I'm hopeful for Bedoya's future, but he's not the REAL DEAL! by any stretch yet. He's BARELY READY FOR THIS LEVEL! And evidence that Bradley continues to see players he singles out for caps with an eye for the future.
U ar prob right. Bedoya is in competition with Feilhaber for PT. Despite the fact that they play different positions. But that's what you are going to see this cycle. Edu at CB sure. Benny at wing sure. Benny and Alej won't be played at CM. We have some others to fit the bill: Torres, Clark, Dempsey, Donovan, Bradley, Edu. Someone thinks that Bedoya will start tonight?
He is a local product whose talent received some attention in his high school days. Today, he is very talented player who is mature beyond his years. His move to Europe was no knee jerk reaction, but the product of much thought and a vision for his future. I see a young player that he has the gift of combining talent and maturity into solid play on the field. As our midfield ages, Bedoya will be playing an increasingly important role on the USMNT.
Just watched the Nantes-PSG game. He really impressed me, from being a menace to PSG in the box, to tracking way back on a counter to deny a clear goal in the 6 yd box. He was playing as a AM in the center. After watching the SEA-POR game and then this, to me it's clear that Bedoya is way, way ahead of EJ in skill, technique, positional sense, etc. The only thing EJ may have on Bedoya is he jumps higher. It looks almost as if Bedoya has free reign, so that he plays all over the pitch. This is just another huge improvement in the overall depth of the squad. Who knows how much he will improve after a full season in France? As to where to play Bedoya, on the wing or center of midfield (remember, injuries and cards happen in a WC), up top, or perhaps as a RB???
and also EJ is way faster and probably a better scorer, although we really can't tell since they play in different league levels. But Bedoya is a stronger defender and way better at linking up. If you put Bedoya in JJ spot you have a two way player, able to defend and excellent at building the attack. You gain so much in the attack because now you don't have to touch the SS position for him. So in essence you have a FS, behind him a SS, behind him a ACM and behind him MB, not bad attacking and defending.
Didn't see the game but I thought he's been playing RWB in a 5-3-2 for Nantes. It's not exactly the same as playing RB in a 4-man back, but it's close enough that if he keeps playing there he could be the answer to our RB issue (Evans has done alright so far, but I can't help feeling like he's a ticking time bomb). Barring injuries that's the only place I see him starting--I don't see him displacing any of Jozy/Dempsey/Donovan/Johannsson (assuming he develops as we expect him to)/FJ (unless he's at LB) in the front 4, or any of Bradley/Jones/Cameron at CM. But either way, I'd say the smart money is on him making the trip to Brazil. Best case, he nails down the starting RB job; worst case, he can provide solid depth at 3 positions.
I believe they only did it for less than 20 minutes of the game, then they switch to a more traditional 4-3-2-1
If Bedoya keeps up performances like this, then he definitely should have his own thread discussing where to play him. At the moment, one good performance isn't enough even if it was against PSG whom they lost to anyway.
Agree to a certain extent but Nantes could have very easily won that game. With regards to Bedoya I'm a huge fan of him and I'm pretty confident he makes the Brazil roster over Corona and Torres. He played in CM for Helsingborg and thrived there. However I think we need him as quality depth on the wing. Right now we are blessed to have have two very good CAM's in Bradley and Mix, while at CDM we have Jones and Cameron (who I'd like to see push Jones a bit actually). Then at RW (where Bedoya would probably play) I think we put him behind Donovan in terms of depth. Currently, as of today, I'd say Bedoya is looking a bit better then Zusi who seems to be lagging a bit after he picked up his injury in the All Star game. I also think Bedoya could serve a role if we did want to go 5-3-2 in the WC against a team like Brazil, Germany, Spain, etc. However, tactically speaking, that's a big if haha. Looking long term (2018) it'll be interesting to see what happens with Zusi, Bedoya, and how Julian Green develops. I think with all this said though Bedoya is on the plane to Brazil if he keeps it up and he certainly has a good future with us!
Bedoya is a slightly more attacking version of Corona, and both have looked good in the Gold Cup when they had freedom to roam all over the right side, with someone covering the hole they left (Kyle or Mix) and someone to combined with more centrally (Donovan). Bedoya, Corona, Torres, Shea, Mix, Beckerman, EJ and Cameron have been part of this cycle so often, cutting some of them is going to be a challenge.
