Soccer For US Pod Episode 94: USMNT Roster for Coachless September Friendlies

[Music] hey y'all welcome to another episode of soccer for us I am Bart and I am unfortunately going through the throws of a massive sinus infection that I picked up somewhere in the state of Indian and brought home with me to Georgia beautiful wonderful weekend on the banks of the typic Cano River but left me with some sinus issues that said we have US Men's National Team and a little bit of US Women's National team news to talk about and to discuss these things with me is a man who is probably also very perturbed that Naomi GMA is not on the short list for the women's bandor uh list it is Thomas a a US keeper Thomas how are you this evening good Bart how are you yeah I was a little surprised I mean she had some uh pretty big accolades at the uh at the Olympics you know lots of praise for her so it's it's a it's a significant Omission on that for Miami germa yeah that is really um the unfortunate came out today the unfortunate news uh we did have some US Women's National team players on that list uh they include Trinity Rodman Lindsay heran uh we also have Alysa nire and mallerie Swanson um oh and Sophia Smith sorry so five on the list elisire getting a nod which is kind of nice but no Naomi GMA that was that was weird but the other five I mean they seem fairly deserving when you look at you know a team that won a gold medal uh you know a a number of players who contributed significantly not only to the international success but even you look at like Lindsey heran and sopia Smith who conted to great success with their Club teams a good sign for the US women that we are in fact still back yeah it's great to see I mean you know welld deserving for sure so it's uh you know again the you know I think it's a good motivator for her I mean not that she really needs motivation but it's always you know every once in a while someone gets snubbed and sometimes it's good to see how they react so yeah we know we know what she has so well we we here at home understand completely um but that is that is news obviously um that you will probably be hearing about more from the women's soccer Community uh hopefully we're talking about one of those five getting named the actual bendor winner uh for the women's side all right well let's also discuss the fact fact that we have uh no coaching news but kind of coaching news to talk about and a 24 player roster to discuss so let's talk about Thomas the coaching news that isn't news but is news but hasn't been officially made news yet and that is the fact that Macio poino will probably should be is going to be named the next head coach of the US Men's National Team we basically know that negotiations are going on with us soccer and poch um and you know unfortunately as you know and and probably a lot of our listeners know it's not like um Cy parlo con or Matt Crocker can just say okay here's your your contract this does have to get approved by the US soccer board and those people it does also seem like there's some issues that he has to resolve with Chelsea so you know as much as we wanted this new manager in charge for the September window we will probably have to wait until October which is a little disappointing but the exciting part is this maeso pettino yeah it's it's frustrating I mean I it fan any you know any fan over the last you know you know since 2017 you know as you know rly so a little uh you know apprehensive about the whole situation and you just really want to make sure that it happens and I'm you know one of them I really you know I get a little nervous when things get delayed and you know because he could easily just change his mind right and I think that's where I get nervous um with the timing of it right and and so I think it does say a lot about his commitment to continue holding on I mean obviously you know we don't know any details about salary or those sorts of things so um you know you know who knows what that is could be you know very lucrative but it is I guess positive that he remains uh committed and hopefully an announcement this window can be made because I think it would be uh just a nice little um you know cherry on top to kind of head into you know not too many more windows until we get to 2026 World Cup it's it's rapidly approaching right I think if you look at the negatives of the is absolutely that as you mentioned we have very few Windows remaining until the next World Cup that we are hosting and the September window is a lost one um you know I'm not saying that these players needed to play Canada and New Zealand under Postino but you would have liked to have seen him conducting a camp beginning the installation of what his system will be uh well that whether that'll be as complicated as it has been as complex as his systems may be at the club level or if it's a simplified version of what he expects to play we don't know because he's not here but yeah the positive is he is still in the running if not still you know negotiating there's not another name listed for the manager search right now he's not looking at other jobs so seems like the commitment and the agreement is there it's just not signed uh but this is this is a big step for US soccer and I think even a bigger higher than Clansman uh even though Clansman himself was a World Cup winner and you know had previous International management experience with Germany I think this is a bigger hire because poch is a more proven manager uh has had success building teams out of not having the most resources I think that's fair to say and a guy who is well respected within the coaching Community this will probably be the best potential higher the US soccer Men's National Team has ever had obviously we don't know how that'll translate but this is a big get for Cindy parlo JT Batson and Matt Crocker yeah it's you know people wanted different managers people wanted different you know people with different resume and and experience and and I think you know his resume is there I think there's enough time to reflect in before being hired about what that expectation is and how he's going to meet that because we know he can get the best out of a group of talent we've seen him do that you know and I really feel that you know he probably would you know you I'm sure there's other options but I I I think he's a fit but we'll see I mean we'll see how the players respond to it I mean a lot of players comments you know over the last three weeks since you know since it was unofficially announced that it was going to happen you know are kind of telling to me because they're telling us that oh we needed this change we need someone to