The U.S. men's national team has officially announced the scheduling of its long-rumored friendly against Poland, set for Oct. 9th at Soldier Field in Chicago (8pm, Fox Soccer Channel/Univision).
The match will be the first played by the United States since its 2-0 loss to Brazil last week, and could mark the first chance for German-born midfielder Jermaine Jones to make his U.S. national team debut.
The United States is expected to schedule a second friendly for on Oct. 13th (a FIFA fixture date), with Colombia considered a possible opponent and the New York market a potential home for the match.
It remains unclear whether U.S. coach Bob Bradley will still be the team's head coach, but with Bradley slated to meet with U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati in the coming days, his future with the team stands a good chance of being determined before the October 9th friendly.
(UPDATED)- The match is likely to feature a team heavy on European players given the fact that 14 MLS teams are on action on the same day, the day before or the day after the friendly. While the match is on an international fixture date, U.S. Soccer has a track record of avoiding calling up MLS players for friendlies that will force them to miss MLS matches. It seems even less likely in October, which will be during the heart of the playoff race.
The only two teams that aren't playing in close proximity to the October 9th match date are Los Angeles and Philadelphia, which play each other on October 7th. That could give players such as Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle and Omar Gonzalez time to join the national team in Chicago. (END OF UPDATE)
Glad to finally see this game on the schedule? What new faces are you hoping to see called up? Excited about the possibility of Jermaine Jones getting the call?
Share your thoughts below.
Supposedly there will be commemorative scarves for this match. Does anybody know where to buy them?
“I can see it now: “Well, if I had been playing left back my better football sensibilities”
Youre reachin junior…
“That was all under Arena”
If your telling me that the hall-of- famer, and arguably the greatest coach in the history of the USMNST wasnt convinced that he was a great left back then thats saying something.
Something tells me you have a man-crush on Convey… I hope it works out for you two the next cycle. But dont hold your breath though junior.
“Was he playing Left back? again, out of context…you’re better than that # two”
Your exact quote was:
“You wont see spector get caught in a counter when playing the left side or see him give up possession in the attacking third”
The fact that he loses the ball on an ill advised run forward resulting in an opposition goal is okay because he was at right back at the time?
I can see it now: “Well, if I had been playing left back my better football sensibilities would have been operational and I would not have lost the ball”.
That’s pretty lame.
“However, if he impressed any at LB he would be on the team, no questions asked.”
That was all under Arena. Convey then went to Reading where he did well for a time and then injured his knee eventually resulting in having to move back to San Jose. It’s only very recently that he has been healthy and back in form though at midfield. He is only 27 and if he continues to play well, the USMNT could do a lot worse than give him a shot either at left back or winger. Which should tell you just how thin the options for that position are.
Rogers has the talent but I don’t know if he has the , for lack of a better term, “football smarts” to play the position.
You said there were better options than JB at left back. At this point all of the options you’ve cited, other than Boca, have severe question marks about them as does JB. Many national teams have a problem position. England,for example, had a problem at holding midfielder for years until Hargreaves and then Barry came along. Now they have a problem at goalkeeper.
There are reasons to criticize Bradley but the left back position isn’t one of them.
A top flight USMNT left back just isn’t out there at the moment.
“So you like that Spector gets torched better than how JB…”
Dont be silly, you’re better than that # two.
“You didn’t watch the Turkey exhibition …”
Was he playing Left back?
again, out of context…you’re better than that # two
“No I don’t. They are one of Spector’s greatest assets.”
Referring to Spector on the left. We would not get any use out of his crossing ability On the right taking into consideration that he doesnt get time there (which is why it’s a mute point) what good is his ability if he doesnt play on the right…
I think your better than that # two
“…now I’ll bet you JB has played more games at left back than any of those guys…”
Yeah…he is so natural that his club coach just NATURALLY removed him from playing LB and stuck him in the MF.
“It seems DMB only played left back in stopgap situations. If he had ever had a long run at it he could have been good…”
Yeah…and Bob Bradley is EPL Caliber.
Im starting to think your not better than that #two.
“You’re probably unaware Convey has played more games at left back for the US than Spector.”
Im not going to argue with that…he is probably better than JB. However, if he impressed any at LB he would be on the team, no questions asked.
We are H.S. alumnis…Ive seen Roger’s game and back four aint part of it. He is limited in what he can bring with respect to defending. His best attributes are showcased on either wing …not ball winning and man marking.
