The US welcomed Jordan Morris back into the fold for the December camp.
Sanjay Sujanthakumar
A unique USMNT December camp culminates on Saturday with a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina (8:00 PM ET on FS1, UniMás, TUDN). Sandwiched between World Cup qualifying in November and January, Gregg Berhalter called a group to Carson, CA that blends plenty of youth with veterans (and Ricardo Pepi) who will definitely be counted on during the rest of The Ocho.
“We still have to keep them going physically, so when you look at this camp, that’s the emphasis of the game tomorrow,” Gregg Berhalter said Friday, adding that January camp will start on the 6th. This month’s camp isn’t a chance to completely catch our breath, but it’s a west coast pause from the full-throttle roller coaster that will resume closer to the Atlantic (the Arctic?) late next month.
Here are my thoughts on the roster in terms of what we can learn looking ahead to the upcoming qualifiers:
SHORT TERM BOOST: VETS RETURN
The December camp is a valuable opportunity to ensure a few veterans who have recently returned from injury are on track to contribute in the next qualifying window. Jordan Morris is the most notable name on that list.
Morris’ European adventure was almost immediately dashed when he tore his left ACL in February on loan with Swansea, but he appeared in Seattle’s last three games of the season and it’s palpable how appreciative he is to be back with the USMNT.
“When I was going down to have my surgery, I flew to LA. I had my surgery out here and on the plane ride down here, I was working on my goal sheets for this year, next year, just trying to bring some positivity into things. And part of my goal this year was to get back on the field before the season ended and get back into a national camp before next year. Throughout all my recovery, everything, I’d go back to those and say that this was my goal.”
It’s heartwarming when anyone rebounds from a serious injury to wear the crest again – a year ago it was Paul Arriola who overcame an ACL tear and returned sooner than anticipated – but it’s especially true with Morris. Morris also tore his right ACL in 2018 and missed the entire MLS season. He was MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2019 and a MVP finalist in 2020. But like Landon Donovan, Morris shining domestically was discounted/reluctantly respected by national team fans suddenly accustomed to the European pedigree of young talent. Because of the generational gap in our pool, there were disproportionate expectations (and hype) heaped on Morris ahead of his decision to sign a Homegrown deal with the Sounders. Morris caught Jurgen Klinsmann’s eye when he was a freshman at Stanford and after staying in college an extra season then trialing with Werder Bremen, he wouldn’t be nudged abroad before he felt ready. Klinsmann thought the cupboard was getting bare – he discussed it rather bluntly prior to the 2016 Copa America – and after Couva happened, when it was time to lament how (relatively) bare the European cupboard was, Morris was an unfair target when others didn’t really exist.
Once Morris outgrew MLS and made the leap overseas, that chapter cruelly ended almost as soon as it began. But here he is, grateful, resilient as ever, and poised to help the USMNT reach Qatar.
“He’s looked sharp the entire time. We knew that he had a long layoff, he got back into it with Seattle, and they’ve done a great job of getting him back to a good point. He looks fit, he looks sharp, really looking forward to him performing tomorrow,” said Berhalter.
“Him being back in the mix is really nice to see and he’s doing really well, and playing like he never left,” said friend and longtime teammate for club and country, Cristian Roldan.
Morris has featured exclusively as a winger under Berhalter and while it would be a surprise to see him as a center forward again, I haven’t given up hope. The winger depth in the varsity squad is piling up (more on that later), and Ricardo Pepi was the only true 9 on the last qualifying roster.
“Both for the Sounders and the national team, wherever I’m asked to play, I’d be happy to play and I feel like I can bring my strengths into the game. Whether that’s up front or out wide, obviously with the Sounders, I was utilized a little bit of both when I came back this year. I think with the national team seeing a little bit more out wide… I think I can use my strengths in both of those positions.”
Jesús Ferreira at the 9 (or honestly anywhere) remains intriguing, but Berhalter seems unconvinced by the other strikers in the pool to the point that he suggested Tim Weah could – in theory – be deployed there. Weah is injured at the moment, and in the short-term, between injuries and rotation, Morris will probably have an A-team spot on the wing waiting for him. Wherever he is, he’ll offer needed verticality.
“It’s just doing what I normally do, just trying to stretch teams, to get in behind. Use my speed to unbalance teams and stretch things a bit.”
– Gyasi Zardes missed the November matches due to a knee injury and it’s reassuring he’s healthy. The conditions in the next three qualifiers may not be ideal – to say the least – and reverting to the heavier rotation of September/October is guaranteed. The US will need grinders.
– Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, and Chris Richards have all stepped up since Aaron Long ruptured his Achilles in May. But it sounds like Long is on track to at least be an option in January.
