Wahl: How the US might look in Germany

[GPK]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/grant_wahl/09/07/usmnt.notebook/index.html

[Karl K]

I think Grant is pretty much dead on.

The final forward position, as he notes, is up for grabs.

I think Frankie is going to make the team; Mexico shows why he can be so valuable. The guy who won't go? Pope.

To me, Dempsey remains a bubble player. Now that I see how things have played out, I understand why Bruce put him on the wing against England. He really wanted him to succeed out there, which would allow him a lot of midfield roster versatility. Alas, it must have been a real downer to Bruce to see Clint struggle in that role. If he doesn't make the squad, Clint can look back to that game as the one where he blew it.

Right now, unlike last cycle, I don't see any "out of nowhere" player like Beasely (such as THAT was) or Mastoeni last time around. The candidates are probably Spector and Adu. Maybe Mullan. For some on here, there are chills and palpitations over Clark as the next coming of, I dunno, Dunga, or Makelele. Maybe. Maybe not.

The final qualifier may give us a hint there, if any.

Meanwhile, if we go to Germany with this group Wahl notes, and are healthy up and down the roster, and we get a good draw, we can make some noise.

[gunner_21]

Is Eddie Lewis really going to remain at LB?

[elephantstone]

Defenders (8): Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Eddie Lewis, Eddie Pope, Cory Gibbs, Chris Albright, Gregg Berhalter. Arena took eight defenders in '02 and was still scraping the bottom of the barrel by the end due to yellow cards. (You wouldn't have wanted to see the lineup against Korea if the U.S. had made the semis.) So I'm guessing at least eight here.

The big question is whether the Lewis experiment at left back succeeds. If so, I think Frankie Hejduk might be in trouble. Or maybe Albright, but I'd guess Albright wins by a hair if it comes down to him or Hejduk. (Frankie's getting older.) Jonathan Spector could get some game time this fall, but I don't think there'll be enough chances for him to make it.

1) He may have been scraping the barrel for defenders, but don't forget that the only field player not to get time in the tournament was a defender -- David Regis.

2) I think Bruce just likes Frankie, and will take him if it comes down to him and Albright. Not only does Frankie give him the work rate he likes, and not only has Frankie had two great World Cups already, but Frankie is more versatile in terms of positioning. I think Albright is out barring a Hejduk injury.

3) If Spector becomes a daily starter at Charlton, I don't think Bruce has any choice but to bring him in for our spring friendlies and give him a look. Especially given his ability to play left back, I doubt Bruce can leave an everyday Premiership defender at home. Of course, this all depends on him getting playing time at Charlton.

[Heathens '87]

Not an unreasonable line-up at all....and I'm finding little to disagree with....

GK - Keller, Howard, Hahnemann Seems clear....

D - Onyewu, Cherundolo, Bocanegra, Lewis, Pope, Gibbs, Albright, Berhalter He thinks Albright gets the nod over Hejduk, and wonders if Spector can make up enough ground to get a slot. After Saturday, I think Hejduk is in the lead, and Pope has to look over his shoulder at Spector.

M - Beasley, Reyna, O'Brien, Mastroeni, Armas, Convey, Dempsey, Quaranta Grants wonders if Santino is going to beat out Ralston, and thinks Armas is going to get the back-up D-Mid slot. I tend to agree about Santino, but Ralston isn't going out without a fight.

F - McBride, Donovan, Johnson, Twellman I think we'll carry another target-style forward to back-up the aging McBride, and think it'll be Ching.

That puts four guys on the bubble for the last cut in my book - Dempsey, Armas, Pope, and Twellman. Dempsey may get bumped as Landon plays mid, if O'Brien can play D-Mid Armas is in trouble, if Spector is ready, it'll be hard to carry Pope, and if Landon is a forward, Twellman might be out. Position decisions will certainly affect the final roster.......

[Karl K]

If O'Brien can play D-Mid, I'm not sure Chris is going to Germany.....

And add to that ...stay healthy.

Can he? If I were a betting man, which I sometimes am, I wouldn't count on it.

[HartwickFan]

I'm surprised Grant picks Pope to make the WC roster. If Pope were going to make the roster, wouldn't he have at least been on the Mexico roster? As far as I know, Pope is not injured. If that's the case, then I think his omission signals that he has fallen off the roster.

I also can't imagine Albright making the roster over Hejduk. Bruce will want Frankie's experience and versatility, and Frankie always seems to step up and play well when it really matters.

[sch2383]

If Spector gets serious playing time, I think he will push out Albright. He can play all 4 positions in the backline, Bruce has got to like that.

[uniteo]

that list is pretty thin at forward, especially if Donovan moves to midfield, which I think may be of benefit to Quaranta and Dempsey. Remember, Bruce likes versatility and both can play up top.

Ralston I think is just too easily negated by teams with speed on that side.

Young guys who could make a push; Spector and Adu. Two other 'out of nowhere' candidates, Rico Clark and Karbassiyoon (nope, never seen him play, based on rep only).

[LittleMaradona]

Screw Whal, I want more Trecker. :) Really a good analysis. I liked his take on Arena hitting one more WC cycle. I wouldn't mind seeing him another four years after WC06' (although I don't think many agree).

