My opinion of Sargent isn't really based on production (or lack thereof); it's more that I just don't see "it" with him. There are young players who flaws and who aren't productive yet, but when you see them play in a high-level game, they flash something that makes you think, "If this guy can do that more consistently and eliminate some flaws, he can be a real player." We see that with Weah, Reyna, Dest, etc. With Sargent, he works hard, does a decent job in hold-up play, and does a decent job combining with players running off him. But what is that he does at an exceptionally high-level? To make this thread relevant, I'm honestly kinda torn if I'd start Sargent or Zardes in a must-win game (assuming Altidore is hurt...as he always is). And I'm not a Zardes fan.
I'm really curious to see where Weah lines up when he comes back for Lille. If he gets time up front, it could be an interesting decision between Sargent and Weah to play as a striker with both of them giving us very different looks.
I assume you didn't watch the U17 or U20 world cups? The kid absolutely dominated the youth ranks, and now that he's on a bottom 3 BL team that scores 0 goals, you don't see it? Again, I think everyone needs to relax, look past Adams/Pulisic/Reyna levels, and realize this is a 19 year old as a squad rotation player in a top 4 league. Would Zardes be more successful with Werder Bremen? No, because a. he's not as good as Sargent, and b. Werder Bremen would never want him.
I did watch him tear up the U-17 and U-20 WCs, but there are plenty of guys who score by the boat load at the youth level and then can't translate to actual high-level, adult games. That's what I mean by high-level--Bundesliga or national games against decent opponents, not the U-20s, not the Regionalliga, not when we're playing Cuba. I'm not saying he's a bust, a terrible player, or has no room for improvement. Even a guy who can stick on a lower-tier Bundesliga team at forward is pretty good for the USMNT by historical standards. But I think he's looking more and more like an Altidore/Wood-level prospect instead of a Pulisic/Adams/Reyna one.
The way I see it, at this point of development I would put down the guys we know are difference makers at their positions and think about who we should put in with them so they can do what they do best and watch as a system comes into view after connecting the dots. Morris has shown he can get behind cb's from the forward position and finish or hit a teammate for the assist. Pulisic has been very good at taking the ball just under the centre-circle and dribbling thru mid. Reyna seems like somebody who passes thru mid very well and has soft feet that can deliver a pass-you-can-use in the attacking third. Adams appears to be a very high level 6 who plays best in front of 3cb's which also happens to allow him more movement forward to trap opponents in uncomfortable situations. Dest is surgical in his play as a wingback but needs support defensively which also tends to favor 3cb's. He can also score the ball and assist with aplomb. -----------morris------A -B------puli(reyna)---C---dest -------------------adams ---------------D-----E-----F -------------------GK: G Manager: H It looks like A should be somebody who can hold the opposing cb's to make it easy for the mobile Puli and Morris to get past the cb's. The candidates are Jozy, Zardes, Sarge - anybody else? C should be a real 8 who reads the game really well and covers for Adams when Adams makes a move defensively or offensively, knows when to press, when to fall back to cover a danger area, etc. My favorite candidates are Pomykal and Delgado. Guys like McKennie, Servania et al can be too mercurial for this spot which needs a real team player who stays on the job 24/7. D, E, F - Dunno. Need a good passer - Brooks? He is on the bench at club at the mom. Need one guy who can defend 1v1 well behind Dest - Miles? 3rd guy needs to be an all around mobile leader with a good brain - Long? In goal I guess we take the guy who is playing well at a high level - with Steffen injured I'd take Horvath altho he needs to get p.t. That leaves B which is the rwb. I think for the time being it is Arriola for me altho I don't think he has been under pressure defensively as a lwb yet. He partners well witih Pulisic which is important. At H we now have Berhalter but I don't see where his system has anything to do with the talent we have. Give Vanney enough time and he'll put together a really good team but we don't have time anymore. Not sure Marsch is quite ready with a plan B if his game doesn't work against Argentina, say. We're probably stuck with Berhalter.
When I watch him play, he doesn't stand out as a guy who's better than his teammates and certainly not as good as his opponents - at best, he's a good as a bad B1 team right now. i fully agree with you on youth level but quite frankly think the same way about this: "there are plenty of guys who score by the boat load at the MLS/Championship/B2 level and then can't translate to actual Big 5 or equivalent games.
I'm a broken record, on Dest, but it seems like, for the time being it would be worth trying ----------------Morris Puli----------------------------Dest -----------Wes------Holmes ----------------Adams LB--------CB-------CB--------------RB Plugging them into JBS (Jay's Brother's System)
If I had to win a game tomorrow (w/ caveat players were healthy): -------------Morris----------- -----Weah---------Pulisic ---------Lletget---Wes-------- Dest------Adams----Cannon --------Brooks--Long---------- ------------Steffen--------------- subs - Reyna, Altidore, Pomykal, A. Robinson, M. Robinson, Yueill, Horvath rest of 23 - Sargent, Holmes, Miazga, Lima, Turner
Youth achievements usually don't translate to anything at the adult category. If three or four of your U20s manage to become regular starters with your main NT, you can consider yourself lucky.
