USMNT News and Notes

Where's the future talent?

Quote :

MLS Americans Under-23*
GS Player Club Age
72 Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles) 22
44 Jeremy Hall (Portland) 22
42 Brek Shea (FC Dallas) 21

Hard Lessons

Quote :

Losing 4-2 to Mexico in the Gold Cup final was the best thing that could
have happened to the United States men's national soccer team. It's time
for the USMNT and its fans to grow up and realize that progress is not
measured by narrow victories over Central American countries or avoiding
embarrassment at the World Cup. The solution to what's wrong with the
team is bigger than putting Jonathan Bornstein on a slow boat to
Honduras. It's even bigger than firing Bob Bradley.

U.S. Men's National Team to Face Costa Rica and Belgium in Pair of September Friendlies

Quote :

U.S. Will Host Costa Rica on Sept. 2 at The Home Depot Center; Return to Europe to Face Belgium on Sept. 6 in Brussels

gwar0127 wrote:

Bob Bradley fired

Now the $1 million question of who replaces him. Most people won't be too sad, but who is a realistic choice?

U.S. players that may be helped, and hurt, by Klinsmann's hiring

Quote :

This could be really great for ...

Brek Shea. FC Dallas' left-sided midfielder is precisely the kind
of player Klinsmann covets. Shea, 21, is having an outstanding campaign
in Dallas, brimming with confidence and begging to stretch those long
legs along the outside channel. Indeed, he has a little Lukas Podolski
in him, always looking to run by defenders or to uncork that big left
foot. (And look how well a young Podolski did for Klinsmann during that
World Cup third-place finish five years back.) Shea's international
debut last year was a clunker; he looked nervous and unsure. Klinsmann
is a motivator and confidence builder who will encourage Shea to put all
that behind him.

Alexi's analysis of the Klinsmann hiring:

Jeff Carlisle: Slow and steady for Klinsmann

Quote :

"When we have an 18-, 19-year-old here in MLS who is an exceptional
talent, then we expect from him to already be a senior national team
player and to score goals like Agudelo," Klinsmann said. "This is wrong.
Yes, we identify a Brek Shea
and an Agudelo and youngsters like that, but at the same time, we have
to be realistic and say, 'You know what? At his age, this is what we can
expect from that kid.' And we're not expecting Juan Agudelo to come
into the national team and score every time he plays or perform at the
highest international level because we only want to see him step-by-step
develop."

U.S. Soccer interview with Timmy Chandler

Quote :

ussoccer.com: Was there ever any doubt you wanted to keep playing for the U.S. National Team?
TC:
“No. Some people were saying I wanted to play for Germany, but I've
always wanted to play for the U.S. team. I'm with the ‘A’ team for the
USA, and I want to keep playing. No question about it.”

gwar0127 wrote:

Soccer by Ives: USA vs. Ecuador friendly on 11 October in Connecticut tentatively scheduled

If this game becomes official, the family is in for it. We'll up in New England during that time. It would be Ella's first USNT game!