Gold Cup Invitees

[wva97]

First off, all due credit to voros who started this list on a thread regarding the top 50 players for 2006.

This list, however, focuses on who may be called in or left out for the Gold Cup this summer. The list includes players that have a realistic opportunity to be called into camp for the tournament, as well as fringe players who probably wouldn't be called in, but are included for argument's sake. If you feel someone noteworthy is omitted, please add them.

For the purposes of this list, I've highlighted the players I think Bruce will most likely call into camp for the Gold Cup assuming they're healthy, while taking into consideration "off-seasons" for European based players, rest for all players, MLS commitments, and a certain need for cohesion on the field (i.e. not all players should be rookies).

Category A - European Players

1. Kasey Keller
2. Tim Howard
3. Marcus Hahnemann
4. Brad the Retired

1. Carlos Bocanegra
2. John O'Brien
3. Jonathon Spector
4. Steve Cherundolo
5. Cory Gibbs
6. Oguchi Onyewu
7. Robbie Russell
8. Gregg Berhalter
9. Bobby Convey
10. Jay DeMerit
11. Frank Simek
12. Jay Denny

1. DaMarcus Beasley
2. Eddie Lewis
3. Brian West
4. Claudio Reyna
5. Peter Philipakos

1. Brian McBride
2. Conor Casey
3. Daniel Karbassiyoon
4. Kenny Cooper

Category B - Domestic Players

1. Jon Busch
2. Kevin Hartman
3. Joe Cannon
4. Nick Rimando
5. Johnny Walker

1. Greg Vanney
2. Ritchie Kotschau
3. Chris Albright
4. Frankie Hejduk
5. Nick Garcia
6. Eddie Pope
7. Chad Marshall
8. Danny Califf
9. Nat Borchers
10. Zak Whitbread

1. Pat Noonan
2. Justin Mapp
3. Landon Donovan
4. Steve Ralston
5. Brian Mullan
6. Chris Klein
7. Pablo Mastroeni
8. Kerry Zavagnin
9. Chris Armas
10. Ben Olsen
11. Ricardo Clark
12. Tony Sanneh
13. Clint Dempsey
14. Clint Mathis
15. Eddie Gaven
16. Kyle Martino
17. Freddy Adu
18. Ricardo Clark
19. Kyle Martino
20. Danny Szetela

1. Eddie Johnson
2. Brian Ching
3. Taylor Twellman
4. Josh Wolff
5. Edson Buddle
6. Alecko Eskandarian

That's 24 players, I believe, that are called into camp.

[helmzgk]

First off, all due credit to voros who started this list on a thread regarding the top 50 players for 2006.

This list, however, focuses on who may be called in or left out for the Gold Cup this summer. The list includes players that have a realistic opportunity to be called into camp for the tournament, as well as fringe players who probably wouldn't be called in, but are included for argument's sake. If you feel someone noteworthy is omitted, please add them.

For the purposes of this list, I've highlighted the players I think Bruce will most likely call into camp for the Gold Cup assuming they're healthy, while taking into consideration "off-seasons" for European based players, rest for all players, MLS commitments, and a certain need for cohesion on the field (i.e. not all players should be rookies).

Category A - European Players

1. Kasey Keller
2. Tim Howard
3. Marcus Hahnemann
4. Brad the Retired

1. Carlos Bocanegra
2. John O'Brien
3. Jonathon Spector
4. Steve Cherundolo
5. Cory Gibbs
6. Oguchi Onyewu
7. Robbie Russell
8. Gregg Berhalter
9. Bobby Convey
10. Jay DeMerit
11. Frank Simek
12. Jay Denny

1. DaMarcus Beasley
2. Eddie Lewis
3. Brian West
4. Claudio Reyna
5. Peter Philipakos

1. Brian McBride
2. Conor Casey
3. Daniel Karbassiyoon
4. Kenny Cooper

Category B - Domestic Players

1. Jon Busch
2. Kevin Hartman
3. Joe Cannon
4. Nick Rimando
5. Johnny Walker

1. Greg Vanney
2. Ritchie Kotschau
3. Chris Albright
4. Frankie Hejduk
5. Nick Garcia
6. Eddie Pope
7. Chad Marshall
8. Danny Califf
9. Nat Borchers
10. Zak Whitbread

1. Pat Noonan
2. Justin Mapp
3. Landon Donovan
4. Steve Ralston
5. Brian Mullan
6. Chris Klein
7. Pablo Mastroeni
8. Kerry Zavagnin
9. Chris Armas
10. Ben Olsen
11. Ricardo Clark
12. Tony Sanneh
13. Clint Dempsey
14. Clint Mathis
15. Eddie Gaven
16. Kyle Martino
17. Freddy Adu
18. Ricardo Clark
19. Kyle Martino
20. Danny Szetela

1. Eddie Johnson
2. Brian Ching
3. Taylor Twellman
4. Josh Wolff
5. Edson Buddle
6. Alecko Eskandarian

That's 24 players, I believe, that are called into camp.