you know you know again you know to kind of put us in our place type of thing it's like you know they almost kind of felt like they're let controlled under Balter you know they to do whatever they wanted to once they got through 2022 and so like that's telling to me because they're all kind of saying the same message and maybe they're it's you know scripted within the players but um but to me it that's not the scripting you would necessarily want to say Hey you know we need to you know we need to be led and all these other things and so I think it's a good sign with that being said you know these you know these players need to produce the coaching needs to produce and and I'm excited to see what it looks like you know there's some windows here we got competitive matches in November for for Nations League where you know we could really me put things together and hopefully you know see what his combinations are going to be in his formations yeah I think that's actually a good point that November is Nations league so he does get a window before that and and you and I both know that that that Nations League window will not be um the most competitive right we saw what yes El Salvador no Trinidad excuse me Trinidad and Tobago uh last time around was was not an easy Tie by any stretch mainly because sergino D getting a red card but it's not a heavyweight bout by any straight stretch of the imagination it's a mid-tier conaf opponent um but that said it it is a good way to get him introduced to the competitive nature of this region and get the players introduced to his system in a competitive environment um since he doesn't have a whole lot of time my my question and this is where I've been trying to think of Greg burh halter I think did a lot of good things with this group for the 2022 cycle I think you and I both agree that he he got what he could do the most of with this group right and it was just very clear we needed to move on it was very clear almost immediately that we needed to move on for Balter after he was rehired um so what are those what are a couple things you think just patino being here does to elevate the program well I mean it definitely again it gets a it I think it does a couple things I think one depending on how they decide to structure it it CS the pressure on the manager he's a big name you know he's a bigname manager and it takes maybe some of the the light off the players right kind of when cinman was here right he you know and in the beginning I think he managed himself okay and then his ego got out of control and so this is a small window of time and punch can really take on that load of the potential you know face of US soccer face of the US Men's National Team in doing that um you know he can take some of the pressure off the players you know when it comes to um you know anything that comes up you know within the team and you know he's he's experienced that at the highest level in the Premier League so he knows what that is he knows how to respond to that and and you know he's going to put a little bit of a show on I'm sure uh in terms of that and he's going to you know he's gonna bring new fans into it as well and I think he's GNA do that you know because of you know his background and his success you know in in Europe and I think that's important right so do you think this validates the US men's national team in the eyes of a lot of the kind of I mean for lack of a better term Euros snobs I'm not using that as a derogatory but you know that type of fan here in the states even yeah I think it does I think it I think it's important to have that and I think that's where you know this whole you know it it takes us to another tier in terms of how the world looks at us right like you because I talked to I've got you know friends in South America I've got friends over in Europe and they have said they were shocked with how did in 2022 and they thought B bur halter did all an all right job yeah and then a couple years into it they're like what the hell is he doing now like you know he did so well and he showed well but now he's he's he's screwing it up and so yeah like and so and so then it it can change very quickly right now it's like well they have the talent what's going on why can't it be managed anymore and so um again that part of that second cycle management you know piece of it but I think this is very crucial to to getting the most out of these players they respect you know what he's done they will respect what he's done you know um because he has been successful and he has coached some some teams and coached him up that's the thing coach him up and team right and this is this team needs that that yeah they need that to you know I mean because if if heaven forbid he can coach him up and they can get to the World Cup final even if they lose right you I mean this guy will never have to buy a drink in the United States right like and that's that's what I've wanted for this cycle right for so many reasons and and that's why it's critical to do this because you got to pull in a whole group of fans you know if they can show well right if they can redeem themselves from a cop America and and now say wow they are you know you know a nation that is here and here to stay and and then at that point then you can get the next tier of better managers and going forward so you know I think it's it's a it's a big deal it's it's a big deal I'm excited for it um you know while I'm still nervous about you know how it's all come to play because I think he really needs to keep it simple he has such a keep it simple like you know you want to use a formation whatever but you know he's got to get a feel for the players I'm assuming he's been watching a ton of video but you know over the last three weeks but who knows well I mean the reality is a lot of these guys he's had to scout in some way shape or form as a European manager having to scout them for competitions um you know I don't think they've necessarily crossed paths but one of those like you just watch them they're on your radar um but I think something that immediately this hire and PCH can bring to the team is the standard raises and I think we saw under bur halter not not that the guys didn't respect him but they felt comfortable underneath him um and for some reason he was not able to hold them as accountable as they needed to be held and that allowed the level to slip in important moments and the focus to slip in important moments and you know I know it's not as simple as he shouts at them a little bit more or he gets angrier but he's going to just hold them to a different standard a higher standard and expect them to conduct themselves in the