The U.S. men’s national team’s October window gets underway on Friday against South American opponents Ecuador.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men will begin their two-match window in Austin, Texas, seeking to carry over their form from September’s finale against Japan. Facing off against the second-place finishers in CONMEBOL’s World Cup Qualifying cycle won’t be easy, but Ecuador will provide a strong test for the Americans.
Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright, and Alex Zendejas headline the in-form players this window, while Weston McKennie and Antonee Robinson jump back into the mix after some time away.
Matt Freese will aim to continue locking down the No. 1 goalkeeper spot while Chris Richards and Tim Ream are two players looking set to anchor the backline.
Absences to Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, and Josh Sargent, could open the door for others to boost their stocks with only eight months to go until the FIFA World Cup begins.
With the USMNT seeking a strong outing against Ecuador, here is the starting lineup that we believe should start:
GOALKEEPER
Who should start: Matt Freese
Matt Freese has done well in his USMNT appearances to date and I see no reason why Pochettino should change things up. Freese’s height and range makes him a tough goalkeeper to beat and bearing a major drop in form, I don’t see him relinquishing this spot anytime soon.
DEFENDERS
Who should start: Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson.
The return of Antonee Robinson gives the USMNT a strong two-way player at left back.
Robinson is fighting to get back to his full role with Fulham and a strong USMNT window could certainly help there. The veteran full back is a menace in the final third while also providing solid defensive work on the back end.
Chris Richards and Tim Ream are the USMNT’s No. 1-2 options at centerback and I expect those two to be paired up again. Richards has continued to rack up the minutes for Crystal Palace, playing week in and week out in multiple competitions.
Ream, whose regular season is nearing a close with Charlotte FC, has played ample minutes in Dean Smith’s squad. The 38-year-old is showing zero signs of slowing down, despite being in the latter stage of his career.
With no Sergino Dest or Joe Scally, Alex Freeman should get the nod at right back. Freeman has quickly become a rising talent in MLS and could very well compete for the starting right back job next summer.
A healthy Dest might hurt Freeman’s chances, but for now, it’s his time to shine.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Miles Robinson, and Mark McKenzie are likely to see minutes this window and could two of those three could be paired together against Australia. Max Arfsten may be used to give Robinson some relief, especially if Pochettino is not ready to use him for 90 minutes in either match.
MIDFIELDERS
Who should start: Tanner Tessmann, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman
The absence of Tyler Adams could see a number of different midfielders used this camp.
However, I think Weston McKennie should get the starting nod in Adams’ absence, as he tries to get reacclimatized to the program. McKennie has been in-and-out of the Juventus starting lineup this season, but his presence in the USMNT system is something that shouldn’t wary.
Tanner Tessmann’s positive run of form with Lyon has led to his inclusion in camp. Tessmann has been amongst the goals in recent weeks, playing in Ligue 1 and the Europa League. His work rate and range makes him a good option to start against Ecuador, who will be eager to own possession against the U.S.
Malik Tillman at the No. 10 is Pochettino’s best option right now. Tillman has started to pick up steam with the USMNT over the last few months, enjoying a strong showing at the Gold Cup.
Goal contributions have been a bit tough at Bayer Leverkusen, but Tillman has a long season to get things going in Germany.
Aidan Morris, James Sands, Cristian Roldan, Brenden Aaronson, and Diego Luna should all see time in this match as Pochettino will try and rotate and avoid any injuries.
FORWARDS
Who should start: Alex Zendejas, Haji Wright, Christian Pulisic
The front-three chosen for his XI may be the USMNT players riding the best runs of form at club level.
Haji Wright leads the EFL Championship with eight goals and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Wright has helped Coventry City to top of the league table by scoring in a bunch of different ways for Frank Lampard’s squad.
A strong window here could boost his No. 9 hopes majorly.
Christian Pulisic has six goals for AC Milan this fall, helping the Rossoneri enjoy a positive start in both of their active competitions. The USMNT’s leading attacking threat closed the September window with a positive performance and should be the first name on Pochettino’s lineup card Friday night.
