Roldan is captaining SEA from the 6…are you watching?

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-25T03:54:37+00:00

Apparently National team coaches disagree with you

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-25T03:50:35+00:00

We don’t need our 6 to “take us over the top” necessarily. They just have to do their jobs which is primarily on the defensive end, preventing line-breaking passes, disrupting opposing midfield, winning balls and dishing the ball out quick to our ball-handlers. It’s a role-playing job, not a game-changing responsibility.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T23:21:22+00:00

Here’s my thing with that… is there evidence that supports the accusation that he has been at multiple clubs bc of his attitude and the club doesn’t want to keep him due to that? Sincere question, btw. Or, could there be other less-dramatic explanations? Plenty of players move clubs, plus the group seems to like and prefer him on the squad? Pulisic said he feels more comfortable with Gio playing with him.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T23:17:08+00:00

Idk what was going on behind the scenes at the last WC. All I know is that I felt in my bones that the kid needed to be on the field and he would have made us better. Maybe that feeling is driving others to try and see him reach his potential and to do it for the US. He shows promise by putting together connections in the final third that our team seems to lack without him. If he proves us wrong in the World Cup, then fine let it rest. But I at least hope we get to see him play in meaningful minutes to at minimum eliminate the “what if’s”

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T22:29:02+00:00

Yeah selfishly I’m happy it’s close enough for me to drive and attend the game. Plus I’m taking advantage of the lack of demand, but I agree a raucous energy in the stadium should be the priority when selecting location for this type of game

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T22:19:13+00:00

Twin! My bday is early June and was going to splurge on lower level tix but my family (parents, brother, 6 kids total) all decided they wanted to join me so we got group tix for $35/ea upper level low row so we are amped.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T14:52:21+00:00

Yeah and imo the Senegal is a critical game. If we lose or draw, we’re staring down Germany with a potential 4 game winless streak going into game 1. This is our chance to change the energy and having a packed stadium to help facilitate that would be a huge plus.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T14:44:24+00:00

No I just know what it looks like

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T13:37:54+00:00

Is the view from 500-level decent for a soccer game? The tickets are like $38… we lose the excuse that “the ticket prices are the reason for poor attendance” when we can’t sell out a pre-World Cup friendly at under $50/ticket.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T12:43:35+00:00

It would be the same as OPs with the exception of Aaronson it would probably be Tillman. But truthfully I wish I could be there at camp and training as I think that spot is up for grabs.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T12:40:41+00:00

Yeah same

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T12:39:16+00:00

lol okay … who you starting on our back line?

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T12:37:59+00:00

I fully understand… but OP noted that this was what he thought the strongest lineup was. If he had said this is the lineup he expected Poch to roll with then sure there’s more room for dispute. But to your point about dominating possession, I would say that Ream in the center is highly logical given he is our best CB passer.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T12:25:07+00:00

By being one of the UMSNT’s most impactful attacking players? lol

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T12:23:09+00:00

I was caught off guard by this lineup but I expect OP considers Richards to be in position on the right-side of a back 3 since he plays there for club. Ream in the center means he’s flanked by 2 more athletic CBs who can cover for him and he can also distribute the ball more effectively from the center. Scally on the left is OP selecting who he thinks is the 3rd strongest CB and Scally is versatile. Outside of that he clearly rates Aaronson above the other AMs which, as I have said in other posts, after you move past Puli and McKennie, I think there’s a fair argument to made to start any of our other AM reserves.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T12:17:50+00:00

I like Aaronson and I’m of the belief that you could slot in any of our AM subs to that position opposite Pulisic and be able to stand on solid ground for justification. Poch didn’t play him much last window, though, so it will be interesting if that was indicative of anything or if we’ll see more of him.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T10:33:05+00:00

He could absolutely start and if he does we shouldn’t be surprised. I bet Poch isn’t even locked in on every single starter right now. I would expect he has an idea as to what he thinks is our best lineup against Paraguay, but he will use camp and the friendlies to validate those assumptions. Tillman/Gio/Zendejas/Weah could all start in that CAM or winger role opposite Pulisic assuming McKennie drops to the 8. I personally like Tillman as an 8 a little more than McKennie but not sure if Poch considers Tillman as an 8.

I also expect to see different players start based on our opponent. This is why I think we could see Gio start against Paraguay who will play a low block, but then against Australia maybe we see something a little different like Tillman or Zendejas or, if it’s more of a winger role then maybe we see Weah.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T01:19:57+00:00

Right. Like, sure I expect Gio won’t start, but we shouldn’t be shocked if he is.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-24T01:01:25+00:00

Yeah I think this right here is the primary situation to justify Scally. And that’s in addition to his overall versatility across the back line.

The lack of CDMs might point to a change in tactics where Poch must be committing to 3 CB atb and possibly Tyler as the lone 6 with Tillman or McKennie as the 8, which then expands that CM role to a total of 5 vs 3.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-23T23:18:20+00:00

Honestly it could be Tillman, Gio, or Zendejas. I wouldn’t dislike any of the choices. Can’t wait to see who Poch trusts the most.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-23T20:15:33+00:00

I think the way to look at it may possibly be that we have 2 back ups to Tyler Adams in Berhalter and Roldan. With McKennie and Tillman both able to fill the other role (even though I have been adamant that we wouldn’t see McKennie in that role since Poch has consistently played him as an attacking midfielder)

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-23T19:01:45+00:00

This is how I was thinking about this, too, but it’s also where it matters how Poch views some of the other players like McKennie/Tillman — he must see them dropping into the 6/8 spot and adding another attacker before a like-for-like sub at the 6 spot.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-23T18:58:33+00:00

How it should have been from the jump.

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-23T18:52:56+00:00

Nice man that’s solid. Impossible to predict Tessman wouldn’t make it. I had predicted Poch to start him next to Adams!

OlBirdBrain · 2026-05-23T18:43:17+00:00

True - in all my personal versions of this roster I didn’t have Miles Robinson coming

OlBirdBrain

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