most professional manner um I'm not sure that GRE Greg berhalter wasn't doing that but it's just the matter of you're playing for a guy who has coached the best I mean literally he's coached some of the best players in the world um and that means he has a different expectation of what his players can and will do now on the flip side I think he's gonna have to downgrade his expect expectations a little bit as what happens when you go from a club to an international management position um again that's probably the really only negative I can say about him from coaching standpoint is he doesn't have International Management coaching experience but he does need to play for Argentina so he knows what it's like but you know it's not like you can say oh well I'm not getting what I want out of my left back so now I got to go find another one in the transfer market you know he will have to make what he has better right he'll have to coach these players up but I I do feel confident he can do that um but I I think just that that immediate standard being increased being the level of expectation increasing is something that these guys need and I think they're up for it I mean we've got guys playing at top clubs um they know what it's like to play up to a standard and now they're going to be held to that well and that's the thing like they have someone that's done it right it's not like you know again I I think the relationship with the coaching fan you know it flipped it went from you know B Because bur halter was tough at times he made you know he made decisions that people didn't like about potic against Canada B you know pulling him off and all these different things and I think I think you know after they kind of succeeded I guess in the eyes of you know us soccer or whatever was at the World Cup it kind of was Easy Street a little bit right you know everyone felt like okay we got to this level we're here and and it was like there was no going down from there even though it's like well no you have to maintain this level it was like okay we' we've it was almost like a video game like okay cool we got to level seven now we're working on level eight when and the reality is you have to continually work to stay at that level and that and get better and Balter didn't really see that yeah I I just don't think he could do I don't think he had the the IQ to do it I mean you know so IQ I just don't think he did I don't think he knew what to do next like I think he got he was able to get to the certain point and say okay here we are but then he kind of he just didn't have the Playbook he just didn't have the intelligence or the experience how whatever whatever you wanted to list it he just didn't have it and I think that's where Ponch is gonna be able to just bring a new light to it again going back it's it's it's fresh thing it's again it's G to keep these players on their toes too yeah right I mean you know we're gonna go through the roster I don't think there's any real surprises based on certain things you know on this there's some nice things but I think you know it's going to make players think oh gez you know I want to play in the World Cup at home right this is you know this is it you know it's 30 years since the last time we played on home soil is it gonna be another 30 years you know till it happens again so this is it for these players they want to play in home soil so you better be ready to do that you know get your bodies conditioned ready and fit it's and avoid injury to do it and I'm calling out Wester McKinny because he's the he's the one to me that just he's a very important part of this team but he has to be mentally and physically fit to produce at that high level um you mentioned on Twitter uh follow him at uske keeper about poch needs to focus on building the depth and getting the most out of the current usmnt player pool while looking for as many quality dual Nationals as possible um there are a few and we'll talk about one specifically in this roster but I think I'm going to push back a little bit and just say that I think there are some dual Nets that could really help us but I don't really think that there's a that to my knowledge now I'm not going through the you know 23 and me and ancestry.com listings here uh but there's one or two that absolutely he he should go out and try to recruit and that will make us better but I think your point of how do you build the depth and that's my question is how do we build that depth um because it can't just be oh bring more players into Camp because as you and I have talked about that sounds great but the reality is every player you bring into Camp is more money and also it just changes the algebra of how you're running you know training sessions and everything um so how does he help build that depth uh behind the you know 15 guys that we think are the the starters plus first off the bench well I think I think bringing the players in and seeing how they work with one another I mean Wy is a good example he's on this roster I think you know he's made a move to Europe he's 19 right he's on that Fringe of saying hey does he have it can he help and contribute you know to this team right like you look at again I always go back to O with Beasley and Donovan right those players came in you know two years is right before the O2 World Cup and then both of them became very critical pieces to that World Cup so it's he's got to be able to try to identify that by bringing those players into camp and to see what they can do um you know with that Core Group where they fit can they be dynamic you know can they come and do those and can they fill in because you know you know our depth is not great but part of that is is that Balter just got used to using the same guys like you know he got he's B halter almost to a fault like didn't bring the guys in too early when he started you know thank you Nick Lima and then and then he relied on too much now and didn't bring in other players so we're past you know this is where you start looking at those players so bur halter should have been doing it if he was still here and pontino needs to be doing that too when he looks at where these holes are Center back huge right some young center backs be careful goalkeeper look I there's some great young goalkeepers out there but I'm sorry they're all playing in the third division stop it not a single one of them are in my opinion ready to take over right stop it with that I I would love it but stop it then I mean like you know fine cap tie him bring him in you know third keeper you know make that a make that a destination but you've got to find those combinations you've got to give them opportunities