Best 11 Right Now

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by LuckofLichaj, Oct 19, 2018.

  1. truefan420

    truefan420 Member+

    May 30, 2010
    oakland
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The game is more than just the stats. You also clearly skipped over the part about where his role has grown as the season has. He has played roughly half their games but he started the season as squad rotation and is now a near lock starter. He’s earned a call up and a look. Look at the trash wingers we saw in camp cupcake and tell me we a straight face their definitivelay better and you’ll be lying. He’s playing well and influencing games in a league better than the MLS. At a position we’re weak at too. Not saying lock start him but I’d be interested in seeing him get a legit run out in our side.
     
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  2. soccerusa517

    soccerusa517 Member+

    Jun 23, 2009
    Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Our best XI now would have a lot of guys based on potential. Prob still stuck with Bradley and FabJo at LB.

    You look at it for a bit and realize that if the WC was next month we'd be absolutely screwed. At least I do.

    Too young in spots and still hoping for emerging players.
     
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  3. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    Yedlin looks weak 1v1 against PL wingers. I wonder how Lima would do for Newcastle? I'd bet Yedlin is a better 1v1 defender than Lima. I'd also bet Lima is a much much better crosser of the ball than Yedlin. So, if he is a better 1v1, then he absolutely should be ahead of Yedlin. Way ahead. But, I'm *really* skeptical of that.

    I'm not a Wood fan. His game is to put his head down and dribble as fast as he can. He's not an adept dribbler, so his game is also hoping to catch a good deflection off the defender, to keep going. And, he's not an efficient finisher.

    Imo, Jozy is much better than that. JMO. It's time for Jozy to start getting called in a gain. We'll see.

    Peace.

    Thanks for posting your B11. That's what re-starts these threads. I don't mean to attack your post.
     
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  4. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    Ya, the pool is kind of a mess right now. But, it feels like a mess that could coalesce really well in 3 years.

    Historically, we'd be stoked to have a CB that is doing well in the BL. A yeoman PL RB, a 20 year old CM who off to a rocket start in the BL, a 20 year old CM who just played a very good CL match against prolly the best team in the world, and, Pulisic.

    We need things to break right at the other positions. But, they could. Weah, Sarge, Nova. With the CB pool, we should have at least one other international quality CB.

    Maybe Robinson or Moore pans out at LB. If, and it's a big if, Sarge and Weah develop,

    ----------------Sarge-----------Weah
    --------------------------WM
    Robinson-------Puli----------TA------Yedlin
    ------------?----------Brooks--------?

    Could look pretty good.

    Two questions.

    Didn't EPB kind of start out as a DM? Is there any chance he could become a true 6?

    Also, as I sit here drinking my coffee, I'm wondering if Pulisic's highest and best use will end up being basically the worlds best shuttling midfield. He hasn't yet shown a knack for assists or scoring. But, he's incredible at getting the ball from defense to offense. Almost unstoppable, unless at team allocated a ridiculous amount of resources to it.

    On offense, I still maintain that his best asset is being able to get to the endline, pretty close to the box, and play in a great ball on the ground. If he's not going to be used to do that repeatedly. Like over and over during the match, then playing him as an 8 may be the best thing. He'd be one of the best 8's in the world. Or, he could be devastating as a wingback - like the new Fabian Johnson. Don't be surprised if he ends up in one of those positions long term.
     
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  5. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    #555 bsky22, Feb 25, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2019
    Can we end this useless league comparison or at least take it to an appropriate thread?

    Apparently, Berhaler agrees...

     
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  6. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    "My point of view is: we want good players. I do not care if they come from Germany, France or MLS, we just look at the quality."

    Is anyone downgrading MLS? Only thing I've seen like that is my post saying I wouldn't be to quick to say Lima is a better 1v1 defender than Yedlin. And, I stand by it.
     
  7. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The key question which won't be answered until deep into his tenure is does Berhalter have the ability to evaluate the quality required to be successful in the modern game?

