U.S. national team midfielder DaMarcus Beasley took the field for Scottish powerhouse Rangers today, almost six months after suffering a knee injury in Champions League play that required surgery. He played just 13 minutes, but the fact that he was able to play was a major step for the American winger.
Beasley was one of 33 players named to the U.S. national team player pool for upcoming friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina and while the inclusion seemed like wishful thinking last week, Beasley’s appearance for Rangers makes it clear that he is back and he could very well play a key role in World Cup qualifying this summer.
With Bobby Convey still dealing with injuries, Eddie Lewis fighting father time and Robbie Rogers still in the early stages of his career, Beasley’s value to the national team has actually grown in his absence. He is already one of the best players on the national team, but now he is arguably the toughest to replace.
What do you think of Beasley’s recovery and how important is Beasley to the U.S. team’s hopes for success this summer? Share your thoughts on the return of ‘Beez’ below.
LJ:
No problem.
I know this was quite a few years ago, but I’ve been impressed with Beasley since he played for the Fire. One instance in particular stands out. I remember seeing him play in a double header where he started and played the full 90 for the USMNT vs. Poland and then changed kits and started for the Fire. My memory fails me now as I don’t remember how long he played for Chicago in that game, but I believe it was at least the first half if not longer. I was amazed to see that level of commitment to a club team. That being said, glad to hear he’s coming back and playing again. That’s my two cents.
My bad Aristotle. My mind isn’t working at full speed right now. Apologies.
All I have to say was that he was completely brutal at the World Cup. Yes, Most of his touches were square or negative. He was out of his element.
But he does show flashes of brilliance like the assist to Dempsey. That one player does not overshadow his poor performance overall.
Times change and he is past that but the comments above saying he was best player is very MLS referee like!
He is left-footed but a) he plays mostly on the right at Rangers and does it well, and b) his strength (in addition to pace) is the ability to play either side.
If he plays on the right, he seems to have more of a defensive bias and contributes also by running the opposition’s left side to death.
If he plays on the left, he is a better crosser of the ball.
Nice problem to have, really.
I think his pace is his biggest asset. In 2010 we will probably see Beasley start and then have Rogers on the bench come in as a burst of speed. It could really wear opposing defenders down.
DaMarcus Beasley is left footed. He prefers to play left wing. Thank you for your time.
Beasley looked very sharp in the match against St. Mirren for a player who hadn’t played in 6 months, although he did mishit one set piece. Great to see him back, our most experienced high stakes European player.
“DMB is a very effective player as long as he’s played in his proper position at right wing. His failures at WC 2006 were due to Arena forcing him to play left wing.”
Wow! What a ridiculous comment. Attacks the most successful U.S. coach ever, but doesn’t know that Damarcus Beasley’s natural position is left winger. I get that your one of those idiots who tries to prove his soccer knowledge by jumping on the bandwagon of Arena criticism, but at least have a clue as to what you’re talking about.
“DMB is a good player, but he always fades away in a big game. He can shine against small teams but against England, Spain and Argentina you won’t notice him. He is too small.”
Make sure we quote this when he’s burning Joe Cole or whoever is on the left next Wednesday all day long.
DMB is a good player, but he always fades away in a big game. He can shine against small teams but against England, Spain and Argentina you won’t notice him. He is too small.
Hi Ives, thanks for your good work. I was hoping you could settle something for me?
I thought that DaMarcus Beasley was left footed and that his preferred position is left wing or left forward? People have been saying he is naturally a right midfielder? Thanks.
Iris….yes! At right middie is where he belongs. He can still cover ground at left wing but his service is better from the right. Cheers,
By far one of my favorite players for the US Nats. Can literally change a game with one of his quality, pacey runs down the left. I was said to hear he went down with the torn acl earlier this year, and I doubt anyone is happier than me to hear he is making his comeback so quickly and efficiently.
DMB is a very effective player as long as he’s played in his proper position at right wing. His failures at WC 2006 were due to Arena forcing him to play left wing.
Wow, reading back through the comments…a lot of folks have realized how important he is. Regards to all.
I will agree fully with Rob and disagree with most regarding the Cup in 06. I thought Beasley was our best player on the field. The criticism regarding passing square or back is a bit uncharitable. In the Cup, there was seldom anyone to pass it to forward. I don’t blame the team at all because the group in which the USMNT found itself was simply…horribly good. The eventual champions, an amped up African side, and a Euro side who had 7 or 8 players that play on the top European league sides. Through it all, Beasley tried to maintain possession by taking the sure pass. That was the mandate handed down by Arena apparently because everyone’s passes were cautious.
As to formation and where to play DMB…I don’t know yet. It’s early. This cup qualifying and then the eventual tournament will be his final and prime years. He still has the pace, he has strong European experience, and now has the wisdom of succeeding and failing on the world stage.
I’ll admit that he was skittish in the qualifiers leading up to 06…but I sincerely think he will be a key member of the starting lineup for the next two years.
And oh…he set up the only offensive goal the US scored in 06. 🙂 (I couldn’t resist).
Cheers,
Welcome back DeMarcus. As much as we all know you’d love to thrash the 3 Kitties on Wednesday, please only if you’re ready to go full tilt.
Yeah, I said it, bring it on England!
Rocco, he was easily the best player against Italy, I think his time in Europe has done wonders for his confidence and we will see his best years in a MNT Shirt to come.
