Sergino Dest is one of several players who will take part in the upcoming U.S. Men’s National Team friendlies, but first he decided to put in a stellar shift for Barcelona on Sunday.
Dest recorded his first pair of La Liga goals in a 6-1 romp over Real Sociedad. The defender became the first USMNT player to record a multi-goal performance in Spain’s top flight in the process.
With Barcelona already clinging to a 1-0 advantage thanks to Antoine Griezmann’s opener, Dest decided to double the Catalan club’s lead before halftime. The right back snuck behind the Sociedad backline, allowing Lionel Messi to play a through ball in towards goal.
Dest made no mistake by hitting a low right-footed drive into the bottom-left corner.
šŗšøāļø Messi tees up SERGINO DEST for the US international's first @LaLigaEN goal! #RealSociedadBarca pic.twitter.com/EICcz49wy4
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 21, 2021
Dest doubled his tally in the 53rd minute by streaking into the Sociedad box and finishing his second strike of the match. Sergio Busquets’ cross from the left flank allowed the 20-year-old to fly into the box and volley home his second league goal of the season.
šŗšøā¼ļø @sergino_dest bags his first @LaLigaEN brace to put Barcelona three to the good. #RealSociedadBarca https://t.co/DiLAY0VRhD
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 21, 2021
Dest would get substituted off in the 84th minute, watching the final minutes of the lopsided road win from the sidelines. Not only did Dest score twice, but he also completed 39 of his 43 passes (91% completion rate) and three of his dribble attempts.
Ronald Koeman’s side extended its unbeaten domestic run to seven matches, now sitting four points back of first place Atletico Madrid in the table.
Dest will now join up with his USMNT teammates in Austria for a friendly against Jamaica on March 25th. He will also aim to feature in a March 28th friendly against Northern Ireland before returning to action with Barcelona on April 5th vs. Real Valladolid.
I think itās the opposite Dennis! LGP, Parkhurst, Escobar were the starting back 3. A rookie in Miles Robinson, Jeff Larentowicz (also used as a 6) were your backups. A 3 man back line covers up for slower CBs. Every CB, I named in the US pool is faster than mid 30s Parkhurst & Larentowicz, donāt you think? Right footed Tim Parker started on the left side of the back 3 vs France, remember. Heās not fast, but he didnāt look out of place. I named 12 CBs, with no Ream. āYaā gottaā give yaā boi, sum credit!ā
It would be interesting to see āā with Dest and Antonee Robinson playing so often as wingbacks āā how the US would look in a 3-4-2-1.
Many of us have proposed going to a 3 back system. The problem becomes who sits to allow the 3rd CB?
Do we sit a CM: McKennie, Adams, Musha
or do we sit an attacker: Pulisic, Reyna, Weah
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If we don’t have a full strength team it would be a good option, but if we do have a full strength team than we’ve got to give something up.
We would also have to work on the 3 CBs…which options can best adjust to it and who are they…Brooks, Richards, Miazga, McKenzie, Long, EPB, CCV…Moving to a 3 back system would require an adjustment to player selections for a 23 man roster if it does become our default formation.
Yeah, I get it. That’s essentially why I was thinking about it with this camp in mind, as we’re already shorthanded in midfield, but full of attacking players who can tuck in. I’m not sure it suits a full-strength midfield with Adams, McKennie, and Musah all available, either.
Cool, I get to indulge myself!!! I think, we have the personnel for it. Starting CBs-Brooks, Miazga, CCV. 2nd string-Long, EPB, McKenzie. 3rd string- Richards, Zimmerman, M. Robinson. 4th string- Trusty, Glad, Kessler. Maybe one day!! I know, GB has ushered the US into the 4-3-3 era, but I posted about 3 man back lines after Tata and the five stripes, won the MLS cup, before GB was hired. Remember, Parker, Miazga, CCV played vs France, under Sarachan. EPB subbed for Miazga (concussion). …but Dest seems to fit well as wingback, with a 3 man back line, aaayyyeee!!!
