***USMNT Thread***

stay at dortmund for as long as you can imo

Spoiler

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CHERISH IT

Spoiler

 

I prefer our guys stay away from the EPL

 

Well at least Guzan is now getting away from the EPL.

 

Pulisic doesn't need to drop to BLII squad for minutes. He's worthy of a mid-table squad if he doesn't want to be a rotational player at Dortmund all next season.

Liverpool would not be a good move for him right now. I'm highly in favor of our youth going to Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium for playing time.

Stay the fuck away from Italy, England, Scotland, and France while you're young. Spain remains a massive question mark.

 

So he can get loaned out to Sunderland

 

I think getting solid minutes in the Championship is not a bad outcome.

 

When he could be getting solid minutes in the Bundesliga for a mid table squad?

I'm not sure the Championship has particularly helped any of our players develop.

 

I was making the comment generally, not with respect to Pulisic. Agree - he should be in the Bundesliga.

 

I don't know that Championship minutes have helped anyone. I'm sure I'm forgetting guys but Ream, Williams, Lichaj for starters didn't seem to show any benefit to having played in that league.

 

Who the fuck cares. He's staying at Dortmund and gonna be badass

 

Also, only American I've ever seen pull off an elastico in a game

 

Pulisic starting against Stuttgart.

 

fuck yeah

 

Youngest player to score 2 goals in Bundesliga.

 

Long time lurker sometimes poster, but Pulisic should probably be in the USMNT XI right? In limited action he's shown better attacking instincts than any one else we've got, IMO.

 

so many boners.

 

That's amazing.

 

https://streamable.com/8wez

 

That thread title lol

 

I didn't see Julian Green on the field for Bayern Munich did I? It was surely just the same haircut. This guy looks much bigger too. Did JAB start for Hertha today? I'm just now starting to watch.

 

No but maybe you saw Alaba?

 

Any USMNT on the tele today?

 

per Facebook USMNT, its sexist to not include the USWNT playing an intra-squad scrimmage when discussing the USMNT playing for their pro clubs.

 

Can we not do this here?

 

I know Rangers got promoted but did Zelalem play a big part of it. Scottish Second Division is only on the dark web I think.

 

Just happy he made it out alive. Scottish people celebrate a hard slide tackle more than they do most goals.

 

this happened 10 days ago. courtesy of Handcuffed from the youth prospects thread.

 

You'd think with how Scots are always so insistent that they aren't English that they wouldn't have adopted their ridiculous ways of calling a B division a "Championship". It's not a championship if a team is just as happy about finishing second as they would be finishing first.

 

Praise Protestsnt God that he doesn't have to go through the psychological trauma that would have come from missing in that high pressure scenario.

 

and what kind of asshole calls a B division a championship in the first place???

Spoiler

 

Some chatter now that Pulisic might not just make the copa squad, but might actually start.

Gonna enjoy that thought for a while before the inevitable kick to the balls.

 

I can't stand the "how could anyone justify leaving Wondo out at this point? He's top scorer!" bullshit.

We've seen it before. He is excruciatingly bad on the national team even when he's in better club form than anyone.

 

GOALKEEPERS
Typically an area of U.S. strength, the American goalkeeper corps arguably is saddled with an unprecedented amount of uncertainty. Veterans Tim Howard and Brad Guzan have been the top two in recent years, but the former has been on the bench at Everton (the club did announce Friday he would start the final two home games of the season), while the latter gets shelled at Aston Villa. Neither is ideal heading into a big tournament.

Heir apparent Bill Hamid remains sidelined with a knee injury, which paved the way for San Jose Earthquakes netminder David Bingham to get the call for the recent winter camp. Klinsmann will weigh his development, and that of U-23 goalie Ethan Horvath, against the experience of Real Salt Lake stalwart Nick Rimando when deciding on his No. 3.

Copa Locks: Brad Guzan, Tim Howard

Looking Good: David Bingham

In Contention: Ethan Horvath, Nick Rimando, Luis Robles, William Yarbrough


DEFENDERS
Klinsmann opted for youth in central defense at the 2015 Gold Cup, which turned out to be a mistake, and he’s been shuffling the back four ever since. That says as much about the manager’s indecision as it does the fact that no one really has emerged to claim a quasi-permanent starting role.

