Gio Reyna is back, Noahkai Banks…is not! Analyzing Poch’s latest roster | USMNT Weekly

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2:25Welcome to USMNT Weekly on the Total Soccer Show. It's our regular foray into all things men's national team. On this episode we're going in depth on the March roster announcement. We're going position by position, giving Alvergdick on the squad the strengths, the weaknesses, the hits, and the misses, etc. My name's Ryan Bailey. Joining me today, hello Taylor Rocco, are you adequately dressed for this podcast? Our viewers on YouTube might notice a pattern that's happened with some folks on this set on this. Yeah, a literal pattern. About two waddles in the house, we found both of them. No, I am not prepared. I did not come fully kidded out. I feel like I've let myself and the podcast down. I'll see myself out. Same, same. I did not get the memo, but the memo was clearly spread between Graham Russell and Joe Lowry. Joe, how are you? You seem to be dressed splendidly today. I am well, thank you. I'm stoked to talk about this roster. These are always some of my favorite shows and I thought Graham and I were doing home and you and Taylor were doing away. But yeah. Do we, Graham, do we forget to text them? I don't understand what happened. I know. You don't get the memo, letting the team down here. Quite literally.

3:25The US is now not going to win the World Cup and it's all Taylor and Rose. We're so close. All right, Graham, how are you? As I've kit expert, you're worrying the new home shirt. What's the verdict now? It is touching your skin. It's great. I genuinely love it. I put it on my Instagram as I tend to do with new shirts that I end up acquiring. And the number of people, no US fans who haven't seen this shirt, who have gotten touched to see it all. That's a good one. And I tend to agree. I think it's very nice. I will say, I've seen this offer before we started recording. I splashed out and I went for the authentic version. It's very thin. I presume it's same designed for like elite level athletes, not me. And so my very, my early VSP for the World Cup is a US player is going to get it ripped off them in a challenge with an opposition player. That's going to happen. I think at least once. Is it thin, Graham? Or are you just getting muscular? Definitely not that. We can rule that out. All right. I do like the show. It looks fantastic. I'm related, Graham. Can I borrow $180? Sure. For this.

4:25Sure. Excellent. Thank you very much. We're going to get into the roster, of course, which was announced earlier this week before we do so. Let me tell you about patreon.com slash total soccer show. It's a URL. URL. Easy for me to say. And if you type it into your web browser, you'll find out bonus content, you'll get bonus episodes, bonus video, and access to our Discord server, all some, a few, all of the cool kids hanging out in the Discord server. Patreon.com slash total soccer show. Plus, you can join the TSS scouting network where you can be assigned a player. You can find yourself a player to track this season, send us in your scouting reports. We'll read them out on this year's feed. You might even get some on this episode. And on our bonus feed as well, patreon.com slash total soccer show. Thanks to everybody who joins us in there. All right, Joe. Roster has a dropped. We're going to go through it for these games, of course, coming up in March. It gets Belgium and against Portugal in Atlanta. Now my opening sale, though, for you, Joe, is that like a year ago, we may have expected

5:27this roster to be fairly final, right? We would have thought we were building towards something here, and this would be something approximating what we're going to get at the World Cup. But it seems, and there is direct quotes from Mauricio Pochettino, that this is not the case. He said in his press conference, well, I can tell you that everyone is saying that maybe this is a last opportunity. It's not close. It's still open. It's not the final roster. So in that instance, we've not quite got the final piece of the puzzle, however. Sure. I don't think so. Although, what else is Pochettino supposed to say? Right? So it's him balancing both of those things. You can't just come out and say, yeah, that we're all done, you know, stop trying Unis Musa and Jack McLean and all the other emissions from this roster. That's not how Poch is going to act. That's not how he's acted basically all throughout his tenure. He's been all about breeding competition in this team, even over something like chemistry. Now, I do believe that this is very, very close to what the World Cup roster is going to be, because ultimately, even though we had some, some pretty low lows under Pochettino and some big questions about him, and I was a little concerned about how this all was

6:27going, Poch, I think, knows how to identify talent. And we see that with some of the players in this roster. This just looks like a roster that makes sense for the US men's national team. And I don't think there's a single person barring the injuries, right? If we said those aside, I don't think there's a single person that would look at this roster. If it was the World Cup roster and we were in these same situations with the same injuries and really have anything to complain about, which is weird, but I think that's where we are. Yeah. If you were picking a roster for the World Cup opener to happen tomorrow, this is what the squad would be. Maybe a couple of the injured guys who are not in the squad would power through and maybe had you right, for example, who apparently felt a sensation in his groin according to Franklin. Oh, I thought we were done with that scandal at the Olympics. I don't know. Apparently not. Apparently not. But maybe like had you right, we'd power through that sensation if this was actually the World Cup and would be in this squad. But otherwise, this is the core of the squads, and I agree with Joe, Porch's whole thing since coming in has been one of his biggest tasks was to eradicate the complacency that had

7:30built up in the bear halter and rain era. And so he's not going to go back in that now. So I understand why he's saying what he's saying, but this does feel pretty close to being the World Cup squad. What's funny is, I thought what you were taking as Ryan was a year ago, this was very much the squad as it is now with a couple of exceptions, but this was the core of the squad. And like a broken toy, we have unassembled it. And then in the space of 12 months reassembled it again and kind of worked out in the same position we were to begin with. Let's just hope the culture is a little bit better now. I think that's what we're counting on. It's almost like the pool isn't that deep and we had to make sure that we'd exhausted all options or try to exhaust all options. I personally hope he keeps the bit going and even at the World Cup when the squad is announced, just refuses to call it his senior set team. Even when he takes like the Ramajrid gig this summer, he continues to talk about how the US roster isn't fixed yet. I need that to keep going. By my count, we're missing, I would say three, like in my opinion, definite squad members

