Rank the USMNT center backs

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

  1. NietzscheIsDead

    NietzscheIsDead Member+

    NO WAR
    United States
    May 31, 2019
    NO WAR
    Not yet. He has featured in youth matches (U-17 and U-20), but has not featured in a full national team friendly or competitive match.

    He was called in to the last camp but did not play. It was reported that he suffered a bit of an injury so they didn’t play him.

    If he gets cap tied it will be during the World Cup.
     
  2. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    Raleigh NC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don’t really understand stand the question, as you asked it, but here’s my stab at an answer.

    He would call him up if he wants to take a look at him and also integrate him further into the squad.

    I mean, what other reason could there possibly be?
     
    tomásbernal repped this.
  3. SoccerFanInIA

    SoccerFanInIA Member

    Sporting KC
    United States
    Oct 28, 2021
    Please never change. That’s all I’ve got to say. We are blessed to see your posts.
     
  4. Stan Collins

    Stan Collins Member+

    Feb 26, 1999
    Silver Spring, MD
    Some try to parse coach statements not so much for outlook as for 'rules' that the coach is then somehow bound to follow. If you actually could coach by such algorithms, you wouldn't need an actual coach.
     
  5. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    #705 Clint Eastwood, Oct 9, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2025
    If Poch thought Banks was a legitimate contender to START games at the World Cup, he'd need to have played him by now. He'd need to be calling him up right now.

    We shouldn't be in this "oh, well.......Banks is young and we don't want to overwhelm him" phase. We shouldn't be in a "He's establishing himself with his club and we don't want to disturb that" phase.

    This is go time.

    Who was the player with the fewest caps to ever make a USMNT World Cup roster? [Let's say since 1990]

    Was it actually Haji Wright in 2022?

    Wright wasn't a relatively inexperienced 18 year old CB, though.

    [Just to clarify. I'm not talking about making the World Cup roster. Of course, that's a possibility. I'm skeptical that he'll start games at the World Cup.]
     
  6. Red Card

    Red Card Member+

    Mar 3, 1999
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Poch also has to consider that Banks is not cap-tied, grew up in Germany, is Germany eligible, and has previously stated his desire to play for Germany although he has not represented them at the youth level. With his sudden success in BL1, Germany may now be interested in him.
     
  7. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Meh. Based on the comments Poch has given about dual-national considerations, I'm not sure that's a motivation.

    He'll name Banks to the roster if he think having Banks will give him a better chance of winning than the alternative.

    I don't have any concerns about Germany in this case. Banks was JUST in a USMNT camp in September.
     
  8. NietzscheIsDead

    NietzscheIsDead Member+

    NO WAR
    United States
    May 31, 2019
    NO WAR
    I think that there are concerns, but the US could very well use him for the coming World Cup. If he continues to get minutes and perform well, I think that he will be seriously considered.

    Tyler Adams was certainly impressed and voiced as much during the September camp.
     
    SoccerFanInIA repped this.
  9. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    He should obviously get called up in November if he continues get minutes and perform well. Not calling him up now was reasonable as he will have plenty of time to work during the break with Augsburg to get ready for another start.
     
    Red Card repped this.
  10. Red Card

    Red Card Member+

    Mar 3, 1999
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We have a job opening at center back. Indeed we do.
     
  11. OWN(yewu)ED

    OWN(yewu)ED Member+

    Club: Venezia F.C.
    May 26, 2006
    chico, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    and he is him........I seent it.

    Its gonna be my bold 2026 prediction.
     
  12. EruditeHobo

    EruditeHobo Member+

    Mar 29, 2007
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #712 EruditeHobo, Oct 10, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2025
    Yeah without seeing him it's apparent that he almost certainly has those baby deer moments in him... will grow out of that.

    The size is immediately obvious... but I tell you what is really exciting, the acceleration over 5-7 yards. That strikes me as very impressive at that size.
     
    NietzscheIsDead repped this.
  13. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Updating the post from February and taking into account the shift to a back-three

    1. Richards: has solidified his position as the top defender.
    2. Banks: if he solidifies a starting a role at Augsburg, he'll be a starter for us
    3. Ream: Not necessarily a lock to start, but is a lock to make the team, assuming he doesn't age out.
    4. Freeman: Looked good after subbing in for Robinson. As a tall, physical RB, he could be very useful in a back-3.
    5. McKenzie: competent, but still makes more mistakes than one would expect
    6. M.Robinson: expected more from a player of his experience
    7. Zimmerman: working his way back from an extended concussion absence
    8. George Campbell: has been getting starts at RB in the C'ship, which could see him compete at RCB. We'll see how this develops.
    9. CCV: got a courtesy call up from Poch. Doesn't seem to be international quality
    10. Trusty: has been benched at Celtic.
     

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