If we do that, Tata Martino won't know which side of the field to exploit us on until five minutes AFTER kickoff. If we keep it on the right, Tata can know ahead of time.
I hope we try him in an attacking position. We don't have any/many challenging friendlies coming up prior to WCQ's, right? That sucks, But, imo, right now, he's a better attacker than defender. I'd like to see him tried as a CAM. I know that's incredibly unlikely. So, playing as a winger opposite Pulisic would work for me, too.
This is great news. Bright young talent starting for Ajax. CL experience. I favor putting your best guys in their best spots. Not religious about it, however. But since FJ has said he wants back in, I'd say try him left and Dest right. Plan B qouldbe to move Dest left and go with Yedlin/Cannon/Adams on the right. Good week with Pulisic's play in CL & PL Hat Trick.
I basically agree. I think he's dropped the inverted RB as CM thing and instead just has the RB push higher up the field while the right winger pinches in and the LB stays at home. With Dest on the left and Yedlin/Cannon on the right, now either or both sides could push higher effectively (as Dest did in the games he played at LB in September), which *should* make us a bit less predictable.
Dest is better than all of them, so Dest should start at RB. Throw all the LB/RB detritus out into a competition with Gloster, and pick the best one as the starting LB and replace them if someone overtakes them, keep Dest at RB. Seems simple to me. If he's best at RB, and he's better than the rest, and he is, just play him at RB. Why make it complicated?
Generally I'd agree with this premise...but then you're benching a PL starter (Yedlin). I know he's the new USNT punching bag, but he's jumped right back into Newcastle's starting 11. Sure, Newcastle isn't great, but he's still one of our better talents playing in a top 3 league. Thus - would you rather have Yedlin/Dest starting, or Dest with Lovitz or Robinson or Ream? I'd take the former at this point.
LB or RB? Tis the question. But maybe not the only question. It seems to me Dest has the skillset to play a more advanced positon. Like Fabian Johnson. For now I'm ok with him being used exclusively as a fullback, but he could end up as an attacking player. One more thought. Ajax alum JOB mostly played left back for them. For us he was a central mid. This is more speculative but could Dest also be that kind of player.
I don't know by what metrics the kid made his decision as it would seem to fly in the face of logic, but you really can't feel anything but excited about this decision if you are a US fan. If I'm a Dutch fan I'm definitely not too worried as they don't need to put all their eggs in one basket given the proclivity of their youth development system. For us, the loss of even one prospect is a massive setback, so a good day for the USMNT. If he can stay healthy I don't see how he is anything but a lock starter on either side of the back four over the next 10 years.
players who can create offense but struggle on defense i am always interested in how they might play further upfield. cannon should start and then between him and the rest for RB backup, maybe play him some minutes there against cuba if we're set for group finish good or bad LB he got two chances this year and struggled. leave that for another time. he would be a good Olympic choice but may not be available for qualifying
uh, yah. And, I think Jay's Brother will consider it challenging too. He may (although I doubt it, he's Jay's Brother) feel like his job depends on it. So, I really really doubt that he's going to be in a mood to experiment - particularly with playing SD in an attacking role. What do you think? That is why I said it's too bad we don't have challenging friendlies before WCQ's start.
Well if we tank against Canada we'll get two friendlies we wouldn't otherwise have next year.... just sayin'.
Last time we had a guy who was a starting outside back for Ajax he was a center mid for us. Dest is more skilled and plays better in traffic than most of our midfielders so I wouldn't fight giving him a shot there. But realistically, he'll be used to plug the gaping hole at left back and perhaps will be tasked with the same sort of tucked in outside back thing originally planned for Adams just shifted to the left now that Berhalter has said he sees Adams as a central player. Kind of a shame a player as good as Dest with multiple options is most likely to be slotted in just wherever we have a hole, but at least he will get plenty of minutes and as the team evolves, we'll see where he finally settles in a few years. And let's face it, any player good enough to get even a hint of recruitment for a chance on the Dutch team is the level of player the US has rarely had available. An excellent pickup wherever he ends up on the field.
March 2020 is free - and Euro qualifying will be done by then (outside of the playoffs), so we should be able to score a good friendly or two, esp. with South America busy with WCQ that month.
I mean, you literally made a good case for him choosing the USMNT. Add in that he's friends with Pulisic and Mendez and Llanez and Ledezma and so on...
Dear god this. Put your best players in their best positions, then adapt. If we are still having a LB issue in 18 months, consider flipping him then. For now, just put him in his best spot. He's one of the very few no brainer starters we have.
Dest's decision is huge and I'm fired up about it. First CP22's hat trick and now this. Great news for once!
How does Dest's skills more suit that of a right back than a left back? I may be able to make the opposite argument because he's not a long crosser but he does have a strong long shot which is easier to release if he's cutting in from his left. He began this season as a left back but then Tagliafico returned. Then their alternative left back was better than their alternative right back. And why aren't we worthy to make the same considerations as Ajax when it comes to getting our best players on the field while giving the unit optimum chance to succeed? If the gap between Dest and the alternative right back isn't as wide as the gap between him and the alternative left back, logically he should be played at left back. Also could play him at wing-back, attacking wing, etc.; based on need, which we have one often times at wing. He has that versatility and the consideration applies to just about everyone else on the field.