    Past coaches (Arena-1, Bradley, and Klinsmann) have used the conventional sports standard that says if you play at a clearly higher level then I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you have shown higher quality to get there. That means that if you have 2 players that appear of roughly equivalent "quality" on the surface you give the ball to the one who made it to the higher level.

    Arena-2 did a 180 from the conventional standard with his choices and comments "there are players in MLS that play his position".

    GB's club quality purchases have been middling at best and his selections for his first 2 matches contained some puzzles so we shall see. Hopefully the March selections brings some clarity.
     
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  8. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    It is the other way around. People use league rankings/comparisons because either they dont have the ability to evaluate players or to eliminate competition for MLS players. For some reason they think MLS level is ok, but just below it isnt.

    The quote is from an article in German. It looks like he was given topics instead of questions. It seems like the folks who keep comparing leagues are in the group of "many americans".

    ... the conflict at the time of Jürgen Klinsmann as US coach, that from many Americans view too many Bundesliga and too few MLS players in the national team were: "My point of view is that I say: We want good players I do not care if they come from Germany, France or the MLS, we just look at the quality. "

    http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...schaft-gut.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
     
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  9. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    Here are his thoughts on two German-Americans and one of the players that enraged "many Americans". Interestingly, no mention of Chandler.

    ... Gladbach's Fabian Johnson: "I've played with him at 1860 Munich, I know him very well, I have a lot of respect for him, before his game, he's a versatile player, sometimes it's a gift and sometimes a curse, if you have the ability to play in multiple positions, he played left and right defenders in 1860. He has a wide range of abilities, which gives a coach a variety of options, and sometimes players prefer to play in one position, but when you're as flexible as Fabian, you give your coach tactical options in the game. "

    ... Johnson's chances in the national team, which will be 34 years old at the next World Cup and was not nominated at the end: "At the last World Cup a couple of players played a lot at this age. When you get to that age, you take it course by course, game by game. I do not think you're planning another four years into the future. "

    ... Wolfsburg's John Anthony Brooks: "I met John Anthony in December here in Germany when I was in Wolfsburg, he has a great profile, a boy of that size, with this passing game. We talked about a few things, which he can improve, it will be interesting to keep watching him, he has a lot of potential. "

    ... Hannovers Bobby Wood: "Bobby also played in 1860. He's a boy who struggled hard in his career to achieve what he achieved, and he's a very hard-working player with the ability He does not give up, he has quality, and he tries to keep working, to perform well. "
     
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  10. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    The last cycle was poor management more than poor selection. An all MLS squad could have qualified if properly coached.

    I guarantee that a Pinto( Costa Rica 14) would have brought such a team into the WC with games to spare.
     
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  11. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It is possible that another coach could qualify with an all MLS squad, maybe, but why would you want to do that? What is the benefit of applying such a handicap?
     
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  12. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't, I'm just taking a chance to bad mouth the coaching done by both of the 18 cycle managers.

    This was a case where they the Jimmies and Joes were let down by the Xs and Os.
     
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  13. laxcoach

    laxcoach Member+

    United States
    Jul 29, 2017
    intermountain west
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Speculation at best. MB90 is still there 'leading' the team jog. Backline was still questionable and goaltending awful.

    It was a perfect storm for crap soccer; aging core of entitled players and poor, lazy management. I doubt Pinto would have selected that 23 let alone started that 11.
     
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  14. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You seem to be agreeing with me.
     
  15. laxcoach

    laxcoach Member+

    United States
    Jul 29, 2017
    intermountain west
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am agreeable at times.....

    I question the Pinto comment only because that roster was crap and if he went with the same roster I'm not sure he'd have any margin if he made it to the WC.
     
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  16. Mahtzo1

    Mahtzo1 Member+

    Jan 15, 2007
    So Cal
    thanks
     
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  17. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    Thanks! And, of course the German press is going to make too much of the #ofGermans vs. #ofUSborn players thing.
     
