Top 100 Prospects for WC 2006

[voros]

Haven't done this one in a while, but here's an updated list of prospects for the 2006 World Cup.

A little change as I'm dropping the age requirements at this point, as anyone still in consideration right now at least has a shot of still being so in 2006 (Armas, Stewart, Sanneh and McBride would be the only overage players on the list anyway).

As always, any list like this is subjective but since it goes 100 deep, hopefully it'll cover most of the good prospects to be there. Also note that the list is in the order I roughly think they stand in Bruce's mind not mine. Number in parens is player's age on 5/31/06:


Goalkeeper
1. Brad Friedel (35)
2. Tim Howard (27)
3. Kasey Keller (36)
4. Jonny Walker (31)
5. Kevin Hartman (32)
6. Adin Brown (28)
7. Nick Rimando (26)
8. Marcus Hahnemann (33)
9. Joe Cannon (31)
10. Doug Warren (25)

Left Back
1. Cory Gibbs (26)
2. Greg Vanney (31)
3. Frankie Hejduk (31)
4. Wade Barrett (29)
5. Ritchie Kotschau (30)
6. Todd Dunivant (25)
7. Chris Gbandi (27)
8. Zak Whitbread (22)
9. Brandon Prideaux (29)
10. Chris Wingert (23)

Right Back
1. Steve Cherundolo (27)
2. Tony Sanneh (34)
3. Chris Albright (27)
4. Pablo Mastroeni (29)
5. Robbie Russell (26)
6. Sasha Victroine (28)
7. Rusty Pierce (26)
8. Kelly Gray (25)
9. Evan Whitfield (28)
10. Ricky Lewis (24)

Center Back
1. Eddie Pope (32)
2. Carlos Bocanegra (27)
3. Gregg Berhalter (32)
4. Danny Califf (26)
5. Nick Garcia (27)
6. Oguchi Onyewu (24)
7. Ryan Suarez (28)
8. Jim Curtin (26)
9. Jonathan Spector (20)
10. Eddie Robinson (27)
11. Nat Borchers (25)
12. Chad Marshall (21)
13. Mike Petke (29)
14. Frankie Simek (21)
15. Alex Yi (24)

Defensive Midfield
1. John O'Brien (28)
2. Richard Mulrooney (29)
3. Chris Armas (33)
4. Ricardo Clark (23)
5. Kerry Zavagnin (29)
6. Danny Szetela (18)
7. Ramiro Corrales (29)
8. Logan Pause (24)
9. Brian Carroll (24)
10. Seth Trembly (24)

Attacking and Central Midfield
1. Claudio Reyna (32)
2. Bobby Convey (23)
3. Clint Mathis (29)
4. Kyle Martino (25)
5. Eddie Gaven (19)
6. Kyle Beckerman (24)
7. Mark Lisi (28)
8. Memo Gonzalez (20)
9. Ned Grabavoy (22)
10. Jay Denny (20)

Left Winger
1. DaMarcus Beasley (24)
2. Eddie Lewis (32)
3. Brad Davis (24)
4. Arturo Alvarez (20)
5. Santino Quaranta (21)
7. Eric Quill (28)
8. Cristian Jimenez (19)
9. Ian Russell (30)
10. Corey Ashe (20)

Right Winger
1. Chris Klein (30)
2. Steve Ralston (31)
3. Pat Noonan (25)
4. Ben Olsen (29)
5. Brian Mullan (28)
6. Justin Mapp (21)
7. Earnie Stewart (37)
8. Brian West (27)
9. John Thorrington (26)
10. Arturo Torres (25)

Forwards
1. Landon Donovan (24)
2. Brian McBride (33)
3. Josh Wolff (29)
4. Jovan Kirovski (30)
5. Taylor Twellman (26)
6. Conor Casey (24)
7. Edson Buddle (25)
8. Ante Razov (32)
9. John Wolyniec (29)
10. Jeff Cunningham (29)
11. Freddy Adu (16)
12. Eddie Johnson (22)
13. Alecko Eskandarian (24)
14. Mike Magee (21)
15. Kenny Cooper (22)


Left wing looks abnromally thin simply because several other players who have played there are listed elsewhere (Convey, Gaven, Lisi, Mapp, Cunningham, Adu). I left Kirovski and Mathis at the positions for their respective club teams but shifted Bocanegra and Gibbs away from their club team positions. Judgment call.

