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My USMNT Nations League Roster

The big news today is that it has been reported that Alejandro Zendejas has committed to the US National Team! That’s a big move on a few fronts as I wouldn’t declare our winger depth as great, he plays regularly for a big Mexican club and frankly he’s going to play for us and not Mexico. It has also been reported that he is going to be in camp for the upcoming Nations League matches. This is a low key very important two games for the US. After a draw at El Salvador the States need a win and a draw to secure our spot in the semi-finals this summer. I personally would just like to see us treat every competitive window as important and use the January camp to get deserving players caps and introduce younger players to the National Team. So here’s who I’ve got representing these United States in the March window:

 

Goal Keeper: Matt Turner (Arsenal) Ethan Horvath (Luton Town) Zak Steffen (Middlesboro); I’m guessing Gaga Sloanina will be in the U20 camp otherwise I’d have him as my third choice keeper. 

 

Right Back: Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach) Serginio Dest (AC Milan)

 

Center Back: Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City); If McKenzie is in over Trusty I would be okay with that call. I just think Trusty has played his way into the team.

 

Left Back: Antonee Robinson (Fulham), John Tolkin (NYRB); Tolkin, 20 is one of only two MLS players I have in my squad. I think Tolkin has a huge upside and getting Olympic eligible players minutes is a big thing.

 

Midfield: Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Weston McKennie (Leeds United), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Gio Reyna (Dortmund)

 

Wings: Timothy Weah (Lille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America), Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Jordan Morris (Seattle); I’ll talk more about my omissions at the end. 

 

Strikers: Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen), Daryl Dike (West Brom). 

 

Notable omissions: Christian Pulisic has been dealing with an injury and hasn’t played in a while for Chelsea. He hasn’t played regularly this entire season for Chelsea and if it were up to me I would leave him in London to train with Chelsea to get try and get closer to playing regularly for the remainder of the season. 

 

Brendan Aaronson: much like with Pulisic, I think Aaronson staying and training at Leeds is more beneficial for him than going to these games.

 

Walker Zimmerman: I’m not an anti MLS guy. But Walker Zimmerman is just starting his club season up and there are five guys playing really well in Europe right now that deserve the opportunity over him. 

 

Christian Roldan, Kellyn Acosta, Aaron Long, Jesus Ferreira, Deandre Yedlin, Shaq Moore, Sean Johnson: These guys are all in the same boat as Zimmerman. They’re just starting their season and there are guys that have been playing in Europe that I believe give us a better chance to win. I think Roldan and Acosta have a chance to play a role with the National Team going forward. Ferreira is young so I wouldn’t count him out, but he’s not a striker. Long, Yedlin, Johnson and Moore I don’t necessarily see being a part of the team moving forward. There’s just too much depth at those positions. 

 

Players I want in camp: I’m asking Florian Balogun if he wants to play for us, and if he does I’m keeping Pepi or Dike at home. This guy could be great. I would really like to see Luca de la Torre play a bigger role for the National Team. I know everyone is set on the MMA midfield but LDT just got named to the La Liga team of the week. His ball handling skills and technical ability are unique to this team, and I think we need more of that creative explosiveness. I would like to see them work in Tillman anyway that they can, but I know he just went down with a knock for Rangers so I would say he will stay in Scotland to recover during this window. I would guess he’ll be moving on from Rangers to a bigger club following this season and he’s only getting better. I’ll also get in to this more at a later date, but I think Scally is the starting RB until Dest finds a club where he’s playing regularly.

 

Let me know where I’m wrong or what you would like to see I the comments. I’ll likely have a reaction blog coming Wednesday or Thursday at the latest!

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