“Aaron came into camp without having a full team session and he’s worked his way into full team sessions. And he’s looked great. Really impressed with his rehab and how he’s gotten himself to this point. I’m not sure he’d be able to play fully in the game tomorrow, but he’s certainly well on his way to playing a game. So that’s great news.”
Dropping John Brooks in November was a head-scratcher but if his club form/situation does wobble then it is that much more reassuring that Long will be ready.
Taylor Booth’s quality has been evident to the US veterans in camp.
MEDIUM-TERM: A FEW MORE BREAKTHROUGHS?
There’s six qualifiers left. If the Yanks can punch their ticket to Qatar while avoiding the intercontinental playoff, that leaves four friendlies in June and two in September. That’s twelve matches to introduce any new faces to the A team and/or earnestly attempt to integrate those worthy who have emerged recently (ex. Joe Scally). I doubt the former happens in qualifiers, but there’s at least one center mid depth spot asking to be claimed and Taylor Booth could be the answer.
Booth, 20, was listed as a forward on this roster but said he’s been training at his primary position. “I’ve been working as a number 8, and that’s where, personally, I prefer to be. I believe I’m a box-to-box No. 8. Gregg likes me coming deep in build up, but I also have freedom to get forward.”
Roldan has been impressed by Bayern II’s 20-year old.
“He’s got quality. He’s a player on the ball you want in the half-spaces, you want him dribbling at players, he’s just really smooth on the ball. Now it’s about him understanding the system, understanding what Gregg wants, what our team needs from him so he can transition into this squad really smoothly. But man, he’s got quality. He’s a player that can change rhythm and disorganize the opponent.”
Booth hasn’t signed an extension with Bayern yet and his contract expires in the summer. “I’ve had a really good year there so far. I’ve been training with the first team all year, and Nagelsmann has been super good to work under. Obviously it’s not an easy club to break into the first team, but I’m working hard there, and we’ll see what my future holds there.”
Booth said he’s been playing mostly right back for the reserves because the first team lacks depth in that department “and Nagelsmann wanted to try me out there and see if I could adapt there.”
Versatility is a plus but right back probably isn’t ideal for his development, and not conducive to him cracking a USMNT varsity squad. Regardless, Bayern II don’t have any matches until late February. If Booth does not contractually commit to Bayern and they’re not inclined to sell him or loan him, could it make sense to stay with the US in January and sneak into the senior team?
When asked if he was capable of that soon, Booth said, “I’m always confident in my game. I’ve had a good first week of training, and I’m not gonna stop working hard.”
Caden Clark was also listed as a forward on this roster (he was a midfielder on the Gold Cup provisional roster) and it’ll be interesting to see if/where he debuts.
“When I look at Caden and Taylor, I think they’re slightly different players. Caden is more of a arrive-in-the-penalty-box, between the lines, maybe brief moment type of guy, where he just arrives and makes something happen, makes a play. Taylor’s more of a guy that wants to influence the rhythm of the game. And both those guys, it’s been fun seeing them, two young players and I think both have good futures,” Berhalter said.
Clark’s next club is also unclear, and the rumor is that it’s not unrelated to Brenden Aaronson’s. If you asked me at the beginning of the summer whether Clark could ascend to earning a spot at Leipzig within a year, my answer would’ve been unequivocally affirmative. The timing of his pre-Gold Cup appendectomy was unfortunate. Still, if Leipzig are now prioritizing a more possession-oriented approach, I think Clark has a shot following the NYRB experience – I support them but it can be tough – to blossom with a team that can consistently dictate games.
– Speaking of which, a quick digression on the midfield. Scuffed is required listening for the USMNT faithful and I highly recommend their latest pod discussing the construction of the midfield/contingency plans. I’ll sprinkle in my thoughts here…
– When he’s available, Gio Reyna is probably the first choice No. 8. Here’s what I wrote at the beginning of The Ocho, since which Jordan Morris and Richie Ledezma have returned to the winger depth chart: I’ve listed Gio Reyna as a midfielder on a projected 2022 World Cup roster before, and with Dortmund now deploying him deeper while our winger depth only balloons, it’s a logical transition to commence in this camp or the next. We can’t dream of contending for a World Cup without a truly world-class center midfielder (every country that wins it all has at least one) and Gio has the tools to be just that.
I’ll ride with the high-octane Adams, McKennie and Musah “MMA” midfield, but dropping Musah to accommodate a more vertical winger like Weah might be worth the front line edge anyway.
In terms of contingency planning: without McKennie, I’d go Adams-Musah-Gio. Without McKennie and Gio, I’d go Sands-Adams-Musah. Without Gio and Musah, I’d go Sands-Adams-McKennie or Adams-Busio-McKennie. I think that covers it… without Adams, my second 6 solution is still James Sands, and I rate Sands enough to let Adams be disruptive higher. He’s not at the threshold defensively but Busio could grow into the 6 next cycle. His Serie A minutes aren’t an accident and he’s tidy in possession, but I’m not sure how effective he is higher up when he’s not striking the ball.