“just like JB. Except spector gets torched because he is not that quick as opposed to JB who gets beat because he is extremely clumsy. I would rather have someone that knows how to defend as opposed to someone who doesnt know what positioning is and relies on speed and desperate defending tactics…its quite embarrassing really. I would rather have experience from a guy that has played that position in the best league in the world against the best players in the world.”
So you like that Spector gets torched better than how JB gets torched? Okay, now there’s a good recommendation for Jonathan – ” he looks better getting beat than JB does.” I’ll agree style does matter.
“You wont see spector ….give up possession in the attacking third. ”
You didn’t watch the Turkey exhibition where Spector lost the ball in the attacking third leading directly to a Turkish goal or the Brazil game where he did the same thing only it didn’t lead to a goal.
“Truth be told crosses from the right is a mute point dont you think? ”
No I don’t. They are one of Spector’s greatest assets.
“Spector’s Arial prowess and set piece marking surpasses that of JB’s. There are quite a bit of chips stacked in favor of spector…”
Well Spector is a former center forward so that no surprise but I’m not saying Spector doesn’t have his good points only that Spector is obviously not the answer at left back. West Ham uses him there only as cover for a reason.
“The focal point is centered on who plays that position the best. Right? Garza is a Left back with Sporting’s U-19 squad”
Like I said your point was there are better options available now. Garza is a converted midfielder who is a reserve for Sporting. He may never get out of the reserves. When and if he breaks into Sporting’s first team and starts to play regularly then he becomes a serious candidate for the USMNT. Ever hear of Cody Arnoux? Anton Peterlin? Danny Szetela? Zizzo? What ever happened to earning a role on your club’s first team before getting your USMNT shot?
“JB was a converted striker…how does that make him more natural than Spector, Garza or Castillo which were all mid fielders at one point.”
Spector started out as a center forward. Right now I’ll bet you JB has played more games at left back than any of those guys.
” Yeah, JB has a left foot and he is quick so is Beasley, but you wouldnt stick him in the defense and you wouldnt say he is natural…every player I mentioned defends better than JB. ”
Garza hasn’t played the level of competition any of these other guys have so I don’t think you can say that about him. Castillo is a better defender? In the Mexican games I’ve seen neither he nor his team seem interested in playing defense so I can’t comment on that.
“Most of the time JB’s play reminds me of Beasley’s attempt at Left Back. Its embarrassing you know? “”
It seems DMB only played left back in stopgap situations. If he had ever had a long run at it he could have been good. Ashley Cole is just about the same size.
“You want a candidate to replace him who might be ready now? Robbie Rogers or Bobby Convey.” “Right….thats just crazy talk.”
You’re probably unaware Convey has played more games at left back for the US than Spector. A versatile player, now that Convey is healthy and seemingly back in form, the US could do a lot worse than give him a shot.
He’s only 27.
Rogers has all the tools and, from what I’ve seen, is a pretty good defender. His future with the USMNT , if he has one, would be brighter if he could swing back and forth between winger and left back, like Convey did.
“And gets torched…”
just like JB. Except spector gets torched because he is not that quick as opposed to JB who gets beat because he is extremely clumsy. I would rather have someone that knows how to defend as opposed to someone who doesnt know what positioning is and relies on speed and desperate defending tactics…its quite embarrassing really. I would rather have experience from a guy that has played that position in the best league in the world against the best players in the world. You wont see spector get caught in a counter when playing the left side or see him give up possession in the attacking third. Truth be told crosses from the right is a mute point dont you think? Spector’s Arial prowess and set piece marking surpasses that of JB’s. There are quite a bit of chips stacked in favor of spector…
“And you think left back is a natural positon for any of these “alternatives”?
It’s definitely a valid argument as to why they dont excel. The focal point is centered on who plays that position the best. Right?
Garza is a Left back with Sporting’s U-19 squad
http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=6494
Spector’s Natural position is Right back.
JB was a converted striker…how does that make him more natural than Spector, Garza or Castillo which were all mid fielders at one point. Yeah, JB has a left foot and he is quick so is Beasley, but you wouldnt stick him in the defense and you wouldnt say he is natural…every player I mentioned defends better than JB. Most of the time JB’s play reminds me of Beasley’s attempt at Left Back. Its embarrassing you know?
“You want a candidate to replace him who might be ready now? Robbie Rogers or Bobby Convey.”
Right….thats just crazy talk. See ya around.