US should still qualify. If you break down the squad there just isn't much talent in this generation. The USMNT of 2009 would just blow this side apart in a match.
Pulisic has the potential to someday be a top 30 player in the world. However keep the emphasis on someday. People need keep the all time best US player ever talk a rest for the time being. He still needs to adjust to playing 60+ matches season and being a marked man. And when you are the focal point, coaches, some of which know what they are doing will find every single deficiency in your game and make your life miserable.
Gonzales admittedly is very good on his club sides but has largely been a disaster in defense for the national side.
Bradley has regressed a bit playing in Toronto, Also his game suffers because we don't have a Stu Holden type next to him (the lack of which is our biggest hole) who can distrubute. That being said despite the regression it doesn't look like there is anyone coming up in the next 5 years who could challenge him.
Tim Howard is still the best keeper we got and he's past it. We can't produce a decent keeper anymore?
Dempsey could be a decent sub/starter in the next WC but that's it for him.
Right now with Zusi and undead Demarcus Beasley at LB/RB its been a tire fire.
Yedlin, Wood and maybe Johnson could be solid pros but that's pretty much their ceiling. Brooks and Cameron are OK.
Not buying this Nagbe thing. People like him because occasionally he does soccer like things sort of like what those continential players do. However he's terrible at the international level. Dribbles way too much, constantly turns the ball over, is a traffic cone in defense and doesn't really score goals. You can get away with that in MLS but its just not going to work at a higher level.
Its slim pickings, and its going to be this way for a while. At least the US can look forward to the everyone qualifies 2022 tourney.