I can see Bruce calling in 30 players or so.

I like the ones you've highlighted, but to add six more:
Clint Mathis
Bobby Convey
The Kyle Martnio Twins
The Ricardo Clark Twins

[pokemoncards]

I would strongly disagree with not calling adu into camp at least, let's see how his skills mesh with the national team

[Soulphish]

I mean seriously...now can you rank Kyle Martino above Kyle Martino....and Ricardo Clark below Ricardo Clark. It is apparent to everyone that Ricardo Clark couldn't carry Ricardo Clark's boots.

[USvsIRELAND]

I can see Bruce calling in 30 players or so.

I like the ones you've highlighted, but to add six more:
Clint Mathis
Bobby Convey
The Kyle Martnio Twins
The Ricardo Clark Twins

Clint definitely gets called in.


LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
on the second part.

[Lord15]

I don't think there's a chance of 18 domestic players getting called in for the Gold Gup when we could field a team almost entirely out of our foriegn players.

Just don't see Bruce doing it.

[MT mojo]

I think BA should field a team with a lot of young YA's. It will give them some experience against our regional foes and with some other national team members. It's not like the Gold Cup is such a huge deal that we need to call in the best team possible.

[Martin Fischer]

If by young YAs, MT Mojo means Cooper, Karbs and Simek, I vote no. They simply have not shown enough to take up space. My philosophy would be to use any Yank abroad that has shown anything and MLSers on the fringe who could benefit from the chance, while also limiting callups to 1 or 2 per team -- this limits the callups from the Crew unfortunately and is why Martino and Hejduk are not on my list. I would also rest those Euros that have been playing non-stop due to a recent switch from MLS -- Boca, Gibbs and Beasley. I would leave Howard to focus on his club career. JOB needs to get healthy before we even think about him. Dolo can have a break so Russell and Albright can get shots. I have also left out Johnson and McBride to try and give some other forwards a real shot. Through this exercise, I have realized that it is amazing to me how deep the USMNT appears

My 25 man practice roster:

Keller, Hahnemann, Cannon.

Berhalter, Gooch, DeMerit, Spector, Russell, Albright, Burciaga, Marshall

Lewis, Reyna, Philpakos, Convey, Klein, West, Mastroeni, Clark, Mathis, Noonan

Casey, Twellman, Buddle, Eskandarian

[wjarrettc]

Considering that MLS is in full swing during the Gold Cup, I believe Bruce will utilize this tournament for an entirely (or almost entirely) European based team so as not to interfere with MLS too much.

BTW, why didn't Zak Whitbread make the list of Euro-based players?

[Martin Fischer]

Considering that MLS is in full swing during the Gold Cup, I believe Bruce will utilize this tournament for an entirely (or almost entirely) European based team so as not to interfere with MLS too much.

BTW, why didn't Zak Whitbread make the list of Euro-based players?

I bet no. Doing well at the World Cup is the critical goal for Arena and I think he believes there are MLS players who could help but who have not established themselves yet. I bet he will want to look at those guys and he will want other MLSers there for some continuity, as Arena has never made it his practice to evaluate talent by putting a team of mostly new guys on the field.

I do concede that I think Brian McBride will be involved instead of one of the forwards I mentioned.

P.S. Perphaps Whitbred has been left off because he has never played a league match in his life.

[robchap628]

The Gold Cup gives us a great oppurtunity to try new players at new positions, but the only players that are really worth trying are players who have a chance to contribute to Germany '06. Players like Buddle, Eskandarian, Dempsey, Philapakos are all worth giving a shot to, but players like Simek, Whitbread and Adu, aren't worth playing because it's obvious they won't be ready for Germany. It would be better to play players like Donovan, Beasley, and Johnson and let them become more familiar with each other, then waste time looking at players who although have future potential, just won't be ready.

[MLSNHTOWN]

OK everyone needs to drop the Phillapakos talk. Don't get me wrong, we are ridiculously thin at right mid. But he has not done anything in Greece right now sans playing in like three games out of about 12 that he was healthy. He is young and very inexperienced. Keep him on the radar, but do not bring him into the team for the Gold Cup. He hasn't earned it.

To understand what Arena will do with the gold Cup, I think you need to look at what he did with 2004. My question is there going to be a Gold Cup in January next year like there was in 2004? Since there was in 2004, my guess is yes, but I don't know for sure.

