He is one of the main attacking options for Puebla. He is very dangerous for them in the matches I have seen the last few months. Has even scored some nice goals.
He has 2 goals in the past year for Puebla, if my rough calendar-ing isn't mistaken. None in the 2012 Apertura, 2 in the 2013 Clausura. How is 2 "some nice goals"? They came in the same game when he came in as a sub against a San Luis team that sucks. 2 assists in that time period. So...?
In a league game? ESPN may not have their stats updated if that's the case, but 3 goals in a year isn't lighting it up either.
I think it was a Copa MX match. But stats are not what his game is about. He is very dangerous when he is on his game out wide and in attack/counter attacks. I think he is playing better than most options out there. Not saying he should start, but he deserves to be on the roster.
Regarding Beasley, soccerway has him scoring 9 league goals for Puebla over the last two years (7 in 11-12, 2 in 12-13, in 58 appearances) + 1 goal in 5 cup games. 10 goals in 63 games for a wide midfielder is a fair amount of goals.
Brek Shea has 13 goals in 60 games over the last 2 years. Pulling 11-12 stats isn't really relevant; this past year is a bit more operative. None of our wing options are necessarily head and shoulders above anyone else; all things being equal, we should opt for ceiling and talent and skill as opposed to experience.
I disagree with your statement. We need to win games right now, not 2 years from now. So I'll take experience over ceiling any day. And, why are stats from 11-12 irrelevant? And who made you the sole decider of what is and is not relevant, by the way? An earlier poster had said Beasley had scored some nice goals for Puebla, and another poster started pushing the stat that he only had 2 goals this year (and one in a cup game) to kind of rebut the point. All I was doing was pointing out that Beasley has been pretty productive at Puebla over the last couple years, has indeed scored some goals. And against better competition that Shea, and at altitude no less. Plus, he's likely to be sharper since he plays regularly. Right now, for these qualifiers in March, Beasley > Shea, IMHO.
I pretty much agree here, but would add that, all things are not equal. Shea has hardly played for quite some time now, whereas Beasely features often, usually as a starter, in a league superior to the one where Shea earned his chops. It is just a bonus that Beasley is also match-fit and accustomed to playing all his home matches and many away matches at altitude. I won't argue that goal production -- by both of them -- has been unsatisfactory, but I would venture a guess that his coach uses more than that criterion in assessing value and deciding rosters, because Beasley sees a lot of playing time.
I didn't think saying that 2011-12 stats weren't that relevant to current form was super controversial. I don't think Beasley has shown anything for the NT since 2009 to demonstrate his meriting a call up. My opinion. I don't find empty speed without touch or technique all that appealing. Veteran guile and past experience isn't going to make up for real limitations in his game at this point. I think Shea has shown more of late for the NT than Beasley. I think that Shea offers more in his game to make up for the fact that Beasley has more burn this year than he does. But it's not a major difference; I'll concede that point all day long. I think he can be useful as a late game, defensive sub. I don't think he'd offer anything as a starter, and that, as I said before, it will be one of those situations where a bunch of people clamored for a guy, and then he got the call, started, and then everyone goes "oh yeah...that's what he is" about 25 minutes in. All that said, if he's called in and starts, I hope he makes me look like a complete meatball and plays well.
The formula for winning against Mexico is absorb pressure and counter. For that you need speed and good transitional passing. If it were me, I'd play Gatt on the right and Beasley on the left, with Shea as a second half sub.
And Beasley gets the call. Shea too. No Gatt though. DMB's career WCQ stats: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla – 26/6). I like the call for his experience, decent form, and the familiarity w/ North American environs.
Errrebody feel free to come at me now. Seriously, though, this was pretty much the kind of scenario that you'd expect Beasley called in. With the 1st and 2nd choice FBs injured or whatever, Beasley's defensive work rate will probably get called upon to help cover one of the wings at some point.
I put this in a few of the postgame threads, but credit where credit is due; he had a great game last night. His positioning and anticipating to cut out passes was really great. Given the conditions, starting him was the right move. Well done JK and Beasley.
HE JUST DID! You gonna admit it now? It is just THIS kind of pointless back and forth that often hijack threads that keep me off BS most of the time. DMB was MOM. Full stop. Can we all agree he deserves to be in the team now?
Uh....okay. The conditions allowed his experience to play a larger advantage than it might have on a normal day. That doesn't take away from his good game. I'm glad he played well last night.
Agree Run DMB was MOM versus Costa Rica. That plus the fact he plays in Mexico should make him a lock to start again at LB. That said, obviously this will be a much tougher test. I loved the way he and Gomez linked up and covered for each other. My big concern is JK is going back to 3 DM (Edu will start) which so far hasn't worked other than to clog up spacing. Low expectations for Tuesday.
This is an unexpected scenario with so many starters out. Beasley has to start at LB because Morrow will get eaten alive comparatively. I expect him to do well. The 3DMs don't bother me if Gomez, Dempsey and Altidore all start. Cameron despite some of his detractors needs to be at RB again vs Mexico.
He is playing better than a lot of options out there. Guys like Mix, Gatt and Shea are young and capable, but none have the heart or the ability to track back better than the Jitterbug. Really, it was last cycle that I genuinely wrote off DMB as a player, period. Sure enough, while I doubt he goes to Brazil, I see him getting major minutes in qualification.
He's a lock to start at LB in Azteca & with a 23 man roster, I can see Run DMB making the trip to Brazil, but likely won't see the field. BTW, see you are in Austin now. I know you weren't a big fan Dan McGuiness due to the Euro factor, but from one of Nashville's biggest USMNT fans, the Music City could use a few more like us. If you make the trip to C-Bus Sept. 10 let me know and I'll buy you a few beers. Be well