Yup, very true. And he doesn't do it often unless under last ditch, prevent a counter circumstances. His defending has always had to do with cutting off passing lanes and positioning. Which is great for tracking back. Not playing RB, as getting a tackle in is pretty important. He'd be willing, not sure he'd be able.
Just thought I'd interject some numerical data to see where we may be a year from now. To wit, during JKs tenure, all of the following are true. 1) The player who has logged the most minutes this year, and is the only player to start every game this year for the USMNT, hadn't played one minute for JK before this year: Omar Gonzalez. Omar has played every minute of all 9 USMNT games in 2013 after having not played since the Bob Bradley era. 2) In fact, Gonzalez isn't the only USMNT mainstay who didn't play at all for JK before this year. Matt Besler earned his first call in 2012, but didn't play. He got his first cap this year and is now our starting LCB. He's played in 7/9 matches this year, starting six. Only Omar, Dempsey, Bradley, and Altidore have played more Nat minutes this year. 3) Furthermore, 2 other players currently occupy starting Nat roles who hadn't started a game in the JK era before this year. DaMarcus Beasley at LB and Brad Evans at RB. Run-DMB had made a combined 4 substitute appearances for JK over the last two years. Three totaling 91 minutes in 2011 and one 45 minute stint in 2012. This year? Six consecutive starts at LB totaling over 500 minutes, broken only by suspension. And the previous LB starter, Fabian Johnson, moved up to LM. Brad Evans has also claimed (for now) the RB spot out of nowhere. He made 2 appearances totaling 28 minutes in 2012. He was often a late addition to the camp rosters, and a ridiculed choice when picked. This year, 6 games, 5 starts, 472 minutes, and a last gasp winner to claim the USMNTs first WCQ win at The Office. He may be a stop-gap, but he certainly is the starter now, and he certainly came out of nowhere to claim it. =========================================== At that is the larger point. One year ago, there seemed to be little (if any) indication that our starting backline would be Evans--Gonzalez---Besler---Beasley. That's 4 of 10 starting field spots turned over in a year. Expect more twists and turns before Brazil. Like Bruce Arena said about Dempsey, JK "tries shit." More shit will be tried in the upcoming year. Count on it. Should be fun. Some will work (FJ at LM, DMB at LB, Evans at RB, Cameron at DM, Dempsey in the hole, Zusi at RM, leaving out Altidore) and some won't (Williams at RM, Shea at LM, Rogers at RM) but it should be fun to watch.
I'll give you Williams as RM as trying shit or Torres as AM... this is trying shit. Maybe even Evans is trying shit too. BUT... The entire back line needed to be revamped because of age, injuries or lack of options. Many BS posters where hoping to bring in new CB options back in 2012... and more options at RB & LB. To me, JK found his guys for CB (although we need two backup CBs). LB and RB are the more stop gap options for now... maybe not so much LB. I think Beasley and Johnson have it covered. Although, I would be fine with both Evans and Beasley making the WC squad, I just hope they both don't have to start, especially with Dolo, Chandler and Donovan as options on the right. I agree there will be twist and turns. Most likely at RB, possibly even on the wings. The core of the team is solid though. I would also argue that this is the time to "try shit". From here on out JK needs to finesse his shit.
I'd forgotten about Herc. If Agudelo is getting consistent time early next year, imo he'll overhaul Herc.
This is ridiculous. Donovan was absurdly overworked. Irresponsible of NT coaches to have worked him so hard after the 2010 WC.
Man, I'd have said the exact same thing about Beaz. Still might! But, it's worked. Not taking a stance on Donovan to RB. (I really like EJ, but if LD is close to form, I'd leave all the spots the same, but replace EJ w/ LD at left mid). Regarding the discussion of bringing up the U-20's. I just don't see it, for one reason. I watched them get dominated against France in the Toulon tournament. Much discussion of France was fielding a U-23 squad, they're more mature, etc. Well, if these guys can't handle France's U-23's, they're going to be hard pressed to displace guys from our WC roster. There's a lot of talent in there that will develop. But, it seems premature to try to rush them into the full squad.
Was he being worked harder than the other players? I write this as someone who doesn't see any issues with his taking an extended break from the game.
On the international level consider the games and traveling the Barca guys have gone through. La Liga, Copa Del Rey, UCL, Club World Cup, World Cup Qualifying, Confederations Cup, World Cup. And these guys go deep in every competition. All that and Xavi and them are still chuggin along. Again, nothing wrong with LD saying he needs a break but I'm not seeing the 'irresponsibly overworked' angle.
Yeah, I don't think Donovan necessarily was overworked by the US since he brought on a lot of the work himself, but he definitely put in too much time. He elected to due the multiple European loans over the past few years himself, which was the main contributor to limiting his offseason rest. I'm glad he's being worked back in though. If everyone's in form, an attacking force of Zusi, Demps, Donovan, and Altidore would be lethal in Brazil.
He was wiped after 2010. He played in just about every friendly there after until 2012. He needed a break, and didn't need to be called up for friendlies. It would have been a good time to give him some space and to give us a chance to a) try to develop some outside talent (I'm not saying we'd be any better off than we are now, but imo we should have been resting LD and giving friendly ops to other wide players; learn to play w/o him. He may have missed time due to injury (see parenthetical statement above). I felt the same way about Dempsey, but he found another way to arrange a break for himself by going Club Ced on Fulham. He was totally burnt at that time and the timing of the break was perfect. I still have mixed feelings about CD playing every friendly. He doesn't need to be overworked at his age. Up until now I've been thinking we need to find a replacement for him. We don't have a backup for him. But, now I'm thinking that we have a chance to develop some great chemistry b/w him and Jozy.
