American-born defender Edgar Castillo has been cleared by FIFA to play for the United States, meaning the questions can begin about whether he will eventually be the answer for the team at left back.
Jonathan Bornstein's disappointing showing vs. El Salvador served as a reminder of the lack of options at left fullback, with captain Carlos Bocanegra looking like the most reliable option there these days. The only problem with that is the fact that Bocanegra is one of the team's best central defense option. While Jonathan Spector does play left back for his club, West Ham, he is not a natural left back.
Enter Castillo, a skillful and quick left-footed player whose attacking qualities are unmatched in the U.S. national team left back pool, but whose defensive qualities aren't exactly strong. What is easily forgotten is just how young Castillo is. He's a month from his 23rd birthday and has already established himself as one of the better left backs in the Mexican First Division.
Castillo will be available for selection by the U.S. national team for next month's World Cup qualifiers at Honduras (Oct. 10) and vs. Costa Rica (Oct. 14). As promising a prospect as he is, it seems like a long-shot for him to step in and play a key role in either of those matches, but he could potentially earn a look. If Castillo gets his debut vs. Costa Rica, it would be pretty fitting considering it will have been a year earlier in the same stadium, RFK Stadium, where Jose Francisco Torres earned his first cap for the United States (in a 6-1 qualifying win vs. Cuba). That day, fans at the stadium displayed a sign that said "Torres>Castillo", sentiment that is likely to change now that Castillo is set to play for the country of his birth.
With the immediate club futures of both Heath Pearce and DaMarcus Beasley currently in limbo, options at left back are woefully slim, so Castillo should get a look this year. He is playing regularly for Tigres, which he helped to a SuperLiga title this summer. If he can strengthen the defensive aspects of his game, Castillo could quickly work his way up the depth chart. Offensively, he provides speed, good crosses and a willingness and ability to shoot, a combination that could earn him a serious look sooner rather than later.
What do you think of Castillo playing for the United States? Excited to see a new left back prospect? Feel weird about the fact that Castillo has played for Mexico in the past? Ready to let bygones be bygones if he can represent the United States well?
Share your thoughts below.
(Just got back from a MidNight run)
Why does playing w/ an attacking line up preclude the responsibility of playing defense.
Have these guys never played defense, held up a ball, made a tackle, GOT STUCK IN!
Why do we speak of tough defense as 5 guys (DM and Back 4) responsibility. Defend w/ ten, attack w/ ten!
Gooch tackles to win the ball.
Boca passes to Castillo.
Castillo passes to Benny.
Benny plays a 1 – 2 w/ Gringo
Benny switches to Dempsey (right touchline)
Spector overlaps
Deuce plays to Davies
Davies to Torres
Torres (back passes) to Benny
Benny to Landon who plays the 1 – 2 w/ an advanced Castillo.
Donovan curls in a cross to Jozy who flicks on to Davies.
Stuffed by the keeper (spills the rebound)
Deuce finishes on the second chance!
GOOOOoooooooooaaaaaaaaaL!
Every outfield player touch the ball in this sequence.
If we could connect passes this well in reality there would be far less defense to play thus eliminating the attack of the other team. This should allay the FEAR (F.alse E.xpectations A.ppearing R.eal) of playing offensive minded mids. It can be done. It should be done! Will we ever have the balls to do it and the patience to stick with such a brand of football?
No dancing for me as of yet (ACL and Meniscus surgery). But my leg is getting just a lil stank. ;-}
Nic D’the Texas 2 Stepper’….stick to dancing. If you play Donovan,Deuce, Paco and Benny in the midfield in the last game, ES hangs 4 on you with the 4 backs we had in that game….Maybe with your normal backs in you can try that lineup in a friendly, but I wouldn’t bet on that midfield playing much D.
@ Isaac
Pretending to be a good team did not get us beat at the Confed cup.
