Rank the USMNT center backs

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by dspence2311, Jul 26, 2021.

  1. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    This is probably where we just disagree. I don't think he's been consistent at all during his career. He's had huge swings where his club has been unhappy with him, looking to dump him, etc. And then he'll go on a long run of great play.

    I think Richards is already FAR more consistent. He still makes mistakes, no doubt, and he's far from perfect. But he's simply not going to break down to a level where the entire defense falls apart. And he's not going to go on runs for extended periods of poor play.

    The starters -- and I'm certain Richards is starting most games barring a collapse at Palace -- are not the question of course.

    But while CCV is weak in the air or Long will make mistakes, the mistakes tend to be there and done. When Brooks is playing poorly, it continues.

    And I would not underestimate the impact of his effort level in September has on his selection.

    I find very little compelling here for me. Experience has value, but it's generally not getting lost in the moment, knowing how to react to failure, recognizing situations quicker, being able to impart this to your teammates. Look, he technically has experience, but he's also the dude who has broken down in two WCQ, is not known as an on field director of traffic or a locker room voice.

    The last one is fine; but I'm not giving him a lot of credit for experience. The lack of being on on field director of the defense is less so.

    I guess we simply know more here -- we don't need to ladder it up to those things.

    We better hope Zimmerman stays healthy and doesn't lose form.
     
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  2. RossD

    RossD Member+

    Aug 17, 2013
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    #377 RossD, Jul 28, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2022
    I like Brooks and think he could add something to the team as the #3 or 4 CB. But he currently does not have a team and it's not like we hear a lot about clubs chassing after him for his signature. He will land somewhere, but it's not like he's a top class CB. He's a good quality, professional cb. 10 years ago that would pencil you in as a nat starter. It doesn't now.

    I think almost everyone agress on who the top 3 CBs are; Zimmerman, Robinson, Richards. After that it's a group of Long, Mckenzie, CCV, EPB, Brooks. We all have differing opinions on their rankings. It's opinion guys, there isn't a correct one and you're not an idiot, stupid, know nothing about soccer, etc if our's differs. Yours isn't any better then anyone else's and you're not some genius if it differs then others too.
    This, "I'm right, you're an idiot" argument is ridiculous. We can respectfully disagree with each other and conceed our idea is only an opinion. It's not right or wrong.
     
  3. dspence2311

    dspence2311 Member+

    Oct 14, 2007
    We got a video of mic’d up along in practice to show his leadership qualities. I found him irritating.
     
  4. MarioKempes

    MarioKempes Member+

    Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
    Aug 3, 2000
    Proxima Centauri
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's very strange that we don't hear anything about Brooks' new club. His last 4 Bundesliga games were excellent.
     
  5. ifsteve

    ifsteve Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Jul 7, 2013
    MS and ID
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That should tell us something.
     
  6. ChrisSSBB

    ChrisSSBB Member+

    Jun 22, 2005
    DE
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He can be good, he can be inconsistent. He has had moments with coaches and TD’s that makes me wonder if he skews towards high maintenance. Clubs are going to look at those last four matches with some skepticism before offering a lucrative contract. It would be different if he was 24 yrs old. Wolfsburg announced back in March that they weren’t re-signing him so clubs have had plenty of notice of his availability. It appears it is either going to take a club desperate for a vet CB or Brooks is going to have to lower his terms. Maybe a club suffers an injury crisis at CB.
     
  7. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Who are you speaking of? And, do you have a link to the video you're talking about?
     
  8. MarioKempes

    MarioKempes Member+

    Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
    Aug 3, 2000
    Proxima Centauri
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  9. a_new_fan

    a_new_fan Member+

    Jul 6, 2006
    I did watch the friendlies

    I also saw who didnt play in those matches and no the us didnt play the high line against uru for the most the match and when they did they struggled...shocking considering the starting pair cb of zimmerman the best cb in the pool apparently and long who was poor(and has been awful in league since having a poor window but its ok he'll be good in the world cup for sure) and epb who was even worse but yeah brooks can't get a look.(oh and uru started a bunch of backups)

    if brooks is slow, can't pass, can't play in space, can't deal with anyone quick...what can he do?
     
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  10. Yowza

    Yowza Member+

    DC United
    United States
    Oct 23, 2019
    Arlington
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think the high line bit is overplayed. It's contingent on the mids being successful pressing, but I expect both Wales and Iran to play over top of it and not even mess with it. And I guess they can try playing a high line against England, but after the first two or three crapped pants inducing high speed break outs against it, they'll switch that up right quick.
     
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  11. MarioKempes

    MarioKempes Member+

    Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
    Aug 3, 2000
    Proxima Centauri
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Brooks can pass well, especially long passes. In fact, he's known for that. He can defend against the big, physical forwards. He's good with his head. Unfortunately, he's not too quick and Chris Richards is also a very good passer, and he is pretty fast. Brooks has loads of experience. May the best man win.
     
