Futbol Season

Today is different, today is unique, and today I have waited for 8 years to come. This will be a different power rankings as today there will be no power rankings. Instead today we will focus on something much bigger the USMNT first WC game. To those who don't know much about the USA team and really the teams in their group, I will be giving you a breakdown of each so that you may know what I know and the importance of this game today. 

USMNT 26-man roster breakdown:

Goalies:

Matt Turner - Arsenal - He will be our starter and should be our starter.

- Good: He is incredibly big and incredibly good in front of the goal. Meaning if he has time to set his feet and make a save: he will.

-Bad: He is horrible with the ball at his feet. He didn't start playing goalie until he was like 16 years old and it shows.

Ethan Horvath - Luton Town: He is our backup.

- Good: Had a huge save against Mexico on a pk to win us the Gold cup back in the summer. To me, that means he can play in big games.

- Bad: He doesn't really excel at anything. He is decent at everything but not great at anything.

Sean Johnson - New York City FC - He is our backups backup. 

- Good: Only reason I believe he is here is to provide some age/leadership to this roster. Hes 32 and our starting lineup is like all 22 year olds.

- Bad: He sucks and I think he shouldn't have been brought. Zach Steffan who we watched all of WC qualifying should be here. 

Defenders:

Walker Zimmerman (Thor1 to Matt) - Nashville SC - The rock of our team and our starting centerback for the entirety of this tournament. 

- Good: Anything out of the air is always his and that will be very important for the group we are in as I will get into later.

- Bad: As of the last couple of games he's been caught out of position a bit, and isn't the most technical with his feet. 

Tim Ream (Thor2) - Fulham  - A later-comer who has truly been great for Fulham in the premier league, and I think should start. Also looks like thor.

- Good: He is 33 years old with a ton of experience this season with the club which is extremely important based on the group we are in. 

- Bad: Our dumbass coach decided he wasn't good enough to play or even get called to any USMNT WC qualifiers which means hes got little to no experience playing this team.

Sergino Dest - AC Milan - A guy who I am super high on and think he has the potential to show out this WC and will be a must-start for us.

- Good: He can push forward and get involved with the attack which is how the system we play as a team fits perfectly. 

-Bad: He actually isn't that great of a defender and he's been shuffled around from club to club as of late with not much playing time. 

Antonee Robinson - Fulham - This guy is maybe the fastest, strongest, and most athletic player on our team by a long shot. He is the guy that when he scores he does a black flip.

Good: Because of his speed, if he makes a mistake he often just catches the person again. Meaning you have to go around him multiple times to actually get to the goal.  

Bad: Counterpoint to being so athletic, he can't dribble the best and his crosses are sub-par most of the time. It's great he gets involved and flies around on the field but often makes mistakes. 

Cameron Carter Vickers (CCV) - Celtic - Another later-comer to the team but when he's played hes played well. 

Good: Hes another veteran that is rare to make mistakes and could be a starter/crucial sub for us this WC.

Bad: He much like Ethan Horvath, really doesn't excel at anything. Just meh all around.

Aaron Long - New York Red Bulls - I hate this guy, he will probably start, and I will definitely be bitching about him the entire game.

Good: Absolutely nothing. He gets the start because our coach sucks and has no eyes for talent.

Bad: Everything. Constantly caught out of position, he stinks with the ball at his feet, and just looks like an absolute moron. 

Shaq Moore - Nashville Sc - At best a sub.

Good: Hes a body. He's pretty athletic.

Bad: Not good.

 Joe Scally - Borussa Mongonblach - Kid is super young (just turned 19) and has been balling out in Germany. I do think we will see him get time this tournament. 

Good: Has been in great form as of late. Playing some top-world talent weekly in Germany gives him more experience than his age shows.

Bad: Still young and doesn't fit our system of how we like to play soccer. More of a true defender and not an attacker.

Deandre Yedlin - Inter Miami - The only player on this roster that has played for the USA in a WC and I think a great depth piece for us going through this world cup.

