Who Replaces Beasley?

DaMarcus Beasley’s injury for Rangers in this week’s Champions League action open the door for several left footed players in the US National Team setup while Beasley is nursing his injury over the next several months.

Eric Wynalda pointed out on CSRN’s “Around the League” this week that during the during the qualification process it is beneficial to have veteran players in the squad who can handle hostile atmospheres and understand the critical nature of getting a result. That would lead me to believe Eddie Lewis should be the first choice replacement for Beasley, but some other potential replacements are available.

¦ Eddie Lewis (Derby County)

A veteran of two World Cups, and a Confederations Cup in 1999 if the obvious replacement. Lewis won’t be around in World Cup 2010 but his pace is still there and his crossing ability is the best of any active National Team player pool member.

¦ Bobby Convey (Reading)

Always seemingly injured, Convey’s skill and confidence seem to have regressed in the past. Time is running out on Convey though he is still only 24.

¦ Brad Davis

He hasn’t been capped since scoring the winning PK in the Gold Cup final in 2005. Davis is a nice player on the MLS level but he isn’t international quality.

¦ Justin Mapp (Chicago)

Plagued by injuries and inconsistency, Mapp is a natural left footed players whose skill set is well suited for international play. Mapp however no longer seems like the best young option out wide on the left thanks to the names below him on this list.

¦ Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas)

Steve Morrow moved him wide to the right this year due to the signing of Juan Toja where he flourished. Still he’s a left footer who could do well on the left flank for the US National Team

¦ Stuart Holden

The Scottish born Holden signed with Sunderland a few years back before he was mugged in Newcastle. He returned home to Houston and has flourished on the left side this year with the Dynamo. At 22, he may not be ready yet to fill the shoes of Beasley and Lewis but now is the time to get him some work in friendlies.

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Americans Abroad Notes

• Benny Feilhaber appears closer to moving to Premier League newbies Derby County. Feilhaber made only nine appearances for Hamburg last year, and must be considered a hot commodity after his excellent summer with the US National Team. Should Derby sign a cultured midfielder like Feilhaber, maybe, just maybe they can escape the drop in the Premier League. If Feilhaber can adjust to the English game as quickly as he's picked up the international game, he'll be steal for Derby at any price.
• Danny Szetela's agent, the incomparable Shep Messing indicates that a deal is not done yet with AS Roma and that both Lazio and MLS remain possibilities for Szetela beyond this season. Columbus will certainly be reluctant to give up Szetela in the middle of a playoff race, so any move to Serie A is unlikely to come until January.
• Speculation has linked Jay DeMerit to Fulham. It would be unfortunate if DeMerit moves to Fulham joining three other Americans, because in my estimation he has a better chance of Premiership Football next year by staying with Watford in the Championship. I am almost certain that Fulham without the managerial skill of Chris Coleman will be relegated this season. (I am picking them 20th: dead last in the Premier League).
• DaMarcus Beasley's transfer to Rangers has paid dividends for the Glasgow club, and now UEFA thankfully is launching on investigation into the racial slurs hurled at Beasley after he scored the winning goal in Rangers Champions League Qualifying triumph on Tuesday.
• Danny Califf has been named the captain of his Danish club AoB who have also qualified for the UEFA Cup. Califf joins Steve Cherundolo and Brian McBride as Americans captaining European clubs. Last season Gregg Berhalter captained Bundesliga 2 outfit 1860 Munich, but has been demoted to vice captain this season.

Beasley Goal lifts Rangers

Rangers defeated FK Zeta today to advance to the third and final qualifying round behind a goal by American DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley took a nice pass from Barry Ferguson and blasted a shot from the top of the box in the 81st minute to give Rangers the victory.

Beasley's Debuts as Rangers Win

DaMarcus Beasley began his SPL career with a nice match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Beasley came close to opening his Rangers account in minute 3, but that near miss of a goal was not needed as Rangers cruised to a 3-0 win.

Beasley Puts Rangers Move in the Backburner

The Herald newspaper in Scotland is reporting that DeMarcus Beasley's move from PSV to Rangers which was expected to be complete by today has been put on hold until after the Gold Cup. The paper cited Beasley's desire to win the Gold Cup for US and not allow his personal contract situation to affect the US team. Beasley's decision to sign with Rangers over a host of other suitors has been attributed to the influence of former National Team and Manchester City teammate Claudio Reyna, who sees his Rangers stint as the best years of his career.