If there is another gold cup in january of next year, I expect Bruce to use this gold cup to add depth to his squad by looking at fringe national teamers and seeing how they can contribute to the team if at all.

I would expect to see:

GK: Hahnemann, Cannon, and Hartman/Walker/flava of the week (and possibly Keller since he is off, but Arena might just give him a break.

D:
CB's: Gooch, Demerit, Marshall, Gibbs,
Outside backs: Spector, Russell, Burciaga, (maybe Dolo)


MF:
D-mids: Reyna, Zavagnin
right mids: Gaven, DMB/West/Klein
Left mids: Lewis, Noonan
a-mids: Mathis, Martino, Convey

F: Esky, Twellman, Buddle, Casey, Wolff

[fidlerre]

Brian West ain't coming. He'll be in the midst of his domestic club season.

Same with Russell.

[sidefootsitter]

The Gold Cup gives us a great oppurtunity to try new players at new positions, but the only players that are really worth trying are players who have a chance to contribute to Germany '06. Players like Buddle, Eskandarian, Dempsey, Philapakos are all worth giving a shot to, but players like Simek, Whitbread and Adu, aren't worth playing because it's obvious they won't be ready for Germany. It would be better to play players like Donovan, Beasley, and Johnson and let them become more familiar with each other, then waste time looking at players who although have future potential, just won't be ready. Whitbread may get PT at Liverpool, which makes him a possibility.

Robbie Russell and Brian West have a summer season in Norway and probably won't be called in for that reason alone.

The names that should get the bulk of playing time --- Philipakos, Onyewu, Spector (unless he's needed with the U-20s), Casey, Howard, Marshall and perhaps Demerit. Eddie Pope is going stay where he is now, with RSL. An intriguing name would be someone like the "never before" kid from Blackburn.

PS. I'd like to see Bruce try 3-5-2 also. It's not like he's against putting together some odd formation anyway.

[HTownSoccerGuy]

I think BA should field a team with a lot of young YA's. It will give them some experience against our regional foes and with some other national team members. It's not like the Gold Cup is such a huge deal that we need to call in the best team possible.
Bruce is not going to bring any YA's if they are fighting for a starting spot overseas. Why? The Gold Cup is 2nd to WCQ.

[Adam Zebrowski]

gaven and adu are coming off u-20, so i'd wager mls gets them instead of arena....spector u-20 to gold cup is all a question about whether he needs a break or not...

I agree go mostly with the euro guys, and 4 or 5 mls guys who are on the edge of usmnt would be possible...

based on the uefa match I saw philapakos play, although it was 22 minutes, I was LESS than impressed...he's NOT the answer...call him in, but I'm not holding my breathe expecting the answer from him

chris klein can do a better job than this kid, and I suspect a nice early season from klein gets him into the 4 or 5 mls guys arena might want to look at...

we need to let mls play out for the next couple months before selecting the mls guys

[Martin Fischer]

Brian West ain't coming. He'll be in the midst of his domestic club season.

Same with Russell.

Not necessarily. If they want to come and Arena wants them, he will simply call them in -- it's an official competition and there is no choice. Now if Arena thinks it is in his interest not to -- for example if Rosenborg would give Russell's job (does he have one) to someone else -- then he won't. But it is not cut and dried in either case as it is these guys only real chance to make an impression.

[FirstStar]

Not necessarily. If they want to come and Arena wants them, he will simply call them in -- it's an official competition and there is no choice. Now if Arena thinks it is in his interest not to -- for example if Rosenborg would give Russell's job (does he have one) to someone else -- then he won't. But it is not cut and dried in either case as it is these guys only real chance to make an impression.

I"d have to agree. I believe Bruce tried to call these guys for the Jamacia camp but injuries prevented their attendance. This is pretty much their last chance to impress and Bruce may call them anyway, especially if he thinks Robbie or Brian have a legitimate shot at playing for us in WC 2006. Remember, like MLS-based players, Robbie and Brian will be in mid-season form during the WC Finals.

[juventino3]

I think Bruce will go with a 30 man camp consisting of all domestic players other than Spector and Demerit.

Goalkeepers:
Cannon
Busch
Hartmann

Defenders:
Albright
Hejduk
Pope
Marhsall
Demerit
Spector
Burciaga
Borchers
Vanney

Midfielder:
Ralston
Mullan
Gaven
Mapp
Noonan
Mastroeni
Dempsey
Zavagnin
Donovan
Martino
Clark
Mathis

Forwards:
EJ
Buddle
Ching
Twellman
Eskandarian
Wolff

[MT mojo]

Maybe on my earlier post I should have said "less experienced YA's" instead of "young YA's". Guys like Convey, Spector, Onyewu, Casey, DeMerit are the guys I'm talking about. And O'Brien too.