Beckerman? It's been almost two years since he made an appearance for the team. And Beasley might make the squad as a sub, but I don't think anyone believes he'll be starting.
As far as our keeper of the future, maybe we'll give someone a game this Saturday. Despite clearly trying to get everyone a try out in the first two games, Arena didn't do that at keeper. Maybe now that the pressure is off, since we are in a good position to advance?
...well, I'm not talking myself into it. I'm guessing that Arena's plan is Howard in goal with Guzan backing him up through next summer, and leaving the future of that position to the next coach. Which is fine, although it'd be nice to see some other guys get appearances in friendlies along the way.
Guys like Zusi and Bedoya may be done as well.
They have been done for 4 years, unfortunately.
Beckerman played for the USMNT in the 2016 Copa America. I think his last start was in the 4-0 beatdown Argentina gave us in the semifinals.
I never really rated Beckerman (unlike Beasley, who I think did good work in his prime), but neither of them should be in a World Cup squad who wants to make it out of the group stage.
Managing generational turnover for a national team is enormously challenging - and that's part of why I think Bruce Arena is using the Gold Cup to decide who might be able to step up.
I am not entirely sure he is even doing that. The top next gen players are predominantly overseas. They are not back in. It seems that with a few exceptions, he is looking at the fringe roster spots. Not saying I disagree with the approach, but I don't think there is much to be gleaned from a long term roster shift based on this pool of players. I hope I am wrong and a couple of players emerge.
Beckerman played for the USMNT in the 2016 Copa America. I think his last start was in the 4-0 beatdown Argentina gave us in the semifinals.
Damn it, the people who get paid to update Wikipedia are falling down on the job!
Anyway, change "almost two years" to "one year". I feel sure he's done. Beasley may or may not be, since the only truly good alternative we've found in years is Fabian Johnson, who Arena and his club team want as a winger.
USA v El Salvador in a bit over two hours!
USA v El Salvador in a bit over two hours!
I'll be watching. Haven't watched a match in this competition thus far. I saw Pulisic starred for Dortmund the other morning. Is this an NA focused squad?
Fedaykin98 wrote:USA v El Salvador in a bit over two hours!
I'll be watching. Haven't watched a match in this competition thus far. I saw Pulisic starred for Dortmund the other morning. Is this an NA focused squad?
We are definitely not taking the Gold Cup as seriously as our World Cup qualifying campaign (which is probably a reasonable choice). The group stage saw a lot of bubble players getting minutes, as Bruce Arena tries to decide who can take it up a level.
I saw we made the maximum six roster changes for elimination play, but we are not playing our A team, for sure.
Fedaykin98 wrote:USA v El Salvador in a bit over two hours!
I'll be watching. Haven't watched a match in this competition thus far. I saw Pulisic starred for Dortmund the other morning. Is this an NA focused squad?
Pulisic had an awesome match the other day. Assisted both goals from play and drew the penalty that was also scored. Created all three chances. Not exactly a surprise, but a continual delight.
None of the European club based players are part of the Gold Cup.
For those who haven't heard, while we brought in six reinforcements for the knock out stage, Mexico did not. Observers feel that we are now the favorite to win, but of course nothing is certain.
Little bit of an experimental lineup tonight, but I guess they all have to be with so many starters with their club teams. Still, not as much experience in many places as we could have played with the guys who are in attendance.
2-0 at the half, both goals by defenders?
I'll take it.
Missing it all. Severe thunderstorms/tornado warnings + DIRECTV = bad combination.
Missing it all. Severe thunderstorms/tornado warnings + DIRECTV = bad combination.
If you have DIRECTV, you can watch on the Fox Sports Go app.
I hate DIRECTV because of weather.
None of the European club based players are part of the Gold Cup.
Lichaj plays for Nottingham Forest I think - don't know if we have players from Europe in this squad though.
Glad they scored our goals, because our defense has looked woeful at actually defending tonight. Our passing has been pretty bad across the board, as well.
(Also the officiating is terrible tonight. El Salvador should be down st least one player by now, and that first goal was never offsides.)
Which was worse: The officiating, or El Salvador's conduct? Tough call.
Which was worse: The officiating, or El Salvador's conduct? Tough call.
It was a bit of a feedback loop between them.