Alex Zendejas closed the September window in style, which has led to a strong run of form for Club America. Zendejas has scored five goals and added one assist in his last five outings in Liga MX, being a productive player in the final third.
His willingness to try things in the final third makes him a different player at right wing and right now, he’s more likely to find the back of the net than Tim Weah.
Folarin Balogun and Patrick Agyemang could get the nod over Wright, but I’d ride the hot hand right now if I was Pochettino. Agyemang’s physicality paired with Balogun’s vertical running makes both good options off of the bench, or starting options against Australia.
What do you think of our projected lineup? Who are you most excited to see play? Are there any doubts you have?
Share your thoughts below.
Christian Pulisic (didn’t train), Antonee Robinson (still assessing recovery) and NOW ALEJANDRO ZENDEJAS in doubt for USMNT vs. Ecuador!!!! Come on!!!! This section of games were to see:
a) Which CF can gel up top with Pulisic
b)What does the team (that has been slowly progressing) look like with Robinson on the wing.
now that scratches major pieces off the board for the USMNT. DAMN it
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3-4-3:
———WEAH——–BALO—–AARONSON———–
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—ARFSTEN—WESTON—TILLMAN—FREEMAN–
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——REAM——-RICHARDS—–MCKENZIE———–
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———————–FREESE————————————
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OR
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3-4-2-1
——————————BALO———————————
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—————-WEAH——————–TILLMAN————
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-ARFSTEN—WESTON—TESSMANN—FREEMAN—
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———REAM——-RICHARDS—–MCKENZIE———-
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—————————-FREESE——————————-
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Lets see what Pochettino will do without Christian Pulisic
I didn’t think Poch would start Weston but I think he does now.
I think it will be the second line-up… 3-5-3 (lol! I actually typed that by accident…nope, not gonna change it – lol). However, I think he will put Luna or Weston in for Pulisic instead of Weah like you have. If Weston plays higher then I’m still thinking Roldan starts.
U20s with a chance to make the semis for the first time since 1989. They played Morocco just last month so both sides should know each other well.
Apparently Pulisic has an injury and may not play against Ecuador.
Balogun
Pulisic – Tillman
McKennie – Sands – Tessman – Weah
Ream – Richards – McKenzie
Freese
you would have to use freeman as the RM in a 343 otherwise you start to run out of RFs. and LFs for that matter. you pull weah back and that leaves zendejas or pushing a striker wide. we can use wright wide but not really gotten anything by it.
to me you need more subs, not fewer, when you’re going to lean on wide play this much. especially an end to end setup like 3 backs with hybrid wings. those wing slots are exhausting.
In a 3-4-3 that is exactly where Freeman would be. Where else would you play him? Just call it a RWB if it makes you sleep better.
You also have Aaronson who plays RW/RAM for Leeds with Zendajas. Yes I know the intern who wrote up the press release listed BA as a midfielder but he probably won’t play there. Tillman and Luna can also play any of the attacker spots. You don’t need to leave a 10 position spot in a 3-4-3 so you have Pulisic, Zendajas, Aaronson, Tillman, and Luna for the two matches. Weah is then free to play RM/RWB with Freeman so neither get too tired because you don’t need 6 players for 2 positions.
i was disappointed to read the comment where the poster threatened another poste, and i quote, “to cut him like a fish while everyone in his methhead birth town watched.” however, the criticism of numbers of players on the field was poorly considered, as methhead towns prefer indoor, as they only need to drag 6 people away from getting wasted. so he could only be guessing what outdoor teams even looked like. they don’t have that many people with most of their teeth willing to run around after a ball.
do better.
So looks like fS2 has opted to show England V Wales “friendly” over the US U20 V Italy game. But they will show the replay at 7PM. This is ridiculous.
It’s also on Universo. It’s in Spanish, which I don’t understand/speak, but it’s also in high def. FS2 is in old school standard definition.
15′ …..B. Cremaschi – goal.
