He provides good speed on the edge coming off the bench.
From what I have seen of him at Sounders and so far with USMNT, he has pretty decent vision. He has shown better vision than someone like Brek Shea or Josh Gatt who were thought to be future starters with the USMNT.
My hopes are that he develops enough where he can be the starter at LB after Beaseley retires from the USMNT.
I do wonder how Beasley's career arc would have changed if he had been a defender from the age of 20. His technical ability held him back in the midfield...mostly you'd just try to get him a ball in space and hope he outruns people. So I can see Yedlin comparison - both speedy young wing guys.
Well JK sees him every day and he has limited time on the field thus far. Just a lot of pressure to throw a 20 year old out there who has only seem MLS competition for extended periods of time. Obviously his main role now is speed and get up and down the wing. I think JK rightly focuses on defensive responsibility - I dont follow MLS closely enough to really know how responsible he is. I think if this game goes over 90 minutes he could be out there for fresh legs - I like a lot of pace out there against tired players.
Anyone catch what just scrolled on the bottom line? They listed 4 defenders including Cameron 5 Mids including Johnson and Dempsey as the lone forward. Don't know if that is updated or wrong but its interesting.
Btw screw Michael Ballack and his cheating hand ball ass.
Worrying about guys on prior yellow cards is overrated at this point (unless it's a guy like Neymar).
Having players worried about cards and possibly not making plays as a result is a great way to ensure there won't be another game.
- Kompany is IN. Vermaelen is OUT.
- Origi for Lukaku as striker. That's probably a smart decision for Belgium
Full Lineup:
Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Van Buyten, Vertonghen, Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Hazard, Mertens, Origi
I heard that Mertens can't go full 90. Mirallas probably comes in to replace him.
Survivors by group as of now:
Group A - Brazil
Group B - The Netherlands
Group C - Colombia
Group D - Costa Rica
Group E - France
Group F - Argentina
Group G - Germany, USA
Group H - Belgium
We made the final 9 - 2nd farthest we've come in this format. Yes it's a technicality but better than final 16 ;)
So every group winner has won the R16 game. Let's end that streak.
This is true. I wonder how common 8 for 8 for the group winners is traditionally.
Never since they went to 32 teams (1998).
Thx. Our responsibility to keep that streak then.
If (WHEN) we win, we'll be the only team to not win their group and make it to the QFs.
Crazy how I now wish Jones was 25 instead of 32. hah
Personally, I prefer "the Sprouts" for best derogatory term for Belgians.
Reference:
I've been surprised by the lack of rain during games. Anyone else? Of 40+ games I can remember maybe 4 played in any serious downpour.
Who do you believe will win?
damnit
I'm stuck in the office. Does anyone have a link to a free webcast?
Bradley and Beasley and Jones need to show up today.
Dempsey always shows up
Please Bradley, make one good touch this tournament.
I will hate Belgium for the next two hours, then I will love them again.
It's as if he was almost afraid to take a shot
Shoot that Jermaine! Nice pass by Bradley
Guess we're playing European rules today, no touching at all. EVERYTHING is a foul.
He cited his abitlity to speak French directly as the issue.
Good long balls and runs today up the sides. American athleticism v. European skills, perhaps?
They are plenty athletic. They just have center backs playing as their outside wing fullback positions so you'd take that 1 v 1 rather than down the middle.
Cameron saved a breakaway there
Choppy not free flowing game thus far. If you were neutral you'd be like meh.
they let that guy run all over the place before they made an attempt to get him off the filed, weak
What a piece of shit. Glad they didn't zoom in on that guy's face since that's probably all he wanted.
Idiot. Too bad there aren't American "football" players out there like James Harrison!