to play um and even in some meaning matches right like you've got to take those chances and hopefully now we'll see expanded rosters to 26 for tournaments then maybe these players will get you know their Gold Cup I don't know what that's going to look like because it keeps getting jumped around but that is a tournament that you can try to get you know as a you know showcase for some of those you know 23rd 24th 25th type players on the rosters well let's switch gears and talk about the roster how about that um as I said the PCH news is at this point it it can only be talked about as a rumor because he hasn't been officially there but I think we all know that it's going to happen um as you and I both expressed we'd love for it to happen like before this window starts so that maybe he could be introduced maybe that uh Tuesday night game uh in Cincinnati that would be kind of cool right um if if PCH is introduced during that game but we have 24 players on a roster that Mikey varus the u20 coach has put together um I don't think there's any indication that anyone other than Mikey and Matt Crocker put together this roster so I do just want to put that out there beforehand and I think is also worth noting that there are several guys on this roster who are first teamers starters probably but are either a hurt or B kind of in that camp of like hey bud just take caress this is not an important time for you to be with this national team so with that said let's run through the position groups goalkeepers Ethan Horvath from Cardiff City Diego Koken from FC Barcelona Patrick schy from Columbus Crew and Matt Turner from Crystal Palace uh schy has a cap he got that back in the uh January window for this group but Diego Ken the new guy playing at Barcelona uh on the second team there been in that Youth Academy uh or that youth system for a number of years is probably the the Marquee name that people like got really excited about when this roster dropped should we be excited or should we just go oh that's cool because we're probably not gonna see him actually play I mean I think I think I feel both on that I think it's cool I think uh I I I mean look I love a good goalkeeper but you know and I actually you know to plug an article I wrote about the goalkeepers um you know kind of break down the whole piece of it a little bit what our options are and kind of the history a little bit of like what it takes again goalkeepers their their careers you know uh primes are very different right you know right now Turner and horbath are kind of there and I you know and potentially they could be there in 2030 and I know people aren't goingon to want to hear that but that is a possibility that a 36 year old goalkeeper is going to start in a World Cup game that's not far fetched at all and so uh to see him he's 18 years old you know I just you know it' be great if he got a you know some time in there but I I don't see it happening I think it's great to bring him into Camp see the culture be be involved in in the team kind of see what it is I think that's great for dual Nationals right they need to do more of that with ones that are willing to accept that invitation to camp and just get them a taste of what it is because I don't know I know he's played a couple at a couple levels the youth levels the US um but uh what U7 u19 maybe I don't remember maybe u20 but either way he is you know still internationally been with the US uh and come with national team yeah yeah to come with a national team right to to come to the national team to be with some big names is a great opportunity and a great experience for him so um yeah I'm excited for it um that being said I don't expect um we'll see much from him in this window but who knows you know it's these are what FR are for yeah I mean it's he's definitely a guy to watch in the future I don't think he'll be playing much now granted that could completely change again none of this matters um I mean I it kind of matters to me that we beat Canada but doesn't really matter um the other guy that I do want to talk about is Patrick schy uh 23-year-old got all the minutes in the Olympics whether I liked that or not is another story but it seems like US soccer has identified schy as the next goalkeeper to kind of build up and maybe not take anyone's place I don't think he's at that level yet but at 23 he is starting to get to uh that age where he should start showing actual signs of being able to be International caliber goalkeeper um obviously with Columbus Crew He has played a lot of high-profile matches which to me was the reason he started more over or played over slonina is no offense to slonina but his teams have not been very good and he hasn't necessarily played a whole lot of meaningful matches outside of just you know maybe a rivalry in club match whereas shy has played in a conquer C Champions Cup Final MLS Cup final he just played an O League's Cup Final um I'm not saying I'm all in on shy but I am kind of all in on the idea of this 23y old young goalkeeper who's winning a lot of trophies at Club level let's get him into the mix you know yeah I would agree I mean I think you it's the proper timing the proper progression again he may just you know it may have not amount to anything we've seen it again we've seen this happen with with certain keepers he could be a third keeper for his whole career with a national team or he could flame out and just you know not get the opportunities but I think you know he's you know he's getting the time he's you know it's the next progression step for him to see how he looks now he could play very you know in in one of these matches I don't you know again all depends on what they're trying to accomplish in this window but uh yeah it'll be how it plays out I I do and again this is where you know he needs to make a career change if he if he's looking at the national team and say look you know what's going to give me the best chance to do that you know is going to Europe gonna do that because again for Matt Turner he'd be better off playing the MLS right now than sitting on the bench for Crystal Palace um but you know that's I think that's you know the life of a goalkeeper right you know either there's you have you have too many good ones or not enough good ones right and so he's uh he's going to have to just make that decision because he's having a prettyy solid year for for Columbus for sure I think he has what nine shutouts through all competitions I believe yeah yeah I mean look I think people can Bemo the fact that Gaga slonina has not really been given a fair look if you will from US soccer but just we don't see training and as you and I both know there's