Good: Has been here and done the dance before, and has played internationally until he got older and then came back to the US. I do think he will be first off the bench as an outside defender for us.

Bad: He also falls into the category of not very good at anything but okay at everything. Can get into the attack but won't do much and can defend but won't be great.

Midfielders:

Tyler Adams - Leeds - He is arguably our most important player and I think the team agreed because he has been voted captain for us by the team. 

Good: He is showing true talent and has been a top player in the best league in the world the premier league. He should never come off the field.

Bad: He also likes to fight people and is a hothead. When you play in the WC you can't be going rogue and murdering people. 

Weston Mckennie - Juventus - I am him and he is me. Known for by far the most antics and biggest lockeroom talked/presence. Also dyed his part of his hair, red, white, and blue.

Good: When he is healthy and on, he will be crucial to this team. This man in the air is one of the best maybe in this tournament at scoring. 

Bad: Rumor has it that he is not 100% healthy right now which isn't great. But if we have the depth of talent anywhere it is in the forwards/midfield.

Yunus Musah - Valencia - He is my projected show out of the tournament. He's like 20 years old but is a god. He is so strong and posied in the midfield that I think he has the potential to be the best player for us this WC. 

Good: He has the ability to take people on, body them off the ball, and create options/space in the middle that nobody else can on this team in my opinion. 

Bad: Has the tendency to try to do too much which puts us in bad spots from time to time. 

Brendan Arronson - Leeds - This is where the lineup gets tricky. He has been playing fantastically for Leeds and has the best work rate in the world. Yes, he puts the most effort/time/distance run in the entire world. Leeds fans love him.

Good: He's young but has started showing that he can take people on and will literally never stop running.

Bad: In my opinion, he does a lot of creating opportunities but when he has to score he sometimes doesn't do well enough to do so. 

Kellyn Acosta - LAFC - Should not touch the field.

Good: Actually probably our best free-kick taker and can play multiple positions defensively.

Bad: Is just very bad.

Luca de la Torre - Celta Vigo - Another young talent who has shown us he can play in games but I don't think will see the field. 

Good: Behind Musah, maybe our next most dynamic player. Dynamic means he's a change of pace from what the normal is. He will do things that you aren't expecting as an opponent that will throw them off.

Bad: Unfortunately he still hasn't grown into a solid player, he will have great games and also very bad games. 

Christian Roldan - some mls team - Has no business being here and if he smells the field I will riot. 

Good: Apparently the only reason he is here is that he's a huge glue guy for the team and they all love him. 

Bad: Talent. Also, I think we had better options for people who are more talented that didn't get to come because he's here.

Christian Pulisic (Goat Boy) - Chelsea - Although not having the best season for Chelsea right now (they aren't playing him), people forget when it comes to game-winners and ice in the veins. This is HIM.

Good: Recently in an interview, he came out and basically said he was trying to do too much for the team and needed to trust him more. Thought he had the entire nation on his back (he did btw) and that lead him under a ton of pressure. I think admitting that and being able to let the homies around him ball out too, will provide him the freedom of play which makes him great. 

Bad: He has shown to have off games which we cannot have this WC.

Giovanni Reyna - Dortmund - The man most of us have been waiting for is finally healthy. He has been banged up for the last few months but has started playing and scoring for Dortmund. 

Good: This is the other guy I think will make waves this tournament. He's dynamic, can score, and takes people 1 on 1. I believe he should be a must-start but our coach might have other ideas. 

Bad: He actually cannot stay healthy. Every time he falls down I just expect him to be dead.

Timothy Weah-  Lille - Lightning fast and will outrun pretty much everyone in the WC.

Good: Because he is so fast he opens the field up for us. When in doubt ping a ball behind the defense in his direction and odds are he will be there first.

Bad: To me he doesn't look to pass enough. He wants to take everyone on and then have a go himself. Along with that he only runs forwards, which can be good but also can be bad depending on who we are playing. 

