This is just getting ridiculous. The man is literally scorching. He is so hot right now its not even funny. I might get flamed for this, but in the last month to two months is there a hotter striker in the world (not named messi or ronaldo). All he does is score. Its amazing
Herc played as a striker paired with Donovan to good effect at LA winning the US Cup and MLS Cup. He's won an MFL scoring title as a forward as well. The man is versatile.
Klinsmann in particular should have some respect for Gomez now that he's rung up three goals on the juggernaut Toronto FC team he helped build.
As do I, but the US doesn't have guys who play short-short-long quite as well as Crosas. That said... ---------------Altidore --Donovan ---Dempsey --- Gomez --------Kljestan---------------- ---------------Bradley----------- Would make me very, very happy.
That's out there, but it'd be intriguing to watch none the less. Too bad we don't have more friendly dates.
It's really not - the only one who'd be playing a spot he doesn't for his club team is Donovan, and I think we'd all be pretty content with him on the left in this lineup. Also, I really like the idea of Donovan, Kljestan and Fabian Johnson combining down that left touchline, pulling the defense out of shape and leaving room for Herc to sneak back post. It's exactly what Santos does, and it's what San Jose did with Wondo when he won the Golden Boot in 2010.
Not a bad team at all. Put Johnson on the left and Chandler on the right, and there is balance all over the field. Kljestan would be key because he is a deceptive player who makes unexpected passes, many of which catch defenders off guard and put attackers in numbers up positions. Sadly I doubt we see it.
I'd also like to see some version of the 4-2-3-1 you guys are toying with. If Gomez can play that role at an international level, it just opens up all kinds of possibilities for the US. (And then if Holden can get back to form, he'd take the Kljestan role.)
It would also make our opponents even happier and keep Klinsmann, Howard, and MB's wife up all night with nightmares of goals hitting the back of the US net. You have 1 ball winner in that front 6. Did the U23 Q disaster not teach us anything?
Herc has thrived in a variety of systems. Not sure why anyone thinks Kljsetan would be particularly useful in making things work. The attacking movements come primarily through the flankers and Dempsey.
Looking for bit more the way of explanation in light of the Herc's versatility and the US's attack not running through the deep mids.
GOMEZ'S AMAZING JOURNEY Part 1: http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=8976 Part 2: http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=8979
For that matter, I think Benny Fielhaber has been much better in a US uniform than Kljestan. Is Benny hurt or just benched at New England? I've held out a lot of hope for Kljestan but it seemed like he was king of turnovers. Had serious doubts about Benny F on the other hand, but the better the competition, the more he shined. He plays a very sophisticated game, IMO, and brings it against the best. Sasha showed cracks. (Flame away. Somebody's going to take this personally. )
Hurt. He was excellent before the injury, and down the stretch last year. Was is the operative word there. He's solid as a rock in a deep midfield role for Anderlecht now. With JK's US, he's only been tried on the flanks for some reason. It was nearly disastrous against Italy. I think that's pretty fair - Feilhaber was excellent in the World Cup and Confed Cup. I would be ecstatic to see either considered for a role in the formation listed above. Feilhaber certainly proved he has the athleticism for the international game against teams like Brazil and Ghana. As much as I love Kljestan, I'll admit that's something Sacha has yet to do.
"The case right now is, the only thing I have right now is Santos, so 110-percent of my energy and focus is on Santos. It pretty much is what it is, I find it amusing when I get messages from people asking why I'm retiring from international soccer. Nobody ever said they're retiring. For me, it's a privilege and an honor to represent your country, and it shouldn't be taken lightly." ...then maybe you should consider changing your twitter description, becasuse the way you describe yourself on twitter is what's prompting those questions. Seriously, bud, love your attitude and game, but calling yourself a "former" USNT player is perhaps not the best choice of words.
He probably just wants to highlight his USMNT experience without sounding too presumptuous, given that he hasn't been capped in nearly two years.
So this is interesting. While lots of players are great for a certain role, one of the things that most impressed me about Benny F was his play on the left flank -- because he always seemed more of a center of the park player. I get a little thrill when I see the US game change based on how our talent is arrayed. We often have a few name players we base our game upon and the rest are role players. Benny F changed our game by bringing a different kind of playmaking, defense etc from the left flank: a different perspective and approach for the position. Yes he showed athleticism - but he proved there's no imperative need for a balls-to-the-wall, run-and-gun role player out there.
I would love to call him in. But more interesting than that is he helps us with the flanks - he's playing RM right now for Santos. So if we're playing a 4-3-3: LD Altidore Gomez Jones Dempsey Bradley Johnson Bocanegra Gooch/Goodson Chandler Howard That doesn't look too shabby does it? I put Jones in, but someone else could go there among our multitude of midfielders.