USMNT depth chart: The place they’re sturdy and the place they need to fear forward of World Cup 2022
Noah DavisESPN
It has been eight months and 13 matches since Gregg Berhalter took over as head coach of the USA males’s nationwide crew. He arrived with a mandate to remake a floundering program in his picture, a undertaking that is very a lot nonetheless a piece in progress. The supervisor spent his time handing begins to new gamers, evaluating the veterans and searching for a lineup that will get essentially the most out of the accessible expertise.
As World Cup qualifying approaches subsequent yr and the Nations Cup begins in October, it is time to try the place the gamers stand.
(Notice: Every participant seems as soon as, even when he might match into a number of spots.)
Goalkeeper
1. Zack Steffen, Fortuna Dusseldorf (mortgage)
2. Brad Guzan, Atlanta United FC
three. Sean Johnson, NYCFC
It is Steffen after which everybody else within the participant pool. The Manchester Metropolis goalkeeper, on mortgage at Fortuna Düsseldorf, continues to enhance his shot-stopping capacity and positioning and is off to a powerful begin within the Bundesliga. He struggles with distribution, nevertheless, and must get higher on this regard if Berhalter’s construct from the again system goes to work.
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Guzan, Johnson, Ethan Horvath, Jesse Gonzalez and others are succesful, if not spectacular, backups.
Left-back
1. Daniel Lovitz, Montreal Influence
2. Tim Ream, Fulham
three. Sergino Dest, Ajax
This place is a perpetual weak spot for the Individuals. Lovitz is okay, Ream is healthier however accident susceptible, and Dest is simply 18. The latter, who was strong and likewise a young person towards Mexico in his first begin, might rocket up this record with a great couple of months for the Dutch giants within the Eredivisie and the Champions League.
Different potential choices embody Antonee Robinson, oft-injured Greg Garza, U-20 star Chris Gloster and even Fabian Johnson. (Bear in mind when FabJo was the U.S.’s greatest participant at 4 or 5 positions?)
The excellent news: Berhalter has loads of choices. The dangerous: None of these absolutely solves his drawback.
Left-side center-back
1. John Brooks, VfL Wolfsburg
2. Matt Miazga, Studying FC (mortgage)
three. Chris Richards, FC Bayern Munich II
Proper-side center-back
1. Aaron Lengthy, New York Crimson Bulls
2. Walker Zimmerman, LAFC
three. Miles Robinson, Atlanta United FC
Can John Brooks keep wholesome? If he does, one of many two center-back jobs is his for the following half-decade not less than. However the Wolfsburg center-back cannot keep health. For that matter, Miazga is on the shelf with a severe harm. Within the quick second, Lengthy and Zimmerman are the starters.
Richards, a standout within the U-20 World Cup, is uncooked however has line-breaking potential. Omar Gonzalez, Tim Parker, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Erik Palmer-Brown, Justen Glad, Miles Robinson, Austin Trusty and a handful of others might determine into the combo as effectively.
Proper-back
1. DeAndre Yedlin, Newcastle United
2. Reggie Cannon, FC Dallas
three. Nick Lima, San Jose Earthquakes
Yedlin will get the nod on account of his expertise, although Cannon has had the strongest 12 months of just about any participant within the U.S. nationwide crew image. In one other six months or a yr, we would see Cannon lock down the right-back position with Yedlin pushing additional up the sphere, however we’re not there fairly but.
Lima presents a serviceable possibility in a panic, although it is not more likely to come to that, and Shaq Moore’s a wild card who might push for extra possibilities.
Defensive midfielder
1. Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig
2. Michael Bradley, Toronto FC
three. Wil Trapp, Columbus Crew SC
Has any participant within the historical past of U.S. Soccer moved up the ranks for membership and nation as shortly as Adams? In two years, he has gone from “who is that this child?” to a Champions League starter. Nonetheless simply 20, the RB Leipzig midfielder may very well be the American engine for a decade.
Bradley continues to be Bradley, the neatest participant on the sphere even when he has slowed down a half-step. Trapp’s the very best chief on the crew, a man who might make a roster for that capacity alone. Alfredo Morales and Russell Canouse might play roles right here too.
Attacking midfielder
1. Weston McKennie, Schalke 04
2. Duane Holmes, Derby County
three. Paxton Pomykal, FC Dallas
Attacking midfielder
1. Sebastian Lletget, LA Galaxy
2. Darlington Nagbe, Atlanta United FC
three. Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders FC
Berhalter might go loads of methods with this group, together with putting in Pulisic again in midfield, however the McKennie/Lletget mixture is essentially the most potent if — and it is a large if — they will keep wholesome and study to play collectively. Holmes confirmed wonderful promise in restricted time, and Pomykal might begin urgent sooner quite than later.
Nagbe stays an enigma, notably turning down a current call-up, and Roldan is okay. Jackson Yueill and Djordje Mihailovic are two youthful gamers who ought to proceed to get pictures in the event that they proceed to develop as gamers.
Pulisic is the undisputed chief of this new-look U.S. males’s crew, however the depth round him appears to be like worryingly skinny at key positions. Ira L. Black/Corbis by way of Getty Pictures
Left wing
1. Christian Pulisic, Chelsea
2. Paul Arriola, D.C. United
three. Tim Weah, Lille
Whereas Pulisic will be thought-about the very best American participant at a number of positions, he is greatest served out on the wing, the place he can get the ball in house and assault defenders. (At the least that is the thought.) Arriola is a way more restricted participant who nonetheless finds methods to supply within the U.S. coach’s system. (Odds are Berhalter begins him on the appropriate wing.)
Weah, 19, has sufficient creativeness for all the group however wants to enhance his decision-making and impactfulness throughout a complete match (and get wholesome).
Proper wing
1. Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders FC
2. Tyler Boyd, Besiktas
three. Jonathan Lewis, Colorado Rapids
Boyd burst onto the scene on the Gold Cup, demonstrating aptitude and a cannon for a shot. But he hasn’t fairly grasped Berhalter’s system, holding the ball for too lengthy. Former wonderboy Morris remodeled his sport from pacey ahead to strong winger, bringing a nuanced understanding to his bodily presents. Lewis would possibly by no means be greater than a spark plug for membership or nation, however he is a enjoyable prospect.
Striker
1. Josh Sargent, Werder Bremen
2. Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC
three. Gyasi Zardes, Columbus Crew SC
If Berhalter confronted a must-win sport, he would possibly select to begin Altidore, who’s very a lot a recognized amount at this level. However Sargent must be the decision in upcoming video games, as a participant with a a lot greater ceiling whose continued enchancment might assist rework the U.S. squad. As for Zardes, certain for now, however his days are numbered.
One query for the close to future: Can red-hot Minnesota United ahead Mason Toye drive his method into the dialog, or will he come crashing again right down to earth?