We Support the U.S. -- A USMNT Career

[tbuc]

Position Breakdown Part 4 - Central Midfielders
January 2020

With Michael Bradley coming to the end of his career, Weston McKennie is proving to be the future leader for the USMNT.

Regulars (No. 8/No. 6):

Weston McKennie (21 y.o. - Club: Schalke 04) - McKennie is the future for the U.S. in the middle of the pitch. After leaving the FC Dallas academy in July 2016, the versatile midfielder was promoted to the Schalke first team in May 2017 and made his Bundesliga debut not long after. This is now his third season as a regular starter and he’s grown into an important player for his club. For the 2019/20 season, McKennie has made 16 starts and recorded a 7.01 rating. For his national side, McKennie can play as a box-to-box or ball winner. Although he’s still very young, he’s got excellent physical stats, great mental stats, and is great in the air. The future is very bright for Weston McKennie.

Tyler Adams (20 y.o. - Club: RB Leipzig) - Adams is another young player for all American’s to get excited about. As long as he gets regular minutes at club level, Adams will be called into the national team. He came up as a right back before moving to the midfielder within the New York Red Bulls academy. He was a regular starter in the MLS before making the move to Germany in January 2019. During the second half of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season the versatile player made eight starts and two appearances off the bench before an injury. This season has been a little more difficult for Adams. He’s been dropped to the bench and has only managed six appearances in the league this year. He was hoping for a loan move before the start of this season, but nothing materialized.

Michael Bradley (32 y.o. - Club: Toronto FC) - The leader and captain of his national side, Bradley is just 11 caps away from tying Cobi Jones for the all time U.S. record. He’s played in the Premier League (Aston Villa), Bundesliga (Borussia Monchengladbach) and most recently, Serie A (Roma) before returning to the MLS. He’s still an excellent player and consistently one of the best in the MLS. With decent depth behind him on the USMNT depth chart, it’ll be interesting to see how much longer he has left.

Russell Canouse (24 y.o. - Club: D.C. United) - Born in Pennsylvania, Canouse left the U.S. at 15-years old and joined the Hoffenheim youth setup. After slowly progressing from the U17’s to the U19’s and finally the second team, Canouse spent the 2016/17 season on loan with VfL Bochum in the 2. Bundesliga where he was a regular. After that season, the defensive minded midfielder left Germany to join MLS side, D.C. United. The 2019 season was his fourth in D.C. where Canouse has grown into one of the top midfielders in the league. He recorded a 7.01 rating in 33 starts.

If Alfredo Morales can find first team minutes, he could become a regular for his national side.

Fringe Players (No. 8/No. 6):
Kellyn Acosta (24 y.o. - Club: Nashville S.C.), Alfredo Morales (29 y.o. - Club: Fortuna Dusseldorf), Wil Trapp (26 y.o. - Club: Inter Miami)

There aren’t many fringe players with the quality of the options ahead of them. Kellyn Acosta broke into the MLS as an 18-year old and excelled from the start. It didn’t take long for him to get called into the USMNT, but his progression has stalled a bit. Injuries this past season kept him off the field for periods of time and he only managed a 6.79 rating. Alfredo Morales has spent his entire career bouncing back and forth with two different clubs. He was a regular in the first team with Ingolstadt 04 for six seasons, two of which coming in the Bundesliga. At the conclusion of last season Morales left his club on a free to Fortuna Dusseldorf where he made 17 starts. He could potential be a “regular” on this list, but he’s only made one appearance this season. Lastly, Wil Trapp has 20 caps and has been a regular for the USMNT previously. However, with the emergence of McKennie and Adams, Trapp has fallen down the pecking order. He joined Inter Miami at the start of last season who were stuck playing in the lower leagues until they became introduced into the MLS. With that, the MLS 2020 season is only a few months away, Trapp could be reintroduced into the U.S. team if he can get to where he was before the 2019 season.

Even though he has just four U.S. caps, Joel Sonora has proved he deserves to be a regular in the senior team.

Regulars (Playmakers):
Joel Sonora (23 y.o. - Arsenal de Sarandí) - Some would say Sonora came out of nowhere when he was called up by Buckingham. But, once he got his chance, he proved to be important in the U.S. attack. Last season was his first at the senior team level and showed signs of potential in the top division in Argentina. This season he’s started all 18 matches for his club team and has recorded a 7.11 rating. With the success he’s having for both club and country, it’s hard to see him losing his spot for the U.S.

After being stuck in the youth ranks at Benfica, Keaton Parks is looking to reestablish himself in the MLS.

Fringe Players (Playmakers):
Sebastian Lletget (27 y.o. - LA Galaxy), Duane Holmes (25 y.o. - Derby County), Keaton Parks (New York City FC), Cristian Roldan (24 y.o. - Seattle Sounders), Matko Miljevic (18 y.o. - Watford)

The U.S. have a lot of young talent at this position, but most of those highly rated prospects are still trying to establish themselves at club level. The first two names on this list are talented enough to be with the first team, but have been used as wingers under Buckingham. Both Lletget and Holmes are natural wide players, but have the ability to fill in the No. 10 role (more on those two players when I cover the wingers). Keaton Parks got his chance under Buckingham last November, but really didn’t stand out when on the field. The deep lying playmaker left the U.S. at 18-years old to join Varzim who play in the Portugese second tier. He managed eight starts in his first season before Benfica came in and bought the American. At that point he became a big name prospect in the U.S. ranks, but Parks never proved himself with the Portugese giants. He spent the 2019 season with NYCFC before making the move permanent. He put up great numbers (17 starts, 6 assists, 7.01 rating) in his first MLS season and if that carries over into 2020 he should get another look. Crisitan Roldan has been an excellent talent and leader for Seattle in the MLS. In four seasons he earned 15 U.S. caps and that number should increase as he improves. Although he’s an attacking playmaker, he has the ability to play as a box-to-box midfielder as well. The last name on this list is the most exciting. Miljevic is a top prospect for the U.S. who recently committed to play for the U.S. over Argentina. He came up through the Argentinos Jrs. youth system and never played with the first team before Watford bought the player last summer. In his first season in England, the Miami Beach native has been bouncing back and forth between the U23’s and U18 sides. He has a 7.20 rating in ten appearances with the U18’s and 7.20 as well with the U23’s.​

 

[tbuc]

Position Breakdown Part 5 - Wingers
January 2020

After breaking out with Borussia Dortmund, Christian Pulisic has established himself as a world class talent.

Regulars:
Chrisitan Pulisic (21 y.o. - Chelsea) - The most talented player in this pool, Pulisic has 15 goals in 36 caps for the U.S. Pulisic joined the Borussia Dortmund youth ranks at 17 years old and it took less than a year for him to be called into the senior team. It didn’t take long for him to become a household name and in January 2019, the pacy winger was sold to Chelsea becoming the most expensive player in U.S. history. This season, in the Premier League, Pulisic has four goals and four assists in 12 appearances.

After a strong 2019 MLS season, Sebastian Lletget is quickly becoming a regular for the USMNT.

