While I don't think Silva is bad--he's not a '10' liek the poster points him out to be. Maybe against lesser competition, yes--he can slice and dice defenses with passes but when the physicality, skill, and pace of the game gets turned up...he can't keep up like he showed me at the center of the park. As a focal point, Silva just isn't it. As a supporting striker, outside mid like Pontius, I think he will see more success especially if you add in a more talented 10 to take the pressure off of him and to als ogive him more space, and time on the ball which makes him better. Is he bad? No. Is he a good 10? No. Can he do well next to a good 10? Probably. Like Fred for DCU--he was thought to be a 10, but when played there he wasn't good. He needed a Gomez, Gallardo to do well or even moreno.
The players that the US should call is Lee Nyguen and Kaelyn Rowe I live in Mass and I go to revs games and these guys are the real deal........Rowe has a work rate and Lee is the most technical layer in the MLS
I agree on Lee--He's talented. I don't get why he has gotten the snub yet Feilhaber has still gotten a ton of chances. I rate Lee higher than Benny.
Will be 35 for the world cup. And to be fair, they might both play in the same areas but Pirlo plays an INCREDIBLY easier game on the body. Also, if it was any other country, Totti and Toni could be on the plane to Brazil. Prandelli is already likely to choose some older strikers so adding more will be a huge risk (Cassano, Gilardino, Lil Pepito Rossi who is young but a constant injury risk). I still think Jones has to be in the 23 and start if we are keeping Cameron at RB. Or maybe experiment with a 3 CM midfield with Jones and Edu playing a pulley and Bradley as an ACM with the option of helping back. I refuse to believe that Jones can't be trained to stay back when necessary.
I also would like to see Lee get a look. I've read he was in the pool at lower levels but has not had a sniff under JK. Almost too late now but he should have got a look a year ago. Maybe now that Vasquez has been promoted to scout... he'll be discovered He certainly is far better than Sacha or any of the younger ones ... including Green
This next two years after the World Cup ,we could see a ton of new faces introduced and get playing time.
Actually, the Itlay coach ruled Totti and Toni out, but there are these guys that are on his 40 man preliminary list... (sorry for the repost, but it looks like some missed it) This list does not include 2 goal keepers that are in their 30s. Italy likes to field old teams... M - Pirlo - 34 (35 in May) D - Barzagli - 32 (33 in May) LB - Pasqual - 32 F - Cassano - 31 (32 in July) S - Gilardino - 31 (32 in July) M - De Rossi - 30 (31 in July) CM - Aquilani - 29 (30 in July) D - Chiellini - 29 (30 in August) CM - Parolo - 29 M - Montolivo - 29 M - Poli - 29