8:32due to injury or yeah, all three are due to injury outside of that. I agree. What's already been said. So less like a lot of the names we're going to see this summer indeed, well, let's get to it, Taylor. 10 changes from a squad from November here. Let's start off with the goalkeepers, four of them, four, this Chris Brady, Robyn Saladano, Matt Freese and Matt Turner. Taylor, is this Matt Freese is to lose at this point, presumably? I assume so. I mean, that's how it's been. It's been Matt Freese, even when Turner's been there, it's been Matt Freese starting. That was the case in the Gold Cup. That was the case in, like at least what two of the recent six friendlies, his Turner really hasn't played. He played the semifinal of the nation's league loss to Panama. He played the third place game as well, which was also a loss. He played the June friendly against Switzerland, a 4-0 loss. He's had a rough time. Matt Turner played for the US of late, then he's on the bench for the six Gold Cup games, either on the bench or not caught up for their last six friendlies. It does seem like it is Matt Freese's job to lose, but I've said this before, I don't

9:33think anyone has had strong opinions one way or the other. I don't think we've seen Matt Freese have that statement game yet, and maybe you can't until the World Cup starts, but it does feel more open than maybe it has in the past. At this point leading into a World Cup, it feels like very often we have a set number one, or at the very least a very clear competition between two keepers who are close to the top of their game. I'm not sure that's what we have in this scenario, so it does seem like it'll be Matt Freese, but it could also be Matt Turner for one of these friendlies. Joe will know better than I, what type of form all four of these gentlemen are in. Yeah, Matt Turner's been in pretty good form for the revs so far this season, and even to close out last season, that said, I'd be shocked if it wasn't Matt Freese. Now, don't confuse me. I'm not saying that I really care if it's not Matt Freese. I don't really care, and that's to your point, Taylor. I just don't think there's a lot that separates these Goldkeepers at the moment, but Freese just started 12 straight games with the US fans' national team. These patches number one, I don't really believe that there is a competition.

10:34If I'm totally honest about that, Pash can talk about it, and he will continue to do so. But I think this, to me, reads as Matt Freese is the number one, Matt Turner is the number two, and Brady and Selentano are fighting to not be the one dropped from this roster, and probably then to be the one not dropped ahead of the World Cup roster. Yeah, I mean, behind Matt Freese, there's a big blob of other Goldkeepers that includes Selentano and Brady and Patrick Schulte, Jonathan Klinzman, Diego Cokin, Horvath, I guess, Patrick Calendar. There's a whole bunch of them there, and it's not really surprising. It's not surprising to me, anyway, that we see any of those beyond Matt Freese being called up. What I'll say, though, is Matt Turner wasn't called up for November, right? So this is a recall for him, and so that does say something about how he has gone up in Potsch's estimations. I know that Jesus Perez was at the New England Cincinnati game at the weekend, and they still called up Roman Selentano from that game, considered six. That was a rough one for him in front of the National Team Assistant Manager, but I personally feel like we're going to see Freese in both games,

11:35because if Potsch was going to experiment with this position, I feel like he would have done it before now. And we previously thought he was. We thought he was going to do a Freese in one game, turn on another or another Goldkeeper. And I can't remember if it was October window or November window or maybe both. And he didn't, and Freese just has continued in that spot ever since. So I very much feel like we're going to see Freese in both games here. Graham now has been wondering if anyone has ever played their way out of contention in front of a, in front of a US scout, because you would assume that like losing six, they'll might make this assistant think, oh, let's, let's wait one more round and see what happens. But here we are. I wonder if there's been a player who has just like passed into his own net and the coach just kind of quietly walked out of the stadium, like, okay, let's see what I need to see. I think, I think that's, that must be what happened with Sean Zowaski, and he's been on basically every roster since the dawn of Marisa Apachino's time. And now he's finally not. Something must have happened. I mean, that's the only explanation. He's going to pull Larry David and just show up at this camp. Like, no, I was calling it. Hey, you know, I'm just going to be here. It's all good. So if this is such a lock for Matt Freese, then why the four keep no idea.

12:35Oh, because you need it for training them. You need balance and training, right? You need, if you're going to do like two days with goalkeepers in each, that's pretty much it, right? Yeah. Okay. I think I have a robot to do that job these days. I feel like we should do that, right? Surely surely. Surely there's a GPT prompt for that. Yeah, put the buffens to work on that. There you go. All right. Let's talk about centerbacks. Talk about players who played them a set of contention. Knocky Banks might have done so. But for reasons, Mark McKenzie is in here. Tim Reams in here. Chris Richard, Austin Trusty and Miles Robinson. Graham, what are you making of that pack of C.B.s? Not real surprises because obviously the biggest disappointment of the whole squad, I guess, is the absence of knocky banks of C.C.B. Yes. I mean, he's coming back soon, guys. He's coming back. Don't you? Yeah. I know. But the thing with knocky Banks, as it wasn't a surprise, right, because there's been quotes from the players themselves, a player himself about how he's torn between the US and Germany and kick a reported last week that Banks was going to set out these, these

13:38March friendlies. So I didn't expect to see his name here, but it's still a bummer that he's, that he's not involved. Pot certainly didn't close the door on Banks being included included in the World Cup roster. This was the quote from Pot's, you know, yesterday. It always was in our minds, but at the moment, if he made the decision and the decision is to be with us, of course, that is not going to be in a radar to see if we select him or not. Pot's quotes are tough sometimes. That was words, but at the moment, he is, he was very clear in the situation that he's not available for, for not to be selected, but he is still not made the decision. Great. Thanks for that, Pot. I'm really pleased to read that. I'm not going for it. For the weekend, by the way. I think the AI robot working on the go keeper or spare go keeper might have got sidetracked and coming up with that quote. Basically, he's saying that if he does make himself available before the World Cup, he can still make that roster, but that's now going to be much more difficult for him to like be integrated. There's two friendlies before the World Cup. He could maybe get a run out in those two games, but you'd be dropping him basically cold into the tournament itself.

