brek shea

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Maximum Optimal, Jun 26, 2011.

  1. Maximum Optimal

    Maximum Optimal Member+

    Jul 10, 2001
    My main second guess remains shea not being selected. Obviously this is speculative but I think his size speed and power would have helped. He would have done more than bedoya given the same chances imo. And would have been a better choice as emergency left back than u know who.
     
  2. DIMITAR BERBATOV!

    Aug 2, 2010
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He was awful in his only caps and a lot of his goals this season happened after the GC squad had already been selected.

    He's definitely one to watch for the next few friendlies though.
     
  3. Bob Morocco

    Bob Morocco Member+

    Aug 11, 2003
    Billings, MT
    A couple years ago I said that if Shea ever went from making spectacular plays that ended with a shot just wide to actually finishing he'd be a national team player... but I still want him to be a LB. Well that day seems to have come, and I still want him to play at LB.

    Bedoya is a useful cog in the machine, he's a water carrier, he's kind of like Ramires for Brazil. Shea can be a game changer, more of a Di Maria... who can play LB.


    Longstory short I want a 6'3" LB who can score every third or fourth game, that's what a great national team has.
     
  4. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    I think the main reason he looks good is because he's playing in the MSL against very soft opposition.

    He has two caps already and looked worse than average. He may be one for the future, but frankly I'm not sold on him.

    Bornstein, on the other hand, had two decent games in the World Cup. That was enough to consider him above Brek. Any manager would have.
     
  5. Peretz48

    Peretz48 Member+

    Nov 9, 2003
    Los Angeles
    Most nat'l teams don't have 6'3" LBs. I think he's a bit too big for that position. I like DB's with quickness and agility. Shea has pace, but he's not that quick in close quarters. He could probably play LB in MLS but not at the int'l level.
     
  6. Peretz48

    Peretz48 Member+

    Nov 9, 2003
    Los Angeles
    I'm not the Bornstein hater that so many others are at BS. But not being a hater doesn't mean I won't criticize his play. His WC experience is what got him on the GC squad, and that was an appropriate call by Bob. But his lack of playing time at Tigres was definitely born out by his performance against Mexico. Unlike others, I won't rule him out forever from the USMNT. However, he has to play regularly at the club level (something that Bob always talks about) in order to be included in future camps. I think he can still be useful against lesser CONCACAF teams, as well as 3rd tier teams from outside CONCACAF, but against Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, etc., as well as stronger Euro sides, he's not adequate.
     
  7. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In point of fact, Shea improved vastly in his 2nd cap, albeit to only about a mediocre level. But he made a leap of similar magnitude in his 3rd cap, he'd have been quite an asset to the team.

    People need to realize that it was Shea's dream to suit up for the national team to wit he was extremely nervous in his debut.

    And you can't ignore the reality that Shea was playing well, and at multiple positions, before the Gold Cup attrition, and Bornstein has always been terrible. Better for people to think you're not good enough than to have repeatedly been put on the field and proved it.
     
  8. youth=glory

    youth=glory Member

    Sep 2, 2010
    People forget that in one of Shea's caps he played with an out of form Altidore, and a midfield that consisted of 3 DM's....he was put in a position to fail.
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. miked9

    miked9 Member+

    May 4, 2000
    Philadelphia
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He'll get a look in the future, I'm sure. If the GC rosters were due 3 weeks later than they were he'd have probably made the cut. He's got ability but he's got a long way to go as well...and I'm not sure if he'll ever be a LB against WC-quality international competition.
     
  10. Cool Hand Luke

    Cool Hand Luke Member+

    Aug 13, 2008
    Austin Texas
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Shouldn't we wait until Brek isn't locking up an MLS player of the month for his offensive production, before we start talking about how he should be a defender again?
     
  11. El Michael

    El Michael Member

    Dec 17, 2009
    Club:
    DC United
    you more or less described Tim Ream
     
  12. El Michael

    El Michael Member

    Dec 17, 2009
    Club:
    DC United
    I'm not sold on Shea, maybe i need to see more of him...for now I would rather take my chances with Lichaj at LB
     
  13. Peretz48

    Peretz48 Member+

    Nov 9, 2003
    Los Angeles
    Tim Ream has pace?
     
