Beasely "irritated" by lineup issues

[monster]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2006-06-05T133147Z_01_L0534289_RTRUKOC_0_US-SOCCER-WORLD-US.xml

Beasley said he still does not know whether he will be on the left, right, center or even the beach. "It's irritating not to know," Beasley told a group of journalists at the U.S. base in the northern port city of Hamburg before a closed-door runout against Angola later on Monday.

"Of course it's better to know. It helps you get your mind set. It wouldn't matter to me if I'm on the right, the left or the middle. But I don't even know if I'll even be playing the first game. He hasn't made up his line-up."

[Geneva]

Sounds like the pressure is getting to him a little.

[Nermalthecat]

Maybe if he hadn't sucked horrifically for the better part of a full Euro season and the runup to the Cup, he wouldn't have these issues.

[Asprilla9]

is this gamesmanship on Bruce's part?? how could he not know yet? are we the only team with this much gray area in our starting lineup??

[st5801]

Yes, there's a good reason he doesn't know if he's on the left, right, or center....he's not playing any of them to start.

[NBlue]

2 Disclaimers -- (1) I really like Beasley and (2) I'm generally for players speaking their minds and not having to hold their tongues . . .


However, I don't like these quotes at all.

Reading the article, it seems clear that these are quotes from the Beas and not the press twisting his words: "its irritatating not to know" and "I think it would be better if we trained with our first 11 for a week or 5 days" sound like direct criticisms of BAs coaching style to me. Why does he feel the need to do this less than a week before our opening match? Those are certainly opinions he has a right to hold, but espousing that in the press at this juncture can be nothing but counterproductive (imo) especially considering he is a questionable start as it stands.

It seems to me that BA may not yet have decided whether Demarcus will start, possibly, and was waiting to see how he reacts and plays this week (and perhaps in the scrimmage) before coming to a decision . . . regardless, these quotes are certinaly not good. Not terrible, but not good.

[roadkit]

I think it is just a little bit disconcerting if Beasley is voicing his concerns publicly.

This sounds like someone who thought they were a lock to start maybe having to face the fact that their play hasn't been up to starting standards.

I don't think he has to worry about getting minutes though.

[DaPrince84]

whtever with this dude... he was garbage for this calender year, and he expects to have a slot in the line up... he needs to go head wit that

[Hustletown]

I'm concerned for Beasley.

In my opinion, he should focus on playing the best soccer possible regardless of where he is put on the field. The line up issues are nothing new with Bruce Arena, and DMB has to know that.

I think DMB is more irritated with himself than anything. He knows his form is sucking at the moment, and his future could depend on how he plays in the World Cup. His performance at the last WC won him a European contract. However, if his form doesn't improve for this World Cup then he may see his professional options in Europe take a real hit.

We'll find out what DMB is made of in this World Cup. He needs to perform and perform well.

If I were in his position, I'd take the attitude of "f*** it" and play as hard as humanly possible regardless of my position on the pitch.

[Rickster]

Hey, DaMarcus, it's called accountability and form. That's how you got into the 2002 starting XI in the first place, right?

I have no problem with Bruce putting these guys under a little pressure. One of the risks with having so much be similar to WC2002 is that too many guys are in a comfort zone.

[The Lieutenant]

DMB is to Arena

as

Lalas is to Sampson


DMB is just frustrated, and he is playing like crap. The fact that Arena is trying to get his ass on the field, despite his current play, should be enough.

[Sandon Mibut]

I'm worried he thinks he might be at the beach. I mean, really. Isn't there plenty of time to vacation AFTER the WC?

Beasley said he still does not know whether he will be on the left, right, center or even the beach.

[appoo]

publicly airing out your comments is one way to earna trip to the bench

********!

We need him out there and he may have just benched himself

[DCFAN96]

Its obvious the guy is frustrated, he understands the situation hes in, he knows that Bobby is playing better and IMO hes having trouble dealing with it. I'd rather have Bobby and Dempsey start ahead of him, but he has been on this stage before so that counts for something, but if he is given the starting spot I'm sure BA after these qoutes will have him on a short leash.

[Nermalthecat]

As an aside, I would be shocked if Arena "hasn't made his lineup" yet for the Czech game. Maybe he's waiting to see late form on one or two players, but I have a hunch that Bruce has known for quite a while on just how he wants to attack the Czechs and, per usual, the individual pieces in his scheme are far less critical than the overall plan.

If Beas continues to look average or says stupid crap in the media, I'm sure Bruce has a Beasless plan that will work just fine for him. That said, I think this would be the one game where you wouldn't mind an offensively inept Beasley on the right. Run Nedved ragged for 60 mins and then let Dempsey have a shot at him.

The bigger Q it raises, though, in my mind is where does Reyna fit in? I can't see Bruce not playing Mastroeni and he won't be on the left. If Donovan plays up top or withdrawn behind McBride, Reyna can slot in behind him, but what if Johnson and McBride are up top? I don't think this is the game to play Reyna at RM, altho I like that plan in general, with him pinched in a bit to let Dolo roam up the wing.

[Ja Ja James]

Sounds like the pressure is getting to him a little.

I agree.

I don't believe his recent displays merit his inclusion, but we all know he will be there. If anything, he can disrupt defensively which we will need against the Czechs. If he can flip the switch offensively, even better. The big questions are where to start him and do you sacrifice Convey? :confused:

[m vann]

You guys are reading way to much into this. Its been obvious he's been irratated and out of sync but its nothing but chatter. Bruce has openly on numerous occassions stated Beasley is his top player and I seriously doubt DMB would do anything to jepordize his standing with Bruce. The quote below just sums everything up, he knows what's at stake and he knows how Bruce works. People may think his quotes may lead to a rif but I hardly think Bruce or the other players would blink an eye from the quotes in the article.



"That's just his thing," Beasley said. "That's the way he works. He knows a player wants to know a week or two before. Every coach is different. He does it his way. He's not going to change his position for the World Cup."

[Autogolazo]

The frustration is borne of going from a lock at left mid to being seen as a good wing mid defender, deployable as needed.

You'd think the fact that he could see we might need him on the right against the Czechs to battle Nedved would get him to shut up, but apparently not.

The Czech game, if anything, is his best shot at a start right now with the way he's playing.

[appoo]

btw - Beasley hasn't been close to horrific or any of that garbage. He just hasn't been his usually high standard of play. Below average for him is still better than any other option we have on the right.

[Henry Porter]

Maybe if he hadn't sucked horrifically for the better part of a full Euro season and the runup to the Cup, he wouldn't have these issues.

http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idioms/images/hit_nail_on_head.jpg