Nice of the guy to check for testicular cancer. Just hope he didn't try to line up a prostate exam later in the game.
Jose Francisco Torres lifted some silverware recently, winning the LigaMX Cup with Tigres. He went all 90 minutes in a 3-0 win. He's been getting less love in the USNT forums than most players who are starting and playing well for big league clubs. Are people just wary of discussing him as he's shown to be less than overly useful for the USNT, or is it b/c he plays a position of serious depth and the chances of him getting into the 30, much less on the plane to Brasil are slim? Clearly he's in form, and healthy. He's scored some cracking goals recently. It would be interesting to see how he would stack up right now against a Stacha (sp?) or Mix. I know it's virtually a mortal sin to suggest that Mix might not be a lock part of the 23 (and I hope his play dictates that he will go), but JFT is a quality player who is rounding into form at the exact right time, and should at least warrant some discussion?
Torres had his WC chance four years ago and messed it up big time against an underwhelming Slovenia squad. A few good games in Liga MX isn't going to make up for that. I'd rather have Feilhaber or Mix than Torres at this point. He doesn't offer enough on the defensive or offensive side of the ball - he's also pretty slight of frame.
Yeah, but that's not at all applicable to Jose Torres. You make it seem like his failure in the 2010 World Cup is why he isn't on the team now. If that's true, Klinsmann wouldn't have bothered capping him FIFTEEN TIMES. No, the reason that Torres isn't on the team is that he underwhelmed in the chances that Klinsmann gave him, and because he plays a position that has a lot of depth. I have never been particularly high on Torres, but judging him based on caps when he was 22 is just stupid. We have a ton of players who were just turning pro at that age, and were nowhere near the national team. And Torres is still only 26 years old. While I don't think he has much shot to make the the 30 man roster in May, he still could work his way back onto the team next cycle.
The Us needs to at least consider players that are playing well at a good level heading into the WC. I have never thought Torres was quite good enough, but he was always a legitimate player. Maybe he's improved. He doesn't have a natural position with the US, but he ought to be in the discussion for the 30 as much as Sacha, Green, or Corona or (although other positions) Chandler or Ream.
Torres can hit a left footed free kick. That's a rare thing in our player pool right now. For the US, he's been most effective as a wide midfielder/forward. He pinches in well from either side, stays connected with his teammates and is surprisingly aggressive and effective on the high press. Since Brek Shea isn't playing, and Brad Davis and Julian Green are coping with injuries, to me Torres ought to be in the 30 man camp.
In your opinion of course. In my opinion, a good left foot, some decent club form and US passport gets you in the conversation at this point.
It's a short conversation. Is he going to make the 30-man? Not likely at all. Is he going to Brazil? Nope. There, done!
How many more chances should a guy get who: -Isn't very good when he doesn't have space or time -Isn't fast nor quick -Can't create offense for others -Can't create it for himself -Has a 2 month sample size of offensive production being outweighed by 5 years and 22ish caps showing he can't produce offensively His current form in LigaMX is nice. He's a good pro, but for the NT, he's an extreme situational player, good at the international level against teams that sit back and pack it in. Ghana, Portugal and Germany aren't going to sit back. They aren't going to give our mids time and space on the ball. He'd be a waste of a spot.
His INEFFECTIVENESS as a wide player in the many caps and starts JK gave him at the beginning of the cycle is why no one talks about him any more. He is a talented guy, but is miscast as a wide player where scoring and chance creatino is expected - unless his recent scoring binge is an indicator of a big change. He just never fit into the USMNT in his natural and normal central midfield position.
He's already shown he doesnt need to be left footed to be good on the left. Its not like Torres gets down the wing and whips in crosses with his left anyways
If you are saying that JT didn't stay wide, true enough as he obviously doesn't have the game to run to the endline and cross. Of course, many USMNT left mids have played the left flank without being a classic wide player (though less so under JK than Bradley), with Dempsey and Donovan, coming easily to mind. Regardless of whether Torres played as a wide player or not, JK used him more on the left flank than in his accustomed midfield position. And my view remains that Torres doesn't produce enough goals and chances created for that role, regardless of how wide he plays.
Just caught the Sunderland game...no JA again. The team ended up playing fairly well, so don't see a need for the coach to put JA back in starting line-up. This is very discouraging...wonder what JK is going to do about this come WC choices.
Most likely call him into the 30 and see for his own eyes how well he performs in the US setup at camp. This could turn out to be a fantastic opportunity. Jozy gets a few more weeks rest not going it alone up top in the "see if you can soften up the defense for 90 minutes" gameplan for Sunderland. Sunderland gets relegated. And Jozy is told he is in the shop window heading into the World Cup. He busts his ass in camp and is our #1 striker. Scouts from Portugal and Germany club teams for sure will be watching. Scouts from rest of Europe as well. How do you think he responds? He dominated against Costa Rica immediately after the Charlie Davies accident. Different circumstances here, but we very well may see a highly motivated Altidore down in Brazil.
I don't know what his status is, but Beasley had to get subbed out of Puebla's match due to injury yesterday.
Quentin Westberg got promoted to Ligue 2 with Luzenac. Notable i suppose given the developing dearth of US GKs overseas that we are not used to having.