1339
« on: March 15, 2017, 09:36:31 PM »
The USMNT roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers is out. The highlights:
1. Clint Dempsey's back. He's not going to let a little thing like a heart condition keep him away from the game for long, and despite what Bruce Arena said in January, he's going to be there, hopefully inching a bit closer to the all time scoring record (he needs 5 goals to tie Landon Donovan's mark).
2. DeAndre Yedlin's injury came at a really bad time. Timmy Chandler wasn't called in, likely due to the fact he was suspended for the first match anyway, so the RB spot is down to Geoff Cameron (which would push him out of the CB role he's been so good for us in), or good old Michael Orozco, who everyone hates, but to be fair has played well consistently starting for a good team in Liga MX.
3. It's sounding very much like Bruce intends to play Fabian Johnson in his more natural midfield spot, leaving left back to a guy who's talented but barely playing for his club (Jorge Villafana) or USMNT legend and AARP member DaMarcus Beasley.
4. No Benny Feilhaber or Sacha Kljestan, so either Bruce intends to play a 4-4-2 without an attacking central midfielder or the era of Christian Pulisic playing as the 10 for the USMNT is kicking off a bit earlier than I'd expected. I've gotta say, an attacking midfield of Fabian Johnson on the left, Pulisic in the middle, and Lleget/Nagbe/Arriola on the right is fun to think about.
EDIT: After seeing what Kellyn Acosta just did in the Champions League against Pachuca, he has to be putting himself in the discussion to start these games as well, especially if Bruce chooses to go with two d-mids.
Show Posts
