It's a unfortunate situation that he's in right now but from what I saw in the May camp he was rated as a RB not a CB or DM, even though he can play better in those positions IMO.
Jurgen did play the veterans last year, but that is only because there were 2 friendly dates set up over the course of a week.. with no first divison ball happening anywhere outside South America between the 6th and the 18th. This is one freindly day in the middle of the European seasons with a very limited break. 2011: 12 days minimum between league games 2012: 5 days minimum between league games. Below are some player windows that are of note: Dempsey: Tottenham plays Man City on the 11th and Arsenal on the 17th. Bradley: Plays on the 11th and the 19th Parkhurst: Plays on the 10th and 16th Cherundolo: Plays the 11th and 17th Jones: Plays on the 10th and 17th Altidore: Plays on the 11th and 16th Edu/Cameron: Plays on the 10th and the 19th Gatt/Diskerud: Play last game of the season on the 18th Asking the veterans to be available for three games over the course of 6 days is a little much. Especially someone like Parkhurt, Dempsey, Cherundolo, Altidore and Jones. I could possibly see Bradley, Cameron and Edu making the trip, but beyond that....it's a pretty big ask fr the clubs as well....I know they TECHNICALLY have to accept the call up, but there are always deals that go on that keep players out. You really think Verbeek is goingto let Altidore go play in a game in a 5 days window between league games? He might have to, but not without a discussion first. HOWEVAH! Going over the recent Russian callups, all their players (minus 3) play ball in Russia. So they have the option of a full strength side or a youth side with little consequence. I want Jurgen to treat this friendly as a Cupcake: The Prequel, but I think it will be a healthy mix between veterans who are somewhat expendable/replaceable to their club teams in this window plus U-23's and maybe 1 dual national.
Frankly, I would be very surprise if GOOCH makes a comeback. He is playing in a league that requires lots of touches, not one of his strengths.
I haven't really seen Malaga play but I think he'll be fine. He has, in the past, played a few steps ahead of the game. Something that not many other defenders in our pool have done. All he needs to do is be in the right spot at the right time like he was so consistent at doing.
I wouldn't use the Slovenia match as precendent. That was early on in the tenure, and JK was looking for wins to build confidence in the NT. If Klinsmann is willing to take an experimental side to Azteca, I see no reason to not expect a lot of inexperience in Russia. That he won in Mexico only lends more credibility to the idea.
They shouldn't be older than 26. The idea is to plan for the replacement bulbs for 2014, in case any of the main characters gets run over by a truck. And those bulbs will have to remain at the start of next cycle, hopefully hitting peak then.
Little off topic but according to Wikipedia this game will be at Stanford Stadium. Anyone know if that's true?
2009, 2010, and 2011 we were on the road for the November friendly/ies. 2008 we were in Colorado. We aren't necessarily going on the road. The USMNT is long overdue for the Bay Area... it's been 6 years since they were here last. I think the 50k sellout Quakes-Galaxy game back in July may have added some encouragement to USSF to get back here, along with Lew finally getting around to breaking ground on the Epicenter on Oct. 21st next month.
Updated line-up: GK Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando, Sean Johnson DF Jonathan Spector/Timmy Chandler, Michael Parkhurst, Edgar Castillo, Eric Lichaj, Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu, Matt Besler, Seb Hines MF Daniel Williams, Sacha Kljestan, Michael Bradley, Graham Zusi, Jose Torres, Joe Corona, Mikkel Diskerud FW Chris Pontius, Josh Gatt, Brek Shea, Terrence Boyd, Jozy Altidore --------------------Altidore------------------ ------Shea---------------------------Gatt---- ---------------Bradley----Zusi---------------- --------------------Williams------------------- Castillo--------------------------------Parkhurst ---------------Edu---------Cameron---------- ---------------------Guzan-------------------- Captain: Bradley Bench: Johnson, Besler, Lichaj, Kljestan, Torres, Pontius, Boyd
GK- Guzan, Johnson, Rimando LB- Castillo, Spector CB-Cameron, Gonzalez, Edu, Besler RB-Lichaj, Parkhurst CM-Bradley, Williams, Kljestan, Corona, Diskerud Wing- Gatt, Shea, Zusi, Pontius, Bedoya, Adu ST- Jozy, Boyd, Wondo --------------------Guzan--------------------- Lichaj----Cameron---Gonzo------Castillo --------------------Williams------------------- -----------Zusi---------------Bradley--------- Gatt----------------Jozy-------------Pontius
i REALLY like this except for Castillo. i cant stand him idk y we wouldnt see Lichaj, if hes going to b called in would like to see Klejstan (even though we know what he provides), Corona, Diskerud, Besler, Hines get some minutes any hope for Adu to return ?
For a date in which it's unlikely we'll use many Euro-based players (for reasons well spelled out several posts ago), Stanford would be a great spot. IIRC the last match the USMNT played in the Bay Area was the pre-GC friendly with China back in 2007. (And when the Earthquakes do finish their new stadium, they really ought to get another when the schedule permits, IMO.)
It's going to be a primarily Euro-based roster, it just won't be teeming with veterans. I don;t undertsand how this Stanford Stadium rumor got started. It's already listed as the venue on Wikipedia, but there no corroboration that I can anywhere. Everything I read said that the Russia game is going to follow the mold of the France/Slovenia freidnlies last year. Except, this time there alot of scheduling issue from a variety of different leagues that will probably force us to go young. ESPN also lists Russia as the home team on their calendar.
I agree I don't know how the Stanford Stadium rumor got started, all I have heard is that the game will be in Russia so it will be an Euro-based roster.
http://espnfc.com/us/en/gamecast/statistics/id/356167/statistics.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901 The US is actually listed as the home team here (the home team is always first on their scoreboard)
All I've read is it's in Russia, and it started with Jurgen himself saying we're playing in Russia in Nov. However, if it does somehow end up at Stanford that'd be great, as theBay Area has been long ignored for NT games and I can finally go to one. Otherwise might have to wait until after the SJ stadium is finished, as I assume they'll be rewarded with a NT game at some point.
Would rather that we go to Russia and play. I thought some Russian articles already confirmed it on their part?
Russia's November Friendly vs U.S. in Krasnodar http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs.../u-s-notes-mls-cup-update-d-c-united-preview/