I can’t imagine Ajax would prefer a second set of transcontinental flights to and from the US training camp over a few days training with Jong Ajax. Apparently the first team is leaving Qatar on Sunday anyway.
Home slice's thread was on the 4th page, never again. Here is a great press conference: SI Profile: https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/10/12/sergino-dest-barcelona-usmnt-koeman-ajax “Everybody is hungry, and everybody wants to achieve something with the U.S. and I think that’s a good sign,” Dest said. “We all want to win the World Cup, achieve great things, not only personally but also as a team for the U.S. I think we are the guys that have to do it, and we all have to keep concentrated, because if you play at a big club and you’re gonna be like ‘O.K., I already made it,’ then you can’t achieve anything. I hope, really hope, everyone keeps doing what they’re doing and always wants to develop themselves even more than right now.” He added, “We haven’t achieved really big things yet with the U.S., so I think everybody wants to be the first one, and that’s why everybody is so motivated to develop yourself and to win the first big trophy for the country.” Obligatory skinning of the second best fullback in the world:
Always wondered what happened to that guy. You know, if he went to MLS he'd get regular playing time and Gregg would be able to keep a closer eye on him.
https://barcauniversal.com/sergino-dest-and-an-incredible-start-in-barcelona-colours/ Defensive liability? No, sir. When the Ajax starlet made his much-awaited move to Barcelona, it was well known that he was a product that still needed refinement. While he already had a reputation of being impressive in attack, there were doubts raised about his defensive capability. Dest completed the most number of successful dribbles of any Barcelona player (six) in the Clasico, while playing one key pass and winning eight of his ten attempted ground duels. The visuals of him toying with Ferland Mendy and Vinicius in the final third continue to play in the minds of Culés on loop, as it summed up one of the best performances we have witnessed at right-back since the departure of Dani Alves. 43 out of his 46 passes (93.5%) were accurate against an opposition that pressed relentlessly, but it was also the highest among all the outfield Barcelona players.
I guess he has really come a long way in a year or this is just another example of MLS "fans" attacking euro based players. He is a freaking catastrophic defender.https://t.co/OKOKFNacQw— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) May 24, 2019
First off you have to remember the entire premise of social media posts in the fist place by so called experts. They post crap to elicit clicks and comments. They in fact may not even believe the crap their are posting in the first place.
At the time it was a perfectly plausible point -- as acknowledged by the Barca Universal post. Dest has improved since then, everyone's happy.
In no way was Dest a catastrophic defender at the U20WC. He got beat over the top for a goal in the first game against eventual winners Ukraine and that set the narrative by some for the rest of the tournament that he was some massive liability on defense. My recollection was that he gained confidence as the tourney progressed and was solid. He was certainly not a finished product defensively at that point, but his liabilities were overblown for sure.
Every time I've seen Sergino Dest, the defensive assessment is basically the same: Very good one on one defender in space Not tall Can get caught upfield either by design or over-exuberance, but you kind of want that The only thing I've haven't seen a ton of either way with Dest is his ability to mark on the back post - I'm sure someone else has seen more of this. But he's never been a bad defender. Prior to the WC, he absolutely shut down Diego Lainez in the US-Mexico game at the CONCACAF U20s.
I also remember the same dude say KDLF was not fast. You have to take it with a grain of salt what some of the pessimists spew.
Dest is an excellent modern defender to counter the modern winger. I feel that far too many of our fans are judging our fullbacks by outdated standards, where defending against touchline players trying to get crosses off and defending against crosses entering the box from the opposite side are the be all end all. In this framework a taller and stronger type defender, such as Cannon is inherently superior. That is not how the game is played anymore, particularly at the higher levels and I don't just mean club. In real games against decent opponents at every level it will be wingers looking to beat defenders 1 V 1, cut inside and combine or go to goal that will need to be defended against, this is where Dest not only excels and is and will remain a tested and known commodity, this is where he is much better on the right than the left and where he is definitely superior defensively to all of our other options. Another very important role defensively is as the safety defender on corners and free kicks, the counterpart to and defense against offensive players like CP who are the outlet to counterattack off of clearances. Dest was entrusted with this role for Barcelona against Real Madrid and will be invaluable to us manning that same role.
People seem to ignore that Cannon had to be pulled out vs Peru and then again just weeks later vs. Italy. We had a hard time getting forward in both games due to Cannon not being offensive. When he did finally show for the ball vs. Peru it led to a good free kick and goal. Cannon couldnt keep up v. Italy and would have pulled a second yellow in a real game that was not a friendly. Later, his lack of offense cooked our goose v. Tata's Mexico in Gold cup final. I dont think Cannon brings anything more than a 3rd cb like Zimmerman who would actually bring a good aerial scoring potential
He isn’t. And you don’t remember Dest skinned over and over at LB against the Mexican Srs? I’ve had Dest in my best 11 for over a year now. And he’s still there. I just don’t expect him to be an above-average defender. I don’t know if you guys have been keeping track this term, but La Liga football is a disaster. A complete collapse.
I completely disagree with your recollection. Besides getting nutmeg by Tetatico he had him in check. In that game we had only 4 current starters. Puli, Wes, Dest, and Steffen.
He looks to me like he has taken a big leap physically since then. He is stronger for sure. He was never slow, but if anything, he is even quicker now. He is also a better defender on the right than the left to my eye, but even on the right, at some point, he will get skinned wherever he plays. Puli beat him in the Champions league for an assist last year when Dest was playing RB at Ajax. It's going to happen. No outside back goes a career without getting beat when they are routinely going up against high level attackers. We don't have a FB in our pool that we can expect to never get beat. I generally would have agreed that Dest would not be a defensive specialist, but what I have seen from him lately makes me think he could be both the best offensive, and defensive outside back in our pool.
Fullbacks are used in a variety of manners in today's game. There is the fullback as playmaker. There is the conventional fullback. Other teams use CBs in the role with little expectation of attacking input. Dest is a playmaker, which makes him essentially a midfielder in the US scheme. A full-back like TAA would also be a midfielder for the US. Even England supporters and pundits often suggest he should be moved up to midfield. And Dest has greatly improved over the last year, as frequently happens with young players.
Cannon is an ok fill in, nothing more at this point. He has made a move to try and improve his game. He is nowhere near Dest at this time, as you rightly point out. He might never be near Dest, who might be on a track to become one of the best American players of all time.
If you mean "Puli beat him" as in beat him off the dribble, no, that didn't happen. If you mean Puli was able to get his cross off him, yes, that happened. Mind you that cross actually went by a few players before it got the opponent that scored. I wouldn't put all the blame on Dest. Wingers will get their cross' off regularly in a game.
Happy Destiversary! One year ago today, Sergiño Dest committed to play for the #USMNT as an Ajax player. Today he has a chance to start for Barcelona against Juventus in the Champions League after starting in El Clasico just days ago. This will never not be absolutely WILD— Grace Ott (@gcott151) October 28, 2020
?? You didn't get to see El Clásico? He was superb in defense, including being the last man for corners and set pieces at the other end: his ridiculous speed shut down the counterattacks. La Liga football might be a disaster, but Real Madrid is decidedly superior.