slight reintroduction to NT for Mix Diskerud. He's contributing nicely in Sweden, is Euro based for this Euro friendly, good opportunity to see if he still has something to offer, and Mix never was shy of playing in big stages (2015 Euro friendlies eg). Maybe bring him in for Arriola at the half, and move Pulisic to his club position on the right attacking wing.
Forwards:
This doesn't fill me with the same optimism that other areas do, but Wood deserves to maintain his place in the line-up, he's a fine player at leading the line. Outside of him, I'd like Christian Ramirez of Minnesota Utd to get a look. What I like about him from the games I've watched is his hard-nose play and ability to put himself about to cause issues. It's similar to what McBride used to do and what you would have thought someone with Altidore's physical make-up should have done more of. That grit is something we've missed. And due to lack of options although I am a fan of the player despite a down year, I'm taking Dom Dwyer also, he again, is a player who doesn't take his rise to this level for granted having played in the second tier and fought to be on a national team and will bring competition for a spot.
Wood
Dwyer
Ramirez
Agudelo
Sapong
Since both Agudelo and CJ Sapong will be free, it may be worth rounding out the squad with them, as others in contention are still busy in MLS by my reckoning.
Final note: If the upset happens in MLS, do not be surprised to see Bradley and Altidore etc in this squad. Again, you don't turn teams over even on the international level overnight. When England didn't qualify for Euro 2008, they didn't get rid of their entire line-up for the next friendlies, they integrated future pieces with experience. Sure, it hasn't exactly paid off for them or worked out well, but they have their own issues on the national team front that are unique to them, as ours are to us.
Having said that, get excited for that January camp for a change, great chance to bring in some of those who could have been selected if not for MLS play such as Palmer-Brown, Mihailovic of the Fire, Tommy Thompson, Jonathan Lewis, Harkes, Canousse plus Roldan, Polster, Trapp, Parker a healthy Lletget (someone I feel could have made a real difference this year) and some vets.
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Sean Harkin
over 6 years
Considering this line-up/squad etc has occupied around 75% of my thoughts since last Wednesday at 4:00AM GMT (also known as Black Tuesday amongst US Soccer fans), I have put way more effort into this than I'd care to acknowledge publicly (the things we'll do for 2 Twitter likes, 1 reply and a retweet!). Anyway, this starting XI and general roster was trying to find that blend between experience, rewarding the good players we have who are in form, going full on futuristic freak-out and taking into account our own personal MLS play-off predictions. First things first with formation. I highly doubt we're going to go to Portugal and play two strikers and one DM. It has to be taken into account that while planning for what is ahead is a priority, Ramos (likely) is not going to do his own standing any favours by going on the offensive in Portugal and getting caught on the break and losing 4-0. Personally although I like the Portugal team, I don't think they're the most efficient team in Europe by any stretch and it's not a crime to admit that they struggle without Ronaldo on the field (they needed him to come off the bench and rescue them against Andorra this month, for example), so having a solid unit on the field to do jobs within their own defensive'attacking units is the way to set up against them. I've given a backline with a mix of experience and youth protection, and feel our own strengths in this game could be on the counter so there is a lot of pace on the outside also, but I'll get to that quickly. GK: Time to give Horvath a real shot here. I expect Hamid and Gonzalez to make the squad along with one experienced GK who hasn't made the play-offs, such as Rimando. You could guess Howard, but I feel to bring him along as a 3rd choice may send a wrong vibe and come across as disrespectful. I also feel he'd prefer time off at his age also, but Rimando seems like the kind of GK that would not have a problem with such a short-term role. Failing that idea, someone like David Bingham of San Jose could get a nod. Other MLS dependent options include Sean Johnson and of course Guzan, but I feel by the time this squad is named they will still be involved. Horvath Hamid Gonzalez Rimando/Bingham The D: I'm thinking the Fire are a first round exit. Luckily, this means getting a look in a decent game at Brandon Vincent at left-back since his season will otherwise be done and he has had a fine season, and we should all pray he continues this momentum heading into the January camp and beyond. Genuinely, his play and general sophomore season should excite us all at a problem position, and with seemingly a good head on his shoulders, I see no reason why he can't continue to develop! Yedlin is one of our best players, period, regardless of age, and he's having a good season on a decent team in the strongest league in the world. It's the most comfortable I've felt about RB since Steve Cherundolo. Although Cameron is likely not going to be a mainstay in 2022, you don't just cast aside one of your best players in a heartbeat. His