Projecting the United States Roster for September’s World Cup Qualifiers
World Soccer Source recently published a “Who Should the United States Call Up for the September World Cup Qualifiers?” article, and now there have been several injuries to defenders DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, and Omar Gonzalez, so coach Bruce Arena will have some hard roster choices to make. In front of the defense and in the goal there are no injuries to key players with the exception of Kelyn Rowe who’s made a strong argument for a substitute spot in the midfield.
Here are World Soccer Source’s predictions for Arena’s roster selections for the September World Cup qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Ethan Horvath
Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are instant selections, and you’d have to think Ethan Horvath is the third-choice pick if William Yarbrough isn’t selected. Yarbrough plays in Liga MX, and he’s done well for the U.S. in the past where he’s played with authority and confidence.
The U.S. has never had problems with goalkeepers. The problem has been having technical skill at every other position and special skill in the attacking positions, so the third goalkeeper spot isn’t that crucial.
Defenders: Graham Zusi, Eric Lichaj, Geoff Cameron, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Besler, Tim Ream, Jorge Villafaña, Justin Morrow
Lots of injuries to American defenders. Starting left center back John Brooks is injured, and maybe Big Bruce lives a little and calls up Walker Zimmerman and Steve Birnbaum who have both done well for the U.S. in the past in the center of the defense since even Omar Gonzalez is also injured.
Luckily Matt Besler is available, and the good thing about him is that he isn’t slow and he isn’t poor technically, although he could stand to just play some easy passes on the ground instead of playing soft chips to nobody when he doesn’t have any life-changing passing ideas.
Arena will have to start Graham Zusi at right back, and Zusi hasn’t been bad at a position that he has basically been forced to play by his club coach and Arena. He’s done a decent job at right back because he has decent speed and good technique with both feet. At left back, Jorge Villafaña has to be the starter with Justin Morrow as his substitute. I though Morrow looked pretty smooth and aggressive going forward at left back, which is what you’d expect from a left back. We’ll see if he keeps improving and looking good.
Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, Cristian Roldan, Paul Arriola, Christian Pulisic, Darlington Nagbe, Alejandro Bedoya
The United States has been using four midfielders with Michael Bradley as the defensive midfielder and Paul Arriola, Christian Pulisic, and Darlington Nagbe from right to left.
From that trio, Pulisic is the playmaker or Number 10 without question, and Arriola is the likely right wing starter with Sebastian Lletget still injured.
Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, and Cristian Roldan are all substitutes or partners for Bradley depending on the formation. Acosta and Roldan are box-to-box midfielders or central midfielders.
Injuries have forced Alejandro Bedoya to likely be on this roster, and Bedoya lacks the smoothness and passing ability of Lletget and Rowe, both injured.
Nagbe has excelled as a left wing where he adds to the team’s creativity and technical ability, but the Portland Timbers player needs to be more selfish and aggressive closer to goal. He’s really involved and active in the midfield, but closer to goal he hesitates to pull the trigger or burst into the penalty area.
Forwards: Clint Dempsey, Bobby Wood, Jozy Altidore, Jordan Morris
You have to think that Clint Dempsey and Bobby Wood are the starting forwards here. For as much as Jozy Altidore has looked smoother and more dynamic, Dempsey is too good not to start, plus he has a great partnership with Christian Pulisic.
Bobby Wood is a more dangerous Number 9 that Altidore for a variety of reasons. Wood is more technical, more clinical, and more direct forward than Altidore. Wood is also better at creating his own shot, finishing off balls in scoring positions, and stretching the defense. Since the U.S. has a playmaking like Pulisic, Wood is the player who makes the runs that Pulisic can feed.
You even have to say that Jordan Morris might be more dangerous that Altidore. The Seattle Sounders forward runs all over the attack non-stop and he’s never needed an invitation to attack the goal and score. Altidore is a good center forward, no doubt about it, but too many people feel like backing Wood over Altidore is somehow betraying Altidore. A team needs several quality center forwards.