USMNT abroad vs one player per MLS team
by plaid_pants (2018-07-17 21:57:42)
Edited on 2018-07-18 02:30:55

The question below about selecting the USMNT with one player from each MLS team deserved a little analysis. I am going to cut off the older players on this list to make it a plausible 2022 team.

First, the all abroad USMNT, noting three players were developed by the MLS:
GK Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge 39 apps) 5 caps
DR Eric Lichaj (Nott Forrest 173 apps) 15 caps or Yedlin (Newcastle 61 apps, started in MLS) 52 caps
DC Matt Miazga (Vitess 55 apps, started in MLS) 7 caps
DC Carter Vickers (Ipswich 14 apps) 5 caps
DL Villafana (Santos Laguna 53 apps, started in MLS) 19 caps or Antonee Robinson (Bolton 30 apps) 2 caps
M Julian Green (Furth 24 apps) 10 caps
M Weston McKennie (Schalke 23 apps) 4 caps
M Joe Corona (250 apps in Liga MX, 15 apps at America) 23 caps
M Fabien Johnson (Gladbach 77 apps) 57 caps
FC Christian Pulisic (Dortmund 70 apps) 21 caps
FC Timothy Weah (PSG 3 apps) 3 caps




Now selecting one player per MLS team:
ATL: Darlington Nagbe - shuttling midfielder/defensive winger (25 caps)
CHI: Dax McCarty - holding midfielder (13 caps, 11 youth caps)
CLB: Gyasi Zardes - winger, deep lying forward (38 caps)
DCU: Paul Arrioloa - winger (16 caps, 29 youth caps)
MON: Evan Bush - goal keeper #3...there is nobody else
NER: Kelyn Rowe - utility wide player, fullback/winger (4 caps, 11 youth caps)
NYC: Sean Johnson - goal keeper #1 (5 caps, 6 youth caps)
NYR: Tyler Adams - utility player, fullback, midfield (6 caps, 35 youth caps)
ORL: Sacha Kljestan - #10 attacking midfielder (52 caps, 32 youth caps)
PHI: Alejandro Bedoya - defensive winger (66 caps)
TOR: Jozy Altidore - #9 (better used as a holding winger as Lukaku was used against Brazil) - 110 caps
COL: Edgar Castillo - left fullback (18 caps, 11 Mexico youth caps)
DAL: Kellyn Acosta - midfielder (17 caps, 39 youth caps)
HOU: Luis Gil - midfielder (2 caps, 62 youth caps)
LAG: Sebastian Lletget - winger (3 caps, 11 youth caps)
LAF: Lee Nguyen - attacking midfielder #10 (9 caps, 2 youth caps)
MUFC: Miguel Ibarra - winger (3 caps)
POR: Marco Farfan - left fullback (no caps)
RSL: Danilo Acosta - defender (16 youth caps) or Brooks Lennon (24 youth caps)
SJE: Fatai Alashe - midfielder (23 youth caps)
SEA: Jordan Morris - attacking forward (25 caps, 16 youth caps)
SKC: Matt Besler - central defender (47 caps and ND alum)
VAN: Aaron Maund - defender (8 youth caps and ND alum)


For a head-to-head of battle (which would make a hell of an all-star game...hint hint MLS):

------------------Horvath-------------------
Lichaj----Miazga----------Vickers---Villafana
---------------------------------------------
Corona-------Green-------McKennie----Johnson
---------------------------------------------
-----------Pulisic--------Weah-------------



------------------Altidore------------------
----------------------------------------------
Nagbe-------------Kljestan-------Lletget/Zardes
------------------------------------------------
-------K. Acosta---------------T. Adams-------
-----------------------------------------------
Castillo-----Besler-----D. Acosta--------Maund-
-----------------------------------------------
------------------Sean Johnson----------------


In general the MLS has an excess of below international quality central midfielders, and both squads are short on striker depth.


**Edit**: I think we should use the European line-up for games in Europe and the MLS line-up for games in CONCACAF to have less flight time and be more suited to the quality of play and refereeing. I also think we should play international friendlies in both Europe and CONCACAF simultaneously each FIFA window, one with each team. We can use all of the practice we can get.


The MLS Quandary
by SixShutouts66  (2018-07-18 13:52:56)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

The danger of selecting MLS players is the "he can't hit a major league fastball" quandary. It's hard to project success at higher levels where the game is faster, players more skilled, and faults get exposed. It's even hard to project success of European-based players in international play, let alone MLS players. (Yes the quality of play is improved). I have to believe talents will be developed further outside the US (assuming htte player is actually playing).


Ives Galarcep just projected the 2022 USMNT team.
by G.K.Chesterton  (2018-07-18 00:18:03)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

It's late so I'll leave it to others to compare the lists.


I usually wait until I can rethink before I lose my shit...
by wiNDycityfan  (2018-07-18 12:11:19)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

except for when I come across the name Jozy Altidore.

Jozy Altidore is the epitome of "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane" type. A complainer, pushover, beta-type, with such touch and balance he couldn't bring down a bag of cement.

Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, Bobby Wood, Tim Weah, and a player yet to rise should be our only forwards.

ANYBODY who was part of the Klinsmann/Arena/MLS circuit, not named Acosta, Arriola or Gil, should fuck off and left playing FIFA on their PS4's.


Wow, nice comparison, thanks!
by spade  (2018-07-17 22:35:15)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Apart from Nagbe and Acosta, nothing on the MLS team strikingly stands out. And to boot the international team has Sargent sitting on the bench.

If the new coach bends to MLS, we will be in the same position in 2022. If Arenas wasn't in "Holy Shit save the qualification" mode, I would bet he would have leaned heavily on Euro talent away from the Jordan Morris garbage in the MLS