Pretending that an OPEN PLAYER will not take a shot on goal got us beat at the Confed cup. Also a lack of fight and some ill timed subbing in the Brazil game.
@ SoccerJohn
Don’t get me wrong, . . . but you gotta play with the hand you’re dealt.
Posted by: SoccerJohn
BB has been dealt a great hand but he folds when he has a chance to win the pot!
LM: Donovan ———————- RM:Deuce
——-CM: Torres- CM(Holding): Benny——–
That is milk the clock possession football. Each of these guys can get forward. Each of these guys can string together repeated passes. Each can dribble their way out of trouble (not to mention break down defenses). Each can shoot from Distance. Why is playing this Foursome a problem?
Oh, Mikey has to sit . . .
Possibility of that happening . . . Snow flake in hell.
papa bear, pretending got us beat by the real deal 3/4 times.
Since we seemingly field 4 players who are naturally d-mids anyway at all times, I wouldn’t mind seeing Castillo’s attacking prowess overlapping. Whomever is out at LM can cover for him. That’s what good teams do anyway and it would be nice if the US pretended like they were a good team more often like they did in the Confederations Cup.
Where is all the DMB talk? How could the greatest player ever to wear a MNT kit not be talked about in this situation? I hear that he is bcak in form after playing 3 full games of FIFA ’02 on his Xbox. Get him on the field now. Right Issac?
Posted by: Beasleysucksballs | September 08, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Wow, way to be a jerk. I never called him the best MNT player. I said, in what I think was a thread a couple of weeks ago, that he’s done great things for the MNT. Do you even a single thing about soccer are do you think you have a good comment rate because you insult players everyone knows have slipped in form. There is no point in re-establishing it. All I said was it’s not impossible for him to get BACK in form. Why don’t YOU go suck balls?
1.Bornstein is not an international level player period AND SHOULD NEVER PLAY AN IMPORTANT GAME FOR THE UNITED STATES AGAIN.
2.Pearce is not an international level player period AND SHOULD NEVER PLAY AN IMPORTANT GAME FOR THE UNITED STATES AGAIN.
3.Boca is a decent stop gate but no real long term answer past the next few qualifiers and will not hold up verses speedy winger in South Africa.
4.Spector- he plays there at West Ham and has trouble with speed wingers. I love him but he gets beat to the touchline all the time. He needs to stay on the right.
THEREFORE——- why not get Castillo in there in some friendlies and see what happens if we qualify.***
***CAVEAT – ASSUMING WE QUALIFY WHICH IS BY NO MEANS A DONE DEAL.
Thank you for your time.
Bradley is the coach for a reason, and maybe he’s not puttin Torres in for a reason, he’s still 21 and he’s not about to give him a starting job when someone who has more experience and has been with the team longer is there, like Rico, Benny, and Mikey, Torres’ time will come guys, relax, I won’t be surprised if he is on the U-23 roster for sum sort of tournament
He seems better than Bornstein defensively, but how much better? Does his technical skill outweigh his lack of physical ability? He may be able to possess better out of the back than any of our other leftbacks, but that’s not really saying much. Plus, players who like to possess the ball are just as likely to give the ball away close to the back. I’d really much rather it be someone playing a long ball out of the back 30 yards into the opponent’s territory to one of their central midfielders/centerbacks, than one of their forwards 30 yards into our territory. One thing for sure is that he definitely deserves a look.
Ive seen this kid play many times when he was with santos and a couple games this season…the kid has skills. He likes to get into the attack on a counter ala Heydude. But this guy is more technically gifted over Frankie and Bornstupid..(no offense) From what i see, he can run tirelessly. He himself has stated that he is learning the defensive side of the game taking into consideration his natural position is Holding MF. He is very agile, not as saavy as Boca in defense ( so he will get beat) but what he doesnt have in experience he makes up for in grit, speed and tenacity and the ability to spring a counter. He is definitely an upgrade to Bornstien as bornstien is a bit clumbsy when beaten and not as technical as Castillo. But with that said he is not the answer but is definitely an upgrade to all playing for that spot. I am not sold on him beating out spector if spector was playing for a LB spot…
the funny thing here is that castillo is called skillful. This guy just runs with its head down
Tough schedule for the USA. They better show up in honduras when the time come because I’ve disappointed over and over again when they go to central america.
yea….i really believe he is
donovan and him could combined real well together on the left side
Can I get a big AMEN from the masses for the Quake Capo’s explanation. AMEN!