[guamster]

The important news from Grant's Inside Soccer (http://premium.si.cnn.com/pr/subs2/siexclusive/2005/pr/subs/siexclusive/09/05/soccer0912/index.html) column:


By the end of the flight, labor and management were shaking hands on the framework of a deal, and they reached a financial agreement at meetings a week later in Los Angeles.

The result: With only minor legal matters still pending, both sides expect to sign a new labor deal in the next month, ending any threat of a strike between now and the 2010 World Cup.

[bshredder]

I liked Wahl's artical. He's made a good case.

Hejduk will certainly make the squad. I am less sure of Albright. I also think Spector will make the squad in lieu of Armas. This is because Lewis can be counted as both a midfielder and a defender.

O'Brien will be injured too.

[Heathens '87]

And add to that ...stay healthy.

Can he? If I were a betting man, which I sometimes am, I wouldn't count on it.


You won't find me taking a bet about JOB's health. All of this doesn't factor in health, and looking back at 2002, there will likely be a handful of decisions where that's a deciding factor.....

To really get a handle on the roster, my guess is that Bruce wants to work it down to 30 players starting off 2006 with a shot to go. Health and form will help make the cut down to 23, but experimentation and audition time is soon coming to an end.....

[tacos]

Any SI subscribers out there who can paraphrase the "Inside Soccer Section"?

[bshredder]

Screw Whal, I want more Trecker. :) Really a good analysis. I liked his take on Arena hitting one more WC cycle. I wouldn't mind seeing him another four years after WC06' (although I don't think many agree).

Believe me, most here want Arena back. Those who don't are loud, but not in the majority.

[Nutmeg]

I see a few players very close to the bubble here.


Pope - I don't see him making it. Possible replacements: Marshall, Spector
Albright - This is going to be tight, but I think because Frankie has shown he steps it up on the big stage, plus he can cover at Left Back, he gets the nod.
Armas - 32 years old now. Injury history. Getting slower. At best, he'll be a sub. Possible replacements: Zavagnin, Clark.
Dempsey - As talented as Clint is, he has to show a lot more with the US team. Possible replacements: Mapp, Gaven.
Quaranta - I think he'll get in, but he still has to show between now and then that he can be relied upon as a first-choice right mid. Possible replacements: Ralston, Mullan (long-shot).
Twellman - Pretty simple - can he play a role in Arena's system. I don't know. Possible replacements: Ching, Wolff, Cunningham
I also question whether Bruce will take 5 central defenders. If not, look for him to add another forward or right-sided midfielder.

[FirstStar]

that list is pretty thin at forward, especially if Donovan moves to midfield, which I think may be of benefit to Quaranta and Dempsey. Remember, Bruce likes versatility and both can play up top.

Ralston I think is just too easily negated by teams with speed on that side.

Young guys who could make a push; Spector and Adu. Two other 'out of nowhere' candidates, Rico Clark and Karbassiyoon (nope, never seen him play, based on rep only).

Ralston is out- period. I think Q and Dempsey have to show well in the next few months to make the squad (and I think Bruce is really hoping that they will do so). I would really hope that we could find better players than Armas, Albright and Berhalter. Heydude is better than Berhalter, but Spector is better than both.

Lewis at LB is a fixture for the future. He gives us a lot of options and really solves two puzzles at once (what to do at LB and how to play all our left-footed players).

Karby is not going to make our WC roster, so forget about that. Heath Pearce would be a better wildcard, but he doesn't have much of a chance either. Spector should have a chance, but has the worst luck with his injuries. Still, he's a known quantity and will start getting minutes at Charlton soon. My other wildcard is Benny Feilhaber. He had an outstanding WYC and is playing very well for Hamburg's reserve team. He won't see first team minutes there this year (not the German way to let young players up the ladder), but he has outstanding talent and could be a surprise addition, especially if JOB starts showing his usual glass-hamstrings.

[LittleMaradona]

Dempsey - As talented as Clint is, he has to show a lot more with the US team. Possible replacements: Mapp, Gaven.
Just as long as Gaven doesn't play as he did in the U20 WC.

Talk about doing nothing. Not just one game, but the entire tournament. Bitch all you want about Adu not living up to expectations, but Gaven was as invisible as I've ever seen a player.

[guamster]

Any SI subscribers out there who can paraphrase the "Inside Soccer Section"?

The gist of the column is that LD has been a leader of this team on and off the field.

Landon Donovan was instrumental in getting the players back into camp in January and agreeing not to strike this year while talks continued.

In June, on a flight from the Panama WCQ, Donovan's conversations with Sunil Gulati led to a verbal agreement between the players and the federation. A new labor deal is expected to be signed in the next month.

Thank you Donovan.

[Stupid_American]

At the end of the article, Wahl mentions that Arena might stay on until 2010. I am an Arena apologist and believes he identifies talent well, but I really find this to be disheartening.

I just feel that a fresh start for our pool of players would be great for injecting life into position battles, etc. Having to prove your importance to the team, whether you are Landon & DMB or you are Twellman & Ricardo Clark, would be a great way to maintain a high standard of play in the run-up to 2010, especially as CONCACAF continues to lack real challenges for us.