Injuries and shape of the team??

[lmorin]

So, things are seemingly a bit more precarious than we would like.

Reyna is possibly out for weeks. Boca has been out and I haven't heard a return date. Pope had a good game for the Metros last weekend, but has not looked so hot a lot of the time this season. O'Brien can't play until he's earned it with at least a few club games. Zavagnin wasn't trusted enough to get on the field in the last game. Armas has just regained significant playing time after his injury. Mastroeni went 90' last game, but is either back to normal?

The Nats are looking a bit threadbare in the defending midfield and central defense. Is there a role for Sanneh, particularly in defensive midfield?

Comments and update info re injury status?

[WC2010Champs!]

after seeing him play saturday, he can be on my team anytime he wants

[lmorin]

after seeing him play saturday, he can be on my team anytime he wants
This is a good answer, but what was the question?

[Ringo]

This is a good answer, but what was the question?


I believe he was referring to the question of there being a role on the team for tony sanneh.

[WC2010Champs!]

absolutely the comment from the first post was "regarding a certain columbus defender" - he wasnt talking about frankie hedjuk - tony sanneh (when healthy) is one of those rare players that can play at an extremely high level at an extended age- if he is playing like this in two years he will definately be an integral part of the usa team in germany in 2006

[freisland]

JOB played another 45 minutes for Jong Ajax. They are bringing him back very gingerly. I would guess he played RB, although on the ajax web the line up seems to have him at CD (very unlikely, but anything is possible, since Ajax has been a bit unsettled in the middle.)

[Ringo]

question:

if JOB comes back to the U.S. healthy -- and I'm quite aware how big of an 'if' that is -- would it better for his body to play an outside back? it would he'd get beat up more in the center of the field than he would at right back.
would that be an accurate statement or is it too much of a generalization? thoughts?

[kurgen99]

Time for the Gooch?

Landon Center Mid, maybe also time for Mr. Gaven to get his feet wet.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I suspect we see a biox midfield with beasley and donovan at the top...

the bottom half would be two of the KZ/Armas/Mastroenin/sanneh mix...

I suspect the forwards would be wolff paired with mcbride....

pope and bocanegra in CD with cherundolo on the right...and the question becomes whether arena goes convey or vanney at left back...

I wouldn't bet on seeing gaven or johnson or onyewu anytime before semis are clinched.

[Red Card]

I suspect we see a biox midfield with beasley and donovan at the top...

the bottom half would be two of the KZ/Armas/Mastroenin/sanneh mix...

I suspect the forwards would be wolff paired with mcbride....

pope and bocanegra in CD with cherundolo on the right...and the question becomes whether arena goes convey or vanney at left back...

I wouldn't bet on seeing gaven or johnson or onyewu anytime before semis are clinched.

No goalkeeper? :)

[slpcpa]

No goalkeeper? :)
We won't need a GK against El Salvador - they will be afraid to cross the 50 yard-line - just like in Foxboro! ;)

[bing1985]

...The Nats are looking a bit threadbare in the defending midfield and central defense. Is there a role for Sanneh, particularly in defensive midfield?

Comments and update info re injury status?
Agreed - Armas looked good, in MLS play, but I'm not anxious to rush him back to 90 min of WCQ. Zavagnin and Mastro have both looked good and I would be quicker to take the chance on them if they had more playing time together. On second thought, I'd take the chance - both have good experience.

Sanneh as a d-mid? Interesting suggestion. What we would lose is the holding/controlling role that Reyna fills so well now. My own frustration wth Sanneh (and Pope too) over the years has been the lack of patience in restarting the attack. I hate to see the long balls going forward to no one in particular - drives me nuts when he does that. I'd still prefer to have Sanneh on the back line or as a stopper in a four-man back - play him ahead of Pope IMHO. I'm still hopefull that Boca can go.

[Adam Zebrowski]

of course usa can handle the es sans keeper!!

get an extra attacker out there and es will never cross midfield!!

I'd bring in friedel to get some pt, although keller can do as well as brad...

I like sanneh presence defensively, and in dead ball situations adding him to the mix just makes es defending ever more difficult.