Fringe Players:
Paul Arriola (24 y.o. - Club: D.C. United), Sebastian Lletget (27 y.o. - Club: L.A. Galaxy), Jordan Morris (25 y.o. - Club: N.Y.C. FC), Timmy Weah (19 y.o. - Club: Lille), Duane Holmes (25 y.o. - Club: Derby County), Darlington Nagbe (29 y.o. - Club: Columbus Crew), Tyler Boyd (25 y.o. - Club: Besiktas)

Behind Pulisic, there is a lot of depth and honestly, none have separated themselves from the pack. The U.S. have played five games under their new head coach and it’s been Sebastain Lletget who has been the best. At 27-years old he’s probably in his prime now, but he can’t be overlooked after bagging eight goals and recording seven assists in the MLS last year. Paul Arriola didn’t put up the same numbers as Lletget, but he does an excellent job of tracking back and helping out his defense when needed. Against a top side, his motor and willingness to leave it all on the pitch makes him a legitimate option for the USMNT. Jordan Morris is another option playing in the MLS. He’s been a regular in the U.S. team, but struggled with injuries last year. He has a great balance of pace and strength making him a serious goal scoring threat cutting inside from either the left or right flank. Timmy Weah is one of the top prospects in the U.S. ranks. Coming up through the PSG youth ranks he was never given much of a chance with the first team. He spent the latter part of the 2018/19 season on loan with Scottish giants Celtic making 20 appearances. After the conclusion of the season, Lille came in and bought the New York City born forward. After missing five month with a torn hamstring, Weah has recently returned to the pitch and has made four appearances in the French first division. Next on the list is Duane Holmes. The versatile winger has only recently come into the national team picture after establishing himself in the English Championship with Derby County. Not only is he an option on the wing, Holmes is a top option in the No. 10 role if Buckingham decides to play in a 4-2-3-1. At 29-years old, Darlington Nagbe is one of the most talented wingers in this pool. At club level, he’s been playing more as a midfielder, however. Now that he’s in his prime, Buckingham has overlooked him for younger options. The last option is a dual national who committed his future to the U.S. Boyd is currently stuck on the bench in Turkey getting sporadic minutes off the bench for Besiktas. If he gets more minutes, he’ll be tough to overlook going forward.
​

 

[tbuc]

Position Breakdown Part 6 - Strikers
January 2020

Jozy Altidore currently sits third on the all-time U.S. goal scoring list.

Regulars:
Jozy Altidore (30 y.o. - Toronto FC) - With the U.S. lacking at the striker position, Jozy Altidore has been the top option up front for over ten years. After establishing himself as an MLS starter back in 2008, Villarreal came calling and Jozy was on his way to Europe. After a spell in La Liga, the big forward spent most of his career bouncing around the continent. His best came with AZ Alkmaar of the Eredivisie. After an inconsistent time abroad, Altidore returned to the MLS with Toronto FC back in 2015 where he’s preparing for his fifth year as a starter.

Emmanuel Sabbi has been the first fringe player to be given a chance this World Cup cycle.

Fringe Players:
Timmy Weah (19 y.o. - Club: Lille), Josh Sargent (19 y.o. - Club: Werder Bremen), Emmanuel Sabbi (22 y.o. - Club: Hobro), Dom Dwyer (29 y.o. - Club: Orlando City), Haji Wright (21 y.o. - Club: VVV Venlo), Andrija Novakovich (23 y.o. - Club: Frosinone), Bobby Wood (27 y.o. - Club: Hamburger)

There’s a lot of American strikers playing all over Europe and the United States, all hoping for a chance to prove themselves under the new head coach. Emmanuel Sabbi has been given the first chance, scoring a hat trick in his debut. At club level he’s recorded a 7.19 rating in 15 starts so far this season. We touched on Timmy Weah already. He can play up front as well as on the wing, but has spent most of his time on the wing during his short career. It’ll be interesting to see where he plays on the pitch for Lille this season now that he’s back from his hamstring injury. That could dictate where he plays for the U.S. Josh Sargent has a lot of hype surrounding his name. He never joined an MLS academy and before a professional team stateside could sign him, he left for Germany. Last season Sargent managed two goals in ten appearances and a lot of U.S. fans were ready to see the torch passed to the 19-year old, but this season he’s only managed three appearances, all off the bench, for Werder Bremen. Although Buckingham is looking for youth options, Dom Dwyer cannot be overlooked after a 16 goal season in the MLS last year. He hasn’t seen the pitch in a U.S. shirt since 2017, but he has two goals in four national team appearances. If Sabbi’s form dips I wouldn’t be surprised if Dwyer gets a second chance. Haji Wright has been capped at the U18 and U23 levels for the U.S. and broke out at the club level last year. Coming up through the Schalke youth setup, he marked his debut season with the senior team with a goal in seven appearances last season. That prompted a move on a free transfer to VVV Venlo this season where he’s recorded a 6.94 rating in 18 appearances. Next on the list is another 23-year old, however Novakovich has seen the field for the USMNT. After a 19 goal season in the Dutch second tier, the former U.S. head coach gave him a taste of what it takes to play with the full national team. Now in the Serie B, Novakovich has a 6.86 rating in 16 starts. If he continues to grow he could slowly move his way up the U.S. pecking order. Lastly, there’s Bobby Wood. He has 45 caps and at 27-years old, he should be in the prime of his career. However, his career has started to go downhill. After a 17 goal season with Union Berlin in the 2. Bundesliga back in the 2015/16 season, Wood was sold to the then Bundesliga side, Hamburger. He earned first team minutes and was even loaned out to Bundesliga side Hannover after Hamburger were relegated last year. After an average in 2017/18 and struggling last year with Hanover, Wood has been stuck on the bench with Hamburger in the German second division.​

 

[tbuc]

January 2020 Update

After a strong finish to 2019, U.S. fans are starting to get excited for what 2020 has to offer. The U.S. will face Mexico in the National League semi-finals in a little over a month to mark the USMNT’s first real challenge under their Head Coach, Thomas Buckingham. Until then, here are a bit of housekeeping notes:

Winger Sebastian Lletget set to miss an extended period of time.

The biggest news this month is disappointing. Looking over the injury list, the U.S. were dealt a major blow when they learned winger Sebastian Lletget tore his ACL in training ruling him out anywhere from 5-8 months. The USMNT does have a lot of depth on the wing, but Lletget had impressed not only for his national side, but for his club as well in 2019. Under Buckingham, the 27-year old has made four appearances, scoring three goals and has averaged a 7.72 rating. At club level, Lletget’s eight goals and seven assists was good enough to earn him a spot in the 2019 MLS Best VI.

Ethan Horvath has not seen the pitch in a competitive match since last season.

There wasn’t anything to add on the transfer front this month. Ethan Horvath, who is good enough to get regular call ups to the national team, is yet to make an appearance for Club Brugge this season and will be staying put for the rest of the year. Josh Sargent and Tyler Adams are both in the same boat. Sargent has only been on the pitch a grand total of 65 minutes all season. There is still some interest in him from a few MLS sides, so a move stateside could happen as their transfer window opens on February 5th. Tyler Adams is seeing the field a little more frequently with seven substitute appearances in the Bundesliga and one start in the Champions League. The last player searching for first team minutes is right back, Sergino Dest. He has one Eredivisie start this season and has spent the vast majority of the year with Jong Ajax.

The 2020 schedule is taking shape as we now know the USMNT will be heading to Europe and will have a proper test against Spain at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in March. Three days later the team will head to St. Petersburg to take on Russia. Fast-forward three months and he U.S. will face off against their fierce rivals Mexico in the Nations League semi-final. This will be the first real test with a trophy on the line. The winner of that match will be the favorites to lift the first even CONCACAF Nations League Tournament. The American’s will close out the calendar year with six World Cup qualifiers.​

 

[tbuc]

February 2020 Update

The European transfer window may be closed, but there is plenty of movement stateside. There are two moves in particular that standout, so we’ll go over those. Also, the U.S. were dealt more bad news on the injury front. When the squad gets together in March, they will be without one key starter in the middle of the defense.

After 101 appearances with Sunderland, Lynden Gooch joins the MLS.