I saw this write up on Center-forwards and the question remains…….what is Pochettino looking for? What kind CF will fit his formation who will play well with Pulisic? Perfect example is Sargent……good for Norwich City, nothing for USMNT.. there it is:
“Center forward playing styles include the Target Man (physical, good at holding up play), Poacher (goal-scoring expert in the box), Shadow Striker (runs beyond the midfield into attacking areas), Mobile Striker (uses speed and agility to exploit space), Pressing Forward (combines attacking play with defensive pressure), and the False Nine (drops deep to facilitate build-up play and create confusion for defenders). These styles are defined by attributes like physical strength, speed, tactical positioning, and goal-scoring ability.
Target Man
Key Traits: Tall, strong, and excellent in the air.
Role: Wins aerial duels, holds up the ball to bring teammates into play, and is a focal point for crosses and long passes.
Poacher
Key Traits: Clinical finisher with great instinct for being in the right place at the right time.
Role: Scores goals by being an opportunist in the penalty box, focusing on converting chances rather than linking play.
Shadow Striker
Key Traits: Agile and good at timing runs into the box from deeper positions.
Role: Operates as a secondary forward, making runs from midfield into scoring areas, often in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation.
Mobile Striker
Key Traits: Fast, agile, and intelligent with off-the-ball movement.
Role: Uses speed and movement to create space and disrupt the opposition’s defense, exploiting gaps in the attacking line.
Pressing Forward
Key Traits: High work rate, stamina, and defensive awareness.
Role: Combines the goal-scoring duties of a forward with the defensive pressure of a midfielder, initiating pressing from the front.
False Nine
Key Traits: High football intelligence, comfortable dropping deep into midfield.
Role: Drops into the space between the opponent’s defense and midfield, drawing defenders out of position to create space for other attackers or to become involved in build-up play.”
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What type fits our style of play? Who will Pochettino go with?
It’s going to be interesting
i’ve been trying to say this a while, that (a) we often don’t seem to have linked up a scheme with a type of striker to fit it and (b) that it’s often like we just grab someone with statistics.
if they try to play like this summer with the forwards pinched from the side, and maybe a little behind the striker, and then try and have the striker spin their marker or run into space behind the backline, everyone we called fits that. agyemang did it this summer, albeit sloppy. wright and balogun are also physical and fast and suited.
if it turns into half court soccer and whacking crosses in, that’s when the striker feels disconnected and like scheme doesn’t fit striker choice. if you’re gonna hit high balls you need someone who can head it in.
i also would like to see us have some basic back to goal capability where we can outlet the ball from the back, release pressure, and get some free chances or goals off fouls and PKs. we work way way too hard for our goals. we need cheap stuff. deadballs (which we have been better at, though ironically with backs scoring the goals). shots from the 18. PKs. short free kicks. tryijng to think when we have scored kicks directly since roughly donovan’s era.
point being you have to be able to hold up (and far enough upfield or perhaps in their box) to get some kicks or even PKs. we at times barely even find the 9 in the other box, much less get them tripped to get a penalty from it.
and if you’re pinned back, a striker who can trap the long outlet ball and either pass it off or get fouled, is a great release valve.
IV, bizzy,
You guys talk as if the USMNT can just go down the list and pick the striker that has the necessary characteristics.
Yet somehow, because the staff are stupid or ignorant or political they don’t pick that guy.
I look at it different.
We have a handful of candidates for the striker job and none of them are ideal. And that is not the fault of the USMNT.
The USMNT has always had trouble finding full time long term strikers. Right now the closest thing we have to that is Haji Wright.
He starts and goes 90 most games for his club, scores regularly at a good rate, seems to be be a “clutch” player. The only question with him is that he plays in the Championship.
Flo is a better player but the difference between him and Haji is, to my knowledge, Flo has yet to win the full- time starter job.
Pepi was supposed to be “that guy” this season but of course he now is long term injured and may never recover. So we need to wait and see.
There is Josh but he has fallen out of fashion, Brian White but mentioning his name nauseates IV., Brandon V but he’s just not very good, and three potentials, Patrick, Downs and Dike.