Bob Bradley for life:
You say “But the beef with Bob Bradley is about his failure to integrate players like Torres”
I respectfully counter that this that he has not integrated “Torres” NOT players “like Torres”. I’m not sure what “players like Torres” actually means. Torres is on the squad. Torres got put into the game when we needed help killing off the game. That IS getting integrated. But the fact remains that including Torres may involve a far broader strategic switch that may or may not gel well with the rest of the team. Torres is left footed, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he is a left mid. He is a more central player and similar to Feilhaber. Do you really want to take Donovan out of left mid where he is playing the soccer of his life? And do you really want Torres getting minutes instead of Benny? You can’t really want a mid with the two of them playing centrally. Of do you want to adjust and use five mids…which means benching Davies or Altidore? Klesjtain, who was on pretty good form a few months ago, which is often conveniently forgotten, got chances because he could be slotted in to a system, whereas Torres may require a rethinking of the system.
As for the argument that Davies only played because of injury…well, again, he was on the squad, he had seen minutes he was being integrated. Plenty of players finally break through following an injury, but it was pretty clear he was being worked in.
Castillo, however, fills such an obvious need IF HE CAN DO THE JOB there are none of the obstacles that face starting Torres.
Castillo is good and I want him to get a look but where is Michael Orozco! I know he messed up royal against Nigeria but lets give the guy a second chance. If we’re letting a guy who used to SUIT UP FOR MEXICO have a second chance, lets give one of our own another chance to.
“Similarly, Davies only got his break when Ching got hurt this summer. And Spector got his when Bocanegra and Frankie H went down.
What does it say about Bradley that this is the way Davies and Spector got into the team?-Bob Bradley For Life!”
I’m curious as to how you know that the only way Davies got a chance to start this summer was because Ching got hurt?
Spector has always been in the US picture but he has often been hurt going back to the Arena days. He missed the 06 World Cup due to a shoulder separation. And he has since accumulated a series of untimely injuries. He also hasn’t played regularly for WestHam at times. So to say Spector would not have gotten a shot if not for injury is your view but not necessarily a valid one.
And as to whether or not this is a legitimate way for players to get a chance, absolutely! Did you ever hear of Wally Pipp and Lou Gehrig? It tells me that Bradley has developed some depth.
I think that we could expect a call-up for the last two qualifiers, but I think there is no chance of getting him his 1st playing time in a US uniform in a WC qualifier ON THE ROAD at Honduras. Not only does it reek of desperation, but it would ignore the likely combo of Boca at LB with Gooch and Demerit in the middle. Spector and Dolo would have a better shot at being LB and RB that him getting PT. He doesn’t know the system yet, and I am not a fan of him learning on the job and how to communicate with his backline mates during an important game. And if the Costa Rica game matters, then he won’t play then either. They just aren’t games to introduce new defensive backline weaknesses.
He will get a call-up though. A training camp would allow him the opportunity to work with the US squad. I think we should expect his 1st bit of work to come in the November/December friendlies and early next year, especially when the US squad will be less willing to call back its European based players.
As for Jones, I will worry about FIFA approval when he is healthy. There’s really no rush when there’s no shot of him being on the field.
No Strider you’re not. But if Bornstein (who I don’t think is all that bad) can get chance after chance, why not Dunivant?