14:39And so I do kind of wonder now if, even if Pot's just saying the door isn't closed, if realistically we're not going to see him until the next cycle. Yeah. It's friendly. It's just, I'll go tell her. I was going to say these are friendly. So he could have come and played and just kind of like gotten a better sense of the camp of the vibe. But what it's going to be like heading into a World Cup. I suspect that maybe Pochettino didn't want that. If you're not going to be like committed to the team, there's other players who could be. It is a minefield with all of this for the coach and the player. How much you have to navigate, because if Pochettino were to say, yeah, we didn't call him in because he didn't seem like he was ready to commit. We wanted to give other people an opportunity that get get easily twisted into like Pochettino trying to force Banks his hand and then it becomes a talking point in that way. So you have to, I don't know, be clever and like non headline grabbing in the way you deal with this. And it seems like Pochettino's word salad is a good way to do that. Yeah. I think he's done a fine job here by all accounts. I mean, I don't know how hard the recruiting push has been behind the scenes, but he talked about Jesus Perez, his assistant, going to Augsburg and watching him there and talking

15:41with Banks and Pochett, that he's facetimed and zoomed or maybe Google media, who knows, right? And so that we have great contact, again, maybe this happened a little too late. Maybe Poch should have later on a little thicker back in September when he was called in and didn't see the field and then wasn't brought back in since then. I don't know exactly what could have happened here or should have happened here. It is a huge bummer though that that the reporting was correct about all this. Basically, that Banks is still trying to decide where his future lies and the situation is still the same. If you pick the US, he has an easier path to playing time. If you picked Germany, he is an easier path to notoriety and actually winning soccer games. I don't know which of those things is going to happen for him. I don't know where his preference is lie and the different things that he's going to factor into this decision. I cannot imagine it's an easy one. What I will say is if Banks does decide to play for the US and he decides that before the World Cup, he should be in the World Cup roster. He doesn't even have to see the field. He's just good enough to play. Like I look at these centerbacks and it's such an uninspiring group for this team. You have Chris Richards as the obvious one and then Tim Riem is probably going to start next to him.

16:42And then Mackenzie and then you've got trusty and Robinson. I mean, those just are not, they're not great players for the international level at a World Cup. And Banks is not perfect either. Banks is still young. He's still immature. He still makes some bad decisions. But his talent can overcome some of those mistakes where Mackenzie and trusty and Robinson in particular, I think they just don't have the same talent to build on that. And they make mistakes too. So it seems to me that Banks is absolutely worth bringing to a World Cup. Should he be interested in coming with the US and we just don't know how that's all going to pay now? I don't disagree with any of that, but I think it's trickier for a young player to drop them into an established pool. Like Tim Riem for example, the last World Cup was quite a late call up. Maybe not quite this late, but I think he'd only been, did he come into the march? It was a winter World Cup. There must have been a summer window. I think maybe he came into that before the World Cup. But obviously he'd been in and around and was experienced with the environment and the camp and just generally had like a level experience that Noke Banks doesn't. So I hear all that and I don't disagree and players like Austin Trusty being in this

17:44pool raises my eyebrow because he had an excellent old from Darby in amongst a terrible season for Celtic. But I still think it's quite difficult to drop them into a World Cup and kind of expect them to swim. It's happened before for different reasons, like I think David Rajee, head of the 98 World Cup, didn't get a citizenship until like a month before the tournament. So I think like maybe his debut for the US is at a World Cup. He might have gotten a cap or two before that. Julian Green is probably the other example where he kind of gets thrown into camp pretty late and then ends up making that squad much to the chagrin of land in Donovan. It would be an interesting like decision for him not to play in these friendlies and then be called up. I mean, a decision for him alone to commit to the US, but then to see how he does and it could be a major sink or swim moment like at the biggest stage. But I hear everything you all have said, I don't feel like this is the most inspiring group aside from the one name. I do think that these friendlies represent a very real and strong test for this coming World Cup, especially for Tim Reem.

18:45And my hope is that we have some level of clarity about how that will go based on these upcoming friendlies where I would assume Reem starts at least one, probably both against Belgium and Portugal, correct, before I go down that rabbit. Both of whom have plenty of attacking talent. And so there's a reality in which the US are maybe playing against the ball and he's really good at organizing and winning stuff in the air and leading the line and we kind of come away thinking like, okay, that's why he's there against like stronger opposition, where we're sitting a little bit deeper. This could work or we get shredded and there is very real fear as to how things are going to go. And maybe there's even more panic about banks committing, but I'm at the very least grateful that we have strong opponents here that can test that defense and kind of give us a big reality check and maybe a necessary reality check ahead of the World Cup. Just one more quick thing for me on the center back pool before we move on or the center backs in this roster in particular. If we do see Pachi use a straight up three center back look where they're defending with three center backs and attacking with three center backs, I'm curious to see who the

19:46third one's going to be. Is it going to be one of the non-Reem and Richards actual center backs or is it going to be Friedman or Scali? Spoiler will talk about this guys in just a minute. But that's one thing I'm watching when it comes to actually the players that are in this roster is who is the third center back? Is it one of the big trees or is it somebody else? Well, let's tease that and when we come back after these messages, we'll talk about the full backs and much more. Join us then. Today's episode is brought to you by our friends at Drip Drop. I used to think that electrolytes were just for athletes, super intense workouts or plants because that's what they all crave as we all know, but Drip Drop totally changed that. It's become my go-to reset button for busy days, brain fog, needing a break or really anything else because staying hydrated and refreshed keeps me clear-headed and ready for whatever's next. Drip Drop is Dr. developed proven fast hydration that uses science-based formulas for rapid hydration so you fuel results fast while getting three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drinks. Drip Drop is trusted by firefighters, medical professionals, and over 90% of top college

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24:50Stay ready for anything with American giant classic full zip and save 20% off your first order at American-giant.com when you use code totalsocker at checkout that's 20% off your first order at American-giant.com code totalsocker all one word all uppercase. Thank you to American giant for sponsoring today's episode. Totalsock show welcome back to USMNT weekly we are talking about the March roster the players who will be heading to the home of US soccer Atlanta Georgia in a few days time Taylor let's talk about the fullback show we've got Joe Scalib, Alex Freeman, Max Austin, stupid sexy Max Austin to give him his full name and Anthony Robinson as well we have a saginio desk shaped injured hole in this group as well. Yeah I didn't count banks as one of my would be on the roster for sure if you were committed players so I guess I said three players are missing that would be in the squad maybe make that four with banks. I'm curious who that last one is by the way but we'll talk about that later.

