I still think Convey needs to be used here as well in the run up to WC '14. Shae should also tried there to be a backup in a pinch. Admittedly, his defensive footwork needs to improve. Lichaj playing underneath Chandler would be ideal. Lichaj is an adequate stopgag in my view. The real answer would be a left footer who has pace AND can defend.
In an interview recently in the Shin Guardian Convey claimed that after the 2006 World Cup he knew unequivocally that he'd never be called in again after some blow-up with both, I assume, the coaching staff and the federation. http://theshinguardian.com/2010/10/25/stadiums-national-teams-playoffs-with-bobby-convey/ TSG: Let me ask this question, if you got called in you would go? Convey: Yeah, but I haven’t spoken to them. I knew after the last World Cup that I wouldn’t be called in anymore. TSG: Wait, did they call you or email you or something? Convey: I just knew. Soccer’s a small world in this country. I talked to people. People I trusted and I knew right away I wasn’t going to go in anymore and it was extremely disappointing.
It really depends when this blow-up occured. After the Mexico game in February 2007? I mean, Bob Bradley called Convey in to that game, and Convey didn't exactly play well (Of course, he played LM, not LB). A lot of BSers and myself thought that Convey was done after that game. But since then, his performances at LB (Not at LM) have really turned us around. I guess that blow-up occured between Convey and Bob Bradley, which explains while Convey's form has improved, he regularly gets snubbed by BB.
San Jose could have helped by actually playing Convey as a left back this season prior to the weeks of the Gold Cup callups.
I couldn't find a Lichaj-thread and decided to bump this one solely for the irony. Have there been any substantial leaks on why he was left off the recent 27 callups? I imagined it was a similar reason to Ream's absence and am trying to give Klinsmann the benefit of the doubt here.
Klinsmann said he needed to get more games in before he could be called in. Some are saying that's BS. I think that Klinsi doesn't think Lichaj is fit enough to play this many games with an average of 3 days between games. In other words, even though skill-wise Lichaj should be here, if the World Cup was in two weeks, he wouldn't be on the squad, and this is the group that Klinsmann said would be at the WC if it were today. Just IMO, though. Klinsi may be a dumba$$ and I may be giving him too much credit.
That is BS. He was an unused sub for 3/3 and 3/10 matches so he was healthy enough to play in End of Feb/Early March. He was a sub vs Arsenal on 3/24. Then started 9 Premiership games and played 90 minutes in one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world from March to May. He doesn't need to play every game. He can start for 2 sub for 2 and not play in one or 2. We need our best players especially if Chandler isn't there. Cherundolo can start a few on the right Licaj can play one on the right and one on the left. Klinsmann got this one wrong.
Im not saying I wouldnt have called Lichaj, Im just attempting to rationalize it. And playing 9 games over 9 weeks is not the same as playing 5 games over three weeks
My issue wasn't you. You stated your point clearly. My point is 9 games in EPL is you are healthy and ready to go. My other point is no player will be playing all 90 minutes in all 5 games so if Klinsman uses that excuse, I'm calling BS on him not you. For me being declared ready in Early March and training full time at an EPL team then playing 9 games means to any coach on the planet you are ready to go. So to me he is making some basic coaching errors in my opinion.
3 weeks = 21 days, 5 games Lichaj at Aston Villa: 24/03/2012 Arsenal Aston Villa 3-0 31/03/2012 Aston Villa Chelsea 2-4 1 07/04/2012 Liverpool Aston Villa 1-1 09/04/2012 Aston Villa Stoke City 1-1 15/04/2012 Manchester United Aston Villa 4-0 21/04/2012 Aston Villa Sunderland 0-0 24/04/2012 Aston Villa Bolton Wanderers 1-2 28/04/2012 West Bromwich Albion Aston Villa 0-0 06/05/2012 Aston Villa Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 13/05/2012 Norwich City Aston Villa 2-0 That's 6 games in 22 days...
What a revelation. You could post that response to anyone with an opinion. Is that why a soccer forum exists? To have a national team coach to change his mind? No - its to discuss opinions and share information on topics and themes that interests us as topical. Lichaj not being called in and offering some basis for my opinion is all that I did. It has nothing to do with expecting Klinsmann to now change his mind. I hope you realize he doesn't read this forum. I may even have a few other opinions to express on the topic without needing validation from you or Klinsmann.
Here's his interview with Ives: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...-states-mens-national-team-new-options-052312 I think we're taking for granted that Klinsmann even decided to speak on the issue. Americans love that transparency from the top and he's really given a lot to the fans. Plus, imo, if he's going to go way out of his way to make such comments on Lichaj and Adu then he's well aware of their situations. He's always talking about sending scouts to watch the players and such. At the end of the day, Lichaj is missing just two qualifiers, not the World Cup. This sucks but I'd be really surprised if Lichaj continues his pace and misses the WC.
He'll def be there for the world cup but the kid deserved a shot and I was really hoping to see him play
I like that Klinsmann speaks his mind but what I don't understand is how is Morales ahead of anybody on defense and since he said he was going to bring 29, why not bring Lichaj and also if you are not going to bring Shea then why didn't Beasley come in. He could have brought both of them and been at the 29 he said he was going to bring in.
What is your obsession against Lichaj? Why can't you articulate it instead of making inane, non-responsive comments all over USA mens?
I believe Chandler is better than Lichaj at RB I'm tired of people saying oh no biggie Lichaj is better than him anyways its false. Also I'm making inane, non-responsive comments? I remember you being ignorant about Timothy forgot about that? But I want Lichaj at LB though.
Fair enough but lichaj should still be in camp and I'd rather Johnson left with Donovan in front of him then lichaj on the right with chandler in front of him(where he plays for club)
Umm... Either this is a seriously poor choice of words (unlikely) or you're just a flat out pathetic excuse for a human being (likely). If there is one thing I can't stand tolerate it's a bigot.
