GOAL projects what Pochettino's USMNT roster could look like for Nations League, with some tough calls to make
The initial decisions have been made. This week, CONCACAF announced the U.S. men's national team 60-man preliminary list ahead of next month's Nations League Final. The list is just that, preliminary, but it offers some insight as to Mauricio Pochettino is going to go with his squad.
Some decisions are obvious. You know the stars by now: Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah. If healthy, they will all be there. Many of this team's 23 roster spots are accounted for. As for those final few, Pochettino will have some some tough choices to make.
Injuries will force his hand, as several key players will be out for these upcoming games. The striker pool, in particular, has been decimated by injuries, leaving some big decisions and bigger opportunities for different attacking options. That's just one position, though; there are several other spots up for grabs.
How will Pochettino view this player pool? Which of January camp's breakout stars are in the mix? Could either of the two rising dual-nationals on the preliminary list make the squad?
GOAL takes a look at what the USMNT roster could look next month.
Getty Images SportGOALKEEPERS
GOAL's picks: Ethan Horvath, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner
In the mix: Drake Callender, Matt Freese, Diego Kochen, Zack Steffen
The first two goalkeepers on the depth chart largely pick themselves, so no need to waste too much time. Matt Turner is the No. 1. Patrick Schulte is the one pushing him. If both are healthy, both are in the squad, even if might be some questions about who should actually start.
That third goalkeeper spot is an interesting one, although, in all likelihood, won't get anywhere near the field. Does Pochettino go with a youngster in Kochen? Does he go with a rising star in Freese? Does he go with an MLS-based veteran in Callender or Steffen?
Or – and this is our pick – does he go with Horvath, who, as of now, is actually getting minutes at Cardiff? Those minutes overseas should make the difference enough to earn Horvath the nod as the third guy in this group, at least for the moment.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportDEFENDERS
GOAL's picks: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, John Tolkin
In the mix: Noahkai Banks, George Campbell, Marlon Fossey, Nathan Harriel, DeJuan Jones, Shaq Moore, Jackson Ragen, Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty, Walker Zimmerman
Some interesting decisions to make among the defenders, particularly at centerback. At the moment, it seems there are six veterans competing for four spots. Ream and Richards are somewhat safe, although Ream could be left at home with him still being in early-season form.
After those two, McKenzie, Carter-Vickers, Trusty and Miles Robinson are all in the mix. It may very well come down to Poch choosing one or the other of the Celtic duo of Carter-Vickers and Trusty, even if it could be extremely tempting to see both together in a USMNT shirt.
The wild card at centerback is Banks, but his case looked a lot better a few weeks ago. The 18-year-old defender began to break out with Augsburg in January but now hasn't seen the field in nearly a month. The dual-national situation could make the USMNT rush but, realistically, it would probably be best to leave him at Augsburg to keep fighting for a role ahead of a possible summer call-up.
Fullback, meanwhile, is easy when it comes to the starters: Robinson and Scally. After that? It's a bit dicey. Sergino Dest is hurt. Richy Ledezma wasn't in the preliminary roster. As for the rest of that group, all have their drawbacks.
If he's fit, Tolkin would be an interesting fit, while someone like Jones could make sense due to his ability to play on either side in case of injury. Realistically, though, there are other options in the squad that could fill in at fullback should the need arise.
Getty ImagesMIDFIELDERS
GOAL's picks: Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso,Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Tanner Tessmann
In the mix: Paxten Aaronson, Max Arfsten, Gianluca Busio, Caden Clark, Luca de la Torre, Maximilian Dietz, Emeka Eneli, Brian Gutierrez, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Djordje Mihailovic, Matko Miljevic, Aidan Morris, Timothy Tillman, Indiana Vassilev.
We'll start with the Borussia Dortmund-based elephant in the room – what in the world do you do with Reyna? On one hand, he isn't playing much and, when he is, its largely forgettable cameos. On the other, Pochettino hasn't gotten a look at him yet and, on potential alone, Reyna remains a key player for the USMNT.
Because of that, Pocehttino should give him this chance with the understanding that there won't be many more unless big steps are taken on the club level. Reyna, for what it's worth, has always performed well specifically in this competition, so he has that going for him, too.
Outside of that, there are only a few big calls to really make. Adams, McKennie and Musah are no-doubters. Brendan Aaronson brings versatility and, despite a recent cold spell, has been good for Leeds this season. For the final spot or two, Pochettino will have to pick between Tessmann, Cardoso and Morris as more defensive options or Paxten Aaronson or Diego Luna as more attacking options.
Those will be interesting calls, and they'll offer some insight into how Pochettino sees that second group of midfielders in this player pool.
Getty Images SportFORWARDS
GOAL's picks: Patrick Agyemang, Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, Brandon Vazquez, Tim Weah, Alejandro Zendejas
In the mix: Cole Campbell, Cade Cowell, Benjamin Cremaschi, Damion Downs, Jesus Ferreira, Brian White, Griffin Yow
All eyes are on the striker position, partly because of the names that aren't on this list because of injuries. Ricardo Pepi isn't coming. Neither is Folarin Balogun. Step right up, Josh Sargent – now's your moment to shine. He's done plenty of scoring with Norwich and, if healthy, he'll be the starter for the USMNT in March. This will be a huge opportunity for him to show that the USMNT striker position really is a three-horse race at the very top.
Behind him, the USMNT has two very different players in Vazquez in Agyemang. Vazquez is a fantastic change-of-pace forward, one who can step into a team as a substitute and alter games from open play at set pieces. Agyemang, meanwhile, is big and more agile than people give him credit for. His breakout January camp put him in the mix and, if he can get a few goals for Charlotte FC to start the MLS season, that would make his case even stronger.
Given the striker situation, Pochettino could go with an extra winger, though, and choose just one of the strikers alongside Sargent. Tim Weah or Christian Pulisic could fill the role, if needed, as could someone such as Reyna or Aaronson as a false nine. If that's the way he goes, someone such as Cade Cowell would make sense in that spot.
Once again, though, there is a wildcard: Downs. The 20-year-old striker has played for both the U.S. and Germany on the youth level and is in the midst of a breakout season in the 2. Bundesliga with Koln. Again, this is a tough place to introduce a new player and that may be better left to summer but, if Pochettino believes he's ready, Downs could be one of the names on the list come March.