I know Pomykal is working back from injury, but how does he still only get 15 minutes a match for a terrible FC Dallas team. Its been the same amount for 3 months

Really not sure.

Listen to an weekly FCD podcast (got nothing better to listen to on daily walks), Pomykal's injury is one that if he tried to play 75-90mins a game, it is likely to take him another year beyond this one to fully recover (assuming no re-injury). It was suggested that he might not be back to consistent 80-90min this season. Last Saturday's game he reached out for the ball and he felt something. He spent the next minute doing one of the warmup groin stretching. He was subbed out at halftime. He played about 10 tonight.

Akinola decides his future lies with the canadian national team. Interestingly enough if it had been 6 months ago I would have been more upset about the decision than I am right now. Don't think he would be a main piece to this current USMNT roster.

Gold Cup roster is out. Here for the Zardes slander.

A good mix of veterans and youth will represent the 🇺🇸 at this summer’s @GoldCup.

The #USMNT begins the quest for its seventh confederation championship on July 11 in Kansas City.

»» https://t.co/fKKgWNZM7c pic.twitter.com/MY1IR8p2Rk

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) July 1, 2021

That just screams 2nd place with a drubbing by Mexico in the final as payback for last month or an even earlier exit than that.

not gonna complain too much about zardes... options are limited for this roster.

wangus12 said:

---

That just screams 2nd place with a drubbing by Mexico in the final as payback for last month or an even earlier exit than that.

---

Quite possibly, but I haven't seen who Mexico is bringing yet either. It's a weird year for rosters with Olympics and WCQ around the corner.

Look forward to seeing what Dike and Hoppe can do with extended playing time. Not a ton of excitement elsewhere on the roster, midfield should at least be competent but not sure about the defense.

Watched Zardes play live the other night vs Austin and he's still fast and looking to get fouled a lot of the time.

is he a winger or a center forward? I was excited about akinola, but if he's a 7 or 11, he's looking at young guys like Reyna and Pulisic ahead of him for a while.

canada is starting to put together a pretty competitive roster as far as their 11 best or best 11 on their national team.

USMNT just has a lot more first choice players who are european-based and weren't going to be released than Mexico does. Outside of Lozano and Jiminez, they probably only have a couple others in Europe.

I'm excited to see what Busio can do.

Could've brought Pepi who is more of a traditional 9 with much higher ceiling than Zardes.

A few surprises:

• Hoppe and Moore are on the roster.
• Atlanta United let their players participate
• Guzan is back on the team

jeffk said:

---

I'm excited to see what Busio can do.

---

Will be interesting to see where Berhalter plays him as he's been playing more of as a 6 for KC from what I can tell.

My guess with the FC Dallas players, specifically Pepi and Ferreira, is the US staff must have communicated with the FC Dallas staff, and the conclusion was the playing time at the club woud be better for their development?
I feel like getting those players in with the National Team is more important, but who knows.

We don't know what goes on in training, so Pomykal must still not be fully 100% back yet, because he is still only playing 15-45 minutes a game. And their midfield has been rough, to where he clearly stands out whenever he subs in. WIthout him goin 90, it would probably be a mistake to call him into the Gold Cup.

I don't mind Zardes, Roldan, Lletget, as it's good to have experienced players mixed in with the 20 year olds, and I think those players still have decent quality. I DONT understand why Yueill is in this roster, as he has been bad the last 3-4 times out. We already know what he can do, which is mediocre, and he is in bad form in MLS as well. Makes no sense to call him in until his play picks up.

This team looks like it is lacking playmaking centrally, and lacking on the wings. I guess we will see what kind of lineups and tactics Greggg uses, but it feels like the same mistakes we made in Olympic Qualifying on first glance.

isn't Busio getting looks from across the pond? I think he can get work permit in Italy easily. Could he be dealt and signed in short order and not stay on the gold cup roster or would he have to wait out the MLS season and move to Europe in the Jan transfer window?

Quote:

---

This team looks like it is lacking playmaking centrally, and lacking on the wings. I guess we will see what kind of lineups and tactics Greggg uses, but it feels like the same mistakes we made in Olympic Qualifying on first glance.

---

It'll be interesting to see where Berhalter uses Busio as he definitely can fill the playmaker role. Lleget can be somewhat of a playmaker as well.

We're sorely missing playmaking abilities on the wings.

Think that will depend on the agreement between KC and the team that he gets sold to. I bet KC would push for a loan til end of MLS and join the new team in January similar to Aaronson and McKenzie did last year for the Union.

I think every time we name the coach of the USMNT on here, an additional g should be included.

Gregggg Berhalter.

