USMNT - Gold Cup

http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/...get-first-united-states-call-ups-for-gold-cup


Interested in seeing this group. All eyes will be on Dwyer and Saief (know nothing about him other that he plays for Gent who had a great Europa League run). Also glad to see Agudelo & Zardes back into the mix...and yes @HatterDon @BarryWhite a Eric Lichaj sighting. Who is everyone's guess for the armband? I'm hoping it's Omar Gonzales.

 

Basically tryouts for Russia.

 

FWIW, Mexico is also fielding a second-choice team. It makes sense though. It gives the European based players the summer break that they deserve and allows for a closer look at a number of fringe domestic players.

To answer Joe's question, I'd say Guzan is most likely to wear the armband.

 

Saief is a left footed/sided midfielder. I think he also plays wingback in a 3-5-2 for Gent.

 

reason number 634 out of many that I would never make it as a manager. I hate competitions where we won't throw the best team on the field. I understand Russia is a much bigger deal and discovering that next level of talent is important. I wish we just used more friendlies for that.

 

Gold Cup thoughts:
I'm okay with this roster for the Gold Cup because I have a great interest in watching these players in an important competition. Barring injury or a complete drop in form I believe the first 11 to 13 spots for Russia are nailed down. However, for the first time in my memory there is a real competition for the remaining slots at every position. I think certain players like Guzan, Acosta and Villafana are pretty much nailed on certainties who are going to be given more time under Arena and for the rest this is going to be a testing ground for who Arena will select as his reserves. Guys like Lichaj, Hedges, McCarty and Dwyer are going to get a chance to step up on the a competitive stage and prove they deserve to be in the mix for Russia.

With 17 out of 24 spots being filled by important MLS starters I'm not buying that MLS has anything to do with this team selection. I truly believe these are the guys Bruce wants to get a good look at under pressure. Does anyone not believe that Bruce's only directive was to get the US to the World Cup? Without a full cycle to test players this Gold Cup was always going to be a place he would need to use as a testing ground for the final WC qualifying matches.

Squad thoughts for the final WC qualifying matches:

Other than possibly Ream I can't tell you which of the CB's I want backing up Cameron and Brooks right now. I can tell you we need another RB on the roster and I'm glad Lichaj is getting a look. Central midfield certainly needs to be sorted out. I do like Acosta and I don't like Jones paired with Bradley but who other than Jones because we need depth? McCarty or Roldan might be solid choices but Arena has't really had a chance to look at them until now. For a change I don't think there is much room on the WC roster for more wings. Pulisic, Johnson and Nagbe are not likely to be displaced by anyone on this squad. Bedoya always puts in a solid shift but Zardes probably has the higher ceiling if you can get him off the floor and who knows about Saief. Morris may be another good shout on the wing over Bedoya if he can't figure out how to play up top. If anyone can tell me who the next forward currently is after Jozy, Wood and Duece please send me some lottery numbers. You can't ignore Morris' speed but his form up top has been poor for Seattle. Anyone certain they want Agudelo or Dwyer right now over Morris? Time to find out isn't it.

A few more thoughts for you:

1. This squad can win the Gold Cup. I'm not saying they are favorites but there is talent in this squad. Keep in mind there are 6 roster changes available after the group stage.

2. I am happy to see Hedges, Lichaj, McCarty and Agudelo to get this opportunity. Specifically Hedges. He may be the closest thing the US has as a backup for Cameron.

3. Cristian Roldan is my dark horse player to get a call-up after the Gold Cup is over. He is a young guy that covers a lot of ground and does the simple things well. It may be one cycle too soon but we'll see.

4. San Diego has great weather. You gotta love vacations!

 

I understand the frustration by not putting out our 'full-strength' squad, but a couple other thoughts not covered by excellent Barry's post:

1. Gold Cup schedule; because of the WCQ cycle & the Confed Cup this is the Gold Cup (as oppossed to the squads we'll see in 2019) that there will be experimental squads for multiple teams.

2. Team Dynamics; who will be the players that grab the reins now that the veterans aren't here? The natural inclination to defer to the Bradley's, Howard's, or Clint's won't be in effect.

3. As long as Christian Pulisic wasn't on the squad we weren't going full strength anyways. Pretty sure we're unanimous that giving the kid a break is important. Having an 18 year old go 49 weeks w/3 weeks off (which would've been the case if he played) is a recipe for disaster.

 

Highlights from the weekend 2-1 win over Ghana. Dwyer was his usual lively self and had a good debut. One thing that is beginning to look obvious in Bruce Arena's 2nd stint; he believes Kellyn Acosta is another foundational piece going forward and the future is starting now.

 

Bruce knows what Juergen didn't. That the future of U.S. soccer, for better or worse, is intrinsically tied to that of MLS.

 

Not to mention that it hurts the MLS product while all the best players are away. I've been to more than a handful of those matches, and let's just say they were not overly compelling.

Obviously this is complicated by the fact that we're not talking about the odd weekend here or there for qualifying but rather weeks on end for an entire tournament. That said, I think MLS will come around on this and sooner rather than later. I just don't know how they work out the scheduling.

 

And as more clubs get their own place to play, it'll get easier to schedule. When and if they switch to the FIFA schedule, some clubs will be up feces creek without a paddle. Although Seattle, New England and Minnesota could probably turn their stadia around quickly enough to accommodate both, it'd be a hassle until they get their own places. Atlanta will share the new Georgia Dome replacement with the dirty birds, so I guess they've got that figured out. NYCFC seems to be behind the 8 ball, although they do play in a baseball stadium instead of a football venue. But there doesn't seem to be a new soccer specific stadium for them in the foreseeable future, so that could get hairy. And then there's the whole expansion dilemma. but growing pains are inevitable. You do the best you can and live with it. It's better than the alternative...declining attendances, dwindling revenues and hints of folding.

 

I'm a simpleton here - and the MLS should simply shut down during international breaks like the rest of the world. Matches are easily scheduled around the breaks b/c the breaks aren't a surprise (midweek matches, etc.) - it's a known dilemma and if MLS could just adhere to the international calendar for the sake of not only the league, but the international players from all countries, it would be another step forward.

 

Did anyone bother to look at the 2017 MLS calendar?

Gold Cup Break

• For the first time MLS will not schedule any matches during the CONCACAF Gold Cupgroup stage from July 7 through July 17;

I know this doesn't cover what everyone wants but it is something. To shut down for WC qualifying, the Gold Cup and FIFA's official or friendly calendar dates MLS would lose approximately 11 of 34 scheduled weekends. Moving that many weekend games to weekday games would be a disastrous business decision.

For the record the rest of the world does not compete against other major sports for TV and attendance revenue. Sometimes I think people forget that MLS is a business and entertainment entity. If they don't create revenue they won't grow the sport. Since this isn't the rest of the world maybe we shouldn't try to act like it is.

 

Well..we barely got to know you Mr. Saief. He sustained a groin injury and is out of the GC, Chris Pontious called in to replace him.

 

The toughest group game should be today against Panama. I'm expecting to see the same starting 11 as the friendly against Ghana.