more the goalkeeping than just stopping shots and you know Patrick schy maybe has some of those I don't want to call them intangibles because they do matter as a goalkeeper but non just goalkeeping skills which by the way I think schy and slonina are there there's not a whole lot of difference between the two sorry to bur some of these people's bubbles but playing in Big Time matches getting the trust of a of a a coach who a lot of people rever uh leading or at least being the backbone of a team that is winning so much in MLS to me that means a lot and I'm glad shult is kind of getting getting put into the position to learn from Turner and horbath and continue to be part of the Men's National Team pool his time in the youth is done right that's the other thing that we've talked about the progression a linear progression if you can he's done with you national teams he just played in the Olympics he's 23 can't do it anymore so get him into the senior national team see what he can produce yeah it'll be to how it pans out because it's we don't have a lot of time between now and in the world cup so and I'm sure you know there's a handful or more than that yelling and saying well we need to bring in Chris Brady we need to bring in gagas lenina you know they need to be the third keeper uh or they need to be the first keeper I don't know but but there are a group of fans that believe that that Turner and horbath aren't going to cut it and I get it I don't I don't fully disagree but I also say well what you know you know you still have to be playing at at higher levels of you know of you know competition third division is not it and that's where Gaga is playing right now and so and you know he hasn't wowed me and again to be very clear and I have I haven't seen it personally but no Keeper in this pool right now can play with their feet so you can say all day you want about Turner not playing with his feet supposedly coaching can do that at a higher level but again he's 18 so just you're not gonna throw an 18y old or 20 year old whatever in is your starting World Cup it's not Tony Miola it's not 1990 right like you're not gonna do that right and I mean that's gonna be a question that you're also going to have to ask of the new head coach is how much do you want your goal to be playing with their foot with their feet excuse me um you know I don't think that was really asked a lot of from Turner but it was asked enough to where we had to talk about it uh that's also just the modern game now your goalkeepers are going to have to distribute in some capacity um I just I do want to kind of wrap up the goalkeeper talk and just saying that like yes I understand that horth and um Turner aren't necessarily in club positions we love but I don't think there's any doubt that they're the two best options we have um and that's just the unfortunate reality of where we are right now moving on to Defenders Austin trusty fresh off a move to Celtic Marlin FY from standard Le in Belgium Christopher Lund at palmo recently promoted to Sia I believe Mark McKenzie at too another new transfer Tim ream transferring to Charlotte FC Chris Richards at Crystal pal Joe SC at bario M gladbach and Caleb Wy on his move to Chelsea than straber um you're going to probably notice that there's no Jedi that's a big one H obviously sergino dust still injured so that leaves some fun competition during this window for left back and right back yeah I'm you know look Jedi's healthy he's there and that's been clear he played the position who's the backup I'm not convinced on Looney I'm just not he you know he's had one he hasn't had a great amount of opportunity to play with the national team so this gives them an opportunity um and you have you know Wy who I'm excited to see and and he didn't make the roster but John tolken is you know nipping at the fields of a little bit too so that's a good thing and it's important to see that and I and as far you know as far as the right back goes I want to see FY out there he's been a player that has been producing for a while um and I he just he got what one or two Collins never has yet to get capped I believe so I think this is a good opportunity for him we know what Joe SC is right like it's fine he's good to have there but you have to have a match and I would almost prefer I don't know which match I I really don't care what match it is actually but I want to see these players in there it you know against New Zealand you could should be able to roll out just about any players on this squad and go ahead and get a result a winning result right and so I think that's critical in this and that's why we're doing this I we're not doing this to see you know Joe scall again right like we know what Joe scall offers and but we don't know what FY offers he's 25 years old you know he's in a you know he's he's you know at a at an age and a league level that he's playing you know pretty consistently you know every week want to see it you know Wy may be a different conversation he's 19 so so maybe you give him a half or something you know one of these matches or or both of the matches for that said but you you know you have to just you have to Tink around you know with all these pieces I don't want to see Richard's ream we've seen Richard's ream right I want to see you know Richards with you know McKenzie or trusty right I want to see that grouping work together and see you know because that you know was a very big weakness at the goal I mean at the C America we this you know the defense didn't look great they look disjointed at times um and you know it's again I keep saying but that's what these windows are for that's what you have to do is go ahead and experiment it's okay to you know not have pretty soccer you have to these are the small opportunities you have to go and play and they've got the right players in there right I really believe they do um except for you know I I ream I you know again I think he is still very good but I think we're we're already seeing his Decline and now that he's not going to be playing at a higher level in Europe I think it's gonna slowly or maybe quickly be evident right at 36 years old soon to be 37 years old you know you know with the uh return to MLS so I do want to say about ream I think him moving back to MLS is a good thing for the US men national team and US soccer as a whole because he is a guy who established himself in Europe was a very good player for Fulham for a number of years as well as you know when he finally got back into the mix US Men's National Team he's at the age where moving back to MLS makes a whole lot of sense and I think that can improve his team and hopefully show MLS