Gregg Berhalter reveals that Julian Araujo, a dual national, wasn't ready to make the final step to committing to the #USMNT , and the Gold Cup would have cap-tied him, but he's a player the USMNT rate highly and see being able to compete for a right back role if he does commit

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) July 1, 2021

Why do you think I just use Berhalter?

Whose parents are so pretentious they add a useless letter to their name?

Wtf.

Obviously Greggggg's are.

From what I remember a center forward. To be fair I haven't seen him play a lot. But with players like Sargent, Gioacchini, Siebatcheu, and Dike among others all ahead of him on the pecking order I think he wouldn't be more than a fringe Gold Cup/friendly roster spot.

So our A team has several dynamic wingers and no 9. And the B team has several 9s but no wingers.

What an interesting scenario.

Bit surprised Mueller didn't make the cut. I guess Berhalter sees Hoppe capable of playing on the wing as well as a CF.

Kevin the 3-legged dog said:

---

So our A team has several dynamic wingers and no 9. And the B team has several 9s but no wingers.

What an interesting scenario.

---

Dike is part of our A team, he is our 9.

Legal Custodian said:

---

Kevin the 3-legged dog said:

---

So our A team has several dynamic wingers and no 9. And the B team has several 9s but no wingers.

What an interesting scenario.

---

Dike is part of our A team, he is our 9.

---

He's on our B or C team now.

It's hard to compare what he's doing in the MLS and Championship league to the Bundesliga.
At least Sargent and Hoppe have played in a top league.

Kevin the 3-legged dog said:

---

Legal Custodian said:

---

Kevin the 3-legged dog said:

---

So our A team has several dynamic wingers and no 9. And the B team has several 9s but no wingers.

What an interesting scenario.

---

Dike is part of our A team, he is our 9.

---

He's on our B or C team now.

It's hard to compare what he's doing in the MLS and Championship league to the Bundesliga.
At least Sargent and Hoppe have played in a top league.

---

It's not just about where you play, it's also about you producing. Sargent isn't producing goals at the moment for the USMNT. He's doing a lot of other stuff well but if there is no significant drop off in those other areas with Dike and he scores goals, you bet Berhalter would put him in over Sargent, regardless what league he plays in.

It's also about getting consistent minutes in addition to playing in a top league. Hoppe's last 10 matches @ Schalke included 2 not on the bench, 3 starts, 5 sub appearance: 45', 18' , 6', 5', and 4' while scoring 1 goal and 1 assist.

Dike's last 10 matches @ Barnsley: 7 starts and 3 substitute appearance: 45', 45' and 35' while scoring 6 goals.

Forward position is up for grabs and you basically have 3 possibly 4 players fighting for the A squad: Sargent, Pefok, Dike, and Gioachinni

I'd add that our stable of strikers features a lot of skill variety as well. Some very different players in there. Reaaaaaallllly hoping our coaching staff can grasp this and come up with a way to utilize their individual strengths.

Something something something and pigs can fly!

I'm an optimist by nature.

Mathguy64 said:

---

Something something something and pigs can fly!

---

In the Costa Rica game it did seem the team played to Dike more and had players run off him more as a method of progression.

akm91 said:

---

Kevin the 3-legged dog said:

---

Legal Custodian said:

---

Kevin the 3-legged dog said:

---

So our A team has several dynamic wingers and no 9. And the B team has several 9s but no wingers.

What an interesting scenario.

---

Dike is part of our A team, he is our 9.

---

He's on our B or C team now.

It's hard to compare what he's doing in the MLS and Championship league to the Bundesliga.
At least Sargent and Hoppe have played in a top league.

---

It's not just about where you play, it's also about you producing. Sargent isn't producing goals at the moment for the USMNT. He's doing a lot of other stuff well but if there is no significant drop off in those other areas with Dike and he scores goals, you bet Berhalter would put him in over Sargent, regardless what league he plays in.

It's also about getting consistent minutes in addition to playing in a top league. Hoppe's last 10 matches @ Schalke included 2 not on the bench, 3 starts, 5 sub appearance: 45', 18' , 6', 5', and 4' while scoring 1 goal and 1 assist.

Dike's last 10 matches @ Barnsley: 7 starts and 3 substitute appearance: 45', 45' and 35' while scoring 6 goals.

Forward position is up for grabs and you basically have 3 possibly 4 players fighting for the A squad: Sargent, Pefok, Dike, and Gioachinni

---

You're comparing apples to oranges. There's no evidence Sargent wouldn't perform similarly or better or worse.

I do love Dikes results but it's just not the same. When he performs at the highest level I'll believe in him or Hope and Sargent do the same in the 2.

I think it's between Sargent and Dike in the 9.