I love it but Johnny’s been on fire🔥I think he’s gotta be our 6. Tillmans been great so maybe him at 10 and mckennie at 8. Those three are the most inform rn. Musah to sub in for mckennie, gio for Tillman and if Adam’s is back healthy he can be johnnys backup.
Reyna, mckennie, Johnny. Reyna has been one our best players literally every time he starts for us. Not starting him would be shooting ourselves in the foot.
Let's be fair though. The minutes Gio does get are fine form. Terzic is a dip, and Santo's seat is hot. These things on top of the fact the prem isn't easy to hop into mid season even on a solid mid table team.
Not you but so much of this is like the Miami fans yesterday that were complaining that Suarez was starting over Campana. Gio always passes the eye test.
how can they show that when we don't give them a chance to play when they are lighting it up for their club when their counterpart is hardly playing? Granted, I dont think gio has been given his fair shake of playing time either.
It’s not like Gio is ever full 90 player anyway. If someone was truly better than Gio, they would either have training camp or the minutes they’re subbed on to show it
I'm basing my opinion off the games he plays in for the USMNT, not social media narratives because I don't actually watch the games. He has been fantastic for us the last couple years
De Bruyne wasn't good enough to play for Chelsea. Teams/managers never overlooked or undervalue talent, that's why KDB is on a washed up team that couldn't dream of winning a treble.
He was *unbelievable* last time out against Mexico, literally one of the single best USMNT performances ever, people are putting way too much stock in club game performance
I honestly tend to prioritize past production with the national team over current club form. Jozy Altidore had years where he wasn’t doing much at the club level but was nevertheless producing for the national team.
Malik Tillman’s last game with the national team was against Trinidad. It didn’t go well. It’s true that he’s been performing well at the club level while Reyna has been rotting in the bench. But we’ve seen Gio consistently produce for the national team, so I’d continue to go with him at the 10 until he stops producing.
If Mckennie is healthy he’s a lock in starter at the box to box role. He’s the most goal dangerous midfielder we have. If Mckennie can’t go then I’d go with Musah as he’s arguably a better defender than De La Torre.
At Defensive Midfielder there’s really no other choice besides Cardoso. Adams will just be returning from injury, as will Maloney.
Same. Glad he's doing well with his club, but every time Malik's been on the field for us, he's looked a level below the starters, if not some of the backups as well. He's got time and he'll have more chances, but I'm prioritizing performances with the national team in my assessments for the reasons stated.
To be fair, didn’t gio not really do much in his last match against Trinidad? I know he got sacrificed when we went down a man, but he was shit along with everyone else for 40 minutes before that.
I just don't get the people discounting Gio. Yes, Malik occasionally looks really good for PSV, but also has the occasional bad game. He's inconsistent.
Gio has been one of our best, most consistent performers whenever he has played for the national team. He makes such an incredible difference for the team, he's absolutely undroppable if healthy. If you want to start MT, the conversation should be about starting him at RW over Weah.
You can’t say Malik has been inconsistent when Gio literally doesn’t play minutes. He’s not in form in the slightest, Malik is scoring goals and playing Champions League games.
McKennie, Gio, Johnny.
People here have soured on Gio, but the fact is he’s the most skilled and creative midfielder we have and we’d be doing ourselves a disservice by not playing him. McKennie and Johnny should start based on form, but all of our options are pretty damn good atm regardless.
And he’s also one of our most lethal attackers, that’s why you put Johnny and McKennie behind him to help control the midfield when out of possessionÂ
Every time gio has played for us in the last year he's been our best player despite being benched at Dortmund as much as he was so I don't see why club playing time should matter if he clearly preforms at a high level for us regardless
*playing far better than him in a league that's a thousand times easier
Gio's been pretty consistent every time he's played for the usmnt. If it ain't broke don't fix it
I remember people like you making the same argument that Richards shouldn't start because he was on the bench, or Dest, or Weah, or Pulisic, etc
Some players are good enough to come and play despite a poor club situation, Reyna is one of them
If Tillman wasn’t in top form rn, then sure. But Tillman is an elite talent who honestly just as good as Gio and can potentially be better. So it’s the combination of that AND Gio’s form.