Holmes is better than Lleget and Weston IMO... and I am certainly jumping the gun but after watching Gio play during the winter break and to start the 2nd half I am having a hard time not thinking that he would be a valuable starter right now. He just has that "it" factor. I would like to see Chandler and Morales added to the bench while subtracting Lleget and Lima. You have three CBs on the bench and I only think we need two. Sticking with your formation: -------------Morris----------- -----Gio-------------Pulisic-- ---------Holmes---Wes-------- Dest------Adams----Cannon --------Brooks--Long---------- ------------Steffen--------------- subs: Weah, Sargent and Pomykal rest of 23 - Morales, Chandler, A. Robinson, M. Robinson, Yueill, Horvath, Miazga, Altidore*, Yedlin* * Replace with Long or Zimmerman if you need another CB.
I'm not knocking Sargent; Jozy had accomplishments Sargent didn't have at the same age. That's just a matter of fact. Despite not scoring, Jozy was very good in the 2010 World Cup (and Confed Cup, where he did score) and I'm not convinced at all that Sargent would've had the performances Jozy did against Spain and England, for example. They started him because he demonstrated ability to contribute at the international level from early on. Nor am I bashing Sargent or Wright or counting them out (well, maybe Wright, who's shaping up to be scrub) I'm just giving my assessment of them at the same age. I think Sargent is in a better club situation (he's not at a better club, but he's got a better fit), which is a positive, but I don't think he's necessarily ahead of Jozy as a player at the same age. For me, yes, Villareal is in another class from Bremen; usually in the Top 5 or so of La Liga, a better league than the Bundesliga.
If he was 24, I'd be in full agreement. He already has more goals than Jozy scored in a top 4 league across 2 full seasons. He's 19. There is quite a gap between Altidore/Wood type prospect and CP/Adams/Reyna. Of course he's not going to get sold for 75 million, like those 3 probably would right now. But he's already done better than Altidore did, who was entering his prime-ish years. Again, he's a starting/rotation player in the Bundesliga as a teenager. Just because he's not a top 50 youth product in the world right now doesn't mean he's Altidore. He is currently our best striker, and would start him in any must win game. It is just shocking how quickly we have become jaded. What did the 2017 Hex squad have? One player in a top 4 league? Maybe 2 or 3 when Yedlin/Brooks were healthy? When's the last time we had a striker starting in a top 4 league? Dempsey in his older years? Wood 5 years ago?
I wonder how many 19 yr olds start at the 9 in the Bundesliga. I'm not looking it up. There's Haaland who scored 9 on Honduras at u20's. I remember Sarge was held out of Bremen til he would turn 18. I think he was 'unaffiliated' before that and was only playing youth tournaments. I rewatched the Bremen-Dortmund game and he wasn't all that bad when you take into account his team as a whole. He missed some teammates but his teammates missed him too, when he was in good position. He did some good stuff. He should be getting an uninterrupted string of games in the next 4 months which will tell us a lot about what we have by summer.
I think Weah was in my original Best XI on this thread. I'm really interested to see him back and playing.
thats convenient for you, cause youd also need to cross reference multiple, simultaneous injuries to attackers in one team. as for getting an uninterrupted string of games- thats based on absolutely nothing. not only is he not a starter now, theyve bought in that position. id take the under on 5 1/2 starts the rest of the season.
So, Josh Sargent is getting major minutes in the Bundesliga, his coach loves him, but he doesn't score, so kick him to the curb. BUT, Jozy made some good runs in 2010 (10 years ago), didn't score of course, but let's keep rolling him out and hoping he is not injured? If Jozy is available on August 28th, then start him. But until then, you can't count on him to play or score. Excellent opportunity to see if the kid in the Bunsdesliga can do it now or maybe that Jesus kid.
Neither should start. Jozy's track record speaks for itself. Sargent should be brought in for depth. What's the rush?
I've never said a bad word about Sargent. I have high hopes for him. I object to the ahistorical Altidore bashing to prop up other players. If Sargent turns out as good as Jozy and a touch healthier we'll be lucky.
Must listen for USMNT punks ? Manuel Veth on Total Soccer Show https://total-soccer-show-usmnt-cha...-race-plus-americans-in-germany-w-manuel-veth As good as it gets. The real deal (once they get past Bayern so don't get bogged down there). Nothing is more tiring than ManU and Pogba and EPL transfers which is what they usually discuss on TSS (who are recently in partnership with Athletic,) They are adding features already. The two original partners at TTS took a trip to Germany and met people there recently - so expect more coverage. It's almost time to check in on Timmy Chandler playing wingback forward for Frankfurt v. Augsburg. Go Timmy. It's all happening in the Bundesliga.