How hard do you think a ticket would be to get. I'm thinking a quick jaunt to Cartagena in March is exactly what I need.
Seems like we might see Kellyn Acosta at left back for the USMNT against Iceland today: http://www.espnfc.us/team/united-st...n-set-to-experiment-in-us-friendly-vs-iceland There will be experimentation elsewhere, to be sure. Uncapped FC Dallas youngster Kellyn Acosta could earn a start at left-back after an impressive camp. Michael Orozco, who is coming off an injury and was added to the U.S. roster on Friday, seems likely to play in a bid to improve his match fitness for Mexico's Club Tijuana, which agreed to release him for Sunday's match, despite it's being outside an official FIFA window.
Here's the thing though... ...on the 29th The Senior team plays Ecuador. I don't know if fans are going to be hyped up about both matches. So as Real Corona alluded to it will be interesting to see how many people show up and care about this match when the World Cup qualifiers are more important.
I'm guessing a lot will depend on ticket prices. If you charge a couple bucks or whatever ... Maybe they fill her up.
The left back position for the US national team is an inversion logic vortex. It has it's own gravitational field, that distorts the thought process of anyone who comes near it. It has a long history of victims.
I honestly don't know why they don't. Hell I've said, with the abundance of 15-20k stadiums in this country. They should be running tons of U17/18/20/23 tournys and would help getting some stadiums that don't get full nat games, some lower level ones to test out demand.
Was speaking of Colombia specifically. But I think one should keep in mind all the qualifying games are concacaf events.
I think you hit it the nail in the head. The Colombian Federation has to be smart about that and try get as many fans as possible in the stands by lowering prices, maybe 2 for 1 even, knowing that the real attraction is the WC qualifier.
There have been rumors in FCDland that Acosta is being moved back to fullback this season. The club did just go on a spree of signing South American central midfielders. After a few early jitters, I thought Acosta played well there all things considered. Its Kiesewetter that I think did himself a lot of good yesterday, and now I think he's much more of a lock for the U23 series against Colombia than before. He's a more polished version of Khiry Shelton. By the way, we're not up to 11 U23-eligible players that have gotten full USMNT caps: [Its possible I've missed somebody.] Kellyn Acosta Jordan Morris Jerome Kiesewetter Emerson Hyndman Julian Green Wil Trapp Luis Gil Matt Miazga DeAndre Yedlin John Anthony Brooks Rubio Rubin We'll probably get a couple more during the Canada game (Polster, Parker, Vincent, Shelton are possibilities.) In fact, i'd start Parker and Vincent in that game. Polster off the bench....................
You've got everyone I can recall and think you have "not" in that sentence that doesn't belong. I'm hoping Trapp gets some significant minutes on Friday and would like to see Parker and Vincent out of curiosity. Not a fan of Shelton (unimpressed in games against Brazil) and not that high on Polster either, but like for depth/versatility. That 11 makes a pretty nice team... Rubin----Morris---Keisswetter ------Hyndman---Gil-------- --------------Trapp------------- Acosta-------------------Yedlin ---------Brooks--Miazga----- Green misses out on the start! Outside of the guys in camp I think JK will be looking to give shots to Payne, Zelalem, and Pulisic as soon as Olympics (or qualifiers if we don't get through).
Hope that's not true, he is really good in the middle. Steve Davis surmised that the extra CM's were in competition with Ulloa and were to allow Acosta more freedom to play more advanced at times. Also, Twellman said during the broadcast that Euro teams were asking about him and that was why he got the bigger money and extension.
What's Trapp's contract situation? He was the player I most wanted to move to Europe this off-season. Maybe he's waiting until the summer transfer window to see if we make the Olympics and he gets that to help showcase himself to European teams?
Without looking I don't believe he has signed a contract extension. That would mean he is in the final year of his deal. He is making roughly 140k. He also now has that Greece passport which makes things easier.
That's what I thought as well. I thought he was entering the final year of his deal. [Unless there are club options I don't know about.] Have you heard anything thru the grapevine about offers for him during the January transfer window? I think of Gruezo as a two-way midfielder to compete with Acosta and the new Colombian Ortiz as competition for Ulloa. They spent a fortune on Gruezo (by their standards), so he's going to play. What's a better FCD team? 1) A combination of Gruezo/Ulloa in central midfield with Acosta at right back. 2) A combination of Gruezo/Acosta in central midfield with JeVaughn Watson at right back. [Presumably Loyd stays at CB.] Fullback is an actual hole on this roster. They had attacking players like Watson, Atiba Harris, and Ryan Hollinsghead playing there last season. Good going forward, not so good at defending. By the way, FCD's inability to sign fowards/wingers so far this off-season means Craft and Zendejas are still in line for playing time. Akindele will be gone a lot with Canada.......................when he is Craft might be #2 target forward.
No there hasn't been any rumors. Frankly, if we sold him I am not sure Crewland would be ok with that. There is some grumbling due to the Kamara situation and our clear lack of a #2 forward. If they sold Trapp now people might spin out of control. Once he got his Greek passport I always felt like that was a power move. "Pay me X or I will leave for Europe". There hasn't been any talk about extending his contract. Most deals for a player like him I thought was 2 years + 2 club option years. The club did announce it pick up his option in December. From all I can tell/guess this would be his final option year.
This is a good lineup. One could argue Zelalem starts instead of Gil. Green obviously can start if Rubin isn't healthy and Payne could make a decent replacement if we don't like Acosta there. It also provides a golden opportunity for Pulisic at one of those wing-forward positions off the bench. I know some might think the midfield isn't physical enough. I don't know enough about the Columbian team to know if that's really an issue. You'd think it wouldn't be.
Gil will be in the squad, but I'm with you. I don't know if he'll start. We can start Acosta in central midfield, and put Payne at LB (where he's played on occasion for Groningen.).
USSF also announced that 1st leg of Olympic playoff will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia on 3/25.— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) February 2, 2016
Going to be a long day of soccer that FIFA match day. Emotional roller coaster for me personally since I am a fan of both the USA and Colombia.
I limited it to players who had full team caps. I prefer pairing Hyndman & Zelalem and playing a more possession style. I struggle with the bit about the midfield being physical enough. I'd probably drop Hyndman next to Trapp defensively and the wing on either side of zelalem. If Trapp can't handle the physical demands and needs an 8 like Tchani to effective, that's a problem. Hyndman can play smart positional defense while lacking a little bite and Zelalem will need to be a bit more aggressive. I'd rather play guys with the skills to hold and move the ball. The other thing I'd point out is the other eight players are all big and/or fast so think those 3 cover a little smaller space. We then could have Gil, Pulisic, and Green as attacking options off the bench to run at players and Payne at left back frees up Acosta to move into midfield if we are getting over run in midfield as you mentioned.