The most dangerous goal scoring threats in the player pool are Christian, Malik and, if he ever comes back, Gio. Hopefully, he won’t retire this summer.
Boy, all the insults traded. Folks, grow up. These are friendlies and we know most of these players, except for maybe Sands and Tessman. My main interest is finding a good combination of CB’s since even Ream can’t last forever. I would like to see guys like McKenzie and CCV paired up or have a combo with Miles Robinson and Richards. That, for me, is most important since we have a lot of players in the midfield and forward who are close in ability, with the possible exception of Pulisic who should always be included. So many of the others are like plug and play without much loss of quality.
I certainly agree with the need for CBs who can defend for the USA.
Goals are so hard to come by that a leaky defense will result in an early exit from the WC. I expect to see a lot of 0-0, 1-0 and 1-1 games except when the minnows play.
I certainly agree with the need for CBs who can defend for the USA.
Goals are so hard to come by that a leaky defense will result in an early exit from the WC. I expect to see a lot of 0-0, 1-0 and 1-1 games except when the minnows play.
Didnt know Scottish FA has been working to convince Chris Brady to switch international affiliation.
Many felt Brady is a better keeper than Slonina and has a higher ceiling.
Im going to base the starting 11 on form, player limitations due to just coming back from injury, and who seems likely ro start against Ecuador.
——-Balo——
Puli———Zendi
Arf—Tess—Till—-Weah
Ream—Rich—Mckenz
——-Freese——
Subs: Mckennie, Wright, Jedi, Aaronson, Luna, Robinson
Yes I have Tillman dropping as more of an 8. Which he has played for Leverkusen.
I think you (2tone) have it right. I expect 3-4-2-1, not 4-3-3.
I don’t think Wright plays as a CF, he plays better with partner and is left sided of a 2-man front line.
He’s played mostly as a lone CF for Coventry this season and been pretty effective.
Correct
Balo
Pulisic Weah
Weston Tessman
AR Freeman
Ream CR Mckenzie (?)
Matt F
The proposed lineup is on target, if the formation is a 4-3-3. It comes down to the formation Poch goes with against Ecuador. If he goes with 3 CBs with 2 wingbacks, then I’d expect to see CCV slotted in the back, and probably Zendeljas the odd man out up front.
Regardless, I’d like to see most everyone on the roster (excepting GKs) get minutes this break. CCV, Tessman, Sands, Morris..let’s see what they bring to the table.
Stick to the 3-4-2-1.
3-4-3 FORMATION – Preferred
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——PULISIC——BALOGUN——ZENDEJAS———–
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JEDI–MCKENNIE—TILLMAN–ROLDAN—-WEAH
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——–REAM———-RICHARDS——-FREEMAN——
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—————————-FREESE———————————
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4-2-3-1 formation – that never seems to work
;
——————–BALOGUN———————–
–
—–PULISIC—–TILLMAN——-WEAH——-
–
———MCKENNIE——TESSMANN———–
–
JEDI—-REAM—–RICHARDS—-FREEMAN
–
—————————-FREESE———————
–
Maybe
Cameron Carter-Vickers for Ream?
Roldan for Tanner Tessmann?
Zendejas for Weah?
At this point, in Pochettino we trust!!!!! LET’S GOOOOOOO
Bizzy,
When the USMNT employs a 3-4-3 formation, do they receive a special exemption from FIFA to use 12 starters? Cue the clown music…
…and then take the time to sign yourself up for a math class and add it to your existing academic curriculum of, “Reading Comprehension Skills.”
Papa Grande, Dude, really?
“Stupid is a condition. Ignorance is a choice”…..unfortunately my friend you have both, lol
Bizzy,
“Stupid is a condition. Ignorance is a choice”…..unfortunately my friend you have both, lol
——————————————————————————————————–
Says the guy who starts 12 players, hence can’t count and continues to be severely deficient in their reading comprehension skills.
The classic case of Cognitive rigidity with a splash of stupidity. You keep on making serious breakthroughs everyday my friend…….