Still don’t want him. He made his bed in Mexico and I think he should sleep in it. It should be painfully obvious to everyone that his “desire” to play for the USMNT is only a result of him NOT playing for the Mexican team. The U.S. is his 2nd choice and I think he should wallow in his decision. He’s even gone as far as saying playing for the USMNT is “good for his career” and NOT because of his patriotic pride. I understand being torn between nationalities, but he made his choice. Live with it.
If Castillo proves to be to unreliable in defense might he still be a decent left midfield option? If Donovan gets injured (God forbid)than Castillo should get the nod over Rogers. His competing rival would be….Gringo Torres!! DU-DU-DUMMMMMMMM
I’d give Castillo a shot in the CR game, if we’ve taken 4 to 6 points from the T&T and Honduras game. Even if he is brilliant, it takes time to adjust to playing with new guys, and it is tough to throw-in a 23-yeard old in that situation. Besides, we don’t even know if he is an upgrade at that position.
Where is all the DMB talk? How could the greatest player ever to wear a MNT kit not be talked about in this situation? I hear that he is bcak in form after playing 3 full games of FIFA ’02 on his Xbox. Get him on the field now. Right Issac?
by all means give Castillo a shot, but it seems to me Dunivant has earned a look playin’ for the Galaxy too.
i’m guessing the reason Bradley doesn’t play Torres (Castillo too?) is because he’s a shrimp who is too much of a disadvantage against more athletic teams. its no coincidence he only plays him against El Salvador i think.
@ Jorge:
Come on! Out of the starting 11, the USMNT has maybe 4 players who would get so much as a whiff of play time from the best clubs in the world (Howard, Donovan, Dempsey, & Gooch).
Beyond that, what does the USMNT have in the way of poised difference-makers who can control and distribute the ball? Davies looks like he might be the real deal, but that’s a very recent development so let’s see if he can maintain the form. Altidore might be special if he gets consistent play time, but he’s still raw and inconsistent. Bradley is solid and might be better if someone like Jermaine Jones or Maurice Edu can play DM and push him to AM.
Beyond that it gets pretty thin. Boca is solid but not great. Spector is pretty good but hasn’t reached the next level. Cherundolo is decent but limited. Feilhaber is okay but he’s not even in the ballpark of talented enough to warrant altering the gameplan. Holden’s a young and unproven quantity. Torres seems like a guy who can’t be fully used because of who else is playing.
What’s behind those guys? Bornstein? Beckerman?
Don’t get me wrong, I think the USMNT is on the cusp of being a bonafide top-10 team. Jones or Edu will likely bolster our defense and help connect with the offense. Davies and Altidore seem likely to get only better. But how can you blame BB for playing a physical, counterattacking game when he doesn’t have enough players who are capable of playing a ball-control game? I share your dislike for the conservative style the USMNT plays, but you gotta play with the hand you’re dealt.
the most popular RB and LB’s out there today (Alves, Maicon, lahm, etc..) are not known for their defense.
since Bob loves playing with 2 deep central midfielders it makes attacking down the flanks that much more important
Give Castillo a shot – he may have similar negatives to Bornstein, but at least he has positives. Bornstein was APPALLINGLY BAD. It honestly looked like we’d accidentally switched our left back for some age-group player from among the ball boys. His defensive awareness is virtually non-existent. He looked terrified every time he had the ball. If he had any ability on the ball whatsoever, his botched attempt at a blind clearance could have easily been a tap back to Boca for him to clear. Offers nothing going forward but nonetheless manages to get caught up-field frequently. Should go the way of Beasley after this performance.
@ Tony
You say:
“What’s up with this persistent myth that Bradley does not give guys a chance? I’d bet he has given more first caps than either Arena or Sampson, and more additional caps to guys with fewer than five.”
It’s a fair point.
But the beef with Bob Bradley is about his failure to integrate players like Torres.
Torres still hasn’t been given a real shot. But Sasha Kljestan has. This is mind-boggling.
Similarly, Davies only got his break when Ching got hurt this summer. And Spector got his when Bocanegra and Frankie H went down.
