Who Will be the Last Six Players on US Squad?

[Serie Zed]

Which of the SIX players in the poll do you think will make the trip. If you think someone on the other list is more likely than one of my picks below, indicate that in a post.

Since I could only choose 16 players for this poll, I've given the following players a pre-punched ticket to Germany:

McBride
Wolff
Johnson
Beasley
Donovan
JOB
Pablo
Dempsey
Reyna
Gooch
Gibbs
Pope
Bocanegra
Cherundolo
Keller + 2 keepers

That leaves six spots...

[Heathens '87]

Lewis is pretty much a given as well. Ching goes as a back-up target forward for the aging McBride, Hejduk to provide depth at outside back positions, Spector gets a taste of where he'll be in 2010, Zavagnin might make it as a back-up to Pablo, and Convey and Noonan could go because between them, they can cover numerous positions in an emergency.

The only one I'm iffy about is Zavagnin, as Armas may push him out, or JOB and Reyna may be seen as possibilities at D-Mid, opening up another roster position to take both Convey and Noonan....

[XYZ1234]

You left out Mastroeni,

*edit* never mind you edited your post.

[Bigrose30]

Lewis has been a lock in the starting lineup when available. I expect him to be in even better form now that he's moved to Leeds and will (reportedly) be playing exclusively as a winger.

[Serie Zed]

You left out Mastroeni

Thanks.

[XYZ1234]

Lewis, Hejduk, Ching and Spector are my 4 easy picks, the last 2 are tough.

I'd guess a player or 2 that can cover a bunch of positions, or like Heathens said maybe another Dmid.

I don't know if we will have a young offensive new guy like we did in 2002. Maybe Gaven instead of another Dmid.

[asdf2]

Steve Ralston
Brian Ching
Bobby Convey
Greg Vanney
Frankie Hejduk
Eddie Lews

Alternates for the inevitable injuries:

Pat Noonan
Chris Armas or Zavagnin
Conrad (based on what little we've seen)

Also, I'd hardly call Wolff a lock, though I think he'll make it.

Lastly, a lot can change in 10-12 months. Not may would have had called Dempsey a "lock" a year ago.

[lmorin]

And, by the way, I am not sure Reyna is a lock. He's at an age requiring that he prove himself every day. His endurance is suspect and is likely to get worse as the current season progresses. Would BA take him as a sub? Maybe.

[xkimo_fire]

A question?

What is the benefit of bringing a player like Noonan over Eddie Gaven?

[galaxyfan03]

My votes for who I think BRUCE will take:

Eddie Lewis (IMHO he's a given & Dempsey is "on the fence")
Frankie Hejduk
Greg Vanney
Chris Armas
Steve Ralston
Brian Ching

Who I would take to see go (as long as they're heatlhy & in-form):

Eddie Lewis
Chris Albright
Jonathan Spector
Chris Klein (not on the poll list but a player I feel needs to be considered)
Brian Ching
Eddie Gaven

[dfb547490]

Ching, Spector, Hejduk, Lewis, Marshall, Quaranta

[PaulGascoigne]

A question?

What is the benefit of bringing a player like Noonan over Eddie Gaven?

What do you mean--how is a player "like Noonan" different from a player "like Gaven? I suppose more the guy who is good at combining w/ other for goals (Gaven) vs. the guy who has (by US standards) good 1 v. 1 skills breaking down the defense (Noonan).

If you suggest Gaven should go, you will channel the ire of those who saw his mediocre performance during some, if not all, of the recent U-20 tournament. I have serious doubts about both people, but both have potential to round into form by then.

Noonan seems to be the flavor of the month on BS. The last FOM was Dempsey, who seems to be pretty much a WC Insider at this point. Gaven is a former FOM who has seen ups and downs in the last year.

(Edit: I also agree Claudio might not come, but despite being perhaps not as good as at his apex, his ball holding skills are such (only LD and JOB are in his class) that if he is in good shape and playing well, I can't imagine Bruce not taking him, if nothing else for leadership and experience. If you have a 1-goal lead over, say Italy and you need a 72nd minute sub who can slow things down and hold the ball, I can't imagine Bruce would have many better options than Claudio.)