25:52But desk is one of them for sure and I think is a big miss for this team maybe this is me just trying to like see so for linings I don't think it is I think it actually could be useful for the United States to not have desk but to have some of the other options that they do have here and further forward when we get to some of those players Joe Scalib is a primary example of that like Gladbach have not been good this season they are safely out of the relegation zone for now they tend to flirt with it but he has been good and he has been more attacking he's assisted goals maybe even scored a goal but just been much more involved in attacking play many more touches in the box many more kind of carries forward and that's what we wanted to see from him so I'm excited to see him in this squad I don't know if any of that will be utilized because I think to Joe's point we might see him listed as a right back in like a four two three one and then he is playing as a right center back and staying home a lot of the time but it gives us that different little look especially with Alex Freeman in there it could be the two of them starting on the right

26:52side and combining it could be just one of them. And then on the left we've got Jedi back we presume fully fit because if he weren't he would not be here that is established so that he is here we would assume that mean that means he will be able to start at least one game or play some consistent minutes but I've liked everything I've seen from Max Arthstin in a bad Columbus crew team this season he's created his own opportunities he is very confident going forward as we know very handsome as well if you're Ryan Bailey and so I think there is plenty to be excited about from like let's see what happens at standpoint in these friendlies and then also having that one familiar proven name in Jedi Robinson back in the team yeah yeah I think that's spot on Taylor across the board there I am curious to see how potch is going to use the right backs especially and you talked about that a little bit with Scally where if he's going to play he's probably going to stay home deeper as a right back turn right side at center back or maybe just as a straight right center back if the US is playing a back three in both attack and defense I'm curious what happens also when desk is healthy like who

27:55goes home right because I think that's part of the question tail and I like how you set out there a few guys at least who are going to be in this roster if they're healthy which means that there's a few guys at least that can't be in this roster when all of a sudden done and it's a 27 play roster with four goalkeepers has been established so one of those guys is going to go home in the goalkeeper spot but you still have to make some other substitutions here because that only gets you to 26 so back in in November and I was looking at this potch brought five fullbacks and four center backs and I'm counting Scally and and frame as the fullbacks there this time around he brought five center backs and four fullbacks still counting those same players in the same positions so I am wondering if it's going to be one of those center backs that goes home if it's one of Robinson trusty and in McKenzie who makes way for desk to come back into this team because I think potch appreciates Scally's position flexibility and I think Freeman is one of his guys and deservedly so and I would probably give Freeman minutes myself over Joe Scally but that is something to watch not just how these players get used now but but also who makes way when desk is actually fit and healthy because of course he is a lack for this team. Graham you thoughts here?

28:55Just think it's quite funny how the narrative or the mission I guess for Joe Scally has changed from okay so you're good defensively but we need to see more of you in an attacking sense and then he goes to glad back for a season and he's like say I'm doing it and they're like na na na na forget all about that right center back which might actually work for him I've always quite like Joe Scally in that role while accepting he is quite limited but in that position you maybe don't need to do so much going forward so I think that is the big question of this pool while also acknowledging Taylor's smaller question about Jedi Robinson who yes is fit again I think he started the last two league games for full him actually has played the full 90 minutes of the last two league games which is very encouraging but he is still building up physicality and I know some full and fans have discussed how his crossing hasn't been up to the standard of last season and like he's never been like our Trent Alexander Arnold but last season it felt like he'd improved that side of his game and I think he's been a little bit wayward this season so it still feels like he is finding top form and when Jedi is in top form the US is a better team so I'm hopeful we will see it's not at least something encouraging

29:59from him excellent stuff okay why don't we move on to the middle of the park the central midfield pack we've got Sebastian Behrhalter Johnny Cardo so Aiden Morris Christian Maldon and Tana Tessmann no Joe there's a few interesting kinks healthy no Tyler Adams this one he's injured I come at this from a place of relative ignorance definitely compared to you three my question is for Eunice Mussel what does he have to do to get into this kind of pack and is it just is it purely sporting these decisions do we think convince everyone 2022 again yeah I mean I think so I think as a player he's he's maybe not quite regressed but he hasn't been having as many opportunities for Aiden to he has played some but I don't think he's done enough to change Pacha's mind that he should be a central midfielder for this group so I really do think it is sporting and I also don't have a problem with it I mean I would have been perfectly happy to see Musa in this roster I'm not gonna throw a fit that he's not in this roster I mean I don't I just don't see a whole lot of reason to really be swayed one way or the other if I really if you really press me on it I would say I would rather have Morris in this team I'm sure you can ever have Musa

31:00in this team than Behrhalter or Morris or or certainly then Cardoso but it doesn't really matter a whole lot to me and I think that's probably where Pacha is is he's comfortable with some of these guys that are in this group and Musa has been in his team before but but was mixed and hasn't really found stable footing at Atlanta so I think that's why this all comes together really other than than Musa and McGlin because McGlin is the other one that I would have down he he was injured late last fall so he missed some camp he missed some time at the end of the year and now he's healthy again I'm playing for Houston and Pacha didn't calm up so that that feels like the other just sporting omission from this roster and again I can completely understand it I like McGlin I would bring him over some of the other people that are in this group but I do think it is a very reasonable group of players from Pacha Tino and there's probably somebody who's ready to make way for Adams in particular when he's healthy it's probably going to be Cardoso or Morris if I really had to guess maybe Behrhalter but I think this is a fine group of players of Pacha's called it Joe when we were seeing Jack McGlin with the US my memory is that he ended up playing like in more advanced positions largely because I think there weren't many other options there does that vibe with your

32:03memory yeah he played during ahead of the goal cup and even at the goal cup a bit he played quite high and wide on the right side which is just not the way to use Jack McGlin even though he can't score some goals so maybe that's also part of it is the Pacha doesn't know exactly how he wants to use someone like him yeah or or I think I would agree with that I know it's a or he does know where he wants to use him and hits there and then you look at the other players that are right like candidate for that spot and they are just better so I like that that's the only other way I could kind of understand that absence is just that you look at where they were thinking about utilizing him and there's just better options yeah and and just to sort of round out this group of players as well we we went ahead and listed McKenney in a future position that we'll get to in just a second but McKenney could very much be a part of this group we don't really know how Pacha views Western McKenney and where he views him other than that he was quite a few siv in his praise of McKenney and his presser yesterday but McKenney is another guy who could be in this group which makes me wonder Graham who do you think are the starting two you're playing big games in this window that Pacha has already talked about as being an extension of the World Cup which again is just what coaches say but still who do you play because you're missing Adams and

