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US Men's National Team (18 Viewers)

was it Vela or Dos Santos that went to Turkey for a bit? I remember watching his arrival at the airport... made that Castillo thing look like child's play.

 
USMNT to play NZ, Oct 11 at RFK.
directly related to this

Ghana's proposed historic friendly against their World Cup foes the United States has been cancelled because of a prohibitive new FIFA law, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The Black Stars were finalizing the historic friendly in Washington in October to settle the debate over which country is the best side after three previous clashes at the World Cup.

Talks were far advanced for the game to take place on 11th October in Washington, D.C to decide who is the best among the two sides after three previous clashes.

However a new FIFA law preventing countries from flying long journeys in different continents to play matches has scuppered the historic friendly.

The Black Stars were scheduled to play Uganda in early October before flying to the United States for the on 11 October.

With the two games taking place in two different continents with more than five hours of travel, FIFA has rejected Ghana's request to play the USA.

European clubs have forcefully argued that their players suffer energy burnout when they travel for such games in a short period which affects their output.

This forced FIFA to introduce the new law which is now affecting several countries particularly African sides who are seeking opponents to whips their sides into shape.

The game would have been a big coup for the GFA as it could have been the biggest friendly game since the historic game against England at Wembley five years ago which ended 1-1.

The match would have been the first between the two sides outside the World Cup as they have never met outside of the global tournament.

The game would have been played few days after coach Avram Grant's Black Stars play Uganda in their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier on 3rd October.

For the Americans the match would have come four days after the friendly against Cuba on October 7.

Ghana and the United States have clashed in all of the Black Stars three appearances at the World Cup with the West Africans winning two of the matches.

The Black Stars defeated the Yanks at the 2006 World Cup 2-1 preventing the USA from reaching the second round of the tournament as they played their last group game.

Ghana again eliminated the Americans four years later in South Africa thanks to a sweet extra-time strike by Asamoah Gyan in the round of 16 match which also ended 2-1.

The American secured some sort of a revenge at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil by the same scoreline when second-half substitute John Brooks' header sealed the winner.

The match in Washington would have decided who is the best among the two countries as fans of both sides will be eagerly seeking the bragging rights for the historic friendly

 
Ten Premier League debutants rated after opening performances

Lynden Gooch (midfielder, Sunderland)

The U.S. under 20 international was a beneficiary of new manager David Moyes' trust in younger players and an early-season injury crisis. At 20, Gooch was mature yet forceful at the Etihad, playing from the left of midfield, and impressing during a difficult first assignment.

It was a fine start for a young man whose previous professional experience had been while on loan to Gateshead and Doncaster Rovers. Rating: 8/10

 
of course he does... that previous link saying otherwise was from "people".
Of course the question isn't whether 'he wants to play at BVB'.  The question is whether he wants to 'mostly sit on the bench at BVB'.

Saying he wants to play doesn't mean he doesn't want to leave.

 
If Mazda could end up as a regular starter at Sunderland for this season that would be excellent. 

Any Yedlin news?
Assuming Kone is an autostart (and he is, if they can get him on a new deal), then Matt would be in competition with Paddy McNair, John O'Shea, and Papy Djilobodji  for the second CB slot. 

Also hearing that Sunderland signed Stephen Pinnear, which probably knocks Gooch down in the pecking order again.

 
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The Hearts fan's have been extremely positive on Kitchen so far.  JK has never really liked Kitchen but we need to replace Beckerman and he seems like a good candidate.  Maybe JK will give him a shot in these 4 games coming up.

Here are some random reviews of Kitchen from fans.

======================

"Really top class player knows his game inside out""Outstanding. A real find by the management.""He is brilliant. Our only player that could play in the English Premier League IMO. We should enjoy him while he's still here."

"But I think Kitchen was head and shoulders above everyone else on the park. Commanding, always talking and organising, and he can play football."

 
From Soccer America

==================

Altidore and Dempsey catch fire

With two World Cup 2018 qualifiers around the corner, U.S. national team strikers Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey both picked the right moment to get hot. Since MLS play resumed after the All-Star Game three weeks ago, Altdore and Dempsey have scored nine goals between them for Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders, respectively, and both teams are undefeated.

Altidore was without a goal or assist in 2016 until he scored in the 3-0 win over Columbus on July 31. Since then, he's scored or assisted in every game as Toronto FC has run its unbeaten streak to six games (five wins and one tie) and moved to within a point of Eastern Conference leader New York City FC.