It appears clear that for the time being, Jonny Walker is Bruce's #1 MLS keeper and the list reflects this. Bruce's recent affinity for Kerry Zavagnin is also refelcted.

[Atouk]

Thanks for the effort.

Does Zach Thornton not make the list ahead of a couple of those keepers? (I know he's not playing for Benfica at the moment, but I expect he could supplant nearly half the keepers in MLS if he comes back to the States).

Does Mapp even have a right foot? Or is he just there because that's a weaker position for us?

[Tmagic77]

Thanks for the effort.

Does Zach Thornton not make the list ahead of a couple of those keepers?

Does Mapp even have a right foot? Or is he just there because that's a weaker position for us?

Mapp plays on the right quite often for the Fire. He does alright out there.

[voros]

Thanks for the effort.

Does Zach Thornton not make the list ahead of a couple of those keepers? (I know he's not playing for Benfica at the moment, but I expect he could supplant nearly half the keepers in MLS if he comes back to the States).

Does Mapp even have a right foot? Or is he just there because that's a weaker position for us?
As far as Zach Thornton goes, while we could argue about the relative merits of him versus some on the list, 8 of the first 9 keepers listed havel been capped more recently than Thornton, and only a few bad breaks have kept Adin Brown (the one who hasn't) from doing so as well. The other keeper listed, Warren, is there simply because I like to list at least one younger prospect at each position as occassionally you can see substantial growth from young players that you wouldn't usually see from a player Zach's age.

As far as Mapp goes, basically he's listed on the right because that's where he plays for the Fire and also it probably represents his best chance of getting into the National Team picture.

[Atouk]

As far as Zach Thornton goes, while we could argue about the relative merits of him versus some on the list, 8 of the first 9 keepers listed havel been capped more recently than Thornton, and only a few bad breaks have kept Adin Brown (the one who hasn't) from doing so as well. I guess I was mostly thinking of Cannon. Here's my case: Didn't Arena call up Hahnemann and Cannon last year basically because he didn't want to take MLS keepers away from their teams to sit behind Tim Howard on the Confed Cup bench? So, he was our second-best Euro-based non-Keller/Friedel keeper.

Since Thornton played the final Qualifier against Trinidad, Cannon was an unused sub (Rimando got 90 minutes) against Wales (I believe the French season had ended), played 45 second-half minutes against New Zealand in a pre-Confed Cup match, had a spot on the bench at the Confed Cup as third keeper, then was an unused sub against Paraguay, then replaced by Brown as the Gold Cup backup. After he re-signed with MLS, he and Thornton were both among the 30 guys called to the off-season no-match camp. After Thornton went to Benfica, Cannon was called to a no-match pre-Holland domestics-only camp, but wasn't an actual Holland call-up.

They're both on the fringes, I guess, but since Cannon is just 14-15 months younger, he doesn't likely have any more upside than Thornton, while Thornton was probably #4 when Arena picked three keepers for the 2002 World Cup.

[m vann]

Great thread, its obvious you put some time into this. You made me realize out talent pool is deeper than I though. The range of 20-25 year olds is very impressive as these will probably be the future both in '06 and '10 mixed with some vets.

[ChrisE]

Nice thread, voros, I really enjoy these.

