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Who are your US World Cup roster locks?
Posted on 7/21/17 at 4:57 pm
Posted on 7/21/17 at 4:57 pm
Was listening to Rob Stone and Alexi Lalas on Total Soccer Show today and they both estimated that Bruce already has 14 or 15 guys that he already knows that, as long as they are healthy come next May, they'll be heading to Russia. 15 may be a stretch but I've got 12:
Howard, Guzan, Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Villafana, Bradley, Pulisic, Nagbe, Fab, Jozy, Wood
I would also say that Dempsey is about is close to a lock as you can get, but age is a factor.
Villafana may be a little bit of a shock in that group. He's had his good games as well as his bad games, so I don't necessarily have him a lock as a starter, but I think his spot on the team is pretty safe considering that he has been in every camp since Bruce took over.
What say you guys?
Howard, Guzan, Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Villafana, Bradley, Pulisic, Nagbe, Fab, Jozy, Wood
I would also say that Dempsey is about is close to a lock as you can get, but age is a factor.
Villafana may be a little bit of a shock in that group. He's had his good games as well as his bad games, so I don't necessarily have him a lock as a starter, but I think his spot on the team is pretty safe considering that he has been in every camp since Bruce took over.
What say you guys?
This post was edited on 7/21/17 at 5:17 pm
5
Posted on 7/21/17 at 5:26 pm to Broski
I agree with those 12. Our three most irreplaceable players for 2018, in my opinion, are Cameron, Bradley, and Pulisic. If any of them gets injured, we're gonna really struggle. Cameron holds everything together in the back, Bradley is our midfield general, and Pulisic is our creator. We saw how hard it was to even replace Jozy in Brazil.
I would add Omar Gonzalez as a borderline lock at this point. He fell out of favor for a while, but he's the starting center back for the CCL champions, and it's hard to not see him as a backup in Russia at this point. I think Lichaj will cement himself as backup RB with a few more good performances, since we're not very deep there.
The other 10-11 spots are definitely up for grabs. I wonder who Alexi has as his 13th-15th guys. I'd guess Dempsey, Gonzalez, and maybe Besler for experience.
I would add Omar Gonzalez as a borderline lock at this point. He fell out of favor for a while, but he's the starting center back for the CCL champions, and it's hard to not see him as a backup in Russia at this point. I think Lichaj will cement himself as backup RB with a few more good performances, since we're not very deep there.
The other 10-11 spots are definitely up for grabs. I wonder who Alexi has as his 13th-15th guys. I'd guess Dempsey, Gonzalez, and maybe Besler for experience.
This post was edited on 7/21/17 at 5:28 pm
Posted on 7/21/17 at 5:35 pm to Michael Stein
Some frick
Posted on 7/21/17 at 5:42 pm to McCaigBro69
quote:
Some frick
People's champ
Posted on 7/21/17 at 5:47 pm to Broski
If Tim Ream gets consistent playing time at Fulham, he will be considered.
I can agree with your choices, otherwise.
I can agree with your choices, otherwise.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 5:48 pm to Broski
Howard
Guzan
Cameron
Brooks
Gonzalez
Yedlin
Bradley
Acosta
Nagbe
Johnson
Pulisic
Altidore
Wood
Villafana
Chandler
That's 15 that I think should be able to go on and book their ticket, assuming they don't get hurt.
Guzan
Cameron
Brooks
Gonzalez
Yedlin
Bradley
Acosta
Nagbe
Johnson
Pulisic
Altidore
Wood
Villafana
Chandler
That's 15 that I think should be able to go on and book their ticket, assuming they don't get hurt.
This post was edited on 7/21/17 at 5:50 pm
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:00 pm to pvilleguru
Gonzalez is probably close to a lock, being a veteran and a known commodity with Bruce, but he has just been shaky enough to where I can see him getting beat out by Ream, Miazga, etc. if any of them have a good/great domestic season.
As for Acosta, he's a promising talent but by no means a lock, he's been outplayed by Dax in the Gold Cup, and while I'd still take Acosta before Dax, if Jermaine comes back from injury and shows that he is the player that he was in 2016, that is better than what Acosta is right now.
Chandler will never ever be a lock for anything with the US national team. That has been proven true time and time again.
As for Acosta, he's a promising talent but by no means a lock, he's been outplayed by Dax in the Gold Cup, and while I'd still take Acosta before Dax, if Jermaine comes back from injury and shows that he is the player that he was in 2016, that is better than what Acosta is right now.
