By IVES GALARCEP
The U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Scotland today in Glasgow in their next-to-last match of the year (3 p.m., ESPN2).
The U.S. team is without Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan for today’s match, but that will open the door for Sacha Kljestan and Alejandro Bedoya to earn starts in the 4-2-3-1 formation Klinsmann will deploy today.
SBI will be providing love commentary on tonight’s match so please feel free to follow along with the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s commentary is after the jump):
Does anyone else think that Lichaj looked substantially better than Brad Evans? I really hope he gets more call ins, guy deserves a chance. As usual EJ looked stupid, at best he’s a super sub and Bacon looked really good in my opinion. He was unlucky not to have scored. I also really hope they give Boyd and especially Brooks a look as I really don’t think Omar Gonzalez is the answer, didn’t look awful tonight but I think Brooks has a much much higher upside. Can someone explain to me why Wondolowski was even on this roster. We know exactly what he gives us, which is nothing but a pure goal scorer and he’s 30 so he’s not getting any better. I’m really torn about Brek Shea, I can see why JK likes him as he seems to be the only midfielder that can beat someone 1 v 1 on our team (bar maybe Donovan and AJ) but without consistent club time it really isn’t gonna matter. Great athletic talent but not as much in the soccer department.
Also really hoping that people like Yedlin, Gil and Agudelo get some looks after the world cup. Our 2018 team seems to have a LOT of potential.
1. no they didnt attack lichaj as much as evans, and evans did well besides 1 mistake
2. Gonzo has played very good without game breaking mistakes these past 3 games
3. Shea your just about right, but i think he has good first touch and can pass when he doesnt seem to be heavy footed.
Lichaj is a natural wingback. He plays well on both the right and left. Considering the current situation of those positions, it has been absolutely unacceptable for him to be left out of the picture. He isn’t Marcelo but he is what he need, desperately. Not to mention his heart is totally in it for US, which cannot be said of Chandler who would be our second best option in that role.
Someone else posted on this site, on another page, that the USNMT’s ungluing at the World Cup will be using Beasley and Evans as our backs and he was absolutely correct. World class wingers and strikers will put those guys to shame and it won’t end well for the team. However, I don’t in any way mean to diminish their service, talents and roles they both have played, especially Evans. I won’t forget how he pulled the team back from losing at Jamaica. Ever.
That being said, if I had JK’s ear, I would be screaming in it about the backs. Fabian J. and Lichaj should be the starters in those positions with Cameron and Castillo as subs.
Brek Shea was one of the best players on the pitch today IMHO. He was sharp and attack and moved forward. The team needs that edge. He serves that super sub role to a T. He did it twice against Mexico and showed that he is capable of doing it again. In fact, he should have had an assist today off that beautiful run down the left flak, but Iceman just missed (not much he could have done about that). Also, Brek is FAST. I don’t know if you guys notice it but he has got to be one of the fastest guys on the team. He has the ability to beat people one on one most of the time. As well, his crosses are pretty decent. All that considering he basically isn’t playing speaks well of him as a player. He needs to get out of loan ASAP even if it’s to a lower level second division team in another league.
Jozy was awful, which is sad to say. The Iceman is the real deal. He must start, even if Jozy loses his spot. His natural talent, attacking aplomb and ability to harass defenders when he either doesn’t have the ball or loses it is something the USMNT has missed since the days of Charlie Davis. He almost scored after being on for only ten minutes or so. Jozy, pay attention. You need that tenacity at the club level if you ever plan on scoring.
All in all, the team was terrible. The World Cup will not go well for us, at all.
wc team (assuming current form)
————————Jozy————————————-
AJ———————–Donavon————————-Bedoya/dempsey
———————-Mix———Bradley———————————
Fabian———Besler—————-Gonzo——————Cameron
——————————-Howard——————————————
I want to see:
———–Altidore——————Boyd———-
——-AJ——————————–Bedoya—–
——————Sacha————Bradley—————–
Lichaj——–Brooks———Gonzalez———Cameron
—————————Howard—————————