USMNT: To Rüssia With Love

[McBride11]

So Yedlin is lining up at right back for Sunderland? I can only assume that means he will play left mid under Jurgen.

But as it seems more and more Yedlin will be a long term fullback, will JK actually use him as that? Get rid of Chandler. Keep FJ on the left.

This helps to eliminate the concern (valid) of putting Zardes and Yedlin flanking Bradley.

 

[Cellar-Door]

So Yedlin is lining up at right back for Sunderland? I can only assume that means he will play left mid under Jurgen.

But as it seems more and more Yedlin will be a long term fullback, will JK actually use him as that? Get rid of Chandler. Keep FJ on the left.

This helps to eliminate the concern (valid) of putting Zardes and Yedlin flanking Bradley.

I think clubs are playing him at FB because his speed and crossing are game changers there, and they are hoping the defense catches up. Sadly i actually think JK is right, Yedlin is not now and likely never will be a good enough defender to play there for the national team. As poor as Chandler has been for the USMNT, their respective club play indicates he's significantly better at the defending part of the job than Yedlin currently.

 

[McBride11]

Ah I see. I havent watched much of his or TC's club games. Not a hope he could grow in a national team level FB given his young age? I just know TC and his waddle arent national team level.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Ah I see. I havent watched much of his or TC's club games. Not a hope he could grow in a national team level FB given his young age? I just know TC and his waddle arent national team level.

Oh there's a hope, and that's why Spurs want him playing there at Sunderland. But the USMNT can't run him out there to develop in meaningful games, especially when he provides real value on the wing, and probably won't until he starts to show growth at the club level.

 

[McBride11]

Oh there's a hope, and that's why Spurs want him playing there at Sunderland. But the USMNT can't run him out there to develop in meaningful games, especially when he provides real value on the wing, and probably won't until he starts to show growth at the club level.

Sorry. I didnt mean for like the play in game. I was thinking maybe the WCQ group stage since our group is weak. But then we are back at square 1 if he doesnt progress and JK keeps doing his lineup jumble thru the Hex. Or are you thinking way long term so he would be the guy come 2022 (age 29).

 

[DJnVa]

Yeah, looking at a few more reports it sounds like he was a bright spot attacking, but most of the goals came down the left side of the pitch.

Whether that's on him specifically, the Sunderland shambles generally, or just because Sterling is better than Navas, I have no idea.

 
 
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/09/22/american-exports-deandre-yedlin-marks-sunderland-debut-assist-lopsided-cup-l?module=from_footer
 

Mere seconds later, Yedlin failed to properly spring the offside trap, allowing Kevin De Bruyne to sneak past for Man City's second. The former Seattle Sounder was not culpable on any of the other away strikes and managed to contribute six defensive stops on the night, including a recovery play to keep Sergio Agüero from piling on a fifth Citizens' goal near the break.
 

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

I think clubs are playing him at FB because his speed and crossing are game changers there, and they are hoping the defense catches up. Sadly i actually think JK is right, Yedlin is not now and likely never will be a good enough defender to play there for the national team. As poor as Chandler has been for the USMNT, their respective club play indicates he's significantly better at the defending part of the job than Yedlin currently.

Right now, to me, Yedlin feels like a tweener in that his creativity in attack isn't what you want from a winger while his defensive tactics aren't what you want from a fullback. The question is then which of those things he's more likely to substantially improve on at this point in his career. I feel like the defensive skills and tactics are more likely to improve with coaching than attacking skills, but I'm no coach so my intuition about what's teachable and what players just get by constant reps when they're young might be bad.

 

[Gunfighter 09]

At this point I think his value remains what it was in the World Cup, he is a great sub to assist the attack with his world class speed and quality crossing / passing against a tired defense. So, I think he still has a role on the USMNT right now, just not as a defender. As a Spurs fan who wants to see the USMNT get to our rightful place at the top of the world, I hope the defense continues to develop enough for him to a be full time starter for both. Considering his athleticism and reported work ethic, he has a good chance of making that development.
 
