Onionsack
19 Apr 2004, 11:10 AM
With the recent interest in overseas league for American talent and the progression of MLS as stable league I can't help but wonder how our National Team may look in a short 6 years, at the time of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
FORWARDS
Freddy Adu 20- By this point Freddy will have moved on to a pro career in Europe I would assume. For Freddy the only real question is if he will live up to the enourmous expectations of his talent. How good will this kid be, how well did the MLS do in developing him? I see Freddy as a major part of this team but also not a lock for first 11..much can change.
Conor Casey 29- I see Conor as they Brian McBride replacement, and potentially a 2006 guy as well. I would bet that he will be a major contributor to Dortmond after his loan spell which would only increase his value as an international. If the US is still using the target forward stystem in 2010 then Casey could fill that role.
Landon Donovon28- A no brainer, LD will still be in San Jose. :) Ok prob not. I think by this time he will be the all-time US goal scoring leader and captian of the USMNT. His eventual departure to better competion will certianly take LD to the next level. I still believe he should look to Spain but thats just my opinion. This guy has loads of talent and a lot of international success and experiance. Much like Adu, he will be there but his quality at that time still has a lot to do with him taking the next step. Also LD may be a Right Midfield option as well.
Eddie Johnson26- If this guy can get it together he will be downright dangerous. His size and speed could absoutley devistate defenders. After a couple stale years in MLS he may be ready to break out. The thing with Eddie is his finishing, someone pointed out last year he has a technique flaw when shooting, I don't know if thats true but if it is someone needs to help him fix that. Asuming Eddie puts the pieces together he will be enjoying a club career overseas before the 2010 WC.
Kenny Cooper25- I admit I know very little about Mr. Cooper. I am not even sure if his name deserves mention here but his goal scoring for Manchester United's reserves can not go unnoticed. Lets hope he gets some first team experiance and dosn't end up being another Kirvoski.
MIDFIELD
DeMarcus Beasley28- He has 1-2 years left in MLS at best. A move to Spain is long overdue and he needs the experiance of higher compitition to reduce his realiance on his speed. I see DeMarcus as our starting left midfielder, he had proven his value to the NT over the past couple years and seems to be a mainstay for the future.
Bobby Convey27- I think last years U-20WC proved that Bobby is capable of becoming one of the best central midfielders the US has even had. IMO he was the best player in the tournement up to the elimination of the US. Its good he didn't move to EPL last summer, he still has to develop and wait for the right time..but that time will come.
Eddie Gaven24- is anyone else surprised how well Eddie has played so far this year? With all the talk about Adu we seem to forget that Eddie has only just turned 17. I have a feeling that this kid may become a truley expectional player in the future. Bob Bradley should prove to be a good teacher, and who knows maybee BB will be the coach in 2010?
Daniel Szetela23- there is a lot of hype about this kid, if he lives up to any of it he will be in the USMNT piture..but 2010 may be too early for him, time will tell.
Pat Noonan29- perhaps..or perhaps not. Noonan is definatly on the radar but is a fringe choice unless he continues to improve. I know people that played against him at IU and they all are in agreement that the guy is really good....lets hope he gets better abd better as this is only his second MLS season.
Kyle Martino29- Paging Mr. Martino..the was a lot of talk about Kyle being the next Reyna a while back. That talk has cooled a bit but that doesn't mean is dead. Maybe Kyle just needs a change of employment to reenergize him. Kyle has the skills but needs to find the confidance that made everyone talk to begin with.
Ricardo Clark27- As many people have already pointed out, Clark could be the defensive midfielder of the future. He has all the tools at his disposal and is giving evry indication he will improve as his experiance level rises. In fact I can see Clark being a mainstay at that position after 2006.
DEFENDER
Carlos Bocanegra31- If Carlos stays in the EPL as a starter over the next 6 years, we will have a bonafied top class defender. He will have played agaist some of the best teams and players in the world. His experiance even at 31 will be invaluable. If he keeps playing and improves while in England don't expect him to be with Fulham long.
Cory Gibbs30- One thing I noticed about Gibbs was his speed. He can cover ground and is big enough to tangle with the big strikers. (vs. R.V.N. in Holland). Moving to MLS will certianly give him the exposure he needs to be in the USMNT, I would say he will be a 2006 guy as well.
Frankie Simak25- The captian of the Arsenal reserve team has been very impressive for Arse's young squad. Hopefully there is a spot for him soon in the senior side. If this does occur Frank will be an asset for our defence.
Zak Whitbread26- I hope that the injury he suffered will not hinder his career. This Liverpool reservist played very well in the U-20WC and is covented by Liverpool. If he can come back 100% from the injury and develop in Liverpools reserve system he will be there in 2010.
Danny Karbassiyoon26-Not a true LB, but he has excelled in that psoition for Arsenal's reserve side. Considering the Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy both play LB at Arsenal shouls tell us something.
KEEPER
Tim Howard31- at 31 Timmy may not posses the same athletic ability he does today but as a GK the thing you need most is experiance...with ManU he will certianly get that.
Steve Cronin27- By 2010 he still may not have enough experiance to play at the WC level but despite a couple mistakes at the U-20 WC he did show some real flashes of brilliance.
Anyway I am sure there will be even more players I forgot about as well as guys not on the rader now who in 6 years could be there too.
