Preliminary Gold Cup Roster

[SAMCRO]

Until more kids are playing playground soccer and more unstructured soccer not much is going to change.

This!!! I’m pretty fortunate in that I get to travel internationally for work. Spend a fair amount of time in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and England. When driving to and from hotels, offices, airports, etc. especially once you get outside of the major cities, you see pickup soccer games happening all over the place. At school yards, parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, etc. No different than hoops in the US. Kids that are in to it are playing it constantly.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Still a top 5 player on the team

 

[Waquoit]

Still a top 5 player on the team

You must be talking about Toronto,

 

[Excalibur]

Still a top 5 player on the team

No, but when the choices on the current roster are him or Will Trapp, we are in kind of a bad spot. Of course, even if others (*cough* Adams) were healthy, they wouldn't be playing in their natural positions in place of Bradley . . .

 

[Jaker]

Until more kids are playing playground soccer and more unstructured soccer not much is going to change.

Pulisic only went to two practices a week, played like a game a week in season. He spent the rest of his time playing with his ball.

Zidane developed his skill playing pick up games.

Kids in America go to practice and then play Call of Duty or play basketball in the driveway.

Can't blame them. COD is fun!

 

[Jaker]

We have not had s great holding mid , maybe ever?

 

[CardiacAndre7]

No, but when the choices on the current roster are him or Will Trapp, we are in kind of a bad spot. Of course, even if others (*cough* Adams) were healthy, they wouldn't be playing in their natural positions in place of Bradley . . .

He can still pick out a pass better than anyone in our pool. The hate for him has been somewhat warranted because he was such a good player pre~2015, but in a do or die match I want him, Mckennie and Adams starting in midfield.

 

[UConnDan97]

He can still pick out a pass better than anyone in our pool. The hate for him has been somewhat warranted because he was such a good player pre~2015, but in a do or die match I want him, Mckennie and Adams starting in midfield.

This is exactly what I've been saying for about 2 years now.

The problem is not that Bradley is playing. The problem is that the US hasn't found someone to displace him yet. That's the biggest indictment of the past 5 years for US Soccer...

 

[SAMCRO]

Just watched the USWNT take a 1-0 lead over England on a nice header from Christen Press. First though thru my head was ‘Nice finish’. Second thought was ‘Zardes would have put that ball 4 feet high and into the third row behind the goal, unless he didn’t see it and it ricocheted off his face.’

 

[Excalibur]

This is exactly what I've been saying for about 2 years now.

The problem is not that Bradley is playing. The problem is that the US hasn't found someone to displace him yet. That's the biggest indictment of the past 5 years for US Soccer...

Adams could displace him, but the manager wants to play him out of position.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Adams could displace him, but the manager wants to play him out of position.

Who would be the staring 3 in midfield?

 

[ZooCougar]

Just watched the USWNT take a 1-0 lead over England on a nice header from Christen Press. First though thru my head was ‘Nice finish’. Second thought was ‘Zardes would have put that ball 4 feet high and into the third row behind the goal, unless he didn’t see it and it ricocheted off his face.’

Zardes scores that goal every time accidentally with his pancreas.

 

[UCFBfan]

This!!! I’m pretty fortunate in that I get to travel internationally for work. Spend a fair amount of time in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and England. When driving to and from hotels, offices, airports, etc. especially once you get outside of the major cities, you see pickup soccer games happening all over the place. At school yards, parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, etc. No different than hoops in the US. Kids that are in to it are playing it constantly.

I hear ya on this but we all know this won't likely ever happen here. Most kids, if they're outside, are playing a game of pick up basketball or football. Maybe playing baseball or whiffle ball. Those sports are far too engrained in this country unlike the major soçcer countries.

Now we have way better talent now and more playing overseas. However, we won't see to many pick up soccer games anywhere

 

[Jaker]

mexico/haiti, very entertaining

 

[meyers7]

Adams could displace him, but the manager wants to play him out of position.

Only problem with Adams in GB's "system" as the 6 is he's not quite up to par with Bradley or Trapp in passing. And GB really wants that. However, I think Adams covers more ground, better defensively and can move the ball forward better than either. But those long switching passes, not so much....at least at this point in his career. And GB really likes those long switching passes out to the wingers.

However, I'd be fine with him instead of either.

 

[meyers7]

Who would be the staring 3 in midfield?

I think most people would like to give Adams - 6, McKennie - 8 and Pulisic - 10 a try. May or may not work. Pulisic may need to be outside (7 or 11). But at least give it a shot. If it works you got your midfield for the next 10 years.

 

[ZooCougar]

Only problem with Adams in GB's "system" as the 6 is he's not quite up to par with Bradley or Trapp in passing. And GB really wants that. However, I think Adams covers more ground, better defensively and can move the ball forward better than either. But those long switching passes, not so much....at least at this point in his career. And GB really likes those long switching passes out to the wingers.

However, I'd be fine with him instead of either.

Yeah his long passing is pretty bad.

 

[Waquoit]

I think most people would like to give Adams - 6, McKennie - 8 and Pulisic - 10 a try. May or may not work. Pulisic may need to be outside (7 or 11). But at least give it a shot. If it works you got your midfield for the next 10 years.

I think most people are correct. But the Americans think they know better than the Europeans. I've decided that chip on their shoulder is hurting the USMNT's progress.

 

[Waquoit]

But those long switching passes, not so much....at least at this point in his career.

I've seen him make that pass a couple of times for Leipzig. Maybe that was it.

 

[meyers7]

Yeah his long passing is pretty bad.

I've seen him make that pass a couple of times for Leipzig. Maybe that was it.

Not saying he's "bad" at it, but it's not really his forte at this point in his career. And at this point in Bradley's and Trapp's careers, it's really their only forte.

But like I said I'd rather have him than them. Don't think GB agrees though.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

And at this point in Bradley's and Trapp's careers, it's really their only forte.

Yup, especially their back passes.

 

[businesslawyer]

I'm less focused on positions at the moment than on having 11 players of a quality that getting into the Final 16 with a shot at the quarters at World Cups gets back on the table.

In this tourney's starting 11, we really only have 2 -- Pulisic and McKinney. Fully healthy, add Brooks, Adams and Yedlin. That's 5. I think there is a chance Steffen will be really good by 2022. Hope Sargent and Weah develop into senior level national team players and then you have 8 and we can start to talk.

Let's see them go out and beat Jamaica tonight and we can go from there.

 

[Waquoit]

Not saying he's "bad" at it, but it's not really his forte at this point in his career. And at this point in Bradley's and Trapp's careers, it's really their only forte.

I'm going with the guy whose "not forte" is in the same ballpark as other guys fortes. And if Trapp is the answer, what's the question?

 

[whaler11]

Tim Ream was a boss in the Championship 3 years ago. Little odd seeing him as Captain tonight...

 

[SAMCRO]

Mexico did what Mexico does best last night, flops for a questionable PK (turns out to be the winner) in AET v Haiti.