From most US fans, I think it has more to do with the fact that Liga MX games are still pretty foreign and harder to follow for non spanish speakers. That can also be said for some US MEX based guys. Castillo has had a great career/time with Atlas and in the past Tijuana. He was CRUCIAL for TJ in the libertadores when they had a strong run unlucky to not eliminate the eventual champs, Atl Miniero in PKs. He played a big part in that. Unfortunetaly not many US posters probably saw those games or watch Libertadores overall because of it's lack of english coverage. He will continue to have a great club career--but his issue is the translation of that club form to the NT. He looks like he regresses as a player when he plays for the NT--and I think it's two parts. A. He is used to playing on teams that have better grasp on short, tight, passes with work up play and possession which at time we have trouble building with the NT. B. He lacks the confidence out there when with teh NT unlike what he has in Mexico where he knows what he can do, and hs the proper support to do it Too many times I see castillo when he has played for the USMNT do short passes expecting a quick give and go only to make that run from LB to never see the ball again or the other player to misunderstand and lose the ball.
I don't disagree with any of your points...offensively he brings a different mindset than we are used to, no doubt about that. But his problem with he NT is about his defense.
I don't disagree with that either. It's just, under teh USMNT his flaws--specificdally his defecienies are more prominent under teh US because he doesn't have th e right support, high pressuring back line that he gets out of the teams he normally plays on that shift to cater to his runs frmo the LB position. For teh US he's a fish out of water that has to struggle with that, and I feel is one of the reasons his flaws look so much worse than in Mexico.
Castillo is interesting, on technical ability alone I'd wager he's at the top of the pool. Yet most of the times I've seen him, those plays would never end in anything except when he passes correctly. I consider him needing longer strides than what he would get as a midfielder. Therefore I only see him in any variation of 5 defenders (curiously he fits Mexico better...) otherwise you need to commit one defensive midfielder to his side. All in all I still consider you get more offensively from Castillo than say Garza, yet you also risk more. As a wild card I still see him in the picture.
Notes on Castillo's fall campaign so far ... First pro field player I've ever seen wearing jersey #1 Has still played every minute of every game Atlas continued to show great improvement, finishing tied for first on points (ended up 3rd) Also won 1-0 in the first leg of a quarterfinal in Monterrey yesterday. I share people's concerns about his limitations, but I still suspect that he belongs somewhere in the national team picture right now.
Atlas fell 2-0 at home in the second leg, so their season ended in the quarters. Castillo didn't appear to be at fault on either goal.
Castillo went the distance as Atlas started the 2015 Clausura with a 1-0 road win against Tigres. Highlights Atlas will take part in the Copa Libertadores starting in February. They were drawn into a group with Atlético Mineiro, Santa Fe, and Colo Colo. During the 2014 Apertura he made 19 starts and scored a goal. He also made 1 start in the Copa MX.
This guy's quickness has seen its best days. He was completely owned in all three goals today in a 3-1 final score against Pachuca. I suppose in his defense our wingers are really fast but the disparity was huge.
Today he mainly defended, with Atlas dominating the game but Santa Fe scoring on a defensive error. Losing their first game, and at home, against the weakest rival on paper, is probably the beginning of the end for the Foxes in Libertadores.
I caught about 20 minutes of the second half of this one and I'm not surprised about the result you posted. Atlas was dominating offensively but severely lacking that final pass and Santa Fe was playing counter ball and doing it rather well. Edgar was invisible, which is good for a defender, save for his horrible attempt from distance and one instance where he completely forgot his man behind him but was very lucky that the man with the ball didn't see it either.
In the end Atlas had fewer shots (10 to 11) and not a single shot on goal (Santa Fe had 3), even though they had 63% of the possession. They never looked like scoring, actually. Possession may be the most misleading statistic.
Just went 90 as Atlas got a historic win in Brazil vs Atletico Mineiro in Copa Libertadores. Atl. Mineiro hasn't lost at home in Libertadores since 1978.
Don't think we've seen the last of Castillo for the NT.... great 1:0 win for Atlas vs Atletico Mineiro with @edgarcastillo40 in the Copa Libertadores! #usmnt Well done Edgar!!— J_Klinsmann (@J_Klinsmann) February 26, 2015
NT players have always said that even though he is small, he is feisty in training and is hard on tackles.
Maybe a second time around will prove better fit for him? With our more 'touch friendly' backline of Brooks, Alvarado, Yedlin, Shea, Fiscal, he ca find his form? Shame--I think he would have been a monster yesterday in place of Garza.
In a showdown of Yank LB's, Castillo's Atlas beat Garza's Xolos 2-1. Garza scored the opener, but it was Castillo who had the last laugh. He helped set up the gamewinner by dribbling past three defenders and then switching fields to the player who got the assist.
Bienvenido a #Rayados Édgar Castillo, procedente de @atlasfc #Draft2015 @LIGABancomerMX pic.twitter.com/iB8Hsk2uLA— Rayados (@Rayados) June 10, 2015 His 8th club in Mexico.
Moves to Rayados de Monterrey. http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/draft-2015/noticias/2015/06/10/monterrey-adquirio-a-edgar-castillo (Greg Garza to Atlas).
Starting in the Copa MX game with Justin Perez on the bench: http://us.soccerway.com/matches/201...de-futbol-monterrey/2038658/?ICID=HP_MS_28_05