Pre-match: USA vs Mexico, September 10th 2013.

Do you wanna see the Aztecazo in it's entirety? Well Winner Winner Chicken Dinner...



Horrible quality though. I'd almost rather watch highlights.

 

I can't think of anything WORSE than using a sub in a world cup qualifier to cap tie a defender when you're behind. Think for a second and while you're thinking, remember that OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T TOTAL MORONS.

It would be an incredibly transparent move, a cheap move, and one that would make every single dual national thinking of getting tied to the US while Klinsmann is at the helm, and probably beyond, think that the US is playing games with something very precious, a player's international career. If JK were to do such a thing, that would probably be the last dual national to come to camp for the US while Jurgen was in charge, because every player would fear being on the game day roster and being thrown into a match for a minute of action for no purpose other than cap tying him to the US.

Look, I don't mean to pick on you because other people are suggesting the same thing. But it's incredibly stupid! You're like Costanza, when he told Jerry that the key to improving the Yankees was trading Bernie Williams for Ken Griffey, and one other equally lopsided trade. Yes, it's easy to chart a path to success if you assume everyone you're dealing with is so stupid he can barely remember to breath. It's easy to say we should have given a stunt cap to Brooks to tie him to the US. But that assumes that the next dual national you call in won't be afraid of being the victim of the same bullshit.

Maybe Julian Green blows up with Bayern Munich and he's a guy we want to actually use in Brazil, and he's intrigued by playing in a World Cup as a teenager. You think he's going to consider the US, which would close off playing for the German national team forever, if Jurgen cap ties Brooks while two goals down? What about the Ethiopian kid, Zalelam or something, with Arsenal?

 

I think you way overestimate others' response to the cap tie. If brooks had started it would be even more cynical in reality but more palatable to others? Brooks could not be forced to accept the callup but he did. He must have assumed there was a risk he'd actually play. All those othe dual nationals know very well that each country would like them to commit. Where's the secret?

Now a much better argument against putting brooks in very late is that no player is bigger than the team. A nice as it would be to tie up brooks, the result is king and the team must always always come first. I can appreciate that argument very much and so have no real problem with leaving brooks untied. But not because of whether some future kid thinks it's cynical. That's not the only way to communicate with futures and they already know what the deal is.

 

No player should come to a national team camp without an expectation of possibly becoming cap-tied to that national team. With that said, in Costa Rica, a result was needed and a defender wasn't going to get that result. Putting him in would be tactically stupid for the game in front of you. Simply having Brooks in the 18 is a measure of respect, a statement that 'we see good things in you and want you on this team.' It's like telephoning your date from the evening before, a measure of respect. Putting him on the field is like giving an engagement ring after the first date... too much, too fast, not building a relationship, but demanding it. Wrong.

 

Goodson and gonzalez will do fine. Both are in shape, in good form and have good experience in WCQ, the one thing JAB lacked. In a game like the one that is coming up, with so much on the line for both teams, with the history b/w both teams, and the potential for flare ups, i like the idea of having two cool headed individuals at the back. The bigger issue is who the fudge is out wide, and how come with the 4 optional call ups, none was for a right back? I assumed JK is set with Parkhurst b/c if he trots out ol MOF, we're stewed. Strike that, whoever he trots out there we're stewed. GDS is going to carve them up. I wish FEMEXFUT gave Chepo one last match to right the ship, b/c there is always a 25% improvement in the form of any team when a new manager comes in for the first game.

Going to be an interesting game. Wish i was going!

 

Putting Brooks in for the last 2 minutes of the CR game just so he was cap-tied is basically telling him that you don't trust him and you're worried he's going to change his mind again. Total slap in the face to somebody that has made a tough decision to play for the US.

 

You must have missed that day in man school. From page 3 in the MANual,

".... regardless of how much you respect your date, you must always wait a minimum of 36 hours prior to calling after said date...., unless she is rich."

 

------------------AJ-------------------
---------------Dempsey---------------
--------Jones-----------Donovan-----
--------------Beckerman-------------
Johnson-----------------------Bedoya
-----Omar--Goodson--Parkhurst----
--------------Guzano-----------------

Here's what I'd do because I don't really have any idea what JK is going to do. He surely can't go with Orozco again. Howard will start, I'm sure. I think Jones needs to start, even after his horror show in CR, because he's the only one that can keep the midfield moving if he's smart about it. When he sat back deeper in the second half Friday, we looked better. I think we need him for the muscle/attitude in this game as well. I wouldn't start Zusi either but who knows.

