Grading the Most Recent USMNT Roster against Mexico and Costa Rica
Jürgen Klinsmann’s most recent United States Men’s National Team roster to face Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying was light on technical skill and fullbacks. While the forward selections minus Alan Gordon were correct, the midfield and defense have makeshift feels. The midfield has only Sacha Kljestan in the creation, while Lee Nguyen, Darlington Nagbe, and Sebastian Lletget were all omitted. Juan Agudelo did enough to earn a roster spot only to see a big bruiser in Gordon take his roster spot.
Defense: C
The defense has too many center backs, and there isn’t a clear-cut back-up for the right back and left back positions. DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson are clearly the starting outside backs, but the substitutes aren’t clear like-for-like replacements. Timothy Chandler plays right back or left back, so he’s one left back substitute, which makes Michael Orozco the right back substitute. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of two clear right backs and two clear left backs. Cameron Carter-Vickers is an impressive young center back, but why were both Omar Gonzalez and Steve Birnbaum put on the roster then?
Midfield: C
The midfield selections lack a Sacha Kljestan replacement at the playmaker or central attacking midfielder position, and that spot should be filled by Lee Nguyen. Lynden Gooch and Julian Green are arguably lower down the depth chart than Sebastian Lletget and Paul Arriola or Kelyn Rowe on the wings, and there has to be room for Darlington Nagbe and Kellyn Acosta to be substitutes in central midfield. Caleb Stanko is a talented defensive midfielder, but Perry Kitchen was being groomed to replace Kyle Beckerman. Alejandro Bedoya and Graham Zusi are the other wings on this roster, and those two don’t bring enough individual skill to the wings. Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Christian Pulisic, and Sacha Kljestan clearly earned their spots, but the rest of the midfield is questionable.
Forwards: A-
Except for Alan Gordon, the forward selections are strong. Juan Agudelo would have been a much stronger option than Gordon, so Klinsmann gets an A- for forward selections. Despite not seeing much club playing time, Rubio Rubin has impressed with the national team in the past, and it’s time to just start consistently putting him on the roster due to his talent level and aggressive play. It’s hard to say that Aron Johannsson isn’t a quality center forward though, so how can you question his selection?
Questionable Call-ups
Alan Gordon, Graham Zusi, Caleb Stanko, Lynden Gooch, Michael Orozco, Julian Green, Cameron Carter-Vickers
Notable Omissions
Sebastian Lletget, Juan Agudelo, Darlington Nagbe, Lee Nguyen, Kellyn Acosta