33:07McKenney might be higher and who's who's left oh I'm not sure you're going to like the answer I might give here I think it might be Johnny Cardoso I mean it is a real blow that Tyler Adams hasn't in this squad because we know he's going to be a central pillar of the team at the World Cup assuming he's fit right and so this is another another missed opportunity to try and build some chemistry with whoever is going to be his starting partner at the World Cup so this is not to say that I think Johnny Cardoso is going to start the World Cup but I think in terms of an overlay of skill set Johnny is maybe the closest to Tyler Adams and I'm well aware that I'm like the only member of the Johnny Cardoso fan club maybe in the world and but I do think there is a role for having this thing not even as Aaron wow that's how low his confidence is that's how low his self-esteem is that is rough and but I think we have seen enough evidence now to know what Johnny Cardoso is and the fact of the matter is that he is firmly part of the rotation for Adlet Commodredd I think that has to count for something and he might not be what the US needs as

34:07like a starting figure alongside Tyler Adams in a double pivot and you know the system that potstinoe uses but I think as a as a Tyler Adams deputy he is the best sort of midfield destroyer that the US has in that position and broadly looking at his role in the roster I think of him as like a special ops player I've already said my peace on Johnny Cardoso like if you have a lead to defend against a high caliber opponent in the final 15 minutes I think Johnny's your guy for that because I've seen him do it for Adlet Commodredd at a high level in the Champions League and the league this season so I would have him involved I probably would have him start these games because my theory is that potstino wanted to see more of Johnny last year until injuries got in the way and he is just better than we have seen for the US so far obviously we hit there are questions over what is sealing as a player but come on he's performances for the US last year were like laughably bad they were like kinsky bad for the US and he has better than that so I want to see I want to see a good chunk of minutes from him in these in these two games I was like claus kinsky who is he referencing that I remembered oh poor spurs poor spurs

35:10poor spurs indeed um definitely uh taylor any more thoughts on this on this group Christian were down to get some minutes shouldn't I feel like he should I think uh yeah he should I I have a minute I assume Adams is the only definite inclusion absent from this camp so the pressure is on everyone in this group that isn't Christian rolled on because I think he is very much in the squad and has proven his value in that way but this feels like a group where players can definitely play themselves into contention and obviously conversely can play themselves out of it right now I have uh in morris as the most likely to be left off when Tyler Adams is fully fit and ready to go but that's why you play the friendlies we'll see if he gets a minute and we'll see what he does with those minutes I'm assuming we'll see something like maybe a roll dawn and a testman combination four of the games and then maybe like a roll dawn and a cardoso combination or some rotation of those three excellent stuff all right so why don't we take one more quick pause when we come back let's talk about the uh the remaining groups to talk about those attacking midfielders and the strikers join us in this episode is brought to you by men's warehouse

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38:23playing on real grass in Atlanta good to see the uh the stating with the whole that shaped like a certain thing is going to have real grass underneath it but games the robot but the robot but it's actually robot bleep bleep bloop all right Taylor why don't we do you want to hit this comment Taylor let's talk about the attacking field as a non-strike attacker's of which we are including Western McKenny we're also including Braden Aronson Alex Tillman Georena go Christian Policic and Tim where so what do we what do we make in Taylor of that group obviously an injury here to the literal poster boy of this girl group Diego Luna now literally wearing the shirt with pride in on the posters but not in this group is either fourth one Taylor he yeah he has been in my squad and he remains in my squad I love me some Diego Luna and I love his jersey unveil as well I do put stock in that it would be kind of a self-own to have the like one of the key

39:29marketing players then not make the team though I believe they listed Tim Remus Tim where so they've already done some marketing cell phones themselves uh in some of this promotional stuff but I'm believing that they may be asked by Tina like he's he's probably in the team right yeah before doing that was I had this discussion with someone else because I genuinely don't know the answer it would it would my you know common sense says you wouldn't sell the jersey on on the on some on a player who's not going to make the squad then do they get a nod to the like they all have been done last year I thought I genuinely don't know the answer shot the problem you're just showing up for the photo shoot like if I'm in the photo hey I get to be part of the team but don't we get this quite often at the start of like Premier League seasons when players are pictured in the new jersey and you're like oh he has to be oh wait he's been so yeah yeah I think he might have done a spurs yeah to this group I will say not just because of bad jeff see but not not just because of bad jeff see this is a very strong group of players it's very fun to see how many like big clubs at a high level

40:30are represented within a group that you want to have a lot of talent and experience and we do and then there's georena uh georena is the interesting inclusion for me I know Joe loves him in all ways in every way uh and I think it seems like patitino at the very least is interested in what he will bring into the team feels like more than anything else a chance to evaluate his present fitness and temperament uh he has a grand total of 26 minutes so far in the Bundesliga in 2026 that's two substitute appearances and frustratingly maybe not coincidentally but I'm choosing to see it as coincidence that coincides with their improved form uh in their last six games Gladbach three wins one draw two losses uh he had five minutes in the Augsburg win when it was already four nil and he played 21 minutes in a nil nil draw with Hamburg where he is brought on to be a creative spark not a lot of creative attacking sparking there so I think with maybe the luna absence I do think that probably opened the door for georena to be in this one because I'm not sure

41:31who else would have fallen out uh and I'm not sure who will fall out when Diego Luna is back in there maybe that's what these friendlies are all about but I think rena coming in proving that he is like fit and still very very good as Joe has outlined before I think keeps him in the conversation I think it will be very telling if we see him get minutes specifically meaningful minutes of these friendlies not 10 minutes at the end but a good 30 minute uh chunk as a substitute potentially even a start in one of these games I like your your theory there Taylor about Luna sort of making way for rena it's possible I don't know if I agree I just I mean we don't know ultimately so this is all speculation but I think pox really likes to hear rena at least on your he's on your wavelength he is absolutely on your way I'm gonna read the quote and this one's gonna make more sense than on the grand red um quote I think we really know that he's referring to geo a very special talent and very special player I think to give the possibility even if it's not playing too much with this club it can be very useful for us that's our mindset in the way that we made the

