Since when is he a LB? Legitimately asking. I thought he was a LW or an attacking mid. I'm pretty sure I've seen Gent play him as a CAM before. Then again.....Fabian has also played all of the above.
With how well he is playing against Spurs, Bruce needs to call him up. I really don't care about all the questions about his loyalty, he would be happy to play in a World Cup and plays hard every game. I don't think it would be any different with us. Please, Bruce, give him a call.
I watched all of his minutes from Gent's Champions League campaign last year and he played a sort of box to box left wing back in a 3-4-2-1. He is very technically gifted with his left foot, more defensively minded than offensively so, and near the top of our player pool as a technition. Moreover he is physical, tough like a dog, possesses a good cross and range of passing. No, he does not play left back, but I would be very interested in the possibility of him being an international left back for the United States. If things lined up right and he wanted the committed opportunity. Keep in mind, he is only 23. My real opinion after watching him extendedly is that he would be a great dedicated 6 in his late 20s. Maybe a bulldog type of 8, like an Edgar Davids type. (Also, watching Fabian Johnson run all over Fiorentina in the first half, I can't believe we waste him on the back line)
Every time I watch them they play with 3/5 at the back depending on how you look at it. He's the LWB and bossing Kyle Walker on both ends. He's more of a winger when they have sustained possession though. Considering he's one of the best right backs in the world I think that's good enough for us.
Nope. He's only played friendlies for Israel and has thrown some serious shade their way since he hasn't been called in lately.
Hmm, I thought he had. I've always figured he was a lock for Israel and just used talking about us (I think it was about a year ago) as a way to get leverage. Granted I thought Castillo, Bacon, and Green were gonners too, so what do I know? Israel are only a point out of a playoff spot, but have Spain and Italy in their group (they also have yet to play Spain). If major tournaments are really all that are on his mind, then maybe waiting to see if the US brings him in pre Russia is his best bet. He could always re join Israel for their Euro campaign after Russia. The Gold Cup could be an optimal time to bring him in if he's interested, granted that's a big if.
He's at that awkward age of being provisionally cap-tied to Israel, so he can only come in for a camp for the US until he files a switch. And because of the possible intra-team turmoil over non-US raised players and his somewhat obvious playing of a US call-up to spur Israel to call him up, he isn't the ideal candidate for Arena right now.
That's why I'm thinking if it's going to happen, the Gold Cup would have to be it. I doubt he's just going to appear on a qualifying roster and the crazy thing is there's only 8 camps left between now and Russia, 4 or 5 of which are going to be for qualifiers, (depending on whether we have to go to a playoff or not), 1 for the Gold Cup, 1 for Camp Cupacke, and the other next March. If he wants to be in the US's plans he should reach out to Bruce before this summer and file that switch.
And I think Arena isn't gonna touch a non-US raised player who has openly baited Israel to call him up.
Yea sorry it double-posted my redundant question when I quoted the other post for some reason. I appreciate your knowledge as always.
Starts: 📋 Line-up KAA Gent vs R Standard de Liège #stagnt #jpl pic.twitter.com/T1ZQvUvkBe— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) February 19, 2017
Starts against Tottenham in Europa League action: Teamsheets #TotGnt #UEL #Ghentennial💯 pic.twitter.com/RhFXNm6WK4— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) February 23, 2017
Admittedly I have not seen him play a ton, but he seems like a good candidate for a move to a bigger club, no? His stats at Gent are good and by all accounts he's had good reviews. At his age, you'd think there might be Bundesliga or Ligue 1 interest.