All I want for Christmas is Paxton Pomykal on the January camp roster. I really hope the only reason he didn’t make this one was because he needed a break after his comeback season. He wasn’t at his best and he wasn’t used centrally, but his quality still puts him in the conversation to – at least – be a No. 8 depth option when he’s fit. Luchi Gonzalez, please pack him in your suitcase in a few weeks.
– Berhalter name-checked Kevin Paredes on a podcast earlier this year, and although he departed camp with an ankle injury, he may also be on the radar for Qatar.
Speaking with people at #USMNT camp and the common thought is that Kevin Paredes left a big time impression. Injury was terrible timing but look out for the @dcunited player from January onward.
— Michele Giannone (@MicheleG3) December 18, 2021
Berhalter mentioned Paredes was operating as a winger in camp because he “was coming back from a slight injury and we didn’t wanna push him so much at the fullback position.” There’s European interest in Paredes – he’s been linked to Salzburg more than once – and if he can establish himself overseas in the next few months, he’ll audition no later than June.
Ricardo Pepi’s maturity, not just his nose for goal, has impressed Gregg Berhalter at this US camp.
LONG TERM
As the calendar flips to a new year, and a World Cup year at that, the reality of the pool sets in.
Prospects will drift to the periphery and our attention will shift solely to who can make a difference at a tournament we never realized, until one disastrous night in Trinidad, we might have to wait eight years to savor again. A wide net has been cast since Couva, and it’s almost time to narrow it and determine who can help captivate this country for as long as possible from about Thanksgiving to Christmas next year.
Still, Berhalter is scattering seeds with the World Cup on home soil in mind. The magnitude of the opportunity in 2026 and the state of the pool invites it.
“These young players, maybe it’s not their time in this moment. But maybe in two, three years, when we’re preparing for the World Cup here in the US, they’re already ready, prepared to give it their all,” said Roldan.
The likes of Justin Che and Jonathan Gomez may not be in contention for Qatar – I’m leaning that way with Cade Cowell too – but the US can’t get greedy. The Americans will likely send their youngest/the youngest/one of the youngest ever (that needs a Paul Carr fact check) squads to a World Cup that’s happening at the end of a calendar year. It’s a bonus to give dual-nationals like Real Sociedad-bound Jonathan Gomez a taste of the senior team environment.
“It’s been great having him in camp. He’s another player that is still maturing physically and still growing, but really good competitor, technically good player, very competitive. It’s been great working with him. We hadn’t had a chance so far, but it’s been really nice,” Berhalter said.
Gomez will have to make a decision about his international future like Ricardo Pepi did months ago, and Pepi – a budding Mexican-American role model – respects the deeply personal nature of that process.
“Players like Jonathan Gomez, I’m always open to talk to them. I always try to just tell them just do whatever you think is best. Go with your heart, and I’ve always said it. Whatever you think is the best for you, you take that choice. But I don’t personally go up to them because I feel like that’s their space, and it’s just personal. I let them come to me and if they do come to me then I try to do my best to help them out,” Pepi said.
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA SATURDAY
Bosnia and Herzegovina has brought an extremely young, experimental squad and the US will be expected to take care of business.
Maybe the US will even get an epic goal from the friendly, like the first time the Americans and Bosnia and Herzegovina faced off, back in 2013.
Berhalter revealed that Atlanta United fullbacks/wingbacks George Bello and Brooks Lennon will both start on Saturday. He name-checked Lennon as well as center-back Henry Kessler as two of the camp standouts, and also praised Bello’s performance in this camp.
“He’s a guy that has really developed I think over this last year,” Berhalter said. Bello has to take advantage of these domestic camps to stay in the race at left back. It’s neck-and-neck with Sam Vines to – maybe – back up Antonee Robinson (Joe Scally and Sergiño Dest can also fill in there).
Pepi is a lock at the 9. Berhalter isn’t concerned about the dizzying rise and the inevitable, brewing transfer drama affecting the El Paso native.
“I’m really impressed with how he’s handling all of this. 18 years old, to be the starting striker for the US National Team is a big responsibility. With all these rumors going around about clubs and this and that, he’s handled it really well… that bodes well for his future, to be able to handle pressure and situations like this, uncertainty,” Berhalter said.
If Pepi can start alongside FCD teammate Ferreira at least one more time, this will be a more appetizing affair.
PREDICTED XI: Turner; Lennon, Zimmerman, Kessler, Bello; Acosta, Booth, Roldan; Morris, Pepi, Ferreira.
Sanjay Sujanthakumar is a longtime TYAC contributor. He coaches soccer at the University of Southern California. You should follow him on Twitter @tha_real_kumar.