"this is a transition year coming up" Have not seen much reaction to this statement. Starts at 2:50! http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2014...down-mentality-not-talent-brazil-bound-locati "we will see next year which of the more experienced players are still in in and which are out"
Hidden Gems in MLS I think these two would instantly make the team more dangerous in attack. They got skills, quickness and unpredictability. I'm unaware about their elegibility status. Darlington Nagbe Kekuta Manneh Promising young players. No idea if they'll be ready for international competition. But if they have ambition to play for the national team, they better turn to beast mode soon and impress everybody play abroad. Dom Dwyer Jack McInerney Harry Shipp Diego Fagundez Erik Hurtado Dillon Powers Erick Torres - I wish he has an american passport. What a clinical finisher for a young guy.
Diego doesn't have a US passport either. Nagbe is close to getting his, but he will miss the Gold Cup.
Interesting names coming up, maybe Rowe, Klute, Silva, McInerney, Powers and Shipp will start getting looks.
Manneh is 1 1/2 years away I think but there are questions if he has complied with the supposed 5-year residency rule having played in Vancouver
That's not the concern with Diego re: the USMNT, it's how much time does he have with his citizenship before Uruguay comes calling in.
Players above who are currently not eligible based on citizenship status: Darlington Nagbe ( Liberian citizen, but does have a US green card and is married to a US citizen), Kekuta Manneh (Gambian, but does have a US green card), Dom Dwyer (UK, but does have a US green card), Diego Fagundez (Uruguayan, but does have a US green card), and Diego Torres (Mexican).
OUT: Probably Zusi and Bedoya, solid players... but lacking creativity in the final 3rd. I WANT TO SEE: Keyln Rowe Harry Shipp Nguyen Luis Silva
Dempsey, Howard, Jones are all players who probably won't be there in 2018, but they'll slowly be phased out over the next 4 years if/when they start to decline. They can definitely still help out on the field in the Gold Cup and maybe Copa America, and you want them in the locker room as they provide some experience. Beckerman, Zusi, Wondo, Beasley, Davis, Rimando are all players I expect to be phased out pretty quickly. For Zusi, it's more about his play though and he's old enough that he's not going to get much better. Probably on the edge of the 23 each time. Beckerman could still contribute for another year or two IF we were playing teams like Germany and Belgium... but we'll be playing Honduras and Martinique. Don't need Beckerman on the field for that. We have enough outside backs to replace Beasley, and obviously he's not going to be there in 2018. Cameron will stick around as the 4th CB/RB/CM for a while, but he'll be almost 33 in 2018. As soon as there's a 4th CB with some promise, it'll probably be Cameron who makes way. Bedoya might be sort of the same way, but I think he'll be an important part of the team for a while and still has a good chance of making it in 2018 (he'll be 31). Everyone else is solidly in the picture for the next 4 years. So that's 6 players (1 LB, 3 MF, 1 FW, 1 GK) that I think will be out pretty quick and you have to figure a handful who are still a part of the team won't get called each time, due to injury or club commitments. Probably will see a lot of new faces in the upcoming friendlies.
Zusi is not bad, he just is not cut out to play against some of the world's best nations which is understandable. Maybe if he went abroad for a season or two, his game would adapt. Zusi is definitely fine for Concacaf opponents and other non-powerhouse nations. Bedoya seems like he'd be a great fullback. I haven't watched him play in France, but it seems like he is doing well. I hope Bedoya can learn to be a bit more clinical with his chances.
Agreed on Bedoya. His workrate is phenomenal and even though he lacked in the final third, I thought his defense was outstanding. He does play a more central role for club and I'd be interested to see how he'd look in that role internationally. I could see him as a fullback too. He actually won 11 of his 12 tackles vs. Belgium, which was the most between both teams. He's also only 27 so I think he definitely plays a role throughout this next cycle.
Expected, par for the course, and always exciting to see new players blooded. Best news is having a match in Europe so we can see players from across the pond have an opportunity as well.
Out of Bedoya and Zusi I want Ale to stick around. That guy is awesome! Pretty cool to give everyone a bottle after the Cup. Bedoya has a very good work rate and defense he should transition to full back. He's already played wing back for Nantes. He also seems like a good guy to have in the locker room. But if he's being considered for attacking positions then no.
Bedoya played mostly as an attacker for Nantes but based on his WC workrate and defense he does look like he would be a very good full back. He has to work on his crossing. http://www.whoscored.com/Players/73132
I thought Klinsmann had pretty poor taste in our veterans...maybe his judgment of young players is better. I also hope his judgment of young players doesn't continue to manifest itself in lazily calling up any player from the German leagues with a U.S. passport.
The 2012 Olympics U23 and some of the younger call ups the last 18 months should form the base. GK: Johnson, Hamid LB: Klute, RB: Yedlin, Chandler CB: Brooks, Packwood, Ream, Gonzo CM: Williams, Morales, Mix, Edu AML: Green, Shea AMR Agudelo, Gatt CAM: Corona, Gil ST: Altidore, Boyd, AJ,
Which players would those be? 3 of the 4 guys who scored in the World Cup? The only "Germany with a US passport call-up" I would classify as lazy would be Danny Williams
The fans at Reading don't consider DW lazy. Injured a lot, yes, but not lazy. The United States international has been a huge hit in his first campaign with Royals, finishing third in the player of the season vote behind Jordan Obita and Chris Gunter. http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/danny-williams-im-staying-reading-7086416 Best buy - Danny Williams - When you look at the four players that were brought in over the summer and in January (albeit only one in Jan), this one isn`t hard. The style American midfielder has been likened to that of Royals legend Steve Sidwell, with his tenacious and tireless box-to-box approach. It`s just a shame that his injuries halted what could have built upon a very good first season in England for Williams. Read more: http://www.reading.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=358285#ixzz36QaFuzg4
Not sure if this means Dempsey, Howard, Beasley, Jones, and Beckerman will be phased out as soon as possible. If those 5 players are still playing at Copa America, I'd be surprised.