USMNT
Yueill is our #2 six: Positional Play Scholar
Jackson Yueill is better than we think he is. My rating of Jackson Yueill during the Olympics.
How I would rate him after the Switzerland game and I’m probably not rating him high enough.
JY played very well. He made two mistakes – one of which started the sequence for the first goal. Otherwise, I would be talking about how much better the 6 depth is than I thought. https://t.co/VlMbnILWAj
— Shawn Brooks (@pragidealist29) May 31, 2021
Positional Discipline
This is a big one. The 6 in the modern game is rarely a destroyer. They contain attacks. Even in a pressing scheme when they step forward during the press, the goal is less to win the ball and more to minimize the counter.
Yuiell failed on this. I talked about it in my last post.
Yueill stepped up to press the cm, which was correct. The CM bobbled the pass and my take is Yueill’s instincts drilled into him with the Quakes kicked in. Instead of quickly getting back to his spot, he hesitated and considered trying to win the ball. The result was a Swiss player drifting into the 6 zone and getting a 2v1 on Brooks.
The job of the 6 is to contain.
Even when the 6 presses, they are there to contain the attack. The reason I’ve questioned Adams fit for the 6 in the past is that he’s so good at ball winning. The 6 is not there to win the ball. They are there to contain the attack so 2v1’s on Brooks don’t happen.
Yueill is mostly good at this but had one key moment of failure in the last game. The good news is that he wasn’t beat 1v1 (which is what many feared). He simply had a concentration slip and didn’t get back to his zone. This allowed them to pass around him.
High Game IQ
He has a high game IQ. He manipulates defense very well. You can see it in the clip above and any game I’ve seen him play. One simple example:
An opponent was tracking Yueill and pressing Dest. The easiest pass was to Brooks but Brooks was close to Yueill and would have been under pressure pretty quickly. Yueill simply drove forward into space and took the defender with him, opening up an easy switch to Cannon on the right. It was a simple thing but is the type of thing Yueill does regularly. If he can’t get the easy pass, he makes the right read and move to make passes easier for his teammates. He knows where they want the ball to go and he helps it get there. He does this a lot in the build up too which is hugely helpful for a team that struggles there (more to come on that later).
He also does this when teams try to take the 6 out of the game with man marking. He moves the defender to open up line breaking passing lanes for his teammates.
So Yuiell has the high game IQ. He has pretty good positional discipline. I don’t watch a lot of the Quakes but have seen and read their focus on intense 1v1 defending. Below is a good article on Yueill developing defensively.
https://theathletic.com/2581184/2021/05/11/jackson-yueill-earthquakes-usmnt/
Yueill’s challenge may be transitioning from a club that asks lots of defensive intensity and 1v1 play vs playing the 6 which has to be more zonally focused. His club instincts may let him down.
Defense and Athleticism
Strengths
Defense and athleticism are the areas where people think he is limited. Until this game, for me it was simply unproven. Adams is a really good 6 defensively not because he’s a great tackler. That’s not their primary role. It’s because he’s crazy athletic, very hard to get passed and has really good recovery speed. Not all 6’s are Adams. You don’t have to be those things to be a good 6 or be good defensively.
Tuchel plays Jorginho. Kante roams ahead of him and Jorginho is the deeper player. He’s athletic enough, reads the game well enough to be where needs to be. Can Yueill be that? It’s been a large unknown until the Swiss. Watch the clip above and show me one example of him getting beat 1v1. You can’t because it didn’t exist. What you see a lot of are interceptions, challenges around players to deny them the ball and him consistently cleaning up the play, winning the second ball and starting the attack. It’s the first game I’ve seen him play that said to me he can be a reliable back up to Adams even against good teams.
Watch the clip.
Weakness
Yueill does not have the recovery speed of Adams. He won’t have the range that Adams has in cleaning up plays and helping with the press. He also does not have the pure athleticism that allows him to jockey and contain just about any player 1v1.
He doesn’t need to. He needs to do exactly what he did against the Swiss. He needs to read the game well, balance the press with positional discipline and be smart with and without the ball. This was the fist data point saying he can do that.
Some of those weaknesses can be offset tactically. For example, in the mid block press when Dest pressed forward it was the 8’s job to cover the wing. If Adams is there, it could be Adams job or Brooks with Adams covering for Brooks. Other adjustments could include better drilling on when Yueill should go forward vs fall back. He doesn’t have the recovery speed, he may require limitations on when he can get forward such as having an 8 able to back him up. Or it could be they need to better adjust their tactics to his range, so that if the opponent breaks the press and Yueill can’t leave a +1 behind him when he goes forward, the team immediately falls back to a mid block.
