Pre-match: US v. Bosnia, August 14, 2013

JK seems uncomfortable using Cameron at CB because he's not playing there regularly, and yet seems sold on Evans at RB, despite him never playing there and also being quite poor at it.

 

I thought he was playing CB under the new man

 

I think he's a decent option on in the mid. I just don't want to see him defending.

 

Which makes the continued Lichaj exclusion more puzzling. I, too, am frustrated, and I honestly wish I knew what Klinsmann's knock against him is.

 

Funny, you still can't follow along. Go back and attempt to follow. At least try. Not that complicated. I stayed on topic until some shmuck decided to quote me and hijack the thread with an ad hominem.

You're struggling here. I get that.

 

Well I think the slight difference is that I think we have 2, maybe 3 better options at CB than Cameron, with them being out I think Cameron is going to get a shot at CB on Wednesday. As for Evans, Cherundolo hasn't been healthy, Chandelr is being Timmy Chandler, and Parkhurst IMO is nothing more than a stop gap against weaker teams. I don't think he's completely sold on Evans, he just may be our best choice at the moment

 

I didn't really follow Cameron too closely at Stoke. Was he playing CB there?

 

No. Mostly RB. And it appears Hughes sees him as the starting RB heading into the season.

 

This I would agree with. In fact, I thought Orozco did well enough in the Gold Cup to warrant an opportunity against a higher-caliber opponent.

[By the way, I'm convinced Klinsmann keeps a couple of Liga MX players in the team at all times...................just to keep that avenue open and flowing. If he thinks Castillo and Orozco are equal to MLS options, then he's going to give them the call. I don't see anythng inherently special about either one. I bet if we did an analysis we'd discover there's been at least one Liga MX player in almost every squad of Klinsmann's tenure. That was certainly not the case in previous administrations.]

I just find it amazing that people are this outraged about a Championship-level player not getting a callup. He's OK. He's not Maldini.

Would I call him up to take a look at him? Sure. Klinsmann sees it differently. There's something about his game that he's not happy about. And I'm sure his player evaluation skills are much, much, much better than mine. Do I think he's better than Tony Beltran? I guess so. But I also think George John is better than some of the centerbacks we've given chances to.......................

Or as other posters mentioned, there's something going on behind the scenes.

Hell, Lichaj could have told Klinsmann that he wants to focus on his club career right now. While people are eviscerating JK, it could be Lichaj that's put his USMNT career on hold.

 

I only saw highlights but understood they use wingers for out wide and basically 3 defenders, call them whatever you want but Cameron was on the right (RCB?)

 

I am definitely struggling, I'll give you that.

 

He mostly played as a RB in a 4 man backline last season. Some people have argued that Stoke was so defensive that this was equivalent to a CB role, but I don't really buy that.

He also occasionally played in the midfield, and one or two occasions played as a RCB in a 3 man backline.

This pre-season I believe he has played every game (5 or 6 of them) at RB in a 4 man backline.

 

Where is a @moderator when we need one, some of these posts are pretty aggressive for the staandards usually in place in USMNT N&A?

 

You mentioned a lot of stuff that involves physicality or athleticism. Lichaj is fine there. It's his poor defensive decision making; what angle to take, what runners to track, etc., that caused him to be let go by Villa. Evans and Parkhurst are better than him in that department.

 

Is that even Lichaj?

 

People here I think/hope know better. But the casual fan is going to act surprised when Bosnia doesn't allow as much time on the ball as El Salvador and Panama B teams.

Evans, Parkhurst are 2nd choice options. Orozco too. Brooks-Cameron or Orozco-Cameron I fear will have a tough time. Our defense remains weak. The addition of Brooks is what we've all been waiting for.

Lichaj needs to be called in November. I think they're trying to schedule two friendlies in Europe. Also, if I'm Lichaj or maybe even an American who plays RB in MLS I'm a little disappointed. Because despite myself getting playing time guys like Evans and Parkhurst are ahead of me.

 

Not in any conventional sense of the position.

 

Tomorrow USMNT will practice @ Olympic Stadium Kosevo and USA ambassador Patrick Moon and 40 children with disability will be there to greet players and coaches
http://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/djec...ingu-fudbalske-reprezentacije-sad-a/130812107

 

All I see is Kljestan.

 

Kljestan needs to step up and do something this friendly.

 

wish I was kidding, but that music got me HYPED!!!!

 

No, it's Kljestan. Wasn't paying much attention to the thread, the problem with replying from work. Sigh.

 

I agree that the bar is higher and that he should have been given a shot. It really doesn't make any sense that he hasn't been tried. But with that's said, he couldn't even break into villains horrid d. I still think he should get a shot and hopefully he has a good year and makes the wc squad

 

On ESPN FC some commentator was saying that Chandler was considering a switch back to Germany???? While we may not want the guy to play for us in his current form, he played for us in a cap-tie qualifying game, and as such is no longer able to make the switch, am I wrong?

 

Look I've been a Lichaj fan but don't think it is that complicated, or must lead to a mystery.
Lichaj played poorly enough last season at Villa to lose his position to young rookies on a relegation fodder (except for Brad's heroics) EPL squad.

Nottingham Forest fans so far after 2 games are happy to have Eric.

So....either Klinsmann wants to let Lichaj rebuild his confidence by doing well at Championship level before a call-up; or just doesn't rate Eric as likely to help defend against Bosnia's A-list stars.

Either way, it amounts to the same thing. And Brad Evans over Lichaj is old news in Klinsmann's cough 11 game win streak cough; so is there really a surprise here?