There are two names that came across the transfer ticker that stood out to me. Both players are coming home after testing their luck overseas. Furthermore, although neither were mentioned when we broke down the player pool last month, both talents could crack the U.S. senior roster with a strong debut season in the MLS. The first name is the pacey right winger, Lynden Gooch. After eight years with Sunderland, the 24-year old was sold to the Houston Dynamo for $2.5 million. Born in Northern California, Gooch joined the Sunderland youth ranks at the age of 16. After a couple seasons with the U21 side and two loan spells, Gooch made his first team debut with the Black Cats during the 2016/17 season when in total he made four starts and seven Premier League substitute appearances. During that season, Gooch also made his senior team debut with the U.S. national team. However, the winger started to fall off the map after his club team suffered back to back relegations. Now that he’s in the MLS his name should appear on Buckingham’s list of potential call ups if Gooch finds himself on the pitch regularly.

With regular minutes in the MLS, Brendan Hines-Ike should get a chance with the U.S.

The second name to keep an eye on is Brendan Hines-Ike. After a successful college career, the center back decided to test himself in Europe, joining Swedish side, Orebro. Three seasons later, Hines-Ike was sold for a club record fee to KV Kortrijk who play in the top division of Belgium. He was a starter for the majority of his first season, but found himself on the bench toward the latter part of the season. Year two was more of the same. He one managed five appearances (three starts), but his 6.94 rating proved he played well in limited action. With the lack of playing time, the ball playing defender was sold for $1.1 million to the Philadelphia Union. Hines-Ike is still only 25-years old, so there is still plenty of time for him to grow. Like Gooch, if he can find regular minutes on this pitch with the Union, a call up to the national team could very much take place.

A hip injury will keep the U.S. second captain, John Brooks out 7-10 weeks.

We all know injuries are a part of the game, but it's still tough to hear when a key player is set to miss an extended period of time. This time around we’ve learned John Brooks will be out close to two months. He’s been a regular starter (16 starts) for Wolfsburg, who currently sit 10th in the Bundesliga. This will open the door for some fringe players to really prove themselves with matches against Spain and Russian just weeks away.​

 

[tbuc]

March 2020 Roster Announcement

​

March 16, 2020

The U.S. full national team side are a little short-handed this time around. With Olympic qualifying going on at the same time, the U.S. U23’s coach was given first priority to who he wanted to call in. The U.S. have failed to qualify for the last two Olympics, so making it to Tokyo took priority over the USMNT friendlies against Spain and Russia.

Looking at the keepers first, regulars Zack Steffen and Sean Johnson are called. With Bill Hamid out with a hamstring injury, Matt Turner is introduced into the squad over Brad Guzan. Guzan is 35-years old now and off to a slow start in the MLS. 25-year old Turner did struggle a bit during the 2019 MLS season, but his 7.05 rating in four starts this year was enough for Buckingham to reward him a chance.

At the back, John Brooks is out injured, and Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson are with the U23 squad. Tim Ream has been a regular in Buckingham’s squad at left back, but this time the Fulham man has been replaced by Nick Lima. With the ability to play on both sides of the defense, Lima has featured mainly on the right in his seven U.S. caps, however this time he’s called in with Chase Gasper to play on the left. On the right Reggie Cannon is back in the squad. DeAndre Yedlin is back in as well to replace Brandon Bye. After a dominant 2019 season in the MLS, Bye was traded to Vancouver and for some reason is a backup and transfer listed at the start of this year. A very odd one there. In the middle we see Matt Miazga, Aaron Long, and Tim Parker who have all played under Buckingham. Miazga continues to have a strong season with Reading in the Championship and is a favorite to be a starter once World Cup qualification begins at the end of the calendar year. Aaron Long struggled with injuries at the end of 2019, but regained his place. Tim Parker, who most would’ve considered an outsider at this point last year, had a great 2019 season in the MLS and has made the most of his opportunities in a U.S. shirt. He definitely deserves a chance against a tougher international opponent. If he plays well again, I could see him become a regular under Buckingham as this cycle continues. The last center back in the squad is Brendan Hines-Ike. We profiled him last month and just like that he’s in the team. With Brooks out and Cameron Carter-Vickers with the U23’s, there was no clear favorite on who would get the final spot. Hines-Ike has never represented the U.S. at any level, however a short although successful stint in Belgium proved he has what it takes to compete at this level.

On the wings, both Christian Pulisic and Timmy Weah are with the U23’s. Jordan Morris, who is one the most talented wingers in the pool, is finally available for selection after struggling with injuries in 2019. He is joined by regular’s Paul Arriola and Duane Holmes. The fourth wide man is Tyler Boyd. The dual national has the talent, but has been stuck on the bench with Turkish side Besiktas for most of the season. He may not be fully match fit, but Buckingham still wants to take a look at him. Up front Jozy Altidore and Emmanuel Sabbi have been the two strikers consistently called in. However, this time around Sabbi is with the U23’s, therefore, he’s been replaced by 23-year old Andrija Novakovich. Novakovich, currently playing for Frosinone in Serie B, will have to make a real impact if he wants to make an impression here. The U.S. have some decent talent up front, but timing is everything. Josh Sargent, who everyone expects to be the future, still isn’t getting minutes in the Bundesliga and is with the U23’s. Also with the U23’s is Haji Wright, who is playing well in the Eredivisie. Dom Dwyer scored 16 goals in the MLS last year, but at 29-years old, his club team believe his time is over, as they dropped him to the bench and transfer listed him.​

 

[tbuc]

Friendly
Location: Nuevo Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo, Spain
Date: March, 25 2020

Coming into this match, we knew we had to be at our very best if we had any chance against a strong Spain side. We came out sitting back and looking to pounce on the counter. The home side did come out attacking, but our defense held strong and didn’t allow Spain any real chances on goal. Miazga did make two very big tackles in the opening fifteen minutes. I didn’t have any expectations coming into this one, but I thought our wingers were poor. Jozy Altidore did a good job of holding up play when we won back possession, but he was forced to play the ball back to his midfielders as his wide forwards were never there to support him. This slowed our counter down and Spain had plenty of time to regroup. Both Boyd and Morris were subbed off at halftime in hopes Arriola and Holmes would offer more.

Spain were definitely on the front foot to open this match, but the boys held their ground and looked to attack on the counter, however that never came. Our only highlight in the first half came when Darlington Nagbe dribbled the ball into the box and, before running into Sergio Ramos, squared the ball to Joel Sonora who hit it first time. He hit it purely, but right at David De Gea. Spain dominated the second half. Although the home side deserved a goal, the first one was very disappointing. Isco put in a free kick by the left corner flag which Zack Steffen came out to punch, but he missed the ball completely. Rodrigo headed it on frame where Duane Holmes was standing and the ball deflected off his body right to Koke’s feet who tapped it in. The second goal came when Sergio Ramos out jumped his marker on a corner kick and the powerful defender headed it into the net. This time our keeper couldn’t be blamed. We did score a goal of our own. Mix Diskerud had a shot from just inside the box which was blocked by Sergio Roberto and the ball bounced perfectly for Wil Trapp to smash in off the volley. Joel Sonora should be taking notes. He had two shots on frame in this one, both he hit down the keepers throat.​

 

[tbuc]

Friendly
Location: Krestovsky Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia
Date: March 28, 2020

After the tough match against Spain, Russia should’ve been a must more even contest. But, we were very much outplayed in this one. We did make 10 changes to the side in hopes some of our fringe players could step in and make a name for themselves, but that didn’t happen. There were three highlights of us in the attack, one of which was our goal and that was really a flook. We did have a great chance from a free kick in the opening five minutes when Trapp found Hines-Ike at the far post from a free kick, but the center back headed right into the keepers hands.

