Gold Cup 2021

Coming off a trophy winning Nations League and with the knowledge that Berhalter has stated there will be little overlap between the Nations League roster and the Gold Cup roster what are you hoping to see in the upcoming Gold Cup?

I thought the preliminary roster was due today and it can include up to a staggering 60 names but I have not seen it yet.

I always like winning but with World Cup qualifiers coming up in August I would like to see Behalter take a long hard look at some talent that had played well recently in positions where the USMNT has proven shallow. Coming off the Nations League I think, barring injury, the World Cup qualifying roster looks something like this:

GK: Stefan, Horvath and Turner
RB: Cannon and Yedlin
LB: Dest and A. Robinson
CB: Richards and ?
CB: Brooks and McKenzie
DM: Adams and ?
Mid: McKinnie and ?
Mid: Lleget and Musah
RW: Reyna and Weah
LW: Pulisic and Aaronson
CF: Sargent and ?

I doubt we’ll see many of these players at the Gold Cup unless Berhalter wants to put someone in the shop window.

At CB, I think Ream has the inside track at the final CB position regardless of fan opinion. Miazga is probably the best overall back of the remaking options then there are three CB’s I think you could throw in a pot mix them up and draw the same guy no matter whose name comes out. In CCV, Erik Palmer-Brown and Zimmerman you have good, athletic defenders who have not proven to be comfortable with the ball at their feet. There are two guys I would like to see a lot of at the Gold Cup. The first is Miles Robinson and with a good showing he could leap frog all of the above. He is a good athlete who can cover ground much like Arron Long and has shown to be an excellent ball distributor this season. The second we are unlikely to see but Kik Pierie is a 20 year-old, dual national with a couple of seasons under his belt in the Eredivise. By reputation he is both a good defender and good with the ball at his feet but I doubt we’ll see him since he has not yet been called up.

The midfield positions are a little more problematic. There are options but Berhalter has had a limited look at them at best. For me at DM Acosta has been better than Yueill recently but Williamson, Flach, Sands and Busio have performed better than either in MLS this season and Alfredo Morales could probably still do a job in a pinch. By all reports Johnny Cardoso is playing well at the 6 in Brazil. Too bad he was used as an 8 at the Olympic qualifiers. I am not quite sure where Otasowie fits but I’d sure like to see him somewhere. The problem with all these guys other than Morales is they lack international experience and in some cases experience in general but you have to start somewhere.

At AM the options are a bit more varied. In Julian Green and Luca de la Torre you have two guys who performed well in Europe last season and then there are the young guys dripping with talent in MLS in Clark, Bassett, Pomykal, Busio and Williamson. I’d like to see some combination of these guys running at the goal.

Up top I’ll make it easy, give me Dike and Hoppe for the Gold Cup. I expect to see Zardes and I get it but ….. pretty please can we have Hoppe.

 

@BarryWhite 5 star preview Barry. I’m with you I want to see both Dike and Hoppe. I know Berhalter wants to give the Euro guys a much needed break, would that include Hoppe?

 

@SoCalJoe - I don’t think Hoppe was overworked last season I think there are a few guys who could benefit from a good Gold Cup performance. I doubt we’ll see all of these but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few of them:

Out of contract: Ethan Horvath

If clubs are looking to sell: Sargent, Dike, Hoppe, CCV, Cannon and A. Robinson

 

Looks like we might get part of our wish @SoCalJoe

 

I would guess that any European based players not involved with the Nations League would be available for the Gold Cup. Now besides Hoppe, how many, if any, actually get the call is another story. I’d love to see de la Torre, de la Fuente (trying real hard not to make a De La Soul joke here), Chris Richards, and Otasowie in the squad.

Mums the word on the new away kit I guess. I’m not sure I like it but I know I don’t hate it.

 

I definitely want to see Dike in the Gold Cup this summer. What little I saw of him last season in highlights got my pulse up a little.

 

The 59 man provisional roster was released today made up of players from 51 MLS, 1 USL, 1 Brazilian, and 6 European clubs.

