i completely disagree with your characterization. I think that we don’t know if minor league players can elevate their games when it speeds up and I put MLS between the championship and B2 - all three are subjec to the same minor league challenge that occurs in almost all sports. Because we don’t know their ability/ceiling, it’s very risky to put them in central positions in important games. who are the players who have USMNT experience in games that count vs teams that are as good as Mexico? Being part of losing teams and friendlies isn’t the same thing to me but I guess you think that’s quality experience to be relied upon rather than 30+ games at a high level.
I agree that it looks like reyna vs Morris for minutes. It would take a really elite player to knock off Morris in my opinion - he was on a roll - but reyna is very impressive. His 120 minutes were not a club giving him minutes because of massive injuries or to reward him with minutes in non-important games. He was an important sub in a UCL knockout game and looked as good as the other players there.
Morris is to Reyna at nat level what Haaland is at club level: A guy who can get into the flats behind the cb's for Reyna to hit in stride. Lethal combo. Pulling one for the other would be idiotic. Morris doesn't have Haalands finishing but Morris can lay off to a finisher like Pulisic or the centre forward whomever that turns out to be.
2022: -----------------------Sargent------------------------ -----Pulisic----------Reyna------------Morris----- ----------------McKennie----Adams--------------- -Robinson----Brooks----Robinson-------Dest- -----------------------Steffen------------------------- Honestly, I think this should pretty much be our qualifying lineup right now as well. Bench: -----------------------Altidore------------------------ -----Llanez--------Ledesma--------Holmes----- ----------------Pomykal----Roldan--------------- -Duncan---Miazga---Zimmerman-----Yedlin- --------------------Hamid/Turner------------------- Thoughts you probably disagree with - Striker - I'm taking Altidore as I do believe he's the best option right now. Also the 1st team above has about 15 minutes of World Cup experience so a little "veteran leadership" might be needed. But Jozy's 30 and obviously extremely injury prone so good chance he's not coming. Ferreira could develop, or maybe somebody else. There a large non-zero chance I legitimately go Zardes. Cannon - I know everybody has him as a lock. I just prefer Dest by a significant margin, and then Yedlin still. Cannon is doing well in MLS as a 21 year old. Let's not forget that Yedlin was indeed tearing up MLS at 20 as well, to the point that he made a World Cup squad and got transferred to an EPL side. Since then he's a solid EPL player. Cannon could surpass, but the lack of respect for Yedlin these days is crazy. Left Back - Part of me still wants to put Hollingshead in there, but I'm sure that's sailed. Obviously we've got health concerns with ARob, but hopefully he comes good. Gaspar and Vines would disappoint. Hoping Duncan gets moved back to Left Back. He was very good there and has started MLS on fire this year (at RB). Roldan - I will admit he has never been good in the uniform. I might be the only one that still believes he'll translate eventually. He also is very flexible, able to play #6, #8, #10ish, or on the wing effectively; very useful in a tournament setting. He makes it over Morales, who at 29 is a journeyman level player (at a good level for sure). But there's no there there. If we did have a match where both Adams & McKennie are out, then I'd regret not having Alfredo. The glimmer of hope for Canouse is fading fast with him playing RB. In a crazy world this spot goes to Tessman. Ledesma - This is maybe a reach, but the potential is large. I think the current Aaronson hype is overblown, but we'll see. If things go wrong we could see Lletget, or just go with a DM type instead. edit - I totally forgot about Weah. If he can get those hammies good I think he's in the 23. Gotta drop.....Arggh...Ledesma I guess for now.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say one of Gloster, KHF, or Jonathan Gomez will be on the roster if we make the World Cup in 2022. If I had to pick one, it would be KHF. The only difference between him and Reyna is Reyna has a European passport
or a single first team minute- even in mls. has he even gotten a usl game? i get people think he has huge potential (i have zero opinion/exposure past his playing as a cb on a frankly bad youth team), but to go from the galaxy u17s to a world cup roster in 1 and a half years (thats assuming soccer resumes by fall) would be an unprecedented and astronomical jump.
Certainly possible. If ARob's heart is an issue that's a spot. And Duncan certainly isn't a lock down LB.
He played 3 USL games for Galaxy II. He turns 18 in June and IMO he will be getting BL minutes long before November 2022. Are we so deep at LB that we would dismiss a 20 year old BL player? Because right now it seems like we are all universally willing to start a 17 year old with 10 BL and UCL appearances in both WCQs and the World Cup.