The match was all Russia from the opening whistle. Sean Johnson got the start in net and made a handful of brilliant saves. Unfortunately for him, he let in two goals which he had no real chance of saving. The first came from a corner which was headed in for six yards out. Four minutes later, Mario Fernandez was played in from his right wing position and he blasted it into the far post from inside the box. Questions have to be asked of our left winger there. Our goal came from a free kick roughly 35 yards out. Trapp floated the ball in which was just over the head of Aaron Long. The keeper froze for a second and dove to his left right before the ball bounced and ruffled the side netting. All Trapp could do was laugh and shrug his shoulders after scoring two goals in as many games.

Looking at the stats, Mix Diskerud’s 8.3 rating stood out. Interestingly enough I did not think he played all the well. There weren't too many highlights of us in the attack, but the stats show he made eight key passes. What the highlights did show was him playing one poor pass which led to a one-on-one with our keeper and another showed Mix losing possession a little too easily leading to a Russia counter attack.

Trapp’s two appearances in this international window were his 21st and 22nd in a U.S. shirt. Funny enough those two goals were his first two for the USMNT.​

 

[tbuc]

May Update

​

It’s very clear the U.S. national team is short of depth between the sticks. Zack Steffen is a quality keeper who, at 25-years old, still has plenty of time to grow. After Manchester City bought Steffen last summer, he was loaned out to Bundesliga side, Fortuna Dusseldorf. In his first season abroad, Steffen managed 33 starts and a 6.65 rating. That is below the 6.70 “average” number, but going from the MLS to a struggling side in a top European league, I’d consider that a decent season.

After a strong 2019, Brad Guzan's form has dipped significantly this MLS season.

The question has always been who would prove themself and become the backup. Brad Guzan had the best season at club level last year with a 6.98 rating in 36 starts, but 2020 has been a struggle (17 starts 6.58 rating). At 35-years old, his best years are behind him and I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve seen the last of the former Premier League keeper. Two other younger options who have been on the radar are Matt Turner (25) and Tyler Miller (27). Those two have always been on the fringe with Guzan, Sean Johnson, and Bill Hamid ahead of them, however their age has always played in their favor. Unfortunately, both keepers have been struggling with Turner only averaging a 6.59 rating and Miller a 6.39 in the 2020 MLS season.

Sean Johnson (left) and Bill Hamid (right) joke before facing off in the MLS.

That leaves just Bill Hamid (29) and Sean Johnson (30) fighting it out for that backup spot. Hamid, after a bit of a down year last season with D.C. United, moved to Seattle during the off-season and is averaging a 6.83 rating in 15 starts compared to Johnson’s 7.11 rating in the same amount of appearances. Outside of Steffen, Johnson is the only other keeper to play under their current head coach.

There is some big news however. Dual national Sean McDermott has committed his future to the USMNT. Born in Norway to an Irish father, McDermott has represented the Republic of Ireland at the youth level, but was never cap tied leaving the door open for the current MLS keeper to switch allegiances to either Norway or the United States. The former Arsenal youth academy player has spent his entire senior playing career in Norway, minus a brief spell in Romania, before moving to Seattle three months ago. In 16 starts McDermott has eight shutouts and three Man of the Match awards to go with his 7.07 rating. With three keepers named to every national team roster, McDermott will be competing with Johnson and Hamid for a call up.​

 

[tbuc]

Nations League Roster Announcement

May 28, 2020

The roster for our biggest two games yet has been announced. Mexico is the highest rated nation in the CONCACAF, so the winner of the Semi-final tie will be favorites to lift the trophy in the Final.

Looking over the roster, newly committed keeper Sean McDermott is in over Bill Hamid. It is now a three house race for the two back positions as we edge closer to World Cup qualifying. At the back, John Brooks misses out as he’s just recently recovered from a hip injury. Matt Miazga, Tim Parker, and Aaron Long, who were called in for the two March friendlies, remain in the team. After taking part in Olympic qualifying two months ago, Cameron Carter-Vickers is back in replacing Brendan Hines-Ike. First choice right back Sergino Dest also returns as he too was with the U23’s in March and he is joined by Reggie Cannon who beats out DeAndre Yedlin. On the left side Chase Gasper keeps his place. The exciting news for all U.S. fans is the return of Antonee Robinson. He is the clear first choice left back, but is yet to play under the new head coach. A torn calf muscle kept him out of the three international breaks in 2019 in which Buckingham was in charge of. After returning from injury the Wigan man was with the U23’s in March.

In the midfield, the usual prospects of Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Russell Canouse, and Joel Sonora are with the team. Mix Diskerud and Darlington Nagbe return after playing well for the U.S. in March. There are no favorites of who will lead the attack from the midfield for the U.S. Joel Sonora has been the popular choice under Buckingham, but with Michael Bradley and Wil Trapp out injured, look for Sonora to sit a little deeper if he finds himself on the pitch.

On the wings we see some very familiar names. Paul Arriola has made six appearances under Buckingham, which is more than any other wide man. Jordan Morris is back in after playing in both friendly matches two months ago. The most talented American, Christian Pulisic is the most obvious choice. He concluded his debut season with Chelsea recording seven goals and seven assists in 27 appearances.

Up front we see a new name. Joining Jozy Altidore is Haji Wright. Buckingham made it clear that Emmanuel Sabbi is very much still in the picture, but felt he needed to give someone else a chance. This time it’s the VVV-Venlo starting number nine. Wright made 28 appearances during the 2019/20 season in the Eredivisie recording a 6.90 rating. Sabbi may be more clinical in front of goal, but Wright is much more physical and better in the air. With the U.S. consistently getting the ball out wide, Wright might pose a bigger threat in the box.​

 

[tbuc]

Nations League Semi-Finals
Location: Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente, Boca del Rio, Mexico
Date: June 3, 2020

A very disappointing result as we crash out of the Nations League after giving up a goal in the 92nd minute. The match was very even and didn’t really open up until the 70th minute or so. The only real chance of note for Mexico came from a corner kick which was won in the air by Raul Jimenez who headed into a group of bodies. With the ball pinging around in the box, Zack Steffen was able to fall on it right before Erick Gutierrez got a foot on it. Most of the Mexico attack came down the middle, but the U.S. were disciplined and didn’t leave any space for the hosts to get off a decent attempt. The U.S. didn’t offer much in the attack either. Tyler Adams had a few shots from distance, but was closer to hitting an usher in the crowd than the back of the net. The best chance the U.S. created before the Mexico goal came in the 88th minute from a cross by Sergino Dest. Jordan Morris was free at the back post, but his header from no more than five yards out was directed right into the keepers hands.

The lone goal of the match started from a free kick about 15 yards outside the box. The ball in was a good one guided into the path of Carlos Salcedo who was pushed to the ground by Matt Miazga. Miguel Layun stepped up and buried the penalty into the bottom left corner. The U.S. did have one great opportunity in the dying seconds, but a Darlington Nagbe shot deflected off a Mexican defender and sailed just wide of the net.

The U.S. will now face Honduras in the third place game.​

 

[tbuc]

Nations League Third Place Match
Location: Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente, Boca del Rio, Mexico
Date: June 7, 2020

It’s starting to become clear that scoring goals is one of our biggest problems. We do a great job of controlling possession and creating chances, but the end product is rarely there. Against Mexico we had 60% possession and had more shots and tested their keeper more than our opponents, yet we didn’t score a goal. It’s worth noting we found the target seven times. Against Honduras we had 58% possession, 40 shots, and 18 on target. However, we only found the back of the net three times. That means, between those two matches, we scored from just 12% of our shots on target. That won’t get you very far.

I sort of already summed this match up. We controlled the game with 58% possession and completed over 100 more passes than our opponents. We also outshot them by 32 and forced their keeper into 15 saves. Ten of those shots on target were from inside the box as well, not to mention two more hit the post. The first half was very frustrating as six of our shots on frame came in the opening 20 minutes, but we had nothing to show for it. Haji Wright was also robbed by the woodwork in that same timeframe. Luckily for us, we did find the net once in the first half, so I didn’t go into the locker room ragging and forced to make a triple change out of frustration.

