He told Arena that he was looking to cut back and only play in important games. I forget if he meant leading up to WC or after. His injuries made that moot.
Do you have a link for that. @Bruce S I posted the Bild excerpt in the YA thread but will repost here: Since March, your son Sean is here. Glad to be able to sleep through in the training camp? Johnson: "Luckily, the little one is very easy-care and mostly sleeps through. But a lot has changed, somehow almost everything is about him now. " Does Dad still fly more than 100,000 kilometers a year for the US national team around the world? Johnson: "I still enjoy playing for my country, but there is an agreement with Coach Bruce Arena to only use me for the more important games." Would the World Cup next year perhaps be an appropriate end? Johnson: "That can be good. The World Cup is definitely a huge goal, in Brazil it was just outstanding, now I'm looking forward to Russia. " Is it a curse or a blessing that you can play everything right and left? Johnson: "If I'm just sitting on the bench because I can cover three positions as a joker, it's a curse." https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/fabian-johnson/darum-sind-meine-locken-ab-52625680.bild.html
not even sure you guys should bother calling up a guy who turns 35 during the 2022 WC. There really should be a threshold in terms of ages where it's time to move on and give a younger player a chance.
I disagree. Since we don’t have a competitive game in a while, I like that we are testing our younger options. But once competitive games start (Gold Cup, qualifying) then you play the players who give you the best chance at winning. Plenty of players have helped us qualify that didn’t make the World Cup squad.
Johnson being left out is not really a deal breaker, if you can't do well in qualifying or GC without him then you have issues. in 2018 WC Hex he played 4 games with 1 win and 3 losses and another 2 games where he was an unused bench player and that's it. I understand using him in case of emergencies but otherwise not really.
Whether he will be there in 22 or not, he can still contribute. I've never been a Johnson or Chandler guy but I hope the next manager will give them a chance to see if they can work in his system.
I think they are better club players than international players. Bobby is better for country than club and Johnson and Chandler are better for club than country. It happens, not every player is good for both but thanks for assuming it was because they were Germericans.
I didn’t want to presume what you thought which is why I asked the question although I noted your (perhaps inadvertent) usage of “never” which seemed to imply that it was not based on their actual performance in the jersey. To that end, FJ was one of our best players in Brazil and a true difference maker at that tournament. Our recent style doesn’t seem to benefit wing back players however.
True but Brazil was four years ago and I agree that we don't play a formation that he fits into perfectly. I feel like for every time he looked brilliant on the field there were more times that he disappeared. Again, though, I do hope the next manager does bring him into camp. I do hope we focus on the future but I don't want to write off all of the vets either. Sorry for the thread jack.
Although I do think FJ/TC have far more current upside than our other wide options (excepting Yedlin).
TEAM NEWS 📋 Here are today's cup Foals 🐎💚#DieFohlen #DFBPokal #BSCBMG pic.twitter.com/OAsro7hxNa— Gladbach (@borussia_en) August 19, 2018
Gladbach looks good as do Leverkusen. Hazard and Raffael involved quite a bit (status quo) while Fabian's main job is to constantly cut in and make runs into the box as an inverted winger. This then allows Wendt time and space going forward from LB. 0-0 HT.
#DieFohlen kick start the 2018/19 #Bundesliga campaign with the following starting XI 🐎 #BMGB04 pic.twitter.com/k6qTcS0XrL— Gladbach (@borussia_en) August 25, 2018
This is why I love the Bundesliga.....it’s place where YA’s don’t bum me out. They have actual success. Nice job to Fab. Nice to see him healthy and scoring goals
Johnson did quite a bit of defending in the first half, too. Deserves another look for the NT, if fit, and if he's ok with it.
Starting: TEAM NEWS 📋 #Hecking backs the same XI from our opening win. Do it again, boys 🐎💚#DieFohlen #FCABMG pic.twitter.com/UdbhdlQodk— Gladbach (@borussia_en) September 1, 2018
Great run behind the defense in the 1st min but his shot was blocked. Then later on in the half had his shot cleared off the line.