News to brighten your day

[beasleyisbeastly]

It's happening. JK has just announced that not only Tim Howard, but DAMARCUS BEASLEY will be returning to the squad for September friendlies against Brazil and Peru. This means that as long as they don't get injured they should play against diverland (mexico) in October. The louisiana weather may not make it seem so, but God has blessed us soccer fans today

[warrior16]

Great news.

Hopefully Matt Miazga gets called up instead of Alvarado or Chandler. He's the best American center back in MLS right now, even better than Besler and Gonzales, and he's only 20. Made David Villa and Sebastian Giovinco look silly this month. Neither even managed a shot against him.

Speaking of Timmy Chandler, his new manager at Frankfurt has threatened to bench him if continues to accept USMNT call-ups, questioning his loyalty to the club. Klinsmann is furious. Absolutely ridiculous, and another example of European prejudice against American players. There's no way he would have the same tune if a Frankfurt player was called up to represent Germany at the Euros, but he considers an American player representing his country at the Gold Cup to be a nuisance and a distraction.

I've said time and time again that I don't think Chandler should play for the national team, at least unless he can play as well for the Nats as he does for Frankfurt, which he never seems to do, but I will always stand up for our boys when they are treated like garbage by their club teams. Being called up to represent your country is a huge honor that should never be denied any athlete at the selfish whims of a club manager. I'm also angry at Stoke City for pressuring Cameron not to play at the Gold Cup, but at least he'll be available now. (For what it's worth, I do think having the Gold Cup in late July is really stupid timing on CONCACAF's part, as it disrupts the preseason for all the players that don't play in MLS, when they could easily just start the tournament in late June.)

There are even rumors that Timmy is so unhappy with his new manager that he is seeking a move to MLS this month. Can't say I blame him, if that's how he will be treated.

For every Clint Dempsey and Steve Cherundolo that achieves great success in Europe, there seem to be 10 more Americans that flop or bounce around aimlessly before going back to MLS or Liga MX.

It would open up so many avenues for American players in Europe if we had an American kid truly make it at one of the elite teams in Europe. Hopefully Christian Pulisic can become that. Landon Donovan was a great start for men's soccer in the US, but we need a Donovan 2.0 , or preferably, several, to take us to the next level.