In his second start since returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Copa Centenario, Altidore scored the third goal just before halftime as TFC picked up one one of its most impressive wins of the season, 3-1 at Philadelphia.

TFC coach Greg Vanney says Altidore adds more than just another scoring threat to go along with Sebastian Giovinco.

"He is also our target if we get out wide and we have to serve in front of the goal," said Vanney. "And I think he draws a lot of attention, which allows Sebastian to find that little bit of extra space on the field. And I think they are both doing a great job looking for each other and combining with each other. He is massive and he is probably underrated in terms of the amount of defensive work that he gives us as a striker. He does a lot of work, he is responsible and he is always looking for ways he can help out the team."

In the five games since the All-Star Game, Altidore and Giovinco have scored nine of Toronto's 12 goals and added five assists.

"I feel like we are getting back to it," said Altidore, "and Seba is a really great player."

Dempsey scored the first two goals for the Sounders in their 3-1 win over Portland that moved them to within two points of the sixth-place Timbers with two games in hand. He has scored five goals and added one assist in the last four games as the Sounders have cut a 10-point deficit to two. In the first five months of the season, Dempsey had just three goals and one assist for the Sounders.

They have are 3-0-1 in the last four games, all since Coach Sigi Schmid was fired and Nicolas Lodeiro was acquired from Boca Juniors. The Uruguayan playmaker has one goal and four assists in his first MLS game.

"It's back to everybody having fun," said Dempsey, whose eight goals against the Timbers are the most any Sounder has scored against another team. "I feel like we're circulating the ball well. Everyone is getting good looks, not just one person."

The Sounders have started the same team for the last three games, but Dempsey says the Sounders have the best depth in the four years he's been with the team.

"Nico has been huge for us," but everyone is playing well."
 

 
Fantastic reviews about Gooch.  I did not see him play (I am looking for one of the every touch vids) but it is interesting he did so well in the middle.

===================================================

Man of the Match - Lynden Gooch (6.98)
The American Starlet did not have much competition in the end as he outshone everyone else in red and white by some distance. I was particularly impressed with his all-action central midfield performance in the second half. In the first half he, like the rest of the team, had relatively little impact on proceedings but Sunderland sprang into life in the second half, perhaps not coincidentally when Gooch was moved to the middle. Unfortunately we waited until we were 2-0 down. Gooch was the catalyst behind our short-lived fight back, displaying huge endeavour and surprising strength as he won various 50-50s shortly before van Aanholt's goal.

Gooch deserves his spot
With a rampant injury crisis and lack of signings, it could be forgiven for thinking Lynden Gooch is there to make up the numbers. Yet another fantastic performance from the American easily disputes that.

Gooch ran himself into the ground, covering every blade of grass trying to drag Sunderland back into it. Moved to the heart of the midfield after McNair’s departure, Gooch looked considerably more at home.

With Kirchhoff and Cattermole still to return to the side, and (hopefully) Yann M’Vila’s return to Wearside, Gooch may be on borrowed time as a starter, but performances like this will keep him firmly in Moyes’ thinking.

 
Update on Bacon

===============

Aron playing catch-up:He was out of team training for almost a year, but he has been back for two and a half weeks now and is fighting for a place in the team. Werder‘s sporting director, Frank Baumann, is optimistic that Aron Jóhannsson will soon be looking for goals in the Bundesliga, and not just on the training pitch. "It is looking good. There are no more problems to report", said Baumann after the cup match, before adding that "Aron obviously has a bit of catching up to do after being out for so long.”

 
We spent all summer talking about Green, Pulisic, Zelalem and other promising young Americans, and Gooch came out of no where to grab some headlines for himself. 

JK has always preached to the young players that they have to grab their few chances they get and really produce.   Via their injuries, Gooch got a couple of starts and looks to have really taken his opportunity the best you could hope for.

I am impressed that he did so well at defensive midfield in the second half when Moyes switched the formation around.  I was not aware he had ever played that position before.

 
Fantastic reviews about Gooch.  I did not see him play (I am looking for one of the every touch vids) but it is interesting he did so well in the middle.

===================================================

Man of the Match - Lynden Gooch (6.98)
The American Starlet did not have much competition in the end as he outshone everyone else in red and white by some distance. I was particularly impressed with his all-action central midfield performance in the second half. In the first half he, like the rest of the team, had relatively little impact on proceedings but Sunderland sprang into life in the second half, perhaps not coincidentally when Gooch was moved to the middle. Unfortunately we waited until we were 2-0 down. Gooch was the catalyst behind our short-lived fight back, displaying huge endeavour and surprising strength as he won various 50-50s shortly before van Aanholt's goal.

