Going into this round we needed CB's; Going into next round we still do!

Yes, Brooks is arguably our promising-looking future candidate. He's still a prospect, though. The guys I'd listed are guys that I think could play in the Hex if we needed them to, in my own order of preference "if a Hex match was next week."

 

I don't fault Cameron on the goal specifically, I think the issue was miscommunication. If Boca had stepped up with Cameron, then Ruiz had been offside. If Cameron had dropped off with Boca, then Ruiz might not have gotten in behind.

My bigger issue tonight with Cameron was his headers. It just seems to me that a bunch of headers he should have won decisively he tends to pop up and allow second chance opportunities. Do other people notice this or am I off base?

Anyway, Cameron is still promising despite the last couple shaky games, but we definitely need to audition a bunch of other guys. I don't think anyone here feels comfortable with Cameron/Boca/Goodson/Edu as the depth chart for Brazil.

 

For a guy as tall as he is, Cameron isn't the strongest guy in the air. To me, Cameron's strengths are his quickness and speed, and his ability to play the ball. His decision-making is sometimes suspect (though I think this is exacerbated by the fact that Stoke plays him in the midfield), as is his aerial game. Looking forward, I think he's fine if he's got an aerially strong partner.

 

this is the sort of post i was trying to convey before sexual innuendo undid me

yes, we must move on, its imperative, especially with the obvious wheels falling off Bocanegra.

it seems besler is next in Klinsy's order. One would think Gonzo is next on the list. John might be down the list because of the injuries but should be there as well. those are the big three that need to get looks here, now. Need to be brought in for the Russia friendly and a very, very close eye on camp cupcake. That should be a free for all, those guys know a starting center back position possibly two should be at stake. Berry and Hedges need the sophomore microscope i think, id like to wait on them a year. Ream and Soares kinda tripped up pretty good out of the gates their sophomore years.

Morrow needs to be there as a valuable in case option. because imagine a very realistic scenario......centerback red card, you can slide morrow in in a pinch and not sweat it and can possibly be more versatily in substitutions if necessary, or not even need to make a substitution at all and cary on. Morrow really, really needs to be a strong candidate for #2 left back spot.

 

First goal is on three players:

1. M Bradley with a silly turnover. No players close enough to immediately challenge the passer after Bradley is stripped.

2. Cameron shouldn't push forward. There is nobody for him to mark, and an offside trap isn't the right play there.

3. Carlos' lack of speed is exposed. Ruiz(!) blows by him, and Carlos can't recover.

If Carlos is his partner, Cameron has to be more conservative about getting caught upfield. Carlos just can't cover the ground behind him anymore.

I like Besler and Omar G as the next 2 candidates. Goodson is a wreck.

 

THAT is the key for me that says its time to move on. Carlos Ruiz......that is not a good sign

 

without benefit of watching the replay, I thought it was BOCA's fault, Cameron called the high line and boca being boca was late, then he tried to catch up to Ruiz, which by the way, he is not the fastest guy around and BOCA couldn't catch him, maybe because he expected for Timmy to come out of his line, which he didn't. Later in the game, BOCA gave a pass back to Timmy that was too complicated which Timmy force it in to a corner.

To me Cameron is our future, BOCA is getting slower, his passing is getting worst. I just don't think him playing second division is helping him to maintain what a national CB should be doing.

 

I understand Heath Pearce plays CB now for NY. He was a pretty solid LB for the USNT, and still only 28. How is he looking?

 

Cameron is calling a high line? Cameron? No. He wasn't calling anything. Cameron was just ball watching and out to lunch. If he isn't playing or at least training at CB for Stoke, he is not the future or if he is, let's at least say the future is bleak for US at CB. There is a lot I like about Cameron but I don't like that he isn't playing CB.
And as Nutmeg pointed out above and Howard below, without pressure on the ball, you don't play a high line. The giveaway by Bradley was not good particularly given that he was out on the wing with the ball with Zusi and then there was no midfield around to pressure the ball. Williams was neither here nor there and just kind of let Ruiz go, Cameron stood and stared, Boca didn't time it great and Howard was not in a position to sweep behind a high line. Ruiz is not a burner but he is a master at timing runs.

It isn't always the player closest to the mistake that has made the worst mistake.

