This list isn't based on what I think Gregg will do or how well players fit the system but more about form/quality: 1. Zimmerman- He's playing in a weaker league but is the best defender in that league. The USMNT defense has historically been far better whenever Zimmerman is on the field then when he isn't, so he is the CB that I trust the most. 2. Ream- Starting every game as the captain of a team in the Premier League. He's 34 years old but it looks like he hasn't declined at all and is instead playing the best soccer of his career. 3. CCV- Like Zimmerman he is in a weaker league but he is considered the best CB in that league. 4. Brooks- Passes the ball well but is also prone to making mental errors. Despite his flaws I put him at a pretty high rank due to his long track record as a starter for a decent team in the Bundesliga. 5. Richards- Struggling to get playing time so far at Chrystal Palace but had a decent track record in the Bundesliga. 6. EPB- Has managed to earn a spot in the starting lineup for a team in the first division of France. 7. Aaron Long- Was once considered the best defender in MLS. I don't think he is at the same level anymore, but he should still be above average by MLS standards. 8. James Sands- Looks like he is beginning to work his way into the starting lineup at Rangers. I think there is a significant difference between Sands, who is just becoming a starter, and CCV, who is considered the best defender in the same league. However, Sands still might make the world cup roster due to his versatility and ability to play multiple positions. 9. Mark McKenzie- I'm not sure if he has locked down a spot in the starting lineup of Genk or not, but he might move up if he does. 10. Matt Miazga- He would have ranked higher before his disastrous stint at Alaves, where he was relegated to the bench of a team that really wasn't very good.
Yup. Steps to process of getting it 1-You just look up who started USMNT games months ago 2-Don't' watch any games because most games are unavailable anyway 3-Don't even care who hasn't played in 6 months 4-Based on those tables players who play on perceived better teams 5-write' playing well for..."[xxx]" 6-Don't' care what coach Berhalter wants in a player for his system 7-Then put list together using as many clichés and refer to team often
I specifically said that my ranking wasn't based on how well players fit the system. In terms of how CBs fit into the system, it seems like Berhalter wants to always have at least one very fast CB on the pitch at all times so that they can play a high line. He seems like he is comfortable playing one fast CB and one slow CB as long as they aren't both slow. Therefore you can divide the pool into "fast" CBs (Richards, Long, EPB, and McKenzie) and "slow" CBs (Zimmerman, CCV, Ream, and Brooks). CBs don't get subbed a lot, so we will probably only bring 4 CBs to the World Cup(if there is a 5th one it would probably be someone who can also provide depth at other positions like Sands). That means 2 of the positions will be reserved for "fast" CBs and only 2 are open for slower CBs. Zimmerman will definitely take one of the positions for slow CBs, so there is only one spot open for CCV, Ream, and Brooks to fight over. Since CCV was called in over the summer he likely has the advantage, but Ream might be able to change Berhalter's mind if he continues to play well in the Premier League. For the 2 spots open for "fast" CBs, Richards will probably take one unless he is really struggling at Crystal Palace. The other spot is open for Long or EPB, but I don't think EPB impressed Berhalter over the summer so Long probably has the inside track. If Berhalter made a depth chart right now it would probably look something like: A team: Zimmerman and Richards B team: CCV and Long C team: Ream and EPB D team: Brooks and McKenzie
This looks a lot like his June depth chart. Has nothing changed? Zimmerman has tired some to my eye. Long has been bad in more than a couple of spots. Richards is barely playing and not at CB when he does, right? Maybe the depth chart is unchanged but everyone has taken a step back except EPB and CCV.
Ream leads the EPL in interceptions for backs.....oh but he should not see the light of day....he's too old.... I think too many are ranking guys based upon their perceived ceilings and not current reality. For example, Chris Richards. Does he have a higher ceiling than Tim Ream? Sure and I think most every body would agree with that. The issue though is do you play somebody based upon their potential ceiling or do you play somebody based upon their current form and fitness? How you answer these two questions likely gives you different rankings.
Another issue is you don't pair Ream with Zimmerman, so Ream isn't really in competition with Richards.
If I were to guess, I'd guess his current depth chart is something like; 1.Zim 2.Richards 3. Long 4. CCV 5. Ream 6. EPB/McKenzie/JAB The only locks for me are the top 3, after that it's a battle, how many do you guys think he'll take?
