It's both. It's pure incompetence, and worth noting that both Berhalter and Stewart come from the jingoist generation, rather than the recruiting is everything generation (same split amongst us posters). I get both sides, but I also get reality and results. In the modern world, you recruit, recruit, recruit. We're being run by dinosaur veteraness, English language only for our coaches grand Mal stupidity. Didn't think it could get worse than Couva, but it just keeps getting worse. Haven't read the whole thread, but please escort the "have only lost 1 dual national to Mexico ever/lately" angle to the closest dust bin. As previously mentioned, Mexico didn't give a damn about our previous dual nationals because they all sucked. These guys beat U20 WC Favorites France. They're kinda damn good, and unlike the '13 iteration that shocked France, they also got results in many other games.
Jona is only 20 and already has 2 caps for the Mexican national team.. He was also called to their WC U20 squad but his club team refused to release him saying that they would need him for the playoffs. The truth is that after his breakout first season he had a bit of a soph slump and is now a rotational player for club. He has a long list on the Mexican depth chart ahead of him but would also be behind Adams, McKennie, Acosta and if you go by Tabs view likely Durkin and maybe even the two FC Dallas kids! The job of the federation is to recruit players who are eligible. Of course the best possible outcome is what Klinsmann did with Akindele and Tchani which is to bring them to camp, eveluate them and then give them the frank assessment which in their cases was "you are never likely to play for us, there are just too many players ahead of you".
That’s who my original post was responding to yet you not only felt compelled to jump in (which is fine) but also to double down by complaining that the post wasn’t addressed to you. SMH.
You can shake your head all you want. I just responded to what you said regarding leverage, and addressed that point specifically. You replied by talking about your argument with the other guy. You're saying if someone is discussing an issue and in the course of that discussion they say something unsupportable, you can't address that? And, if you do, you're implicitly signing onto every thing that's gone before in the discussion? I don't think that's how the game is played. Peace.
That's not exactly right. A player has to be ELIGIBLE for citizenship from country B when they get youth caps for country A. They don't have to have citizenship yet. Let's be clear here. Dual national kids aren't fools. They know they have leverage. Ledezma was JUST AT the World Cup with the U20s. Between then and last week he hadn't done anything. Why not? Because the Jong PSV season just started. Berhalter couldn't call him and say "I saw your performance against Team X. What a great performance! Keep going! I want you to know that we're committed to you in our pool and want to provide you with opportunities!!" Berhalter can't do that until Ledezma actually does something, which he did this week. Ledezma barely played last year folks. About 200 minutes. And he only just started this season. He still has started very few games as a professional. These kids know they have leverage. Sebastian Soto says to the press that he's been called by Chile, and hasn't heard from the US recently (even though he too was JUST AT the U20 World Cup with us). Soto is in the next U23 camp. Even though Soto doesn't play in Germany as he totally screwed up his club situation by demanding a transfer (that didn't go thru). Ledezma will now be at the next U23 camp. If released by PSV.....................
That's a great point. I hadn't thought about that - they're leveraging their way into U-23 appearances. Makes sense. My response is, if that's how the game is played, call them into the nations league matches. If they turn those down, then that gives us a much more clear picture of who to call up for U-23 matches. If the guy looks like a can't miss, then maybe you still call him up. But, if there's someone else that could benefit from the time w/ the U-23's, who is not far behind, then leave the fence sitter at home. People say "I don't want guys on the NT who aren't fully committed." My point is I don't want guys in the U-23's who aren't fully committed. If someone is brimming over with talent, a can't miss, the next Adu, errrrrrr, Pulisic, then call them into the 23's even if the turn down a call up to the full nats. But, otherwise, use those spots for people that want to play for us. Like, if Dest turned down a full nat call up, I'd still call him into the 23's. Probably. If Soto turns down a full NT call up, then call in another forward.
BriSciaer on Dest in CL w/Ajax: He was able to get active in this game with 83 touches and 65 pass attempts – which he completed nearly 94%. That is a very high amount for a wide player. The more dangerous offensive opportunities will come sooner than later. http://www.americansoccernow.com/ar...oric-win-while-injuries-amp-dnps-limit-others
Weah and Adams out with injury. Pulisic and Horvath on the bench. Dest possibly playing for the Dutch instead. On the bright side... Jesse might make an optimal USMNT coach down the road. PS... If Adams really did hurt his foot during rehab then you have to wonder how much we will see from him this season. When he got hurt at the end of the season it was inconceivable that he would not get his job back when he was fit to return.... but Leipzig is on fire right now and don't really seem to miss him. I hope these injuries are just a fluke and that he doesn't have the propensity to get injured. He has been out for a really long time.
