First Choice Defense?

[Serie Zed]

Who are the first-choice defenders in a four man right now?

Who are the first choice defenders in a three-man defense?

Bocanegra and Pope are locks either way, so the questions are really about outside backs with four and a third central defender with three.

[zcgf02]

Pope (if healthy) and Boca are, I agree, locks for either center defense in a four-man set up for two of the three spots in a three-man back line.

Much as I hate to admit it, I think Califf will still be considered for both a three-man and four-man back line by Bruce.

I also think Gibbs will continue to get looks, mostly as a center back in a four-man back line. He may also work out as the third guy in a three man set up with Pope and Boca.

The outside backs in a 4-4-2 are tougher to figure out. I wonder if DMB will get a run there? Or will the Convey experiment continue? Will Dunivant from SJ get called into some camps? Will Vanney and Dolo stay in the picture?

I seem to have more questions than answers regarding the outside spots...

[Ringo]

as long as bruce is the coach, convey will get chances. :(

but dunivant has slumped pretty good near the end of the season (didn't play in the Greatest Game Ever) and probably won't start on Saturday either. Wonder if Bruce will wait and see how he rebounds next year?

but, you know, Goose looked good at left back in the Greatest Game Ever ... I wonder. :D








oh, and calm down. I was kidding about goose.

[nobody]

Yup, either way, 3 or 4 Pope and Boca are locks. The others aren't so clear, regardless of the formation. I'd say, if we played a game that mattered, a 3-man back would be Pope and Boca with either Berhalter, Califf, or Gibbs.

4-man is even trickier. You get Pope and Boca in the middle. On the right, I'd say the top candidate would be Cherundolo or Frankie. The left is likely either Vanney or seemingly Convey, and Frankie could swing over there if Dolo's playing the right.

There are other candidates, some of whom have gotten a bit of time. Personally, I hope some of them step up and take a spot, especially the left back spot in a 4 man line, but as of now, I haven't seen anyone do it yet.

[Serie Zed]

The above was about what I figured, too, and I think it strongly points to a 3-man back line, requiring only one marginal player on the pitch rather than two.

We've got a whole mess of high-quality mids and 3-5-2 means you've got more overall quality playing.

[Ghost]

RIght now: The four man is a trick.

Dolo/Hejduk-Pope-Boca-Vanney.

or

Dolo/Hejduk-Pope-Gibbs-Boca --- not unthinkable

or Dolo-Pope-Boca-Hejduk

or add Convey

A three man would clearly be either Gibbs-Pope-Boca or Onyewu-Pope-Boca. I favor this approch, particularly with Beasley. But we'll need a right wing player.

In fact, that latter 3-man approach is what I would expect to see in 2006.

[Kevin in Louisiana]

Ghost--if we go with three in the back, what sort of midfield do we have? If we have two wingbacks, Cherundolo is an obvious fit out right, but the left spot becomes more tricky. DMB doesn't really fit into that role.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned JOB yet. Depending on who emerges in the midfield, we may do well to play JOB in the backline. He's not really ideal in a 3-man backline, but right now he'd fit in well in a 4-4-2. Boca and Pope at center backs, Cherundolo (or Hejduk, perhaps) out right, and JOB at LB. With a 4-man midfield you'd have DMB or Lewis out left, Reyna somewhere in the middle, Donovan out right or at the a-mid (unless he's playing up top), and possibly someone like Convey or Martino playing a-mid. So instead of automatically going 3-5-2 because of out midfield strength, maybe slide JOB back, depending on our personnel and competition.

[roarksown1]

If it were up to me and there was a game on the line, I would want my back four to look like this:

Cherundolo - Pope - Bocanegra - Vanney

Dolo and Vanney are playing all 90 for their respective clubs most of the time in leagues that are of a higher quality than MLS (hate to say it, but it's true). If they're getting regular time with their clubs, it means they're in good form.

Pope and Boca are simply the two most solid defenders we have - bar none. As a backup I'd have Gibbs and Berhalter ready and waiting.

[Nutmeg]

All healthy and available, this is your starting defense for the next year:

Convey-Bocanegra-Pope-Cherundolo

[sch2383]

Nobody had mentioned Gooch or Yi? They have been playing well and dserve a shot, espically as the 3rd back if we are going with 3. I also hate the idea of wasting John O'Brien in the back. He is too important to our team to leave in back. The same goes for DMB.

But right now:

Gibbs---Boca---Pope---Dolo.

[Fah Que]

Reyna Pope Bocanegra O'Brien

[Tmagic77]

Originally posted by Fah Que
Reyna Pope Bocanegra O'Brien


I hope you're right. Because if you are, that means we've had some very good players surface for midfield. That also means we'll have the best back line possible with our players.

[SgtSchultz]

I don't understand this fascination with Convey. He has done very little in MLS. I am tired of DC fans telling us how great he is. It is high time his performance matches his hype. Don't get me wrong, he definitely has potential and at times it shows. However, until he is a consistent performer, I don't want him on the team.

[Parmigiano]

Originally posted by SgtSchultz
I don't understand this fascination with Convey. He has done very little in MLS. I am tired of DC fans telling us how great he is. It is high time his performance matches his hype. Don't get me wrong, he definitely has potential and at times it shows. However, until he is a consistent performer, I don't want him on the team.

What disturbs me is this is a guy who's played LB like once or twice in his life, and only with the NATs and never with his club team.

I mean, this ain't Italy or France, but you'd think the USA would have a proven LB (JOB aside) on the club level who could come into the Nats without having to learn his role while on international duty.

I would think that Vanney in this respect would be better prepared to play the part. Though I haven't seen much of him, I'd think a starter at a midtable team in Ligue 1 would be better at his own position than an occasionally starting midfielder for one of the worst teams in MLS.

I'm not saying Convey couldn't develop into a fine leftback. But I'd just like to see the development occur at the club level rather than in the heat of WC qualifying with the Nats.

[zcgf02]

Originally posted by Ringo1725
but dunivant has slumped pretty good near the end of the season (didn't play in the Greatest Game Ever) and probably won't start on Saturday either. Wonder if Bruce will wait and see how he rebounds next year?


Yeah, I noticed that he faded near the end of the year too. But he was solid and started the vast majority of SJ's games this year. Maybe he hit a rookie wall, like some 1st year NFL players do? I noticed Rico Clark faded a bit down the stretch too.

Any SJ fans care to comment on Dunivant?

[juventino3]

Hopefully Dunivant will show well at left back when he gets his chance. Vanney has had his chance, Gibbs is too technically deficient to play the position in Bruce's system, and Convey is a midfielder. At right back hopefully Onyewu will get a look. Cherundolo seems to be playing like crap for Hannover this year. Arena should try something like this for his next friendly:

Onyewu-Pope-Boca-Dunivant

[FabFiveFigo]

Any idea what has become of Gbandi?

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by SgtSchultz
I am tired of DC fans telling us how great he is.


Since when have DC fans ever told you how great he is? If anything, we've been his toughest critics.


Do you have a link to a thread started by a DC fan on how Convey should start for the USA? I honestly cannot remember ANY sort of thread.


:confused:

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by FabFiveFigo
Any idea what has become of Gbandi?


He's been spending the year in Purgatory.....err, Southlake.

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by juventino3
Vanney has had his chance


You're giving up on him already?