We're in trouble if we're starting Dempsey in the WC. He seems to be falling off the age cliff. He doesn't look to have it in him to go 90 in a WC game.
If we think our top 11, two months before the WC then my choice would be a... 4-2-3-1 Wood Kenny-Pulisic-Fabian Bradley-mckennie ????-Brooks-Cameron-Yedlin Howard
Yeah, I don't think it has to be an either/or question. Pulisic is clearly our most dangerous attacking player at this point, so you move him around to allow him the most opportunity to do damage based on game circumstances. In ideal circumstances, a player can get on the ball more and have a greater influence on the game from a central position, but if the opponent is intent on clogging the middle, then it makes sense to move your impact players wide to give them more space, even if it results in them seeing the ball a little less.
I have a really hard time picking a best 11 at this point. I don't even know what our best formation is, which would presumably in part dictate who goes in the starting 11. I think our two best performances under Arena have been the Honduras win and the Azteca draw. Maybe that suggests that a 4-4-2 is the way to go against weaker opponents, while the 3-5-2 is preferable against stronger teams, but 1 game in Mexico isn't much evidence to go on.
Pulisic is clearly our best attacking player....at club level. For the NT, he hasn't shown that, not against the top three of this cycle's hex.
Top 3 opponents this cycle have been Mexico, Panama, and CR. In 4 starts in competitive matches against these sides, he has a grand total of 1 assist. Again, 1 assist. And in the Copa, he got blanked.
I suddenly understand Eleven's perspective. He's been banging on the Pulisic can't play as a 10 drum for awhile, then ignores all his success as a 10 for us by focusing on 3 of 4 matches where he was stuck on the wing with a terrible midfield who couldn't get him the ball. Panama, Bruce set us up to fail and the squad looked terrible, it was Pulisic's individual moment of brilliance which set up Clint and got us a point. First match against Mex he was only 17 and still the best player for us, as a 10, then at Azteca Arena again ran out a poor squad while benching numerous starters and stuck Pulisic on the wing where he rarely received the ball. CR was a tire fire which saw Jurgen lose his job. Then Copa he also was only 17. This is bending over backwards to downplay Pulisic, but whatever. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. It does however disprove the stance that Pulisic shouldn't play as a 10 though by highlighting his worst performances came on the wing. But it's generally very odd to suggest he's the same player he was at 17, over a year ago when he's made massive improvements to his game. None of that matters when we line up in Sept, just as Bosz won't be judging Pulisic on what he had done at 17.
What success has Pulisic had as a 10 playing behind two forwards in the Bundesliga? With the US? Against whom? He would likely be successful as an a-mid/off-forward type. But then who would play the wings? As a wide, he got an assist against a difficult opponent. Claiming he did everything on the play is childish. But he is just a kid. Exactly: let him breathe. Geeez. This is getting worse than the Aron Johannson craze.
He was great for the US against Honduras at the top of the diamond behind 2 forwards. But while that lineup is exciting offensively, I am not comfortable with that defensively against a good team. You make a good point. I don't know if Pulisic is better centrally on the wing, but I do think we have more players who can play well centrally than wide. I'd like some goal scoring wings if Pulisic plays as an off forward. Sadly though we don't have a huge wing threat that isn't Pulisic. A guy like Nagbe, who I think in general is a good fit playing with Pulisic, I fear would not be aggressive enough to take advantage of Pulisic's passing. Zardes and Morris would fit the mold, thought I don't see either as first XI quality. Bedoya, who I was fully ready to discard after the 2014 World Cup, has been impressing my more lately. But it's still more for his defense and industry than final product. Johnson is quality, but I'd like him more at LB, and while he can score isn't a huge threat. If Green could work his way back into the picture he could be a possibility, though I don't see that happening before 2018.
Pulisic likes the corner at the top of the box. that's the spot he's looking at. How you want to interpret that is what makes you a good or bad manager. Tuchel saw it and put him at right forward in a 343 in the CL games. I take it those were games Tuchel wanted to win. I think Tuchel got it exactly right.
