This is the scenario in which he's performed best on the year. Off the bench, but a full half to make an imprint. It's folk-hero time!
Pulisic drew three penalties for Dortmund this season, equaling the rest of the team combined. https://t.co/eajHuuPsi3— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) May 27, 2017 Christian Pulisic is the 2nd U.S. international to play in & win the German Cup final, joining Thomas Dooley (1990 Kaiserslautern). 🇺🇸🇺🇸— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) May 27, 2017 Christian Pulisic's club season:- 43 games (22 starts)- 5 goals (T-6th on team)- 9 assists (2nd on team)- 1 trophy— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) May 27, 2017
Another record. 18 years old. @cpulisic_10 becomes the youngest #USMNT player to win a major domestic club trophy: https://t.co/lKPPAxfmat pic.twitter.com/M4SVEAzxHa— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) May 27, 2017
agree but frankly I think he could have played a bigger role. I hope he plays a bigger role next year
I think he's in the ideal situation: great club, Champions play, Pokal winner, recognized as a Top 10 in Europe. Anything higher, and he'd barely play. Anything lower, and he'd play more but wouldn't taste so much win. Hope he stays there for the long run. BVB could win another Champions, even (they did in '97).
He already played a BIG role at BVB. Start half the games, come of the bench half the games for arguably a top 10 club in the world this season that is loaded with offensive players that are worth at least $20M+ each in the transfer market. He scored and win games in the BL, CL, Cup, etc. And oh yea, he just won a trophy. What more can you ask of an 18 year old? He had thus far achieved much more than Adu, Jozy, LD, Demp, or MB ever did at the club level. And did I say he's just still only 18? Relax, and enjoy it. If he keeps this up, he won't be at BVB to celebrate his 21st birthday. He'll be gone to a bigger club before then. I am pretty sure Bayern is gonna pick him up after another season or two at BVB, as long as he keeps improving.
No doubt Reus is a great talent, but he's just damaged goods now. No point in having Messi or Ronaldo on the team, if he spends more than half the season on the injured list. They should sell him as soon as the transfer market opens and reinvest those funds on developing newer/younger talents.
I feel like I've watched so many YA's lose cup finals in the past decade (Bradley with Roma in the 2013 Coppa Italia, Onyewu with Sporting in the 2012 Taca de Portugal, Dempsey with Fulham in the 2010 Europa League, Friedel with Aston Villa in the 2010 League Cup, Howard with Everton in the 2009 FA Cup, Bocanegra with Rennes in the 2009 Coupe de France, etc.) that it was extra-satisfying to see an American win one of these for once. (I guess technically Edu won a Scottish Cup, and multiple Americans have won a Dutch trophy in that period, but the DFB-Pokal strikes me as a much bigger deal.)
Teuchy is still baffling to me. I get that he feels Drum brings 'something' to the match and with Rolls Reus he believes there is enough attacking talent, but they always give up goals early with Drum on the pitch. He is an opportunity cost player. Not only do you lose with him, you lose what you dont play. CP changed the match...again. Unless that is Teuchy's brilliant tactic: go down early, bring the kid in, win the match, then I don't understand it. The best matches I have seen Dortmund play are when dembo and CP are played a bit more narrowly and can either make those darting runs into the box for a shot, chip the defender with a pass or go wide and cross the ball. Benfica left that match in the CL at halftime looking around completely defeated. The same would have worked against Monaco, but Teuchy got weird.
Dempsey did have his season where he scored 17 goals/6 assists in 37 games for a mid-table Fulham. And obviously Friedel and Howard had seasons where they made Team of the Season. Pulisic's season would rank in the top 4. Perhaps next might rank him as the best ever. Or the year after. Or so on and on. So much potential
He stopped starting late in the season because Reus was healthy again. He wasn't demoted or anything like that and it doesn't take away from anything he did on the field. He got better and better as the season went on.
it's no concern if a proven veteran is a head of CP on the roster. Its a good sign if CP is the first choice to go in and impact the game.
He's 18. Not ready for a full time 10 role and still is largely a winger. When Reus and Dembele were healthy you're looking at something in the neighborhood of ------------80M+-------- 60M+-------X---------60M+ in transfer values in that front four outside Kagawa. So ya, at 18 he hasn't locked in a spot ahead of dual 60M+ players. He was however preferred to all other attacking options including BVB's record signing of Schurrle for 30M last summer. When he ultimately does become a lock starter at this level, maybe in the next 1-2 years, well that will also put him in the 60M+ territory with the Barca/Madrid/Bayern/Chelsea type clubs hawking him. I do however challenge anyone to find another 18 yr old attacker in the top 4 leagues who got 43 appearances and 2,300+ mins this year. Ready. Set. Go.
He's been linked to Liverpool, Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea in recent months. EPL clubs have the money to take such a risk. I'd also say with five EPL clubs in UCL next year it increases the likelihood but I'd put Klopp and Liverpool as the favorites given their relationship and return to UCL.
One is not related to the other. I don't buy that his talent has some umbilical cord to BVB. He should stay or go as it suits him. I think some people here misinterpret others, Often willfully and intentionally. Those of us who are fine with him moving or staying at his behest aren't of that opinion because we doubt CP's talent. Quite the opposite. The only way he screws it up would be to go to Real/Manyoo/Bayern/chelsea/Maybe MCFC. Anywhere else, he'll likely get at least as many opportunities as he does at Dortmund, excepting Barca. But Barca wouldn't be as bad for him as the others I listed. (To be clear, I'm not saying any of Those clubs are in for him. Just speaking in hypotheticals.)