6/12/06 - US v. Denmark

[kinstlinger]

OK, not necessarily the Danes, but I've always liked them, and I chose as a hypothetical country for our first match in WC06.

Looking over the 02 rosters, I was curious which players were ABSOLUTE locks to make the 2006 squad.

Here's what I came up with - Donovan, Beasley, Reyna, Friedel, Pope, McBride, Keller.

JOB would be there if he could stay healthy, but I often think we were blessed to even have him healthy for two weeks in June of 2002.

There are a lot of guys who would seem to be inclusions - Mastroeni, Armas, Mathis, Wolff, Hedjuk, but with their on-again/off-again performances, and improvement in guys like Casey, Gibbs, Boca, Convey, Gaven, etc. I don't know if I can label any of them as 'locks'.

Now, when we play Cameroon in our SECOND game, that's a whole other story.

[russ]

Ithink all three EPL keepers are locks.

Also Boca.

The other picks will depend on form and our opponent.

[kinstlinger]

I think I worded it wrong. I was thinking about 02 roster players who were locks.

[russ]

I think I worded it wrong. I was thinking about 02 roster players who were locks.
No you were right.I didn't see that phrase about the 2002 roster..

Mathis isn't a lock?

[IASocFan]

Injuries make everyone tentative.

With the emergence of Howard and some of the issues with Keller and Friedel, I don't see the three EPL stars all going. On recent form, I only see Beasley, Donovan, and Pope as locks. Reyna and McBride have been aging well and healthy lately, but will be two years older in 2006. Mastro, Wolff, and Mathis are good possibilities.

[ghazi]

I think Mathis is a defo lock. I was always critical of him, but he has played some great ball in Hannover and the change was obvious vs Poland. With 2 more ears of Bundesliga experience, he should be a better player.

I'm not too big on Wolf, but I think Brian Ching and Twellman should be given every opportunity to earn a spot on the WC 06 team. They are fearless, which is something we rarely see in American strikers.

[kinstlinger]

Hell, Clint was on the cover of SI in 2002, and only made it into 2 games.

With him, it's never been about talent, it's been about whether or not his head is on straight.

If he IS on the '06 roster, it means he's been playing well, and is deserving of a spot. Let's hope so.

[rpi-fan]

Hell, Clint was on the cover of SI in 2002, and only made it into 2 games.

With him, it's never been about talent, it's been about whether or not his head is on straight.

If he IS on the '06 roster, it means he's been playing well, and is deserving of a spot. Let's hope so.

Am I the only one who isn't as sold on Pope '06 as seemingly everybody else is?

Yes, he's playing "good" right now (note: not great). He's also past his peak, and is, as they say, not getting any younger. Now, I'm not saying a huge dropoff is inevitable, or even likely, but isn't it certainly possible?

If, in '98, you asked who was a lock for JK, I'm sure most people would say Agoos. And while he made the team, it wasn't by a wide margin, and as we all know his soccer career was effectively ruined by his performance in the WC.

I think it's important to draw the line between "lock right now" and "lock 700 days from now". A lot can happen in that time... presumably, Boca will be our star central defender, and while Mastroeni hasn't been kicking in doors this season, it's certainly reasonable to think he might be paired with Boca. When you consider that players like Cochrane and Marshall are almost ready to start knocking on the door, it's hard to etch him in stone into the roster, right now.

~rpi-fan

[Adam Zebrowski]

I think a Gibbs/Bocanegra central defense is the most likely in 06...

Pope's age is a main question, and I believe the otehr two can get better while Eddie has seen his best days

[russ]

Pope may not be a starter by 06 but his experience will be invaluable.

He will be on the squad,barring injury.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I agree, Pope as 3rd central defender is where I'd place him in 06.

A guy you can trust if needed.

[kurgen99]

I think Mathis is a defo lock. I was always critical of him, but he has played some great ball in Hannover and the change was obvious vs Poland. With 2 more ears of Bundesliga experience, he should be a better player.

I'm not too big on Wolf, but I think Brian Ching and Twellman should be given every opportunity to earn a spot on the WC 06 team. They are fearless, which is something we rarely see in American strikers.

I'd MUCH rather have Brian Ching down there, or Conor Casey then Wolf.
He bugs.

[DamonEsquire]

Poland versus Denmark (or vice verse) on August 18th. This is same day. That Team U.S.A. travel to Kingston Jamacia.

[OBartleby]

Shouldn't we worry about qualifying first?

[SamsArmySam]

Here's what I came up with - Donovan, Beasley, Reyna, Friedel, Pope, McBride, Keller.

Man, two years is a long way away.

Of these, I'd only say Donovan is a lock, and that's if he signs on with MLS through 2006. Beasley is close, but even he has some risk that he doesn't make the transition to PSV and ends up on the bench (very unlikely, but possible).

The other five are at the later stages of their careers, and their form could slip between now and then. Two years. Many on this list are also in top tier Euro leagues where there is a constant threat that a reserve team player or a transfer could bump them from the starting lineup.

Just look at Mathis to see what can happen. Six months ago? Tearing it up in Germany. A year ago? Big question mark as MLS was about to begin. Two years ago? Controversy around his "non-lock" status in J/K and his fitness level. Three years ago? Our savior--the man without whom we would not have qualified. Four years ago? Can't get past training camp and benchwarmer status with the Nats.

[tpm]

Man, two years is a long way away.

Of these, I'd only say Donovan is a lock, and that's if he signs on with MLS through 2006. Beasley is close, but even he has some risk that he doesn't make the transition to PSV and ends up on the bench (very unlikely, but possible).

The other five are at the later stages of their careers, and their form could slip between now and then. Two years. Many on this list are also in top tier Euro leagues where there is a constant threat that a reserve team player or a transfer could bump them from the starting lineup.

Just look at Mathis to see what can happen. Six months ago? Tearing it up in Germany. A year ago? Big question mark as MLS was about to begin. Two years ago? Controversy around his "non-lock" status in J/K and his fitness level. Three years ago? Our savior--the man without whom we would not have qualified. Four years ago? Can't get past training camp and benchwarmer status with the Nats.
Excellent point regarding the Mathis roller-coaster.

With regard to DMB et al, I think injuries will definitely become more of a factor as more of these guys go overseas.

1st of all, they'll be playing in inclement weather (more often than in MLS anyway), increasing the chance for injury.

2nd, they'll be playing in alot more matches and having to work even harder than they ever did in MLS.

3rd, if and when they start, there will be much greater competition for playing time, which means you play injured more often than you would in MLS.

Too much is unknown to say whether someone is a lock. 2 years is a heck of a long time.

[speedcake]

First mistake is assuming anyone is a "lock" to start, or even make the bench. Pretty good odds on some? Sure.

I think I'm also more interested in who's gonna take the field vs. Jamaica. It starts there. Period. Punktum.

Its nice to speculate, now and again, and the fact that we have so many budding stars on the horizon helps to add to that starry eyed obsession-laden nerve wracking feeling that comes with being a supporter on the eve of WC qualifying.

Carry on.