The semi-finals are set, after a lackluster group phase. The winning team from Group A is: @Eleven Bravo & @TheFalseNine The 2nd Place team in Group B is: @AutoPenalti (in a shocking upset!) Both teams must submit lineups and make a case for why their team would win the Semi-Final. Then any and all posters may vote for the winning team. Voting last 14 days from today.
again, about all I have time to do is copy/paste. Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan - There's Guzan and there's Howard and then there's everyone else. Granted, he's hit a rough patch, but he's still likely the USMNT #1. Joe Bendik - Personally, I like Bendik. He's a Georgia boy; but he's a damn good shot stopper too. He might not be ready to crack into the USMNT, but he's a solid MLS keeper... He would be a great addition to any team as a #2. Tyler Deric - Deric isn't going to win any sexy picks awards but he's become a solid MLS keeper. For a #3, that's pretty damn good. Defenders: Tim Ream - One of the most versatile defenders, as well as best distributors in the USMNT pool. He'll feature at LB for us, but I'm comfortable putting him anywhere on the back line, maybe even at CDM. It'll depend on Arena's style but he could force his way onto the US starting line up. Tim Parker - Parker is an unfortunate victim of there being so much CB depth in the US pool, but he rates in the same class of the best young defenders and can definitely hold his own on the big stage. Remember when he was a one man show for the US defense in Olympic qualifying? He was in a class of his own, and picked up the slack for Miazga. That said, he's versatile enough to play anywhere on the back line; even if he's primarily a CB. Like Ream, he's a mobile type defender...and he has a Jay DeMerit type aggressiveness to him. Chad Marshall - I'm a believer that you need at least one defender is going to win aerial battles for you, and Marshall is my man. Marshall has consistently been one of the top rated defenders in MLS, and we should expect no changes in that in 2017. Desevio Payne - It's an awesome feeling when your bench players become starters; not because of your starter's shortcomings, but because the bench players forced their way into the XI. Also, he can play RB or LB. Andrew Farrell - Farrell lost his starting spot to Payne in my XI, but I believe he can easily fit back in and this team would not miss a beat. Also love the fact that he's a RB and a CB. Like Parker, you get mobility and power with him. Justin Davis - Davis might be one of the best late picks in the draft. Davis is in his prime years, and coming off numerous successful years where he was named multiple times in the NASL to the best XI. Davis might be that guy who goes from the unknown to known in 2017. Miles Robinson - Perhaps a bust pick, as it seems like he's not going to make it in the starting XI right away with Atlanta. But Atlanta must have had a lot of faith in him to select him #2 in the draft and over Jeremy Ebobisse. Maybe he might be a late bloomer. Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta - What's been holding Acosta back in his career is that he's almost too versatile... RB, LB, CDM, RM, LM, but it seems that Acosta has finally figured out CM is where he really shines. Given that, Acosta is a prime candidate for a breakout year for the USMNT. Alfredo Morales - Most underrated player in the USMNT? When we are scouring over for quality DM's; there is prime aged Morales who is a consistent starter in the Bundesliga. Paul Arriola - Arriola has been on absolute fire lately and in his moments with the USMNT, he has stood out every time. I'm thrilled to have who may be the best RM for the national team. Lynden Gooch - had it not been for his injury, he was an easy 2nd-3rd round pick.... Good news for us is that Gooch is healthy. That said, Gooch has some versatility to him as he can play on the left, right, or middle in the attack, and he boasts tremendous quickness. Miguel Ibarra - Ibarra's stock was on the rise over the past few years until he tried his luck in Mexico. But, the thing is he's back with his old side where he was the star of the show, and we expect him to be a standout in MLS. Not bad for a player who we have to make room on our bench for. Nick DeLeon - We love DeLeon's versatility; he can play CM, LM, RM or fullback. DeLeon would be a starter for most teams, but despite the fact too that he's been a core player for DC United for some years now and entering the prime of his career, he's going to have to do a lot to earn minutes on this side. Russell Canouse - Before his injury a few years ago, Canouse was a rising star for the youth national team. He's been fully healthy for some time and has held his own when in action in Germany. He has some work to do to be considered a USMNT option, but he is in that same talent class with a Caleb Stanko... not bad for a player buried on our bench. Amobi Okugo - who knows what happened to Okugo and why his progression tanked, but for this player entering his prime years, he still has ceiling to be a quality USMNT player. He's a reserve for us now, but we are expecting a rebound year from him... perhaps enough to force his way on the squad. Additionally, he can play CDM or even CB if needed. Forwards: Clint Dempsey - The Deuce is back on the field. And what a steal for a #8 pick. He may be getting older, but we all know that he's the one player in the pool that has proven that he can get shit done. Gyasi Zardes - love him or hate him, Zardes is a workhorse, and every team needs a player who just works tirelessly to wear out opposing defenses. Therefore, we expect him to create all sorts of room for Dempsey. Moreover, expect that Arena doesn't leave him out, because he is truly underrated by most fans. Jonathan Lewis - It's rare that critics predict rookies to be starters for their teams, but Lewis has obviously made that kind of impression. He's on the bench for us, and he has some competition for first forward off the bench. Coy Craft - Craft is still down the pecking order at FC Dallas, but for how long? He's rated as one of their top prospects... for the team with probably the best youth development. We're expecting Craft to breakout in 2017. Charlie Davies - The rebound kid... Maybe Davies doesn't make his way back after his recent health issues, but who can count him out? Before those health issues, he would have most likely been a starter for most teams. And, we predict that he'll rebound in 2017. ------- Starting XI 442 ----Zardes--Dempsey---- Gooch---------------Arriola -----Acosta---Morales---- Ream------------------Payne ----Parker------Marshall--- -----------Guzan------------ Bench: Bendik, Farrell, Davis, Canouse, Ibarra, DeLeon, Lewis Reserve: Deric, Robinson, Okugo, Craft, Davies
I voted for Eleven Bravo & TheFalseNine. It's a fairly easy choice, as Autopenalti's team made the semi-finals in a bit of an upset, due to lack of effort by the other squads. Auto's boys showed up and played while the others seemingly had other priorities. Final score: 4-0. Dempsey with a hat-trick. Eleven Bravo & TheFalseNine have a good squad. Dempsey is the star and he's recovered well from his heart scare. Most of the line-up is solid, with players in their natural roles. I like Acosta, Zardes, and Guzan (we drafted all 3 last year). The backs are quality. Arriola is an up-and-comer. The only concerns with the XI as displayed involve Gooch and Payne, neither of whom are playing much in 2017. Payne appears to be on the way out of his club, but Farrell is a solid option at RB. I'd be curious to see the midfield replacement for him. Ibarra? He's only averaging 45 minutes per appearance so far in MLS. Guzan is also not playing much, but he's still better than the majority of US keepers, and Bendik is a solid starting option. AutoPenalti's problem is he enjoyment/over-reliance on youth players. Wood and Yedlin are quality Nat's starters when healthy, but both just missed important US qualifiers this week due to injury, and this squad has no options if these two are out. Hyndman, Zelalem, Adams and Steffen are good prospects. But too many guys are not even 1st team pros yet. Some of his starters are not playing much (Gatt, O'Neill).
Eleven Bravo & TheFalseNine win 6-0 and will play in the final. Congratulations. I'll set up a Final Poll next week.
The Finals link is set: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/2017-usa-mens-draft-poll-the-final.2046236/ 21 days for voting.