experience is crucial to the development of the next generation of defenders (Miazga, Glad, Carter-Vickers etc). He's your captain in this game, and I have him in there until his body breaks down whether that's 2019 or 2020. By that point, you'd have to hope Miazga is ready to take over, so what better way to learn that partnering Cameron here. Cameron Miazga Yedlin Vincent Glad Adams (?) Carter-Vickers I really want Adams in here, but wouldn't be shocked if the Red Bulls are still involved when this squad is announced. Midfield. Some of these positions pick themselves. Pulisic is the first name on the teamsheet. Luckily due to Yedlin's play, I have him wide-ish, but either supporting Wood or dropping a bit more centrally dependent on the play. Johnson is rounding into form and again, although doubtful to be a major player come 2022, the youth need competition from the vets, and when your vets have as much natural talent as him, it's a good place to start learning and competing. Having said that, there's also no reason to think Johnson can't be a key players over the next 4 and a half years despite age, you pick your best performers in the moment also, and all successful teams have those near mid 30s players to round out a team. Danny Williams also deserves another look based on current play. He's currently starting and battling against Manchester United and his career resurrection has been fun to watch, and can provide good experience next to: one of the fan's flavours of the moment, Weston McKennie. Has a number of starts under his belt for Schalke and would be promising to see him pull on the jersey for this game. Again, this isn't Schalke B, it's the first team he'd got starters' minutes for. In the same vain as Bob Bradley calling up youth in the fall friendlies to success, I think Weston rightfully gets the rub here. I'm also happy with giving Arriola another test. I'm intrigued but still not convinced by him. He'll be free due to DC being out, and I like his spirit and potential. He needs to work on that end product but he's still very young and should be given every bit as much time as some of the others on here. To round out, again, MLS dependent: Pulisic Johnson Williams McKennie Arriola Diskerud Acosta Rowe Lennon Gonzalez (?) Saief Gonzalez is my wild-card here. I invite him, and see if he accepts. I'm encouraged that it's specifically been reported that Ramos maintains dialogue with him. Also some fans need to drop this notion that if a player is selected to a national team it means they'll suddenly relinquish their club standing. Why wouldn't Monterrey want him getting exposure. With LigaMX selling lots to the Portuguese league (isn't half the FC Porto starting XI Mexican?) this is a fantastic opportunity for them as a business to showcase him and have him return as a full international. I'd love to see Lennon get a second half cameo also. I also think it's a real shame that someone like Lee Nguyen likely won't be rewarded for a fantastic domestic season with a national team call-up, but if anything, he would be my speculative Diskerud replacement. I've been sneaky and went with a slight reintroduction to NT for Mix Diskerud. He's contributing nicely in Sweden, is Euro based for this Euro friendly, good opportunity to see if he still has something to offer, and Mix never was shy of playing in big stages (2015 Euro friendlies eg). Maybe bring him in for Arriola at the half, and move Pulisic to his club position on the right attacking wing. Forwards: This doesn't fill me with the same optimism that other areas do, but Wood deserves to maintain his place in the line-up, he's a fine player at leading the line. Outside of him, I'd like Christian Ramirez of Minnesota Utd to get a look. What I like about him from the games I've watched is his hard-nose play and ability to put himself about to cause issues. It's similar to what McBride used to do and what you would have thought someone with Altidore's physical make-up should have done more of. That grit is something we've missed. And due to lack of options although I am a fan of the player despite a down year, I'm taking Dom Dwyer also, he again, is a player who doesn't take his rise to this level for granted having played in the second tier and fought to be on a national team and will bring competition for a spot. Wood Dwyer Ramirez Agudelo Sapong Since both Agudelo and CJ Sapong will be free, it may be worth rounding out the squad with them, as others in contention are still busy in MLS by my reckoning. Final note: If the upset happens in MLS, do not be surprised to see Bradley and Altidore etc in this squad. Again, you don't turn teams over even on the international level overnight. When England didn't qualify for Euro 2008, they didn't get rid of their entire line-up for the next friendlies, they integrated future pieces with experience. Sure, it hasn't exactly paid off for them or worked out well, but they have their own issues on the national team front that are unique to them, as ours are to us. Having said that, get excited for that January camp for a change, great chance to bring in some of those who could have been selected if not for MLS play such as Palmer-Brown, Mihailovic of the Fire, Tommy Thompson, Jonathan Lewis, Harkes, Canousse plus Roldan, Polster, Trapp, Parker a healthy Lletget (someone I feel could have made a real difference this year) and some vets.