World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Leadership. He runs RSL on the field, the attack goes through him, and he's good defensively. He's an impact player, if you watch RSL without him they have trouble.

But does he give the same benefit to the USMNT? I'd argue that his only real benefit to USMNT is to provide a stay-at-home kind of guy for a fellow defensive midfielder that's prone to moving forward.

Granted, that's a pretty important thing when you've got an asset like Michael Bradley out there, but that's still pretty much it for Beckerman.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Remember what I said about rational thinking? Yeah...

My hatred of him because of his stupid hair is irrational. But it's rational to think he's just not as good a holding midfielder (his role for the USA, regardless of whether he runs the attack for RSL) as Edu.

[manurespreader]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Maybe I missed it, but when did the MNT start playing a flat back 4.?
Can't wait for tonights game actually.

Also I understand graham zuzi is a hero in mexico.

[Jimjamesak]

My hatred of him because of his stupid hair is irrational. But it's rational to think he's just not as good a holding midfielder (his role for the USA, regardless of whether he runs the attack for RSL) as Edu.

Well, he's good holding midfielder. He's one of the best in MLS and Edu is not. Philly hasn't been lighting it up with Edu this season and yet there's RSL near the top. Neither one of them is going to start and Beckerman can replace Bradley or Jones in the lineup in case of injury or suspension. Edu can't.

You can't rationally think about how players fit in a formation and a team. All you think is "Beckerman sucks!" without giving any reason why.

[Jimjamesak]

Maybe I missed it, but when did the MNT start playing a flat back 4.?
Can't wait for tonights game actually.

Also I understand graham zuzi is a hero in mexico.

San Zusi is a thing in the Mexican press.

[Jimjamesak]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Saw from a Twitter feed that this was the first win for the US in their first send off match since 2002. They were 0-2-1 before.

Crappy game though. Guys gassed from training and windy conditions made for that. Japan supposedly had a similar outing versus Cyprus today.

And no Ian Darke? Boooooooooooooooooo!

[manurespreader]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

It would have been better if the opponent had not set 11 guys behind the ball. I was hoping to see the defense stressed a bit more, although they did get a look at some guys who played fairly well. Agree on Darke...

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

The opponent was kinda worthless but it did allow the US to not play their best game out of training and still get a victory. We will have to see how they build on this for Turkey and Nigeria.

[Jimjamesak]

The opponent was kinda worthless but it did allow the US to not play their best game out of training and still get a victory. We will have to see how they build on this for Turkey and Nigeria.

It was pretty much a play a bit, don't get hurt, try to score a goal or two kind of game.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Wondo started in lieu of Dempsey, but it's supposedly due to a minor tightness that Dempsey noticed and isn't supposed to be a big deal. He's still going to start against Turkey.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Well, he's good holding midfielder. He's one of the best in MLS and Edu is not. Philly hasn't been lighting it up with Edu this season and yet there's RSL near the top. Neither one of them is going to start and Beckerman can replace Bradley or Jones in the lineup in case of injury or suspension. Edu can't.

You can't rationally think about how players fit in a formation and a team. All you think is "Beckerman sucks!" without giving any reason why.

Sure, but if you want to be rational about it, you can't just say "Beckerman is better than Edu because they play similar roles and RSL is a better team than Philly". RSL has a better roster overall, and they're a better team as a result. And if by saying "Beckerman can replace Bradley or Jones in the lineup in case of injury or suspension" what you mean is that Beckerman can play the forward point of a diamond 4-4-2 midfield like we saw yesterday, it's a moot point because neither Edu nor Beckerman would be used in that case. So, I am rationally thinking about how they fit, despite how you want to characterize what I'm saying. What I'm saying, rationally, is that neither of them is good enough to play an attacking role at the World Cup, so it doesn't matter that Beckerman plays a more attacking role for RSL, and Edu is better defensively.

Was anyone else confused to see Chandler go in on the left for Beasley, rather than Johnson moving over to the left and Chandler coming in on the right? I know Johnson plays on either side for Hoffenheim and has played more on the right in the second half of the season, but Chandler has, as far as I can tell, never played on the left.

As far as injuries or suspensions go, the guy I'm most concerned about is Altidore. I think we have reasonable depth in most places but I don't know that any of the other forward options have the kind of physical presence that we might need to relieve pressure if our defense is overwhelmed.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Was anyone else confused to see Chandler go in on the left for Beasley, rather than Johnson moving over to the left and Chandler coming in on the right? I know Johnson plays on either side for Hoffenheim and has played more on the right in the second half of the season, but Chandler has, as far as I can tell, never played on the left.

As far as injuries or suspensions go, the guy I'm most concerned about is Altidore. I think we have reasonable depth in most places but I don't know that any of the other forward options have the kind of physical presence that we might need to relieve pressure if our defense is overwhelmed.

Not at all surprised, all the talk was that Chandler is pushing Beasley for LB.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Not at all surprised, all the talk was that Chandler is pushing Beasley for LB.

Gotcha. I've been away the past week and a half and kind of missed that. Still don't get why they'd do it that way, though.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

So one thing I was wondering was how does the MLS stack up as far as how many players are participating in the World Cup. I found it interesting that there are a handful of players that will be in Brazil representing a team other than the US.

Edited list:
Australia (1) - Tim Cahill (F)
Brazil (1/0) - Julio Cesar (G)*
Costa Rica (5) - Waylon Francis (D), Giancarlo Gonzalez (D), Roy Miller (D), Alvaro Saborio (F), Jairo Arrieta (F)
Ecuador (1/0) - Oswaldo Minda (M)*
England (0/1) - Jermain Defoe (F)˟
Honduras (4/2) - Victor Bernardez (D)*, Marvin Chavez (M)*, Boniek Garcia (M)*, Jerry Bengston (F)*, Johnny Leveron (D)˟, Alexender Lopez (M)˟
Iran (1) - Steven Beitashour (D)
USA (10/5) - Nick Rimando (G)*, Matt Besler (D)*, Omar Gonzalez (D)*, DeAndre Yedlin (D)*, Kyle Beckerman (M)*, Michael Bradley (M)*, Brad Davis (M)*, Graham Zusi (M)*, Clint Dempsey (F)*, Chris Wondolowski (F)*, Landon Donovan (F)˟, Maurice Edu (M)˟, Clarence Goodson (D)˟, Michael Parkhurst (D)˟, Brad Evans (D)˟


* Announced 23-man roster
˟ Announced reserve player (30-man roster, final 23-man roster announced)
Note: Saborio suffered a broken metatarsal and will miss the world cup

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Gotcha. I've been away the past week and a half and kind of missed that. Still don't get why they'd do it that way, though.

From what I've read, Klinsmann believes Johnson is the best defender of the outside defensemen and Portugal, Ghana, Germany have strong leftside wing players so he's looking to have his best defender on their best attackers.