With the Sept camp over and the WC roster drop set for 11/9, the roster seems fairly clear. Here are my predictions for Berhalter's 26, as well as my own picks.
GK: 3
Matt Turner (S), Zack Steffen, Sean Johnson
In the convo: Ethan Horvath
Comments: Turner is the superior shot-stopper and just beats out Steffen for the start, who gets enough games at Middlesbrough to insure his ticket. Sean Johnson and Ethan Horvath are the only 2 options for the 3rd spot.
My picks: Turner (S), Steffen, Horvath
Fullbacks: 5
RB: Sergino Dest (S), DeAndre Yedlin, Reggie Cannon
LB: Antonee Robinson (S), Sam Vines
In the convo: Joe Scally
Comments: Dest and Jedi are clear-cut starters for us here. Cannon provides CB insurance as well. Vines is left-footed, which gives him the edge and Berhalter started him in Sept. Scally just doesn't seem to impress Berhalter and is likely the last man out. I would only take 4 since Acosta can fill in at RB in an emergency. Dest is actually Berhalter's preferred backup at LB.
My picks: Dest (S), Jedi (S), Yedlin, Scally
Centerbacks: 4
Walker Zimmerman (S), Chris Richards (S), Aaron Long, Cameron Carter-Vickers
In the convo: Erik Palmer-Brown, Mark McKenzie
Comments: Berhalter wants to start Zim and Richards, and seems to have an inexplicable soft spot for Long. CCV seems to be the shoe-in for the last spot. For me, I would take Brooks, the most talented and has the best passing ability of the bunch, and Tim Ream, captain of an EPL team. Those two might not be fleetest of foot to play a high line, but if we need to hunker down and play D, we should bring them as options.
My picks: Zimm (S), John Brooks (S), Richards, Tim Ream, CCV
Midfielders: 6
Central Mid: Weston McKennie (S), Yunus Musah (S), Luca De La Torre, Cristian Roldan
Def Mid: Tyler Adams (S), Kellyn Acosta
In the convo: Malik Tillman, James Sands
Comments: MMA (McKennie, Musah, Adams) will start if healthy. Acosta and Luca are clearly on the plane as respective defense and offense options off the bench. Berhalter has always taken 6 mids to camp and in a surprise, I think the last spot will go to Berhalter's fave, Roldan over Tillman. US fans will collectively throw a fit. Knowing that Aaronson and Reyna can also play central attacking mid, I'm only taking 5.
My picks: McKennie (S), Musah (S), Adams (S), De La Torre, Acosta
Wingers/Forwards: 6
Christian Pulisic (S), Giovanni Reyna (S), Tim Weah, Brendan Aaronson, Paul Arriola, Jordan Morris
In the convo: none
Comments: Still no changes for top 4 - Captain America, son of former Captain America, son of Liberia President, and son of Aaron. Arriola and Morris are still both Berhalter's personal faves and will just eek in. I would also take both since I would readily deploy Reyna or Aaronson as a mid when needed. Also, this bunch seems injury-prone.
My picks: Pulisic (S), Reyna (S), Aaronson, Weah, Arriola, Morris
Strikers: 2
Ricardo Pepi (S), Jesus Ferreira
In the convo: Josh Sargent, Haji Wright, Jordan Pefok
Comments: Berhalter is clearly very loyal to Pepi and seems to thinks Ferreira plays the position the way he wants. US fans will again throw a fit, but the truth is that nobody in our striker pool has consistently done anything for the US. I would bring our best striker in England (Sargent) and our best in Germany (Pefok). The challenges they face there surpasses anything Ferreira has experienced.
My picks: Sargent (S), Pefok, Pepi
Berhalter's lineup:
--------Ferreira------
Puli-------------Reyna
--Musah--McKennie
-------Adams--------
Jedi-CR-Zimm-Dest
--------Turner--------
My lineup
--------Sargent--------
Puli------------Reyna
- Musah - McKennie
--------Adams---------
Jedi-Brooks-Zimm-Dest
----------Turner----------
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