Figured I'd revive this thread with so few windows left until the WC and Poch finally naming a roster of our best players for the October window. There are only a couple of decisions I would have made differently and, I think some of the dubious inclusions are due to injuries with better players.
I don't have anything to say about GK other than I was hoping Steffen was getting back to his old ways enough to become the #1 again, but he's been left off. Is he hurt again? I won't ever trust Turner's feet and Freese just feels temporary to me. He's been okay, but I want us to have an elite GK like we're used to over the last couple of decades. This is the only position I have a concern about for next summer.
Tyler Adams being left off is curious. I'm fairly certain he's not injured and both LdlT and Cardoso are out with injury so I have to assume he's planning to evaluate Tessmann and Sands in the #6 role. It still seems odd to not bring your most important guy over the last couple of years. He's maybe only behind Puli for most guaranteed roster spot next summer so I'd have him in camp. I know Sands has been an important part of the defensive midfield for St. Pauli and they're top half of the Bundesliga table right now, but I'll never be convinced he is better in the #6 than Adams, Tessmann, Cardoso, or LdlT. With that level of quality depth at that position, Adams may not be the most indispensable player in the pool anymore, but Sands doesn't need to be getting looks this close to the WC either when chemistry building is starting to become more and more important.
We haven't talked about Tessmann in a long time, but he's become a force in the #6 role with size Adams doesn't have and some offensive ability too. Lyon has turned out to be a great next step for him. I'm very excited about his future. He's still only 24 years old and may be developing into a guy who could add more value at the #6 than Tyler Adams. That's a big statement, but his size brings an element to his game that Adams can't replicate and his durability could make him a more valuable #6 over the next couple of WC cycles.
Musah being left off is also interesting. He's been getting good minutes and putting in good performances for an Atalanta side who will likely qualify for Europe again this season and just had an assist yesterday in the UCL. For me, Roldan is the obvious midfielder who should be dropped for Musah. I don't understand why he could be viewed more highly right now unless he's just trying to bring in another 30-something professional to keep the young kids' work ethic honest.
The back line is very strong, especially at center back. I think he's called in our 5 best center backs and I think this indicates he's planning to use more of that 3 center back formation he's started experimenting with more the last couple of windows. I think a back line with McKenzie, Richards, and CCV/Ream is very stout. I hate that it pushes out another talented playmaker from the center of the park, but I also think it's a clever idea to cover for the defensive lapses you get from Dest and Freeman at right back. I haven't mentioned a healthy and in-form Miles Robinson yet either. If you'd told me before his Achilles injury that we'd have 4 center backs better than him in 3 years' time I wouldn't have believed you. Auston Trusty may be better than him now too. Our center back depth is in a really great place right now.
Speaking of Dest, he's hurt again so no included in this window, but Poch fell in love with him last window when he was healthy. He's not going anywhere as long as his body cooperates. The bizarre omission for me in the back is Scally. Jedi is clearly playing every minute at left back next summer, but he's still coming back from injury and has only played 90 minutes once for Fulham thus far this season coming off of knee surgery. The Arfsten experiment should be over by now. Scally has played 80% or more of available minutes for Gladbach for 4 years now and has added some attacking third playmaking to his game this season. He can also play left and right back so that versatility is important this window with Dest out injured and Jedi probably looking at 60 minutes each game.
I wonder if Arfsten, Freeman, and Jedi as the only wing backs signals Weah getting some run in one of those spots. He's played almost every position except keeper for Marseille already this season, but has started getting more minutes on the right flank in either a forward or midfield position. He got a lot of minutes at right back for Juve last season, though, and he could be a guy at right back who creates the same types of challenges for opponents in attack as Jedi does on the left. If we go with 3 center backs to allow the wing backs to defend higher and have more freedom in attack, Weah could be a weapon on the right opposite Jedi when Dest isn't available. Freeman is too, though. It's too bad we couldn't have Jedi on the left at the same time we had Cherundolo on the right. Maybe one of these guys on the right can develop into our next Dolo.
I already mentioned how I'd have left Roldan and Sands out of the midfield, but Aidan Morris is also on the roster and I think he's earned his spot. He's got a couple MotM honors already this season at top-of-the-table Middlesbrough in the English Championship. I think he's become a LdlT/Cardoso type of player who is more of a box-to-box central midfielder with solid positional instincts defensively and effective facilitating abilities in a deeper central midfield role. I've also noticed him starting out at left mid as well so he's shown some versatility to his game for his club too. I'll be interested to see how he slots in with guys like McKennie, Tillman, and Tessmann.
The forward group is crowded. I think all of these guys belong and there are a couple guys who are conspicuously absent. Sarge is in peak form at Norwich and he's been left off. He hasn't performed well for the national team in years beyond great hold-up play so I get his omission, but he feels like a guy who will eventually break through and give you everything you want at the #9 based solely on his performances for the canaries the last couple seasons. Pepi is out injured again, but he's another guy you know will be included when he's healthy. His form at PSV has been great and he's getting starting minutes this year too so maybe he'll shed that supersub reputation and become a strong option at #9 from the opening whistle.
Haji Wright is leading the Championship in goals so far this season with 7. He belongs. Zendejas had a great September window and had earned his inclusion long before last month. He's tearing up Liga MX. He belongs. Agyemang is getting his legs under him in the Championship and has been very strong for the national team in 2025. He belongs. Balogun is rounding back into form for Monaco after his bad shoulder injury to end last season. He's also been great the last two times out for the nats. He belongs. Puli and Weah are obvious. Who from this group do you leave out to make room for a Pepi or Sarge? And what if Gio gets back in form at Gladbach? Now there are two guys from this list you may have to drop.
What's wild is we're finally getting to the level of depth where we will have quality players in good form for top leagues/clubs in Europe who don't make the WC roster. I honestly don't think Scally will get called in for the WC. At no time in the history of American soccer has a kid with his pedigree and talent been remotely close to not having a guaranteed spot in a World Cup, regardless of position. I think we'll have him and a quality center back left off of the WC roster due to quality depth. In midfield, I don't think you can carry that many #6s. We may see a guy starting for Atletico Madrid miss the WC because he's behind guys like Adams and Tessmann. At no time in our history would a guy playing like Aidan Morris is right now not be getting serious consideration for the WC next summer in central midfield. But he's not realistically knocking McKennie, Tillman, Musah, or LdlT out of that mix, is he?
I remember reading an article after the last WC talking about how the top WC rosters typically have 16 - 18 players making a difference in the top 7 clubs in the world. Looking at this group right now, I think we're very close to that right now. If we can get Poch's system down and build the chemistry in the group within that system by summer, we could be poised for a fun run.
I know it's easy to be pessimistic about this team going into the WC after such a mediocre 2025. I've felt a lot of that this year and blame the federation for wasting another short stint on Berhalter. At the end of the day, though, I keep coming back to the quality and depth of talent in the current player pool with the tactician we have calling the shots. As long as we can get the GK spot settled and goals from the #9, I really think this is our best chance to make our deepest WC run ever.
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