I think this fall our ideal lineup will be: Steffen Yedlin(assuming injury not catastrophic) Brooks Miazga Robinson McKinnie Adams Hyndman Weah Pulisic Wood I taking some leaps of faith here that Robinson will continue looking as good as he has and that Hyndman is what we think he should be now that he's getting minutes in Scotland. The coach might see things differently. He might see Pulisic as a more central player and that would put Hyndman out of the picture. Weah played up top today. If that's where he continues to play our next coach may keep him there and play someone else on the wing. Our next coach may value Bradley and Altidore more than I do too. Are we all underrating Alfredo Morales? He's going to get minutes in the Bundesliga this year and may be a starter. He'll be playing at a higher level than people a lot of us are putting in our midfields.
We have always underrated Morales. I think it stems from the play Bradley every minute of every game days when that distorted the play of all other CMs.
That's true he didn't but he also didn't exactly get used in a way that played to his strengths. If I recall JK played him in a hybrid CM/Wide role.
Ah yeah, his, what, two games for us? Shame, Danny Williams, Matt Miazga, Timmy Chandler, and others didn't impress in their games either.... Course, guys like Zusi and Beaz were worked time and time again, but we know why they were there...
I believe he had over a dozen games for the senior team. While he did move around a little bit, position-wise, he was mostly used in the center.
My memory is that Morales always played some version of left wing. I never felt he had the speed or attacking ability to play there but wondered if he might be a better fit inside with a three man midfield.
Morales is worth another look as depth at CM. He is entering the nominal peak years, so may have even more to give this time around.
According to the website transfer market, he played almost exclusively at Center midfield. He played on the Left against Puerto Rico and against Ireland. Both were friendlies.
For the US and for club, Morales played almost exclusively in a 3CM (4-3-X) midfield. The US CM depth chart was dictated by the Bradley/Jones binary system. The rest of the players ( Edu, Williams, Beckerman, Mix, Kljestan, Morales, Corona, Kitchen, ...) were just a level or two below Bradley/Jones.
1 sub vs Canada 2013 1 starts, 4 subs in 2014 3 starts, 3 subs in 2015 (plays his first competitive cap in the GC against Panama in the Group stage) 1 start vs Puerto Rico in 2016 (his only 90 minute game) None in 2017 None in 2018 Far more appearances than I thought, certainly. Although, the majority were substitute appearances, and he's compiled ~600 minutes for us over 5 years, none in the last two and a half years. Pretty forgettable performances I suppose. I'm certainly not clamoring for him to have a big role in the team. But Bundesliga players don't grow on trees for the USMNT, so I think it could behoove us to look at him if we're looking for veteran midfielders to round off camp rosters and provide leadership. He's playing with all the young Bundesliga guys we have over there, might not be so bad to call him in.
-------------------Wood------------------ Weah------------------------------Pulisic ----McKennie-----------Acosta----- ----------------Adams------------------- Robinson--Brooks--Miazga---Yedlin ----------------Steffen-------------------- I think this is the best XI we got at the moment when everyone is healthy. Would love to see this. Every line is dynamic with pace and skill. Could see this the next friendly except for Yedlin being out with an injury. Insert Lima, Moore, or Cannon there.
I'm not really enamored with Moore. He's speedy, has a little skill... that's about it. He wasn't in Levante's plans, and is now in the Spanish 2nd. Not terrible, but not great either. I would rather Lima or Cannon get a shot over him. Let's see what we've got in one of those guys. Maybe they're able to translate their MLS play to the International level, maybe not, but I'd like to find out either way.
If Moore dominates in the second division, I think he must be in the conversation. I'm all for giving Lima and Cannon a chance (we need depth at FB), but I've seen little to indicate they are miles ahead of Moore, or even someone like Marlon Fossey.
They're not miles ahead of Moore. But they could be equal to or better than him. Or worse. I just think that both those guys, particularly for MLS, are pretty skilled and good at attacking and defending, whereas Moore seems to mostly be a defense-first guy. I like Yedlin, but it seems like he's been lacking in the offensive side of the ball for the last couple years. Cannon seems very good offensively, and Lima (a converted striker) has a great shot on him. It'd be a nice change of pace for a position that we generally don't expect much from. At least that's what I'm thinking. Fossey's at Fulham and doesn't look out of place. Your sentence seems to imply that he's at a low level. He's got an opportunity to break into an EPL side at 19 (he is playing up at the U23 level atm), and is 2 years younger.
I didn't mean to imply that Fossey is at a low level, I just don't hear him mentioned much in threads like this. I'm not trying to advocate for Moore but I absolutely disagree that he is defense first. He wouldn't get on the scoreboard so much from the wingback position if that were the case. But, anyway, I'd love to see Cannon and Lima get a chance.
He played at Levante, who mostly struggled in La Liga. In a 5-man backline. TBF, not like he'd be able to showcase too much offensive skill against France and Ireland.
The Puerto Rico match aside, Morales's starts and roles were: started on the left of a diamond vs Ireland in '14 started on the vs Swiss in '15; his best match started at LCM in a 433 against Holland in '15 started on the left of a diamond vs Panama in '15 He only got one start in central midfield. He was excellent in the Switzerland match and solid in the Holland match. The Ireland match was an all-around clusterf--k. His defense, his best quality, wasn't needed against Panama. He hasn't been worldbeater for club or country. Still, as he continues to play at a high level, he deserves to be in the mix. Sources: football-lineups mlssoccer matchcenter
Wood hasn't reestablished his form. Adams hasn't been playing as a lone-dmid. Yedlin looks set to be out for a while. Brooks hasn't reestablished his form.
Funny to see people come around on using all our options. Of course Morales should be in the discussion and he should have been during the hex. The overuse of Bradley decimated our cm options.
Definitely. Which is why Cannon and Lima, fullbacks who seem to like to attack, cut inside, and, particularly with Lima, take shots, is particularly refreshing to me. Robinson, a LB who can cross, same deal. Villafana/Beasley have been pretty underwhelming for 2 cycles now. Villafana can't defend much, although he combines decently well. Beasley defends better (IDK how, he's been in his 30's for a loooong time), but offers nothing going forward. It'd be nice to not have this "unbalanced" attack where only one side of the field has 95 percent of the attacks going down that side.
In terms of form players: ----------------------Green-----Weah------- ----------------------------------------------Pulisic---- --------El Homie---McKennie---Adams-- ---Robinson----------------------------------------Lima--- ---------------------Parker--------Miazga------- -----------------------------Steffen------- Subs: Wood, Zardes, Sabbi, Acosta, Parks, Trapp Castillo would play as shuttler; Pulisic as a RAM.