42:31decision to bring geo into this camp that's a quote from botched you know that's what I've been saying it really doesn't matter that he hasn't been playing for his club it only matters if you can't control georena the person right and he's gonna destroy your locker room and whatever that's the whole reason you hired pox you know in the first place like if pox can't do that he shouldn't have this job or firmly in part of doing that might be not bringing him to the world cup right so I'm still leaving door open for that but every time geo rena steps on the field for the U.S. men's national team he's a good player he was very very good for the U.S. against Paraguay in November oh who's the U.S. playing in the in the World Cup group stage Paraguay it wouldn't matter that's that I like I actually don't really care about that at all I would call geo rena in regardless as long as he could give me 30 minutes and I think that's exactly what's happened here so I am a little skeptical Taylor that oh it's Luna right back in and geo rena out I don't know who it is I don't know who makes way for who maybe it's one of the other central midfielders that makes way and you sort of move mechanic in your roster allocation picture into the deeper midfield spots just so that you can squeeze one more attacking guy in there maybe that's how you solve this a little bit but I don't know who comes out for who and that is a good problem to have but I

43:34think if georena plays well in this window which I think he will and if he plays at all or it's healthy enough to be called into the World Cup roster I think he's gonna be there man I really do I feel like we've had this conversation many times but we're gonna do it again because where I where I like fundamentally disagree with you Joe and I just like I don't get it is like how can form not matter how can like if he's played no minutes or 26 minutes in four months like that has to affect his ability to play yes he is a very good player yes he has great technical ability he might still be better than a lot of people but there is going to be just a looseness in the touch he's not going to be as dialed in as people who are playing every single weekend there has to be at least some downgraded performance or at least in the expectation of that performance and it just doesn't seem like there is for you I think I think that's true Taylor and you said it well but georena 80% of georena is better than 100% of georena 80% of georena is better so that's the thing right doesn't have to be Luna it could be errands it could be any of these guys that's what I'm

44:36saying is that georena is so talented and we see this this is the this is the other data point like I suppose reasonable people could disagree and made that's what's happening here when I watch georena play for the U.S. men's national team he is consistently one of the best players on either team that's on the field he clearly has limitations he's fitness wise is not there like something has happened to his legs maybe since he was 16 or whatever he like he's had injury after injury and clearly it's not at a hundred percent physically of what he could have been or what he was when he was younger but I I still fundamentally believe even if you're correct Taylor that 80% of rena is better than every non-policy attacker and maybe mechanic I'll say in this roster I don't agree with that last part Joe but what I will say is we have evidence of and I'm broadly speaking I am team form on this but broadly speaking looking at georena he's been in this situation before where he has barely played club level soccer and he's always in the situation yeah he's always before the November window I was very skeptical we were going to see georena and I probably would not have had him in my roster but he came into that window in this exact situation and he was great

45:40and I completely saw your point Joe and it seems like that has one pot you know over as well where he is now making the exact argument that you've made all along and even contradicting himself where people are going yeah but pot she said people had to players had to be playing consistent minutes shut up no I don't say that I think both I understand both angles and both arguments but at this point we do have the evidence that georena can come into this team and perform even if he's not doing it club level I think the clear precedent here and one that Mauricio Pochettino has clearly followed is that Mauricio Pochettino has watched the Oscar nominated best picture formula one and see Shepit come in with no form at all he's passed it when he comes in and oh he finishes are you too pleased by that should be like is that why it gets so much play on this show because you all have like a paid sponsorship deal with them we were part we were part of the Oscar lobby yeah when are the Oscars by the way Ryan we need to really push it before that ceremony text watch hmm interesting next you guys still getting paid after the fact yeah um you mentioned

46:42him coming in the last like what like September was it uh we were talking about November against that's when he's moved right that's when he makes the move to Gladbach obviously like my my response to that is a concern like I remember when he makes that move uh and I think I posted the discord there's a picture of him when he like first goes into training and he gets like the the tunnel and like whatever like light hazing it is and he just looks like a happy kid he looks stoked to be there he looks excited for a fresh start and I wonder this is complete speculation if that impacts his performance that he then goes to the US feeling lighter feeling happy or feeling rejuvenated fresh start and his performance reflects that and now we're in the kind of same situation he's been in previously I'm wondering what his form looks like now and what his attitude and mentality are that's where I think the you all might be right and he might still be on elite talent who can be a difference maker if his attitude and mentality are what they've been previously at points I also think this is a chance for him to play himself out of contention if he's going in there and

47:45being just sort of obstinate and not bringing the vibes up and not really facilitating good work and training I don't I don't know if he's still in there so either way I think we'd learn a lot uh coming out of these camps about his involvement or lack thereof georena is the gift that keeps on giving for people that do soccer podcasts six days a week man what an absolute icon I mean till I don't fully understand that point I'll be honest because the november window is the last time I played for the US he didn't play in September or in October so he'd already been like glad back and already been injured since it sounded like the moment they were talking about so I just don't know I feel like you said it already we've talked about this a bajillion times georena is always injured he's never a hundred percent fit he's never going to be a hundred percent fit he's probably not going to play major minutes for a club ever and I just I feel like we're watching different players when he's with the US because I see a player that's really good and impactful and it doesn't seem like and there are many people there's not just you that disagree with me there's a lot of people out there that disagree with me and that's okay I just simple simple as this I would bring georena into my team whatever I could in whatever he could play at least 30 minutes

48:47again I think so it's that you are you to my mind are such a like rational analytics this is happening because this is happening not because this like and yet with him it's like he doesn't matter if he's playing enough it doesn't matter what he's doing you be on one leg he's still the best player it feel like it feels more emotional it's like honestly then I think any of your other takes about players I it's it is possible that there that that's there and I'm just not recognizing it I genuinely feel like this is my most analytical take which is like a strip away all the narrative nonsense like sibling 2022 strip away all the club stuff if the if what we're solving for no if what we're solving for is how can the US men's national team win soccer games that's what we're talking about that's what we're all talking about if that's what we're solving for georena whenever he's on the field my eye which could be wrong whenever he's on the field is helpful at accomplishing that objective like that's what matters here so I really could not care less frankly about what happens at club level of georena or with any of these players that's not a georena thing I was the carbonate guy