Defenders how to play a more if you will enlightened Center back style um but I'm with you let's move on we need to see trusty and McKenzie guys who didn't get looks by the way in cup America let's see them in this window um you know couple thoughts on Marlon FY as well he's been at leage for three years he's been a consistent starter for them at this age at 25 he's kind of that perfect as you like to call that Gap player right where um maybe this is his only real window of opportunity to make the team as a backup right back um you know even if it's just being in the mix because who knows if D or or um scall will be healthy come 2026 obviously we want that but injuries happen um this is a great opportunity for him and there are some other younger right backs that show a lot of promise but none of them have been able to consistently do it in a decent league in Belgium and so I do want to see at least 60 minutes from fossy in this window I'd love to see a full 90 in one game or at least 45 in one game um and I hope we get to see that also on the left side because both Wy and Lund have something to possibly show uh especially with Mikey vars who has coached Wy maybe we'll see you know a little bit more balance in the minutes given to those guys yeah it's it's it's critical to to do that I mean these these guys have um kind of been on the fringes for a while to your you know to your point you know with right back I think you know Brian Reynolds is is a name that you know could have been called in to this Camp as well I think um he's a player that's up and coming um on the younger side but you know I think think he'll have his opportunities here um to do that as well and then you know one one I'll other one I'll mention that again it's more you know recency bias but you know Rich Le Desma he's been playing right back for his Club over in Europe PSV I believe um and uh he doing it very well so he's a player that you know many had uh mentioned as you know maybe an option to call him this roster but either way whoever's in here they need to be given an opportunity to to again I think start the match and get out there and and you know 60 Minutes to your point right that's a good number get out there you know give them those opportunities you maybe you rotate the experience with scall and and you know lond or whatever to you know with Wy and bossy how you want to do that and just get that combination out there so they can you know have that just have that real quality look hey y'all it's Bart jumping in with a brief post edit comment we recorded this episode on Wednesday night the night before the morning that we learned that Gio raino would be departing camp with a growing strain so he is not part of this team for this window unfortunately we talked a lot about him in this particular segment so forget all of that and pretend like we said something really smart that you agree with well let's move up the field to the midfielders because this is also a position group missing a couple players um first off let's just say Tyler Adams not here Wester mckenny not here so that does open up some potential well it does one or two things and we'll talk about those players so uh Johnny cardoso from Royal ba Luca deor from salgo Aiden Morris from midlesboro yunas Musa from AC Milan giena from Marussia Dortmund somehow still there and Malik Tillman uh Malik Tilman sorry from einhoven um so let's talk about that I think let's address address the McKenna absence first I think it's a no doubt that Gio is probably going to be a starter he was a starter during Gold Cup or during cup America he was starting in Nations League all these things I think it's very clear that Gio re is a starter for the US Men's National Team now if he doesn't start both games I'm not going to like throw pit throw fit because it's whatever but who do you think benefits from mcken not being there is it Musa or Tillman or Luca delatori delator is I I I may be wrong in I think he's just coming off injury I don't know if he's even played I was I was a little shocked he was fully involved yeah yeah yeah I don't know why but whatever I want Luca to continue to develop because we need some Midfield backup but yeah I mean mcken is not there so someone's going to have to take those minutes yeah I'm hoping to see if I was picking the Midfield I'm hoping to see maybe a Johnny Musa Raina type of like you know in one of the matches right I I want to see um how that combination I want to see Johnny in there and I think because he's just been doing so well with his Club I want to see him get more minutes um with this group um but Tilman is would be an interesting one to throw in there as well to see you know to have two real attacking midfielders you know I would love to see Gio and tman together like honestly give me Le and Gio together like yellow let's just go score some goals you know yeah because tilman's been he's been he's been doing so well I mean and so he I think he's really earned that start as well so you know it really depends how they line up but I think any any one of those combinations are going to be good but to see Tillman you know partnered with another you know dynamic midfielder like Raina I think would be fun to watch in either of these matches you mentioned Johnny um obviously without Tyler Adams um Johnny kind of established himself rightfully so as the backup six um no Tyler Adams at all this Camp is this a time where you just give all the minutes to Johnny that you can I mean within reason it's still friendly you don't want to run him out there you know 80 minutes but um is this a like hey give them as many minutes as possible in this Camp I think you have to I mean like you know he's he continues chipping away we see signs of it even with a national team now like it's like okay he's here let's give him those minutes like let's see what he can do with this group you know with these surrounding talents of players because you you have to see it now because you can't I'm sorry I don't think you can rely on Adams anymore like to me he's just he's becoming unreliable in terms of his health and and uh it's concerning to me because I I actually you know he's again I've said it before but it's he's the John O'Brien of this of this you know you know of this era like he's a he's a great when he's healthy but Jes him he's not healthy enough right like I mean and I think that's the problem he's just not healthy he can't be relied on um and I we definitely don't know that he'll even be around for Nations league in November like that's my big like the immediate is will he be healthy for that not even matters you know I'm not even cting I'm saying we'll see in