I'm down to keep Beasley in the side. I do think he has more to give and his move to Puebla has re-energized him.
As long as he comes in as Torres' replacement, he'll always look good. Wasn't bad last night. Composed, unlike the first half group. Never should be written off, but should not be an instant choice. If his form is good, he is useful.
I don't mind maybe giving him a few more caps so he can reach 100 but his best years are clearly behind him. I don't see him making WC 2014
Feet of stone, despite all his energy. Did not make passes which he had time to make to kill clock at end of game and was hence dispossed. Twice by my count. Taking minutes away from others who can really help in 2014. No.
I don't mind bringing him on. If anything he was aggressive, nearly scored (or threatened goal) when shea whipped a cross in late in the game. He's not what he used to be, but I wouldn't throw a fit if he was called up. And at the very least he's actually a legitimate winger, i'm kind of tired of shoehorning torres into that role.
Contrast Bease attacking in the dying minutes to Shea. Bease gets the ball wide, sees one US player in the center with a MX defender on either side of him, and holds the ball wide, taking 15-20 seconds off the clock. Shea get's the ball wide in a very similar situation, and sends in an early cross. We lose posession, and MX is back on the attack. There's no question that Bease was the vet who did the right thing in that situation. It may not be sexy, and it may look silly for him to dribble the ball around on the sideline until he get's disposessed... but in that situation it's a better option then sending a hopeful ball in to the middle with time running out and a 1-0 lead.
i thought so too, but damn you got to feel close to the guy who is so close to making 100 caps and contributed so much to our program. even if it's garbage minutes; i say give it to him.
That's the difference in a veteran and someone who is relatively new to the scene. Though, you'd think Shea would do a better job of killing a game after the Olympic qualifier fiasco.
He was ok. Should have been on the team for WCQ back in June. A good sub option. I doubt he makes it to 2014. Joseph Gyau, if he get's some playing time at Hoffenheim this year or maybe even Gatt. Taking that role as the speed option off the bench. I do not feel Shea is ready to be a starter just yet.
ummmmm no Beasley please...give Gyau/Gatt one more year year on their respective teams and they will be better options, they are just a little young right now
Composed is the last word I would use to describe Beasley last night. His touch was awful and he held the ball for entirely too long. Loved him a few years ago, but I don't think he's a viable option any more going forward.
Get him to 100 and have his retirement ceremony the same day. He is not good enough and there are better young players that need caps per world cup
Maybe not a "retirement" ceremony because it always looks awful when the player is called back on an emergency basis. I say give him an award that recognizes the 100 caps and I agree with you.
Yeah, I agree. I think in terms of having a national team future, he doesn't really have one. He needs another four caps to get to 100, I say give him a few caps here or there in meaningless camp cupcake games or a cameo in a WCQ that we have a big lead. Get him to 100, and then tell him either to retire from the National Team or tell him that he just isn't going to get called up anymore.
Beasley is still a useful role player. He's a much better wide player than say, Danny Williams, Jermaine Jones, Zusi, or a bevy of other CM/DMs Jurgen has deployed wide. He's not as explosive as Shea, but he's a ton smarter. The fact that Shea hasn't learned from his mistake in Olympic Qualifying is astounding.
We have many good young players in the pipeline who can play wide, but most of them are not ready for the call. Beasley is experienced, healthy and in good form at the moment. However, he is 30 and has the body type prone for breaking down. His body took a lot of abuse in his tours of Scotland and Germany. I am happy for his mini-revival in Mexico and never loathed him like many others on the board. For now, yes call him in for the Jamaica qualifiers. By 2014 or even the latter part of the 2013 hex or Gold cup, I would hope some of the young guys break through. I like both Gatt and Gyau. Their world class speed will be a huge asset for opening up space for our other attacking players and easing some of the pressure off our CMs.
I didn't say anything about his touch. We all know he wears cinder blocks where his boots belong. He was a huge upgrade over Torres who did not want to be there and did his best to hide himself from the ball. Beez was holding the ball too long as a time killer after the US gained the lead. He put in a good night's work.