We play Cuba in 3 wks and Canada 4 days later. Perhaps have to add to the above the injury to Morales?
Yeah... I was merely pointing out the players associated with Champions League. If you add Brooks, Yedlin and Morales to the list then you really see just how bad the injury bug is for USMNT players in top division Euro. It borders on the ridiculous. But again, the Adams injury (plural) pisses me off the most. I remember his last full game for Leipzig before he got hurt where he had that 60+ yard outlet assist... it was amazing. Just so much hope for him. Frustrating.
With out benchers and injured guys in Europe we could form a solid team at this point: ------------------------Horvath-------------------------- Yedlin------Cameron-----Brooks-----Chandler -------------------------Adams-------------------------- -----------Morales---------------Johnson------------ Pulisic---------------Sargent-----------------Weah Bench: Wood Johannsson Gall Amon Saief Tillman Scott Moore Klinsmann
In a video posted in the yanks abroad forum done about a week ago he was asked by fans while shopping when he would be back. He stated about 2 weeks.
Hopefully, that they are doing well without him will mean they bring him back slowly. I just have to wonder how long it will take him to regain his form or if this will end up being a recurring issue that could affect his long term play. The US has a lot banked on a healthy Adams returning to his pre-injury trajectory.
It seems that this has been a problem for the last few years going back to the last cycle. Brooks, Johnson and Chandler have been on and off injured for years. Really hard to put together a top defense when three of the possible best players can't be counted on. The national team should put together a top program for their players to keep from being injured and if Tom Brady isn't doing anything illegal they should hire him as a consultant. Supposedly one of the things he does is stretch for 45 minutes every day. Can't help but think that alone would help Brook's back problems.
The last article posted about his return that I could find is here: https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/ada...h-rb-leipzig-in-two/vx6md7dm4u1u1k6q3yzwqv7i7 It is from August 19th and says he was set to return to training in 2 to 3 weeks. That was a month ago. Again, the most recent media associated with him is the Day in the Life video: which I gathered was filmed during the Intl Break. I had heard somewhere on this forum that he may have hurt his foot during rehab. I find it surprising and very that there is not more information about his rehab. I watched every Bundisliga game he played last year and he was often the best player on the pitch. He was that good. I am desperately awaiting his return. Injuries are part of the game... but it does seem like the USMNT players in Euro have been hit unusually hard over the past year and a half. I hate this aspect of the game.... It is not nearly as bad as in American Football. I have been a diehard Charger Fan my whole life and the rash of injuries that occur in that sport and the obvious effect it has on a team's chance to win has really tempered my love for the game. It just seems like such a crap-shoot. You lose your QB, LT or best D player and you probably are kissing your season goodbye. That, and the fact that the Patriots just win every year anyways. At any rate, the recent injuries to the USMNT Euro players is eerily reminiscent of Charger Football and Padres Baseball. It is frustrating.
Durkin gets his first match time, coming on in the 81st. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...rkin-makes-sint-truiden-debut-belgian-cup-win
USYNTer debuted for Independiente in the Copa Argentina last night. Alan Sonora. Son of former MLSers Diego Sonora. 1177579833024552961 is not a valid tweet id
Yeah... I will definitely admit I am biased towards the Euro leagues. Furthermore, I am always hoping that our players are in either the EPL or Bundisliga because those games are available to me every weekend on cable. But my ignorance of South American Teams/Leagues is legit. I would like to remedy it... but I would want the ability to watch at least some of the games... preferably in English. BTW... I just purchased the 1st month of ESPN+ because I thought it would give me more access to foreign soccer games and I am not finding anything but highlight videos. Have I been totally duped? Anyone have recommendations for streaming foreign soccer?
What is even more intriguing they all are playing something like #10. And we know what those Argentinian #10 - #8+ do to MLS when they come here.
Honestly read your comment as an extension of the post above it... my bad. I too prefer our players to be in the best leagues.