Best 11 Right Now

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

  1. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Out of curiosity, what impressed you most about Yedlin's game on Tuesday?
     
  2. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    his speed and ground covered. Most of our forays into Canada’s third was via the right side
     
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  3. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    The weird obsession with Bradley as scapegoat continues. It's one of the reasons why I can't take a large number of opinions on here seriously.

    Bradley isn't in my Best XI, and I wouldn't be calling him in right now because there's no way he should on the team in 2022. But while he's declined from the player he was just two years ago, he's been far from the problem. He was one of our better players against Canada (that's not saying much) and one of the few who showed urgency and hustle.

    He's not in anyone's Best XI because Tyler Adams exists. And unfortunately, Tyler Adams has basically been hurt for all of Gregg Berhalter's time as USMNT.

    There's plenty to dislike about Berhalter's selections -- Roldan and Lovitz starting against Canada was baffling. Josh Sargent should have been at the Gold Cup. It took too long to phase out Trapp (and now Zardes).

    But Bradley, while he has his weaknesses, isn't nearly as bad a player as people like to portray him. He's not why we didn't qualify for 2018 and he isn't why we lost to Canada.

    And to be clear again, he's neither really in my Best XI or my roster long term. But the reaction to both him and Jozy is founded mostly in emotion, not facts, for a large portion of the fanbase.
     
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  4. yurch10

    yurch10 Member+

    Feb 13, 2004
    Emotion vs. facts. What are the facts? The facts I see -

    1. He's near the bottom of US players in MLS per WhoScored.
    2. The team has seen historical lows the past 2-3 years, when the only constants in the lineup are him and Pulisic.

    What facts do you see/use in your analysis?
     
  5. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    complete BS.

    We’ve built this team around the regista position and have used Bradley and trapp almost exclusively except for two throwaway games.

    the biggest problem with Bradley isn’t his play, which has been below the required standard but not awful. It’s been that his inclusion and weaknesses causes a series of cascading compensations That make our midfield and CB teammates play terribly.

    who plays well next to Bradley? The last person I can think of was Jones.

    who plays terrible when the team is built around him?

    - Weston
    - pulisic
    - Brooks
    - miazga
    - long

    the first two alone are enough to move past him.

    conversely, altidore is arguably our best striker and only a few posters don’t rate him.
     
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  6. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    I watch the US games? I don't know how anyone watched the Canada game and said that Michael Bradley is one of our top 5 problems.

    The fanbase has this weird thing where a young player based in Europe can suck and there's little flak (say, one named Weston McKennie) but Bradley gets flak for being the captain and "allowing" other players to suck.

    As for your facts:

    1. Whoscored. Just stop. Whoscored ranked Graham Zusi as the #1 American in MLS last year and Roldan as the #3 American this year ... Bradley also ranks higher than Yeuill, Keaton Parks, etc. Why are we using this stat at all? It's a dull tool highly slanted to goal scorers and assisters.

    2. It's a team sport. Should Pulisic be gone as well?

    My point isn't even he should be on the team. It's the absurd level of hate that completely warps people's perceptions.

    This team has much more fundamental issues than Michael Bradley.
     
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  7. yurch10

    yurch10 Member+

    Feb 13, 2004
    Oh, so the facts are you watch the US games.

    I won't be continuing this argument...good day.
     
  8. rgli13

    rgli13 Member+

    Mar 23, 2005
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i would rep this hundreds of times if i could.
     
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  9. TOAzer

    TOAzer Member+

    The Man With No Club
    May 29, 2016
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In the service of helping Mankind understand the alien tongue of Gogorath, here is what he said once passed through The Universal Translator.
    [1] "I, Gogorath, am weirdly obsessed with Bradley being absolved of any responsibility for his or the USMNT's play"
    [2] "I refuse to consider any one's thought that does not agree with mine"
    [3] " As a proud member of the Dozenal Society, I can tell you he's my Double 6!"
    [4] "Even I have moments of clarity. But, don't worry, not enough to go beyond saying that in the long term he won't be on my roster"
    [5] "I admit he is even worse now than when he was "leading" us at Couva..but not enough to admit I have a problem with that.".
    [6] "Let's make a deal. I'll grudgingly admit Mikey is not Perfect, if you agree not to believe your lyin' eyes as to what happens on the field!"
    [7] "Because you should not believe your lyin' eyes, you must absolve Bradley of all responsibility for his play, from Couva to Toronto!"
    [8] "Don't worry, I won't pencil him in to be my Number Double 6 in 2026! Am I not merciful?"
    [9] "No matter what you feel, no matter what you see, no matter what the track record of the last two years may suggest, you cannot distinguish between, or declaim against, Mikey and Jozy! They are Holy One! "

    .............................:coffee:
     
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  10. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    when everybody's healthy:

    ----------Morris----
    --Weah---------Pulisic
    ----Pomykal--Adams
    Cannon---Wes-----Lima
    -------Brooks--Long-------
    ------------Steffen------------

    bench - Jozy, Lletget, Yedlin, Horvath, Miazga, Yueill, Sargent

    That team is a comfortable #2 in the region who is competitive w/ Mexico at the very least. Covers the basis as far as creativity, width, passing, scoring, set-pieces, ball-winning, and playing out of the back if need be. I would play possession against the really bad CCAF teams, high press against mid-level ones, and play an organized mid-block against the elite. Switch to counter if it's not working.
     
  11. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    How does best xi 'right now' mean best xi "when everybody's healthy"?