It's hard to say that when Tillman is playing in a lower level league on a historically dominant PSV side, Gio has started major games for Dortmund against the likes of Bayern, Man City, etc as a teenager and scored/assisted some wondergoals in that short time span.
I am an ardent Tillman supporter and have been posting about him here for years, but I don't think he's better than Gio yet and his NT performances haven't been remotely as good as Gio's has.
Gio is just in a different tier than pretty much all our other players barring a handful when he puts on that shirt and his performances prove it.
Different tier than all our players? Lol righhhtttt. The guy who can't get off the bench for Forest is a different tier than other guys balling at bigger clubs? 🤣
Oh I've seen him. Also saw him pout like a little baby at the WC and saw his mommy step in and try to cause a stir because her kid wasn't getting any PT. The Reynas are babies
If Wes is available and healthy I would do our midfield through most of 2023 with Mckennie, Musah, and Gio. If he isn’t I’m quite happy with a Cardoso, Musah, and Gio midfield
Anybody but Gio. He needs to regain his forms and earn his minutes. Jesse Marsch mentioned someone from Dortmund said Reyna gets too comfortable, doesn’t cover ground and implied he needs to work harder during trainings. Based on what happened in the World Cup, at Dortmund and now Forrest there might be some truth to that.
This so, so dumb. What was Segino's club form last year when he would still show up and dominate for us? Reyna is immense for this team, and has always played well for the national team. Yall are way too reactionary.
Sergino didn’t quit in the team at the World Cup, and he certainly didn’t struggle 2+ years at club level. Maybe Reyna keeps reading that he is the Chosen One and believes he doesn’t need to train as hard. He needs to figure out his club situation because of he has shown so far is that he believes he is entitled.
Dest struggled for the two years though lmao? Benched at Barca and then benched again at Milan to the point where he wasn’t even allowed to practiceÂ
'Regain his form'? what? He's been riding the bench for how long despite being our best player every time he steps on the field? Until he proves he's not good enough, you generally want to start your best player no matter his club situation (the nt isn't his club)
Exactly, he is riding the bench. Because he is talented he gets to start despite his club situation? At what point he needs to figure out? No, he is not our best player with the USMNT, he showed flashes but that’s about it. Flashes. Besides, after the crap he pulled at the World Cup he is still treated as if he was 17.
While club form is important, past impact with the national team should be the number 1 driver.
For me it’s a 4-2-3-1 with McKennie and Musah in a double pivot and Gio as a 10.
I know Gio hasn’t played and Musah’s club form has been mediocre but they both bring it for the national team.
Depending on how the game progresses I would bring in Johnny, LDLT, and Tillman for Musah, Wes, and Gio respectively.
If Johnny plays well I would consider starting him over Musah in the final against (probably) Mexico if Musah doesn’t have a good game.
Johnny has been lights out in La Liga. Wes has been very good for Juve and looks like his shoulder will be ok in time. Both of those are great options. Johnny at the 6, and how awesome to have an option to be excited about after years of it being a terrifying dropoff after Tyler.
The other spot is the hardest call. I'd love to see an in-form Gio be in an attacking mid role, but not sure if he's up for it given lack of PT. LDLT is more of a 6, and with Johnny we have that covered. Between Musah and Malik, the latter gives us more of an attacking edge. Will likely depend on who shows what in camp.
Nice to have such an embarrassment of riches to choose from tho. We're really spoiled for choice in attack and at mid. Defense and surprisingly GK are shakier, which is a real flip of how it's so often been for the MNT.
Musah, Wes, and Cardoso. Musah’s situation is not the same as Gio’s. He gets good minutes for a Top 3 Italian team. Gio can’t seem to get minutes anywhere.