March like best yeah I mean like there's no there's no in my opinion there's no point in rushing it back to the national team take these windows try different things and when they matter so Johnny's gonna get Camp cupcake in January got it okay right you know what I mean so like like that's that's my thought on that and you he's got to get those he's got to get those minutes he's got to get those touches do you think it's worth because Aiden has started the championship very well I think that needs to be like very much said he he has looked and produced a lot so that's good he's looked good and produced but is it worth giving him a significant portion I don't mean 10 minutes the end of the match I'm talking like oh yeah Johnny you go 68 against 30 because I I would rather just give Johnny 80 minutes a match you know yeah I think need to because I he I'd have to go back and look at his numbers on that because he's just not his what 15 Caps or whatever it is is minimal in terms of the minutes he's done that I can't he's got Johnny's got 15 caps but it just feels like all of them have been like yeah like like you know subbed in like you know maybe started and came up at halftime like I'd have to look at his uh if I can find it real quick um national team minutes because it's not a lot you know what I mean and I think right it's important to see uh to see him in that you know in in these moments over these next three windows I think if he's healthy he's in Camp then he needs to be he's play of the 15 caps he's played less than 500 minutes right so that's that's not a lot of minutes at all per appearance and yeah I think at this point we need to see him that's that's like 30 three minutes a match right like that's yeah and that's including matches that he may have started yeah yeah that's not a lot him play him a lot yeah yeah um all right well again you know I think this Midfield group I I feel confident in all six of these guys called up right even though Aiden plays a little bit I'll be like oh yeah I think he can do a job um he's the one I'm least excited to see but I'm also a little intrigued to see how uh I I feel like the last time we saw him was in some not good performances so I am curious to see he has truly taking a step up now that he's in the championship yeah because the last time I remember seeing him was was in that goal cup and then he left right and wasn't and he couldn't be replaced and I I I don't really remember I don't think it ever came out of the circumstances of why he left because he is a he was a Canadian dual National and he did get his cap tied um at that goal cup so and I don't know if he's played with him since but if it was it was probably a k but um he did get that friendly I believe back in was it was it the one in January yeah he did IIA yeah that would have been the the last time before the Gold Cup because you know I again I think um yeah he's shown well I'm impressed with him I you know I love the move for him this is this is kind of what I you know see for the for players in the MLS the move he made the timing you know in his career where he made it to just give him that push can I do it can I can I make it so far he's looked good and I think he's definitely earned the uh the call in this this window though so I expect to see him a little bit you know it's your point 10 to 15 minutes a match all right let's look at the forwards uh six of those guys called up Brendan Aronson back at leads United feren balagan with Monaco Ricardo Pepe from PSV einhoven Christian pulk from AC Milan justos Sergeant with Norwich City and Wright with Coventry City now uh there a lot of Strikers um two Wingers maybe three if you count brendo or three if you count uh I am curious how this plays out because we don't have Tim wayam he's hurt uh we don't have any other what I would call Natural Wingers um besides psic and and this is an interesting group I am very curious how these things will be will play out let's just put it that way um I would like to see start on the left and pisk start on the right what do you think about that yeah I think that that that would you know be a uh preferential you know you know three attackers on the front air and I mean I think the other option that you could look to only because you have so many Strikers in this pool but I don't again I don't who's running it would you would you do two Strikers up we've seen it before hasn't been overly successful um but I maybe tuck p in under you know underneath him there attacking midfielder and then you know who knows on the you know on the Midfield piece of it but I think um I think that's probably what we'll see I'll see on the left B on the right uh Bagan starting up top I mean I feel like we need to kind of run with him as the starter but I'm also in the mood of to see if everyone can prove it um but I think he had a really good C America he did he looked good he's struggling with his Club right now um I'm I I I've always loved jar Sergeant for ever you know for forever ever since he played in those two World Cups as a 17y old U7 and the U U7 and the u20 in the same in the same calendar year um and he's doing quite well with his Club I think and he's healthy KN on W this window yeah I mean listen we're in can't but good Lord stay healthy through this window please right you know what I mean like maybe maybe he gets maybe he earns a start in my opinion look two goals and assist already in four matches this year for Norwich he had 16 goals last year in 30 matches in 20 22 23 13 goals in 41 matches I mean we know he can put the ball in the back of the net we just haven't been able to see it for the US Men's National Team yeah just that it's just that can you know again he's had some he's been unlucky too with his health and I think that's um you so I guess I just I I just kind of want to see him out there to see what he can do again split the starts I think I think you should I think you're gonna have a core group of you know I don't know in this case I think you might have only a core group of like five players maybe six players that that start both matches and then you and then you piece the players around them looking at like psic Gio yeah uh Johnny Richards Richards yeah and then probably Turner yeah yeah that's a good point I mean I I I think balagan is still my number one it's just more about as we kind of talked about with Johnny is giving Josh minutes back with the national team that he's Miss because of his injuries um but also like if he if balagan starts and Josh is coming off the bench at you know 60 70 minutes that works for me too I just would like to see him get more minutes with the national team because I