Don't get me wrong. I'm all for bringing Stu into camp and I'm happy to see him there. It just goes against what Klinsmann has said all along about the need for players to be getting consistent run with their club teams in order to be considered for selection.
I think Stu's situation is a bit different. 1. Stu needs matches and wants to play this summer since he has barely played over the past two years and has a summer break right about now. Landon on the other hand is just getting back into match action(like Stu) but Landon actually has a club season throughout the summer. Stu probably will see scant minutes in the two friendlies and I would say is an outside pick for the upcoming WCQs. I think Jurgen just wants him in camp to stay fit and to get a look at him after the past two years of inaction. Stu is fine with that and most of the match action Stu will get this summer will be in the Gold Cup. No doubt this Landon exclusion was Jurgens way of showing he is the boss. A b#tchmove imo considering Landon is the best American outfield player ever and is still arguably the best American footballer in the game(with all due respect to Clint-aka my favourite U.S. player of all time). I think Jurgen feels he'll let Landon stay with the Galaxy and then call him for the qualifiers in the fall. Now if he calls him up for the Gold Cup matches then you know for sure Jurgen is being a tool and I would hope Landon declines or Arena refuses to release Landon for that. Anyway, I'm fine with Stu being in camp, not fine with Landycakes not being called up.
Eden Hazard (most likely) out. Vincent Kompany out. Marc Wilmots (Belgian coach) is contemplating the idea of starting Thorgan Hazard (Eden's younger brother who has played sensationally well in Belgium after a loan from Chelsea). Its the first time he'll be part of the Belgian group. And to finish off with some smash talk for this B-squad vs. B-squad match: English NY-Times reporter recently wrote "Even the best American isn't as good as the weakest Belgian on the field".
Our defense is filled with mistakes- watching the ball, not playing smart...YUCK ! Fricken Gonzalez, my 10 year old knows to boom that ball out of the box. DD
Defense is poor and we lack technical ability and creativity up front - none of our forwards has the full package, they all lack something. And we really need Donovan and his pace and creativity we are noticably thin at Attacking mid, and Dempsey needs help. DD
Well this Belgium team aren't pushovers but all of the CB's lack pace to deal with the faster players. That and there's no creativity in the midfield at all. Worrying times IMO.
Interesting game. Belgium played with mostly reserves but was able to create a lot of scoring opportunities against a good team. Could have made it even 2-6. The second-half lineup that Wilmots tried with Lukaku-Benteke association was certainly interesting. Not pretty, but effective. Good practice-match to get ready for Serbia on June 7th. And great finish by Mirallas.
Posted this by mistake in the DYNAMO thread: Dear GOODNESS, when it rains, it pours... a bunch of distraction and too much precision from the Belgian dudes... Who is going to the MEXICO vs. Nigeria game? I am.
Oh man, Klinny put Donovan on the Gold Cup roster - what a jerk wad. I hope Arenas refuses to release him. http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1465332/landon-donovan-preliminary-us-roster-gold-cup?cc=5901 Put Landon on the national team, he is by far our best creative player - ridiculous that Klinsman is playing these games when we have a WC to qualify for....unreal. DD
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Du6e0qUIGFc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Germany backups should have won 5-2..
I don't understand why we can't be happy with a win over a power, even it was their b team. It's good for confidence going into 3 games that we need to win. Nice to see Altidore get one for the first time in a while for the national team. Hopefully it will carry over to the qualifiers.