What does it say about Bradley that this is the way Davies and Spector got into the team?
Having Torres and Castillo in the line up not only provides the US a dynamic they’ve been lacking, but also provides young Latino soccer players 2 guys to look up to, and hopefully get those youth players to want to play for the place of their birth instead of the country of their heritage.
Posted by: Craig | September 08, 2009 at 11:49 AM
PRAISE THE LORD, BROTHER!!
AMEN!!
I don’t have a problem cheering for a national team made of all white guys or all black guys. However, this newer generation of Latinos (specifically Mexican-Americans) are coming up and they should be given a FAIR chance, too!
That said, we can only be a more dangerous team with more inclusion.
Mis dos centavos.
krustylew
Bornstein>Castillo?
are you high? Blind? or such a LA Chicas homer that you cant see the obvious?
He should get a shot but he’ll probably need some camp time. Playing behind Donovan and Dempsey, who tend to be anywhere at a given moment, can be very challenging for any fullback. You have to be able to cover a lot of ground,and be very unselfish. This argues for having Frankie back in the mix.
By the way this talk of Dempsey being lazy is horse manure. Roy Hodgson would never tolerate a lazy player and Duece goes out of his way to play for the US. One thing I notice, very evident in the Confed Cup is the US tends to play better with more time together. Hopefully, this should work to our advantage against T&T.
AJ DeLa GARZA plays right back, not left.
EA Scott,
Unfortunately, we have a second class national coach who lacks any tactical vision or acumen. This is a coach whose acumen boils down to parking an “eighteen-wheeler in front of goal” and hope for the best.
However, as for the team as a whole, I do believe that it is loaded with talent which is not being exploited the way it should.
“The only problem with that is the fact that Bocanegra is one of the team’s best central defense option.”
why is this a problem? we have pretty much locked down our 2 cbs. yes, this week demerit isn’t available but, moving forward, the only place boca should be considered is for outside back and bench.
What’s up with this persistent myth that Bradley does not give guys a chance? I’d bet he has given more first caps than either Arena or Sampson, and more additional caps to guys with fewer than five.
Posted by: Tony in Quakeland | September 08, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Thank you Tony – a little perspective is welcome.
Hush,
You mean AJ DeLa Graza?
Give him a chance!
First, we don’t have a legit outside back. Our best options are first choices in other positions, getting too old, or just aren’t good enough. (Or any combination of the above)
Second, and more importantly, he doesn’t have to establish himself as the best LB on the squad to be an asset. In the Confed. Cup, Brazil showed us what bringing a dynamic, attacking outside back off the bench can do. Not that Edgar is Danny Alvez, but he is the best we’ve got in that mold.
If he’s not the regular starter, it’d be great to have him as an option to counter a super fast winger on the other side or to come in as an offensive spark in the second half.
If he’s the best LB option, play him.
Keep in mind that “direct to starter from squad member” happens frequently enuff…see Pablo M for Armas in 02 WC (hell, it was a tune-up game v. the Dutch when Armas broke down), other countries have their examples as well.
It boils down to this – if you’re on the squad, you are:
1) among the best options and combinations to the tactics, and
2) deemed ready to start in a pinch
Otherwise, why are you there? If not to contribute to winning…what else?
Why such love for Bocanegra? When was the last time he had a great appearance for the national team? He’s too slow to chase anyone on the flanks, or to close on anyone looking to shoot or pass around the box.
While Bornstein was clearly at fault for the goal against El Salvador, the reason his gaffe was so punishing was because all Boca could do to challenge the El Salvador player who received Bornsteins clever “pass” was turn his bottom toward him twice hoping to stop the attack with his rump from 3 yards away. Mexico’s first goal came with Boca too slow to close the gap before the shot. It’s been a consistent pattern this summer.