And for what it’s worth, LAG tried like hell to sign him but when he wouldn’t sign, they left him on the U17s so they could try to groom a future LB. It certainly wasn’t because KHF wasn’t good enough.
im willing to predict reyna will be on the roster in 2 years because he has, in fact, done those things as a 17 yo. khf, at the same age, has those 3 usl appearances. we all get it, he has to wait. my only point is hes not a 20 year old bl player yet. youre skipping a lot of steps and assuming a lot. a majority of posters here were saying the exact same things about sargent 3 years ago- he had to wait, but they were absolutely certain he was going to be starting and lighting the world on fire the minute he turned 18. which, if you think about it, is an argument in your favor. we are just as barren at lb (with berhalters seeming indifference towards robinson- "our" consensus on him doesnt mean jack squat) as we are up top. maybe he (khf) does have a season with wolfsberg under his best, gets a few hundred minutes. positionally he doesnt have to be reyna (actually effective), he just has to be sargent (physically there). let it happen is all im saying.
Right, but that’s why I said I was “going out on a limb.” Even ARob has his questions as of this moment. We literally have 0 definite locks to man the position for either qualifiers or a WC. So really, it’s a stretch but it’s not that much of a stretch given the circumstances
Goalkeepers (3) Ives: Steffen, Johnson, Guzan Doyle: Steffen, Turner, Ochoa dhc1: Steffen, Horvath, MLS keeper largegarlic: Steffen, Guzan, Turner 11Bravo: Steffen, Guzan, Hamid rgli13: steffen, horvath, turner Individual11: Steffen, Horvath, Hamid jaykoz3: Steffen, Guzan, open Mahtzo: Steffan, GK2, GK3 yurch: Steffen, Horvath, Johnson dlokteff: Steffen, Hamid, Turner pkeeler167: Steffan, Horvath, Ochoa Consensus around Steffen and not a lot of consensus on backups Central Defenders (4) Ives (4): Brooks, Long, Alvarado, Miazga Doyle (4): Brooks, Long (West Ham), MRobinson, Richards dhc1 (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Alvarado largegarlic (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Ream 11Bravo (4): Brooks, Long, Zimmerman, Miazga rgli13 (4): brooks, long, mrobinson, miazga Individual11 (4): Brooks, McKenzie, Miazga, MRobinson jaykoz3 (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Ream Mahtzo (5): Brooks, Long, McKenzie*, MRobinson*, Alvarado* yurch (4): Brooks, Long, Alvarado, Miazga dlokteff (4): Brooks, Robinson, Miazga, Zimmerman pkeeler167(4): Brooks, Miazga, Palmer-Brown, Richards Consensus around Brooks (100%), Long (90%) and Miazga (80%). Pick 'em between MRobinson (40%) and Alvarado (40%). Fringe around Richards, Ream, Zimmerman, McKenzie Outside Back/Wing (4-5) Ives (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson Doyle (4): Cannon (Schalke), Dest, ARobinson, Vines dhc1 (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson largegarlic (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson 11Bravo (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson rgli13 (4): Cannon, Dest, ARobinson, vines Individual11 (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson, Duncan jaykoz3 (5): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson, Lima Mahtzo (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin*, Hollingshead yurch (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson dlokteff (4): ARobinson, Dest, Duncan, Yedlin pkeeler167(4): ARobinson, Dest, Cannon, Sousa Consensus around Cannon (100%), Dest (100%), ARobinson (90%) Yedlin (80%). Fringe MLS players: vines, duncan, Lima, hollingshead Central Midfielders (5-6) Ives (7): McKennie, Adams, Lletget, Bradley, Roldan, Yueill, Holmes Doyle (6): McKennie, Adams, Yueill, Pomykal (Leverkusen), Aaronson (RB Leipzig); Ledezma dhc1 (6): McKennie, Adams, Morales, Holmes, Pomykal, Ledezma largegarlic (5): McKennie, Adams, Lletget, Yueill, Morales 11Bravo (5): McKennie, Adams, Morales, Pomykal, Lletget rgli13 (5): adams, mckennie, pomykal, yueill, aaronson Individual11 (6): McKennie, Adams, Servania, Holmes, Pomykal, Gressel Mahtzo (6): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Holmes, Morales, Yueill jaykoz3 (4): McKennie, Adams, Sands, Yueill yurch (5): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Morales, Holmes dlokteff (5): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Roldan, Holmes pkeeler167(6): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Cardoso, Holmes, Ledezma Consensus around McKennie (100%), Adams (100%). Next level: Pomykal (60%) Yueill (50%) and Holmes (40%), Lletget (33%) and Morales (40%). Fringe-y: Bradley, Roldan, Aaronson, Ledezma, Servania, Gressel, Sands