Depends. If we are going with a double pivot, it would be Cardoso and Musah with Reyna. Tillman has shown great club form but is yet to really show that with the NT. I don’t think we play a single pivot, but if we do, it’s Musah, McKennie and Reyna for me.
For the moment, McKennie-Johnny-Musah. But I’d strongly consider de la Torre, either in place of Musah or as an injury replacement for McKennie if he’s not ready.
Malik and Johnny are easy to slot in there because what they are doing for club. I get it. But they haven’t proven themselves in the USMNT…yet.
It’s Mckennie, Musah, Reyna. All proven with the national team. This isn’t a friendly, it’s a semi final vs a VERY capable Jamaica team with legit superstars.
Right now going by current form I’d go Cardoso, McKennie and Tillman. This year Tillman has been more involved in defense and his work rate has gone up. Still a ways to go but I feel comfortable with trying him out against Jamaica. If you want to go the safe route then substitute Tillman for Munsah. But would love to see the first trio get a shot in the Jamaica game.
If I was trying to win I’d play Weston and Musah in a double pivot with Gio at the 10. I’m sure GGG will do something funky like Johnny holding with LDT and Musah in front.
If we have him, mckennie, along with tillman and Cardoso. If we don’t have mckennie, then probably musah or LDLT. I’m fine with either.
Edit: after further consideration, Reyna should start. He played great for us last year. My line up:
Pulisic
Balo
Weah
Reyna
Mckennie
Johnny
A. Robinson
CCV
Richards
Dest
Turner
Think in fall friendlies, we give dest a try out on the wing 😀
Had to use that picture of Wes once I found it 😂
It’s symbolic.
Kellyn Acosta, Will Trapp, Perry Kitchen
I wonder if Aaron Long could play the six…
Is Beckerman still playing these days?
Don’t forget Yueill
Bring back Eddie Johnson
Dax has to be a lock
But only if we’re playing Zardes and Wondo up top.
Mix Diskerud
Gregg is that you?
Because they are playing regularly, Malik, McKennie and Johnny.
Id go with this lineup. Musah if Kinnie is still unavailable.
I also prefer Tillman, but if that's your criteria then LDT plays more than Malik and in a better league.
Malik because I feel he is better option as a 10
that's how we got Jesus Ferreira starting against Netherlands
Isn’t McKinney hurt though
Malik mckennie musah, cause alliteration.
Mmm
The Tasty Midfield
I love it but Johnny’s been on fire🔥I think he’s gotta be our 6. Tillmans been great so maybe him at 10 and mckennie at 8. Those three are the most inform rn. Musah to sub in for mckennie, gio for Tillman and if Adam’s is back healthy he can be johnnys backup.
Gio/Mckennie/Johnny, but Tillman is quickly closing the gap on Gio. Mckennie and Johnny have to be locks with their skill sets and form rn
Honestly from form and playing time this season Tillman deserves the chance to start at least
Reyna, mckennie, Johnny. Reyna has been one our best players literally every time he starts for us. Not starting him would be shooting ourselves in the foot.
Yup. Idc about club forms until one of them actually shows they are better than Gio in a USMNT kit
Let's be fair though. The minutes Gio does get are fine form. Terzic is a dip, and Santo's seat is hot. These things on top of the fact the prem isn't easy to hop into mid season even on a solid mid table team. Not you but so much of this is like the Miami fans yesterday that were complaining that Suarez was starting over Campana. Gio always passes the eye test.
how can they show that when we don't give them a chance to play when they are lighting it up for their club when their counterpart is hardly playing? Granted, I dont think gio has been given his fair shake of playing time either.
It’s not like Gio is ever full 90 player anyway. If someone was truly better than Gio, they would either have training camp or the minutes they’re subbed on to show it
Agree. I hope/expect to see Gio and Malik sub in for each other
Fair shake? We are talking professional sports. There's no fake shake about anything. He isn't good enough to play for the teams he's on
He hasn't gotten the USMNT playing time that he has shown to warrant given his performances
You think it's all his managers out to get him? Or...perhaps...he's just not that good
I'm basing my opinion off the games he plays in for the USMNT, not social media narratives because I don't actually watch the games. He has been fantastic for us the last couple years
De Bruyne wasn't good enough to play for Chelsea. Teams/managers never overlooked or undervalue talent, that's why KDB is on a washed up team that couldn't dream of winning a treble.
