USMNT Roster reflects Impact of Summer Transfers as World cup Battles Intensify
The U.S. Men’s National Team’s September roster reveals a direct influence from the recent summer transfer window, with coach Gregg Berhalter balancing the need for players to secure consistent playing time at thier new clubs against the urgency of finalizing world Cup preparations. Several key players made moves this summer, creating new opportunities and intensifying competition for starting roles in the tournament.
Damion Downs transitioned from germany’s 2. Bundesliga to Southampton in the Championship, registering one assist in three games but is yet to make a start. Tim Weah’s move from Juventus to Marseille offers a chance to play regularly on the wing and remain in the Champions League, possibly avoiding the defensive rotations he experienced in Italy. Patrick Agyemang, recently transferred from Charlotte FC to Derby County, is currently recovering from hernia surgery.
Berhalter explained the rationale behind including players in varying stages of adaptation to their new teams, noting that he opted to give some-like Cardoso, Turner, Tillman, and Musah-more time to settle in, while others, such as mckennie and Wright, remained to fight for playing time. “It always is critically importent,when the players start to move from one club to another,like Tim Weah,where maybe they didn’t play too much last season,or struggled to play,it’s important for them to have the continuity,to adapt to the new environment,the new club,” Berhalter said. “But I’ve seen that Tim already started to play for marseille,he arrived this week. … We have a plan for every single player. We decided this roster (keeping in mind) all these special conditions in this period of the season.”