By my count, these are the players who have fallen off since your last list:

D.J. Countess, Carlos Elliott, Joey Franchino, Grover Gibson, Daniel Hernandez, David Johnson, Nate Jaqua, C.J. Klaas, Phil Salyer, David Stokes, Jacob Thomas, Pete Vagenas

while these are the guys who got added were:

Armas, McBride, Sanneh, Stewart; Denny, Jiminez, Kotschau, Petke, Prideaux, Wolyniec, Zavagnin


Maybe what's most indicative here is that Qualifying is getting closer and closer, and we don't have time to fool around with young prospects - only two really young guys made the list, and they're more likely just thrown in for variety; the bulk of the additions were decidedly unskilled but competent MLS players.

A few of the subtractions baffle me (Namoff must have been an oversight, Hernandez has extenuating circumstances), but for the most part they make sense. They're mostly prospects who have failed to impress (plus a few thoroughly mediocre MLS'ers - Franchino and Vagenas).

Among field players, the biggest increase came from Chris Albright (+4), who I think everyone can agree has benefitted from his new position, and Sasha Victorine, who is moving up mostly because younger guys are moving down. Others include Conor Casey (+3), Arturo Alvarez (+2), and Pat Noonan (+2).

The guys who have seen their stock decrease are Jeff Cunningham (-4), who seems pretty much out of the USMNT picture, four right backs (Whitfield, Lewis, Gray, Pierce, -3), and two left backs (Gbandi, -3, Whitbread, -2).


The positions that saw the most movement were right back, then left back, then goalkeeper, those that saw the least were center back, then attacking mid, then left mid.

[Casper]

They're both on the fringes, I guess, but since Cannon is just 14-15 months younger, he doesn't likely have any more upside than Thornton, while Thornton was probably #4 when Arena picked three keepers for the 2002 World Cup.

Good post, but I'm pretty sure Thornton was no higher than #5 for the '02 World Cup. Howard seemed to be the #4, even without playing time up until that point.

[Atouk]

Good post, but I'm pretty sure Thornton was no higher than #5 for the '02 World Cup. Howard seemed to be the #4, even without playing time up until that point.Thanks.

Since both Thornton and Howard were named to Arena's list of 10 alternates, they were certainly 4/5 at that point. Arena started Thornton in the final two matches of '01 (T&T qualifier and at South Korea) and gave Howard his first cap in a March '02 friendly against Ecuador.

The least capped guys at the time the squad was named in April '02 were Mastroeni (8) and Beasley (9). I wonder if Arena would have taken 1-cap Howard before the somewhat more experienced Thornton (8 caps at that point). My impression at the time was that Thornton was higher on the depth chart, but I'm not certain and don't recall if Arena said.

That being said, Thornton's chances of contributing much for the Stars-and-Stripes in the future are fairly slim, but I'd still put him ahead of Cannon.

[SmittyLax6]

I was kinda excited that Zak Whitbread was on the list, but I think he will probably be higher up once 2006 roles around, certainly above Heyduk. Has anyone heard how he is recovering from his injury during Olympic Qualifying?

[TrojanWheels]

THis is my first post to this Big Soccer sight. That is a great thread about the depth chart. However, does Arena see Mastroeni as a right back or defensive mid. If he is a defensive mid then he would probably be in the # 2 spot. I have not scene or heard of Mastroeni moving to right back. As for now I think this is a good chart but things I forsee are O'Brien trading with Reyna in Defensive and Offensive roles considering JOB had a goal and assist and started the 2nd goal against Mexico. His playmaking is getting better. Casey seems like he will move past a Twellman and Kirovski. Casey has more points in a NAT uniform than Twellman.

[Atouk]

However, does Arena see Mastroeni as a right back or defensive mid. Or as a center back.

Welcome to Big Soccer!

[forza inter]

i remember arena saying he chose meola as the 3rd keeper was because he wanted tim to get playing time back home. not throton but howard, it was between howard and meola for the last kepper spot. sorry all you thorton fans.


forza inter

[voros]

Nice thread, voros, I really enjoy these.