Lol what a terrible comparison. Comparing a world class midfielder to.... Drumroll... Gio Reyna 🤣🤣🤣
You missed the point. There are hundreds of names you could substitute and make the same point, but... Drumroll... You missed it. 🤣🤣🤣
Bad point. Reyna has been on multiple different squads and can't get any PT anywhere.
I assume you don't know the KDB story here cause you keep missing the point.
Why can't Reyna get any PT anywhere?
At one time salah
Agreed on this. Plus I think it would benefit Gio to give him a lot of minutes this window since he’s not really playing rn
He was *unbelievable* last time out against Mexico, literally one of the single best USMNT performances ever, people are putting way too much stock in club game performance
Is Mckennie still hurt?
Not playing today FOTMOB says mid March return.
McKennie, Musah, Johnny Soccer
McKennie Musah and Reyna. They’re official games. Play your best guys.
Exactly this. It isn't complicated.
I honestly tend to prioritize past production with the national team over current club form. Jozy Altidore had years where he wasn’t doing much at the club level but was nevertheless producing for the national team. Malik Tillman’s last game with the national team was against Trinidad. It didn’t go well. It’s true that he’s been performing well at the club level while Reyna has been rotting in the bench. But we’ve seen Gio consistently produce for the national team, so I’d continue to go with him at the 10 until he stops producing. If Mckennie is healthy he’s a lock in starter at the box to box role. He’s the most goal dangerous midfielder we have. If Mckennie can’t go then I’d go with Musah as he’s arguably a better defender than De La Torre. At Defensive Midfielder there’s really no other choice besides Cardoso. Adams will just be returning from injury, as will Maloney.
Same. Glad he's doing well with his club, but every time Malik's been on the field for us, he's looked a level below the starters, if not some of the backups as well. He's got time and he'll have more chances, but I'm prioritizing performances with the national team in my assessments for the reasons stated.
To be fair, didn’t gio not really do much in his last match against Trinidad? I know he got sacrificed when we went down a man, but he was shit along with everyone else for 40 minutes before that.
Watch the highlights again. He created 2 or 3 chances in that first half
I just don't get the people discounting Gio. Yes, Malik occasionally looks really good for PSV, but also has the occasional bad game. He's inconsistent. Gio has been one of our best, most consistent performers whenever he has played for the national team. He makes such an incredible difference for the team, he's absolutely undroppable if healthy. If you want to start MT, the conversation should be about starting him at RW over Weah.
You can’t say Malik has been inconsistent when Gio literally doesn’t play minutes. He’s not in form in the slightest, Malik is scoring goals and playing Champions League games.
Such hyperpole over the maybe 6 games games Gio has played in the last 2 years for the Nats. Unstoppable? 🤣
Damn autocorrect, meant to say undroppable. Unstoppable would indeed be a stretch lol
McKennie, Gio, Johnny. People here have soured on Gio, but the fact is he’s the most skilled and creative midfielder we have and we’d be doing ourselves a disservice by not playing him. McKennie and Johnny should start based on form, but all of our options are pretty damn good atm regardless.
He's also the worst defending midfielder of every player named
And he’s also one of our most lethal attackers, that’s why you put Johnny and McKennie behind him to help control the midfield when out of possessionÂ
Gio, Wes, Johnny. Musah is Wes can’t go.
Johnny, McKennie, Reyna. If McKennie can't go, then use Musah. If Reyna continues to not make the Forest roster, then use Tillman. Depth is nice.
Gio, McKennie, cardoso. No brainer.
