After weeks of intensive rehabilitation at the Copacabana Beaches, U.S. national team midfielder Benny Feilhaber has returned to training for AGF Aarhus.
Feilhaber went through individual workouts on Thursday, and Aarhus physiotherapist Jens Bo Vestergaard Jorgensen has been impressed by the progress made in Feilhaber's ankle, which had suffered cartilage damage. Jorgensen expects Feilhaber to return to training with the full squad next week.
Feilhaber's return to training comes just days before U.S. forward Charlie Davies returns to the practice field for French club FC Sochaux after having recovered from multiple injuries suffered in a car crash in October of last year.
What do you think of this development? What do you see Feilhaber's role with the U.S. being this summer? Secretly wishing you could rehab at the Copacabana beaches sometime?
Share your thoughts below.
So you have a problem with players who have international experience?
Well that is easily solved. Just name our Under-20 squad to play in the World Cup. Problem solved.
Your whole idea is based on the assumption that Benny is any good. And he’s not.
He’s quite mediocre and has never done anything other than show flashes for 20-30 minutes at a pop, usually as a sub. This is not a man you want to alter anything about your team to accomodate because the return for doing that will not be worth it.
The idea that Beasley would make a good fullback comes not from his “speed”, it came from the observation that he has always been a good defensive midfielder. And good defensive midfielders get used as fullbacks all the time, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge, it’s hardly a revolutionary concept. The idea wasn’t bad, the player was.
In fact, Robbie Rogers should be converted to left back and replace Bornstien on the World Cup roster at that position. If nothing else he is a better passer and shooter.
The context in which I made the statement implies that they would be stars with the US…Just because they are stars with the US doesn’t mean they would be stars with their clubs…however, most of those prototypical center mids are actually starters on their respective teams. In addition to that, they are MORE effective with their clubs. That is one reason why they get soo many looks under Bradley. Now, if bradley thinks they are going to be as effective for the national team as they are with their clubs then he is barking up the wrong tree. Most of those clubs they play for don’t play defend and counter. Thus, Bradley is not playing to their strengths
you Defend that they are serviceable and can contribute but my friend you are preaching to the chior. I agree with you on that, my piont had to do with the previous post that was pushing for a bigger role for Feilhaber in tandem with Bradley. A role that requires much more time and focus in the center mid position. A position that Bradley infrequently utilized to its full potential because of the defend and counter tactics he employs. Now if you are saying that our players are only serviceable and cannot be used in a larger capacity then I beg to differ. We have many players that are utilized for their strengths throughout the world. Wingers, defenders strikers, the list goes on. Dempsey is a stud…donovan was a stud for everton…every goal keeper is a stud…our defenders are played in their proper position they are all studs…Because they are used properly. Bradley….im not soo certain. Remember the fiasco that was Beasley playing defense because he was “fast” that idea came from Bradley. Bradley is in question, not our players.
It just aint gonna happen under Bradley.
What else would you offer?
yeaahh ummm……nooooo
Naturally, if Davies is able to go…drop Altidore and sub Gomez.
I wouldn’t start Feilhaber or Bradley at midfield, especially if I used a 4-3-3. I’d be looking at Goodson, Bedoya, and Torres at mid and Altidore, Donovan, and Dempsey up front. I would want to score, score, score!
Honestly, I don’t agree with that. If that were the case, these players would be stars with their club teams, which is not the case. They are all serviceable players who can punch above their weight at times.
Sound familiar? Right. That’s where we are as a footballing nation. We’ve got some real talent, and we’re making great strides in little time, but that doesn’t mean we’d be Brazil if we had a more adventurous coach.
A+
I do think at times that they have been our best central midfield pair since reyna-obrien, but I think saying that Bradley has above average skill in tight spaces and that feilheir has “loads of bite” is a bit of a stretch
I agree with that to an extent. Beckermann is a way more effective play breaker than Feilhaber that can leave the opposing midfielders frustrated and is more tenacious player but Feilhaber beats Beckermann when it comes to opening the play when when we do have the ball plus he is y far a much greater distributor of the ball. It all depends on the formation Bradley plays and who we play against.
Oh yeah? well, Feilhaber thinks its necessary to prance around the ball like a ballerina… as if he had all the time in the world to make a pass. That’s a luxury that is given to midfielders in the league where Benny’s team plays not in the international field.
I’ll tell you what, lets not get into a discussion of who Sucks the most and decide that it would be best that neither see any playing time….We good?
lol, and thank god he’s back.
Beckerman has tons of heart and committment. He would be a wonderful player if he had any skill, but he doesn’t. He treats the ball like it’s full of soggy, heavy PLUTONIUM.
Feilhaber is good for about 20-30 minutes then it’s over and he turns into a giveaway machine. As far as I can tell he is never fit and in game shape.
If both got lost in the Playboy mansion until next September it wouldn’t make much difference.
With that said…if Bob wanted to play that type of style in the middle, Benny, Torres, Bradley, Edu would be stars. Unfortunately we defend and counter and leave little room for creativity in the middle. Thanks Bob!
Oh GOODY…I can stop biting my nails trying to figure out what other mediocre player I can slot in that position in his absence.
This is Benny Feilhaber guys…lets face it…he doesnt offer that much to the team anyways. Personally, there are other players that would contribute more to the team than Benny. He is a bit over-rated IMO.
