I asked what metrics Tac used to determine that Banks is our 2nd-best CB at current. You asked what my CB ranking is (which I provided). Why don't you provide your own? Too much of a coward to stand behind your own thoughts?
If all the CBs are healthy I would agree, despite Zimmerman’s aerial prowess. But Poch looks likely to bring Ream and to start him. And I worry that his lack of both pace and quickness will out weigh the “steady veteran” benefits.
Shame we can't post images here but as a right-sided CB in a back 3 Banks scores 6.92 on Sofascore to Scally's 6.57. But that's over a limited number of matches.
If we play with 3CBs when in possession then I think Ream can still handle the position defensively... especially if he had a DM like Adams in support. But if we go with 2CBs then Ream can't be anywhere near the pitch... His passing ability is probably the best in our CB stable but he lacks the pace and aerial prowess to cover his region of the pitch. A hyper-fast CB like Robinson could help him in this regard but he might be the worst passer in the USMNT CB pool so offensively it becomes a wash.
It's also Sofascore, so that level of gap is more or less meaningless. The way this and the fotmob work don't work all that well anywhere, but especially with defenders.
There is NO story, outside of you (here) and maybe one or 2 other social media sites, looking for cheap clicks. Literally nothing on Goal.com, ESPN, FoxSports, etc.
So is there a disconnect that Blackmon is the best defender in MLS, yet also the guy that we saw with our own eyes struggle when he got his MNT callups or is this some kind of lobbying campaign to get him on the pla...in the hotel shuttle for the WC?
It’s true Don Garber concocted a plan to get Blackmon on the World Cup roster by making sure the MLS CSOs voted for him as best defender in an anonymous survey in the Athletic.
He was shaky early on. First cap jitters which affect MOST guys. I thought he played much better as the game wore on. He looked good in the MLS opener last weekend--he's big but mobile and gracefully skilled. I think he's got a decent shot at March camp.
He struggled in his first game with the US against Son when the rest of the defense was crap. We have a lot of guys who struggled in their first games defensively for the US. It's hard to come into camp, have a half day of practice and then do well in a position that requires coordination. Add into it that the rest of our defense applied zero pressure and was full of holes, I don't think that was a particularly good long term test. He also started against Japan and was fine. I'm not the biggest Blackmon fan, but he is a good passer and he's fairly quick.
I must stress that the entire complexion of the team changed when we moved to 3 in the back. Lesser athletic CBs like Ream and Blackmon have more manageable spaces to cover. I think it also provides better lanes with which to pass out of the back. It literally has been night and day since the switch in the 2nd half of the SK game.
We definitely benefited from a change. Some of that, particular to those two games, was a 3 ATB. But we had largely been 3 ATB in the build out for a very long time. We weren't so much that game because Dest started, but for much of the rest of Poch's time, the RB was hanging back anyway. And since then, we've largely done the same thing. I think the bigger change in that game attitudinal, not just tactical. Richards, Freeman, Roldan and Balogun all came in at 62' and yes, we went to a 3 ATB but the players matter. Balogun changed the danger of our attack, and the other guys all came in and shifted the style of defense. We attacked on defense after that -- not on our heels and much more mobile. Was that helped by the 3 ATB? Yeah, I think that's likely. Knowing that there were three CBs behind (plus Freeman as a wingback) probably helped the rest of the team play more aggressive. Ream has credited the 120 minutes we played 3 ATB across the window (this plus all of the Japan game) as teaching the backline how they were supposed to be playing the "fluid 4 ATB" that Pochettino wanted. But it's also just Roldan going absolutely nuts running all over the field; it's Balogun applying pressure; it's Freeman created problems on the right. We add Luna later and he attacks relentlessly in that game. We've seen moved away from a real 3 ATB and looked pretty good.
Why the hell are you asking ME what metrics some guy I don't know is using? Go ask him directly if you really care. Mine are 2/3 of Richards Banks McKenzie starting, bench guys I'm not going to worry about too much months out but I certainly wouldn't take Ream under any circumstances unless it was as an assistant coach. Also my position What metrics are YOU using to have Ream fourth when Banks isn't in the top six?
Zimmerman to me seems out. [I know people are talking about Ream................but Zimmerman got abused this past weekend by the Dallas forwards. Logan Farrington parked his butt on the ground for one play that led to a goal. Juked him out of his socks.] Ream will likely make it. Doesn't mean he will start. Tim Ream is captain of the USMNT. To me, at this point, it looks like a Trusty versus Banks discussion. Cuz as much as people talk about Ream, Trusty has looked terrible of late. For me its Richards, Robinson, McKenzie, Ream......................and one of Trusty/Banks as the likeliest scenario. But what the hell do I know? At the last camp, Poch only took four natural CBs. Richards wasn't available, and he took Trusty instead of Banks.
He started the disastrous Switzerland friendly and has played 4 minutes since. He was on the Gold Cup roster, but barely played. There are a group of guys from that Switzerland disaster that we haven't seen since. Matt Turner is another.
Yeah, I stated in other threads at the time, I knew nothing about him, when I looked at the highlights the Whitecaps put out for him I was "puzzled" since what I saw was some dodgy defending with. heroic clean ups of his own mistakes (clattering his own keeper but being the guy who ultimately blocked & cleared the resulting shots, etc). But general highlights of whitecaps games he definitely had a bit of the Bonucci ball in him, iirc not afraid to pass with both feet, and wasn't getting skinned for the other team's goals/being the reason someone else got skinned trying to make up for his bad choices. Maybe there is something there, but he seemed shaky beyond the first MNT game to me - step behind, diving header to clear in midfield, etc. never got to see his passing. There's nothing wrong with being a top guy in the domestic league but maybe not a fit for the National team.
Poch: Players like Weah should shut up and only focus on the World Cup (does not include World Cup ticket prices) because anything else is a distraction from the USMNT Also Poch: ESPN: USA coach Pochettino won't rule out Real Madrid: 'All in good time' Is this basic promotional stuff also, or what's the excuse this time?
I don’t think you read the ESPN article. He was asked a question and he answered it. You’re being weirdly obsessed with Poch. I can’t figure out your angle, but there’s deffo something weird happening.
. "All in good time. Football will take you where it wants, not where you want." Oh my God, he could have spent that 3 seconds texting Jonathan Klinsmann!!!