Fedaykin98 wrote:Which was worse: The officiating, or El Salvador's conduct? Tough call.
It was a bit of a feedback loop between them.
Ha! You snuck "bit" in there!
...do you wear #4 for El Salvador?
Hrdina wrote:Fedaykin98 wrote:Which was worse: The officiating, or El Salvador's conduct? Tough call.
It was a bit of a feedback loop between them.
Ha! You snuck "bit" in there!
...do you wear #4 for El Salvador?
I'm subtle.
I was going to comment on you adding "tough call" when asking about the officiating, too...
bhchrist wrote:None of the European club based players are part of the Gold Cup.
Lichaj plays for Nottingham Forest I think - don't know if we have players from Europe in this squad though.
Glad they scored our goals, because our defense has looked woeful at actually defending tonight. Our passing has been pretty bad across the board, as well.
(Also the officiating is terrible tonight. El Salvador should be down st least one player by now, and that first goal was never offsides.)
Yeah, I saw that this morning regarding Lichaj. Forgot about him. I wonder if he is the only one. Halfheartedly tried to get it on the app, but I was so tired last night I didn't bother. Not that upset TBH that I missed it last night.
Come on, USA!
Jordan Morris starting tonight, Dempsey on the bench. Matt Hedges out, Matt Besler in.
I was out of town tonight, and didn't get to turn on the game until about 74'.
I'll take it.
I was out of town tonight, and didn't get to turn on the game until about 74'.
I'll take it.
Just about the time the real action started!
Clint Dempsey assist!
Clint Dempsey score!
Well, that was a timely and well placed substitution.
Best complete match they have played in awhile. Quite enjoyable to watch.
Most cohesive performance I've seen from us this tournament, and a deserved win.
Thoughts:
* We had better pray Tim Howard stays healthy through the next World Cup. He may be effectively finished at the club level, but is easily our best option - and I see no signs of other players coming through who I'd want in the nets.
* Great to see us taking better care of the ball. Nagbe in particular did a great job keeping possession under pressure, which helped other players get into good positions.
* Glad to see Jozy score again, but boy do I wish we had someone else to be our striker. Don't know enough about our U23 to know if there's anybody there to consider, but I'd probably take Don Dwyer (or maybe Bobby Wood?) ahead of Jozy.
* Still not impressed by our defense, and Zusi is not a defender IMO. If we are going to play him at right back, I'd want to look at playing something like a 5-3-2 and let him be a wing-back with license to bomb forward.
Overall much better though - I expected Costa Rica to be a much closer game (although arguably if Howard hadn't had that big save late in the first half the game could have gone quite differently).
Best complete match they have played in awhile. Quite enjoyable to watch.
I agree. Defensively they looked quite coordinated compared to parts of earlier games I saw. Despite Besler's one WTF pass back, he was a catalyst, doing all the little things right to help negate Costa Rica's attack.
Elsewhere, however, there were a handful of players in the first half that had me shaking my head. Zusi in particular had a lot of weak moments.
Costa Rica was also missing six players to injuries, so there's that to keep in mind too. 
I prefer Bobby Wood to Jozy, and of course our European defenders to the ones we had last night. I am kind of warming to Villafana, but I'm also wondering if Klinsmann wasn't right after all to play Fabian Johnson at LB.
Nagbe should be starting every possible game, and I've been saying this since last summer. Klinsmann's mishandling of him was one of the most frustrating parts of the end of his leadership. Anyone can see that Nagbe has something almost no one else on the team does - the ability to move the ball through traffic and maintain possession.
Speaking of which, Dempsey's turn and dribbling last night in assisting Altidore (after a pass Deuce received from Nagbe, btw) was frankly something I didn't know he had. I've always seen him as more of a target striker, even though he's seldom played at the top.
Last night was very encouraging, and particularly because Costa Rica in New Jersey is our toughest remaining game in the Hex. If we can get three points from them in September, we should be guaranteed a spot in the World Cup.
Jamaica 1:0 Mexico FT
Goal scored by Kemar Lawrence (RBNY) at 88' on a nasty free kick. Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union) had 5 saves.
Jamaica vs USA on Wednesday at 9 ET in the final. Maybe a little revenge for the 2015 semi-final.
Blake was amazing last night.
Let's bring this thing home, and take the first step towards qualifying for the 2021 Confederations Cup!
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