Position Breakdown Part 3 - Full Backs
January 2020
At just 19-years old, Sergino Dest became the top option at right back for the U.S. once he commit to the USMNT.
Regulars (RB):
Sergino Dest (19 y.o. - Club: Ajax) - Still very young, Dest could be the present and future at right back for two or three World Cup cycles. The Dutch born defender is extremely good at getting forward, but still has some work to do on the defensive part of his game. This season, Dest has been stuck in the reserves or on the bench with the Ajax first team. After missing out on a call up in November, Dest might need to establish himself as a first team player before he gets reintroduced back into the USMNT.
DeAndre Yedlin (26 y.o. - Club: Fenerbahce) - Yedlin has been the clear starter at right back for the U.S. since 2014. He has electric pace and willingness to get forward with solid defensive attributes. The downside is his mental stats and crossing. With his speed, Yedlin does a great job of creating himself space on the right flank, but his end product can be wasteful and inconsistent at times. He has plenty of experience in the Premier League and Championship with both Sunderland and Newcastle, but his time seems to have run out. He’s on loan this season in the Turkish Super Lig, but it’s been a struggle up to this point.
Reggie Cannon is the top U.S. prospect at right back and is now get regular minutes in the MLS.
Fringe Player (RB):
Reggie Cannon (20 y.o. - Club: FC Dallas), Timmy Chandler (29 y.o. - Club: Eintracht Frankfurt), Brandon Bye (23 y.o. - Club: Vancouver), Keegan Rosenberry (25 y.o. - Club: Colorado Rapids)
With Dest lacking match fitness and Yedlin struggling at club level, there could be a chance for a fringe player to get a run out. Reggie Cannon had the first chance and excelled, however, he’s still young and very much an improving talent. Similar to Yedlin, Cannon is pacy, but lacks an end product. As he matures as a player, he could compete with Dest as one of our top options on the right side of the defense. At the opposite end of his career, Timmy Chandler is an established Bundesliga player, but has lost his way over the past year. This season, he’s no more than a rotation player with a 6.60 rating. Brandon Bye is a very interesting option. He’s never truly been on the USMNT radar as he’s never been capped at any level. However, in his second season in the MLS, Bye blew up recording a 7.31 rating in 32 starts. If he continues to dominate next year, it’ll be impossible to leave him out of the U.S. squad. In four seasons of MLS play, Keegan Rosenberry has proven to be a very consistent and reliable right back. He was called in once by the USMNT back in January 2017, but never saw the field.
When healthy, Antonee Robinson is the clear first choice left back.
Regulars (LB):
Antonee Robinson (22 y.o. - Club: Wigan Athletic) - A product of the Everton youth academy, Robinson is a very similar player to DeAndre Yedlin. He may not have the world class pace, but the Wigan left back makes up for it with his movement off the ball and ability to get into a better position on the pitch. As for his career, Robinson was never able to break into the first team at Everton and was loaned out to Championship side Bolton during the 2017/18 season where he played 30 games. His successful season was enough for Wigan to take Robinson on loan the following season. Wigan liked what they saw out of the English born full back and bought him at the start of the 19/20 season. Robinson missed the first three months of this season through injury which kept him out of the U.S. team. Since his return, he made 12 starts and has recorded a 6.85 rating. Expect to see him the next time the U.S. gets together.
Although Tim Ream is 32-years old, it's hard to overlook his talent which such a talent pool.
Fringe (LB):
Tim Ream (32 y.o. - Club: Fulham), Chase Gasper (23 y.o. - Club: Real Salt Lake), Nick Lima (24 y.o. - Club: San Jose), Eric Lichaj (30 y.o. - Club: Hull City)
The left back position is the weakest within the United States player pool. Antonee Robinson is a legitimate talent, but after him there is a significant dropoff in talent. Tim Ream is 32-years old and a natural center back, while both Nick Lima and Eric Lichaj are natural right backs. As for Ream, he has played on the left in a defensive three for a handful of years at Bolton, so playing out wide isn’t completely foreign to the player. He does have a bit of pace and acceleration to him, so he can still get forward from the full back position, especially against weaker opposition. Chase Gasper is the only natural left back on this list. He has a great work rate and determination, but is a work in progress. If he continues to grow as a player, he could be the clear backup by 2022. After being drafted out of college, last season was his first as a professional in the MLS. Gasper recorded a 6.88 rating in 28 starts during his rookie campaign. Nick Lima has played quite a bit on the left side of the defense in his three seasons in the MLS. With seven caps to his name, the well-rounded full back has Gold Cup experience on his resume as well. He missed three months of last season because of a hip injury, but if Lima can bounce back with a strong 2020 season, then don’t be surprised if Gasper gets dropped from the national side. Eric Lichaj is the last name on this list and it's likely we’ve seen the last of him in a U.S. shirt. Talent wise he’s up there with everyone on this list, but he’s a backup at Hull City and not as experienced as the rest on the left. Lichaj has played three seasons in the Premier League with Aston Villa and has been a regular starter in the Championship for six seasons leading up to this one.