Different coach, though - I don't know if JK is going to do something like that. Seems like more of a deliberate guy. That said, I will continue to hope and pull for him. He's been so fantastic recently that I think it might be a real mistake leaving him behind.
on the far outside chance of benny getting on the wc squad, we'll have jack squat left to run our offense while they're gone. on one hand, i'd like to see him get that honor. on the other hand, even if he did, he'd almost certainly see very little playing time, if any at all. we could really use him not making the squad.
The US definitely lost a lot of defensive quality and shape when those two subbed off. In the end, though, Mexico got lucky. That EJ call was lame.
Both of the calls at the end of the game were questionable... EJ looked dead even with the Mexican defender when the ball was played and Julian Green got hacked down on the edge of the box with no call.... very sketchy... And,,, did anyone else think that Omar Gonzales looked really shaky without Besler out there?
With Besler, without - didn't really matter. Actually Besler had a couple dodgy touches himself, but he looked awesome by comparison.
Based on last night, who would Benny have a chance of displacing? Looks like you'd have a better chance at cracking the lineup at striker or defender than at mid.
Except I'm not sure we'll play the 4-4-2 that we played last night in the World Cup, JK is too dead set on keeping Jones in the Starting XI. And with Jones on the field we don't play that diamond 4-4-2.
I'm ignorant on the relationship between JK, formation, and selection...what will be the preferred formation for the WC? The commentators were talking about how Beckerman likes to sit in that DM role, and isn't that Jones' role too? So would it mean 4-2-3-1 with Beckerman/Jones at the two DM spots and Benny having to crack into the substitutes for the "3" spots Zusi and Bradley, et al. are going after? Thanks in advance...I'll listen off the air.
Yes a 4-2-3-1 seems likely with Jones/Beckerman with Bradley in the 2 spots. Benny fighting to be Dempsey's back up in the middle of the three.
Fielhaber needs another nod under Klinsmann. He is in fine form of late, which is what any national team coach should want in a WC build up. The January call up was nice, but being left off the roster for Mexico seems to have motivated him to new heights. Any word from the inside on this?
Besler and Zusi are on the preliminary roster, Feilhaber is not. No surprises, but disappointing based on Benny's form
Corona is one that stuck out to me but he doesn't play centrally as much. Edu was another especially with Beckerman.
Most difficult to understand Edu. JK brought in 3 holding mids (Jones/Beckerman/Edu). Seems excessive. I think Benny's biggest problem was lack of versatility. He doesn't play wide mid and he doesn't have enough defensive bite to play the holding role that Jones/Beckerman/Edu play. JK's preferred 4-2-3-1 doesn't help him either as the AM is typically a withdrawn forward like Dempsey/Donovan. I think its just a situation where the fit between player and system is bad. JK seems to like swiss army knife players and Benny is just a fork.
I understand that. But JK's got 4 true CB's in the pool without Edu. 7 that can play CB if you count Cameron/Parkhurst/Edu. IMO, you can get by without a guy that is a tweener CB/DM and maybe bring in another attacking player.
Does anybody really think Edu has a shot in hell though? Along with some of the other guys listed? I think JK did Benny a solid by not inviting him to be honest. He had enough respect for him to let him know early that he's not in the plans. Edu and some of those other guys are just training ground cones before he breaks their hearts much later.