A third option is moving to 3 in the back where he is paired with someone like Mckennie or Musah- similar to Jorginho being paired with Kante.
The point being there are lots of options.
Press Resistance and Technical Quality
The USMNT does not have many press resistant midfielders. The only player in the pool that really fits that characteristic is Nagbe who has no interest in returning to the National Team. The US is getting this quality collectively from their movement. and technical quality. There are limitations to this that I hope to get to in a future article but against a very good team, Yueill was an asset in the build up and not a liability. His movements were very good to read the space and anticipate the pass before the pass.
With a press resistant 6, the US can use this build out shape and play through the 6. The 6 can make 1 player miss and acres of space to drive or pick out a pass. Without that the US has to rely on other methods.
In the build up, the US is using positional play to build out of the back. To heavily press, the opponent has to go 1v1 over most of the field. With the opponent’s gk not part of that 1v1 set up, that leaves an advantage somewhere. The US want to use movement and positional play to find the find the weak spot. The CM’s, wingers, and 9 are pistoning and the 6 is moving laterally and diagonally.
It can work. If we had a press resistant 6- a Nagbe, Kovacic or Busquets, – it adds an easier option to get out of the back. The US doesn’t have that. Musah is the closest. Yueill does an excellent job though of making the lateral and diagonal runs. The passes to diagonal runs were not going to come from Horvath as he was not that confident in slotting a narrow pass. Steffen has and will hit those runs.
So though neither he nor Adams is as press resistant as we would like, both can work well. Adams is more agile than Yueill but this is mostly from the read and movement. Yueill isn’t that large of a drop off.
Deep playmaking ability
Deep play making (DLP) ability is the other point of contention with US fans. Do we really need it? I don’t know about need but we do really want it. Watch the clip again. DLP is what breaks down the defense in transition and in possession. It’s not just a tool of possession. It’s the long diagonal to the free man on the open side. It’s the quick release for the counter. It’s the big switch. Defensively, teams want to load one side and make the team small. Offenses want to make the field large as possible. DLP’s make this possible.
I say it again- watch the clip. From hitting Cannon on the opposite side to slipping in Dest so he could get 1v1 on the keeper, this is a big part of the US offense. Yuiel’s passing range is greater than Adams. Both can hit the line breaking pass. Several times in the clip above it was Yueill’s pass that gave Reyna, Mckennie, Dest or Sargent great attacking opportunities. I don’t care which phase you’re wanting the US to score from, you want that ability.
There is a reason that in the Championship final, Tuchel paired Kante and Jorginho. That DLP ability is key. You can get it from other places on the field. Mckennie had some really good switches. Brooks had some good ones. Mount’s pass to Havertz in the final was one. Do it doesn’t have to come from a lone 6 but you want that ability on the field and you want it in deeper positions. If you want Mckennie pressing, it still needs to come from somewhere deeper and the more you have that ability then the more you can keep the field big for the offense.
Why do we doubt Yueill?
If he can do these things why are we so worried? Why do fans (including yours truly) still think the 6 depth is so thin? I think there are two reasons.
First we spent 2019 with Trapp and Bradley in that role. The words “traffic cone” were frequently used. Is Yueill another Trapp? Will he simply be too slow or too limited athletically to play this role at a high level. Before the Swiss game, I would have said yes. However, watching him play against Switzerland there was not one moment when I thought he was at an athletic disadvantage. He didn’t get beat 1v1. He was not a traffic cone. He also did not simply sit back in a low block and let the others do all the challenges. He frequently stepped up, made the challenge, cut off passes and played really excellent D. I don’t think he was dribbled around one time. I can’t think of one time the Swiss had an attack through the middle. The clip shows him time and again reading the game faster than his opponent, winning the second ball, and getting physical.
The other thing against Yueill is he is 24 year old player with no known European interest. He’s a straight up MLS player that seems to excel there with little interest or known prospects in Europe. For fans who focus on Europe, this is a red flag. We see Busio’s, Johnny’s, even Long as prospects who haven’t yet made it to Europe. There has been interest in all of them. We see Adams, Mckennie etc as the gold standard for talent, progressing at the highest levels. If they are not playing or if there isn’t interest in Europe for the player, we wonder (or think we know) what’s missing.
