jajajja callate couch potato. he is 19 and playing for a good team in mexico....better than your sunday men's league team.
How about we give the kid a chance to develop... He has looked good and bad over the past couple of years. I saw him play two games at LB and look terrible in the run up to U-20 qualifiers. However, in Guatemala he played LM and looked like one of our best TECHNICAL players going forward. There are going to be ups and downs. He's young. That's how it works. Now that he is in stable environment we should see development.
He finished the Clausura with 190 minutes played over 5 matches. I forgot he'll be at that 6/30 Tijuana vs America friendly in SD, too. Hopefully, he joins the other 3 gringo Xolos on the field that day.
He did, and started (with me there to witness it): http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/de...sh/3b/83/3b83394d1070086f33808ac3ee0a286c.jpg He also started the prior friendly vs. Dorados de Sinaloa: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/06/28/gringo-report-yanks-back-work-south-border
He replaced our own Edgar Castillo in the 61st minute vs Damarcus Beasley & Puebla in the 2012 Apertura opener in TJ: http://www.examiner.com/article/xolos-open-season-with-big-bite-over-puebla http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=348124&league=MEX.1&cc=5901
Greg Garza is in the starting lineup at left back tonight as Club Tijuana travel to Liga Ascensco side Celaya in the Copa MX. Alejandro Guido and Esteban Rodriguez are on the bench for Club Tijuana. ESPN3 is streaming the game which is about to begin.
Club Tijuana lose 2-1 on a stoppage time own goal that occurred when the Tijuana right back cut in from of his keeper to thigh the ball into the goal. Garza went the distance. I don't believe the other two YAs got in, but I was not watching that closely. Garza had a great chance to score in the first half after making an interception at midfield and starting counter attack in which good combination play by him lead to an opportunity in the box that he skied over the bar. He was "bailed out" by the flag though on a close call. In the second half, Garza was dispossessed in the attacking third leading to a dangerous counterattacking opportunity for Celaya. I though he generally looked comfortable otherwise based on what I saw.
Greg Garza should of been the starting LB for the US U23 team but Porter didn't even give him a chance.
He should've been the LB and Villafana should've been the LM or LF. Kind of the same thing with Edgar Castillo.
In the lead-up to qualifying Villafana was ahead of Garza in the pecking order at LB, and Valentin was picked ahead of both of them. Truth be told, I couldn't really blame Porter for not going with Garza or Villafana - neither of them looked incredibly strong in the tune-up matches in Frisco. I'd like to watch Garza play again now that he's gotten a little more professional experience under his belt. On a side note, I can't agree with you about Castillo - I've been told that he was solid last season, but I watched him vs. Pachuca over the weekend and I came away unimpressed. He was out of position too often, he gets pushed around, and he looked jittery on the ball. I should probably watch Tijuana play a few more times before I make a judgement, but that's my current opinion of him, fwiw.
In the starting XI tonight (along with Corona) for the game vs. Jaguares. I assume he's at LB for the injured Castillo. Game starts @ 8:30et on Univision Deportes, which basically nobody gets.
Corona and Saucedo went the distance while Garza went 66 minutes as Club Tijuana won 2-0. Club Tijuana are tied with Toluca on points at the top of the league, though Toluca has yet to play this weekend. Highlights:
http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/28723/Xolos-Garza-making-best-of-the-opportunity/ The guy incorrectly calls both Greg and Edgar RB's but nice to see articles being written about his travels.
Taking over for an injured Castillo Garza scored his first Mexican League goal tonight Santos and TJ currently tied 1-1
According to this, Garza played the full 90 minutes in central defense: http://msn.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/ficha.php?id_partido=41368 Seems a bit odd, considering he's always been a flank defender or midfielder and, well, the fact that he's 5'7"...
I think that may be his best position or DM(sigh). He has good skills but he just doesn't have the pace to be out on the wing.