Iād keep 3 (McKennie, Adams, Reyna) central midfielders and rotate, A. Robinson, Weah, Sabbi, Vines, Arriola, etc., as left wingbacks. Couldnāt think of better names Vines & Arriola, lol. In a 3-5-2, you have 2 strikers. In a 3-4-2-1, wingbacks start at the level as your 6, with 2 under players behind a 9. 3-4-3, well you get the point. CP would be a Queens piece on a chessboard!! Remember England & Belgium both used a 3-5-2 in the last WC.
The problem as I see it is with 3 in back it can be a disaster if any of the 3 are not fast. Unless the backs have at least decent speed, simple chips behind the back line are more difficult to defend. I know an aggressive keeper can mean that the chips have to be perfect, but if the backs can simply be outrun to the ball it surrenders too many chances. I’m not sold on CCV, McKenzie is, I think a better choice and while I like Miazga, Zimmerman and Long, their speed is suspect. Maybe Robinson and Richards?
The reason why three backs worked Atlanta is Miles Robinson speed and athleticism are unparalleled. He would be the perfect CB in a 3 back system with Brook (lcb) and Miazga/Richards/Long/etc. h]His role is more like that of a stopper/sweeper in the Italian sense.
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The dude is literally a wall when heās healthy. Go back to the 2019 season when Frank De Boer(ing) came in and look at how many times Miles made 20 to 30 yards sprints with his make up speed to take the ball off of peoples feet, to block shots and or shepherd and usher the ball right out of play. The dude is a unit! Absolute unit!!
The problem I have is you are taking off Musah or Pomykal or Aaronson for a CB. In possession ARobinson and Dest are pushing up that high anyway so your getting the same offensive benefit from the 4-3-3 give me Richards and Brooks and we arenāt getting beat over the top anyway. The defense under Berhalter has been quit good except for the first Canada match and the Mexico friendly. Lovitz subbed in when Mexico steamrolled us and Started against Canada. Get rid of the old or unathletic defenders and the 4-3-3 is fine. Also it wasnāt really a 3 man backline against France those WBs were pinned deep all match it was really a 5 man backline.
JR- Why are you assuming you take out a midfielder for a CB? It didnāt make sense to me, when Lost In Space mentioned this. It definitely doesnāt make it more sensible that you parrot it. No manager in the world plays 2 central midfielders, and no 6, in a 3 man back line!? āOurā reading comprehension is very poor. I just gave you 3 formations where you donāt. For example 3-5-2, Brooks, Miazga, CCV, -CBs, Adams-6, McKennie-10, Musah-8, Wingbacks- CP- LW, Dest-RW, 2 strikers- Aaronson, Sargent. Problem solved!! You can have whoever you want! A healthy Pomykal isnāt going to start over Musah or McKennie in a 4-3-3. Donāt know why you brought him up. I even started another thread, and used Atl United as an example, why having 3 center backs covers up mistakes. There were 3 CBs vs France! I donāt know why you like to throw in Sarachanās tactics, when Iām talking formation. Sarachan WANTED the fullbacks to stay home. You have a bad habit of talking about oranges, when Iām having a apple conversation. Sweet baby Jesus! You and Imperative Voice have more in common then you want to admit.
OK so take your scenario put Pulisic as your LW against France heās going to be pinned back in his own 18 defending (his weakest skill) so you can play Miazga? IVs idea to play Richards as a LB made more sense than that. The 3 CBs worked against France because the outside players were FBs who stayed back virtually all game and Trapp, Adams, and Wes stayed on their half of the field too. Green had like 4 touches all game we were just luckily he capitalized one, it wasnāt our great CB play. Your taking off a top 5 league attacker whether thatās Reyna or Weah to add a Championship level CB whether thatās Miazga or CCV, how does that make sense?