Still, there’s more depth in the middle than on the flanks, where Klinsmann will confront the temptation to deploy Fabian Johnson at left back rather than the Borussia Monchengladbach’s preferred spot in midfield. Brek Shea may be the best alternative. Tim Ream, Timmy Chandler and Edgar Castillo are among other international part-timers still in the picture. Santos Laguna’s Jorge Villafana probably should be.

Meanwhile, DeAndre Yedlin’s improved consistency on the right for Sunderland should make him the easiest defensive choice.

Copa Locks: Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, DeAndre Yedlin

Looking Good: Steve Birnbaum, Edgar Castillo, Omar Gonzalez, Michael Orozco, Brek Shea

In Contention: Kellyn Acosta, Ventura Alvarado, Timmy Chandler, Brad Evans, Matt Miazga, Michael Orozco, Tim Parker, Tim Ream, Jorge Villafana


MIDFIELDERS
Most of the intrigue surrounding Klinsmann’s roster will be focused on the midfield, where 17-year-old Christian Pulisic may be ready to contribute. Worry over “too much, too soon” seems quaint while the Pennsylvanian playmaker is earning meaningful minutes and scoring goals at Borussia Dortmund, one of Europe’s elite clubs.

If Pulisic can thrive amid the week-to-week pressure at the Westfalenstadion, he can handle playing for the U.S. His vision, touch and elusiveness are uncommon on Klinsmann’s squad and very well could prove useful on a team still lacking in midfield creativity. If there’s one risk worth taking on the Copa roster, it’s Pulisic.

And he may not even be that much of a risk.

“Getting that experience now and getting the feeling that he can compete with the older guys, it gives him a big boost confidence-wise. The fact that he’s in Dortmund in a very intense environment is very helpful because they put him in line right away,” Klinsmann said in a recent U.S. Soccer Q&A. “With the statements he sends out there—scoring his first goal for Dortmund, starting a game in the Bundesliga, getting valuable minutes in that very intense environment—he sends messages out toward what happens with the national team as well.”

The U.S. remains robust in the spine with captain Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman, although its unlikely the trio will simultaneously. Alejandro Bedoya often moves out wide even though he’s more naturally a central player, and Zardes frequently is withdrawn with the U.S. The LA Galaxy man is quick and enterprising but his touch and finishing remain inconsistent. MLS playmakers Darlington Nagbe and Lee Nguyen also could make an impact, while Graham Zusi signaled his return with a goal in last month’s win over Guatemala.

Copa Locks: Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Darlington Nagbe, Christian Pulisic, Gyasi Zardes

Looking Good: Ethan Finlay, Lee Nguyen, Graham Zusi

In Contention: Mix Diskerud, Ethan Finlay, Miguel Ibarra, Perry Kitchen, Alfredo Morales, Wil Trapp, Danny Williams


FORWARDS
Dempsey’s performance at last year’s Gold Cup demonstrated that he’s still the national team’s most reliable finisher, and Jozy Altidore will be desperate to make an impact after missing out on most of the Gold Cup and 2014 World Cup with injuries. They remain the most likely candidates to start at the Copa.

There’s not a ton of depth up front. Wood’s increasing comfort in a U.S. jersey and his spectacular season for Union Berlin (he has 17 goals in 28 2. Bundesliga appearances) make him a near certainty for the third spot, and perhaps even a starting role. Klinsmann then could decide to go with experience by opting for the in-form Chris Wondolowski (seven goals in eight games), or build part of the bridge to 2018 with the selection of Seattle Sounders rookie Jordan Morris.

Zardes typically plays up front for L.A. and might do so for the U.S. if Klinsmann opts for a 4-4-2.

Copa Locks: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris, Bobby Wood

Looking Good: Chris Wondolowski

In Contention: Jerome Kiesewetter

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/201...ica-roster-projection-usmnt-klinsmann-pulisic

 

Can we just move past Mix and Wondo? Enough is enough.

 

I think everyone does except for the most important person unfortunately.

 

Mix fucking sucks.