-----------morris-----agudelo----pulisic ----------zardes-- ---Bradley----dax ----Fab--------Brooks----Cam------Yedlin ----------------------gk:howard subsDempsey, Jozy
Back 4 im with you, the rest seems like something someones drunk uncle who has watched 4 matches would come up with,
3-5-2 (or 5-3-2, depending on how you interpret it) GK: Howard CB: Besler, Cameron, Brooks LWB: Johnson RWB: Yedlin CM: Bradley, Acosta (I think their partnership works well) CAM: Pulisic ST: Wood, Altidore
According to transfermarkt he played as an "AM" 10 times (5 starts, 5 subs)during the 16/17 season. Of course, BVB usually only play with 1 forward but here is his production in those games... 2G and 4A. Teams were Hamburg, Leverkusen, M'gladbach, and Benfica. Day Date Home team Visiting team Result Pos. 10 Nov 5, 2016 Hamburger SV (18.) Bor. Dortmund (6.) 2:5 AM 1 68' 13 Dec 3, 2016 Bor. Dortmund (7.) Bor. M'gladbach (13.) 4:1 AM 12' 22 Feb 25, 2017 SC Freiburg (9.) Bor. Dortmund (3.) 0:3 AM 9' 23 Mar 4, 2017 Bor. Dortmund (3.) Bay. Leverkusen (8.) 6:2 AM 1 1 46' 25 Mar 17, 2017 Bor. Dortmund (3.) FC Ingolstadt (17.) 1:0 AM 77' 26 Apr 1, 2017 FC Schalke 04 (9.) Bor. Dortmund (3.) 1:1 AM 3' 28 Apr 8, 2017 Bayern Munich (1.) Bor. Dortmund (4.) 4:1 AM 90' 30 Apr 22, 2017 Bor. M'gladbach (9.) Bor. Dortmund (4.) 2:3 AM 1 90' Squad: 8, Starting eleven: 4, Substituted in: 4, On the bench: 0, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0 UEFA CHAMPIO Day Date Home team Visiting team Result Pos. last 16 2nd leg Mar 8, 2017 Bor. Dortmund Benfica 4:0 AM 1 1 90' quarter-finals 2nd leg Apr 19, 2017 Monaco Bor. Dortmund https://www.transfermarkt.com/chris...16&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id= Here's the benfica game. Turn s the ball over a little Moreno than you want but also makes tons of things happen. Plenty of nice balls played, and nice run and clever finish. He has the flexibility to move inside with BVB and it what he did againt Mexico, giving them fits. The assist against Panama had nothing do with what you'd,expect from a wide player... stripped a defender in the box, beat that defender and then had the patience to wait for Dempsey to find the space right in front of the goal. It might be an exaggeration, but isn't childish. He made the play happen. He's an 18 yo who turns out to be the most talented player we've ever had. He has shown day in and day out in the Bundesliga and CL. He has performed well every time he has stepped on the field for the US. The games he has been least effective is when he has been put out on the wing and needed inferior players to get him the ball. He seems to be unphased by any of this pressure. He seems to actually be enjoying it.
Howard Yedlin - Besler - Brooks - Villafaña Cameron Johnson - Bradley - Pulisic (with CP and FB alternating) Wood - Altidore
Howard Yedlin-Cameron-Brooks-Lichaj Bradley- Williams Fab. Nagbe Pulisic Altidore I feel this is the best line up right now. I believe they should try Lichaj on the left especially because he can play both sides at fullback. I'm hoping by the World Cup Mckenney is this years pulisic at the number 8 position and can win the position over Acosta (who playing right now)but right Williams( who I want in there) is my number 8. Altidore and wood are my prefer striker but I went with altidore. Wood has a bigger upside but I don't think he finished the season strong. From reports it seems like it was injury related. My starting line up right now. Next World Cup cycle hopefully we go with 3 man backline with all of the talent coming up at CB I believe that will be a strength and it would help relief our fullback issue. Young Talents for next World Cup cycle at CB. EPB, CCV, Zimmerman, Miazga and Glad. You will still have Brooks, Gonzalez, Ream, Besler, Birnbaum, Hedges and hopefully Opara gets a shot this World Cup cycle. Cameron who is one of my top two CB this cycle I don't see next cycle due to age but you never know.
Pulisic is our best player, but still too young to be the game-changer against top opposition. That's still Dempsey.
Do I sound like this guy? Lmaof Pulisic is the best player we have, if he get better, that would be great.