John O’Brien

voros said:

Yes, but so would playing Greg Vanney over Clint Dempsey because you don't have any left backs.

That's the kicker, O'Brien over the next choice at left back is a much bigger gap than O'Brien over Dempsey. So when we're at full strength, it's worth considering, IMO, particularly against a team against whom we could do a significant amount of attacking (about two-thirds the World Cup field I'd guess).
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I'd rather play Frankie there because the US needs O'Brien's ball control in the middle.

Of course, I also tend to lean toward the Christmas Tree with a lone box striker where the midfield of Beasley-O'Brien-Ralston/Reyna/Mullan/Mapp will have to provide the width.

Or I could play Eddie Lewis as a left back, if I want a defensive destroyer, aka Pablo, in a 4-4-2.