Which makes more sense: Arena didn't want to call up Chandler, or Chandler didn't want to be called up?
Are you privy to some inside information or are we speculating here? I just dont see international players saying they are unavailable for, essentially, must win games.
Gonzo was bad man. Any time anyone pressured him you could literally see him sweat. Zusi might have stolen the show with his piss poor defending but Gonzo was second to him. I don't want to open the can of worms of Chandler in here. He takes more hate than anyone even when he is ok. But Lichaj isn't integrated as you state.
I thought Omar was alright and better than Ream. I place the blame on the midfield more then the back line
Midfield certainly didn't help. Ream took a hit cause the goal and the unusually poor distribution for his standard but was better than Omar.
I thought he struggled more and was involved in more last ditch plays. Why do you think Omar was worse?
Gonzo had a bad last couple years with the national team. I'll give you that. But he was decent overall this set of qualifiers, to help soften the aversion to him, to where he'd be chosen over almost all players with no experience next time, only to almost assuredly being unseated by them in due time. He struggled somewhat in the first game with a few passes and some bad positioning, but generally he was secure in those departments against Panama. Dr. Phil is right. He was better than Ream. Ream allowed the only goal by recklessly flinging his body into a crowd on a long throw-in, he got run around a few times because he lacks lateral quicks and anticipation on combo play, and generally he was getting praised for recovering after getting beaten in behind due to poor angles and positioning. This following an appearance against Honduras where he was shaky passing-wise and got run around. Gotta put someone on the roster. Don't feel comfortable yet with 2 of Miazga, Hedges, or Zimmerman on an a-team official comp roster. 1 at a time. I want to get to the point eventually where we've integrated players at all positions and we have a virtually set first team 23 of guys who are actually reliable, while integrating in between bigger matches not because we have to but because we can. Then we don't have to take a bunch of gambles on inconsistent (at best) vets like Chandler and Gonzo, and flyer prospects. I think we're at the point depth-wise where we can do this now.
Omar wasn't exactly great in distribution. He also was poor in his positioning and while that wasn't punished, against a better team it would have been. Ream wasn't ace or anything but Omar was worse.
I am not claiming to know Chandler's mind. I am speculating that, based on his history of declining callups, the everything or bust nature of the last two qualifiers in light of the 0-2 start, Arena's no nonsense reputation, and the injuries at the RB position known before the callups, Chandler may not have shown the enthusiasm for the callup that Arena wanted to see. That explains his absence better to me than any crap about it not being worth it for him to fly out for one game. If I am right, I am not saying that this means Chandler is evil. He's entitled to do what is best for him in regards to accepting callups. He doesn't owe the Nats anything. But it does mean I wouldn't put him in my current best XI.
Bruce Arena has been very much a straight shooter. It makes sense to take him at his word. I am not sure why you would decide to label Arena's statements as "crap" and instead advance a tinfoil hat theory on why Chandler was not called to camp?
That's not my impression of Arena. He's a straight shooter when it serves his purposes, and he obfuscates when that serves his purposes. It's pretty common among managers and, well, humans. What would he gain by calling Chandler out? I'm sure both parties would like to leave that door open, so he said what he said to avoid burning bridges unnecessarily. Makes sense. But given the potential to be absolutely desperate for 3 points in Panama, and given the injuries to Johnson, Yedlin, Lichaj and Cameron, I have a hard time accepting that Bruce made a decision that it just wasn't worth asking Chandler to fly over. It seems to me much more naive to accept Bruce's word on that than it seems paranoid to be suspicious about it.
I do believe that Bruce is a master politician. He got out of LA at just the right time. Im not sure anybody has more influence than him in the American game. I think over the years he has learned to play the game with the ussoccer and sports media. Something Klinsmann just couldnt quite grasp. You never know. I find it quite alarming that BA was sold on Zusi being a decent rb option in Jan camps. Which suggests he had that in mind for quite some time.
I think Brooks Miazga would be our best cb pairing. I feel like Miazga is pretty mobile for his size and it will add decnt presence in the air. Villafana and Yedlin outside of them.
I think in the future you're correct but right now it seems Brooks plays better with a veteran organizer like Cameron as Brooks is still young himself. That leaves Cameron, Gonzalez and Hedges. Miazga and other young ones like Zimmerman, EPB and CCV may also need that at first. Mix and match and rotate players. That is something the depth should allow that it hasn't in the past.
--------Wood----------------- ------------------Altidore----- Jones-----Pulisic----Yedlin ------------Bradley----------- Johnson-----------Chandler ------Brooks---Cameron--- -------------Howard---------- 1st off the bench: Dempsey (starter if healthy) Zardes Nagbe Gonzales Lleget Morris Acosta Next ones to look out for: Hyndman, Gooch, Arriola
Yedlin is not a midfield winger, he is a RB. I do not think he has the ball skills to play that far forward. I give Yedlin the starting job and maybe give Timmy a go with hoping new coach to help him translate club form to the nats. Villafana acquitted himself well at LB and I think we need to go ahead and go with that when he is healthy. I put two of Johnson/Lletget/Nagbe on either side of Pulisic. I only start one of Jones/Bradley. I agree with you on EMO, not sure about Gooch yet, probably a championship player next year.
I know what your saying here but I really don't like the use of acquitted here. It just doesn't feel right.
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Bruce had been keeping a casual eye on various MLS guys for national team duty for quite some time. Klinsmann had been on thin ice for some time (cooled his seat down some in the first 4 games of the Copa and then heated it right back up against Argentina) and Bruce had to know that he would be one of the leading candidates to replace Jurgen, especially if JK got the axe after the Hex had already kicked off.