The one thing that stands out to me about players above is the overall team speed, certianly one of the fastest in the world. One thing is for sure, the future of American soccer has never looked brighter, hopefully we can live up to the potential.
FORWARDS
Freddy Adu 20- By this point Freddy will have moved on to a pro career in Europe I would assume. For Freddy the only real question is if he will live up to the enourmous expectations of his talent. How good will this kid be, how well did the MLS do in developing him? I see Freddy as a major part of this team but also not a lock for first 11..much can change.
Conor Casey 29- I see Conor as they Brian McBride replacement, and potentially a 2006 guy as well. I would bet that he will be a major contributor to Dortmond after his loan spell which would only increase his value as an international. If the US is still using the target forward stystem in 2010 then Casey could fill that role.
Landon Donovon28- A no brainer, LD will still be in San Jose. :) Ok prob not. I think by this time he will be the all-time US goal scoring leader and captian of the USMNT. His eventual departure to better competion will certianly take LD to the next level. I still believe he should look to Spain but thats just my opinion. This guy has loads of talent and a lot of international success and experiance. Much like Adu, he will be there but his quality at that time still has a lot to do with him taking the next step. Also LD may be a Right Midfield option as well.
Eddie Johnson26- If this guy can get it together he will be downright dangerous. His size and speed could absoutley devistate defenders. After a couple stale years in MLS he may be ready to break out. The thing with Eddie is his finishing, someone pointed out last year he has a technique flaw when shooting, I don't know if thats true but if it is someone needs to help him fix that. Asuming Eddie puts the pieces together he will be enjoying a club career overseas before the 2010 WC.
Kenny Cooper25- I admit I know very little about Mr. Cooper. I am not even sure if his name deserves mention here but his goal scoring for Manchester United's reserves can not go unnoticed. Lets hope he gets some first team experiance and dosn't end up being another Kirvoski.
MIDFIELD
DeMarcus Beasley28- He has 1-2 years left in MLS at best. A move to Spain is long overdue and he needs the experiance of higher compitition to reduce his realiance on his speed. I see DeMarcus as our starting left midfielder, he had proven his value to the NT over the past couple years and seems to be a mainstay for the future.
Bobby Convey27- I think last years U-20WC proved that Bobby is capable of becoming one of the best central midfielders the US has even had. IMO he was the best player in the tournement up to the elimination of the US. Its good he didn't move to EPL last summer, he still has to develop and wait for the right time..but that time will come.
Eddie Gaven24- is anyone else surprised how well Eddie has played so far this year? With all the talk about Adu we seem to forget that Eddie has only just turned 17. I have a feeling that this kid may become a truley expectional player in the future. Bob Bradley should prove to be a good teacher, and who knows maybee BB will be the coach in 2010?
Daniel Szetela23- there is a lot of hype about this kid, if he lives up to any of it he will be in the USMNT piture..but 2010 may be too early for him, time will tell.
Pat Noonan29- perhaps..or perhaps not. Noonan is definatly on the radar but is a fringe choice unless he continues to improve. I know people that played against him at IU and they all are in agreement that the guy is really good....lets hope he gets better abd better as this is only his second MLS season.
Kyle Martino29- Paging Mr. Martino..the was a lot of talk about Kyle being the next Reyna a while back. That talk has cooled a bit but that doesn't mean is dead. Maybe Kyle just needs a change of employment to reenergize him. Kyle has the skills but needs to find the confidance that made everyone talk to begin with.
Ricardo Clark27- As many people have already pointed out, Clark could be the defensive midfielder of the future. He has all the tools at his disposal and is giving evry indication he will improve as his experiance level rises. In fact I can see Clark being a mainstay at that position after 2006.
DEFENDER
Carlos Bocanegra31- If Carlos stays in the EPL as a starter over the next 6 years, we will have a bonafied top class defender. He will have played agaist some of the best teams and players in the world. His experiance even at 31 will be invaluable. If he keeps playing and improves while in England don't expect him to be with Fulham long.
Cory Gibbs30- One thing I noticed about Gibbs was his speed. He can cover ground and is big enough to tangle with the big strikers. (vs. R.V.N. in Holland). Moving to MLS will certianly give him the exposure he needs to be in the USMNT, I would say he will be a 2006 guy as well.
Frankie Simak25- The captian of the Arsenal reserve team has been very impressive for Arse's young squad. Hopefully there is a spot for him soon in the senior side. If this does occur Frank will be an asset for our defence.
Zak Whitbread26- I hope that the injury he suffered will not hinder his career. This Liverpool reservist played very well in the U-20WC and is covented by Liverpool. If he can come back 100% from the injury and develop in Liverpools reserve system he will be there in 2010.
Danny Karbassiyoon26-Not a true LB, but he has excelled in that psoition for Arsenal's reserve side. Considering the Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy both play LB at Arsenal shouls tell us something.
KEEPER
Tim Howard31- at 31 Timmy may not posses the same athletic ability he does today but as a GK the thing you need most is experiance...with ManU he will certianly get that.
Steve Cronin27- By 2010 he still may not have enough experiance to play at the WC level but despite a couple mistakes at the U-20 WC he did show some real flashes of brilliance.
Anyway I am sure there will be even more players I forgot about as well as guys not on the rader now who in 6 years could be there too.
The one thing that stands out to me about players above is the overall team speed, certianly one of the fastest in the world. One thing is for sure, the future of American soccer has never looked brighter, hopefully we can live up to the potential.