USMNT March camp

The roster is out for the USMNT friendlies against Ecuador and Chile. I'm a bit surprised that the majority of the roster (15 of 24 players) is still MLS based. I figured Berhalter would use this time to "try out" the European based players that he hasn't worked with in person. I'm guessing Berhalter is trying to blend the young and the old in an effort to build the future team while maintaining competitiveness now. At least they're playing in the right stadiums this time around.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...yers-usmnt-camp-ecuador-chile-orlando-houston

@BarryWhite was pretty close on most of his roster back in the January camp thread (http://fulhamusa.com/threads/usmnt-january-camp-friendlies.9858/), though completely missed on the forwards and left back (which he was right about - so is that really considered a miss?).

My thoughts/highlights:

• REAM is back!
• No Weah or Sargent is a loss
• I don't mind the inclusion of the senior players (i.e. Bradley, Gonzalez). As I've said before, I think that they are able to provide leadership and experience at the international level
• It's great to see Morris back (hopefully he can stay healthy this go around), but there isn't really an established forward in that bunch. The jury is still out on Ramirez for me

 

[QUOTE="The jury is still out on Ramirez for me
[/QUOTE]

Ramirez, from the time I spent watching him in Minnesota, just scores goals. He won't wow you with technical ability or physical prowess. He'll hold up play well for others to run off of him (his passing vision is good, but the weight of his passes could be better), and he'll make the unnoticed runs that open up lanes for others to fill and score from. He usually seems to be in the right place at the right time (poacher style) and if you give him a sliver of an opening, he'll bury it more often than not. He's a quality striker, but not sure if he could be the guy leading the line for the USMNT, IMHO.

Side note, Ramirez is still beloved by Minnesota United fans who were crushed (putting it lightly) when he was traded to LA last season, especially since he was essentially homegrown with Minnesota from the NASL days. And, from the couple of times during the NASL days that I was able to speak with him, couldn't be a nicer dude and very gracious in speaking with my daughter about the beautiful game.

 

Ecuador tonight (not going to lie, March Madness is off and running, so the dvr is set).

 

Oh man, you just reminded me of a story.

I had just moved out to the Boulder area of CO in early 2013 and balked at ponying up for tickets to the USA v Costa Rica world cup qualifier at Dick's Sporting Goods Park outside Denver. A new friend and I decided to go out and watch it at a bar. He had only been in the area a couple months longer than I had and neither of us had yet realized that the majority of the sports focus in that neck of the world is on action sports (skiing, cycling, running). So there was a very short list of true sports bars in the area. After searching around, we ended up at the one sports bar on Pearl St in Boulder. It was a Friday night - the second night of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. We asked the hostess at the door if they were showing the soccer match. The lady seemed a little befuddled. "We have the basketball tournament on" she said. We pressed - emphasizing the difference in significance of a World Cup qualifier and a few first round NCAA games - and eventually the manager "found" a tv for us. Then they promptly seated us directly under the tv. We talked them into a booth which was across the aisle and they let us sit there with the caveat that they may put another party at the table with us. In the end, we had dinner and watched the match without having to share the table with strangers. We also marveled at our decision not to attend the match in person as, most of you will remember, that match was the Snow Classico. I couldn't help but notice though that, while we enjoyed our soccer match, more than half the tvs were tuned to the Kansas v Western Kentucky basketball game - a 1 v 16 match-up! 1 v 16... and they could barely find us a tv for a World Cup qualifier.

I'll be again watching the soccer match tonight... but I'll be checking my (soon to be doomed) bracket all the while.

 

I was channel hopping, but what I did see nearly put me to sleep. Not sure what we got out of this one, except some pitch time together for Adams, McKennie and Pulisic. Pretty dreadful to watch.

 

There were a couple of promising attacks early but Ecuador made the second half a real slog. I hope McKinnie’s injury isn’t too bad but that landing looked nasty.

 

Typical toothless US friendly. I understand that Berhalter was focused more on acclimating players and implementing his style and tactics. I'm not sure what Ecuador's excuse was.

I'm not sure how much will stick over the long term, but I'm not fully sold on this right back venturing into the middle to attack. It really left open a lot of space for Ecuador and didn't create much opportunity for the US (at least not last night). I'm also not sure of the plan for the attacking third. Morris and Arriola sat wide and created a lot of space, but the team rarely got off the touch line whenever they used that space. A couple of one-twos in the corner and then a back pass.

The most frustrating thing about McKennie's injury is that it was completely unnecessary. He went jumping into a challenge that he was not going to win.

 

Bummed to read Tyler Adams is going back to his club and will miss the Chile match. Didn’t bother watching the match, but read he was a bright spot. Concur with Evan and not sure about where Berhalter is playing him (kid from all reports has been solid in Germany, play him at the same spot).

 

McKennie's not looking so good - ruptured ankle ligament. Add another item to the bummer side of the ledger.
https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/03/25/weston-mckennie-injury-usa-schalke-ankle-ligament

 

At the half and I’m really wishing Chile had been the first match particularly the back four.

Ream with another unforced gaff.