DMB as LB?

[Kernel KlinK]

Although I was going to present this in the "Bruce Arena comments" thread I thought maybe this question deserves its own space. Here's the question:

Why not try DMB at left back?
here's my thinking:
1. DMB is one of our best players.
2. Playing him off the left side has not worked.
3. Bruce seems to have no problem always playing Hey Dude on defense even though he is not a great defender. However, he does have an incredible work rate and is fast which allows for some overlapping runs.
The only problem with him getting open on the offensive end is that he can't finsih at all - - he's no real threat - the perfect set up JOB gave him in the Costa Rica game, wide open, then nothing speaks volumes.
4. DMB has an incredible work rate as well, can't be any more a liability on the defensive end as Frankie but when pushing forward would present some tremendous problems for opposing teams.
5. This also puts our best left footed server (EL) on the field as well.

Now I know that this moves DMB out of his best position, but the drop off at left mid would be slight (EL for DMB) while the potential gain at LB (DMB for HeyDude) would be great. Whatever the case, our inability to score will be more of a problem for us against qualities teams than our inability to defend. This allows us to get more offensive skill on the pitch.

[StrabaneBoy]

I love the idea of having DMB and EL out there together, but I wonder if DMB complete lack of size may be an issue in the back. Could we not accomplish the same thing by moving Eddie to the back?

[Bigrose30]

As creative as an idea as it is, there are many like it floating around the boards. Claudio Reyna at right back. Steve Cherundolo at right mid. Eddie Lewis at Left back. Brad Davis at Left back.

The fact of the matter is, when it comes to our best players, it seems Bruce prefers the philosophy of...'if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck...it's a duck" We have quite a bit of talent on the national team now, so I don't think Bruce feels he has to play guys out of position (for the most part) to get the best squad on the field.

DMB is one of our top attacking players. He will lineup in an attacking position. That's just the way it will be.

Side Note: This reminds of a Bruce quote from a few days ago that people on these boards were quick to criticize...when talking about John O'Brien, he said something along the lines of...'he's too good of a passer to be considered at left back' I think a lot of people construed that Bruce didn't want to waste him at left back because he's a good passer...but what Bruce really meant (IMO) is that he doesn't want to waste him at left back because he's our BEST passer.

[galperin]

Lets see...NO, NO and NO. He gets bounced around way way too much to be a defender. Maybe if he added 25 lbs of muscle.

[Soccer Doc]

I'll bet those big Europen Forwards would just LOVE to see his skinny little runt of a body on defense :D

[arnoldle21]

DMB as LB? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F***KING MIND? He's one of the few attacking options that we have.

[fillmorejive]

Side Note: This reminds of a Bruce quote from a few days ago that people on these boards were quick to criticize...when talking about John O'Brien, he said something along the lines of...'he's too good of a passer to be considered at left back' I think a lot of people construed that Bruce didn't want to waste him at left back because he's a good passer...but what Bruce really meant (IMO) is that he doesn't want to waste him at left back because he's our BEST passer.

Exactly. I thought the same thing after watching the Costa Rica game. He needs to be in the center of the pitch. Sorry, sidetrack over..;)

[Treat2506]

As creative as an idea as it is, there are many like it floating around the boards. Claudio Reyna at right back. Steve Cherundolo at right mid. Eddie Lewis at Left back. Brad Davis at Left back.

The fact of the matter is, when it comes to our best players, it seems Bruce prefers the philosophy of...'if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck...it's a duck" We have quite a bit of talent on the national team now, so I don't think Bruce feels he has to play guys out of position (for the most part) to get the best squad on the field.

DMB is one of our top attacking players. He will lineup in an attacking position. That's just the way it will be.

Side Note: This reminds of a Bruce quote from a few days ago that people on these boards were quick to criticize...when talking about John O'Brien, he said something along the lines of...'he's too good of a passer to be considered at left back' I think a lot of people construed that Bruce didn't want to waste him at left back because he's a good passer...but what Bruce really meant (IMO) is that he doesn't want to waste him at left back because he's our BEST passer.



Way to rep JOB i totally agree with u, better than reyna or anyone else when he's healthy

[NBlue]

Very creative, intelligent idea. To add to it, how about the following line-up:

------------------------KK------------------------
Donovan-----McBride------Mathis---------------DFB
------Mastro----------EJ----------------Ching------
------Gooch---------Boca--------------Pope-------

I think with this 4-3-3 line-up we would have a legitimate chance of beating Brazils A team. Think about it -- we have Boca and Pope's incredible heading ability up top along with Gooch to be our speedy right winger. Moreover, Mastro can come forward and throw in those incredible crosses he has a penchant for (a la Beckham) and EJ can play a 2 way mid position where we don't have to worry about him missing chances as he does so much as a forward. I also like Ching having to go both ways on the left side -- brilliant if I do say so myself. Finally, what needs to be said about the defensive line -- it is simply the ultimate defensive ever put out by a US team -- and who is going to screw with Clint Mathis as the central defender controlling the team -- with his incredible workrate and speed, no team would have a chance to score against us.