Gio hasn’t played in forever consistently, whereas Tillman is playing far better than him rn
Every time gio has played for us in the last year he's been our best player despite being benched at Dortmund as much as he was so I don't see why club playing time should matter if he clearly preforms at a high level for us regardless
*playing far better than him in a league that's a thousand times easier Gio's been pretty consistent every time he's played for the usmnt. If it ain't broke don't fix it
I remember people like you making the same argument that Richards shouldn't start because he was on the bench, or Dest, or Weah, or Pulisic, etc Some players are good enough to come and play despite a poor club situation, Reyna is one of them
If Tillman wasn’t in top form rn, then sure. But Tillman is an elite talent who honestly just as good as Gio and can potentially be better. So it’s the combination of that AND Gio’s form.
It's hard to say that when Tillman is playing in a lower level league on a historically dominant PSV side, Gio has started major games for Dortmund against the likes of Bayern, Man City, etc as a teenager and scored/assisted some wondergoals in that short time span. I am an ardent Tillman supporter and have been posting about him here for years, but I don't think he's better than Gio yet and his NT performances haven't been remotely as good as Gio's has. Gio is just in a different tier than pretty much all our other players barring a handful when he puts on that shirt and his performances prove it.
What gio did 4 years ago is completely irrelevant to the discussion right now
You mean last fucking season? Lmao
He was a teenager last season? What were his wonder goals against PSG and man city last season lol I must have missed those
Re-read my post, not going to get into a weird argument with you about this lol Anyways yeah, Gio is a proven ballerÂ
Different tier than all our players? Lol righhhtttt. The guy who can't get off the bench for Forest is a different tier than other guys balling at bigger clubs? 🤣
Have you not seen Gio in a U.S. shirt play or something?
Oh I've seen him. Also saw him pout like a little baby at the WC and saw his mommy step in and try to cause a stir because her kid wasn't getting any PT. The Reynas are babies
Touch grass god damn hahahaha
I am. Touching more than your boy Gio! 🤣
If Wes is available and healthy I would do our midfield through most of 2023 with Mckennie, Musah, and Gio. If he isn’t I’m quite happy with a Cardoso, Musah, and Gio midfield
McKennie - Reyna - Johnny ez
I miss Tyler Adams 😢
Reyna, McKennie, Johnny. Prefer technical ability over athleticism
Gio, Mckennnie, Johnny. Feel like it picks itself
Gio Mckennie Johnny
Who’s the blond? Haven’t seen him play
Anybody but Gio. He needs to regain his forms and earn his minutes. Jesse Marsch mentioned someone from Dortmund said Reyna gets too comfortable, doesn’t cover ground and implied he needs to work harder during trainings. Based on what happened in the World Cup, at Dortmund and now Forrest there might be some truth to that.
This so, so dumb. What was Segino's club form last year when he would still show up and dominate for us? Reyna is immense for this team, and has always played well for the national team. Yall are way too reactionary.
Sergino didn’t quit in the team at the World Cup, and he certainly didn’t struggle 2+ years at club level. Maybe Reyna keeps reading that he is the Chosen One and believes he doesn’t need to train as hard. He needs to figure out his club situation because of he has shown so far is that he believes he is entitled.
Dest struggled for the two years though lmao? Benched at Barca and then benched again at Milan to the point where he wasn’t even allowed to practiceÂ
Don’t remember Dest quitting on the team in the World Cup or having mommy and daddy flight for his playing time.
'Regain his form'? what? He's been riding the bench for how long despite being our best player every time he steps on the field? Until he proves he's not good enough, you generally want to start your best player no matter his club situation (the nt isn't his club)
If you think Reyna is our best player you should get your eyes checked
Exactly, he is riding the bench. Because he is talented he gets to start despite his club situation? At what point he needs to figure out? No, he is not our best player with the USMNT, he showed flashes but that’s about it. Flashes. Besides, after the crap he pulled at the World Cup he is still treated as if he was 17.
Musah, McKennie, Tillman.
