[USA MEN] The absence of Clint Dempsey and other MLS regulars from the team
Why have them make the long trek to Sarajevo for a friendly withlots of qualifiers and MLS games ahead of them this fall? And why not just give a chance to some of the European-based players?
The presence then of Dempsey’s new Seattle teammate,
Evans will get a chance to permanently rip off the “fill-in” tag at right back, but he’ll have his hands full Wednesday against Lazio left winger Senad Lulic,the liveliest player he’ll have faced since taking over at right back in June.
No position poses more problems for Klinsmann in the short term than right back, where his top choices at the beginning ofthe year are nowhere to be found.
Steve Cherundolo and Timmy Chandler were 1 and 1A on the U.S. depth asthe year began, but knee problems have kept the 34-year-old Cherundolo out of the U.S. lineup all year, and Chandler’s only appearance came in the 2-1 loss at Honduras to open the Hexagonal — a verypoor performance from the reluctant traveler that may be his last for a long time. Klinsmann
Klinsmann has started six different players at right back in the 18 competitive matches of his tenure:
U.S. Right Backs(2012):
Cherundolo (1) Antigua & Barbuda 3-1 (WCQ)
Cherundolo (2) @Guatemala 1-1 (WCQ)
Parkhurst (1) @Jamaica 1-2 (WCQ)
Cherundolo (3) Jamaica 1-0 (WCQ)
Cherundolo(4) @Antigua & Barbuda 3-1 (WCQ)
Cherundolo (5)
U.S. Right Backs (2013):
Chandler (1) @Honduras 1-2 (WCQ)
Cameron (1) Costa Rica 1-0 (WCQ)
Evans (1) @Jamaica 2-1 (WCQ)
Evans (2) Panama 2-0 (WCQ)
Evans(3) Honduras 1-0 (WCQ)
Parkhurst (2)
Beltran (1) Cuba 4-1(GC)
Parkhurst (3) Costa Rica 1-0 (GC)
Parkhurst (5) Honduras 3-1 (GC)
Parkhurst (6) Panama 1-0 (GC)
Note: Total starts in parentheses.
Theirony is, the USA has a lot of promising young right backs coming through the pipeline — Seattle’s all-star rookie DeAndre Yedlin, the Revs’
If Cherundolo and Chandler can’t go, the only other choices besides Evans right now are
Evans is in many ways the anti-Chandler, willing to step in at the last minute, as hewas this spring — he wasn’t even on the initial list of 25 players for the five May-June matches. He normally plays in midfield for the Sounders, but he filled in more than adequately in his threestarts punctuated by an improbable winning goal in the first game at Jamaica.
The question mark on Evans is whether he has the pace to handle a winger coming at him with speed — the onething about Chandler there is no doubt. On his home ground, Evans struggled at times against Panama, but in retrospect he did adequately when you consider the troubles Mexico’s backline had on itsright side with Alberto Quintero in its two losses to the Canaleros at the Gold Cup.
Evans in the Hexagonal
(SA Report Cards)
Jamaica (2-1):
7 BRAD EVANS (Seattle Sounders) 10/1. The reason he plays so many positions is that he’s pretty goodat just about everything: tracking, tackling, passing, heading, and as his crisp collection and shot showed, finishing. His determination and ruggedness were essential against similar opponents, whobested him on occasion but paid a heavy price for doing so. His storybook goal sets him up for a hero’s welcome in Seattle for the game with Panama Tuesday.
5 BRAD EVANS(Seattle Sounders) 11/1. Alberto Quintero exposed him a couple of times early in the match and occasionally thereafter he came up short when substitute NelsonBarahona floated into his area, but usually he and his teammates blotted out the danger. Whether because of the bumpy surface or fatigue – he played the full 90 minutes for the third time in 10days – his play wasn’t always crisp but his diligent effort got him through the game.
6 BRAD EVANS(Seattle Sounders) 12/1. Andy Najar and his Seattle teammate Mario Martinez seemed capable of besting Evans yet seldom were able to use that leverage to createa clear scoring opportunity, and as the game evolved Evans tucked in a little tighter and closed up the spaces. He worked a few good combinations up the right flank and could have scored with a headerbut headed it straight to the keeper.
This position is Brad Evans’ to lose only…..unless Cameron exhibits both consistency in picking when to go forward/overlap, and can be counted on to have recovery pace when needed. Parkhurst was my GC unsung hero, but he can’t quite measure up to Evans’ set of tools on the ball. Dolo might be out of the picture now, and Chandler has not shown anything as a Nat. At this point I have Evans #1, Parkhurst #2 and Cameron/Cherundolo #3.
Chandler is slow and ineffective.