I can’t answer that. I can’t say if that’s the correct view or not. I can agree that evaluating MLS talent vs Eureopean talent is challenging. The truth is we don’t’ have another European 6 besides Adams.
What we can do is evaluate Yueill’s performance against the interntaional competition he faces. It’s one data point, but it was an excellent data point for all his weakneses.
Ironically, Yueill was great at the things fans doubt him for and made a couple of huge errors in the things he’s known for. That’s a mixed overall grade for Yueill against the Swiss but great news for the USMNT depth chart at the 6. We have a back up the 6 to Adams.
Club News
The constructing of a World Cup roster
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
With the September FIFA window now in the rearview mirror, and only three more windows left before final rosters are set in late May or early June 2026, Mauricio Pochettino has drawn a clear line.
He’s stated that September’s camp was the “last camp to have the possibility for new faces.”
If we take him at his word, the nearly 70 players who’ve been called across six camps and the Gold Cup will form the pool from which he selects the 2026 World Cup squad.
Of the 60 players named to the 2025 Gold Cup provisional roster, only five, Maxi Dietz, Richie Ledezma, Tim Tillman, Caleb Wiley, and Griffin Yow, have yet to appear on a #USMNT roster under Pochettino.
Comparing the 2025 Nations League provisional roster to the Gold Cup list reveals over a dozen different players, raising the question: are these minor differences simply the edges of the player pool Pochettino intends to draw from?
Goalkeepers
Nine goalkeepers have been called into Pochettino’s camps, but it’s clear that Matt Freese is his first-choice right now, with Matt Turner likely the No. 2 as we sit just 10 months from the World Cup.
- Chris Brady
- Drake Callender
- Roman Celentano
- Matt Freese
- Ethan Horvath
- Jonathan Klinsmann
- Diego Kochen
- Patrick Schulte
- Zack Steffen
- Matt Turner
Fullbacks
Outside of Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson, the USMNT’s fullback depth remains a concern. Pochettino appears high on MLS defenders Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten, while Caleb Wiley, though yet to feature in a USMNT camp but named to recent provisional rosters, could still be on his depth chart.
- Max Arfsten
- Sergino Dest
- Alex Freeman
- Marlon Fossey
- DeJuan Jones
- Kristoffer Lund
- Shaquell Moore
- Antonee Robinson
- Joe Scally
- John Tolkin
Centerbacks
Center back remains another position with uncertain depth. Chris Richards and the veteran Tim Ream look like locks for now, leaving three spots up for grabs. If Pochettino opts for a back three, that tactical shift could influence which players ultimately make the cut. Notably, Jackson Ragen and Maxi Dietz are the only center backs from the recent provisional rosters who haven’t been called into a USMNT camp.
- Noahkai Banks
- Tristan Blackmon
- George Campbell
- Cameron Carter-Vickers
- Mark McKenzie
- Tim Ream
- Chris Richards
- Miles Robinson
- Auston Trusty
- Walker Zimmerman
Central Midfielders
The central midfield position is the deepest for the #USMNT, with many players in the pool capable of also playing fullback, center back, or winger. Although Richie Ledezma has primarily played as a right back and right wing-back for his current club and for PSV last season, USMNT coaches view him primarily as a midfielder. This likely explains why he hasn’t yet been called into a USMNT camp.
- Tyler Adams
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Gianluca Busio
- Johnny Cardoso
- Ben Cremaschi
- Luca de la Torre
- Emeka Eneli
- Jack McGlynn
- Weston McKennie
- Aidan Morris
- Yunus Musah
- Tanner Tessmann
- Sean Zawadzki
Attacking Midfielders
There are several players at this position who could add real quality and play pivotal roles for the #USMNT at next summer’s World Cup. Gio Reyna remains a major question mark, but his talent is undeniable. With his recent club change, there’s hope he can return to the high level of form we’ve seen from him in the past.
- Brenden Aaronson
- Paxten Aaronson
- Brian Gutiérrez
- Djordje Mihailovic
- Matko Miljevic
- Gio Reyna
- Malik Tillman
Wingers
The winger position remains thin for the #USMNT, though several players there can also slot in as attacking midfielders, strikers, or even fullback. Notably, two young wingers, Cole Campbell and Griffin Yow, appeared on provisional rosters but have yet to be called into any Pochettino camp.