Reggie Cannon played a square ball to Joel Sonora in stride who skipped past a flat footed midfielder and with the defense sitting very deep, Sonora was able to guide the ball into the top right corner from just inside the box under no pressure at all. We came out in the second half applying the same pressure as the opened the match with. Only this time we scored twice in 20 minutes. The first started with a corner kick which didn’t beat the first defender. However, the ball was kicked right back out to Christian Pulisic who found Tim Parker unmarked in the box. A header from six yards out means the big center back has two goals in three matches under Buckingham. Parker played provider in the third goal. Another corner kick was flicked clear, which the defender ran down by the corner flag. His first cross was blocked, but the ball fell right back to him and his second attempt found Haji Wright at the near post. The strikers left foot made it 3-0.

In fairness to Honduras, they did look dangerous on the counter attack. Our new keeper, Sean McDermott was forced into what I thought were two great saves. The Los Catrachos attack did muster up a goal before bagging a second from the counter attack.​

 

[tbuc]

June 2020 Update (Part 1)

With the 2019/20 European season in the books, I thought it would be a good time to look at some Americans to see who is having success abroad. With World Cup qualifying just a few months away the player pool will start to be trimmed down. Until then, here is a list of players who still remain in the picture. The stats below include the 2019/20 season or the 2020 stats for those playing in the MLS or a Scandinavian league. Those leagues are still in the middle of their season. The clubs and leagues listed in italics are for those players on loan moves this past year. The club listed is where the player played this year and not their parent club.

Keepers:​

Regulars -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Ability​	Pot. Ability​	2019/20​	Val.​
Steffen​	Zack​	25​	22​	Fortuna Dusseldorf​	Bundesliga​	3.5*​	4*​	33(0) - 6.65​	$12.0m​

Fringe -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Ability​	Pot. Ability​	2019/20​	Val.​
Johnson​	Sean​	31​	8​	New York City FC​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	19(0) - 7.02​	$3.4m​
McDermott​	Sean​	27​	1​	Portland Timbers​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	21(0) - 7.08​	$2.4m​
Hamid​	Bill​	29​	6​	Seattle Sounders​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	19(0) - 6.89​	$3.1m​
Klinsmann​	Jonathan​	23​	0​	St. Gallen​	Swiss Super League​	2*​	2.5*​	32(0) - 6.83​	$600k​
Horvath​	Ethan​	25​	1​	Club Brugge​	Jupiler Pro League​	3*​	3*​	0(1) - 6.60​	$1.7m​
Guzan​	Brad​	35​	60​	L.A. Galaxy​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	21(0) - 6.67​	$775k​

This list could very easily change over the next two years. Zack Steffen will be returning to Manchester City, and he ends up stuck on the bench (like in real life) and lacks match fitness, he could fall down the pecking order. Sean Johnson has had a very successful MLS career and was linked to a few top European clubs in his younger days. I would have no problem dropping Steffen for Johnson if needed. Bill Hamid is pretty much on even par with Johnson. However, Johnson had a better 2019 season and is currently putting up better numbers again this term which makes him the front-runner. McDermott is squeezed in the middle of the two as he’s having a very strong first season in the MLS. He’s spent just about his entire career in Norway, which is a weaker league than the MLS, so he’ll have to keep up the great form if he wants a shot at regular call ups. The son of one of our former national teams coaches, Jonathan Klinsmann is the least favorite according to my scouts as they only rate him as a two star ability player, but he’s young and had a great first season at the senior team level. He is currently being linked with a move back to Germany. After spending two years in college in the U.S., Klinsmann joined the youth ranks at Hertha Berlin before moving to St. Gallen last summer. The newly promoted Stuttgart are instead in the youngster. Next is Ethan Horvath who could skyrocket up this list. He’s a three star player, who had a lot of potential, but was stuck on the bench all year behind the Belgiun international, Simon Mignolet. Horvath is linked with a move to Nimes of Ligue 1, Stuttgart of the Bundesliga, and Wolves of the EPL. If he can land a move elsewhere and get playing time, he could compete with Steffen for that No. 1 shirt. Lastly, Brad Guzan, who started this cycle as the backup, has had a major dip in form this season. Unless he turns it around in a hurry, his time might be up.​

 

[tbuc]

June Update (Part 2)

​

With the 2019/20 European season in the books, I thought it would be a good time to look at some Americans to see who is having success abroad. With World Cup qualifying just a few months away the player pool will start to be trimmed down. Until then, here is a list of players who still remain in the picture. The stats below include the 2019/20 season or the 2020 stats for those playing in the MLS or a Scandinavian league. Those leagues are still in the middle of their season. The clubs and leagues listed in italics are for those players on loan moves this past year. The club listed is where the player played this year and not their parent club.

Centre Backs:​

Regulars -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Ability​	Pot. Ability​	2019/20​	Val.​
Brooks​	John​	27​	41​	Wolfsburg​	Bundesliga​	3.5*​	3.5*​	17(0) - 6.67​	$6.25m​
Miazga​	Matt​	24​	25​	Readling​	Championship​	3*​	3.5*​	46(0) - 6.87​	$15.0m​

Two injuries forced John Brooks to miss a big chunk of this past season and in trust, for a player who should be entering his prime, he didn’t have a very good season. He’s been a regular in the Bundesliga for over five seasons, so let's hope this down year doesn’t affect his place in the Wolfsburg side. Matt Miazga looked to be the future for us in the middle of the defense. He’s had successful seasons in the Eredivisie and EFL Championship while on loan away from Chelsea. Now that his contract is set to expire, Miagza has signed a pre-contract agreement to join MLS side, FC Dallas next month. That’s a little disappointing and to me the move is a step back in his career. He’ll need to hit the ground running to keep his place in the U.S. side as there is plenty of competition behind him.
​

Fringe -

Last ​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Ability​	Pot. Ability​	2019/20​	Val.​
Long​	Aaron​	27​	14​	New York Red Bulls​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	14(0) - 6.99​	$4.1m​
Parker​	Tim​	27​	5​	Columbus​	MLS​	2.5*​	2.5*​	17(1) - 6.89​	$4.6m​
Carter-Vickers​	Camron​	22​	10​	Luton Town​	Championship​	2.5*​	3.5*​	43(0) - 6.90​	$12.0m​

It’s really hard to separate these three from each other. Last year Long was considered a regular, but he’s been a bit injury prone and missed out quite a bit. In turn he's now only considered a fringe player. With those injuries, a door has opened for Tim Parker. He has scored two goals in three caps under his current international coach and has been a rock at the back. His club form hasn’t been as great as the other two, but he’s proved himself in the few opportunities he’s gotten on the international stage. The last name is Cameron Carter-Vickers. The Tottenham defender is very much still an improving talent with a lot of potential. Now that he’s had three consecutive and successful loan spells in the EFL Championship, it’s time he gets a real chance with the U.S. national team.
​

Outsiders -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Ability​	Pot. Ability​	2019/20​	Val.​
Glad​	Justen​	23​	0​	Real Salt Lake​	MLS​	2.5*​	4*​	19(0) - 6.88​	$4.4m​
Hines-Ike​	Brendan​	25​	1​	Philadelphia Union​	MLS​	2.5*​	3*​	21(0) - 6.76​	$2.1m​
Robinson​	Miles​	23​	0​	Atlanta Utd.​	MLS​	2.5*​	3.5*​	17(0) - 6.74​	$4.3m​
Zimmerman​	Walker​	27​	10​	Orlando City​	MLS​	2.5*​	3*​	16(2) - 6.67​	$3.9m​
Alvarado​	Ventura​	27​	13​	Nexaxa​	Liga MX​	2.5*​	3*​	28(0) - 6.79​	$2.4m​

