Five players who should make the United States national team Gold Cup roster
The upcoming Gold Cup isn’t a very important one for the United States national team in terms of trying to get some hardware, but it can and should be an important one for evaluating talent for upcoming World Cup qualifiers in the fall.
And while United States national team head coach Gregg Berhalter will invariably say that the goal is to win the Gold Cup (and he isn’t wrong), what is more important is continuing the process. And part of that process is seeing who can and will factor into this fall’s rosters for World Cup qualifying.
Don’t forget to check out the full United States national team provisional roster for the Gold Cup here if you haven’t done so already.
As qualifying goes, CONCACAF is a grind. Factor in difficult settings and venues, physical elements such as away matches in tropical climates or the smog of Mexico City, injuries as well as cross-Atlantic travel for the European based players and it is clear that Berhalter will need to have depth to make it through and qualify.
Some players, like Daryl Dike, Reggie Cannon and Julian Green, are locks to make the roster. This is about some under the radar players who should get a call from Berhalter to the final United States national team roster for the Gold Cup.
A look at five players, recently named to the United States national team provisional roster for the Gold Cup, who we’d like to see make the final roster:
Caden Clark – The New York Red Bulls attacker certainly has a nose for the back of the net – four goals already this season (let’s not forget his two assists). Bound for RB Leipzig this January, Clark is the latest American who appears to be bound for the Bundesliga and a prominent role with a top European side.
Clark has all the makings of an intriguing super sub. He can score, he’s a wide player, has decent pace, plays quick one-touch passes and can press with abandon. In CONCACAF matches, this energy as well as his ability to score could be crucial for the United States. He’s a player to develop for a bigger role for sure.
Erik Palmer-Brown – The Manchester City loanee had a tremendous season in Austria this past year and is on the rise. Given the United States national team’s dire situation at centerback with the long-term injury to Aaron Long, it would seem to make sense to give a young American standing out in a solid league a look.
The 24-year old Palmer-Brown has had some struggles with the United States national team in his first few outings but as shown at the club level, is a more mature, more balanced player. Time to give the young defender a bit longer of a look. The opportunity for minutes is clearly there.
Walker Zimmerman – Like Palmer-Brown, this is a big Gold Cup for the Nashville SC central defender to state his case for the fall. Zimmerman reads the game very well and is one of the best passers out of the back in MLS.
He has national team experience and is a proven commodity. His experience playing against CONCACAF attackers in MLS should and will be helpful. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Zimmerman starting alongside John Brooks in fall qualifiers. Their games compliment each other well.
Sam Vines – A big reason why the Colorado Rapids currently sit in third place in the Western Conference is the play of their left back. Vines has been fantastic for head coach Robin Fraser. He covers space, moves forward well, times his runs and overlaps and is a good passer of the ball.
Left back is a bit of an area of concern for the United States national team. The 22-year old has a chance to become a rotational player with a good Gold Cup tournament.
Jozy Altidore – OK, this one is admittedly a bit of a hot take. But the United States national team has had some struggles at the forward position, as evidenced by the last two matches in the Nations League. And while Theoson-Jordan Siebatcheu Pefok scored against Honduras, and a crucial goal at that, there is no denying that more needs to be had from Berhalter’s strikers.
While a lot needs to be sorted out in terms of his club situation at Toronto FC, Altidore is a proven commodity at the national team level. He’s a bit off his prime but given that he has been there and done that, he shouldn’t be overlooked.
Perhaps it is time to give Altidore a call and see if he can find a goal or two (or three) in the Gold Cup to boost his international career. He shouldn’t start unless in an extreme circumstance but in terms of a bench option, he should get a look, especially given the lack of veterans on this roster.
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer