It's been so long since we have had continuity and now the same starters and setup 3 times in a row. With some success. If we stay in this groove, my question is "who takes the place of older players that will eventually have to be replaced?". It will be hard to replace the heart a player brings, but the skill set has to be filled. Can Nagbe fill a void left by, say, JJ? I don't know every mls or youth prospect, but the two at this tourney have a future.
hear ya go: ---------------wood------------ -----------------------manneh----- ---pulisic----nagbe-------------johnson -------------------------bradley---- --hollingshead-----------------------yedlin ------------brooks------miazga------ -----------------guzan---- honorable mention: FW: morris; WM: Finlay and Shea; CM: Hyndman, Canouse, Thompson, Rowe; FB: Payne, Villafana, Rosenberry; CB: Zimmerman, CCV
Acosta will be our next Jones. Not saying he'll be as good, but he's got the same run all day type of ability.
I'm happy with the way this squad has been playing but there is no depth. That's why Klinsmann was forced to start the same lineup in all three group games. Moving forward, some big questions for me are: Who replaces the old guys, as you asked? Where is the best spot for Fabian Johnson? Fullback? Wing? Or even central Medfield? Where's the depth? In this tournament, there are two bench players worthy of quality in-game substitutions. We're already in a position where we have to find eventual replacements for Dempsey and Jones in the near future. We need more quality depth on this team. Who are the young guys that are ready to take the next steps over the next year or two?