Beckerman > Benny
Freddy Adu’s ego needs some rehabbing.
excellent news!
deed and mediocre.
To be honest, I think both of them should be coming off the bench. They add a good change of pace and inject some energy while showing some intelligent play that can break down tired defenses late in the game.
Again, I think the idea is that Feilhaber and Bradley needed to build a chemistry and that was really the main issue with them being together. They had no idea of who was getting forward, who was staying back, who was marking what player, and when all of that, and some other things, came into play. I think that they’re both guys who are mentally unflappable even in intimidating environments like the Saprissa and Estadio Cuscetlan, they each have a side of the ball they’re clearly more dominant on, but they’re also able to fit in very well on the other. For instance, Bradley can make crunching tackles, cover loads of ground, read the game, outmuscle his man, and take out playmakers, but he also has good skill and vision, especially in tight spaces, has a great shot, has a good positional sense and makes darting runs out of the midfield. With Feilhaber, you get someone who is a skilled and deceptive on the ball, is a cultured, creative, sharp passer, and makes decisions in a split second, but he also makes timely tackles, has good strength on and off the ball, has loads of bite, and a high work rate. Just like a good central midfield tandem, they can cover for eachothers’ shortcomings. If Bradley can’t crack the defense, Feilhaber has the skill and vision to do so, and if Feilhaber is having trouble defensively, Bradley can do some/all of the heavy lifting with him.
The main deal is that we have a central midfield tandem that is comfortable in all areas of the field and work well together and I think that Feilhaber and Bradley do that.
Agreed haha
That being said….I think benny will be used as a sub off the bench. Probably on the wing when Deuce is moved up top – like in CC. His advantage over others is his international experience. We know how BB loves that. Of course this will most likely only happen when we are behind.
the injury tide is beginning to turn, this is exciting stuff.
does anyone know what kindov operation/and or rehab feilhaber had? if any….
I tend to agree with Isaac. A fit Feilhaber with MB is my favorite combo. I don’t know enough about Jones to speak about him. Clark did well in the CC but I would like a little more creativity and possesion out of the guy next to MB.
seriously what does that link have to do with anything?
While Central Midfield is probably our deepest position…I personally believe the Feilhaber gives the team a greater degree of possession than most of the others. For this reason I see him playing the role of Super Sub in SA (stay healthy). He has good chemistry with Bradley and the majority of the other midfielders. IMO expect to see him as a replacement for Clark/Edu in the center around the 60 min mark…or as an emergency (3rd) for one of the wingers.
With everyone fit, the way Holden has been playing he could snag the “super sub” role from Benny.
indeed off the bench he is better with Bradley
I have been less impressed than you by the Bradley/Feilhaber combo – though it does seem to work when Benny comes in off the bench as a second half sub.
As a starter, not so much.
“What do you see Feilhaber’s role with the U.S. being this summer?”
Tough to say. If you look at the last time the USA played Feilhaber and Bradley together in the middle, we had a LOT of possession. All of the USA’s best plays originated in central midfield. I think that Feilhaber might be nice to play next to Bradley because they’re both accustomed to different situations and environments. They don’t get nervous in places like Costa Rica, they both have LOADS of bite and make very well timed tackles, can mix it up physically, have great strength on the ball, are skilled, creative, and each read the game really well. I think the issue is that Feilhaber and Bradley had no chemistry, but now that they do, they did pretty well. Granted, Slovakia dropped off a lot, but Feilhaber and Bradley made space for themselves as well. I’d like to see them together again at least once seeing as how they’ve established that Feilhaber will be a bit deeper, and Bradley will do the heavy lifting.
What are you talking about?
Good news. I think Feilhaber is a great sub for the USMNT. He’s the kind of guy that give others a spark of creativity and flare. Glad he’s getting back.
Gooch is back in training.
Yes, they are.
This world cup is starting to look interesting.
“…weeks of intensive rehabilitation at the Copacabana Beaches…”
That’s the kind of rehab I could use. Preferably with gin and tonics close at hand.
We don’t need anything. Bob Bradley does.
Doubt an opinion matters now – we need hard facts and visual footage of him training with the team! There’s still time!!
I did see where Stu tweeted that he got his cast off. Hopefully he’s been hitting the stationary hand bike pretty hard.
Rehab in Rio de Janeiro……. tough life.
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1464102.html
Holden could do with a better image…
Stuart Holden is also doing well!
“Good news, the CAST is off and I am walking without crutches!! Yeaaa babbby” – http://twitter.com/stuholden22
Can Gooch and Jones get what everyone else is eating? HGH? Haha.
I have very little to offer to this story, EXCEPT that I think i might change my name to Jens Bo Vestergaard Jorgensen. It has a beautiful ring to it; rolls off the tongue, really.
Ives -I would love to see an updated story on Jones next week. I read where he said he would be back before the end of the season and would be back in time for the World Cup. I trust your opion and would like to hear what you think. I think he could really help us control the game if he could get back in form. Thanks
So what do we have left on the recovery path?
Gooch
Holden
Jones
Anyone else i’m forgetting
at the copa… copacabana… where benny nails girls named savannah
HaHa, is that photo from Swan Ballet?
Then why was I just reading on ESPN that Feilhaber is highly questionable to be back by the World Cup? Are they just so far out of the loop as reporters?