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

I love it when a plan comes together.

(And yes, it's practically an A-team now)

 

What some of us are saying is, should we believe you or our lying eyes, the scorecards, and the coaching staff, on how the USMNT D performs with Evans at RB?

11 game win streak coinciding more or less with Evans ascendancy into the conversation is indeed a curious coincidence given Evans being so awful a player according to some.

And yes, evidently in the selection of converted midfielders into lb's and rb's which is a Klinsmann characteristic, at least when dealing with the USMNT player pool, Klinsmann is rating more qualities than ' just' playing solid d. I wouldn't have thought of that but seems to be working.

And finally, yes that's a hint that backs looking to break in to USMNT - better keep working on both their d, and their shot.

 

So psyched about Aron. Really looking forward to tomorrow now!

 

more news
http://forum.sportsport.ba/viewtopic.php?p=2711068#p2711068

 

anyone notice any extra consonants?

 

Danish journalist told him he looked like Kevin Bacon. It stuck.

 

Hey, wait a minute.

Isn't that Beasley's jersey ????

 

Suck it, Iceland!

 

Since Beasley wasn't called in the number is up for grabs.

 

Hopefully this remains true next summer.

 

The amount of dislike for Beasley is stunning. The penalty is probably the only goal he's been mildly at fault for since his time at LB. Not to mention he's one of the better American players of all time.

As for the line-up:

Evans-----Cameron---Brooks---Castillo
---------------Bradley---Jones-------------
-----E. Johnson----Bacon-------F. Johnson
---------------------Jozy----------------------

This could give Bosnia a ton of trouble as that is an incredibly dangerous front seven. Castillo scares me but he can definitely get forward too. Hopefully Evans just doesnt get burned and at least defends well.

 

I highly doubt that Bacon will start, according to Klinsmann, if things go according to plan (meaning if we are up with a comfortable scoreline) he would put him in.

 

BiH projected starting 11 vs USMNT

 

I think that what JK is trying to do is get the 11 most technically gifted players on the field. I think it is easier to teach a technically skilled player a position vs. a position player technical skills. I'm not necessarily an Evans fan, but what are the alternatives? Lichaj? He had a terrible time at Villa, even though it was the EPL. This is just a friendly. Let's see how Evans does at RB against a top quality team.

 

Lots of Vics on that team.

 

One of these things is not like the other

 

Not their fault. They are sons of vics.

 

If he plays there against real competition, he'll be responsible for a lot more goals than that. Nothing against Beasley, he's a bro's bro, but the guy can't play at international level anymore.

 

But others have just kicked off season with their clubs. Williams, Parkhurst on bench or not making 18 to start the season.

Evans nowhere near the talent Chandler is. Parkhurst hasn't played for his club since Feb. The difference is those two have been fully committed to the team. Chandler despite being cap tied remains flaky. Maybe he's there next month but it's very telling to fly over an MLS CM to play RB for USMNT as opposed to Chandler from Germany. Commitment might not be there from Chandler.

 

Whatever it is, it's clear that he's punishing Chandler for Chandlering over the past couple of years. He definitely has double-standards for certain players; if you're supposed to be a key guy, and you aren't getting it done, he's going to tear you up a lot harder than if you were a mid-level guy, which I'm OK with. If he gives Chandler a real opportunity to win the spot back (and Chandler gets his act together and wins it), everything will end up being great. He did exactly this with Donovan, and as mad as I was while it was happening, I can't argue with the results.

That being said, I'd prefer if we gave a shot to a competent RB instead of Evans, but maybe sticking with the same guy is part of the play. I don't know.

 

So your basing his ineptitude on the absence of his ineptitude? Nice....

edit: for clarity

 

I'm doing my best to parse this mess of a sentence, but no, that's not what I'm saying at all. Beasley has been quite poor as a defender. That it hasn't necessarily led to goals doesn't mean it won't in the future. He's looked awkward and uncomfortable back there, and I'd rather not see him there in the future.

 

I agree but I think he's using this as motivation for Chandler. He knows he's the most talented. He said something almost verbatim about Landon when he was out of the mix.

 

Johannsson right behind Altidore - please do it Jurgen