The last group has some interesting names. Justen Glad has been a regular at every level of the youth setup for the U.S. and now he’s in his second season in the MLS. He’s been a quality defender for his club, so for him it’s a matter of when not if he’ll get called up to the senior national team. Hines-Ike, who I’ve talked about before hasn’t had the early success in the MLS I had hoped for. Because of that, he’s fallen down the pecking order a bit, but he still has plenty of time to prove himself. Next up is another young option in Miles Robinson. A starter for one of the best sides in the MLS, Robinson is being linked with a move to Belgium side, KRC Genk. That would be a major step forward for him and with minutes there, he could get a call up to the national side much sooner than later. Both Zimmerman and Alvarado are in the same boat. Both are entering their prime and have had good careers in North America. Zimmerman was considered a fringe player when I first started out, but injuries and a subpar 2020 has seen his name fall. Alvarado is putting up decent numbers in a more competitive league than the MLS, but he’s a natural right back who can play as a center back if needed. With the depth we have on the right, it’s very unlikely he’ll see the pitch in a U.S. shirt there, but he’s too talented to keep out of our pool. If we ever needed to dig deep in our pool, the Mexico-American wouldn’t be a bad option in the middle of the defense.​

 

[tbuc]

June Update (Part Three)

With the 2019/20 European season in the books, I thought it would be a good time to look at some Americans to see who is having success abroad. With World Cup qualifying just a few months away the player pool will start to be trimmed down. Until then, here is a list of players who still remain in the picture. The stats below include the 2019/20 season or the 2020 stats for those playing in the MLS or a Scandinavian league. Those leagues are still in the middle of their season. The clubs and leagues listed in italics are for those players on loan moves this past year. The club listed is where the player played this year and not their parent club.

Right Backs:​

Regulars -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Dest​	Sergino​	19​	4​	Aston Villa​	Premier League​	3.5*​	5*​	10(0) - 6.77​	$7.0m​

With the potential to be a world class full back, Sergio Dest is already the top option for the U.S. on the right. This was his first season as a first team footballer and he proved he’s ready to compete at the top level with an above average rating in the EPL.​

Fringe -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Yedlin​	DeAndre​	26​	51​	Fenerbahce​	Turkish SuperLig​	3*​	3*​	14(3) - 6.68​	$13.75m​
Cannon​	Reggie​	22​	10​	FC Dallas​	MLS​	2.5*​	3.5*​	16(1) - 6.86​	$4.3m​
Lima​	Nick​	25​	8​	San Jose​	MLS​	2.5*​	3*​	19(0) - 6.94​	$3.7m​
Chandler​	Timmy​	30​	29​	Eintracht Frankfurt​	Bundesliga​	3*​	3*​	9(3) - 6.55​	$2.4m​

DeAndre Yedlin has been the starting right back for a handful of years now, but after the emergence of Dest and Yedlin struggling a bit in Turkey the torch has been passed. Reggie Cannon was given his chance when Dest was stuck on the bench with Ajax at the start of the domestic season and he proved he had what it takes at the international level. If he can break out in the MLS and possibly move abroad, he too could become a lock in the next couple of years. Nick Lima is another quality option who has been a great MLS full back for a few years now, however, at 25-years old he may not have the same potential as Yedlin or Cannon. Regardless, he’s still a reliable option for us if needed. Lastly, Timmy Chandler is probably closer to being an outsider rather than a fringe player, but he does have World Cup experience and plays in the Bundesliga. An improved 2020/21 season would surely raise his stock.

Left Backs:​

Regulars -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Robinson​	Antonee​	22​	9​	Wigan Athletic​	Championship​	3*​	3.5*​	32(0) - 6.86​	$9.25m​

Antonee Robinson may not have the same potential as Sergio Dest, but could still become a quality fullback in a top league in Europe. With a significant drop off in talent behind him, Robinson will be the starter whenever the U.S. gets together for any competitive match.
​

Fringe -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Lima​	Nick​	25​	8​	San Jose​	MLS​	2.5*​	3*​	19(0) - 6.94​	$3.7m​
Ream​	Tim​	32​	38​	Fulham​	Championship​	3*​	3*​	19(7) - 6.57​	$7.0m​
Gasper​	Chase​	24​	4​	Real Salt Lake​	MLS​	2*​	2.5*​	18(0) - 6.78​	$2.3m​
Villafana​	Jorge​	30​	21​	Portland Timber​	MLS​	2.5*​	2.5*​	20(0) - 6.81​	$1.8m​

We touched on Lima already as he is a natural right back. As a right footed player it is preferred he play on that side of the pitch, but it’s hard to ignore his MLS success and the fact he has plenty of experience on the left side as well. Tim Ream is in a similar boat to Lima, although he is a natural center back and is left footed. However, at 32-years old his career is likely winding down. Until a natural left footed full back proves themselves, those two will be the favorites. The next two names on this list are natural left backs, but not as talented as the two guys above them. Villafana does have good numbers in the MLS, but at 30 he’s in the same boat as Ream when it comes to where he is in his career. Chase Gasper has been called in quite a bit this cycle and has proven to be a reliable option, but he’s still pretty raw. He may need to prove himself further at club level before he can be trusted against top quality international sides. Additional, the U.S. does have a few youngsters breaking into their clubs first team, but it's still a bit early to add them to this list. Maybe by this point next season we'll see one or two new names as Villafana and Ream's time comes to an end.​

 

[tbuc]

June Update (Part 4)

With the 2019/20 European season in the books, I thought it would be a good time to look at some Americans to see who is having success abroad. With World Cup qualifying just a few months away the player pool will start to be trimmed down. Until then, here is a list of players who still remain in the picture. The stats below include the 2019/20 season or the 2020 stats for those playing in the MLS or a Scandinavian league. Those leagues are still in the middle of their season. The clubs and leagues listed in italics are for those players on loan moves this past year. The club listed is where the player played this year and not their parent club.

Midfielders (No. 6/No. 8)
​

Regulars -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
McKennie​	Weston​	21​	33​	Schalke 04​	Bundesliga​	3*​	4.5*​	29(1) - 6.96​	$10.5m​

Weston McKennie’s success in the Bundesliga has transferred to the international level and he’s proven to be the most important player for his national team side. There really isn’t much to say about him other than he is the present and the future for the U.S. in the middle of the park.
​

Fringe -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Bradley​	Michael​	32​	152​	Toronto FC​	MLS​	3.5*​	3.5*​	18(0) - 6.91​	$2.6m​
Adams​	Tyler​	21​	15​	RB Leipzig​	Bundesliga​	3.5*​	5*​	2(11) - 6.63​	$10.25m​
Roldan​	Cristian​	25​	17​	Seattle Sounders​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	14(2) - 6.93​	$4.5m​
Trapp​	Wil​	27​	22​	Inter Miami​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	10(0) - 6.95​	$4.1m​

Michael Bradley is the captain of this national side. He has fallen off a bit, but at 32-years old that doesn’t come as a surprise. This position is very top-heavy and until a younger player can prove themselves, Bradley will remain in the picture. Tyler Adams has the talent to be a regular, but with the lack of playing time at Leipzig his match fitness has been a concern. It will be an interesting off-season for him. Let’s see if can either become a starter for his club or possibly land a loan move. Russell Canouse has hit the ground running since returning home from Germany. He’s not putting up the same numbers as he did last year (7.01 rating in 2019), but he’s played well in his five U.S. appearances. Wil Trapp is hot on Canouse’s heels on this depth chart, but the Inter Miami man is in the prime of his career and doesn’t have the potential to grow like Canouse. Talent wise they’re pretty much on par, but with Canouse the younger of the two he’s been given more of a chance. The last name on this list is just as talented, if not more than the two MLS players just named. However, Cristian Roldan is primarily a playmaker who really can do it all. That actually could hurt his chances as he’s not been given a chance to prove himself at one role. He can play as a DM, on the right wing or on the right in a midfield four.
​