If not, well, it might still be worth it just to watch him fly past people and try to truck dudes. 
 
http://thebiglead.com/2015/07/13/deandre-yedlin-got-decleated-mintues-after-michael-bradley-tied-it-1-1-vs-panama/

 

[Cellar-Door]

Fabian Johnson is recovered from his injury. Good news for the playoff game.
https://twitter.com/DougMacESPN/status/646747949721063424
 
 
Edit- and he scored 5 minutes in.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Klinsmann's roster for the Confed Cup playoff is supposed to be announced tomorrow.
 
The U23s start qualifying tomorrow:
 
10/1 vs. Canada
10/3 vs. Cuba
10/6 vs. Panama
 
 
A few tidbits about this team have come out today.  First, Ethan Horvath won't be released by Molde until the FIFA window, so he'll miss the first two games.  That means Zack Steffen is the 100% starter for now.  Second, there are rumors that Montreal will recall Eric Miller from the team.  That would be unfortunate, to say the least.  Miller is not a star, but he is the sole natural fullback on this team.  He will hopefully be replaced by another fullback, but the pool is weak and the only other halfway decent available option has thus far been ignored by Herzog.
 
On the bright side, Canada isn't very good especially because they will be missing their big star, Orlando's Cyle Larin.  A chunk of Cuba's team will probably have defected by the time we play them.  The key is avoiding Mexico in the all-important semifinal.
 
 
EDIT: And I forgot to mention, at this time nobody has bought English language rights for this qualifying tournament.  Spanish language broadcasts will be on NBC Universo and Telemundo, channels I'm pretty sure I don't have.  Ugh.

 

[Titans Bastard]

 Second, there are rumors that Montreal will recall Eric Miller from the team.  That would be unfortunate, to say the least.  Miller is not a star, but he is the sole natural fullback on this team.  He will hopefully be replaced by another fullback, but the pool is weak and the only other halfway decent available option has thus far been ignored by Herzog.
 

 
https://twitter.com/EMillllllllller/status/649298576703512576
 
 
Snarky.  Apparently Boyd Okwuonu is being called in.  Okwuonu is pretty bad.  It's a shame Herzog hasn't shown any interest in Amadou Dia (LB) or in Tim Parker (CB who is better than Packwood and has experience at RB as well).  It's wasteful.  This team is incredibly weak on the flanks.

 

[Titans Bastard]

https://twitter.com/BrianSciaretta/status/649614330149801984
 
 
 
Brooks hasn't played since the Peru friendly.  Nine days until Mexico, so it seems unlikely he will feature.

 

[Pxer]

I don't think I get those either; frustrating. Any luck on a stream?

 

[Titans Bastard]

I don't think I get those either; frustrating. Any luck on a stream?

 
Supposedly, Canada is setting up a stream for their games.  If it works out, that covers the first game.  For the rest of the US schedule, you're out of luck unless you brave the waters of RojaDirecta or something like that.
 
https://www.youtube.com/user/CanadaSoccerTV

 

[Titans Bastard]

The USSF and Richie Williams announced the roster for the U17 World Cup:
 
GK
Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy II), William Pulisic (Richmond United), Kevin Silva (PDA)
 
DF
Tyler Adams (NYRB II), Hugo Arellano (LA Galaxy academy), Danny Barbir (West Bromwich Albion), Tanner Dieterich (RSL academy), John Nelson (Internationals), Matthew Olosunde (NYRB academy), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union academy), Alexis Velela (New York Cosmos)
 
MF
Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal), Luca de la Torre (Fulham), Thomas McCabe (PDA), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas)
 
FW
Pierre da Silva (Orlando City academy), Joe Gallardo (Monterrey), Josh Perez (unattached [but expected to join Fiorentina when he turns 18]), Brandon Vazquez (Tijuana), Haji Wright (New York Cosmos)
 
 
Those who follow the team closer than I do claim that Williams ultimately went with some of his older mainstays instead of some players who came on strong over the summer.  Which is typical, and which is why so many U17s don't go on to be particularly accomplished.  The pecking order is tumultuous at this age thanks to puberty, among other things.
 