How about playing a style similar to Roma and using that group of Beasley, Donovan, Altidore, Adu, Bradley and Dempsey and playing what amounts to a 4-6. I know that Bradley is more of a holding player and Jozy is more of an attacking player but still, Bradley has the ability going forward and I think Jozy seems like the type of player who would do whatever’s called upon. The way Roma plays is with 6 guys in the midfield/attack who are essentially interchangable. Seems like something cool to try in a qualifier against a weaker opponent or one of these upcoming friendlies.
The only problem with that lineup is that Mike Bradley would have to be otherworldly on the defensive end. Beas is a solid defender, but the other four you mentioned don’t do much but attack (Adu and Altidore, especially).
Not to say Bradley can’t be otherworldly once he fully matures, but it still puts a huge amount of pressure on our defense, which I still don’t know if I’m fully confident in.
LJ:
I said Beasley plays aggressively when he is on his game, but is afraid to challenge people and run after coming back from injury. Isn’t that what you just said?
“He is extremely important. We have nobody that can play on the left side.”
Now lets not get crazy here. Donovan can play on the left, I thought that was obvious from the Poland game.
Plus, Rogers, Alvarez, Adu, are developing fast, and I wouldn’t fear using Brad Davis, Eddie Lewis, or Heath Pearce for a WC qualifier against a non-Mexico team.
In my mind right mid is more of a “ah!” after Donovan and Dempsey.
“Maybe I’m just imagining things but it seems like Beasley falls into the category of skillful players who are constantly being victimized because they dare to run and challenge players frequently”
You are imagining things. There are times he’s played tough, and I really like that Beasley. But there are times he’s played like a pansy, shying away from contact, and that Beez blows.
I think having these four: “Beasley, Donovan, Altidore, Adu” on the field at the same time is going to result in deadly combinations.
Throw Bradley and Dempsey in that midfield/forward group, and I honestly think the US could run with any team in the world.
He is extremely important. We have nobody that can play on the left side.
Has anyone else noticed a pattern with Beasley and players like him?
It seems like he and other players like him go through a continuous cycle of three phases. Playing great to long term knee injury to coming back and playing poorly. Then the cycle starts over again. Maybe I’m just imagining things but it seems like Beasley falls into the category of skillful players who are constantly being victimized because they dare to run and challenge players frequently, resulting in the inevitable cheap shot tackle that puts them out with a long term injury. Then they come back and are tired of this happening so they become very cautious and don’t want to run and take on players so much, which results in them being ineffective. Then they realize they are not any good playing this way or they get benched and they go back to playing their daring style and of course they can’t play too long like this before they are out with a long term injury again! I just wish they would protect players like Beasley more. It’s no wonder there are so few players like him. The other thing about players like him is that they are constantly being fouled and no foul is called because the referee considers it their fault for being so small and frail! Freddy Adu is not exactly the same kind of player as Beasley but he is another player that never seems to get a foul call when some big lumberjack of a player just casually slams him to the ground with his body.
I think this new trend in soccer over the years where bigger players are becoming more important because smaller skillful players are being taken advantage of because of their size sucks. How small a guy is shouldn’t factor in to the decision when making a fouls call. A foul is a foul. Your ability to absorb the foul should be irrelevant. No wonder we have so much diving. I want the days of the little skillful guys darting all over the field weaving in and out of players back! Sigh, here come the inevitable responses of the “it’s a man’s game” crowd. Like knocking someone much smaller than you to the ground is so manly.
He’s the only player on the UMNT who we can not survive without.
More than speed or dribbling, the attribute DMB brings is toughness. He nevers slows down, never avoids a collision, and never shrinks from the fight. When his teammates see a guy who might weigh 140 lb in a warmup suit work like that, they’re shamed into playing smarter, tougher ball too.
I hope his recovery goes well. We could definitely use him.
His pace and grit are second to none on the USMNT. For such a small guy, he really knows how to take a beating. I can remember him in some games for the USMNT getting leveled by guys much bigger than him and him just bouncing back up. Add to that his passing (when it’s forward) and vision and you have one of our best players. I would love to see him and and a healthy Convey on the wings with little Bradley anchoring the midfield with Lando withdrawn behind Altidore and Dempsey. Those six would be a force to be reckoned with.
I never realized how important Beasley was to the USMNT until he was gone. We have sorely missed his presence and It’s great to have him back.
The issue with Beasley is that he can be brilliant; is very effective going forward or tracking back; defense can be came changing. The downside is that as brilliant as he can be, he can be totally invisible and ineffective. Hard to know what Beasley will show up. Bobby Convey deservedly won the left wing start in the last world cup. Let’s hope that both of them recover fully and that between them and Edie who can play left wing or left back they will provide us with one of the deepest positions on the team.
As long as he NEVER repeats his form of the 2006 WC – where every pass was either square or back, and stopped his runs as soon as he touched the ball – he could be extremely valuable. If he reverts to his old form, might as well bring on the youth…or a stationary player.
I feel DMB is critical to the USMNT. His ability to play from box to box along the right side makes him something that does not exist, and has never existed, in a US team. The savvy gained from PSV and Rangers in their European matches along with two World Cups already under his belt make him a special cog in the wheel. Dempsey’s Fulham experience is grooming him for the spot but Dempsey’s skill on the ball makes him a flexible option at a number of spots.
All in all, it is just GREAT that he is back.
Cheers,
Run DMB in da house!
Awesome news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!