Not quite as catchy as, “to dream the impossible dream,” but let’s not go that far. I would like to imagine, just for fun, the following scenario.
The US crashes out of Olympic qualifying in March thereby rendering all the angst about who’s better off playing in the Olympics moot (I don’t actually want that to happen, but it would accelerate the inclusion of young players).
Let us also assume that several young players do indeed break into their first teams over the second half of the European season. What does that do to the USMNT lineup and/or depth chart? Let’s start with the current, not overly exciting version:
Current Situation
Don’t get me wrong. Adams at the #6 is exciting and having Dest at right back is amazing, but when you start looking at the depth options there…yikes. So let’s daydream a little.
I’m only going to mention players that seem like realistic possibilities, not just anyone that is on a youth team in Europe somewhere. I would love to see Nick Taitague make a stunning run into Schalke’s starting lineup, but that seems a tad unlikely. Here are the players that appear to be realistic possibilities:
- Richie Ledezma – in training with PSV’s first team and it looks like they are trying to move GastĂłn Pereiro – who happens to be Ihattaren’s primary backup at attacking midfield…
- Gio freakin’ Reyna – Gio is on the Pulisic path. He’ll be joining BVB’s first team for the remainder of the season and seems like a decent bet to replace Sancho when he is sold for approximately a bajillion dollars in the summer.
- Timothy Weah – Weah has been out for months with a torn hamstring but is nearing a return – he may not be a starter for Lille (5th in Ligue 1), but he’ll certainly get minutes
- Chris Richards – tbh I don’t know how realistic this one actually is. I’ve read that Bayern is trying to sell Boateng again and Richards is training with the first team, but there’s a lot of CBs ahead of him. Including a better CB prospect in Lukas Mai. Still, he’s training with the first team so we’ll let it go for now.
- Otasowie/Vassilev – technically these two are both at the edges of the first team for Premier League clubs (Wolverhampton/Aston Villa), but neither of them seem like they are part of their teams’ plans right now. I’ll include them, but these two seem the least realistic of the group.
- I think we can also somewhat realistically project a couple MLS prospects into the depth chart as well (Pomykal, Vines, maybe Gaspar)
So after Olympic Qualifying Disaster Part III, what would a potential lineup/depth chart look like?
Away Days Section =)
Still a little weirded out that I have an actual advertiser, but here we are. 🤓
Away Days is a soccer clothing startup based in Boston, MA that offers unique/cool soccer stuff. It’s a one person operation, but Martin will make sure you are taken care of no matter what. The company is known for the Mystery Kit, which for $25, Martin will send you a brand new jersey from a “lesser known” team. Away Days also has their own branded clothing line (hoodies, t-shirts, hats, etc), partners with US clubs to sell their jerseys, and offers a host of other mystery products. If you are looking for awesome soccer gear and customer service, look no further than http://awaydaysfootball.com.
I’ve purchased two of their jerseys and they are very nice. Received a Nottingham Forest jersey for myself and an FC Wacker jersey for my five year old son. Very cool idea.
Hopeful Future Situation
Currently, when the USMNT’s first choice players aren’t available my excitement level for the game droops. Looking at that depth chart I think I’d actually be more excited to see the backups than the starters. Is this projection entirely realistic? Of course not. Is some of it realistic though? Absolutely. The US needs more “lottery tickets” at all the positions.
The projected depth chart has six starters from the top five leagues in Europe and the backups could represent as many as six more if things break right. Does anyone honestly think the US is going to be a contender in a World Cup until most of our roster is being drawn from the absolute best leagues in the world? I’ve got no beef with MLS, but if the majority of our roster is being drawn from there…we ain’t winning anything.
The real soccer powers in the world are obscenely deep at every position. The second tier, that might have a shot in a tournament, don’t – but have a star or two, quality starters, and good depth behind them. That’s the goal for the US. Find a couple/few “stars” and then fill in with quality starters from the top 5 leagues.
At present Pulisic is the only thing we have approaching a star (if Adams hadn’t gotten hurt I think he’d be there too) and a couple quality starters (Brooks, Dest). If a few of these projections come good…we are getting closer.
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