Christian Pulisic is the star of the group, a supporting striker / attacking midfielder type.  People also really like Luca de la Torre who is a box-to-box mid.  I've been impressed with Zendejas in limited action with FC Dallas, though I'm not sure if he'll ultimately be a central or wide midfielder.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Back to the U23s...
 
Cuba tied Panama 1-1 in today's earlier action.  This is a good result for the US.  Cuba reportedly lost four players to defections prior to the game and could lose more by the time they play the US.
 
The US lineup for Canada, a 4-4-2 diamond:
 

Morris --- Kiesewetter​

Zelalem​

Alashe --- Hyndman​

Trapp (c)​

Serna --- Carter-Vickers --- Miazga --- Polster​

Steffen​

 ​

 
Just about zero width in the midfield.  Serna is actually a winger so hopefully he'll be useful going forward.  Polster is primarily a DM, so my hopes of him providing width aren't high.

 

[Investor 11]

Just downloaded the NBC Deportes app on my phone and am able to stream the match with my cable login info. I don't even think I have the channel on my cable.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Wow.  1-0 US after about 30 seconds.  Morris with a relatively free header off a Kiesewetter cross.  Poor marking from Canada.

 

[FlexFlexerson]

I don't think I get those either; frustrating. Any luck on a stream?

 
Might not help much for this game now, but I've been successful streaming NBC Deportes on their website by connecting it to my cable account, even though I don't actually get the channel. The same is not true of the NBC Deportes app, which can tell my cable package does not include the channel in that case. So maybe an error on the website, but I was able to watch the game tonight (and a Club America game the other night). So, I'd just give that a shot next time.

 

[Titans Bastard]

USA wins 3-1 on the strength of a Jordan Morris brace.  Luis Gil also scored a PK.  Canada's goal came off a corner kick; I'm not sure who it was but someone totally screwed up their mark, leaving Petrasso absolutely wide open at the near post.
 
Petrasso looked sharp for Canada and abused Matt Polster, our fill-in RB.  In actuality, the starting lineup included five natural CMs (including Polster).
 
I think this team could be pretty good at the Olympics when more of our good U23s are healthy and/or available and we have three overagers to plug gaps.  But this group will have to scrap through qualifying and it won't be pretty.  More Route 1 stuff tonight than you'd like to see from a team playing a skinny diamond.  What's the point of having so much personnel in the center of the pitch if you aren't going to play through them?
 
Eh, take the three points and move on.  We lost to Canada last time around.  A win against Cuba and we'll be in great shape in the group.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

How did Miazga and CCV look? Both individually and as a pairing?

 

[Titans Bastard]

How did Miazga and CCV look? Both individually and as a pairing?

 
Good, good, and good.
 
Miazga's distribution is a little inconsistent.  He can make some crazy good passes, but needs to connect a little more frequently.  It's nitpicky though - he's going to be brought up to the full team soon.

 

[Titans Bastard]

USA/Canada writeup
 
This squad is very CM-heavy, which is why Herzog is using a 4-4-2 skinny diamond.  One of the particular challenges is the balance in the midfield.  Wil Trapp is a lock at defensive midfield.  While he's a very smart player and an excellent passer out of the back, he doesn't have a tremendous amount of bite by DM standards.  Herzog also wants the class of Hyndman and Zelalem in the team, but they aren't ball winners either.  So his solution against Canada was to add Fatai Alashe to the mix.  Alashe is a physical beast, but he's a liability in possession especially when used anywhere further up the field than DM.  In fact, SJ has been experimenting with him at CB in the last month.
 
It's tough to utilize the passing ability of some of our midfielders with Alashe gumming up the works and with Polster somewhat beleaguered at RB, where he's out of position.  But if Herzog replace Alashe with a better passer like Luis Gil or Marc Pelosi, he runs the risk of allowing the midfield to become too defensively soft.  A dilemma.