“When the USMNT employs a 3-4-3 formation, do they receive a special exemption from FIFA to use 12 starters? Cue the clown music…”
–
….says the Ring Leader at Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey lol
Master of the Obvious,
He’s just mad because of his timeless stupidity and consistent ignorance………..pay him no mind, as that is just the outburst of an ignorant pathetic infant who doesn’t know how to express himself. Again, what a way to embarrass yourself…..lol
For the ADULTS in this convo…..lol, this is the line-up I MEANT
——PULISIC——BALOGUN——ZENDEJAS———–
–
—JEDI—-–MCKENNIE—TILLMAN—-WEAH—
–
——–REAM———-RICHARDS——-FREEMAN——
–
—————————-FREESE———————————
–
bizzy,
Putting Flo out there gives P a more traditional center forward for CP to interact with. I get that Haji is white hot but I’d like to see CP get a whole game with both.
Agreed, especially since Haji Wright is on fire…….its only fair. We have 2 games to “start” and “Sub” in both players.
Master of The Obvious,
Yes, really. If you want to share why you think I shouldn’t have, I am happy to share why I did. Otherwise, we can leave it as is. Your choice.
you are an idiot and showed you are an idiot……so why on Gods green earth would anyone want to meet you down at your level…….which is the realm of stupidity.
Master of The Obvious……keep it classy.
(Me on the other hand……..lol)
Here’s why:
“Says the guy who starts 12 players, hence can’t count and continues to be severely deficient in their reading comprehension skills.”
Stupid is not recognizing an innocent mistake and letting it go. Stupid is not knowing a person except through internet interactions and thinking you can call them stupid. Stupid is not recognizing we are all soccer nerds on this site and KNOW it’s a starting 11. Before you lose your cool and click on submit post on crap posts like that – that add NOTHING to the discussion – perhaps take a couple breaths or take a walk or ask someone for a hug or go use the toilet. Any of those things might just ease the over reaction to such an innocuous post.
Here’s why I even commented: I make so so many mistakes when I post on here. Sometimes they don’t make sense. I also have severe ADHD. Am I stupid? Well, I guess you would be the expert on the subject. Do you think a “Reading Comprehension Course” would help me? Or perhaps maybe a higher dose of Ridlin? I’ll wait for you expert opinion. I guess there is also the “you can’t help stupid” option too.
Should you have been called stupid in return??? Well, I guess you kind of open yourself up to it don’t you. You better proof read all your posts and/or put them through AI from now on. One thing that is for sure correct that Bizzy said – you definitely embarrass yourself.
Master of the Obvious,
You are not familiar with the history, nor am I am going to take the time to share. What I will share is that given the history, he deserves the heckling.
Having said that, note his seventeen responses to my post. Now do you understand why I say, “Cue the clown music?”
You can call my post stupid…you can call me stupid for posting it…neither bothers me, as I am not that sensitive…I have thick skin.
Check out this idiot……..”Mr. Comprehension” says in one breath:
–
“Master of The Obvious,
Yes, really. If you want to share why you think I shouldn’t have, I am happy to share why I did.”
–
Then IN THE SAME CONVERSATION (after MoTO shares) says
“You are not familiar with the history, nor am I am going to take the time to share.”
–
Scatter brain ignorance……..so which is it? Contradicting yourself with your very own stupidity. You are an idiot, and since you seem so enlightened in clueless stupidity, do you know the difference between a heckle and an insult?
–
“You can call my post stupid…you can call me stupid for posting it…neither bothers me, as I am not that sensitive…I have thick skin.”
Absolutely not. You do not have thick skin……more like a thick head.
what a flamboyant idiot….compare and contrast…..3-4-3 formation but listed 12 players. What does that tell you? lol, are you just that slow?
Bizzy, I see your having a back and forth. I don’t what the other person said because I stopped reading his posts a long time ago, but I can guess he insulted you, said you are stupid, all while purporting to be some type of a “soccer intellectual”. My question to you is why do you even bother reading his posts?
I know Tele 57….I should ignore but sometimes its fun getting down in the mud with him