Tyler Adams is getting back to his old self, which is good news for AFC Bournemouth.
Adams made his third-consecutive start on Saturday as Andoni Iraola’s men earned a 4-2 road Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. It marked the first time that the U.S. men’s national team midfielder registered three-straight starts at club level since February-March 2023.
Adams started alongside Ryan Christie as Lewis Cook missed out for the first time this season.
Justin Kluivert stole the show for the Cherries, scoring a hat trick of penalty kicks in the result. Milos Kerkez also found the back of the net as Bournemouth moved up to 11th place in the league standings.
Adams logged his first 90 minutes of the season, winning six of 12 duels, completing two tackles, and five interceptions. He also completed 83% of his passes.
The 25-year-old will aim to retain his starting spot on Thursday when Bournemouth hosts Tottenham in league action. Bourmemouth will have six Premier League matches this December, the most out of any month this season.
Really good to see. Hopefully he’s back into a routine and playing at a high level by our next camp.
I see no need to rush him back. We know what he can add.
I’d rather explore the other options we have that look promising.
If he’s healthy, we really need to figure out what Johnny has for the USMNT.
I mean next camp is 4 months away is that rushing it? I don’t think Poch is going to play a lone #6 so you should still get to see some Johnny/Tanner/Aidan/Pax/etc… next to Tyler (if he stays healthy the next 4 months which is a big if).
JR,
Every healthy day is a blessing for Adams.
I have zero trust that he will get to March uninjured or stay uninjured.
And if he does, that does not change the fact that he contributes very little to the offense. Seeing as how we seem to be stuck with Turner, a barely adequate distributor on his best day, that’s two boat anchors on the USMNT’s offensive movement.
I’m more interested in sorting out Tanner and Johnny, if healthy and in form , Jedi , a possibly healthy Dest, an unreliable Gio and any other new options for the midfield
Adams is something of a one trick pony. A great trick granted, but the new guy has a lot of things to look at in terms of the midfield .
Pulisic, he found a way to establish his durability and reliability. A good thing because we really had/ have no replacement for him.
Adams? Also injury prone but, finally, we seem to have players who can cover for his absence.
If Adams can establish himself as an anchor for Bournemouth then he’s not going anywhere. He’s a veteran who can be trusted to slide into what ever role Pochettino has for him at a later window, if it comes to that.
I’m happy to be wrong but Adams is probably done as a 90 minute USMNT player. He cannot be relied on to stay sound and it’s critical that the USMNT learn to to live without him if necessary.
Vac, if Adams is healthy in March and Poch thinks he is the best option, I’m pretty sure he is going to play him. He will probably have a plan B. Gregg’s Plan C was to drop Reyna back to the 6 because Plan B was McKennie and he wasn’t/isn’t good in that role. Reyna was good and was not the problem at COPA but there was no good plan B for losing him in the attack. I know you think Nations League doesn’t mean anything, but I don’t think Poch or the players see it that way.
JR
“Vac, if Adams is healthy in March and Poch thinks he is the best option, I’m pretty sure he is going to play him. He will probably have a plan B.”
I’m sure you are right. But you need to watch how Milan seems to be successfully is adopting Pochettino’s approach to using Musah.
“I know you think Nations League doesn’t mean anything, but I don’t think Poch or the players see it that way.”
Nation’s League is still horseshit but things have changed. It would have been great if Pochettino could have taken the team through the run up for Copa America and Copa itself.
Instead he’s stuck with a couple of CONCACAF crap tournaments and friendlies. Still , it’s better than nothing and a chance for the new guy to make chicken soup out of chicken shit.
And in the end that may work out just as well.
Pochettino’s whole schtick is getting the players to believe in themselves and in each other. If he succeeds in convincing them then they should have a chance against anyone they play. Anyone. Especially in a brief (8 games at most) knockout competition like the World Cup. A competition well known for upsets.
On paper the USMNT is superior to every other CONCACAF team, including dumpster fire Mexico. Regardless of the circumstances ( friendly or competitive game., home or away) and regardless of which regulars Pochettino plays, we should win every CONCACAF game we play.
That’s not a guarantee and obviously it’s never easy playing any of those teams .
We don’t win every game with CONCACF. It’s not because we lack the talent or ability. Mostly it is because the players have not been coached well or because the players themselves lost their focus or discipline. Pochettino appears to be at least as decent a game time coach as IV would be.
So he’s got that covered. I think he’ll challenge the players. “Hey we’ve got the coaching taken care of, now it’s up to you guys. Show me that intensity fire, discipline and skill that we all know you have. And get result with it. Do that and you’re on the team”
Pochettino then, should challenge these guys to win , not draw, every single game we play between now and the start of the 2026 World Cup. And win them convincingly. If they can do that it will be because they are focused, disciplined and playing up to their abilities not underachieving as they have so many times. With crap opposition, all the trialists, (everyone beside CP and Jedi) will have no excuses.
What is the carrot?
A place on the 2026 WC team.
The stick?
Not being on the 2026 WC team.
I have no inside info but I think that is more or less, the approach Pochettino is going to take. Even with the chicken shit opposition, I expect every single game between now and WC selection day to be very difficult and very intense. So they might as well win them all.