Gooch deserves his spot
With a rampant injury crisis and lack of signings, it could be forgiven for thinking Lynden Gooch is there to make up the numbers. Yet another fantastic performance from the American easily disputes that.

Gooch ran himself into the ground, covering every blade of grass trying to drag Sunderland back into it. Moved to the heart of the midfield after McNair’s departure, Gooch looked considerably more at home.

With Kirchhoff and Cattermole still to return to the side, and (hopefully) Yann M’Vila’s return to Wearside, Gooch may be on borrowed time as a starter, but performances like this will keep him firmly in Moyes’ thinking.


I watched the game.

it was great seeing him slot into the DM role, where he was definitely capable- especially early on in the second half when he helped bring a lot of pressure on both sides of the ball, pushing the team shape up field.

I didn't think his decision making was quick enough to play that role well at this level- between needing a couple of touches to get himself going/controlled and just not seeing/making the quicker pass. he also either took a knock or just really faded over the last 15 (I thought from the way he was moving it was the former). also made two really rash, angry challenges in that time that earned him a yellow and should've further earned his time-out. 

but he was a bull out there, and IMO, played more decisively when he was wider- did a good job reading the player ahead of him as to whether he was showing or going into space down the line, and then did a really good job putting the ball either way. felt like he did a nice job with his spacing too (until the last 15)- getting himself upfield but not stretching his own D. (so to speak). I'd be really happy if he can get more time at the DM- he showed a certain amount of ability there, and may just need more time and opportunity to figure it out at this level. 

 
Any transfer updates for Yedlin or Mazda?  I did a quick google search and came up w/ nothing.  Although its looking more likely that Mazda is going to Sunderland.

 
Any transfer updates for Yedlin or Mazda?  I did a quick google search and came up w/ nothing.  Although its looking more likely that Mazda is going to Sunderland.
if O'Shea is hurt, Mazda might have a better shot at minutes.

I wonder what's taking so long with Yedlin.

 
rumours for yedlin (based on google just now) range from Hull City, Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa. I'd be happy if went anywhere at this point.

 
Daily Yedlin update...

FTA:

Newcastle and Aston Villa have made £5million bids for Tottenham right back DeAndre Yedlin.

The 23-year-old is ready to leave White Hart Lane to secure regular first team football after enjoying a stint on loan at Sunderland last season.

Newcastle want a replacement lined up for £8million-rated Daryl Janmaat, who is the subject of interest from West Ham and Napoli, and though they have Jesus Gamez he is yet to gain full fitness.

 
Daily Yedlin update...

FTA:

Newcastle and Aston Villa have made £5million bids for Tottenham right back DeAndre Yedlin.

The 23-year-old is ready to leave White Hart Lane to secure regular first team football after enjoying a stint on loan at Sunderland last season.

Newcastle want a replacement lined up for £8million-rated Daryl Janmaat, who is the subject of interest from West Ham and Napoli, and though they have Jesus Gamez he is yet to gain full fitness.
I would be happy with either of these moves.

Do you guys think JK would overlook his dislike of The Championship to keep Yedlin as an important member of the Nats roster?  We have had players like Lichaj, Ream, Williams, Spector and others be important parts of Championship teams but can't get more than a passing look from JK.

 
Do you guys think JK would overlook his dislike of The Championship to keep Yedlin as an important member of the Nats roster?  We have had players like Lichaj, Ream, Williams, Spector and others be important parts of Championship teams but can't get more than a passing look from JK.
Is it really that binary of a decision for him?  It can't be, can it??  Otherwise, that really pisses me off.

 
Is it really that binary of a decision for him?  It can't be, can it??  Otherwise, that really pisses me off.
I don't think it is binary but he does seem to have something against players who play there.  

I bet Yedlin will break this trend but if he is actively playing in the Championship and is overlooked/marginalized by JK, then the evidence becomes much stronger.

 
I would be happy with either of these moves.

Do you guys think JK would overlook his dislike of The Championship to keep Yedlin as an important member of the Nats roster?  We have had players like Lichaj, Ream, Williams, Spector and others be important parts of Championship teams but can't get more than a passing look from JK.
But do the others play for Championship giants?

 

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