Has anyone seen our First team play ?

[SUSIE-Q]

We've all been talking about each an individual of our player, and also which group the US more likely to be in and how our team will do next year but, we all actualy don't know yet what our FIRST team look like and how it plays, i bet no one has the answer to that since Bruce Areana has always been doing experimenting with new players so far, when are we going to be able to see our FIRST of the FIRST of USMNT for the first time prior to the WC anyway ? which by that time the discussion of our chance in Germany may well be started.

[Adam Zebrowski]

keller
cherundolo onyewu gibbs lewis
reyna mastroeni
donovan beasley
johnson mcbride

[forza inter]

keller
cherundolo onyewu gibbs lewis
reyna mastroeni
donovan beasley
johnson mcbride


for all intents and purposes ya thats it. a player could be swapped out here or there, but ya...this is what id lean on as our first team too.

forza inter

[Rowray]

If healthy, there is no way JOB does not start.

[SUSIE-Q]

Ok, that is the idea of our first team but, do you think it will play as good as we think it should ...?

[freisland]

Go watch a tape of the Mexico home game...

Assuming our first team is the following: (I've chosen healthy players only) KK, TH, MH, Dolo, Gooch, Boca, Beerholder, Heydude, Lewis, Reyna, Pablo, Bease, LD, Convey, McBride - with the rest likely to include Ralston, Albright, Wolff, Ching, Pope with thre rest of the positions filled out from, say Zav, Gaven, Spector, Olsen etc. We've seen: (likely "first-teamers" in bold)

MEXICO: Kasey Keller, Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu, Gregg Berhalter, Eddie Lewis, Steve Ralston, Claudio Reyna, Chris Armas, DaMarcus Beasley, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan.

SCOTLAND: Kasey Keller, Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Gregg Berhalter, Jonathan Spector, Brian Carroll, Kerry Zavagnin, Eddie Gaven, DaMarcus Beasley, Josh Wolff, Brian Ching,

GUAT: Kasey Keller, Chris Albright, Oguchi Onyewu, Gregg Berhalter, Eddie Lewis, Steve Ralston, Claudio Reyna, John O'Brien, Bobby Convey, Landon Donovan, Brian McBride

I think any of those games, save Scotland which lacked andy of the influential Reyna, LD and McBride, give you a decent idea of our team.

[tab5g]

wasn't there an Arena quote recently in which he said he had his first choice team available for only 3 of the 170+ games he's been in charge of the USMNT.

[Jabinho]

Well there really is no first eleven team and won't be in Germany as there will be tactical and rest changes to the line-up beyond injury reasons, just as there were in Korea..

[TrickHog]

Does anyone know which dates that we have friendly's scheduled are on actual FIFA-approved-dates that require players to be released from their clubs. I'm guessing the first game played on one of those dates will be our first chance to see what the "First" team might look like...

I'm in favor of the prior posters lineup for any game in which we're stacked pretty even with the other team (ie not against Brazil or such) except I'd plug in JOB for Mastroeni if JOB regains fitness and gets in plenty of game-time prior to the WC.

[JeffreyWyatt]

Keller

Dolo Gibbs Onyewu Spector

Reyna JOB

Donovan Beasley

Johnson McBride

I really feel that is our best XI as I don't feel Lewis is an international left back. Neither is Boca, and I don't see him being better than Gibbs/Onyewu to start in the middle. All this is of course predicated on Spector seeing full team minutes week in and week out for Charlton.

In all honesty all of our left backs are about even. I just prefer Spector due to height and defensive ability over convey and lewis, and his ability to get forward over boca and hejduk. This is still a position that needs some serious attention. If we can have this midfield healthy and Johnson in top form we will get out of the group stages.

[SamsArmySam]

I don't think we have a first team (starting 11). We have a first choice roster, and Bruce selects the starting 11 from the healthy and in-form subset of that roster based on opponent.

If we're talking how long has it been since we had a first choice roster to draw on, I'd say that EJ screwed that one up all on his own! Him and O'Brien.

[csctn]

Well there really is no first eleven team and won't be in Germany as there will be tactical and rest changes to the line-up beyond injury reasons, just as there were in Korea..

I agree, but not only tactical and rest changes, but also injuries and yellow/red card suspensions will force lineup changes. You can not play the same 11 players in three games over 10 days and then expect to do well in the round of 16 or beyond.
Injuries took Reyna, Stewart, Moore, Agoos (thank god) and others out of games in Korea.
I think DMB missed a game because of 2 yellow cards.
Sanneh, JOB and Friedel were the only players to play every minute of every game in Korea.

If Keller, Donovan, DMB, and Gooch can play every minute of every game in Germany our results should be good.

[Sachsen]

wasn't there an Arena quote recently in which he said he had his first choice team available for only 3 of the 170+ games he's been in charge of the USMNT.

Slight quibble... the Honduras game earlier this year was #100, so he's up to about 110 now.

The point stands though, there rarely is ever a team in any sport who never have any injuries or something that would cut into the entire "first team" being available.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[freisland]

I don't think we have a first team (starting 11). We have a first choice roster, and Bruce selects the starting 11 from the healthy and in-form subset of that roster based on opponent.

If we're talking how long has it been since we had a first choice roster to draw on, I'd say that EJ screwed that one up all on his own! Him and O'Brien.

I forget how many players we used in JK, but it was most field players. Same in 98. You don't play that many games (if you're lucky) in that short time without using much of your roster.

We will have a "First 14" or so, which will include tactical and rest subs. Then there will be surprises (injuries and/or form).

[Jabinho]

I forget how many players we used in JK, but it was most field players.
All field players were used except David Regis.

[IASocFan]

...MEXICO: Kasey Keller, Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu, Gregg Berhalter, Eddie Lewis, Steve Ralston, Claudio Reyna, Chris Armas, DaMarcus Beasley, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan.

...

That was our first team as available against Mexico!

No healthy bodies were left off. No one was skipped per request of their club team as it was a designated international date. I doubt we'll ever have our "top 11" healthy at any given time. There are also considerations based on the opponent.

[csctn]

All field players were used except David Regis.

Cherundolo did not play as well.

[Jabinho]

Cherundolo did not play as well.
True.. I should have stated all who could play, except one, did.. He was sidelined because of his knee injury.. :(

[Sion]

If healthy, there is no way JOB does not start.
....McBride......GAM
.........Donavan
...JOB............DMB
.........Reyna
Lewis..................Dolo
........Gibbs Gooch

[IASocFan]

....McBride......GAM
.........Donavan
...JOB............DMB
.........Reyna
Lewis..................Dolo
........Gibbs Gooch


A very offensive team. I expect a dmid like Mastro, Armas or Zavagnin to be in there somewhere.