r/usmnt • u/Fresh_Ad_5369 • 3d ago
Am I Trippin About Alex Freeman’s Position?
With his recent MOTM performance against Real Madrid and his strong performances in the Stars and Stripes people have been talking about Freeman’s potential to be a top 5 RB in the world. Am I tripping if I feel like he could/should be more important to the USMNT as a CB or RCB in a back 3?
I just feel his confidence and comfortability on the ball are top notch and something no US CB has had before. Obviously all the defensive strengths would transfer over positionally along with his athleticism. Not trying to knock his ability going forward, he’s obviously proficient enough to contribute to the attack, I just feel he’s a little gangly/awkward carrying the ball at times. I also feel that his ball distribution and build up ability can be developed to a world class level which would again provide the US with something it’s never had. A well-rounded, truly world class CB. Idk let me know if I’m trippin yall 🤷🏼♂️
Edit: after seeing the first responses I guess we can conclude I am in fact trippin.
Although I will say I never stated his best position being either or my feelings were more about the usmnt specifically. Obviously you want your best guys in their best spots but he’s just so damn good in both spots and we don’t really have a guy solidified as Richard’s partner. I guess it depends on how Pierre develops. Looking back at the World Cup I think I’d have preferred dropping ream for a freeman cb and have weah or Dest in the wing back role idk maybe im still trippin
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u/grudensfavgrinder 3d ago
You definitely are trippin’. He can certainly play as a center back. But you’re taking away what truly makes him special. Is it his verticality combined with his physicality.
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u/Fresh_Ad_5369 3d ago
Right I understand he’s a special talent at rb, not trying to dispute that. I’m more arguing that our desperate need for a cb has been evident for years and when we finally have a guy who fits the profile we oggle over his ability to fill a role we have depth in. Idk it just feels off putting
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u/soulinfamous 3d ago
Yes but shoehorning him to play center back is not ideal. That is not something he's going to play at the club level and you get rid of one of his best attributes which is his ability to go forward. Also we don't have depth in that position considering the fact that he basically just walked into the position. Dest at this point in time only really works in a specific role. I don't think we have a right back that's close to him right now.
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u/poopingtwiceintheAM 2d ago
I'm with you Fresh
I actually think he's perfect for a RCB in a back three where he has the license to go forward as needed.
Where I differ is that we NEED CBs. Richards is proper level. Trusty and CCV are both good. Pierre has heaps of potential.
I'm really intrigued by the idea of moving Tessermann to CB. He'd provide all the passing/playmaking that you (we) are looking for at CB
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u/recoveredamishman 2d ago
Yes, you're tripping. So "I have a top, young prospect at RB, but lemme just shoehorn him into CB where he'll do well but never reach his full potential." Many teams initiate most of their actual offensive buildup via outside backs and wings. Sure, a CB makes an initial pass but the backs take it to the next level. Moving players out of preferred positions is how you get a team of mismatched parts.
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u/la_tajada 2d ago
I have a top, young prospect at RB, but lemme just shoehorn him into CB
Philadelphia Union would like a word.
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u/Responsible_Milk2911 3d ago
We need a cb thats a great passer and good/comfortable on the ball. Yes.
Sticking Freeman there would be hamstringing his natural ability though. Not only is he athletic as a cb needs to be, but hes also super intelligent about how he moves in possession, hes also great with quick little link up passes.
Could he do a job at cb? Sure. But Steven Gerrard could also play as a right sided midfielder. It doesnt mean either of them should, they are much more influential in their natural position.
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u/Fresh_Ad_5369 3d ago
Sergio ramos started as a rb… just saying lol
All jokes aside i understand he’s a great rb im not saying he is or would be a better cb like Ramos was. Maybe Im the only one who sees it this way but it just feels that we’ve had a dire need for a CB with his skillset and now that there is one we’re prioritizing playing him in his best position instead of arguably the more vital position to team success. Obv all positions are important but it’s hard to compete against the best without a true top level cb
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u/Responsible_Milk2911 3d ago
I think some of it is personal preference too, Ramos was a freak that loved the battle a little too much. Most guys want a chance to get forward, especially if they already have the taste of it in a semi attacking role. Just with arsenal there's saka, lewis-skelley, calafiori, Ben white, jurrien timber. All started at cb/lb/rb in the professional game and moved to more attacking positions, some because in youth they played higher up, some just had the skillset. Garreth Bale also, likely the most well known example world wide. Guys normally dont go backwards unless its forced on them by circumstance or age.
Maybe Freeman decides one day he likes the cb position but it'll be after he masters what his club and country ask of him at right back.
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u/Fresh_Ad_5369 3d ago
I think it’s mostly personal preference/team needs for whoever’s employing them. Tons of guys have moved back the field either with age, team needs, or even younger guys.