  18. Mahtzo1

    Mahtzo1 Member+

    Jan 15, 2007
    So Cal
    My bad...I kind of
    I would say that the second part that I quoted is right on the mark. I wouldn't say it is a mess right now unless we had to start the wc tomorrow. Even if we had to play the world cup in June I would say our pool is much better than it was 6 months or a year ago. We have most of the pieces right now. It's just a matter of figuring out exactly who those pieces are, how they fit together and how to implement the tactics. If we had to play in June, the March friendlies would probably give Berhalter enough of an idea to choose 30 for the pre -wc camp and decide who is final 23 will be.

    Given that we don't have to begin qualifying until after the GC sometime, I feel much more optiistic than I have for some time. There are still a few obvious holes but we have always had those...and there are some very interesting youbg candidates that may actually fill those roles. When is the last time that we have had more than one young player that seems as if they may actually have the potential to be good at LB?
     
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  19. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    Anyone who follows MLS and is honest will tell you that while the league is easier to watch, now it's more a tactical mess than ever. I'm not surprised they're getting punked in Central America: the point of soccer is not running fast and by-passing the midfield half of the time, some intelligence should be involved.

    Anyone who follows our Yanks in Europe and is honest will tell you very few of them look international quality, and there's a reason why the majority barely plays. With Weah getting benched, Sargent stinking the joint, and both Wes & Puli injured (the latter already benched), the only good news of late are Adams, the re-emergence of Morales, Yedlin helping the Mags' attack, and Horvath having a superb last game to compensate for the bad one before. And Brooks continuing his one-bad-game / one-good-game routine.
     
  20. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    Anyone who follows these players would know that they are making progress and young players make mistakes and need time to improve. In addition to the players you mentioned Miazga, EPB, CCV, and Holmes are playing and making progress.

    If we apply this high of a standard to the players who played against Panama and Costa Rica, then I would say they all absolutely sucked except for Steffen who was very bad.

    Anyone paying attention would know we have had very few international caliber players, ever. Anyone paying attention to our pool and being honest would know that most if not all should be all of our starting field positions should be with the more talented players in Europe.
     
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  21. TMBMiles

    TMBMiles Member

    Dortmund
    United States
    Mar 31, 2017
    Haven't seen enough of Holmes to have an opinion on him, and I'm not sure about Long as a LB, but this is pretty close to what I would go with as my best Xl right now.



    Would also be totally cool with giving Lima another audition against a better opponent.
     
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  22. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    Agreed. Anyone who has looked at my Best XIs knows I put the guys doing well in Europe as our starters. It does make sense.

    Otherwise, I forgot to mention that EPB got his first start and did very well with it.

    I don't see any progress with the other three though. Holmes is playing in a system that favors him, and Miazga is the same guy he was in the Eredivisie, but he looks better only because he's playing in a weaker league.
     
  23. nowherenova

    nowherenova Member+

    Jul 20, 2003
    Formerly Terminus
    Was watching the 'Gladbach match Saturday and was thinking FJ looked like a nice match for the floating RB spot
     
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  24. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    That was EPB's second start in a row and 8th eridivisie game this season that he has gone 90 minutes.

    CCV is getting experience playing regularly. Holmes has become a regular and praised by Lampard.

    I posted this in MM's YA thread and it was posted in another thread in N&A. It shows him making plays in Ligue 1 and against some pretty stout international opponents. He had one game with a couple of bad mistakes and was cast off by a new coach. His play continues to show improvement and was really impressed with how he handled the situation. Being a leader of Champioship side battling relegation will further help his development.

     
  25. Mahtzo1

    Mahtzo1 Member+

    Jan 15, 2007
    So Cal
    I haven't been watching him but based upon past games that I have seen and Berhalter's comments I would have to agree and also believe Berhalter might see it as an option as well. It could be from either left or right back depending upon how he decides to fill the holes and who else he wants to take a look at.
     
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