49:47like Tim way I talk about this all the time but Tim wayah that doesn't make sense out of context sorry I'm not gonna explain it to solo who's the carbonate I thought it was me Tim wayah was was like playing or barely playing or playing poorly at times in the 2022 World Cup cycle he was the US's best player throughout World Cup qualifying like it just doesn't it doesn't matter as much as everybody says it does we have so much evidence about that doesn't really relate in the same way it's different teams different players around you different tactical demands different travel different opponents all these things are so different we weigh over index on what's happening at club level for every player not just georena but geo of course is the most polarizing of them all I made my point clear I'm glad he's on this roster and tonight say so just strip away when he self-destructed a national team at a World Cup and when he's constantly injured and cannot play when he is fully fit and able to play he's very good in the very limited stretches that that has happened in the last four years but that's my that's my whole thing about the World Cup stuff poch needs to handle that and pot like if he doesn't and and georena it's destructs obviously georena bears culpability for that so does pochino like that's his that's his job is to sort that out you're the biggest man

50:51in the locker room like you have the biggest name go do your job so I'm trusting that poch is gonna do this job he just like shackles Claudio and locked him away let's move on to the final group of players just yeah let's do it we didn't even talk about any of the other guys in this in this group yeah they're all there they're fine this is this is where I the talent lies I'd say in that attacking me for isn't it very much uh centered in that grouping but we need to talk about the sort of technical I do to Joe's point you're correct uh because the other player that I alluded to a long long long time ago is Tim way and him being included in this is one of the biggest like question marks I have not because I don't think he should be there he should be there but because I have no idea where he fits in this team with the way they have played and what pochino seems to want from them he doesn't seem to want a like wide winger who stays wide and stays forward and tries to get in behind maybe we'll see some of that in the in these friendlies it's where I think we might end up seeing him as that sort of like hybrid wingback slash winger like like earlier I said a four two three one I'm assuming way would be like on the

51:56right side of that three staying forward at times but then also dropping in and like then Joe Scali becomes a right center back and way it becomes like the right wing back in a back five or what have you like that's where I think we might end up seeing more of way but he's a really interesting one because otherwise I'm not sure how he fits and where he fits talking about that right side do we think there's a chance we see West mechanic on that right side I know we haven't seen it from close but the thing with West mechanic in poch as he hasn't been included in two of the last what three camps and he's here now and seems to be back in pochino's good grace he's called him or called eventist 10 players worse plus West mechanic or worse to that event and that has kind of been right in 2026 he's in the form of his life he's events his best player do you know where he's played his I'm just looking through his who scored page just to make sure at least his last four games have been as the right side did midfielder with a back three behind him it's a very similar possession to the one that exists in this US team and so if we're talking about re9 tellman and pillow second thing to those players into the dual 10 possessions put mechanic in that

53:00possession with death so injured might actually be a bit of a solution to that here we go last but not least let's talk about three more players the strikers we've got Graham the champions leagues fuller in Balagom we've got the champions leagues Ricardo Peppie and we've got the champion ships Patrick Adjeman all the same and of course as you mentioned earlier Graham had you right with something that you mentioned earlier which I don't want to bring up again a sensation in his grog yeah pure had you right and I think the interesting thing with the group that has been called up these three players as if there's any indicators of the picking order right because it's quite clear at this point in the bargain barring anything major will be the starting number nine at the world cup who's the deputy behind him I think a lot of people would have Peppie as the number two but porch loves a bit of a big pat and he's in good good scoring forum for Darby County and the champ also I'll be interested to see if he does rotate I think you probably well between the two games I don't think Balagom will play 180 minutes over the two matches who does he turn to as that number two

54:02center forward I think that's the big question with this group yeah Westy make your big pat yeah it kind of sounds that way I uh these are the strikers I would bring to the world cup probably I also find if had your right recovers and comes to the world cup I don't know who you drop for that if it is Adjeman or Peppie I probably wouldn't maybe it's one of the attacking midfielders and you just roll a little lighter there and have Haji as a guy who can play off the wing I think these three are the players that I would bring and I'm glad that they're here thanks I'm Tyler you can cut I don't I would take Haji right of a big pat much as it will upset two coats on the bottom of my recording screen specifically not sure how that relate to everybody else uh well yeah I think Adjeman uh makes sense to be here for now but zero goals in his last six for Coventry only one last eight uh Haji right is in better form even with the injury uh and I think has shown brightly enough for the U.S. Interpochettino that I think he definitely merits inclusion uh so maybe it ends up being four but I had it as one goalkeeper drops so that gets us to 26

55:03then probably one center back to make way for deskt one midfielder probably Aiden Morris and then one forward big pat for uh Haji right most likely excellent stuff there we go so that is our group uh what's what's the vibe chick Tyler how are we feeling about this group as a whole do we need a a fifth and sixth goalkeeper perhaps but what do we think in rage did Joe Larry for his dear rena love but otherwise feeling pretty good I just can't believe we're still talking about this haha it's almost like your opinion doesn't change based on the sample size in front of you uh anyway so uh I would say I'm very excited about this group even with the injuries and the absences I'm sad we don't get Tyler Adams that's probably the biggest one because I think the chemistry and familiarity and just allowing other players to play alongside him a player that we know is going to be a starter if and when he's there like I think it would have given us a chance to see like what is the Adams Cardo so partnership look like against stronger opposition under potasino what is Adams and testament look like your atoms and roll down uh so I'm sad about that but otherwise

56:04I feel like some of the absences give us opportunities to experiment gives the other players opportunities to kind of raise their game or raise their estimations and the coaching staff size yeah I'm feeling quite good about this roster having gone through this process even with some of the injuries the fact that we're discussing who might have to drop out and who might actually not make the world cup roster and obviously we're talking about we're thinking around the edges here with one or two players as I said at the start this is the core of the World Cup squad now it does make me realize that um this team is the squad even or this this pool is deeper than it was um even like a matter of months ago so I do think I think it definitely was yeah I think potch I mean obviously the proof will be in the pudding I look forward to getting grouped and at the World Cup I don't think that's going to happen when I was actually a little bit concerned that may happen for a period but yeah I think um the process has been a good one until now excellent stuff today go that is the so Taylor sorry sorry right I think it's worth worth it because we haven't really talked about opposition at all and like it is too very good opponents who are bringing even with injuries