 

[Investor 11]

Is anyone else going to the U.S. Mexico match next weekend? I'll be making the drive up.

Also, if anyone has any parking recommendations at the Rose Bowl so that I can get out of there and back on the freeway as quickly as possible it would be appreciated.

 

[Gunfighter 09]

I will be there with a bunch of family. We are sitting in the AO seats. Drop me a PM if you want to meet up.
 
 
Did you get the email on parking today? I can forward it if you need.

 

[Investor 11]

I will be there with a bunch of family. We are sitting in the AO seats. Drop me a PM if you want to meet up.
 
 
Did you get the email on parking today? I can forward it if you need.

I did get that email. we'll be in the AO seats as well, section 26H. I'll shoot you a PM. Hoping to be at FanHQ and the AO tailgate when it opens at 2.

 

[Pesky Pole]

U.S. - Cuba on Telemundo in Olympic Qualifying. U.S. with the early 1-0 lead on a Carter Vickers header.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

3-0 at half. Miazga and the #17 with goals.
17 was set up by Morris nicely.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Day trip to the Pioneer Valley for me today, but the USA-Cuba game ended 6-1.
 
The roster for the Mexico match has been released, with 23 players from the 35-man preliminary roster:
 
GK
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
Tim Howard (Everton)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
 
DF
Ventura Alvarado (Club América)
DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo)
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)
Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders)
Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana)
Tim Ream (Fulham)
Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
 
MF
Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake)
Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes)
Michael Bradley (Toronto FC)
Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution)
Danny Williams (Reading)
DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)
Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
 
FW
Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC)
Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
 
 
injured - Brooks, Garza, Johannsson
dropped - Gonzalez, Diskerud
 
 
Now that DMB and Johnson are back, I have to imagine they'll start at LB and RB and Cameron and Besler will start at CB.  But it all depends on how deep the obsession with Alvarado runs.

 

[Billy R Ford]

Now that DMB and Johnson are back, I have to imagine they'll start at LB and RB and Cameron and Besler will start at CB.  But it all depends on how deep the obsession with Alvarado runs.

 
It would be fitting if, after all the experimenting that has gone on with the back line, the four starters for Mexico end up being the same four who started the World Cup.
 
Though knowing Klinsmann we'll get Alvarado and Orozco of course.

 

[McBride11]

Why is Wondo on this team? Wood? Morris?

Will be real curious if JJ or Beckerman start at DM or Williams has earned the nod.

I hope we start Howard.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

Howard has to start.
Cameron and Besler clearly the choice at CB. Will it happen?

 

[Titans Bastard]

Klinsmann said last month that Guzan would start, FW(little)IW.

 

[Infield Infidel]

I'm all for competition when guys are close for spots but when there is a clear gap, all rotating players does is give fewer reps and less familiarity to the superior players. Guzan should really not start, his throwing gaffe in the Jamaica game helped get us in this spot

Edit- Guzan autocorrected to guano

 

[Titans Bastard]

I'm all for competition when guys are close for spots but when there is a clear gap, all rotating players does is give fewer reps and less familiarity to the superior players. Guzan should really not start, his throwing gaffe in the Jamaica game helped get us in this spot

Edit- Guzan autocorrected to guano

 
Agree.  Guzan thus far has peaked in the 2013/14 season and has had his share of struggles at Aston Villa since then.  This is such a conservative, veteran roster that you could insert Howard without suffering the pitfalls of unfamiliarity.  FJ/Cameron/Besler/DMB were the back four against Ghana and Germany.  The only MFs and FWs on the roster who weren't at the World Cup are Williams and Zardes -- and Williams may well have made the team if he had been healthy.

 

[Titans Bastard]

CONCACAF Cup:
 
Gio dos Santos is out for Mexico
 
Olympic qualifying:
 
USA has clinched a place in the semifinals and will win Group A unless they lose to Panama and Canada makes up the 7 GD gap against Cuba.  It's a bit tricky as to whether being #1 or #2 will be preferable.  In Group B, Honduras and Mexico are tied on points and will play for the top spot in the group.  Based on GD, Mexico will advance with a tie.  I'd rather not play Mexico, but let the chips fall where they may.