Hey guys, new to BigSoccer, and somewhat new to the game, but big USMNT fan. Still waiting for the time when we have a true "A" lineup, but for now, these are the only players who have guaranteed themselves a spot: 1. Clint Dempsey: The Captain, they practically build the formation around him 2. Michael Bradley: The Future Captain, boss of the midfield 3. Tim Howard/Brad Guzan: No reason to make a change at Goalkeeper or backup 4. Jermaine Jones: Klinsmann's favorite, our enforcer, works well with Bradley 5. Jozy Altidore: Finally showing superstar potential, reliable striker depth is really thin after him 6. Geoff Cameron: Likely to make starting XI, but utility defender/midfielder depth if not 7. Fabian Johnson: Will be somewhere on the left side of the pitch That's it. Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, and Eddie Johnson are near locks at this point, but then again, none of them were seeing significant minutes at this time last year, so things can certainly change. It seems like Michael Parkhurst is always getting called in, but never does anything other than warm the bench. Brad Evans and DeMarcus Beasley have "stop-gap" written all over them, but Zusi seemed like a stop-gap, and now he's a regular, so at this point it might be appropriate to call all three of them "opportunity-seizers". Elsewhere, if Beasley can make a comeback, why can't Cherundolo? Donovan is another story, but still possible. Options up top are limited behind Altidore and Dempsey. Boyd and Agudelo are too young and raw, and more under consideration for 2018. Herculez Gomez may have played well last year, but he hasn't sniffed the field with the Nats recently. EJ has played more on the wing. MLS options, like Wondolowski, have fizzled. Out-of-leftfield options, like a miracle comeback from Charlie Davies, or a switch of allegiance from Aron Johansson, aren't entirely out of the picture because of this uncertainty. Many are (justly) worried about our back line, but what if Altidore and/or Dempsey goes down? Where are the goals going to come from? Klinnsman needs to figure this out in the next 12 months, or I predict we will exit in the first round. We have 7 "A" players, 6 "B+" players, and the rest is up for grabs. Let's hope we find more players like Beasley and Evans that make the most of their opportunities.
Welcome and thanks for the interest in the sport and in the USMNT. Don't forget the ladies as well. Anyway, I'd trim the number to four, with Cameron not starting at CB at Stoke, I don't think he's anywhere near a guaranteed starter, as the last round of games demonstrate. Now, I think Besler is close to nailing down the LCB spot, and Beasley may be getting close to the same at LB. If Donovan can work his way back into the good graces of his teammates and the staff, he should start as well. Zusi has been decent, and good at times, but LD good? I think not. That would be nine. Leaving RB and RCB. I think Dolo is still the incumbent at RB, though the #2 spot there is wide open (Evans, Cameron, Chandler, Parkhurst, Orozco-Fiscal). That would leave RCB, and until/if Cameron starts playing there for Stoke, we have Gonzalez. Come the fall, I think we'll see this: --------------Howard/Guzan------------- Dolo---Gonzo/Cam---Besler---Beasley -----------Bradley---Jones----------------- Donovan------Dempsey-----F. Johnson -----------------Altidore------------------ If Donovan doesn't get reintroduced, or we decide that Beasley isn't quite good enough at LB, then Zusi is in at MF.
Players are ultimately the ones who accept the call ups. If a guy needs a break, he'll take break. If a guy is out there on the field I'm not going to feel bad for him or think he's being overworked. Also, I don't think guys(the proven guys) get punished for missing friendlies. If Donovan had just said he wasn't up for friendlies but showed up for important games Klinsi would probably have no problem with him. A notable example is how Dempsey asked out of the Russian friendly.
Intriguing, but isn't Beasley already fulfilling the "winger converted to attacking fullback" position?
You didn't agree with me when I said that Brad Evans should get a GC call up (before his WCQ callups)? You didn't agree with me when I was the 1st one that said that Beasley should be on the roster for the Denver/Azteca qualies? You didn't agree with me in the Dempsey-Altidore thread when I said that the problem is not Dempsey-Altidore, the problem is getting them service? You didn't agree with me when I said this before the Belgium match?: "To me, the most important thing to get out of these friendlies is to try to find someone who can attack on the wings. I'd prefer if we had two guys that could attack on the wings. But, I'll take one for now. I think Zusi and Herc are both fine as the non-fast OM. I'd be happy w/ either on the field at OM, but not both. Therefore, I'd like to see one of them at OM, w/ some fast winger type at the other OM. Lot's of options have been mentioned, but I'd start w/ EJ. The other thing, is that we've shown that we can manage w/o FJ & TC as our FB's. Try one or both of them at OM. That said, I wouldn't mind another look at the Zusi at OM, TC at FB combo on the right."
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Donovan will be in the roster when it all comes down to it. He is still one of our Top 5 , dare I say Top 3, players in the mix.
Good post. FWIW, Chandler has only played in two USMNT games since 2011. 2 starts. 1 in 2012 (Russia friendly), and the Honduras WCQ in 2013. Hard to say he's anywhere near the top 23 right now. Maybe he could be, but not now. Players with more USMNT minutes than TC since 2011 (in order): Howard, Dempsey, Jones, Bradley, Cameron, F. Johnson, Gomez, Altidore, Zusi, Gonzalez, Cherundolo, Bocanegra, Edu, Goodson, E. Johnson, Besler, Beasley, Williams, Evans, Donovan, Parkhurst, Torres, Shea, Beckerman, Castillo, Guzan, Davis, Boyd, Kljestan, Onyewu.
Yeah. Looks like he's coming around a bit and might still be handy as a Zusi style(upgraded) winger. It was just a thought.