The criteria the USSF said the voters should use: Starter or key contributor to overall success on the field, especially in World Cups. Longevity, overall performance and talent on the field with the U.S. Men’s or Women’s National Team. Impact on the legacy of the U.S. Men’s or Women’s National Team program - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/centennial/centennial-home/best-xi/mnt.aspx#sthash.OUeJPEZB.dpuf So while I think DMB got short shrift from the panel, I don't believe, for this exercise, I'm supposed to base that on his accomplishments at PSV. I'm OK with the final XI, just because LB is such a problem. But I think they came up with a very reasonable line-up. (Using the criteria above, btw, IMO Mathis is a stronger choice than Altidore. Of course that may very well change by July.)
If we were about to go play a world cup match, then Dooley, Bradley or both would be the first players picked. These guys are not that flashy, but their teams win.
As opposed to say, Gonsalves, who got his team to the SFs? Or Donovan? Or McBride? Or Friedel? Or even Patunaude? I can point to those guys willing us to wins in WCs and Confed Cups. For Dooley and Bradley, it is a lot harder. The Slovenia game for Bradley, perhaps. I've got no issue with Claudio starting in MF.
I think it's pretty hard to compare guys like Patunaude and Gonsalves, who played in Nineteen Dickety Whatever, to players in the modern era. Average players now would have been world beating monsters even 30 years ago.
BRIAN CHING was an option!?!?!?! BRIAN CHING?!?!?! Really?! WTF?! This isn't the Hawaii Best XI Really says something about our FW history problems that Brian Ching makes our god damn Best XI vote.
All in all, Ching has the same number of goals as Herc, Agudelo and Buddle combined. In fewer games. So not too shabby. Most USMNT goals come from midfield anyway.
Brian Ching is a very good striker. A great MLS striker. I'm a fan of Brian Ching. But a USMNT Best XIer?!?! Not even close. The dude didn't play in a World Cup.
I liked the names but I think I'll always like Keller more than the Friedel. It would be interesting to have two sweeper together, Dooley and Windischmann.
--------------------McBRIDE ---------DEMPSEY-----------MATHIS ---O'BRIEN---RAMOS---BRADLEY---DONOVAN -----BALBOA---BOCANEGRA---POPE -------------------FRIEDEL Difficult to leave off STEWART, WYNALDA, HARKES, JONES and DOOLEY but that is my BEST XI that would be best at all aspects of the sport. Specifically outstanding first touch, Tier 1 soccer brains and what each man actually did at a World Cup(s). World Cup Reporter: "Any regrets after this World Cup Coach Arena?" The Bruce: "Yeah...not playing Brian Ching." So that's on our greatest coach of all time, and East Coast lifer, recognizing within minutes after the loss to Ghana in '06 the one thing that he did that cost the team/woulda helped us advance from our difficult Group.