By my count, these are the players who have fallen off since your last list:

D.J. Countess, Carlos Elliott, Joey Franchino, Grover Gibson, Daniel Hernandez, David Johnson, Nate Jaqua, C.J. Klaas, Phil Salyer, David Stokes, Jacob Thomas, Pete Vagenas

while these are the guys who got added were:

Armas, McBride, Sanneh, Stewart; Denny, Jiminez, Kotschau, Petke, Prideaux, Wolyniec, Zavagnin


Maybe what's most indicative here is that Qualifying is getting closer and closer, and we don't have time to fool around with young prospects - only two really young guys made the list, and they're more likely just thrown in for variety; the bulk of the additions were decidedly unskilled but competent MLS players.

A few of the subtractions baffle me (Namoff must have been an oversight, Hernandez has extenuating circumstances),

Namoff basically was the victim of the addition of Sanneh adn Albright to the right back pool. I like Bryan, but there's been little indication thus far that he's in any of the national team plans. I used the pool listing on US Soccer's website as one guide, and the various recent callups list as another (and a Bruce quote for the placement of Ritchie Kotschau). There's plenty of guys that I rate higher (and lower) than listed., but I'm trying to see what direction Bruce is heading. Clearly guys like Albright and Zavagnin have piqued his interest a bit while Cunningham and others have fallen a bit by the wayside

I think Namoff has a shot to make up ground for 2010, but he has a long way to go for 2006 and not a whole lot of time to make it up.

[voros]

THis is my first post to this Big Soccer sight. That is a great thread about the depth chart. However, does Arena see Mastroeni as a right back or defensive mid. If he is a defensive mid then he would probably be in the # 2 spot. I have not scene or heard of Mastroeni moving to right back. As for now I think this is a good chart but things I forsee are O'Brien trading with Reyna in Defensive and Offensive roles considering JOB had a goal and assist and started the 2nd goal against Mexico. His playmaking is getting better. Casey seems like he will move past a Twellman and Kirovski. Casey has more points in a NAT uniform than Twellman.
Don't both Twellman and Casey have one, or does US Soccer not give out secondary assists?

Anyway, Twellman's only a year and a few months older than Casey so Casey isn't really a youngster comparitively. I'd say the jury is still way out until they both get some more nats time. Both made the Mexico squad so it appears Bruce wants to look at both some more.

[lurking]

Just some comments.

Forwards:
Alecko and Magee may be on Bruce's mind more than Cooper, but there is no question in my mind that Cooper has a far far higher ceiling than either. I wouldnt bet on any being on the team in '06, but if I had to I'd say Cooper
Casey I think is also shooting way up this list I think. He may be #1 or #2 by the end of the year. Hes certainly ahead of Twellman.

Right Wing:
I think Olsen is off Bruce's radar here. Hes moved to the center for his club team, and his last cap was in the center. I just dont think he will get a call in there again. By the end of the month, Noonan could be #1 here. From what I've seen hes really impressed Bruce, while Klein and Ralston havent done anything there. I think the only reason he hasnt been capped there is the bringing in slowly approach.

Left Wing:
I think you probably should have just stopped after 3. ;)

Attacking Central mid:
Lisi is probably ahead of Beckerman in Bruces mind, at least hes mentioned the former, but not the latter. I really think by '06 the guy that will be there is Gaven, I just see it him as the young kid he comes on to stake a claim. He plays beyond his years.

Defensive midfield:
First JOB should probably be as an attacking mid. Second, Armas has been a lock in midfield when healthy. Bruce will keep going to him. Not that I think he will be there mind you come WC '06. But who ends up there.. I have no clue.

Center Back:
First, Gibbs is a center back. Boca is more likely to be as a left back. After those two, its a bit muddled, but Im not worried about being weak here.

