re: Best 11 for USMNT

We need this thread for both the here and now and looking farther out.

Jermaine and Dempsey are both old when 2018 World Cup rolls around. Beckerman can't hold up against that level of competition and is older too by then.

Pulisic will be one of or best players in 2018 and I think Finlay will be someone challenging for a starting spot with his pace. Wood will have the forward spot locked up if he continues improving.

I'm concerned longer term with who plays CDM. We age out our current guys and I think it forces Cameron into a CDM role rather than CB. We have CB options that are or can become suitable.

I personally prefer playing a younger group and have us work to the future. I want the guys to build chemistry now. Maybe I am biased but the World Cup is the only thing that matters to me. Gold Cup and the other competitions are not what will grow soccer fandom in the US - going deep into the knock out rounds is what has the potential to jump soccer up a couple rungs in viewership in a single month in 2018.

Yes, we must qualify for the World Cup. This is number one objective but the reality is if we are struggling to qualify by playing a few guys a year or two early so that they can get experience then we aren't that competitive in he first place.