Contenders -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Acosta​	Kellyn​	24​	23​	Nashville S.C.​	MLS​	3*​	3.5*​	0(0) - N/A​	$3.3m​
Morales​	Alfredo​	30​	13​	Fortuna Dusseldorf​	Bundesliga​	2.5*​	2.5*​	0(1) - N/A​	$275k​
Yueill​	Jackson​	23​	3​	San Jose​	MLS​	2*​	3*​	22(0) - 6.73​	$3.5m​
Delgado​	Marky​	25​	6​	L.A. Galaxy​	MLS​	2*​	3*​	19(0) - 6.65​	$3.8m​

Kellyn Acosta first came into the MLS and the U.S. national team picture with bags of potential. He started getting plenty of minutes in the MLS as a 17-year old and proved from the beginning he belonged. Not long after he was given a chance with the full U.S. senior team, but he’s since dropped off a bit. An ankle and a shoulder injury has kept him from playing this season. If he can stay healthy and regain his old form he’ll become a fringe player very quickly and push for a spot on the U.S. roster once again. Alfredo Morales is probably the only true ball winning midfielder we have. He could be vital for us if we were up against a top international side, however, the German born talent was stuck on the bench all season and made just one appearance off the bench. It looks like he needs a move away for the Bundesliga if he wants a chance to put on the U.S. shirt again. The last two players on this list are very similar. Both are established MLS players who are still growing as players. They still have a little ways to go if they want to get regular call ups. I don’t want to call them out yet.​

 

[tbuc]

June 2020 Update (Part 5)

Midfielders (Playmakers):​

Regulars -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Sonora​	Joel​	23​	6​	Arsenal de Sarandi​	Argentine Superliga​	2.5*​	3*​	18(0) - 7.11​	$3.3m​
Diskerud​	Mix​	29​	42​	Young Boys​	Swiss Super League​	3*​	3*​	25(0) - 6.88​	$14.75m​
Nagbe​	Darlington​	29​	31​	Columbus Crew​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	18(0) - 7.19​	$5.5m​

We have so much young talent at this position. Joel Sonora was given a chance at the beginning of my reign as head coach and he’s done nothing but play well. Mix Diskerud has four international appearances this window and has a 7.22 rating in his U.S. cameo, while Darlington Nagbe, who is a natural winger, was moved to the middle of the pitch by his club and has shined with three goals and eight assists for Columbus. It’s so hard to pick a starter between those three let alone which two should get called up.
​

Fringe -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Roldan​	Cristian​	25​	17​	Seattle Sounders​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	14(2) - 6.93​	$4.5m​
Lletget​	Sebastian​	27​	13​	L.A. Galaxy​	MLS​	2.5*​	3*​	0(0) - N/A​	$4.7m​
Parks​	Keaton​	22​	3​	New York City F.C.​	MLS​	3.5*​	4*​	21(2) - 6.94​	$5.75m​
Alvarez​	Efrain​	18​	0​	L.A. Galaxy​	MLS​	2*​	5*​	15(2) - 7.24​	$2.7m​
Aaronson​	Brendon​	19​	0​	Philadelphia Union​	MLS​	2*​	4.5*​	14(0) - 7.12​	$4.2m​
Handwalla​	Bwana​	21​	0​	Seattle Sounders​	MLS​	2*​	3.5*​	14(2) - 7.06​	$1.8m​

All these fringe players deserve a chance with the senior team, but I just haven’t had a chance to give them a go. Roldan has been one of the best and consistent midfielders in the MLS for the last three or four years, but with so many young talents on this list who have found immediate success, his future with the national side could be a little deeper in the midfield. Sebastian Lletget finds his name on this list even though he’s played on the wing for us in his four caps this cycle. He’s proved to be our top winger on the left thus far, but he truly is a natural number 10. A torn ACL has kept him out all season. My scouts really love Keaton Parks giving him a 3.5 star rating, but he’s not killing it in the MLS like the three names behind him. However, Parks is linked with a loan move to Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre and does have two U.S. appearances this cycle as well. Maybe it’s time he gets more of a real chance over the more experienced guys above him. The three youngsters are all excelling at the MLS level. I would like to reward all of them with a chance with the national team, but it’s hard to find the time to do so. Efrain Alvarez just turned 18 two weeks ago and is a dual national, so I should look to call him in soon.
​

Contenders -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Green​	Julian​	25​	15​	Greuther Furth​	2. Bundesliga​	2.5*​	3*​	20(5) - 6.84​	$2.6m​
Miljevic​	Matko​	19​	0​	Watford U23​	EPL2​	2.5*​	5*​	8(1) - 7.24​	$2.6m​
Busio​	Gianluca​	18​	0​	Sporting K.C.​	MLS​	2.5*​	4.5*​	17(1) - 6.78​	$1.6m​
Hyndman​	Emerson​	24​	2​	Atlanta United​	MLS​	2.5*​	3.5*​	21(0) - 6.76​	$4.7m​
Mendez​	Alex​	19​	0​	Jong Ajax​	Keuken Kampioen​	2*​	3.5*​	8(17) - 6.99​	$175k​
Ledezman​	Ricky​	19​	0​	Jong PSV​	Keuken Kampioen​	2.5*​	4.5*​	34(0) - 6.85​	$875k​

This list could easily be titled ‘prospects’ instead of contenders, but they're all playing in competitive leagues. Julian Green scored that memorable goal for the U.S. against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup sending that Round of 16 match to extra time. Since then the former highly rated Bayern Munich prospect hasn’t lived up to the hype he was given stateside. Matko Milijevic is being coined ‘the next best thing’ by many U.S. fans and he shined at the youth level with Waford last season. He’s already landed a loan move to EPL Championship side Millwall for the 2020/21 season. A strong season at The Den will see his name shoot up this list. Emerson Hyndman has without a doubt the most experience of any of the young players. He came up in the Fulham and Bournemouth youth ranks and has experience at the Championship and Premier League level while also spending a season with Rangers in Scotland. I had to include both Alex Mendez and Ricky Ledezma since I’m super excited about them in real life. Regardless, they both had excellent seasons in the Dutch second division and could be pushing for a chance with the first team next year.​

 

[tbuc]

June 2020 Update (Part 6)

​

With the 2019/20 European season in the books, I thought it would be a good time to look at some Americans to see who is having success abroad. With World Cup qualifying just a few months away the player pool will start to be trimmed down. Until then, here is a list of players who still remain in the picture. The stats below include the 2019/20 season or the 2020 stats for those playing in the MLS or a Scandinavian league. Those leagues are still in the middle of their season. The clubs and leagues listed in italics are for those players on loan moves this past year. The club listed is where the player played this year and not their parent club.

