Pre-match: USA vs Belgium; May 29th; FirstEnergy Stadium

Uh-oh. Hope it's minor for Besler.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...rmes-yet-make-decision-matt-besler-who-could-

 

Doesn't sound like a big deal.

 

Come on man that was a very difficult ball to control and if he had done nothing it prob would have been a corner anyway.

 

I see you're on top of it. I was wondering why this wasn't being discussed in the other thread.

But this flat out sucks. Then when JK benches him, we'll hear all summer how he just wasn't good enough, just as we did last year. But what is it with Verbeek and our NT? Complains when Jozy isn't called up, then when he's a key piece for WCQers, he doesn't want to f'ing release him when AZ's season is over on May 12th.

 

Only one player can save the day now...Mike Magee!

 

Jozy transfer can't happen fast enough for me.

 

He has beef with JK, and probably doesn't want to 'help' him.... that's how I see it. It is a bummer. right now is the time for Jozy to take over as our out and out striker...but his club coach isn't letting him!

 

Flavors of the Week:

May/June
GK Howard, Guzan, Rimando
FB Johnson, Cherundolo, Beasley, Lichaj, Spector
DF Cameron, Besler, Gonzalez, Goodson
MF Edu, Williams, Bradley, Zusi, Jones, Holden, Torres, Kljestan, Donovan, Holden, Davis
FW Gomez, Johnson, Dempsey, Boyd, Shea, Gyau, Wooten, Altidore*

vs Belgium
------------Johnson---------Gomez--------------------
-------Dempsey-----------------Zusi---------------------
----------------Bradley-----Jones------------------------
Beasley-----------------------------------------Cameron
-----------------Besler------Gonzalez--------------------
-----------------------Howard----------------------------

Bench: Guzan (Howard) 46, Goodson, Lichaj (Cameron) 80, Edu (Jones) 46, Kljestan (Bradley) 70, Donovan (Zusi) 60, Boyd (Johnson) 60

vs Germany
----------------Boyd----------Gomez---------------------
-----------Dempsey-------------Donovan----------------
------------------Bradley----Jones------------------------
Johnson-----------------------------------------Cherundolo
--------------Gonzalez----------Cameron------------------
--------------------------Howard----------------------------

Bench: Guzan (Howard) 46, Besler (Cherundolo...move Cam to RB) 46, Lichaj, Edu (Jones) 46, Torres (Bradley) 70, Zusi (Donovan) 70, Johnson (Boyd) 60


WCQ Starting XI
------------------Altidore----Gomez-----------------------
---------Dempsey-------------------Donovan--------------
------------------Bradley-----Jones--------------------------
Johnson-------------------------------------------Cherundolo
---------------Gonzalez---------Cameron-----------------
-------------------------Howard----------------------------

Bench: Guzan, Rimando, Goodson, Besler, Beasley, Lichaj, Edu, Torres, Kljestan, Holden, Zusi, Johnson
*Sent Home: Boyd, Davis,, Gyau, Wooten, Shea, Spector, Williams.

Gold Cup
GK Johnson, Hamid, Hall (Clark)
FB Chandler, Castillo, Morrow, Beltran (Pearce, Evans)
DF Brooks* (Okugo), John, Bocanegra, Orozco (Schuler, De la Garza, +Parke)
MF Morales, Beckerman, Bedoya, Diskerud, Corona, Holden (O' Brien, Silva, Feilhaber, Kitchen)
FW Boyd, Magee, McInerney, Agudelo, Gatt, Donovan (Pontius, Bruin)

vs Belize
---------------Boyd------McInerney-----------------
--------------------Donovan----------------------------
------------Bedoya--------Diskerud------------------
---------------------Holden----------------------------
Castillo----------------------------------------Chandler
------------Bocanegra------Orozco----------------------
---------------------Johnson--------------------------

Subs: Morales (Holden), Magee (Bedoya), Agudelo (McInerney)

vs Cuba
---------------Boyd-----Agudelo-------------------
Donovan----------Holden----------------------Gatt
--------------------Morales--------------------------
Morrow---------------------------------------Beltran
------------Bocanegra------Brooks* (or John)------
---------------------Johnson-------------------------

Subs: Magee (Agudelo), Corona (Holden), Okugo (Brooks/John)

vs Costa Rica
---------------Boyd----Donovan--------------
--------Bedoya---Holden----Corona----------
Castillo----------Beckerman---------Chandler
------------Bocanegra-----John--------------
---------------------Johnson-------------------

Subs: Diskerud (Holden), McInerney (Bedoya...move Donovan to MF), Agudelo (Boyd)

 

Beasley over Castillo is bullsh*t.

 

EJ or Boyd and Gomez in the friendlies?
Would you pay to see those pairs up front for the USMNT?
Hope 11bravo is wrong.

 

I've already paid, but I'd be THRILLED to see Boyd live.

 

Boyd should play in the Gold Cup with all the other fringe USMNT players.

 

I'm hoping he plays in both.

 

That made me belly-laugh.

 

Wilmots has talked about the US training camp for the first time.
The goals for him are to assemble his squad, appraise their physical condition along with the medical staff, some team-building (apparently the families are welcome to come along).
The game itself is also important but primarily to allow his players some match rhythm prior to the Serbia qualifier.

 

As noted earlier, I doubt Bradley starts against Belgium, since there is a cup final on the 26th so he'll join camp late on short rest.

No way Donovan plays all the way from friendlies to qualifiers to group stage of Gold Cup. LA Galaxy would be quite annoyed with him missing all that time and would be within their rights not to release him for the Belgium/Germany friendlies. Donovan will be at qualifiers or Gold Cup, not both.

I cannot see Lichaj being called up, let alone making the WCQ 23, even with Chandler's injury. He's never been called up by Klinsmann, isn't playing and when he plays has been poor.

I don't disagree much with your WCQ starting XI, but if Cameron and Gonzalez are the pair, Cameron will be on the left.

While I wouldn't mind seeing Bocanegra at the Gold Cup, I sure hope he doesn't start 3 straight group stage games. After clobbering Belize I think we can afford to empty the bench against lowly Cuba.

 

I forgot about this post, it made me sad again.

I like Parkhurst, he signed my jersey and all, I applaud him for applying himself but I wish it worked out for him. I don't really see him as a star fullback but I think he's a solid defender.

 

Honest Question: Why put Cameron on the left and Gonzalez on the right? For my knowledge, Cam is a righty, Gonzo is a lefty.

 

Gonzo is a righty - plays on the right with LA. AJ plays on the left.

 

Gonzalez and Cameron are both righties. But since righties outnumber lefties by a lot, you often do see righties playing LCB, and that's a role Cameron has played frequently in his career. Of course, Cameron plays RCB when he's paired with a lefty, like Bocanegra or Besler. But when paired with a righty, such as Goodson or Gonzalez, Cameron has been the one to play LCB.

 

Everyone (save Jozy) can come to the friendlies. JK has said most of the Euros won't play GC. We know Holden is an exception. There may be others.

Still, this will be a good chance to evaluate the fringe pecking order and depth. I'd expect a full house for the friendlies.

And there is no way LD is on the Gold Cup squad. That is just absurd.

 

With Jozy out, wouldnt be surprised if we get a surprise on the roster. Boyd is the first option that comes to mind as a "Jozy replacement" but im not sure how much confidence Jurgen has in him. He might not want to call him again until the Gold Cup. One of those surprises could be Magee or McInerney, in my eyes.

 

The only player from your GC roster that I think you are missing is Wooten. I hope the kid gets his chance.

 

I agree with you.