USMNT PROVISIONAL ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta), Bill Hamid (D.C.), Sean Johnson (New York City), Tim Melia (Kansas City), Matt Turner (New England)

Defenders: Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), George Bello (Atlanta), Reggie Cannon (Boavista, Portugal), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham, England), Justin Che (Dallas), Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls), Chase Gasper (Minnesota), Jonathan Gomez (Louisville), Aaron Herrera (Salt Lake), Henry Kessler (New England), Shaq Moore (Tenerife, Spain), Erik Palmer-Brown (Manchester City, England), Kevin Paredes (D.C.), Donovan Pines (D.C.), Miles Robinson (Atlanta), James Sands (New York City), Auston Trusty(Colorado), Sam Vines (Colorado), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Colorado), Cole Bassett (Colorado), Gianluca Busio (Kansas City), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional, Brazil), Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls), Hassani Dotson (Dallas), Leon Flach (Philadelphia), Julian Green (Greuther Furth, Germany), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Djordje Mihailovic (Montreal), Moses Nyeman (D.C.), Andres Perea (Orlando), Paxton Pomykal(Dallas), Cristian Roldan (Seattle), Tanner Tessman (Dallas), Eryk Williamson(Portland), Jackson Yueill (San Jose)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Frankie Amaya (New York Red Bulls), Paul Arriola (DC), Corey Baird (Los Angeles), Cade Cowell(San Jose), Daryl Dike (Orlando), Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland), Jesus Ferreira (Dallas), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen, France), Matthew Hoppe (Schalke, Germany), Jonathan Lewis(Colorado), Rubio Rubin (Salt Lake), Chris Mueller (Orlando), Ricardo Pepi (Dallas), Robbie Robinson (Miami), Memo Rodriguez(Houston), Mason Toye (Montreal), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus)

 

Initial impressions?

Biggest omission - Luca de la Torre. I’d really like to know why because he a fixture at a mid-table Eredivise side. Hard to see his club resisting him being called in.

Lots of youth - Be interesting to see who makes the final cut because some of them will.

Left back - A good young left back is going to be cut. I know it sounds strange but it’s true. Sam Vines probably sets the floor here but both Bello and Jonathan Gonzalez are exciting young prospects. I’ve watched Gonzalez a couple of times with Louisville City. I like him a lot and it seems Mexico does too.

 

Yes, Brad is still active but the real MLS drama is Toronto has told Jozy to go and train on his own away from the 1st team.

If you don’t have a local team like me, the real reason to follow MLS are the young Americans getting playing time before moving to Europe.

 

It’s actually Jonathan Gomez, not Gonzalez Barry. You’re probably thinking of Jorge Gonzalez, an on
loan midfielder from Timbers. You’re right about El Tri’s interest in him. He’s repped both us and Mexico at the juniors level. He recently spent two weeks training with Mexico during CONCACAF Nations League play. I’ve watched him several times, including once live. He’s got speed to burn on the ball coming down the left side of the pitch, and he’s left footed. Brian Ownsby and Cameron Lancaster start drooling in the box when he’s zipping that way. Berhalter may be trying to get an early cap tying appearance for the lad. He’s already trained with five European clubs and would have practiced with more, if not for COVID-19. PSV and Dortmund have scouted him, and Citeh have supposedly been in contact. He’ll be able to sign and go to a European club when he turns 18. Odds are he’ll do just that. Gonna try to get to more Lou City matches in person this season before he moves on.

https://www.loucity.com/news_article/show/1170175

 

@jumpkutz - You’re absolutely right it is Gomez. The Jonathan I’m confusing the name with is the dual-national midfielder that chose to play for Mexico a few years back. From the small sample size I’ve seen of him he looks promising.

 

You ought to drive over for a match sometime. We make it to my wife's brother's house in about 2:15. The ground is about 20-25 minutes closer from your direction.

 

Young Mr. Gomez's first goal!

 

I am going to. I promised myself after the new stadium opened I would make it over for a match and my daughter and son-in-law live in Louisville now so I have extra incentive.

 

They use SeatGeek as their ticket vendor. Pretty easy.

https://seatgeek.com/louisville-city-fc-tickets

 

Sounds like it was De la Torre’s choice not to come to Gold Cup.

 

A calculated risk indeed. I just hope Berhalter and his staff are paying attention.

 

Gold Cup roster:

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders (8): George Bello (Atlanta United), Reggie Cannon (Boavista), Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Donovan Pines (D.C. United), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), James Sands (New York City FC), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Midfielders (6): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes)

Forward: (6): Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Daryl Dike (Orlando City), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen), Matthew Hoppe (Schalke), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew)

Immediate thoughts:
1. Why Jonathan Lewis again? He was poor at the Olympics. I’m pretty sure he is not even starting for Colorado. I don’t understand his inclusion.

2. Beginning to believe the rumors that Berhalter sees Hoppe as a winger. Including Hoppe there are 3 whole wings in this roster.

3. Happy to see Busio, Williamson, and Sands get called in based on their MLS seasons to date.