[fusion101]

Lets see...NO, NO and NO. He gets bounced around way way too much to be a defender. Maybe if he added 25 lbs of muscle.


Thank you. It seems like I'm the only one on these boards that thinks all of our little attacking midfield players wouldn't be good defenders. Give me a break, if you think DMB could hold his own at outside defender against some of the top teams your wishing. DMB barely wins any 50/50 balls and is never physical enough. Watch a real defender like Boca, then watch DMB play, and you will see what DMB would need to do to be a top notch defender. As it is the US has one of the best defenses anywhere, I think we need to worry more about scoring then defending, then mabye less people would stop complaining about the US attack.

[DoctorD]

Don't feel too bad Kernel. I started a similar thread in 2/04 and also got many finely argued posts against the suggestion. The problem is that DMB is not a well rounded player. He is fast with great acceleration, and also plays smart. But his passing skills are not up to that required of a typical midfielder. Watching PSV it is obvious that he can not handle the speed of passing at MF.

Hiddink uses him well. He allows a lot of space in front of DMB and Beasley can track back to help out on defence which he does extremely well using his quickness. If the defender creeps up, then PSV plays a ball into space and DMB bursts on to it to either shoot or cross. So DMB is either the final or pentultimate player in an offensive buildup. But in the games I saw, he could not be in the middle of a possession sequence and either gave the ball away or required that extra 0.2 second to settle a ball.

Heck, DMB is not much smaller than Convey and makes much better decisions. Hence the LB speculations.

[dfb547490]

No, no, a thousand times no. If we're going to move one of our LMs to LB, Eddie Lewis is a much better choice for a number of reasons (and I'd actually like to see Eddie get a shot at LB).

On the other side, I think Chris Klein could make a very nice RB, but that's a topic for another thread...

[DonCorleone]

DMB as LB? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F***KING MIND? He's one of the few attacking options that we have.

We can put him there temporarily until Edie Lewis retiring, i don't think it will be more than 3 yrs from now ..., this has similarity with USWNT putting Chaluphny (which is a good midfielder) to the left back and was succeed...

[Kernel KlinK]

I knew writing this I'd catch some ********** but I think some of you are still missing the mark: The suggestion to put DMB at LB is not made in a vacuum - - it's to replace someone who is small, has trouble handling the ball, gets creamed by bigger players but is fast with an incredible work rate (Heydude) with one with the same problems but creates two upsides - - 1, DMB is a hell of a lot more dangerous offensively than Heydude when overlapping and 2, it deals with the problem of having only one position (LM) for 2 quality players that can't seem to play elsewhere (EL and DMB). When Heydude comes up the wing from the d-back position, teams more or less leave him alone and focus on others. If that player were DMB, well it would open things up with no loss on defense.

Further, it allows for a flowing/changing 4-4-2 - - 3-5-2 configuration - - keeping 3 good defenders back but giving some defensive responsibility to DMB.

[Bigrose30]

Well Steve C started today against Jamaica at a psuedo right-mid spot...so all my theories are shot to hell.

I guess you never know what the Bruce will try.

[XYZ1234]

Well Steve C started today against Jamaica at a psuedo right-mid spot...What?

He was at right back like he always is.

[rksehga]

Very creative, intelligent idea. To add to it, how about the following line-up:

---------------------Cheundolo------------------------
Donovan-----McBride------Mathis---------------DFB
------Mastro----------EJ----------------Ching------
------Gooch---------Boca--------------Pope-------



I think this works better, why not confuse the other teams forwards by putting our shortest player in net? The size of the space around him will freak out the oppositions' forwards.

[Crooked]

Stevey Ralston has done a great job for the Revs in years past on defense. I love him on the Revs but haven't been extremely impressed with him on the Nats. But I could deffinetly see him being an affective outside defender.

[Bigrose30]

What?

He was at right back like he always is.

Just going with what ussoccer.com had as the starting lineup...

[XYZ1234]

Just going with what ussoccer.com had as the starting lineup...Don't go by ESPN or USsoccer for formations, they aren't always correct. You have to watch the game.

He played right back today until he was chopped down.