Depth at left back is a problem, but when in our history has it not been a problem? We started an out of position Frankie Hejduk at LB in 2002 and brought a 33 year old David Regis as his backup. We started an out of position Eddie Lewis in 2006 and then moved Carlos Bocanegra (a natural CB) over to LB for the final two games of the World Cup. We started a combination of Bocanegra and Jonathan Bornstein at LB in the 2010 World Cup (after mostly playing Bornstein and Heath Pearce during the qualifying cycle), and DaMarcus Beasley proved to be a revelation as a late convert to LB in the 2014 cycle. Despite the lack of true LBs, we've historically managed to get by and reach the knockout round of previous World Cups. And while we failed to qualify in the 2018 cycle, I don't think anyone would argue that the lack of a quality LB was one of the major contributing factors. If he is healthy and willing to play for us at this position, Fabian Johnson would be our best option today at LB. I'm also very excited about Antonee Robinson as our long-term #1 option for this cycle and possibly the next two after that. He shows great promise, is an ideal athlete for an attacking LB, and he is progressing with his club. That's a great, young prospect in our pipeline. We have some other young guys who could step up and emerge (Danilo Acosta, Marco Farfan, Chris Gloster, George Bello, etc.). Honestly, Jorge Villafaña is a solid backup and stopgap option for us for the next couple years as well. He isn't a world beater, but I don't see him as a liability against CONCACAF teams.
In my opinion, LB was our weakest position. Having Borstein not tested during the 2010 WC doesn't make it a solid player. I still remember him looking foolish against a Netherlands friendly. I thought Beasley was a revelation as an LB, he kept everything in front of him and made his runs accordingly. which meant he was hardly caught out of place. P.S. Johnson as said more than once that he would prefer to end his career as left mid and not as a defender.
Gloster is better. Dest and Lindsey can also fill in. They are better. We don't need him in the U-20's. The discussion surrounding Bello the last couple of days has been way overboard. He's not some dominant prodigy that needs to be promoted. He belongs in the U-17 NT age group. If he's starting regularly the next couple of months for his club's first team, then the discussion will change, but one game where he wasn't out of place doesn't get him promoted a full age group. That would be way too reactionary.
FabJ (if he's willing), villafana, castillo, saief would be a possibility imo, bello just started for ATL as a 16 year old (i wouldnt be opposed to throwing him in the deep end)....
Part of my thoughts center on Ramos. He has a bit of the Arena in him, as he doesn't like to change the squad much even 9 months out. For example, he never really looked at Antonee Robinson, who was starting for the USMNT a year later. Gloster might not even make the U20 Qualifying squad and he was recently moved to the fringes of Hannover's first team. Dest can play there. Ramos and others like Manny Perez. Matt Real has played with the team, not sure about him. I'm all for Bello jumping them if he can prove it. He would have to do quite a bit and with the MLS season almost over, I doubt he does. He might start for Atlanta next year if he isn't away for the U20 WC too.
So, among U23 players, we have- Specialist left-footers: Antonee Robinson(21)_Wigan** Marco Farfan(19)_Portland Sergino Dest(17)_Ajax George Bello(16)_Atlanta Chris Gloster(18)_Hannover Danilo Acosta(20)_RSL* Matthew Real(19)_Philadelphia Brandon Bye(22)-New England** Right footers who have played LB: Jaylin Lindsey(18)_SKC* Matthew Olosunde(20)_Manchester United Marlon Fossey(20)_Fulham Desevio Payne(22)_Excelsior Shirley, a second difference maker has to emerge from this group. * = gameday roster regular ** = first XI regular
As a San Jose fan I can say I think Nick Lima deserves a look. He's not truly two footed but did play some games at left back last year. Sometimes he'll cut inside and take a decent shot with his left. Here's an assist he made with his left foot last year (at 2:15): His biggest problem is probably still relying on speed too much on defense. If he can work on that I don't see why he wouldn't be able to move to a mid level Euro league (or whatever league you think is just a step above MLS). He is one of the few exciting young players that actually gets consistent playing time on the Quakes, and he's probably our most consistently solid player.
Crossing is usually not the problem for right footed LBs. It is the pass up the sideline, in possession, that is the problem. Some can do it. Otherwise great RBs, can't do it. For instance, last year the USWNT tried Ali Krieger there and she just couldn't make that pass. Lichaj couldn't get it on the correct foot for Weah against Mexico. It is just a hard pass for a right footed player. 23 in MLS is not young. But anyone should get a shot to back up Robinson at this point. I'd rather never see Villafana again.
