Mauricio Pochettino will reportedly have to make one roster move ahead of the U.S. men’s national team’s return to competitive action.
Johnny Cardoso will stay in Spain to continue his injury recovery following a muscle strain, Mundo Deportivo reported Sunday. The 23-year-old missed Real Betis’ UEFA Europa Conference League win last Thursday, which led to speculation about his fitness.
Cardoso was suspended for Real Betis’ 3-2 La Liga victory over Leganes on Sunday.
Manuel Pellegrini has relied heavily on Cardoso this season, awarding him with 33 appearances across all competitions. The New Jersey native has scored two goals and added one assist.
However, Cardoso’s injury will be a major confidence blow as the USMNT aims to repeat as CONCACAF Nations League winners. The Americans face Panama on Thursday, with the winner heading to March 23’s final against either Mexico or Canada.
Aidan Morris or Brenden Aaronson are two potential replacements for Cardoso in the USMNT’s midfield corps.
Pulisic has shown at Milan that he is most effective playing in the middle. . If you instead put Weston in the middle at the #10, he and CP have so much time together, they figure it out an I don’t think it is an issue.
Luna looks promising but the hype on him is a little premature. At their best, he and CP occupy the same space. I’m biased but I think CP is a better player.
Then there is the question of where other creative types, Malik, Gio and possibly even Luciano Acosta best fit, if and when those guys get on the World Cup roster. And IV will insist that Julian Green, D Holmes and Cole Campbell should be in that mix.
If you play a 4-2-3-1,
1 is Pepi or Flo or Josh
So what about Ben White, Haji, J. Mo and Patrick? You could play two strikers but that has downstream effects.
3 is Weston, CP, Weah
Gio, Luna, Malik, Acosta ( possibly) and Zendejas, will all be fighting for time.
I’m sure I’ve left someone out.
It is a good problem to have.
Probably Busio will be the replacement. I would vote for Aiden Morris but I’m not sure he was back from injury in time to make the provisional roster.
Morris is on the provisional roster. Other CMs (not necessarily 6s) on the list Busio, Aaronson bros, Eneli, Luca, Mihailovic, Matko, Caden Clark, Tim Tillman
And McGlynn
Might be hard to get someone from Eurooe this late. If he adds a player it might be someone from MLS or Mexico just for logistics.
Most likely, although they’ve been aware of Cardoso’s injury for over a week so they could have put other options in place.
Wright and Dest aren’t on the 60 man so they can’t be brought in.
I would say Wright. Don’t need another CM. More attackers is always better.
Who will replace him?!!
Instead of bringing in another CDM with Adams and Tessmann available (and McKenzie that can play in that position if need be)….use this to bring in Sergino Dest….or “on fire” Haji Wright…..or Gianluca Busio (Venezia),……or Jack “Cannon leg” McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), or even Alejandro Zendejas…….
This will be interesting…..wishing you a speedy recovery kid….
“and McKenzie that can play in that position if need be”. Mark has never played DM in his professional career, but sure why not in a knockout game.
Guessing he meant to type McKennie.
“let the real Johnny please stand up”….lol
You get it johnny99….thanks
Unfortunate timing of injuries can be a blessing and a curse. Extra opportunity for tanner Tessmann, who may have been ahead in the pecking order anyway, and may soon turn in to TT90. Tessmann is a real difference maker and you only need to look at lyons results with and without him. I’d like to see the 3-5-2 Thursday night, with pulisic and Sargent up top, and I think Diego Lunas efforts last time out might have earned him a start with the “A” team. Adams and Tessmann really manning the middle of the pitch behind Luna, with Jedi and weah wide.
Where does Pulisic fit in?
I think he has Pulisic with Sargent up top. I believe it is McKennie that he has on the bench. I personally don’t see Poch playing Tessman or Luna ahead of McKennie but time will tell.
He’s in there. And I like that he could switch with weah, and weah could move into a striker role next to Sargent, while Christian pushes out wide. The key will obviously be how Tessmann and Adams work together, and how they will connect with Luna, or Gio, I guess when he is in there.
————Sargent —— pulisic————-
Jedi—————-Luna————weah——
————-Tessmann—Adams———
——ream—Richards—-Mckinnie—
——————Howard————-
Pulisic has shown at Milan that he is most effective playing in the middle. . If you instead put Weston in the middle at the #10, he and CP have so much time together, they figure it out an I don’t think it is an issue.
Luna looks promising but the hype on him is a little premature. At their best, he and CP occupy the same space. I’m biased but I think CP is a better player.
Then there is the question of where other creative types, Malik, Gio and possibly even Luciano Acosta best fit, if and when those guys get on the World Cup roster. And IV will insist that Julian Green, D Holmes and Cole Campbell should be in that mix.
If you play a 4-2-3-1,
1 is Pepi or Flo or Josh
So what about Ben White, Haji, J. Mo and Patrick? You could play two strikers but that has downstream effects.
3 is Weston, CP, Weah
Gio, Luna, Malik, Acosta ( possibly) and Zendejas, will all be fighting for time.
I’m sure I’ve left someone out.
It is a good problem to have.