 

[OCST]

I have seen enough of Guzan.  His situational awareness is much inferior to Howard's.
 
Having said that, while Howard has a much better idea of what he's doing, I'm afraid that his shot-stopping is regressing.  He had a couple of nice saves against Liverpool, but here's ESPNFC on Liverpool's goal:
 

 
 
Everton's marking at James Milner's 41st-minute corner was magnanimous in the extreme as with goalkeeper Tim Howard, dressed as a steward in fluorescent green and doing a passable impression of one, rooted to his line and Ross Barkley not marking closely Ings, at 5-foot-8 one of the smallest players on the pitch, nodded home from four yards.

 
Worried that we're seeing the beginning of the end for Timmeh.

 

[DJnVa]

New coach for Mexico: http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/juan-carlos-osorio-resigns-from-sao-paulo-to-coach-mexican-national-team-100615
 

Juan Carlos Osorio of Colombia has quit as coach of Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC to take over Mexico's national team.
The Brazilian club announced the move on Tuesday.
 
Sao Paulo president Carlos Miguel Aidar says in a statement: ''I deeply regret Osorio's decision. He was doing a good job.''
 

 

[Titans Bastard]

That's funny.  Osorio presided over one of the worst teams in MLS history ('09 NYRB), but he's been quite successful since then, particularly in Colombia, and worked his way up to a very big club, although he's only been at Sao Paulo for less than five months before leaving.
 
 
In U23 news:
 
https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/651563068120436736
 
 
 
It's the B team for the final group stage match.  Canada coughed up a last-minute equalizer to Cuba, which means that the US has already won the group.  I don't like the decision to start Polster at DM over Alashe.  Polster is on a yellow card and even though he's not that good at RB, Okwuonu is a disaster.  The semifinal is the only match that matters now; if Polster gets another yellow and is lost to suspension it would be a huge waste.

 

[McBride11]

Landycakes making waves again
 
 
https://twitter.com/landondonovan/status/651459619047346176
 
http://www.espnfc.us/confederations-cup-playoff/story/2650574/landon-donovan-klinsmann-should-go-if-us-loses-to-mexico
 
edit: after 17 tries I embedded the actual tweet. This all seems a little overblown but it is showing up in news stories due to their history.  I think many agree that a loss puts JK in a very poor position, especially if he rolls out another asinine lineup.

 

[OCST]

meowwww....
 
From that article:
 

 
"Around the world, if a player plays poorly and a player has a bad string of results, they get dropped from the team," he told ESPN FC. "Jurgen said many times he wants our players to feel pressure -- so if they lose a game they can't go to the grocery store the next day. If they lose a game, they are getting hammered in the press.
"Well, the same holds true for the coach, and so we had a very poor summer with bad results in the Gold Cup. The last game against Brazil was probably the worst game I've seen them play under Jurgen.
"The reality is that now, anywhere else in the world, if this coach had those results, and they lose this game against Mexico, they'd be fired.
"I think if Jurgen wants to hold all the players to that standard, then he has to be held to that standard too."

 
 
Two things:
 
1) Donovan is not wrong.
2) Despite not being wrong, Donovan looks really, really bad here.
 
Donovan could have an important role as an elder statesman for US soccer.  Now he's just looking petty and vindictive, and maybe showing why JK got tired of him.
 
He's not helping himself or anyone else and should STFU.

 

[Titans Bastard]

meowwww....
 
From that article:
 
 
 
Two things:
 
1) Donovan is not wrong.
2) Despite not being wrong, Donovan looks really, really bad here.
 
Donovan could have an important role as an elder statesman for US soccer.  Now he's just looking petty and vindictive, and maybe showing why JK got tired of him.
 
He's not helping himself or anyone else and should STFU.

