Top 25 players in the USMNT pool right now: Pulisic, McKennie and beyond

Thursday marks a return to the game for the United States Men’s National Team, as the Yanks without Christian Pulisic face Wales.

It also marks exactly one year since our first ranking of USMNT players on ProSoccerTalk. There was a pandemic hiatus, restart of one season and start of another before our second, and it’s been just under two months since our third.

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In theory, there will be less uproar, even with the wild changes to the roster due to Gregg Berhalter recruiting national doubles and calls from a very young team.

Before going any further, how do we rank our Top 25? Here are some basic rules:

• The rankings are meant to illustrate who would be most likely to positively affect a USMNT game, regardless of manager or teammates, at this time.
• Health doesn’t matter to our ranking if a current injury isn’t an injury that could drastically alter the player’s skills in the future.
• Age / potential / experience doesn’t matter either, at least not very much; This is the likelihood that you will contribute to the team if you are put on the field now. Obviously Konrad de la Fuente is a better long-term prospect than Tim Ream, but Fulham center-back is currently better prepared for the scene than Barcelona youth.

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Top 25 USMNT players – November 2020 – Pre-Wales and Panama friendlies (previous ranking)

1. Christian Pulisic, Chelsea (1)

2. Weston McKennie, Juventus (3) – When in good health he was chosen over Barca Arthur transfer at every turn. I didn’t see it coming.

3. Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig (2) – Hope to be healthy again

4. John Brooks, Wolfsburg (4) – was in the shape of a life until one dud this weekend

5. Giovanni Reyna, Borussia Dortmund (5)

6. Sergino Dest, Barcelona (6) – Getting right-back and left-back minutes.

7. Antonee Robinson, Fulham (10) – One of the Cottagers’ most consistent performers since claiming a starting spot.

8. Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders (6) – A possible MLS MVP.

9. Josh Sargent, Werder Bremen (8) – A disappointment that Bremen’s COVID regulations prevent him from camping.

10. Reggie Cannon, Boavista (20) – 90 weekdays in Portugal

Timothy Weah, Lille (11)

13. Walker Zimmerman, Nashville SC (NR) – An influential season on one of the best stories in MLS.

14. Alfredo Morales, Fortuna Düsseldorf (15)

15. Matt Miazga, Anderlecht on loan from Chelsea (17) – Has played every minute for Vincent Kompany since arriving in Belgium.

16. Ethan Horvath, Club Brugge (NR)

17. Julian Green, Greuther Furth (13 years old)

19. Gyasi Zardes, Columbus Crew (16)

20. Brenden Aaronson, Philadelphia Union (21) – Ready for transfer from Red Bull Salzburg with the MLS Team of the Season.

21. Sebastian Lletget, LA Galaxy (14)

23. Aaron Long, New York Red Bulls (23)

23. Tim Ream, Fulham (24)

24. Mark McKenzie, Philadelphia Union (NR) – Is a move to Celtic being considered?

25. Chris Richards, Bayern Munich (NR) – Mainly with Bayern II, but says a lot that Hansi Flick used him before the transfer deadline.

Follow @NicholasMendola