Forgot Sands. I always forget somebody lol. CCV was apparently ridiculously good today, at least in the metrics, not sure why his rating is only 7.2 based on the #'s but I didn't watch so who knows. Credit to CCV. Guy basically was completely out of the pool, 1 solitary call up and appearance after Sarachan left (when he got a bunch) in June of '19, nada after, and now has the ticket nearly in his pocket. Fantastic turn around to his career. I hope he gets rewarded for what he's done, but he does make me nervous w/his cement shoes and lower end athleticism in general. Can't argue with his form the last 1.5 years or so though. McKenzie w/a fourth straight start and another solid rating, though the #'s look just okay.
I think he gets called into this camp. Next to Zim he's our most experienced CB internationally speaking (not counting Brooks who may all of a sudden have a chance).
If the system is based on our center backs being quick and fast enough to hang with wingers and other attackers flying in open space 1v1, that is a seriously messed up system. All defensive systems should be geared around stopping just such situations from happening. Pretty much all center backs will lose more of those battles than they will win against top level attackers. We need to be making sure our defensive set up prevents those situations rather than obsessing about trying to find the magical players that can somehow handle it. Yes, some speed and quickness in the back is certainly helpful and I wouldn't want to pair a couple guys who are both not particularly mobile. But, speed and mobility as the only criteria for selecting center backs is a very narrow view of things
Fastest guy in the Prem last year? Antonio Rudiger. It is a different world and you better have 1 CB in a pairing who can motor. But, yes, you do need to be organized in D as as well as ready to respond if things go bad.
I agree you need at least someone with some speed, but speed isn't everything. It's about not leaving your defenders out to dry in 1v1 situations on a regular basis. No teams want to do that. There are very good reasons why all formations have more guys in the back than up front, because you never want to be even odds or at a numerical disadvantage on defense. You always want to be at least one man up. Being able to recover when everything goes wrong isn't a bad thing, but it is more important to keep things from going wrong in the 1st place.
It's a press. It's not "based" on centerbacks being fast and mobile. It's based on applying pressure to the ball and available receivers and passing lanes to turn the ball over quickly, or simply not allow the ball to progress forward quickly. The system stops the vast majority of those situations before they occur, instead of making sure there's a whole lot of numbers back always. This type of defense: Creates turnovers that can turn into offense Allows the offense to put larger numbers forward without being as vulnerable to counter attack because the counterpress reduces those chances Reduces significantly the overall time the opponent spends controlling the ball at all and especially in their attacking third, pinging at your goal. At the expense of: If someone breaks the press quickly, they can get one on ones or numbers against your defense. In that situation, you tend not to want immobile defenders. I agree that there's always a balance, but the entire system is one of two basic ideas on defending, and much of the defending in this one occurs long before the centerbacks really get involved. I know I don't really have to explain this, but your post seems to say the very idea of a press is just insane when it is wildly used and commonly successful form of defense. You either create a compacter space by applying pressure to the ball and receivers or you compact space by keeping players back and playing the passing lanes. There's lots of variations on each but that's basically the defensive choices. Speed isn't everything, and we aren't leaving the CBs home alone -- Tyler is there, usually the second CM is there, and often times a fullback is hanging back -- but we also can't roll out two guys who are poor in space. Because it will happen at some point.
No but he may have passed CCV who he is in competition with. Luckily all of our fast backs can play left or right CB so whether it's Zimmerman (righty), Ream (lefty) or CCV (righty) the other back will just move to where he's needed.
MLS full backs are in good demands, example Alphonso Davies. But MLS center backs are not in good demands. I only remembered Miazga. Anyone else?
The worst thing about the center backs is that we have no clear picture of the starters or even how they will be expected to play. After four years of a qualifying cycle we have one presumed starter and a handful of guys trying out for the role while our most accomplished and experienced options have been cast aside and we've waffled between always play short on the ground and maybe that doesn't work and we need to be practical with no conclusion. I honestly don't think it is a solvable problem at this point with one game remaining and a bunch of mediocre choices making up the squad, none of whom are an ideal fit for a team that both wants to play high and also pass from the back. We will be weak in the center of defense in Qatar no matter who plays the next game, either because we will have guys thrown out there who simply aren't good enough or we will play players in a position where cooperation is key who are not used to playing together. There is no grade A option to turn to back there, none. And this is a function of playing mix and match for four years and still not getting it right.
I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. We had a pretty solid idea of who the CBs were going to be. Then Miles got hurt. Now Richards hasn't been playing and also hurt. So instead of having to solidify who was #4. We had to determine 2, 3, and 4. You make it sound like we let 4 years go by and didn't know where we were headed and that is just not accurate.