Halftime Thoughts on USA-El Salvador

• Playing Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber and Pablo Mastroeni together is a mistake. You don't have anyone remotely resembling a playmaker occupying space in the center of the midfield, thus a tendency to push the ball exclusively down the flanks or play long ball seemed to set in at points during the first half.
• Landon Donovan and DeMarcus Beasley are supposed to be playing wide but have tended to push inside as the three aforementioned defensive oriented midfielders seem to be laying back.
• The US back line continues to be disappointing. Positioning for Jonathan Spector and Jonathan Bornstein seems to be a problem and Oguchi Onyewu lacks the closing speed and discipline to snuff out the opposition attack.
• DeMarcus Beasley's goal was a textbook example of why midfielders who charge the scraps on the set pieces should emphasize touch over killing the ball. Beasley's shot took forever to reach the goal but he placed it perfectly. If your running a clinic show your students Beasley's goal, not only for his shot but his perfect positioning.
• Beasley contradicted his own work with a muffed shot in minute forty three where he tried to kill the ball, once again showing he is much more comfortable with his left foot than his right foot.
• Beasley, Donovan and Clint Dempsey all play well together and understand each others game, but I have noticed in the two matches all three have played that they are playing one game and the other seven field players are usually on a different page. Not that that is an awful thing, because you want your veterans to lead by example and all three players understand this is now their team with the retirements of Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride and they need to step it up.
• Donovan telegraphed his first PK attempt and was fortunate to get a rebound for a goal that was nullified anyhow. His second PK attempt was much more accurate and well taken, even though the keeper did guess right again.
• I'm pleased Dave Johnson who has covered MLS and US Soccer for many years is being used by FSC on these matches.
• Guadeloupe is forty five minutes away from advancing to the Quarterfinals, and I want to double check this but I believe they will become the smallest nation to ever advance to the knock out phase of a Continental Championship in any Confederation.

Beasley and Dempsey Make a Point

Bradley's Style is Different Than Arena's in use of Flank Play

With the United States fielding a virtual "B" team for yesterday's full international versus China it was imperative for the two most experienced American attackers in the side to step up. Both DeMarcus Beasley and Clint Dempsey answered the call. Operating with more confidence in Bob Bradley's 4-3-3 formation than in Bruce Arena's 4-5-1 formation (which played like a 4-3-3 when Dempsey and Beasley pushed up) both veterans made daring runs, great crosses and created countless opportunities for the US tonight. They gave a virtual clinic on how to play on the flanks. The match began with the US swarming forward with numbers and signaling their intent to spend the night attacking. The first American goal came when Beasley dribbled around the Chinese keeper and was then taken down.

Hamburger's SV Benny Feilhaber scored the second US goal with some nice team play combining with Sacha Kljestan, but it was Dempsey and Beasley who continued to create countless chances, which China's goalkeeper did a very good job of reading. In the second half Dempsey finally scored after having been denied from point blank range twice and then Oguchi Onyewu who is currently club less and hoping suitors come his way scored the fourth US goal. The 4-1 final was a fitting result for a dominating performance with so many non regulars playing for the U.S.

The following American players received their first senior national cap in this match:

Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA, MLS)... Kljestan has been a key player for Chiavs USA
Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF, Sweden)... Davies has been getting regular playing time in Sweden whose season overlaps with MLS
Kamani Hill (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany) ... Has fought for playing time at Wolfsburg and shows promise
Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)... Nguyen is among the most polished Americans and has become a regular for an outstanding club


Bob Bradley has to be pleased with the play of his youngsters and with the leadership both Beasley and Dempsey demonstrated. Bradley must hope that the MLS based players coming into the National Team camp this week feed off of this result and the energy Dempsey and Beasley have shown and have a successful Gold Cup. This was the fifth match for the United States under Bob Bradley and with the exception of the disappointing stalemate against Guatemala, the US has used pushing the ball down the flanks to create countless opportunities in the other four matches. Even though Bruce Arena professed a faith in wing/flank play to often the ball seemed to be floating in the middle of the pitch with the wing players coming inside. Arena perhaps had too much faith in Claudio Reyna and John O'Brien both central midfielders to truly give his wide midfielders the freedom to create opportunities with the regularity they have under Bradley. Which style is preferable for the US is debatable. Using O'Brien and Reyna as target men, the US were unlucky not to advance to the semifinals in the 2002 World Cup. However, the number of good chances the US has been creating under Bradley against respectable opposition seem far greater than any point during the Arena era, but the real tests are coming this summer.

Beasley Coming Back to Man City?

DeMarcus Beasley's release by Manchester City two weeks ago made headlines in the soccer media here in the USA. But now I have learned Beasley could very well be back with City next season. Former Manager Stuart Pearce had told Beasley he expected the club to retain him, but then Pearce was fired and Beasley was released. Now it appears City is looking for cheaper price to retain the American winger from the club that owns him PSV. In addition to a possible return to City, other British clubs are lining up for Beasley's services. Beasley scored four goals this past year for Manchester City.

Watch an Animation of DeMarcus Beasley's Spectacular Goal

Thanks to the BBC Sport website! Click here.