Chandler will never ever be a lock for anything with the US national team. That has been proven true time and time again.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:02 pm to pvilleguru
Would need to add 1 GK, 1 CB, 1 LB/Utility D, 1 Wings, 1 CM, 2 FW.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:04 pm to pvilleguru
quote:
2 FW.
Neither are locks, but one guy who will be in the convo is Morris
ETA: Or Green should he be a vital player this season.
This post was edited on 7/21/17 at 6:06 pm
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:12 pm to Broski
quote:We're talking about a full 23-man roster.
Gonzalez is probably close to a lock, being a veteran and a known commodity with Bruce, but he has just been shaky enough to where I can see him getting beat out by Ream, Miazga, etc. if any of them have a good/great domestic season.
As for Acosta, he's a promising talent but by no means a lock, he's been outplayed by Dax in the Gold Cup, and while I'd still take Acosta before Dax, if Jermaine comes back from injury and shows that he is the player that he was in 2016, that is better than what Acosta is right now.
Chandler will never ever be a lock for anything with the US national team. That has been proven true time and time again.
We're taking 4 CBs. I don't see Gonzalez falling below our #4 CB before next summer.
Even if Jones can come back and be the best pairing with Bradley, you still need to bring 1 or 2 CMs to back them up. Acosta is one of those 2.
I believe Chandler is Arena's #2 RB right now, and the WC is in Europe (where Chandler plays best). Even if Lichaj can slide into that #2 spot, he's still probably the #2 LB as well. Chandler would still be a great addition to the team. That would give you 4 guys that can play outside back and 1 of them could play on the left or right.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:13 pm to McCaigBro69
quote:He will be in the conversation, but he is very, very far from being a lock.
but one guy who will be in the convo is Morris
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:17 pm to pvilleguru
quote:
We're taking 4 CBs. I don't see Gonzalez falling below our #4 CB before next summer.
Even if Jones can come back and be the best pairing with Bradley, you still need to bring 1 or 2 CMs to back them up. Acosta is one of those 2.
I believe Chandler is Arena's #2 RB right now, and the WC is in Europe (where Chandler plays best). Even if Lichaj can slide into that #2 spot, he's still probably the #2 LB as well. Chandler would still be a great addition to the team. That would give you 4 guys that can play outside back and 1 of them could play on the left or right.
You're not grasping the concept of "lock" though.
We're talking about players that have already proven to be quality enough that not even a bad run of form will severely jeopardize their chances.
Acosta hasn't reached that point yet, and while I wouldn't agree with it, I can see a scenario where Bruce takes Dax and Jermaine over him.
Same goes for Chandler where I can see Zusi or Lichaj taken over him.
Of the players that I listed, I can't see a scenario outside of injury where anyone else at their position who is on the US Soccer radar at the moment could have an argument to be taken over them.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:20 pm to Broski
quote:No, I do. If you want to get to 15 locks at this point, I think those are the players you have to pick.
You're not grasping the concept of "lock" though.
I don't see any way a 22 year old Acosta doesn't go unless he breaks a leg. Especially after Arena's said the World Cup is a young man's game now.
This post was edited on 7/21/17 at 6:24 pm
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:23 pm to pvilleguru
quote:
f you want to get to 15 locks at this point
Why do you want to get to 15 though? Because of Alexi?
Are you going off of what you think Bruce thinks or what you think? Either way, I'm not sure how Chandler can be a lock at this point since he has yet to be with the team under Bruce.
This post was edited on 7/21/17 at 6:24 pm
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:26 pm to Broski
quote:He was called up for the last round of qualifying but had to drop out due to injury.
I'm not sure how Chandler can be a lock at this point since he has yet to be with the team under Bruce.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:26 pm to pvilleguru
quote:
I don't see any way a 22 year old Acosta doesn't go unless he breaks a leg.
I do... If we go empty bucket in Russia (which would be a huge mistake but not something I'd put past Bruce) and Dax continues to outplay him like he has been these last 2 weeks. Jermaine and Dax go over him.
Age has nothing to do with this. It's not Jurgen.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:26 pm to Broski
Do you guys see Dwyer making the 23 man?
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:27 pm to pvilleguru
quote:
He was called up for the last round of qualifying but had to drop out due to injury.
Yeah, and...?
How does that help his case to being a lock?
This post was edited on 7/21/17 at 6:30 pm
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:28 pm to txpurpleandgold
quote:
Do you guys see Dwyer making the 23 man?
I can see it happening, but not without work. He appears to be 5 or 6 in the pecking order and we'll likely take only 4 to Russia.
Posted on 7/21/17 at 6:28 pm to txpurpleandgold
quote:I think it's likely, but not a sure thing.
Do you guys see Dwyer making the 23 man?
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