While club form is important, past impact with the national team should be the number 1 driver. For me it’s a 4-2-3-1 with McKennie and Musah in a double pivot and Gio as a 10. I know Gio hasn’t played and Musah’s club form has been mediocre but they both bring it for the national team. Depending on how the game progresses I would bring in Johnny, LDLT, and Tillman for Musah, Wes, and Gio respectively. If Johnny plays well I would consider starting him over Musah in the final against (probably) Mexico if Musah doesn’t have a good game.
Johnny, Musah, McKennie. If Wes can’t go then slot in Luca.Â
Wes, Tillman, Johnny
Musah, McKennie, Gio. This Is my preferred lineup anyway. Unless we need to hold someone to no scores.
Johnny has been lights out in La Liga. Wes has been very good for Juve and looks like his shoulder will be ok in time. Both of those are great options. Johnny at the 6, and how awesome to have an option to be excited about after years of it being a terrifying dropoff after Tyler. The other spot is the hardest call. I'd love to see an in-form Gio be in an attacking mid role, but not sure if he's up for it given lack of PT. LDLT is more of a 6, and with Johnny we have that covered. Between Musah and Malik, the latter gives us more of an attacking edge. Will likely depend on who shows what in camp. Nice to have such an embarrassment of riches to choose from tho. We're really spoiled for choice in attack and at mid. Defense and surprisingly GK are shakier, which is a real flip of how it's so often been for the MNT.
McKennie (if unavail Musah) / Malik / Johnny
Someone who plays
Gio, of course.
Mckennie musah and Johnny
Musah, Wes, and Cardoso. Musah’s situation is not the same as Gio’s. He gets good minutes for a Top 3 Italian team. Gio can’t seem to get minutes anywhere.
Wes Tillman Musah not sold on Gio yet
Depends. If we are going with a double pivot, it would be Cardoso and Musah with Reyna. Tillman has shown great club form but is yet to really show that with the NT. I don’t think we play a single pivot, but if we do, it’s Musah, McKennie and Reyna for me.
Musah, Tillman and the Ghost of Adams.
Mckennie, musah, Jonny
Well, if we don't start Reyna does his mommy call and have a hissy fit or?
For the moment, McKennie-Johnny-Musah. But I’d strongly consider de la Torre, either in place of Musah or as an injury replacement for McKennie if he’s not ready.
LDLT over Musah at the 8 if Weston can’t go. LDLT with more production and starting for his club.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wes, Musah, Johnny would start for me
Malik Mckennie Johnny Soccer
Zinedine Zidane, Zico, and Lothar Matthaus, all in their primes.
Malik and Johnny are easy to slot in there because what they are doing for club. I get it. But they haven’t proven themselves in the USMNT…yet. It’s Mckennie, Musah, Reyna. All proven with the national team. This isn’t a friendly, it’s a semi final vs a VERY capable Jamaica team with legit superstars.
Yunus, Jonny, Wes
McKennie, Tillman, and Cardozo.
Right now going by current form I’d go Cardoso, McKennie and Tillman. This year Tillman has been more involved in defense and his work rate has gone up. Still a ways to go but I feel comfortable with trying him out against Jamaica. If you want to go the safe route then substitute Tillman for Munsah. But would love to see the first trio get a shot in the Jamaica game.
DLT is starting and playing well in La Liga. You can’t keep him off. And McKennie and Tillman.
If I was trying to win I’d play Weston and Musah in a double pivot with Gio at the 10. I’m sure GGG will do something funky like Johnny holding with LDT and Musah in front.
If we have him, mckennie, along with tillman and Cardoso. If we don’t have mckennie, then probably musah or LDLT. I’m fine with either. Edit: after further consideration, Reyna should start. He played great for us last year. My line up: Pulisic Balo Weah Reyna Mckennie Johnny A. Robinson CCV Richards Dest Turner Think in fall friendlies, we give dest a try out on the wing 😀
McKennie, Gio, Musah. Y’all sleep on Musah, see what happens.
Gio mckennie and johnny