Left Back:
Why Gbandi is slated at left back on these lists ill never know. Im pretty sure hes been flat out beat out at left back by the rookie Wagenfeuhr (whos himself injured, go figure) for the Burn. Like the defensive mid, (I hate this position, two way players only please) I have no idea what will happen here. Just WIDE open. Hopefully someone claims it by '06.

Right back:
Dolo is really benefitting under the new coach at Hannover, as their new coach seems to be laying Focussing on defense, and thats translating in better more confident play from SC. I think he will lock down the position by '06 if things stay on course.

Goalkeeper:
Who cares? We will be fine there.

Overall I admire the ambition of these lists, but I think it doesnt take into account how murky some of these comparisons are. Its hard to say what the pecking order is in many places, assuming there is even one. Again though, you did a very good job in what is probably an impossible task. ;)

[voros]

Just some comments.

Overall I admire the ambition of these lists, but I think it doesnt take into account how murky some of these comparisons are. Its hard to say what the pecking order is in many places, assuming there is even one. Again though, you did a very good job in what is probably an impossible task. ;)
Obviously it's a tough task, but to me the list of 100 players is a bit more important than whatever order I ranked them in. The point being that with maybe one or two exceptions, the 23 players likely to make the WC 2006 squad if we manage to qualify are likely on that list of 100.

Sure a Namoff or a Salyer or even a young current Bradenton who blossoms in 2005 (like a Jonathan Villanueva or Ryan Soroka) might make a mad dash at it by early 2006, but most likely these are the guys for better or for worse.

[Atouk]

Don't both Twellman and Casey have one, or does US Soccer not give out secondary assists?No. USSF box scores assign a max of one assist.

[ttrevett]

i remember arena saying he chose meola as the 3rd keeper was because he wanted tim to get playing time back home. not throton but howard, it was between howard and meola for the last kepper spot. sorry all you thorton fans.


forza inter

Nice call Inter, thanks.

[DigitalTron]

Great job Voros! Here's my slightly altered (shifted categories, re-ordered prospects, and shortened) listing of who I think are the real candidates at this point.


Goalkeeper
1. Tim Howard (27)
2. Jonny Walker (31)
3. Kasey Keller (36)
4. Brad Friedel (35)
5. Adin Brown (28)
6. Nick Rimando (26)
7. Marcus Hahnemann (33)
8. Kevin Hartman (32)
9. Joe Cannon (31)

Left Back
1. Greg Vanney (31)
2. Frankie Hejduk (31)
3. Wade Barrett (29)
4. Todd Dunivant (25)

Right Back
1. Chris Albright (27)
2. Pablo Mastroeni (29)
3. Steve Cherundolo (27)
4. Robbie Russell (26)

Center Back
1. Eddie Pope (32)
2. Carlos Bocanegra (27)
3. Cory Gibbs (26)
4. Jim Curtin (26)
5. Jonathan Spector (20)
6. Danny Califf (26)
7. Eddie Robinson (27)

Defensive Midfield
1. John O'Brien (28)
2. Claudio Reyna (32)
3. Ricardo Clark (23)
4. Danny Szetela (18)
5. Richard Mulrooney (29)

Attacking and Central Midfield
1. Bobby Convey (23)
2. Clint Mathis (29)
3. Kyle Martino (25)

Left Winger
1. DaMarcus Beasley (24)
2. Eddie Lewis (32)
3. Justin Mapp (21)
4. Brad Davis (24)
5. Arturo Alvarez (20)

Right Winger
1. Chris Klein (30)
2. Eddie Gaven (19)
3. Pat Noonan (25)
4. Ben Olsen (29)
5. Brian Mullan (28)

Forwards
1. Landon Donovan (24)
2. Brian McBride (33)
3. Josh Wolff (29)
4. Freddy Adu (16)
5. Taylor Twellman (26)
6. Edson Buddle (25)
7. Ante Razov (32)
8. Eddie Johnson (22)
9. Conor Casey (24)
10. Jeff Cunningham (29)
11. Santino Quaranta (21)


-Digital