Oso planning to go pro
If Pulisic is playing on the wing 40 weeks a year, I would rather see him playing there than in the middle. If he's playing in the middle, I'd rather see him there than on the wing.Consider Ronaldo and Messi. Our hope is that Pulisic is one of the next great players in the world. For Portugal, Ronaldo has lifted them to great heights from the wing. There's no doubt he pulls the strings and is their best player from a wide position. The same is true for Messi and Argentina, but from the middle of the pitch. Wherever Pulisic plays, we are hoping he has the ability to take over a game from wherever he is on the pitch. And he'll be more comfortable doing that from whatever position his club team has him in for the vast majority of the year.
I'll stick with my opinion on Gold. He'll be in foul trouble within the first eight minutes.
You also run into questions about what to do with Weah. If both Pulisic and Weah play all year out wide for their clubs are you not going to play Weah because he plays the same position as Pulisic? If you play them both, which is the best option IMO, Pulisic is less out of position in the middle than Weah would be on the left.
I agree with this, and we'll have to see how they both develop. My inclination is that Weah would be better suited on the wing and Pulisic in the middle, but who knows if they both come good? Alternately, with Earnie Stewart taking the mantle, might he be thinking 4-3-3 as a potential formation? If so, I could see Weah as a wing forward and Pulisic (if he was most comfortable playing there) as a right-sided central midfielder that overlapped with him.
Earnie is the GM, but all his interviews lead me to think that he will heavily, heavily consider playstyle. His Dutch roots, from lineage to playing career to administration, will likely influence the type of manager he hires. He may not directly dictate formation, but if he thinks total football is the way to go, it'll be a total football style manager he hires.
Can anyone explain to me why Michael Bradley is on the field tonite agaibst Columbia???!!!! How can anyone over 28 or so even be considered for our player pool? Pisses me off that he is out there!!!
My guess would be Sarachan wanted to give him a swan song, not have his last cap be the T+T debacle. I don't expect to see him Tuesday, and I don't think whoever is named head coach will ever call his number. Definently wont see him next summer at the Gold Cup.
Some thoughts on the Columbia game.
Dude - Colombia
Also, the US had 5% shot quantity and 100% scoring percentage. Neither of those are any way to go through life.
The most impressive thing about Wood's goal was the pass from Weah. Put it where only Wood could get it. Other than the goal, Wood was pretty silent most of the night, but that's what happens when we only play one up top.
The midfield really struggled to keep possession. I thought both Weah and Saief had impressive moments, but when you take Pulisic, McKinnie, and Adams all out, it's clear there's a step down.
I'd much rather see him go to a club that is mid table. Big enough to have no real threat of relegation, but small enough that he could be a focal part of the offense. Right now, I'd probably list Bournemouth, Watford, or Burnley, although I think it'd be unlikely.
If so, it would have to be a loan. No way any mid-table team is paying 40-60 million € for a player, You might be able to get a club like Everton to pay that kind of fee, but of the three you list, none have ever even paid 30M for a player.
As you point out, Everton would be a very interesting landing spot. We will see, sorry for the tangent.
I think it's a worthy topic. Pulisic right now looks like the linchpin of our future, where he ends up at from a club perspective will be important. I'd love for him to become the heir apparent to a top-10 in the world club, but as you note, him playing is most important. I'd rather him be a focal point at a mid-table club for 2-3 years before a move to a top-tier club than to languish on some big club's bench.Disappointed by the USA/England match. After the early chance from Pulisic, England scored and we never really seemed likely to get back in it. With most of our first choice guys, I was hoping for some better chances. The biggest problem right now though is the continued presence of Sarachan. I don't know who the next manager will be, but for the love of god, just make a freaking hire so we can install a system and start getting these guys into roles they will actually be playing for the foreseeable future.I understood waiting until after the World Cup, but we just passed the year mark that Sarachan has had the "interim" label on him. A year without a full-time manager when we have so many young guys that will need a structure to play in for the Gold Cup, then Qualifying and beyond? Make the damn hire.