As someone who plays both Left and Right back, I agree that is a very important aspect. I don't remember Lima having any problems with it. But international level is a different game. Yes he's not super young, but in his second year as pro he still has the ability to improve. But more to your point I think he is one of the guys who deserves a shot to back up Robinson, and I also think he deserves a shot to back up Yedlin as well. With his consistent play on a bad team he at least should get a start in some January camp games.
welp, cannon, sweat and saief are all on the latest USMNT roster...so there are some more options at left back.... although, im not sure sarachan would see cannon as a left back and probably wouldnt play saief there either...though that could be a good spot for him.
Funny, when this thread started i saw Sweat not mentioned. Which was fine. He is blah really. Sarachan's quote on him is basically, he plays the position. Tells you what Sarachan/Stewart think of all the other LBs mentioned here.
i think it is just....he is starting at left back for a top MLS team....and he's a player who hasnt had a chance yet...not a knock on the other players. how many other us-eligible left backs are starters on a team better than NYCFC???
I get that. My latest thinking on MLS is to see which players can look good against NYRB. Ben is not one of them unfortunately. No problem with him if the idea is you have to have two left backs. A long time ago, JK should have stuck to his guns and made K. Acosta a LB. Would have been better for his career and the team.
Sweat projects better as a center back, imo. 6'2" 175lbs. His athleticism would be somewhat sketchy at LB in international ball. At CB he'd be fine. He has also excelled there for NYC.
Danilo Acosta has fallen completely out of the USMNT picture since whatever happened at January Camp. That is another thing Ben Sweat says to me
I think it says more about the quality of the domestic left back pool.................... For me Lima is superior to Sweat, but there certainly aren't many options. Its more of what happened between Petke and Acosta at RSL, and the lasting effect of just not playing............................ Maybe, but FCD did win multiple trophies with Acosta as the starting central midfielder. And he was on track with the USMNT, starting a bunch of WCQers, before his play fell off [Fact: The USMNT has never lost a game that Acosta started in central midfield.] His career so far (and he's only 23) has been quite good. Kellyn did play LB at Bradenton, but I think he rarely did with Dallas. He played CM in the academy, and then broke into the team during a rash of first team injuries at RB (Zach Loyd's long-term problems). Herzog used him at left back with the U23s out of desperation, and it went "OK." Klinsmann played him at LB with the USMNT to prepare him for the U23s. Backwards, but true.
Acosta has been the best LB in MLS this season when on the field. He hasn’t fallen off since January Camp. Certain players are not playing for their club teams and are still called in. You could even say the reasons for an Acosta call up would be much more understandable (lack of minutes recently is nothing to do with footballing ability) than guys who are complete pet projects without much of any first team background.
This is why we need that full time u23/B team, and also why we need a rule where domestic u23 players who don’t play at least 1000 minutes in a season (at some level, MLS club, loan, USL, etc) unless for unusual circumstances (injuries, suspensions, etc) should be able to move to another club. Who knows why Petke won’t play Acosta, but I hate seeing the USMNT hurt because these MLS coaches have no investment in playing young players.
Note, from the lineup we have for the Colombia/Peru games.... I would call in for a B team friendly: GK Marcinkowski, Gonzalez, Bono RB Lennon, Olosunde CB Trusty, McKenzie, Maloney, Glad LB Acosta, Bello CM Scott, Parks, Durkin, Jones AT Carleton, Busio, De la Torre, Booth FW Gall, Vasquez, Soto, Lewis (Sabbi if not injured)
Play 3 at the back with a d-mid or two who can actually defend, attacking full-backs leaving the likes of Pilisic and Weah free from defensive responsibilities.
Do we at least have someone who can defend as a left back? I mean, getting someone who can attack and cross is nice and all, but that is a bonus. The first task in the job description is to actually defend if you're on the back line. We seem to get super excited over anyone with some speed and the ability to cross a bit, and seems like too many of those choices can't defend. I'd agree with putting Pulisic wide left with Weah in front of him and letting them handle the attack on that side. But, do we even have any options that are just solid stay-at-home types for a left back? I recall we did just fine with Boca playing that spot for a time and he wasn't a speedster who flew down the line flinging in crosses. Maybe we need to adjust our expectations.