Attackers (5) Ives (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Zardes, Boyd Doyle (5): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Weah, Sargent dhc1 (6): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Llanez largegarlic (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Altidore, Zardes, Sargent 11Bravo (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Sargent, de la Fuente, Ferreira rgli13 (7): Pulisic, reyna, morris, weah, sargent, zardes, arriola Individual11 (5): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Soto, Sargent Mahtzo (5): Pulisic, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Reyna jaykoz3 (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Zardes, Weah yurch (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Sargent, Llanez, Ferreira, Weah dlokteff (7): Sargent, Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Llanez, Weah pkeeler167(6): Sargent, Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Weah Consensus around: Pulisic, Reyna, Morris and Sargent (100% each), Next group: Altidore (40%), Zardes (40%), Weah (40%) and Llanez (40%): Fringe-y: Boyd, de la Fuente, Ferreira, Arriola, Soto MLS players in squad (italic): Ives: 11 / (5 starters - Bradley!!) Doyle: 10 (6, if his forecasts that Long, Cannon, Pomykal and Aaronson leave) / (3 starters) dhc1: 6 / (2 starters) largegarlic: 9 11Bravo: 9 / (2 starters) rgli13: 11 / (3 starters) Individual11: 9 / (2 starters) Mahtzo: 10 / jaykoz3: 9 / (2 starters) yurch: 6 / (1 starter) dlokteff: 9 / (2 starters) pkeeler167: 2 / (1 starter) Median around 10/23 MLS (43%) and about 2-3 starters (27%). Far cry from the Arena/Berhalter benchmark. Bold = starter Italic = MLS Red = only chosen twice or less
Let's see your roster! You've convinced me(!) to switch out Morales for Morris in my starter selection but am worried about the defensive drop....
I got dropped, so I'll add myself back in. Ives: Steffen, Johnson, Guzan Doyle: Steffen, Turner, Ochoa dhc1: Steffen, Horvath, MLS keeper largegarlic: Steffen, Guzan, Turner 11Bravo: Steffen, Guzan, Hamid rgli13: steffen, horvath, turner Individual11: Steffen, Horvath, Hamid jaykoz3: Steffen, Guzan, open Mahtzo: Steffan, GK2, GK3 yurch: Steffen, Horvath, Johnson dlokteff: Steffen, Hamid, Turner pkeeler167: Steffan, Horvath, Ochoa Central Defenders (4) Ives (4): Brooks, Long, Alvarado, Miazga Doyle (4): Brooks, Long (West Ham), MRobinson, Richards dhc1 (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Alvarado largegarlic (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Ream 11Bravo (4): Brooks, Long, Zimmerman, Miazga rgli13 (4): brooks, long, mrobinson, miazga Individual11 (4): Brooks, McKenzie, Miazga, MRobinson jaykoz3 (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Ream Mahtzo (5): Brooks, Long, McKenzie*, MRobinson*, Alvarado* yurch (4): Brooks, Long, Alvarado, Miazga dlokteff (4): Brooks, Robinson, Miazga, Zimmerman pkeeler167(4): Brooks, Miazga, Palmer-Brown, Richards Outside Back/Wing (4-5) Ives (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson Doyle (4): Cannon (Schalke), Dest, ARobinson, Vines dhc1 (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson largegarlic (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson 11Bravo (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson rgli13 (4): Cannon, Dest, ARobinson, vines Individual11 (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson, Duncan jaykoz3 (5): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson, Lima Mahtzo (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin*, Hollingshead yurch (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson dlokteff (4): ARobinson, Dest, Duncan, Yedlin pkeeler167(4): ARobinson, Dest, Cannon, Sousa Central Midfielders (5-6) Ives (7): McKennie, Adams, Lletget, Bradley, Roldan, Yueill, Holmes Doyle (6): McKennie, Adams, Yueill, Pomykal (Leverkusen), Aaronson (RB Leipzig); Ledezma dhc1 (6): McKennie, Adams, Morales, Holmes, Pomykal, Ledezma largegarlic (5): McKennie, Adams, Lletget, Yueill, Morales 11Bravo (5): McKennie, Adams, Morales, Pomykal, Lletget rgli13 (5): adams, mckennie, pomykal, yueill, aaronson Individual11 (6): McKennie, Adams, Servania, Holmes, Pomykal, Gressel Mahtzo (6): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Holmes, Morales, Yueill jaykoz3 (4): McKennie, Adams, Sands, Yueill yurch (5): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Morales, Holmes dlokteff (5): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Roldan, Holmes pkeeler167(6): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Cardoso, Holmes, Ledezma Attackers (5) Ives (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Zardes, Boyd