I think, like Bedoya and Nagbe, opponents and strategy are going to dictate playing time. I love his speed and aggressiveness. But I'd like to see him against better competition and see how he works with Yedlin/Johnson on the wings.Hickory High said:
Don't think Arriola is quite there yet?
I think Arriola improved his standing during this tournament, but his crosses/service really need work. I think Zusi does far better in that department, although we've been playing him as a RB lately. I'm not arguing for more Zusi here, just saying that Arriola needs to sharpen up in actually getting the ball into the danger zone.tysker said:I think, like Bedoya and Nagbe, opponents and strategy are going to dictate playing time. I love his speed and aggressiveness. But I'd like to see him against better competition and see how he works with Yedlin/Johnson on the wings.Hickory High said:
Don't think Arriola is quite there yet?
No Wondolowski? GTFO!Aston94 said:
I think Yedlin would start in place of Villafana on your team.
I think I see our Starting XI in Russia (assuming we make it) looking like this:
-----------Altidore-------------
Nagbe-----Pulisic------Bedoya
------Bradley-----Acosta-------
Johnson-Cameron-Brooks-Yedlin
--------------Howard-----------
Then have a bench that consists of:
Dempsey
Arriola
Besler
Gonzales
Villafana
Williams (hope he gets another shot) or Dax
Morris
Wood
one more defender (please no Zusi--Lichaj? DMB?)
one more midfielder (lots of options, whoever starts MLS on fire next year)
That is a pretty talented squad. You have three midfielders in advanced positions that can possess and maintain possession in Pulisic, Bedoya and Nagbe, that will help keep pressure off of Bradley and Acosta.
Bedoya starting over Dempsey is going make some people very unhappy (though I could totally seeing it happen)Aston94 said:
I think Yedlin would start in place of Villafana on your team.
I think I see our Starting XI in Russia (assuming we make it) looking like this:
-----------Altidore-------------
Nagbe-----Pulisic------Bedoya
------Bradley-----Acosta-------
Johnson-Cameron-Brooks-Yedlin
--------------Howard-----------
Then have a bench that consists of:
Dempsey
Arriola
Besler
Gonzales
Villafana
Williams (hope he gets another shot) or Dax
Morris
Wood
one more defender (please no Zusi--Lichaj? DMB?)
one more midfielder (lots of options, whoever starts MLS on fire next year)
That is a pretty talented squad. You have three midfielders in advanced positions that can possess and maintain possession in Pulisic, Bedoya and Nagbe, that will help keep pressure off of Bradley and Acosta.
I like the possibility of Cameron playing higher up on the field as kind of a false d-mid though I'm uncertain if Yedlin or Villfana have the discipline needed to stay backakm91 said:
I'd use the following:
-------------Altidore----Wood----------------
Johnson----Bradley----Acosta----Pulisic
Villafana---Brooks---Cameron---Yedlin
----------------------Howard---------------------
Pulisic would likely tuck into the middle allowing Yedlin to push forward to provide width. I'm pretty leery of leaving Jozy up top as a single striker for long stretch of the game.
I think I would rather have Nagbe on the field over Villafana, and move FJ back to the defender, placing Nagbe on the wing. I want to see Nagbe and FJ together on a wing, Nagbe likes to come inside, and it would open up space for FJ to make runs and crosses, which is his strength.akm91 said:
I'd use the following:
-------------Altidore----Wood----------------
Johnson----Bradley----Acosta----Pulisic
Villafana---Brooks---Cameron---Yedlin
----------------------Howard---------------------
Pulisic would likely tuck into the middle allowing Yedlin to push forward to provide width. I'm pretty leery of leaving Jozy up top as a single striker for long stretch of the game.
Pulisic and commitment to defenseQuote:
Sources say that one reason Pulisic has earned the trust of coach Thomas Tuchel is Pulisic's commitment to tracking back on defense, which has separated him from Dortmund's other attacking options. While that defensive duty may have hindered Pulisic's own attacking play at times, it has also made him someone Tuchel feels like he can call on in tight situations like the one Dortmund could be facing at Benfica on Tuesday in the Champions League's round of 16. He'll begin the match on the bench, a rarity for him in the competition after starting five of six games in the group stage.
akm91 said:
I don't think you give Pulisic enough credit for tracking back on defense.Pulisic and commitment to defenseQuote:
Sources say that one reason Pulisic has earned the trust of coach Thomas Tuchel is Pulisic's commitment to tracking back on defense, which has separated him from Dortmund's other attacking options. While that defensive duty may have hindered Pulisic's own attacking play at times, it has also made him someone Tuchel feels like he can call on in tight situations like the one Dortmund could be facing at Benfica on Tuesday in the Champions League's round of 16. He'll begin the match on the bench, a rarity for him in the competition after starting five of six games in the group stage.
I guess I wasnt't clear in my point. Pulisic's defense is fine for an "attacking option", as the coach said. In a 4-4-2 the two central midfielders are not attacking options, they both need to be defensively minded players.
I do not think you will ever see a 4-4-2 with Wood and Altidore up top, with Pulisic behind as a mid. I don't want Pulisic to have to play a central mid in a 4-4-2 because it would take away his offensive abilities.