[Steel Keeper]

Noonan, Ching, Spector, Hejduk, Lewis, and Quaranta (I hope)

[Innocenza]

Maybe you should punch Armas' ticket now, given the Bruce-love happening. ;)

[voyager]

I have no guess at all 6 but I can tell you who I think the last person will be on the squad. ME. I will be the LAST person Da Bruce adds to the squad. :p

[BenC1357]

It's Kerry Zavagnin, not Kary.

[Serie Zed]

If Reyna is healthy, he's a mortal lock.

Interestingly, the results here have a clear break -- there are exactly six players from the list tipped by the collective wisdom (cough) of Big Soccer to make the trip:

Lewis, Hejduk, Ching, Ralston, Noonan, Spector

Another four seem to be seen as being the replacements for injuries since they play very specific roles:

Vanney, Conrad, Zavagnin, Armas

Two could be considered young players who might develop enough in the coming year to win a spot outright: Gaven, Convey

While Sanneh, Casey, Albright and everyone else are seen as outsiders at this point.

[Serie Zed]

And you'd have the following side in Germany:

McBride, Wolff, Johnson, Ching, Noonan
Beasley, Donovan, JOB, Pablo, Dempsey, Reyna, Lewis, Ralston
Onyewu, Gibbs, Pope, Bocanegra, Cherundolo, Spector, Hejduk
Keller + 2

Looks about right to me barring injury. And looking at the full list you can see why Gaven and Convey have got a shot to earn something as well.

[Mr Martin]

This poll is a nice way to frame the WC roster issues/options. The list of 17 "locks" is fair and reasonable, and focussing on the remaining 6 slots is a nice method of using the poll.

The top 6 vote-getters so far are also reasnable when viewed based on the recent call-ups and the one "wild-card" of Spector, who so many posters have such high hopes for. The six as of this morning are:

Lewis, Hejduk, Ching, Ralston, Noonan, Spector

Indeed, the poll essentially puts Lewis into the lock category with about 95% of the voters supporting him. Hejduk is almost there, too. Realistically, given the US's limited options at outside back, Hey Dude's work-rate, fitness, and team-charachter traits, he seems like a lock as well. So, that's 19 spots done. Only 4 field positions remain (barring injury).

So, let's look at the BS consensus picks for the final 4 spots:

Ching, Ralston, Noonan, Spector

Do these make sense?

Spector makes sense as a 7th defender and as the hoped-for better left back option. Really, if Spector doesn't make his step to the Nat Team soon, it will probably be Vanney who makes the final roster, as Arena will take 7 or even 8 defenders, and another outside back option is essential. Few BS posters have much confidence that Vanney is a WC quality defender, so let's hope the BS consensus is right about Spector. Conrad also has a shot, but at least one of the final 4 WILL be a defender.

Ching makes sense if you assume a second target forward is needed to backup McBride. I'm not sold on the target striker role, as I prefer more speed up top. Plus, Ching is not very versatile. But Ching is not illogical as an individual or within the roster's needs for a possible backup target striker.

Ralston makes sense only if you really feel the team needs a one-dimensional reserve right midfielder. I think Ralston is the weakest and least likely of the BS consnesus picks to make the cut. He's a terrific role-playing depth guy for qualifiers, but I don't think he'll make the final roster, especially if Noonan does make the final roster.

Noonan makes sense for versatility as a reserve outside mid and reserve striker. Arena likes versatility, and that is a useful trait in a tournament.

Frankly, I think the BS consensus has picked three players (Ching, Noonan, and Ralston) who are probably competing for only TWO roster spots at best. Ching and Ralston are one-position specialists, while Noonan is more versatile and could play either of Ching's or Ralston's positions. TWO of these three may go, but not all three. I could see taking Ching and Ralston and skipping Noonan. Or taking Ching and Noonan, but skipping Ralston.

If so, who fills the re-opened 23d spot? I think it could be a more versatile player like Convey, who can play outside back, outside mid, or even central-attacking mid. Or it might be Vanney or Conrad, if Arena wants an 8th defender. Even Quaranta has a shot, given his versatility.

But, barring injuries or a big drop in form, probably only 4 field positions are still up for grabs in the next 7-8 months. Individual form plus team balance/depth needs will decide who gets on.

[Kilmer17]

I think alot of it will be based on who we draw in the group.

Bruce started different lineups and different formations in J/K, I see no reason to not expect the same this time around.

I think Heydude is a lock just for his motor. He seems to be Bruce's fallback at every position.