Last year, I chose one player from each club who I thought would be the most capped player by the USMNT in 2021. This was a near impossible task, and I did horribly, but how horrible were these picks? Let’s find out.
Atlanta United: Miles Robinson
Not a bad start. Miles Robinson has inserted himself in the conversation to be one of the four center backs for full strength squads. A future move to Europe seemed imminent this offseason but nothing has materialized at the time of writing.
Austin FC: Nick Lima
Nick Lima was a fringe option and moving to an expansion club doesn’t often help your situation with the national team. The fullback depth chart is deep, and Nick Lima is 27 years old, so he likely will be forgotten about going forward.
MLS is a productive hunting ground for USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter
Chicago Fire: Mauricio Pineda and FC Cincinnati: Frankie Amaya
Pineda and Amaya are youth USMNT players that are currently lost in the shuffle as this program has so many young players to choose from. Pineda is still in a rebuild in the Windy City, while Amaya is a factor in a youthful team with the New York Red Bulls now.
Colorado Rapids: Jonathan Lewis
In retrospect, Sam Vines, Kellyn Acosta, and Cole Bassett would’ve all have been better choices. Jonathan Lewis has fallen out of favor with Robin Fraser at the Rapids and his rare call ups were met with confusion at best from USMNT fans.
Columbus Crew: Darlington Nagbe
To be honest, this was wishful thinking. That bridge has been burned and this team seems to be fine moving on without Nagbe.
DC United: Bill Hamid
Bill Hamid is still awaiting his first cap since 2020, but that wait can continue for a while as the MLS goalkeeper who made a leap in 2021 will come later in this list and will reduce Hamid’s chances further.
FC Dallas: Jesus Ferreira
Ricardo Pepi wound up being the FC Dallas youth talent of the year and is now an Augsburg player, but the door is still open for Ferreira. The 21-year-old Colombian-born attacker started the World Cup Qualifier against El Salvador and has time to make a European move this or next year.
PEPI AGAIN 🤯😱
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 8, 2021
The kid is a scoring machine for the @USMNT 👏
(via @USMNT)
pic.twitter.com/6rSS6c4ZD2
Houston Dynamo: Tim Parker, Inter Miami: John McCarthy, and LAFC: Tristan Blackmon
My expectations for this trio were low. I was most wrong about John McCarthy who didn’t nail down the starting goalkeeper role down in Florida.
Los Angeles Galaxy: Sebastian Lletget
The versatile midfielder continues to be one of Gregg Berhalter’s safety nets to call up in almost any window, and he hasn’t been impressive when he’s gotten game time in 2021.
Minnesota United: Tyler Miller
One more goalkeeper away from getting to one of the feel-good USMNT stories of 2021.
CF Montreal: Djordje Mihailovic
One of only three Americans to feature for Montreal in 2021, Mihailovic is another depth option at best for the remainder of this cycle.
Nashville SC: Walker Zimmerman
Like Robinson, Walker Zimmerman’s stock went up during the past calendar year in the eyes of Gregg Berhalter. He went from being added to a World Cup Qualifier roster with John Brooks ruled out to starting. He hasn’t always flashed his Nashville form for the national team, but he’s staking his claim for a World Cup roster spot.
New England Revolution: Matt Turner
Turns out I saved the best goalkeeper for last. Matt Turner was crucial for New England Revolution’s successful 2021 Supporter’s Shield campaign and he is currently winning a battle with Zach Steffen for the number 1 goalkeeper spot. However, a move to Arsenal will put Turner in the same position as Steffen and will concern USMNT fans. You don’t want your starting goalkeeper to be a backup at club level in a World Cup year (if ever).
New York City FC: Keaton Parks
Parks was part of the first crew of young players following the 2018 World Cup Qualification failure, and while he enjoyed an MLS Cup victory with New York City, he’s not any closer to a reintroduction to a competitive USMNT roster.
New York Red Bulls: Aaron Long
A ruptured Achilles tendon ruled Aaron Long out for 2021, and with John Brooks (if he patches up his relationship with Berhalter), Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, and Chris Richards looking like the strongest center back quartet at the moment, Aaron Long’s chance of making a World Cup roster looks unlikely.
Orlando City: Chris Mueller
Between Chris Mueller and Daryl Dike (who was on loan at Barnsley at the time of writing the previous article and therefore ineligible for selection), neither Orlando City forward moved up the depth chart in 2021. Instead, former Orlando striker Cyle Larin has been lethal in front of goal for Canada.
Portland Timbers: Jeremy Ebobisse
It was between him or Eryk Williamson and the former was traded to San Jose Earthquakes while the latter had injury setbacks.
Philadelphia Union: Alejandro Bedoya
With Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie in Europe and Ray Gaddis having been uncapped after 221 MLS appearances, Bedoya was the only option. I wasn’t really confident he would be on the radar.
Real Salt Lake: Aaron Herrera
I wasn’t confident in any of the Real Salt Lake players, and David Ochoa ended up declaring for Mexico.
San Jose Earthquakes: Jackson Yueill
Jackson Yueill was a bubble squad member in 2021 and was one of the most controversial members of the player pool. He had some bad performances, but still only 24 years old, Yueill will be able to redeem himself.
Seattle Sounders: Cristian Roldan
The Seattle Sounders are always near the top of the table in MLS, which means their American players remain on the radar. That was the case for both Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris, with the former more active with USMNT and the latter got injured while on loan to Swansea City. Also, a big year for Alex Roldan breaking through in El Salvador.
Sporting KC: Gianluca Busio
Busio was a mixed bag in 2021, but at the time of writing he’s made 20 league appearances for Serie A club Venezia who sit 1 point above the relegation zone. If Venezia stays up, this will be the start of an intriguing European career for the 19-year-old. Whether it’ll be enough to make a World Cup roster (should USA qualify this time around) is up in the air.
Toronto FC: Jozy Altidore and Vancouver Whitecaps: Jake Nerwinski
There were not a lot of options with the Canadian clubs. Nothing more to say.
Which picks were the best and the worst? Let me know on Twitter @IvanOrnelas2