 
I think you are overstating it.  Donovan doesn't take any cheap shots at JK, he's just saying what most people know to be true - we sucked at the Gold Cup, Klinsmann doesn't want to be held to the same standard as his players, and if he loses to Mexico we should seriously evaluate if he should remain employed.  Donovan has been a polarizing figure and those who are inclined to dislike him may not like what he said, but this doesn't come across as particularly petty or vindictive to me.  It's reasonable and largely polite.
 
Donovan didn't exactly have a good chance of employment in the Klinsmann administration regardless.

 

[soxfan121]

 
I think you are overstating it.  Donovan doesn't take any cheap shots at JK, he's just saying what most people know to be true - we sucked at the Gold Cup, Klinsmann doesn't want to be held to the same standard as his players, and if he loses to Mexico we should seriously evaluate if he should remain employed.  Donovan has been a polarizing figure and those who are inclined to dislike him may not like what he said, but this doesn't come across as particularly petty or vindictive to me.  It's reasonable and largely polite.
 
Donovan didn't exactly have a good chance of employment in the Klinsmann administration regardless.

How?

 

[DLew On Roids]

Donovan knew exactly what he was doing, or at least he's doing exactly what many people think.  Come on, he might be the smartest guy to ever play for the USMNT along with being the most talented.
 
He's also passive-aggessive and reflective, so my guess is in a few weeks he'll own up to it. 

 

[Silverdude2167]

 
I think you are overstating it.  Donovan doesn't take any cheap shots at JK, he's just saying what most people know to be true - we sucked at the Gold Cup, Klinsmann doesn't want to be held to the same standard as his players, and if he loses to Mexico we should seriously evaluate if he should remain employed.  Donovan has been a polarizing figure and those who are inclined to dislike him may not like what he said, but this doesn't come across as particularly petty or vindictive to me.  It's reasonable and largely polite.
 
Donovan didn't exactly have a good chance of employment in the Klinsmann administration regardless.

JK should be evaluated on much more than one Gold Cup. I am a fan of his but i believe that he has the team moving in the right direction.
They are playing much tougher friendlies and getting some great results and he is rotating lots of players into the squad to see who works best.
 
Donovan did a great job of pointing out the negatives. The guy has a grudge after being left off the World Cup roster, but if he cared that much he should not have taken a year off from soccer (no idea the actual duration) during qualifying because he was burnt out. Name one other world class player in any sport that has done that.

 

[Titans Bastard]

How?

Throwing his players under the bus with regularity while never, ever taking responsibility for anything that goes wrong.
 
Citing public criticism of himself after the Gold Cup an example of how American fans don't understand soccer.
 
 
 
He goes on and on about wanting more accountability for players and takes no accountability for anything himself.

 

[crystalline]

Ricky Williams? Michael Jordan? Randy Moss?

 

[kenneycb]

When did Moss take time off in his prime [insert Oakland joke]? He was also well past his prime when he came back with the 49ers after a year off. That said, his year on the Pats, Vikings and Titans don't help his case.

If only he enjoyed Minnesota BBQ catering...

 

[Infield Infidel]

Donovan didn't take a year off from the sport, he played club matches, just not NT matches. There are other guys that have done that, for differing reasons, Tim Howard, Carlos Vela, Diego Costa, Samuel Eto'o. Whether they need a break, or got older, or didn't see eye-to-eye with the coach, it happens.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The U-23s beat Panama 4-0 on Tuesday, with all goals coming in the second half after the insertion of Jordan Morris and Jerome Kiesewetter.  The team hasn't necessarily looked great in this tournament, but they've beaten each opponent by multiple goals.  That's decent enough in my book, considering the number of good players who didn't make it into the team for whatever reason and our history of playing down to CONCACAF's level in youth qualifying tournaments.
 
Mexico beat Honduras 2-1 last night, which means we'll play Honduras and Canada will play Mexico.  Semifinal winners qualify for Rio.  The winner of the third place game earns the right to lose to Colombia in a play-off game.