 

---------------------------------Howard----------------------------
-------------------Goodson------------------Gonzo--------------
Parkhurst----------------------------------------------------Beasley
------------------------------Beckerman------------------------
------------------Jones------------------------------------------
--Dempsey-----------------------------------------Fabian
-------------------Donovan-------------------------------------
----------------------------------EJ-----------------------------

This is what I think starts.... but it's just a guess............. but who knows with how unpredictable JK has been with his line ups.We very well could have this:

---------------------------------Howard----------------------------
-------------------Goodson------------------Gonzo--------------
Fabian----------------------------------------------------Beasley
------------------------------Beckerman------------------------
------------------Jones------------------------------------------
--Zusi--------------------------------------------------Donovan
-----------------------------------Aron-------------------------
-------------------------EJ--------------------------------------

 

When has Fabian Johnson ever played on the right side for the US? JK isn't that unpredictable.

 

You're going to like the answer to this one.

 

Actually, he has played on the right for the US, in Azteca friendly, a 1-0 win. Backline was:
FJ---Edu---Cameron---Castillo

Mids: Williams--Beckerman--Jones--Torres

Fwd: Donovan--Gomez

 

Regardless of the players JK just needs to remember that the wing defenders have to have the pace to contain Dos Santos.

 

Wow, I forgot about that. My bad.

I'd still be surprised to see it on Tuesday.

 

Given to how thin we are right now at RB with injuries/issues...wouldn't be surprised at all really.

 

I too can imagine that we might actually see FJ and Beasley on both wings defensively. It would be the unconventional choice, but they both have speed, and Mexico's one real area where they've proven to create danger is with their wingers.

 

Definitely a possibility.
But if you do it with his consent, it's different. Brooks might be happy to just get it done and cut off any continuing discussion about it. He could decide he is distracted by the speculation and people trying to change his mind and be very on board with just ending all that.
I don't know what he thinks of course.

 

No one else is trying to change his mind I believe. After he refused a U-21 callup and picked the Bosnia friendly instead, the DFB has closed the door on Brooks.

 

If JK thinks his recent choices are still right (and one loss in a tough place may not dissuade him) he might do this:

--------------------EJ------------------
-FJohnson---Dempsey---Donovan-
---------------Mix----Jones-----------
Beasley--Gonzo--Orozco--Parkhurst
----------------Howard-----------------

Or he might even have Zusi for LD. He could go back to his 4-3-3 if he's scared:

--EJ-----------Clint------------LD--
----------Mix---------Jones---------
-------------Beckerman-------------
Beas--Gonzo--Orozco-F.Johnson
---------------Howard--------------

Or maybe even Zusi where Mix is.

And there are tons of other permutations that are possible though, my head can't get it straight.

I'd start Kljestan and Brooks, but...

I guess I'd do this:

--------------AJ---Dempsey-----------
----LD--------------------------Bedoya
--------------Mix--Jones----------------
Fabian-Goodson--Gonzo--Parkhurst
----------------Guzan-------------------

Not real enthused about that though.

 

Not Orozco. Please.

 

Fabian Johnson should really play rightback. Klinsmann wont do it though. Or atleast I dont think he will..

 

I think I'd go with that. I don't have much confidence in Jones going forward if Beckermen is implemented with him. Mix, imo, is much much better at going forward. Bedoya is good because out of Donovan and Zusi he's probably the best defensively. He also is in great form right now too which doesn't hurt. Still worried about Dempsey because clearly he's far from 100% so I wouldn't be surprised to see EJ (ugh) instead of him up top with AJ.

 

Then who do we put at LB? Beasley?

 

I'm hoping we will see this:

--------------GAM------------------
F.Johnson----Demps---------Donovan
------------Jones---Bedoya/Mixx------
Beasley---Goodson--Gonzo--Parkhurst

Although I have a feeling Beckerman will get the start along with Jones.

 

Goodson and Gonzalez together will be interesting to see. With 13 feet of center back, how can we lose?

Reminds me of Metzelder and Mertesacker for Germany, at the time also coached by Klinsmann.