Anyone remember Jeff Agoos or Eddie Pope playing far slower than the rest of the world in prior World Cups? I don’t want yet another “old faithful hand” handed a starting spot based on stellar career service as opposed to current form. DeMerit and Marshall are clearly better options at CB now. And with Boca no longer playing CB at club level, the gap is only going to widen.
If Boca can outplay Castillo on the left, then great. If he can’t (and nothing he’s shown in 2009 suggest he will), then we need a new captain because the current one shouldn’t get a whiff on playing time in South Africa.
Omar Gonzalez needs to be called into the USMNT next time around. Marshall has nothing on Omar in the CB position. Marshall is not the answer at CB or any part of our D unit. AJ DE LA Cruz is another guy to be looking at to improve at LB.
Glad to see Edgar playing for his real COUNTRY!
Yankee asta la muerte!:)
Could he defend any worse than Bstein? If his offensive game/ball skills are good and he does not give the ball away that means less pressure on the Mids and Central D’s. Does it matter that he is a little bit less of a defender? We will have a defender that could actually take a shot or attack the box with some confidence? I think he scored a laser shot goal in a game recently. Last time a US defender hit a dangerous ball at goal with the foot? Heath Pearce last year against Spain i think. Which is funny since I remember it and can’t think of another one in the last 10 years of watching USMNT. Eddie Lewis does no count since he is a midfielder that we tried at the back. The guy starts every game in the Mexican league. We’ve seen what MLS teams do against those guys. Which is ZIP!!! Bring him in and give him a look.
Castillo should get a shot sooner rather than later. He can hold the ball better than our other options; that alone will improve our defense. His attacking threat going forward will force midfielders to get back and defend.
I’m more concerned about why we are not dominating teams like El Salvador; not a single poor clearance by a defender. A world class team like England or Germany would have dominated possession and outshot El Salvador 10-1. Until we can do that, until we have 11 players on the field who are comfortable on the ball, we’ll always be a 2nd class team…
I’m amazed that people are clamoring for him to be instantly in the starting 11. I think he should get an invite to the Oct camp, maybe a sub appearance. It will be tough for him to make the world cup roster.
I’d give Orozco a shot out at LB too. I know he’s naturally a CB, but if I remember correctly he can play out wide some. I think with the situation they’re in now, the US team needs to look at as many options as possible to finally find a capable LB.
@ Brent McD.
Do you think Bornstein is good enough to play LB on a USMNT that can expect to compete well in the knock-out rounds? I’m not saying he’s no good. I’m also not overly concerned about one really bad clearance–the triad of US players who all froze about 5′ from the guy who received the ball share responsibility for the goal. But I think that wherever possible the USMNT has to be focused on identifying difference makers rather than guys who won’t embarrass themselves. Bornstein’s young and may improve, but he currently strikes me as slightly less than adequate.
The boy needs some meat on him, I probably weigh more than him at 155lb and I’m not exactly muscle bound.
I’d have no qualms putting Castillo into the starting lineup vs. Costa Rica.
It’s not like he doesn’t have any international caps under his belt. Granted, those caps were for El Tri but it’s still international experience.
Obviously he won’t have a lot of familiarity with the other backs (or mids, if he plays there) but the only way he gets that is to play with them so we might as well start that now.
Also, I’d love to see Torres get a start at left mid. He’s been playing there for Pachuca some and looked very good. Would be kinda cool to see Castillo AND Torres on the left flank together.
Scott in Houston,
You need to reread my post. I mentioned that he should have touched the ball out of bounds. My post was addressing the notion that that play was an example of how our D can’t “pass out of the back”. Its easy for people who have never played before to complain about why our team doesn’t play like Brazil, yet don’t realize how hard it is to reach that level. People on here seem to think its as simple as, “oh well why don’t they just pass more and play beautiful one touch football”. I’ve never been the biggest BB supporter, but sometimes people act as if he’s a rugby coach that crossed over to soccer.
Orozco needs to be caled up as well Playing in Mexico is an upgrade over playing in MLS.