I'm not sure I follow the arguments. So the USA absolutely dominates Jamaica, start to finish, allowing them almost no possession and only a couple of chances, but the US squad isn't any good. Doesn't matter, I suppose that Jamaica just beat Mexico and that we just beat Costa Rica handily. Was CR at full strength? No. But they were closer to it than the USA was.
Has a U.S. team ever rolled through a Gold Cup as easily as this one did? With a B-level roster? I suspect that people are nostalgic for favorite players of the past. Yes, a young Reyna would be great and would let us move Pulisic to the wing. But at many other spots this squad is improved over many of the past. Gonzales has really improved playing without Brooks, and has taken on more responsibility. Besler has been good. Nagbe is legit. Morris is one of the most potentially effective attacking subs I can recall, and he even plays defense, so you can plug him in a tied game without adding risk.
I really can't recall any U.S. team playing as aggressively, with as much pressure as this one does. Maybe it will backfire in Russia, maybe it won't. Goakeeper is the spot that concerns me most. They look cohesive, and play pretty well as a team out there, except Zardes. I would like to see somebody besides Acosta in the sub center mid role. I think Nagbe got an audition because Acosta did little besides commit fouls.
