That could mean left back stays with Beasley, whose experience will be important to have somewhere on the field in pressure situations, especially without Landon Donovan in the squad. With wing players Alejandro Bedoya, Brad Davis, Julian Green and Graham Zusi all on the roster, Beasley would have a tough time cracking the midfield anyway.Are you kidding me!? The USA needs Beasley's experience on the field like it needs a hole in the head. Wait, I take that back. If the USA needs the experience of a sub-par winger getting burned all day long at left back and forcing others to cover for him, Beasley is definitely the guy. So he's not good enough to crack the midfield against the likes of Bedoya, Brad Davis, and Zusi, but, sure, line him up against Ronaldo and Goetze. That should end well. The only worse possible choice at left back would be Jonathan Bornstein, and, thankfully, Klinsmann ended that nightmare immediately after taking the job.
I mean, really, experience is overrated to a large degree. The reason for Donovan and Beasley's breakout performances in South Korea was that they had little experience and, as a consequence, very low expectations. Those expectations would later derail Donovan's career and they drove Beasley into obscurity. There are a few must-have's in the US lineup:
- You need Clint and his attitude.
- You need Bradley and his vision, motor, and distribution.
There. That's it. Howard is maybe the next most valuable, but I watched enough EPL to be comfortable with Guzan. Anyone trying to sell you on experience - and using Beasley of all people as the example! - doesn't know what they're talking about.
1 comment:
Here's the problem. USA just doesn't have the skilled players.
Sure, a group of less talented players who play as a TEAM can beat a group of more talented players thrown together. That has been the USA recipe for (limited) success in the past.
This year, we've got a lot of new parts to the team which will be compounded by our lack of skilled players. (It does look like Beasley will get the nod.)
For whatever reason, ESPN has really started cranking out World Cup articles. If you go through their lists of Top 50 players, and top breakout players, not a one wears the stars and stripes. That's a US publication.
We can get by with MLS talent, but we need a few superstar anchors who play in Europe. Clint has never really been that guy. Donavon chose not to be. Maybe Julian Green will become a regular for Bayern Munich. That would be a start.
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