- Cade Cowell
- Diego Luna
- Christian Pulisic
- Quinn Sullivan
- Indiana Vassilev
- Tim Weah
- Haji Wright
- Alejandro Zendejas
Strikers
Another area of concern for the USMNT is striker depth. While the top options have all produced well for their clubs when healthy, injuries have kept the pool thin. If everyone is fit, the primary competition for the starting role likely comes down to three players: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent. Haji Wright and Tim Weah can also step in as center-forward options if needed.
- Patrick Agyemang
- Folarin Balogun
- Damion Downs
- Jesus Ferreira
- Ricardo Pepi
- Josh Sargent
- Brandon Vazquez
- Brian White
Conclusion
It’s tough to read Pochettino’s mindset right now. Many expect fewer MLS players to be called for the October window, partly because the league continues through FIFA dates and the regular season ends mid-October.
Most World Cup rosters largely select themselves, with only a few surprising omissions, think of the 1994 squad, which left out several players many felt deserved a spot.
But with Pochettino still showing a shaky grasp of the USMNT player pool, this cycle could produce more notable snubs than ever, though there’s still time for him to get it right.
USMNT
Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky
USMNT
Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
Not long ago, winning your confederation’s tournament earned a spot in the FIFA Confederations Cup, a prestigious competition held in the World Cup host nation the summer before the world’s biggest tournament.
The tournament featured the champions of all six confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA), along with the reigning FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, rounding out the field to eight teams. The tournament was last played in 2017.
The Concacaf Gold Cup is a semi-cycle tournament played in the first and third years of the cycle. The CAF Africa Cup of Nations is the only other confederation that plays two tournaments a cycle, and in many circles, the frequency of the Concacaf Gold Cup and the addition of the Concacaf Nations League has made the Gold Cup a throwaway tournament for the USMNT, as it’s been six years since the so called A list player pool has played in the event.
It raises the question for FIFA and Concacaf: should the Gold Cup be played once a cycle, and should FIFA consider bringing back the Confederations Cup?
The USMNT won the inaugural Gold Cup in 1991 and has claimed seven of the 17 editions since. Only two other CONCACAF nations Mexico (9) and Canada (1)—have lifted the trophy, and both are contenders in this edition.
The USMNT has a strong track record at the Gold Cup, finishing first in their group every year except 2011. They’ve reached 12 finals, with a record of 69 wins, 12 draws, and 9 losses, scoring 189 goals and conceding just 60
Gold Cup Player Stats
Across 17 editions of the Gold Cup, the USMNT has netted 189 goals, conceded just 60, and recorded 50 clean sheets. Here’s a look at the players who made it happen, those who found the back of the net, and those who kept it out.
Goals
18-Landon Donovan
13-Clint Dempsey
9-Eric Wynalda
8-Brian McBride
7-Jesus Ferreira
Assists
16-Landon Donovan
7-Michael Bradley
6-DaMarcus Beasley
6-Alejandro Bedoya
6-Eric Wynalda
5-Clint Dempsey
Wins
17-Kasey Keller
11-Tim Howard
8-Tony Meola
7-Matt Turner
Shutouts
14-Kasey Keller
8-Tim Howard
6-Tony Meola
6-Matt Turner
Captain
10-Michael Bradley
10-Kasey Keller
9-Carlos Bocanegra
8-Tony Meola
7-Claudio Reyna
Gold Cup Manager Stats
Over the past 34 years, the USMNT has reached 12 of the 17 Gold Cup finals under the leadership of seven different managers. Here’s a look at how each of them performed.
Matches Coached
25-Bruce Arena
18-Bob Bradley
12-Gregg Berhalter
12-Jurgen Klinsmann
10-Bora Milutinovic
8-Steve Sampson
5-B.J. Callaghan
Matches Won
19-Bruce Arena – GF-52-, GA-14
14-Bob Bradley – GF-34, GA-17
11-Gregg Berhalter – GF-26, GA-3
9-Jurgen Klinsmann – GF-32, GA-9
8-Bora Milutinovic – GF-15, GA-8
6-Steve Sampson – GF-14, GA-5
2-B.J. Callaghan – GF-16, GA-4
Gold Cup Trophies
3-Bruce Arena
1-Gregg Berhalter
1-Bob Bradley
1-Jurgen Klinsmann
1-Bora Milutinovic
Conclusion
In the future, U.S. Soccer and the USMNT should clearly communicate roster expectations for the Gold Cup, especially if a full A-list squad is not planned. Transparency on this front is essential, as it directly affects fan interest and attendance.
The constructing of a World Cup roster
Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky
Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished
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