Haji Wright - Antalyspoor - The most surprising name on this list by long shot. Nobody expected him to be here but he is. Plays in the Turkish super ligue and actually has been on fire. I don't know how he fits into the rotation in getting time on the field and because we don't have an official starting forward, this is the biggest question mark for me.

Good: This guy in his current form just has been scoring all of the goals which is good.

Bad: Turkish league where he's been on fire, isn't really a top league by any means so its hard to judge. 

Josh Sargent - Norwich City - Truly the red-headed stepchild of this team (has red hair). He hasn't been on the roster at all really during WC qualifiers but I have been begging for him to be. Our coach is a dumbass.

Good: He like Haji, has been on fire in the championship league (Englands 2nd league). Has a great work rate, but now has added some great goals under his belt which is why I think he should be our starter today. 

Bad: Not any real time with this team apart from 1 week together.

Jesus Feriera + Jordan Morris - somewhere in the Mls - I hate both of these players equally, I think both aren't good and both shouldn't be here. Jesus may actually start and if that's the case we will lose. Haji and Josh are better players hands down in my opinion. 

Good: nothing.

Bad: everything.

My starting lineup for today:

                        Sargent

Pulisic     Mckennie    Musah    Reyna

                        Adams    

Robinson    Thor2    Thor1        Dest    

                    Turner

Notables that could start: Brendan Aaronson, Tim Weah, Aaron Long, CCV.

WC Group breakdown:

USA: We have the talent, but our coaching is horrendous. Gregg (head coach) is known to be an awesome players coach and locker room guy but really hasn't shown me anything that relates to actually coaching soccer. He loves his MLS boys which makes me hate him more. The biggest worry I have coming into the WC is the fact we have not looked good at all on the offensive/scoring side of the ball. We seem not to be able to piece together chances/good movement in the offensive final 3rd. The biggest upside to this team is that most of them have played against all these Wales/English players before. With most of them playing overseas and in leagues that often face the premier league, we have a ton of experience with/against them. Pulisic, Adams, Aaronson, Sargent, Weah, McKennie, Adams, Robinson, thor2 (Tim Ream), dest, and turner all play with/against the same players for Wales and England basically on a daily basis.

Wales: Wales has about 4 great players, a few that are good, but their team has no depth and should get exposed in the back. We should keep the majority of the position and be able to take over by about halftime. I believe the USA beats them today at 2-0. Mckennie header and Pulisic gets an easy tap-in from a Gio/Weah cross. 

England: Either 1 of 2 things, 1.) England is that good or 2.) Iran is that bad. I am praying for the latter. England just shit-stomped Iran with ease and my biggest takeaway from England before today was that they couldn't score. Well, Southgate (their coach) changed the lineup for the first time in a year and started a very heavy attacking lineup which shows as they won 6-2. I do think England has maybe the most firepower (including depth) in the tournament and can score, but with them starting Harry Mcguire (their center-back) anything is possible (this guy gives away pks like its his job). Along with that their biggest weakness in my eyes is Jordan Pickford their goalie. He is no superstar and can be scored on (IE: Iran scored 2). At best I see a 1-1 tie, but currently, I think this could be England 2-0. 

Iran: I do think they are that bad. Just had a huge injury at GK which may be figured out by the time we play them. They do have 1 good player that we will need to worry about on defense as he is their striker. This to me will follow the theme of us dominating the time of possession and the ball, but can we finish is going to decide how we play. I expect a bloodbath 4-0 USA win. Weah, Aaronson, Sargent, and Musah join in on the action. 

How the USA can get to the next round:

1.) It is simple, you have to beat wales, period. Today is the biggest game in 8 years for this country and it is a must-win. Wales to me has the weakest roster in our group and we cannot mess around for 90 minutes.

2.) Keeping it close/drawing England will be the second step. Because England just hung 6 on Iran that is great for us in goal differential. 

3.)For the Iran game it's a win or tie. Tying is fine when we have 1 win and 1 tie already. If we keep it close to England and tie Iran, we would go through because of the goal differential. 

It is make or break for the USA in the first game of the WC.

USA USA USA!

My Brain