Quotes below on the play:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/10/16/us-backline-bounces-back-sloppy-goal-still-rankles

“It was just a sloppy goal,” Howard said. “There wasn’t enough pressure on the ball. We needed to probably drop our line and play a little bit more safe. Credit to Carlos Ruiz, he finished it well...”

Klinsmann refers to training the day before. You can bet that the training wasn't so much for the sake of the guy who has played CB hundreds of times but for the guy who rarely plays CB and certainly not lately.

Obviously it didn’t need to happen after five minutes, no doubt about it. We actually trained that yesterday specifically, and still it happened,” he said. “This is soccer. Anything can happen. You can train it 100 times and still it can happen. But I was obviously not happy with it.”

Dolo refers to mulitple chances to defend which I'm sure in his mind includes the actions/inactions of Bradley, Zusi, Williams, Cameron, Boca and Howard.
“It was not even a chance,” Steve Cherundolo said. “We kind of gave them a goal. We had numerous opportunities to defend that play, and I think we kind of fell asleep there defensively for a short moment.

 

I think the CB issue will continue to have to be dealt with. It would be nice to have some players playing with there club teams at the position as well. it is what it is.

 

Can someone tell me how Besler rates as far as his speed goes? (I haven't seen enough of him to know)

Another question: What about Andrew Wenger? I've heard his name mentioned before for the position. But has he been playing any CB at all for Montreal?

 

With the exception of Gonzalez, and DeMerit, none of the MLS guys listed are even in the same ballpark as the guys we've been trotting out there (Cameron, Boca, even Goodson) on a regular basis.

OP was way too harsh on Cameron. Not a great game, and playing RB for Stoke worries me a bit, but I think he'll be fine. I think Edu would be the best long term solution, but he has had little PT at Stoke, none at CB.

Goodson isn't good enough to start, but might be OK being the backup, or #4 (Cameron, Boca, Edu) for now. Gonzalez would lead the pack of younger guys to try, with John and Besler also in the mix. However, Onyewu and DeMerit still merit some consideration as well. Veteran heads are useful in qualifying.

Heck, giving Spector a look at CB, or the still untried Whitbread might also be worth it. Ream has flamed out of Bolton, he doesn't deserve a look.

My look at the pool right now:
1) Cameron (RB at Stoke)
2) Boca (CB at Santandar)
3) Edu (CM at Stoke)
4) Goodson (CB at Brondby)
5) Gonzalez (CB at LA)
6) DeMerit (CB with Vancouver)
7) Spector (utility player with Birmingham, RB/LB, CM, RM)
8) John
9) Whitbread
10) Besler
-------------------------

 

Unless someone emerges in camp cupcake, or Ream or Edu suddenly start getting good club minutes at the position, I'm afraid our best option is to continue to develop Cameron. I also wouldn't mind bringing in guys like Demerit for games where disciplined marking is needed. I know Brooks is probably to young for this cycle, but it might be a good idea to start calling him up with an eye to the future. We've been doing it with guys like Sean Johnson, and Corona, and it might not be a bad idea to do it with Brooks as well. If we begin to integrate him into camps now and make him feel like a part of the team, the chances of him deciding to hold out for Germany (especially if he has a break out season in the near future) greatly decrease.

 

I'd like to see Cameron with Gonzalez in Russia. I think Cameron is our best CB right now, it's just a matter of finding the right partner.

 

gonzo will be in MLS playoffs. no way he gets called up.

 

Brooks is starting to get some sniffs from the German federation, so I'd like to see him in a US full national camp or two. However, based on his play this year, I don't think he'll be good enough for the US team any time soon (the U-20, that's another story- that team could really use him).

 

Not sure what we can do about our CB pairings/pool. Boca matches up well to some teams but not sure he has wheels anymore for a highline against speedy forwards. Goodson I think is really just Depth, Edu has higher upside but not getting minutes at all, let alone at CB. Looking around, seems we have to go MLS for someone who might step in, Gonzalez seems to be the top choice there.

Since we have less then 24 games until WC, and only a handful of them friendly's, JK is going to have to make a quick call on if anyone new will be brought in/ given a chance. We need our ideal CB pair to get as many minutes together as possible

 

Is Onyewu really no longer a solid option at all?

 

pains me to say......but no. gotta move on with a quickness

 

If he manages to start playing regularly in central defense with Malaga then definitely.

 

Bolded for emphasis.