want to see if he can take what he's done with his club which is score a boatload of goals and do that in a US shirt again right and I think the one thing again we've heard a lot of rumors that Ponch is at Camp which we have not not been confirmed and he's very involved in Camp and going to be very involved in all these things right we don't it's all rumor we don't know have any confirmation of that um but if that's the case and he is you know playing a role you know behind the scenes then you know I think that has to be you know considered in the conversation in terms of who plays where and how they do that because you know I would assume he's going to want to run a formation out there that fits his style of play or his vision for the national team and so he's gonna want probably want to see players in those positions um and maybe in both matches again to your point I think you I think you have to split it up yeah I think the other thing you're legitimately concerned about this window um and this is why FIFA eliminated this window for the women by the way they did not for the men I don't really see too much value in this window but whatever um a lot of these guys are also getting kind of they they need to get back to Fitness slash they need to be rested a little bit so they can go back to their Club teams and like continue to play the season so uh a lot of this is just split the minute so that guys can go back to their Club teams not dead tired you know right and so and to that point I believe I I may have a timing wrong on this but I believe in the 2030 cycle they're going to make they're going to push back this window until mid to later September and it's actually make it a double window it's gonna be four matches in a you know it's gonna have a September you know late and an early October so they got four match window so they're going to eliminate essentially the October window um come 2027 I think is yeah what I what I had SE which to me makes sense um I think the the early September September is the problem with this window right like it's too soon the women would have played in late September that's usually how this worked they were you know a couple weeks into the month that probably works I love the idea of the double window um because I I think I would rather see fewer windows but longer windows for the international game to allow teams to actually coach together and also it does give them a little bit of a break from their Club teams that you know a lot of these guys have been asking for as well so if you're playing four when four games over three weeks that's not a whole lot of time um off from your club team but it's also enough time to like kind of rust recuperate get re-energized and then go back to club and and feel better about yourself yeah these are small windows I mean they're just they're nine days I think you know it's not you know and depending on when the players get over there and what they can done I I love the the concept of a longer window I think it helps any national team build that build a continuity build to put things more in play have four matches or whatever it is because some of these windows I think the woman didn't they schedule I think was it the October window didn't they Dr they three in that October window yeah yeah thir excuse me third one is against Argentina and Louisville so so excited to see major US soccer team going back to going to Kentucky uh playing in a beautiful stadium that I passed twice on the interstate going up to Indiana this Labor Day weekend which one I think is really really cool that you can see an actual Soccer Stadium from the interstate in a mid- major city that's Co it looks a beautiful Stadium I mean it really does yeah I got to walk around it during Co I drove up to uh my cousins in Illinois and wasn't open because uh no one was soccer at that point in time and I got to walk around it was really pretty um let's just wrap up this US Men's National Team talk real quick obviously we played Canada on September 7 and then New Zealand on the 10th uh how how much like on a scale of one to to to nine um how badly do you want to beat JY Marsh in this friendly I I I I want for nil I just I just want I is it Jesse Marsh or is it Canada that you want to beat so badly because it's it's really both because it's both it's two there's two different motives behind it right Canada you know the cheating bastards like you know video videoing and saying they're all the the best and whatever it's like I'm not sure what advantage you get from that but like to me like you know that that frustrates me and it didn't seem like the men really got any penalty from this um unlike the women but they were doing it if not before more than the women yeah right so like and and Marsh a little bit I you know Marsh has always rubbed me the wrong way as a player as a coach like I I appreciate his his cander and I appreciate you know you know a lot of the stuff he's done but like like to me I just you know he's rubbed me the wrong way I just you know it would have been so much sweeter if Ponch was the coach um in that but if Mikey Vargas can can get that result either way would be be pretty nice because I think Canada's a little you know getting a little too big for their britches for some reason I think they kind of um so we we'll we'll see I mean I think you know I think he they're riding High finishing fourth at Copa America but in reality if you actually look at the look at the numbers they you know really didn't perform you know all that great you know to get to that that uh finish yeah I just want to beat them because same reason I always want to beat Mexico y'all want to pretend to be our Rivals and be ready to get smoked when we when we play you you know and they should be and they should beat them I mean they really should you know I mean our best is better than their best this is that's legit um all right well I don't have anything left to say about this roster uh we will talk to you all after these friendlies I hope that I am in a better voice and better nasal passages uh Thomas thanks for joining me anything left that you need to plug uh no I think we're good um yeah I'm excited check out writing at chasing a cup.com so there's that yeah yeah appreciate that yeah I've got a uh goalie one out there I did uh just about that and yeah I I'm not sure my next piece is I haven't had a uh nothing come to me yet but it's uh if anyone has any recommendations on something you know I just the research takes a long time to to put together but it's it's fun to do it all right well uh again follow him on Twitter at uske keeper thanks everyone for listening I'm Bart I'm out [Music]