I also think people forget about a few years ago when he played in a role for the USMNT where he was technically in a back 3 but was also asked to step into the midfield role as a destroyer and, for my money, did a great job. I’d consider bringing him just for that potential versatility alone. I’d take him over whoever the last CB would be otherwise, then use that extra spot on an attacker.
Beavers got the start between ticks Brondby's 0-0 vs Randers. Next cycle, he could be part of a bumper crop of emerging young keepers, including Eyestone, Brady, Slonina, Kochen, and Rick. 4 saves 0.51 xG prevented 26/30 passing 3/7 long balls FM(7.8)2nd
Tessmann has played some CB this year and Richards played Dmid for a spell with CP. Sands isn't the only with that versatility.
Sands is proven at DM and CB (the latter at SPL and MLS level). Richards was played as DM to fill a short-term hole and to give him minutes though he did well there. Tessman has started at CB twice as far as I can see.
I'd say Richards was OK but PL is better than Bundesliga so he gets graded on a curve. I think Tessmann has had more than two at CB but I won't swear to it. I was just pointing out that a lot of our players have played multiple spots and many spots that aren't their best or where they are playing now. If it comes down to our fifth or sixth choice center back we are in pretty deep trouble. Of course we always have McKennie who can fill in anywhere but keeper (I bet he'd be decent). Oh, and any can play left back right?
Sometimes versatility helps and sometimes it doesn't. Sands can play both CB and CDM but may not be in our top choices at either. "Next man up" at CB will be Banks and not James Sands. James Sands has played 64 minutes for the USMNT since the 2023 Gold Cup. Partly due to injury, of course, but also he just isn't being picked. We can run thru all of the players at CM and CB that weren't available for the most recent USMNT camp in November. Sands still wasn't called in. I think the likely situation is that Poch has evaluated him as a CM, and simply prefers the linkes of Aidan Morris and Cristian Roldan. Is he right to do so? We'll evaluate based on results.
With a 26 man roster size and a fairly versatile set of center mids, I'm not really sure positional versatility is all that important in roster selection these days. I suppose if you desperately want to not bring 5 real centerbacks for some reason, someone like Sands might make sense ... but he's probably the extra center mid that you're bringing forcing you to bring only 4 centerbacks ... If there's injuries, but who are people bringing Sands over?
Yep. With 26, 10 field players and their direct backups can be brought. For the additional 3 players, a striker, a DM/CM, and a utility defender could be included.
Under Poch he's gotten 64 minutes at CM. We can run down a list of CBs that have gotten into matches under Pochettino. Sands isn't one of them. [Noahkai Banks isn't one of them either.] Triston Blackmon George Campbell Cameron Carter-Vickers Mark McKenzie Tim Ream Chris Richards Miles Robinson Auston Trusty Walker Zimmerman Not to mention that Alex Freeman and Joe Scally lined up (on paper anyway) at RCB in the last camp. Dest in advance of them as a RWB. At this point in the cycle, its likely going to take more than the CCV injury to get Sands into the top 5 on the CB depth chart. And I don't know where he stands in CM. We had a bunch of guys not available in CM for November camp, and we still didn't call up Scally. Didn't call up Johnny or Musah either.
Another big game today for Aaronson as Leeds face Chelesa on the road. Leeds is doing well, but West Ham has had this unfortunate pattern of picking up points recently. If they were to actually win today, they'd jump over Spurs and Brighton into 14. Calvert-Lewis is apparently out injured for this one, which is a blow for Leeds. Who's scoring? Come on Brenden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tyler Adams appearance on the bench The Cherries this evening 🍒#afcb | #EVEBOU pic.twitter.com/ifwlikRz73— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) February 10, 2026
Weird thing. Leeds have won 76% of their points at home this season (22/29). The highest percentage of any team. Their road form has been poor, however............. ...............................they're 2-2 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with ~10 minutes to go. Aaronson started and is still out there.
‘I’m not there yet’ - USMNT rising defender Noahkai Banks stays focused on growth with Augsburg amid rising hype | Goal.com US
West Ham and Nottingham Forest can do the funniest thing this season.......... West Ham can do a pretty funny thing today honestly.
Yeah, its tough. Leeds 2 Chelsea 2 final at Stamford Bridge. That's a good result. Aaronson came off in extra time. .............but West Ham is beating Man United. if that holds, then Leeds is losing ground in the relegation race. Spurs, though. Leeds jump over Spurs. Spurs may be 3 points above relegation by the end of the day.
Thats the funny thing that I think the league is collectively rooting for Venezia finally take an L 2-0 at home to Modena. Hopefully its a one off because the pace of Monza, Palermo, and Frosinone is pretty hot right now as well. Was a nice streak while it lasted, but cant let up now.
I think a big consideration not mentioned is how Pulisic would fare physically moving to the EPL? Its a tougher play then Serie A and not so long ago that I have forgotten the hacking he got at Chelsea.
Spurs next league game is against Arsenal. They haven't won a game in 2026. They're the ones in big trouble. Forest have a gimme against Wolves tomorrow.
ManU ended up drawing that game against West Ham. [That poor bastard with the hair.] Aaronson's Leeds maintain their 6 point cushion to the relegation zone. Aaronson with a typical report card: Graham Smyth's Leeds United player ratings vs Chelsea as 'man possessed' gets 8/10 but 'pretty horrible' 4 10. LW: Brenden Aaronson 7 - Not in the game in the first half. Pressed and ran and harried for the duration though and played his part in the second. They ARE playing better than the teams below them so I think they'll be OK, but you never know. Their next three league games are Villa away, Man City at home, and Sunderland at home. Eeks. They must have the easiest last 6 games in the league, including both Wolves and Burnley at home. If they can maintain their 6 point gap until that endgame, they'll be fine.
A Kicker article from Tuesday on Reyna and his time so far at Gladbach. Sounds like he has advanced to individual training. Also a mention that Castrop's performance against Leverkusen will likely give him the start over Scally for Saturday's match against Frankfurt. "The future hope becomes a cause for concern: Gladbach's Reyna remains on standby. It's a sight that Borussia-Park's training ground spectators have grown accustomed to: a Gladbach team training session without Giovanni Reyna. The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund was unable to train with his teammates again on Tuesday, instead completing an individual program – at least on the pitch. According to the club, "muscular problems" are the reason for his enforced break..." https://www.kicker.de/die-zukunftsh...hs-reyna-weiter-im-wartestand-1192384/artikel Forum discussion is kind of like "we knew it was a gamble otherwise we wouldn't have been in the picture for the transfer. " Some still holding out hope that the gamble can payoff while others believe Dortmund is laughing at them.
I think folks have expressed the fear quite a bit that Gio Reyna is just broken. John O'Brien-style broken. He can return to the matchday squad, be OK for a month or two, we get our hopes up, but then the problems return. Its been the cycle for years. At this point, we can't be surprised.
At what point does he take a full year off to get his body right and then start over on Colorado or another lower tier MLS team taking a flier on him? It might also just be a case where his body just can't handle it at the highest levels unfortunately.