57:09and absences they're still very good and will be difficult for the United States like what are are we hoping for anything in terms of results are we hoping like obviously we want the US to win always that's ideal but like I'm not sure if losses are the worst thing if it gives us a chance to kind of rule some names out or figure out what definitely isn't working and what definitely could work uh do I do any of you have thoughts on what a sort of good window looks like including results or not yeah I think playing competent soccer like not not getting embarrasses low bar so probably something a little bit higher than that but I'm not too bothered if there wins losses that are draws but I think the US if they're going to make the run that they want to make the World Cup they need to show well whatever that means to you against these kinds of teams so that that is sort of where my bar is it'll be sort of a know it when you see it situation but not get wildly outplayed and actually like be be in the game that's sort of the bar because I don't think they're going to be the better team in these games I tend to think that the Uruguay game was Uruguay

58:10more of Uruguay not showing up yeah than it was the US being awesome but I we can leave room for a little bit of both of those things but either way I think being within a few inches right of of the game is kind of where I'm at for this although I think about that more I imagine we'll do a preview Sean Wednesday yeah I think we want this to be as close as it can be to a road test for an actual light knockout game of the World Cup against a team of this caliber which is to say in a weird way kind of want Belgium and Portugal to have lots of the ball and signs that they're taking it seriously and they're treating it as a road test as well because realistically that's what the task is going to be for the US at a World Cup and then we see ways that the US can within that game dynamic then hurt those teams that would make me feel pretty good and the bar as essentially as Joe says don't get embarrassed don't don't have a result that lingers beyond the full time whistle you want to have something that you can move on if it's going to go negatively don't make it so negatively that you're still thinking about it when the World Cup is close there we go excellent stuff so it's Belgium on March 28th Portugal on the 31st in Atlanta where the grass is real the

59:13concessions are cheap and the roof is think to shame in the players one last thing to get to on this episode we've got some TSS scouting reports to run through tell you would you like to read one out using your mouth would I from Ed Ritter scouting Edry Mehmedi 16 year old central defense player for the Red Bulls Mehmedi once again went the full 90 in a one-to-one road draw he had far fewer touches than usual just 34 but was incredibly effective with 18 of 19 passing and an XG plus XA expect to go as an expected assists of 0.85 per font mob Joe's favorite thing great numbers for a 16 year old who's only three weeks away from his birthday excellent stuff thank you very much Taylor I've got one from NT brand here who is scouting Claire Hutton a midfielder from bay FC Claire played in two of the three games for the USW and T in the recent she believes Cubs subbing on a half-time in a two-neil win over Argentina and starting a playing 80 minutes in the 1-0 over Kanada Claire also started and played the full 90 in a debut for new team bay FC in

1:00:14their two-one win over Denver summit who were playing their first game in NWSL with her performance Claire under deserved player of the match with an 8.6 rating from font mob so much font mob love so far this correspondent with the far from far more respected TSS discord I test in which discord user MJ observed that Claire Hutton is so the best player on bay lol well cheers so that that tracks I like that good go ahead speaking of MJ got MJ scouting Kennedy Fuller 19 year old attacking midfielder for Angel City Fuller started scored an assisted to goal in a 4-0 win to begin her third year with Angel City the USW NT U20 standout was listed as the team's right-winger but operates largely in a free role in possession combining often with Giselle Thompson on the right and finding space in the opposing defense the game's first goal came from her drifting wide cutting inside and driving into the half-space past defenders before beating a listener at the near post her assist was a strong precise corner kick delivery to her defenders forehead defensively fuller led Angel City's press and operated as an advanced

1:01:14destroyer to great effects against the Chicago team that suffered all afternoon fuller plays in one of the USW NT's deepest positions on the field so we'll need to keep her performances at this level if she wants to catch MAH's eyes wonderful stuff thank you very much Joe thank you very much MJ Graham do one so Royce Alvarez has been in touch with a scouting report on Landry Walker a 16 year old defensive midfielder for San Antonio excuse me FC for now Royce puts in the scouting report it starts breaking news claxon so sound that claxon Ryan Bailey Landry Walker is reportedly training abroad thank you with his vibe bundesliga side darnspot 98 a little background information San Antonio and Darnstad are both sister clubs and as a result their respective sport franchises entered into a club partnership in July of 2024 that includes youth development marketing strategies training methods and sports science developments also sounds very interesting Landry is the first member of I think it is of a San Antonio FC to train abroad within this

1:02:17partnership which is an incredible platform excuse me to show off his talents a few years ago San Antonio wonder kid Josie Halegos trained with Baramunic and ended up being transferred to a team in a Danish top flight for a record fee so hopefully Landry can follow in his footsteps to a solid European football career says Royce there you go can't think of Landry without thinking Friday night lights in my head but that's just me but thank you very much for the TSS guiding reports that have been submitted yet if you'd like to do so if you'd like to join in on the fan patreon.com slash total soccer show is the you are L you should type in to your browser but for now Taylor Rockwell thank you very much all your USMNT weekly goodness we appreciate you thank you very much Ryan Bailey and I would remind you that Graham has agreed to loan you $180 to buy that shirt to make sure you follow up on that thank you very much Graham I'll send you my Venmo very shortly I appreciate you Graham thank you from Bailey and I'll send you a shirt partly what a good deal I'm waiting sure thank you so hey thanks guys what I've learned is I'm

1:03:18not asking for nearly enough of Graham on a regular basis I found that away for the future yeah holding right away right away yeah very good let's not thank you very much for joining us on this one we appreciate you we'll be back on the feed very shortly indeed but for now you security and compliance done wrong is a giant headache security and compliance done right that's Vanta Vanta helps you earn trust and speed up growth no spreadsheets required for startups low on time and resources Vanta becomes your first security hire using AI and automation to get

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