Probably squad depth if he’s talking about going to Serie A after this season. So, basically, playing one year at Inter before the World Cup.
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In a world where McKennie can only muster 45 minutes of quality play (we’ve lived in that world for two years), “Wes backup” seems important
As much as I love Adams’ tenacity and defense, having a central middie who can’t progress the ball has been a problem too
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Not saying depth isn’t valuable, just that a 27-year-old in his prime who has a decade of top-flight experience and has played in a World Cup is probably going to be significantly ahead of a guy just breaking through.
Obviously crazy stuff can happen, but there’s a gap between where both guys are at when you start talking about alternatives and replacing people in the lineup.
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I mean if replacing a center midfielder that cant play offense is taboo I guess we’re in trouble
Not saying this guy is the answer, I have no idea, but the premise has to at least be considered
Quite possibly there is no answer
I do think there are guys on the roster who are better than Wes after halftime
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My thought was we really don’t have great options at the 6 and 8 other than Adams and Wes and while Adams is a competitive nutjob who goes hard regardless, seems like Wes is more content to rest on his laurels. Having somebody who could push him seems like a win.
Would also take a coach that was willing to ruffle the feathers, something I suspect Gregg isn’t any longer.
My point is less about Wes specifically and just that there isn’t really an obvious next generation coming through that is ready to break through.
Maybe Tessman is that guy, and he is blossoming into a star as a contributor at Inter 18 months from now, perfectly leading into the World Cup.
It would be a huge leap is all I’m saying. Definitely a guy you would think could have a big role on the Olympic team though and who is worth watching.
Tillman and LDLT maybe closer to that level right now?
This is on target IMO:
https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/1808159213354664062
Competition for spots is great! But it requires another wave of players good enough to compete for spots.
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Guys I think could push for time in the World Cup that are playing this Olympics isn’t a huge list.
Kevin Paredes could eventually find a spot on the left, Tessmann already discussed but could see him backing up at mid, hopefully Slonina can push Horvath the next cycle. If it’s ever going to click for Busio, will have to be soon, but not optimistic there. Paxton Aaronson, Aiden Morris, Joe Gomez and Taylor Booth are all seemingly in the long term plans. Zimmerman playing the grandpa role with all the youngins is something to watch. I’d like to see him play his way back into rotation. Can’t keep trotting out Ream for everything.
Your next big Landon Donovan/Pulisic type, and you never know how development goes, is Cavan Sullivan who is 14 now but headed to Man City when he is 18.
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It’s never going to happen, but from Simon Hughes in a Q&A at The Athletic regarding Klopp …
“The only national team he’d be open to coaching is Germany. Or maybe the USA.”
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Not sure American fans who only watch the WC are ready for Klopp to coach a national team
A LOT more than GGG is worth.
I think he’s fine but if they don’t move on they are silly, if for nothing else than to reap the new coach bounce. He does OK w OK players. He’s fine.
Roll the dice. It’s really the only lever available to improve things.
Although I do think two more seasons could substantially benefit some players — Balogun and Reyna and probably all the CBs except Ream. A little worried about the fullbacks, who usually age quickly (such a huge fitness premium); ours are not on the youngish side of the squad. Getting hard to peg Adams’s level. Is he good against Euro level comp? Feels a little AAAA.
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Other than Pulisic nobody on the team is “good” against European comp, most sort of anonymous minutes eaters
Pulisic was the third best offensively player on the second place team in Serie A
Fullbacks:
Ream, Antonee Robinson (Fulham) and Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) for lower mid table EPL teams. Scally started for a bad Bundesliga side. Dest finally found his level, getting exiled from La Liga and Serie A, starting for the champions of the Dutch League (the 5th best European league)
MF: Adams was mostly anonymous at Leipzig, and basically always hurt in the EPL. McKennie was exiled by Juventus, brought back, and did ok this year. Musah is a reserve on Pulisic’s Milan side. Reyna wa not used by Dortmund, then not used by an awful EPL side.
Forwards: Pulisic above. Weah is a reserve on Wes’ Juventus team. Balogun scored a ton for a bad French team, then was a halftime starter/halftime reserve on a good one.
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Balogun is a year away from leading Ligue 1 in goals. Dest was awesome this year for PSV.
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Dest was awesome 4 years ago for Ajax too so
He can play in the Erdevisie.
Everyone has a thing for Dest, it seems pretty clear Antonee Robinson is our best corner?
For me, our weakness seems to clearly be center back (Richards isn’t good yet and Ream is 40) and the offensive play of our midfielders. Adams can’t play offense, Reyna…not sure what to say, and Wes can but also only has about 50 minutes in him
Balogun and Pulisic are at the level we need most of the team at, but neither transcendent stars
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Balogun didn’t lead the league (Mbappé did) but he was in the top 5.
Still impressive. But this past year he only scored seven.
He went from being the guy on a bad team to a relatively efficient 1/2 time role on a good team
Pretty accurate. I would quibble w three evals. Both fullbacks. I think Dest is like a lot of NBA specialists. He has is nearly elite for a RB in the offensive zone but he is terrible on D. So he couldn’t stick at Barca but he is probably better than the Eredivisie. Just can’t hang in the playoffs kind of player. I think the fact that Jedi plays for Fulham is irrelevant, as he is a dangerous and good fullback. Third, I still think Musah is really smooth. Very inconsistent but he has more talent than a lot of EPL defensive midfielders.
But like I want to emphasize that I think basically everybody is, as you said, a bit player on an often mediocre team in a top 5 league. i think it is correct to say that none stepped up in a more competitive situation over the last year.
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lol Jesse Marsch is so petty
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I don’t know how I’d feel about Marsch if he been offered the position last year. Certainly prefer him to GGG, but not sure he’s any good either.
Nevermind, I’d take Marsch.
He seems like he’s petty and weird. The not so quiet stumping for the job via MIB while Berhalter had it and now his sniping after the fact.
Feel like you could get somebody at least as good who isn’t the cutthroat Marsch might be.
Sounds like GGG decision is coming by the middle of next week.
Yeah, not a huge Marsch fan as a person, but he’s got Canada fun to watch in a fever dream sort of way. Davies is so much better than anyone on the pitch and this ref is as bad as anyone we had this tourney.