I already made this wisecrack in the gameday thread, but if Bedoya lined up for us at wing-back it would be something like having a new Frankie Hejduk -- only this time with actual technique and crossing ability. Still hard to see Klinsi fielding a 3-5-2 anytime soon.
Bedoya isn't good enough to justify finding him a place on the field at the expense of our current setup.
Have to agree, my Xmas wish is for BS to get a complete understanding of having actual Depth means to WCQ and Tourney's. Quick trying to pigeon hole every player who has a good game into the XI.
Dont think anyone is saying he should be starting...but if he keeps it up and has a solid season in France, chances are good that he's on that plane to Brazil at the expense of Corona and Torres
Right, not if you are talking about replacing LD on the right, but if you have Zusi slotted into that spot, then Bedoya is good enough. I have never been completely sold on Zusi, especially against what will be high-quality teams in the WC. And the fact that he can play a variety of roles makes him look even better.
Except that Bedoya has looked utterly unremarkable every time he's played against decent opposition. I can think of a few guys I'd rather see against high quality opposition than him.
For me, Bedoya is a great utility man to have on the bench, a valuable member of the squad who can come in and play competently in a number of positions either off the bench with some energy or starting duty when we need to fill a gap. But, he doesn't bring anything so special that we have to try to accommodate him. He looks the definition of solid to me, plays well, makes few mistakes, but nothing particularly striking about his game. I never seem to see him screw up badly, but I also never see him do anything that makes me think we badly need him on the field.
Bedoya is climbing the depth chart at the moment, by actually playing and playing well. I don't see him as a true winger, but more as a AM who can play on the side. In that role, he's behind Donovan, Dempsey, Zusi and about even with Corona --until now. He may surpass Corona any moment with another good showing for Nantes (IMO, and I bet JK is watching). As a SS, I had not considered him. I had Dempsey, Donovan, GAM, AJ, Herc and even Gordon ahead of him for the spot, but if he plays more minutes in that role in the Ligue 1, it will be time to include him.
For awhile now I've seen him as a Dirk Kuyt type. Not to be relied on to create/dictate play but will always put in a solid shift, defend well, and pop up with a couple good touches around the box. I'd like to see if he can create space and send in dangerous service, Zusi has him on that count but otherwise it's a wash. With Corona losing his clear first XI status down in TJ and their respective form Ale should be above him on the depth chart.
Corona may have lost his starting spot with TJ...I think Bedoya is definitely ahead of him. I also think Klinsmann would prefer Dempsey not play in the midfield for us - when was the last team he has done so? I know he has featured there but usually its on the left side, not the right, where Bedoya would be playing. I think also he's ahead of Zusi based on current form. Zusi has looked less than impressive ever since coming back from his injury in the all star game. Donovan, I will say, is definitely ahead of him as of now.
If Bedoya can gain more overall skill/ball striking ability, then I would like to see him start on the right. However, his biggest asset is his work rate, stamina, pace, positioning/movement, and link-up play. He does a REALLY good job of just getting up and down that flank in very fast-paced games. His creative ability is too limited for us to make him a real mainstay in attack. Even Graham Zusi delivered a quality cross against Germany. Bedoya's a work horse, but he's not quite at the point of being a finesse player. Even his two assists against Honduras were not artist's work, although he still did very well to get them. His assist against Panama was good in the sense that he had the presence of mind to use Parkhurst's dummy run to his advantage, but the cross itself was lucky to end up in the goal. He's also not a MASSIVE goal threat, although people were saying that about Fabian Johnson, so let me just stop there I do think that he's in a LOVELY position to change and really become a complete player the way Stuart Holden was for a short but sweet amount of time. If he combines his character, physical ability, and game know-how with more explosive skill and creativity, then he'll really become a threat in our attack. I do think that this idea of him being at right back is actually not a bad one. He has the qualities you would want in one, and he does a good defensive job when placed in the midfield. Some poster on here always makes the point, though, that one of the most difficult things about being put in a back line is how critical your positioning is, and with us trying to press more and have a high line with an offside trap, it's vital that anyone who plays in our defence gets that down pat before they step on the field at any time. This was partly a concern with Beasley, but that hasn't turned out to be problem.
My best stab at a one-line summation of Bedoya is "good at everything, the greatest at none. " However, that is not a bad quality in an American footaller looking to make the USMNT because the USA tends to develop specialists due to reasons which have been much discussed.