re: Make an XI for the Gold Cup

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I said CM. Pulisic has played on the wing for us more often than not.

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Well that's just patently false.

Since the Hex began in 2017, Pulisic has played 8 matches centrally, 6 matches out wide.

In the same timespan, Nagbe has played 2 matches centrally, 12 matches out wide.

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Since the Hex began in 2017, Pulisic has played 8 matches centrally, 6 matches out wide.

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Didn't know we were using a certain time period. The last two games he played on the wing and as a 2nd striker.

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In the same timespan, Nagbe has played 2 matches centrally, 12 matches out wide.

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Which is retarded.

Regardless, Nagbe's biggest problem in finding a role with the USMNT is that he is good at a lot of positions, but is not our best option at any one position.

McKennie and Adams are better 8s than him, Pulisic is a better 10 than him. Which forces him to the wing where you have to be able to track defensively and he just doesn't do that.

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You said more often than not, Pulisic didn't become a real fixture for us until after the Copa America.

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But he's still played more total games on the wing for the USMNT.

If you look at just the Hex matches, 5 were on the wing, 5 were as AM.

Your argument was "Nagbe has been our best midfield with the ball at his feet" and I said Pulisic is better... which he is... So even if Pulisic throughout has MNT career played two more total matches on the wing than in the middle, what difference does it make, especially when we've only played Nagbe centrally twice?

Good job on trying to change the narrative by calling me out for setting a time parameter, but it did nothing to support the false thing you said that originally sparked this.


Are you telling me that if an XI was filled out besides a central midfield spot and your choices were Nagbe and Pulisic, you'd take Nagbe?

I think Berhalter's tactics/formation with the ball are similar enough to Tata's to where Nagbe could thrive in his natural role (especially against CONCACAF competition and with McKennie and Adams along side him) and Pulisic could play a slightly modified version of Almiron.

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You said Nagbe is our best CM with the ball at his feet, if you truly believe that, and it came down to putting one on the field and one on the bench, you'd pick Nagbe right?

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It'd be hard. I think Pulisic would be better around the 18, but Nagbe's composure, experience, and knack for getting out of pressure would be invaluable. I'm also getting sick of playing players in a position that they don't regularly play for their club. I think by far our best bet would be to put Nagbe in the center, with Pulisic on the wing.

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I'm legit convinced that you want the USMNT to just be 23 players picked from american players from ATL United and its youth academy.

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We'll that's nothing near true. The only player from the academy that I think would be near the first team in years would be Bello (unless Carleton can get his act together). You don't see me suggesting Parkhurst or Larentowictsczk should be near the team.

I don't give a frick what team the players come from (I was high on Nagbe and Garza well before they were traded/loaned/sold to Atlanta), as long as they are the best available for the system we're running.

What’s Carleton’s issue? Seems to have promise but a knucklehead?