Examples (excluding Ramos):
Ashley young (moved from winger to wing back to full back), Lukasz Piszczek (moved from winger to fullback at hertha at young age), Antonio Valencia (squad needs at Utd).There’s also tons of guys who as you say can play both at an elite level (where I think freeman already is tbh). I’m just confused why we’re so adamant to stick him on the flank when we so clearly need his quality at cb
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u/recoveredamishman 2d ago
Strengthening one position by making the other one weaker only really makes sense after you compare the strength of the alternatives for each position. Let's say AF is rated 5 stars at RB and 4 stars at CB. The best alternate CB is three stars but the best alternate RB is also 3 stars. In that scenario moving AF overall weakens the team and would only possibly make sense if you have at least a 4 star replacement at RB. I don't think we do.
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u/sgeeum 3d ago edited 3d ago
i think his best position is a right back. he’s got a great mix of defensive ability, in one on one situations and in breaking a press, and his quality going forward is excellent. that’s wasted as a CB.
him being a right sided CB in poch’s system is more out of necessity than a natural fit IMO. his biggest weakness is probably spatial awareness and being aware of what’s happening around him in all directions. he can switch off and allow a runner in behind, and is often the last defender along the line keeping an attacker onside. that gets much more exposed as a CB than as a fullback.
he’s still young and could grow into it, but his natural skills seem to align more with a fullback than a CB
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u/Fresh_Ad_5369 3d ago
I’d agree his spatial awareness at cb looked like it needs work but at his age what cb (outside cubarsi lol) doesn’t have that issue to some degree. The same qualities that make him a good rb (distribution, calm on the ball, physically imposing, recovery speed, aerially dominant) can translate with experience and time studying/playing the position.
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u/imbored48375 3d ago
There is a world in which he becomes our own Sergio Ramos. But it would be unlikely
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u/Fresh_Ad_5369 3d ago
With the way he showed out against Madrid I wouldn’t be surprised if they start sniffing around is all I’m saying 🤷🏼♂️
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u/Lanky-Ad-9564 2d ago
I think Ramos arrived in this world angrily headbutting his mother‘s vagina on the way out. Freeman is calm, collected, professional, and has great potential. However, some things are unteachable. The best players have those things.
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u/Background-Gas8109 2d ago
He's absolutely not a CB. Especially in a 4 back. A lot of his upside is how he can progress the ball. In fact in the champions league game this week he came on at right wing for Villareal.
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u/Money-Zebra 3d ago
He’s a natural RB. The USMNT just is in bigger need of CB rn and he’s capable of filling that role for us
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u/Fresh_Ad_5369 3d ago
Kinda what I was trying to say. We have better depth in the pool at rb and sorely need a high level cb if we want to truly compete at the top level
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u/Danger_Island 3d ago
I like the idea of him giving Dest the security to go forward, but his gangly runs are often piercing and dangerous.
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u/SometimesObsessed 2d ago
His most outstanding aspect if you look at his days in Orlando or even the USMNT is his ability to create chances and dribble. Unless he becomes a koeman like CB, I think he's wasted there. A move to winger would be more suitable than that
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u/Electronic-Win608 2d ago
Yep. Your trippin. Any/all of us are trippin when we start thinking we know better than the professional technical staff that actually make their living making these decisions.
BTW. I watched him Tuesday in UECL. They brought him in as a sub as a forward/MF. He was playing in front of two lines behind him.
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u/Extra-Wish4466 2d ago
Sergio Ramos made the transition from elite RB to elite CB. It's possible Freeman could do the same.
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u/Melodic_Lynx_6493 2d ago
You’re not trippin for wanting one of our most talented players in a position of desperate need that he has demonstrated he can be quite effective in. That all makes sense.
But it’s also conceding that we can’t find a reliable CB not names Richards and would rather restrict the effectiveness of a star player than keep trying. Trusty is serviceable for now, and I’d rather unleash Freeman to get forward and overload (as he did on the opener vs Mexico AND Canada) than have him be restricted to stay-at-home back.
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u/ChocolateChipz2 2d ago
He plays RB for USA. In defense he's an RB. In attack, if he goes forward w/ ball, either Jedi or Adams will fall back into CB role. If Jedi goes forward w/ ball, either he or Adams will fall back into CB role. In defense, we play 4 ATB w/ Adams as CDM ahead of the line. In attack, we shift to a flexible 3 ATB where roles can change given specific game circumstances. Both Jedi and Freeman's elite speed and strong physical builds play contributing factors in this style of play. For example, with a Dest or Arfsten type, we can't get away with this because while fast, they are not physically built well enough to deputize as a CB.
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u/andeffect 2d ago
"Top 5 RB" is a streeeeeeetch... 😬
I like the kid, but let's just not do the American thing of "we're the best in the world because we're Americans"...
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u/MyTurkeySubb 2d ago
Theyre talking about his potential. He is playing at an elite Champions League level at 22 years old. Yes, he has the potential to grow even further.
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u/Agreeable_Cattle_691 3d ago
Yes you are tripping, could be RCB in a back 3 but is best suited as a traditional RB