  14. comoesa

    comoesa Member+

    Aug 13, 2010
    Christen Press's armpit
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Tim Ream has good feet and knows how to position his body to beat his and make a good pass, but he is more suited for CB. He is not slow, but he does not have the pace to get up and down the wing.
     
  15. Bob Morocco

    Bob Morocco Member+

    Aug 11, 2003
    Billings, MT
    That's exactly the type of player I want at LB, if they are a capable defender. With our lack of attacking width, especially on the left side, I want a LB who can blow by people, send in great crosses, run on the counter, and win back post headers. In qualifying we are going to be seeing a lot of bunkers. A player like Shea could be very useful against a CONCACAF minnow in the final third, on set pieces, and even chasing down counter attacks.

    I want Brek to get time at LM and LB depending on opponent and the roster selected.
     
  16. comoesa

    comoesa Member+

    Aug 13, 2010
    Christen Press's armpit
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You guys sue are projecting...that only leads to heartbeak.
     
  17. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes. Watch the games and you'll see it.
     
  18. fingersave

    fingersave Member

    Sep 28, 2009
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Brek is one of the few guys in the US player pool with a set of stand-apart abilities. He's one of the top couple of guys on the squad in terms of speed, he has great size, and he has a complete bag of skills.

    As I have been saying here for a long time, Shea's next step is a psychological one. It has to do with maturation and confidence. He is starting to take that step in Dallas. Fereirra went out and Brek took up the slack, leading Dallas to the second-best record in MLS. This is a big step forward for Brek and everyone around FCD knows it and are holding their fingers crossed that this is permanent.

    Now is not the time for Brek with the Nats. If he is playing like this at the end of the season, he'll get a call up soon after. He has to show that he is ready now. The US staff saw him put in a solid camp last time he was with the team, but was timid and deferential on the field. A player like Brek is worthless on the field if he is timid. He has to be one of the players that puts pressure on the opposing defense. If he's out there back-passing and not racing down the wing and being aggressive putting in off the ball movement, then he's wasting a spot.

    An aggressive, confident Brek Shea would be one of the best players in the US pool. He would play left wing or forward.
     
    1 person likes this.
  19. fingersave

    fingersave Member

    Sep 28, 2009
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I wouldn't mind seeing him at LB either, because its a need for the Nats.

    Brek is probably the best (IMO) option for LW after Dempsey/Donovan. He can play the bundesliga cross or the classic bender, and he's probably the fastest guy in the player pool. He's a good passer with a creative mind too.

    Bob is doing the right thing by working him in slowly though. Brek is the kind of player that needs time to adjust.
     
  20. fingersave

    fingersave Member

    Sep 28, 2009
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  21. Scott e Dio93

    Scott e Dio93 New Member

    Jul 1, 2006
    Montevideo, URU
    Shea isn't forward, Shea more Sorin-type player, like leftbacksneakingupinstrikerposition.
     
  22. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think this is a good opinion. In MLS he could play striker, left back or center back but left mid is his most useful spot. On the national team he could play center back if he was alowed to play there for a few years with a club team. He could play forward (maybe left winger is more accurate in a 4-3-3), he could play outside mid but with his size, pace and endurance he could play that sneaky left back that throws a surprise extra mid/winger into the mix and can still get back and not be gassed.
     
  23. Scott e Dio93

    Scott e Dio93 New Member

    Jul 1, 2006
    Montevideo, URU
    I would to see Shea on left flank on 3-5-2 formation.
     
  24. McGarnagle

    McGarnagle Member+

    Apr 29, 2010
    Club:
    FC Ingolstadt 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Has he ever played on the right side? A lot of teams use inverted wingers nowadays and if you have an attacking right back to overlap like Chandler it can be really effective. Having two speedy guys working together over there sounds good to me in theory.

    If we want to play a 5 man midfield, he is probably a better fit on the left to keep things from getting too bunched up with everyone drifting into the middle.(like we have seen when Bob tries to play it)
     
  25. fingersave

    fingersave Member

    Sep 28, 2009
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Shea could play a supporting striker role.

    He possibly could play left back too, but I don't know if I'd want to move him from the wing. He's a very good wing player who is just starting to come into his own. You let him play where he can play.
     

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