Doyle (5): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Weah, Sargent dhc1 (6): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Llanez largegarlic (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Altidore, Zardes, Sargent 11Bravo (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Sargent, de la Fuente, Ferreira rgli13 (7): Pulisic, reyna, morris, weah, sargent, zardes, arriola Individual11 (5): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Soto, Sargent Mahtzo (5): Pulisic, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Reyna, jaykoz3 (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Zardes, Weah yurch (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Sargent, Llanez, Ferreira, Weah dlokteff (7): Sargent, Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Llanez, Weah pkeeler167(6): Sargent, Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Weah MLS players in squad (italic): Ives: 11 / (5 starters - Bradley!!) Doyle: 10 (6, if his forecasts that Long, Cannon, Pomykal and Aaronson leave) / (3 starters) dhc1: 6 / (1 starter) largegarlic: 9 11Bravo: 9 / (2 starters) rgli13: 11 / (3 starters) Individual11: 9 / (2 starters) Mahtzo: 10 / jaykoz3: 9 / (2 starters) yurch: 6 / (1 starter) dlokteff: 9 / (2 starters) pkeeler167: 2/0 (Cannon will move by then) Bold = starter Italic = MLS Red = only chosen twice or less[/QUOTE]
I'm too far from the Berhalter / Stewart conception of a competitive team. It is too hopeless a task to put out a lineup (taking into consideration as well that the cb situation is up in the air with so many cb's at the same level and we don't have a left back.)
This is for WCQ: Pulisic------------Altidore--------------Morris ---------Lletget------------McKennie--------- ---------------------Adams---------------------- Dest-------Brooks-----Miazga-------Cannon ---------------------Steffen----------------------
Goalkeepers (3) Ives: Steffen, Johnson, Guzan Doyle: Steffen, Turner, Ochoa dhc1: Steffen, Horvath, MLS keeper largegarlic: Steffen, Guzan, Turner 11Bravo: Steffen, Guzan, Hamid rgli13: steffen, horvath, turner Individual11: Steffen, Horvath, Hamid jaykoz3: Steffen, Guzan, open Mahtzo: Steffan, GK2, GK3 yurch: Steffen, Horvath, Johnson dlokteff: Steffen, Hamid, Turner pkeeler167: Steffan, Horvath, Ochoa Consensus around Steffen and not a lot of consensus on backups Central Defenders (4) Ives (4): Brooks, Long, Alvarado, Miazga Doyle (4): Brooks, Long (West Ham), MRobinson, Richards dhc1 (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Alvarado largegarlic (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Ream 11Bravo (4): Brooks, Long, Zimmerman, Miazga rgli13 (4): brooks, long, mrobinson, miazga Individual11 (4): Brooks, McKenzie, Miazga, MRobinson jaykoz3 (4): Brooks, Long, Miazga, Ream Mahtzo (5): Brooks, Long, McKenzie*, MRobinson*, Alvarado* yurch (4): Brooks, Long, Alvarado, Miazga dlokteff (4): Brooks, Robinson, Miazga, Zimmerman pkeeler167(4): Brooks, Miazga, Palmer-Brown, Richards Consensus around Brooks (100%), Long (90%) and Miazga (80%). Pick 'em between MRobinson (40%) and Alvarado (40%). Fringe around Richards, Ream, Zimmerman, McKenzie Outside Back/Wing (4-5) Ives (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson Doyle (4): Cannon (Schalke), Dest, ARobinson, Vines dhc1 (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson largegarlic (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson 11Bravo (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson rgli13 (4): Cannon, Dest, ARobinson, vines Individual11 (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson, Duncan jaykoz3 (5): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson, Lima Mahtzo (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin*, Hollingshead yurch (4): Cannon, Dest, Yedlin, ARobinson dlokteff (4): ARobinson, Dest, Duncan, Yedlin pkeeler167(4): ARobinson, Dest, Cannon, Sousa Consensus around Cannon (100%), Dest (100%), ARobinson (90%) Yedlin (80%). Fringe MLS players: vines, duncan, Lima, hollingshead Central Midfielders (5-6) Ives (7): McKennie, Adams, Lletget, Bradley, Roldan, Yueill, Holmes Doyle (6): McKennie, Adams, Yueill, Pomykal (Leverkusen), Aaronson (RB Leipzig); Ledezma dhc1 (6): McKennie, Adams, Morales, Holmes, Pomykal, Ledezma largegarlic (5): McKennie, Adams, Lletget, Yueill, Morales 11Bravo (5): McKennie, Adams, Morales, Pomykal, Lletget rgli13 (5): adams, mckennie, pomykal, yueill, aaronson Individual11 (6): McKennie, Adams, Servania, Holmes, Pomykal, Gressel Mahtzo (6): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Holmes, Morales, Yueill jaykoz3 (4): McKennie, Adams, Sands, Yueill yurch (5): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Morales, Holmes dlokteff (5): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Roldan, Holmes pkeeler167(6): McKennie, Adams, Pomykal, Cardoso, Holmes, Ledezma Consensus around McKennie (100%), Adams (100%). Next level: Pomykal (75%) Yueill (50%) and Holmes (58%), Lletget (25%) and Morales (43%). Fringe-y: Bradley, Roldan, Aaronson, Ledezma, Servania, Gressel, Sands Attackers (5) Ives (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Zardes, Boyd Doyle (5): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Weah, Sargent dhc1 (6): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Llanez largegarlic (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Altidore, Zardes, Sargent 11Bravo (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Sargent, de la Fuente, Ferreira rgli13 (7): Pulisic, reyna, morris, weah, sargent, zardes, arriola Individual11 (5): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Soto, Sargent Mahtzo (5): Pulisic, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Reyna jaykoz3 (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Sargent, Zardes, Weah yurch (7): Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Sargent, Llanez, Ferreira, Weah dlokteff (7): Sargent, Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Altidore, Llanez, Weah pkeeler167(6): Sargent, Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Weah Consensus around: Pulisic, Reyna, Morris and Sargent (100% each), Next group: Altidore (50%), Zardes (33%), Weah (42%) and Llanez (42%): Fringe-y: Boyd, de la Fuente, Ferreira, Arriola, Soto MLS players in squad (italic): Ives: 11 / (5 starters - Bradley!!) Doyle: 10 (6, if players leave) / (3 starters) dhc1: 6 / (2 starters) largegarlic: 9 / (4 starters) 11Bravo: 9 / (2 starters) rgli13: 11 / (3 starters) Individual11: 9 / (2 starters) Mahtzo: 10 / jaykoz3: 9 / (2 starters) yurch: 6 / (1 starter) dlokteff: 9 / (2 starters) pkeeler167: 2 / (1 starter) Median around 10/23 MLS (43%) and about 2-3 starters (27%). Far cry from the Arena/Berhalter benchmark. Bold = starter Italic = MLS Red = only chosen twice or less
What is the rationale for having Cannon/Yedlin start? is the thought that A) dest is just as good on the left as the right and/ or B) left back has no talent at all (no faith in consensus pick ARobinson) and/or C) we must get Cannon/Yedlin on the pitch?
I got Cannon as a starter in my WCQing team. Dest would play in midfield. He brings a lot to the table as a mid. If others show more, he can then be moved back to RB.
none of this is applicable to me, but im going to chime in anyways... the rationale for starting cannon is presumably that hes our best defensive rb. im a big yedlin fan so the margin is very slim for me, for most here its pretty decisive. for yedlin its that however hard people try to explain it away hes a proven epl vet. hes one of our few "experienced" players who isnt aging out/significant loss of form or a fitness concern. hes our second best defensive rb and second best offensive rb (cue arguments that cannon vs cuba is remotely indicitaive of his offensive production for the nats). let me put it this way- if there were no dest or cannon right back still wouldnt be among our top five "position to fill" problems. robinson is a strange case. your last update says hes 90% consensus, but i think confidence berhalter will use him would be around 25%. hes shown zero interest.robinson isnt a guy who never got a look- he was actively dropped from the team. so possibly (not speaking for whoever you were addressing) a perceived lack of confidence in robinson is maybe a lack of confidence berhalter gets his head out of his ass? i wonder, again using that 90% for robinson, how much of that is linked to it allowing for dest on right? cause ive been pretty clear dest isnt a lb, full stop. but to narrow things down i would consider bornstein at lb over dest IF robinson is on the roster. i guess thats obvious- i took sam vines over dest as lb (bumping yedlin) from my predicted roster. my biggest roster omission is directly a result of how much dest isnt a left back. and to make it even more convoluted- dest still isnt a lock starter for me on the right. i could go robinson/dest for teams "better" than us....but not a lot better. theres some line, ill say roughly portugal, id go robinson/cannon.
Robinson's subsequent rise makes untenable his not being used going forward. Dest looked uncomfortable at LB and is rarely used there with Ajax in competitive matches.
he played on the left in the preseason while tagliafico was injured. thats it. thats the extent of left back play for ajax. not rarely, not infrequently, not situationally.