three times for the Sounders this year, while scoring four times for the USMNT in 2017.

The other options may seem a little further out on the fringe. First is Juan Agudelo of the New England Revolution. His case is slightly curious, though, as he’s not really been the go-to forward in New England since the trade was made for Kei Kamara, But he has still put up consistent numbers this year with eight goals and an assist.

Gyasi Zardes is an even more curious case to me, mainly because he just seemed to fall far off Arena’s radar at times. Less playing time with the Los Angeles Galaxy has led him to only have two goals and two assists this season. But it seems that his role as aforward/striker has been redefined by the club, and he is playing more of a midfield/winger role, which would also drastically change how he fits into the future of the USMNT.

The final player that I put on the fringe is Chris Wondolowski. I’ll be completely honest and level with you all right now: he is a great player for the San Jose Earthquakes, but I have never really been a huge fan of Wondolowski with the USMNT. He has had another very good year in San Jose, with 11 goals and five assists, and this is now his eighth straight season scoring 11 goals or more, but at the top level of international soccer I feel like he lacks composure. And with him also turning 35 at the beginning