    What is the best xi for USA v. Canada in November based on players now healthy?
     
  12. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My interpretation of the question is it's from a broader perspective than one camp or the next one. There are threads for that.

    It's a question of, if everyone was available, which they could be if players don't have long-term injuries, on their current ability, who would you play. That was my group.
     
  13. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    I think I I like morris on the outside but get your XI.

    why a mid block vs Mexico?
     
  14. honest trade

    honest trade Member

    Aug 15, 2010
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Assuming everyone is healthy:

    —————Sargent—————
    ———Weah——Pulisic———
    —McKennie—Adams—Morales—
    Dest—Brooks—Miazga—Yedlin
    —————Steffen—————
     
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  15. nbarbour

    nbarbour Member+

    Jun 19, 2006
    Washington DC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I remember the good old days where there were one, maybe two questionable players per squad that our coaches wildly overrated (see: Clark, Rico; Zusi, Graham; and Bornstein, Jonathan). Ah, those were good times.

    I would give my left pinky for Berhalter to even get 15 of the 23 remotely right.
     
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  16. Casper

    Casper Member+

    Mar 30, 2001
    New York
    I see the logic of this best XI, but wonder why you wouldn't switch Wes and Adams. I feel that plays to each of their strengths better.

    I'm also nervous about Morris up top - I think that's Sargent or Jozy's spot with Morris playing from one of the wings, either for Weah or as a 60' sub for Weah.

    And Pax may need more than 5 minutes in the squad before being in our best XI ... but he should get those minutes as soon as possible.
     
  17. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You could put either Adams or McKennie in the hole, even inter-change during the game. But from the outset I feel like I'd try Adams up higher because he provides more additional width and mobility to go box-to-box while Wes adapts to the needs of whatever role he's in better.

    I like Morris up top because you can trust him better w/ one chance unlike Jozy v. Mexico or Sargent v. Canada. He also has more of a motor and speed to institute a press effectively deep into the 2nd half.

    Weah I think is a low-key important player for our xi because space can get congested w/ the other 3. Over-dribblers and not overly good long-term passers, especially Pulisic. Weah can relieve that congestion by being efficient w/ his touches and hitting a long switch as he does so well.

    And sure, it's a projection w/ Pomykal. He's not proven at this level by any means. But he should have played more in the camp before last, plus it's easy to envision how his ball-winning, dribbling, and outletting can help the dynamic. Makes it so we don't have to defend for long periods, we can break into space, and ensures Pulisic plays higher so he has to make less decisions and can just take-on people.
     
  18. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I like this lineup... Hard not to notice that there isn't a single MLS player in it. All else held equal... I am favoring a player playing club football in top-flight Euro but I think that Morris has really earned his starting spot... so I would probably start him over Weah. I hope he doesn't pass up another chance to move to Euro this winter window. I also would like to see Paxton in there... but I would start Morales and bring Pomykal in as a sub. Another MLS player that has earned his slot on the roster is Cannon... but I would start Dest over him.

    —————Sargent—————
    ———Pulisic——Morris———
    —McKennie—Adams—Morales—
    Dest—Brooks—Miazga—Yedlin
    —————Steffen—————

    Sub#1 Weah
    Sub#2 Pomykal
    Sub#3 Uly*

    * Yes... I would bring Uly up in November.... I know they won't... he will probably be on the U23 Olympic Squad... but that team has a lot of attacking options and the USMNT doesn't. Plus... I really want him tied to our team before Mexico poaches him.
     
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  19. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Recalled somebody had discussed this when I saw Laryea's goal this weekend. Opta made this a recovery, successful dribble and completed pass for Bradley (not a key pass). Arriola gets an "unsuccessful pass".

     
  20. Konut

    Konut Member+

    May 31, 2010
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'll play:

    -------------Jozy-------------
    Weah----Pulisic-----Morris
    -------Mckennie-Adams----
    F.Johnson-Brooks-Long-Dest
    ------------Steffen-------------

    Looks like 6 of my 11 weren't in the last camp for various reasons.
     
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  21. dams

    dams Member+

    United States
    Dec 22, 2018
    #1096 dams, Oct 21, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2019
    I could get on board with that. Maybe have Sarge come on at the hour mark. Would only need a new manager and we would be ready to roll.
     
  22. rgli13

    rgli13 Member+

    Mar 23, 2005
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    its roughly 2,419th on our list of problems- but i dont get people who want long over miazga. at all.

    long is a plus backup to both cb spots, but absolutely not a starter (for me) if both are available.
     
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  23. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    #1098 DHC1, Oct 21, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2019
    If we assumed that Berhalter insists on having a minimum number of MLS players, here the order I’d go in
    1. morris (starter for me anyway)
    2. Jozy (potential starter for me)
    3. Long (potential starter for me)
    4. Cannon
    5. Pomykal
    6. Arriola
    7. Lima
    No one else would come close to starting
     
  24. honest trade

    honest trade Member

    Aug 15, 2010
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    From what I’ve seen Long can’t pass well under pressure and becomes a liability. I too would take Miazga over him. Hopefully Chris Richards keeps advancing and forces his way into the conversation sooner rather than later.
     
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  25. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    It's very simple -- Long's speed makes him valuable because he can get back to stop counter attacks -- which we saw repeatedly against Canada. Miazga, Brooks and Ream are all much slower of foot and can't play that role.

    So there's a lot of value in playing Long or Miles Robinson. A Brooks/Miazga centerback pairing is going to be much more vulnerable to fast attackers.
     
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