Sargent has played a lot in the EPL this year. More minutes than Steffen and Pulisic, our only other EPL players, and I think Sargent has played pretty well considering the quality of his team vs the quality of his competition week in and week out. Problem is he came out of Scott Gallagher and the USYNT squads and went to Werder Bremen and the SR USMNT initially as a #9 center forward and he's now playing some RB, RWB, and wing at Norwich and not playing for the Sr USMNT at all. His work rate, making all the right runs, tactical awareness, decision-making, physical traits (size/speed/fitness), technical abilities and touches on the ball- he's got all the right pieces and quality to be a regular 1st choice call-up on the US squad and IMO only needed to be allowed to develop and improve his finishing ability. He's been on a bad team in Bremen and a bad team in Norwich so the match opportunities to finish have been sparse. Greggg already didn't like him at #9 as Pepi produced when Sargent didn't, and Gregg has a lot of options at wing and (for now) better options at RB so Sargent will have to keep developing and be patient to earn his way back with Greggg.
I have no problem with Arriola either as I like the energy and work rate he brings, especially as a sub. He's played professionally in Liga MX and played a lot of concacaf matches so he brings a lot to the squad for these critical last three match days to qualify for Qatar. Would like to see him finish. With Pulisic, Gio, weah, Aaronson, Arriola, Morris- we have some good options on the wings. I'd like to see Hoppe or Konrad de la Fuente back in the squad sometime soon too. The one I'm not sure I get, more than Arriola, is Jesus Ferreira.
I'm glad Pefok is back. At least with Pepi and Pefok we have more than one option at #9. Maybe Zardes is injured? but I like getting Pefok in there, would like to see Dike (when healthy), Sargent, and Gioacchini get some call ups sometimes too.
Lastly, CB- since people seem to want John Brooks back so badly. I think Brooks' recovery speed is too slow for concacaf football and the sit back and counter approach we're going to see in these three match days. He's great in the air, but Miles and Zimmer have proven to be pretty good in that regard as well. Their touches, connections building out, etc. are just as good and their chemistry as a pair playing together might make them better options than Brooks right now. With McKenzie and Richards both hurt, maybe Brooks should have been brought in this window. Great opportunity for EPB to get himself involved and establish himself as an option for Qatar, but if Miles or Zimmer take a knock or a suspension during or after Mexico, we'll be depending on a player that is pretty inexperienced with the US squad. Regardless, when you add the development of Miles, Richards, Zimmer, McKenzie, EPB, CCV, and possibly soon or at least by Qatar a healthy Aaron Long, we're pretty solid at CB. I personally still think Miazga is one of the top CB's in the US player pool, but Greggg has never called him so I doubt he ever will- almost guaranteed to not be involved if we go to Qatar.
I have no problem with Arriola either as I like the energy and work rate he brings, especially as a sub. He's played professionally in Liga MX and played a lot of concacaf matches so he brings a lot to the squad for these critical last three match days to qualify for Qatar. Would like to see him finish. With Pulisic, Gio, weah, Aaronson, Arriola, Morris- we have some good options on the wings. I'd like to see Hoppe or Konrad de la Fuente back in the squad sometime soon too. The one I'm not sure I get, more than Arriola, is Jesus Ferreira.
I'm glad Pefok is back. At least with Pepi and Pefok we have more than one option at #9. Maybe Zardes is injured? but I like getting Pefok in there, would like to see Dike (when healthy), Sargent, and Gioacchini get some call ups sometimes too.
Lastly, CB- since people seem to want John Brooks back so badly. I think Brooks' recovery speed is too slow for concacaf football and the sit back and counter approach we're going to see in these three match days. He's great in the air, but Miles and Zimmer have proven to be pretty good in that regard as well. Their touches, connections building out, etc. are just as good and their chemistry as a pair playing together might make them better options than Brooks right now. With McKenzie and Richards both hurt, maybe Brooks should have been brought in this window. Great opportunity for EPB to get himself involved and establish himself as an option for Qatar, but if Miles or Zimmer take a knock or a suspension during or after Mexico, we'll be depending on a player that is pretty inexperienced with the US squad. Regardless, when you add the development of Miles, Richards, Zimmer, McKenzie, EPB, CCV, and possibly soon or at least by Qatar a healthy Aaron Long, we're pretty solid at CB. I personally still think Miazga is one of the top CB's in the US player pool, but Greggg has never called him so I doubt he ever will- almost guaranteed to not be involved if we go to Qatar.