Wingers:​

Regulars -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Pulisic​	Christian​	21​	38​	Chelsea​	Premier League​	4.5*​	5*​	22(5) - 7.20​	$66.0m​

A world class player who, at 21-year old, is already considered the best American footballer of all time by some fans. I really don’t need to say much as his stats tell the story. In seven caps this cycle he’s recorded two goals, four assists and a 7.77 rating
​

Fringe -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Lletget​	Sebastian​	27​	13​	L.A. Galaxy​	MLS​	2.5*​	3*​	0(0) - N/A​	$4.7m​
Nagbe​	Darlington​	29​	31​	Columbus Crew​	MLS​	3*​	3*​	18(0) - 7.19​	$5.5m​
Holmes​	Duane​	25​	8​	Derby County​	Championship​	2.5*​	3*​	38(2) - 6.92​	$13.25m​
Arriola​	Paul​	25​	35​	Atlanta Utd.​	MLS​	3*​	3.5*​	12(3) - 6.89​	$5.5m​
Morris​	Jordan​	25​	37​	Chicago Fire​	MLS​	2.5*​	3*​	20(1) - 6.85​	$4.5m​
Weah​	Timmy​	20​	8​	Lille​	Ligue 1​	3*​	5*​	2(5) - 6.95​	$2.2m​
Saief​	Kenny​	26​	4​	Lechia​	Ekstraklasa​	2.5*​	3*​	26(1) - 7.22​	$2.2m​
Boyd​	Tyler​	25​	7​	Basiktas​	Turkish SuperLiga​	2.5*​	2.5*​	1(8) - 6.89​	$2.5m​

With Pulisic taking all the minutes on the right wing, there is a ton of competition on the left flank. Outside of Sebastian Lletget, no one has really stood out. Paul Arriola has gotten plenty of chances while Jordan Morris has come back into the picture after his injury issues. Darlington Nagbe has spent most of his career on the wing, but has taken on a new role in the middle of the pitch at club level and has excelled there. Duane Holmes had a good season in the English second division, but he’s limited to the right wing. Timmy Weah has yet to be called into the squad under the head coach as injuries and a lack of minutes at club level keeps him from getting a call. Kenny Saief has been a fringe player for many seasons, but has fallen off a bit after falling out of favor at Anderlecht. He managed to dominate the Polish top division this past year, but he needs to prove himself at a higher level if he wants another chance. After returning from loan this off-season, Anderlecht have transfer listed him for $2.0m. The last name on the list is Tyler Boyd. An issue with match fitness has seen him called in just once this cycle and the lack of playing time showed. He may need to move away from Turkey before Buckingham gives him another look.​

 

[tbuc]

June 2020 Update (Part 7)

​

With the 2019/20 European season in the books, I thought it would be a good time to look at some Americans to see who is having success abroad. With World Cup qualifying just a few months away the player pool will start to be trimmed down. Until then, here is a list of players who still remain in the picture. The stats below include the 2019/20 season or the 2020 stats for those playing in the MLS or a Scandinavian league. Those leagues are still in the middle of their season. The clubs and leagues listed in italics are for those players on loan moves this past year. The club listed is where the player played this year and not their parent club.

Strikers:​

Regulars-

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Altidore​	Jozy​	30​	120​	Toronto FC​	MLS​	3.5*​	3.5*​	19(0) - 7.08​	$5.25m​

With a lack of talent at the striker position, Jozy Altidore has been the main man for the majority of his professional career. His 46 international career goals is third all time in a U.S. shirt. At 30-years old his playing career could be on the downhill, but he’s still putting up great numbers in the MLS.​

Fringe -

Last​	First​	Age​	Caps​	Club​	League​	Cur. Rating​	Pot. Rating​	2019/20​	Val.​
Wright​	Haji​	22​	2​	VVV Venlo​	Eredivisie​	2.5*​	3*​	25(3) - 6.90​	$5.0m​
Sabbi​	Emmanuel​	22​	4​	Hobro​	3F Superliga​	2.5*​	3*​	18(0) - 7.09​	$1.2m​
Sargent​	Josh​	20​	7​	Werder Bremen​	Bundesliga​	3*​	5*​	2(7) - 6.93​	$3.9m​
Balogun​	Folarin​	18​	0​	Arsenal U23​	EPL2​	3*​	4.5*​	9(7) - 7.27​	$1.2m​
Novakovich​	Andrija​	23​	5​	Frosinone​	Serie B​	2.5*​	3*​	36(1) - 7.01​	$1.5m​
Wood​	Bobby​	27​	45​	Hamberger​	2. Bundesliga​	2.5*​	3*​	10(15) - 6.70​	$1.1m​
Johannsson​	Aron​	29​	19​	Hammarby​	Allsvenskan​	2.5*​	2.5*​	14(0) - 7.16​	$1.3m​

There is a lot of parity behind Altidore. With guys playing all over Europe, it’s hard to tell who is the most in form striker. Emmanuel Sabbi has played well when called upon and Haji Wright was given a chance the last time around. The Eredivisie is a very attack minded league, so his numbers could be a little inflated. Josh Sargent is a player with loads of potential, as is Folarin Balogun. Sargent would be getting regular calls, but he was stuck on the bench for the majority of this past season. Personally, I have a really hard time calling in a striker who is lacking match sharpness. Balogun is someone I just added to my depth chart. He’s still very young and excelled with Arsenal’s U23 team. He was also given four cameos off the bench for Arsenal in the Europa League. He will be with Sheffield Wednesday next season on loan in the Championship. If he gets early playing time I may just call him in. He is a dual national who can also play for England and with his potential I don’t want to lose out on him. The last three could be considered outsiders, but I don’t want to move them to the back seat yet. Andrija Novakovich is still very young and played well in Serie B. If there are issues with the names ahead of him I wouldn’t struggle to call him in. Both Bobby Wood and Aron Johannsson have experience with the national side and have played well in the past. Wood struggled for playing time early this season in the 2. Bundesliga which is why his name has dropped a little, which Johnannsson needs to play against some tougher competition. He excelled in the Eredivisie before and landed a move to the Bundesliga, but injuries have derailed his career.​

 

[tbuc]

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Roster Announcement

​

August 29, 2020

We have some first time call ups for our first two matches of World Cup qualifying. Jonathan Klinsmann, who earned 21 U20 U.S. caps, gets his first call to the senior team. After a strong 2019/20 season in the Swiss Super League my scouts now think he’s one of our top options (current star rating went from 2 to 3). He’s the starter again this year at St. Gallen and being linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund. Zack Steffen will be the backup this year at Manchester City, but is still match sharp after getting minutes this preseason.

At the back, things will be interesting going forward. John Brooks is our top option in the middle, but has fallen to the bench at the start of this season at Wolfsburg. DeAndre Yedlin was loaned out again this season by Newcastle, this time to Ligue 1 side OGC Nice. He too has started this season on the bench. With the season just starting they are still match fit from getting a run out in pre-season. The same cannot be said about Sergino Dest. He’s only seen the pitch once in the last three weeks.

In the middle of the park we see two very familiar names in Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. Adams will again be searching for minutes off the bench at Leipzig. After a strong showing against both Spain and Russia, Wil Trapp beats out Russell Canouse. After being left out of the squad since last November, Michael Bradley is back in once again. In the playmakers role, Keaton Parks earned his second callup under Buckingham. 18-year old number ten, Efrain Alvarez earned his first callup! He’s a dual national who can also represent Mexico which he has as recently as 2019, but an appearance in one of these two matches will lock him in as a USMNT for the rest of his career. He’s made 25 MLS appearances recording five goals, seven assists, and a 7.14 rating tells me he earned his place in the squad.

On the wings Timmy Weah beats out both Paul Arriola and Jordan Morris. Since Buckingham has taken over, Weah missed seven months because of a hamstring and knee injuries followed by a lack of playing time at Lille. Now that he’s back playing against and Arriola and Morris struggling a bit for form with the national side, Weah could win his place as a regular with a strong showing.

Upfront we finally see Josh Sargent! The 20-year old was coined the new next best U.S. striker after scoring a goal on his U.S. senior team debut back in 2018. However, after a lack of minutes at club level he’s been overlooked by Emmanuel Sabbi and more recently, Haji Wright. This season Sargent has started both Bremen’s Bundesliga matches and bagged a goal in the opener.​