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  12. nobody

    nobody Member+

    Jun 20, 2000
    I think this is something often overlooked. Sure, we'll start pressing up top and we'll press through the midfield as that is what suits that part of the team, but in defense, you can only play a high line if you are dominating the ball and I don't see that happening against England. The other two games will be some give and take. If we think we will get to Qatar and impose our game on any opponent we face, I think we are likely to get woken up from that dream pretty quickly. We get out of the first round and start facing heavy hitters in the knock outs, we better be able to play in our own half as well.
     
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  13. RossD

    RossD Member+

    Aug 17, 2013
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    One of our biggest strengths is Dest and Robinson getting forward in the attack. We need CBs who can cover for that, as well as a 6 who can slide over as well. Whether it's a high line or FBs getting forward, we play a relatively aggressive defense and we need cbs who can handle that.
    We won't play as high of a line against England but the idea we should fundamentally change our style is wrong headed. We're also not going to tell Dest and Robinson to hang back since they are such an integral part of our offense. That would be shooting ourselves in our foot.
     
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  14. LouisianaViking07/09

    Aug 15, 2009
    Since Brooks is probably out, it betters EPB's chances. Just gotta find his way to move ahead of Aaron Long and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
     
  15. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #390 xbhaskarx, Aug 24, 2022
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2022
    1. Richards
    2. Zimmerman
    3. EPB
    4. Sands (4th CB / 3rd DM)
    5. CCV (not a big fan of his passing or aerial ability)
    ===missing plane to Qatar===
    6/7. McKenzie/Long



    Guessing Sands get a plenty more opportunities with Rangers between now and November
    [​IMG]
     
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  16. ifsteve

    ifsteve Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Jul 7, 2013
    MS and ID
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As of right now.
    Zimm
    Richards
    Sands
    Long




    CCV
    EPB
    MacKenzie
     
  17. rgli13

    rgli13 Member+

    Mar 23, 2005
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    at the moment- zim/richards, miazga, brooks, everybody else.
     
  18. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Likely the starting duo:
    Richards and Zimmerman
    Doing well in the Top-5
    Ream
    Incumbent MLSer
    Long
    Performing well in solid leagues
    McKenzie
    Performing well in UCL/EL.
    Sands
    Getting minutes in the Top-5
    EPB
    Blackballed
    Brooks
     
  19. dspence2311

    dspence2311 Member+

    Oct 14, 2007
    If CCV and Sands are photographed talking to each other on the pitch after an old firm match grown men will tear their own heads off.
     
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  20. ifsteve

    ifsteve Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Jul 7, 2013
    MS and ID
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Same question as in the other thread.

    So you are calling in Brooks who isn't even in training over guys who are at least playing. Good grief Ream is playing and playing well in the EPL but you'd rather take a guy who you have actually zero idea if they are in any kind of shape and certainly not in any kind of form.
     
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  21. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I still split the defenders into two groups - big and strong aerially and fast and covers in space. Right now I'm not sure who the backup to Zimmerman is. CCV is strong but not really tall and not that good aerially. Seems like the cover CB's are Richards, Long, EPB and McKenzie. Sands is sort of in a classification of his own. I'm wondering if Miazga might re-enter the picture as he is the closest to Zimmerman out there.

    Richards, Long or McKenzie or EPB and Zimmerman, Miazga? and Sands? with Ream with an outside shot somehow. A lot to sort through and plenty of spots to win.
     
  22. Mahtzo1

    Mahtzo1 Member+

    Jan 15, 2007
    So Cal
    I really can't give you a full depth chart on the cb's but I will say this: Most seem to agree that Zimmerman should be first on the list...I agree. I am not sure if we agree for the same reason though. There has been an awful lot of commentary on passing ability, athleticism etc....all the "traditional" metrics. The one thing that seems to be ignored is leadership. For me, that is his greatest asset and an asset that cannot be overemphasized.

    We often talk about how skilled this young team is but even more impressive to me is the quality of leadership we have. Imo, we have at least 3 exceptional leaders (all slightly different types): McKennie, Adams and Zimmerman. We also have a few others that are maybe a step below on the leadership chart but the overall maturity of the team is also amazing.

    When is the last time we had this level of leadership? CB may be a problem area in some ways, but I think we'll be alright as long as Zimmerman is one of the 4.
     
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  23. eagercolin

    eagercolin Member

    Metro
    United States
    Aug 25, 2017
    Buffalo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If Brooks is an unemployed, maybe it's time to reconsider the idea that his exclusion from the NT is due to him being blackballed?
     
  24. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I feel like Pulisic should be added to that. Maybe not when he's on the field but so many times I've heard of players that he's told to get over to Europe to test themselves and other things of that nature. I wonder how much support he and the other big Euro players give those just getting there. Something that didn't happen when Donovan got homesick. Now there may be more Americans in Germany than with both LA teams put together.
     
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  25. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It SHOULD be reconsidered, but some won't do that.
     
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