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BobLoblaw 
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2011
2003 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:43 am to cwil177)
He can play any position in the back line, is left footed, and has plenty of experience with the national team (and in Europe if that makes any difference).
I still think he's the second best LB we have after Fab. I don't rate Castillo as a defender and Lichaj, Chandler, Boca are all better at other positions.
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cwil177
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
5519 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 10:03 am to BobLoblaw)
You really think HP is better than Lichaj at LB? I guess being a natural left footer helps. I would still like to see Fabian on the wing. I think he's our second best winger after a healthy Donovan.
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Sheep 
USA Fan
Straight Outta Acy
Member since Jun 2007
12985 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 10:20 am to cwil177)
I love Heath Pearce as a player.
I assume he and Bradley had some falling out (which, from what I've read is not out of Heath's character), because even when out of form, he was a far better option than Bornstein.
I'll go so far as to say that when Pearce is "on" he's a better player than Fabian Johnson. Better defender, better crosser, more foot skill, accurate and powerful shot from distance. He's moody and inconsistent, though and that's held him back.
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cwil177
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
5519 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 1:30 pm to Sheep)
This juke was just brutal
I wouldn't mind seeing HP get another look. We could then push Fab up, where he played REALLY well against Slovenia last year.
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Tennessee Jed 
Mississippi St. Fan
Member since Nov 2009
12323 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 1:37 pm to cwil177)
I know Fab is more than capable of playing at LM, but I just can't see any reason why Jurgen would do that.
LB has been a glaring deficiency on our roster for as long as I can remember. We finally get a high level LB, who may be one of our top 5 players over all, and we're talking about pushing him up to LM.
I see where you're coming from, but if it's me. I'd rather see some combination of LB - Fab and LM - Zusi/Dempsey, than LB - HP and LM - Fab.
This post was edited on 12/5 at 1:37 pm
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cwil177
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
5519 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 1:47 pm to Tennessee Jed)
Because we are offensively impotent at times, and we have other left backs in Lichaj and Pearce who can do a serviceable job.
For me, the gap between Fabian and Lichaj/Pearce at LB is less than the gap between Fab and our non Donovan wingers. That's why.
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Tennessee Jed
Mississippi St. Fan
Member since Nov 2009
12323 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 1:54 pm to cwil177)
having an outside back that's capable of getting forward is equally as important to an offense as a solid outside mid.
think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.
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thenry712 
Gonzaga Fan
Hullywood, UK
Member since Nov 2008
13795 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 2:47 pm to cwil177)
Zusi plays on the left and drifts inside for SKC in a 4-3-3, because Kei Kamara is fairly one-footed.
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Sheep
USA Fan
Straight Outta Acy
Member since Jun 2007
12985 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 3:34 pm to thenry712)
I'd much rather play empty-bucket "Bob Ball" 4-4-2 with some combination of Fabian, Donovan or Zusi on the outside and Dempsey up top with whoever, than the impotent 4-3-3 we've tried to shoehorn in the last 18 months.
Chances are we wouldn't have sweated out first round qualification like that, either.
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Jumbeauxlaya
LSU Fan
Denham
Member since Jan 2011
15171 posts
 Online
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 4:59 pm to BobLoblaw)
quote:
I would probably leave Besler, Corona and either Boyd or Gomez out for Heath Pearce, Mix (stubear if healthy) and GAM, but a solid list nonetheless.
Agree on leaving besler out, probably bring in edu or Goodson for their exp.
Def mix over corona, and gam over gatt
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thenry712
Gonzaga Fan
Hullywood, UK
Member since Nov 2008
13795 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 5:12 pm to Jumbeauxlaya)
Besler is young and intelligent centerback, who just won MLS defender of the year. More importantly, he's quick and agile. Right now Goodson and Bocanegra are getting beat far too often, often against inferior competition, by speedy or crafty players. Goodson's clumsiness allowed the goal conceded in Antigua, and gave up a stupid penalty to Russia after losing his marker on a long ball.
Fabian Johnson should stay at left-back, regardless of our perceived weakness on the left flank. He provides more than enough width with his overlapping play. Right now there needs to be a competent midfielder who can link up with Johnson more than Jose Torres.
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Jumbeauxlaya
LSU Fan
Denham
Member since Jan 2011
15171 posts
Online
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 5:17 pm to thenry712)
Who's he play for?
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thenry712
Gonzaga Fan
Hullywood, UK
Member since Nov 2008
13795 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 5:22 pm to Jumbeauxlaya)
Besler plays for Sporting Kansas City
Right now I'd rank our centerbacks:
1. Cameron
2. Gonzalez
3. Bocanegra
4. Besler
5. Gooch
6. DeMerit
7. Goodson
You could maybe through in Parkhurst ahead of Goodson, even if his normal position is right-back.
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cwil177
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
5519 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 6:45 pm to thenry712)
Until these people get more (current day) looks with the NT, I wouldn't rank Gooch, Besler, and DeMerit above Goodson. DeMerit isn't even in the picture so that's a moot point.
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Sheep
USA Fan
Straight Outta Acy
Member since Jun 2007
12985 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 8:02 pm to cwil177)
quote:
DeMerit isn't even in the picture so that's a moot point.
Which is a fricking travesty, BTW.
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cwil177
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
5519 posts
| re: Best USMNT Roster For Hexagonal (Posted on 12/5/12 at 9:01 pm to Sheep)
I agree. He's better than Boca at this point, and better than Goodson. Well, at least circa 2010. I haven't seen much of him since the WC.
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