By My Count, there are 5 spots left

[appoo]

GK - Keller*, Hahneman*, Howard* FB - Cherundolo*, Lewis*, Spector*, Hejduk CD - Onyewu*, Bocanegra*, Gibbs*, Pope* CM - Reyna*, O'Brien, Mastroeni* AM - Donovan*, Beasley*, Convey*, Quaranta ST - McBride*, Wolff*, Johnson*, Adu, Ching O'Brien is a lock if he regains health. If he can't play, my guess is that Brian Carroll takes his spot. Quaranta and Ralston will fight it out for the last winger spot Freddy, Ching, Twellman, and Rolfe look to be battling over the last few forward positions. It's Hejduk vs Albright for the final fullback spot. EDIT - new Bigsoccerr sucks ass. why is eveything auto-formatting into one big paragraph?

[pwip]

GK - Keller*, Hahneman*, Howard* FB - Cherundolo*, Lewis*, Spector*, Hejduk CD - Onyewu*, Bocanegra*, Gibbs*, Pope* CM - Reyna*, O'Brien, Mastroeni* AM - Donovan*, Beasley*, Convey*, Quaranta ST - McBride*, Wolff*, Johnson*, Adu, Ching O'Brien is a lock if he regains health. If he can't play, my guess is that Brian Carroll takes his spot. Quaranta and Ralston will fight it out for the last winger spot Freddy, Ching, Twellman, and Rolfe look to be battling over the last few forward positions. It's Hejduk vs Albright for the final fullback spot. EDIT - new Bigsoccerr sucks ass. why is eveything auto-formatting into one big paragraph?

I think it is really 2, 3 top

Here's the Euros
1. Keller
2. Reyna
3. JOB (if healthy)
4. Dolo
5. Gooch
6. Gibbs (if healthy)
7. Lewis
8. Boca
9. Beerholder
10. Beasly
11. Convey
12. Howard
13. Hahnneman
14. BMB
15? Spector?



State locks:
LD
EJ
Pablo

Have to suck hard to be taken off:
Albright
Ralston

Built equity with BA through the WCQ:

Conrad
Pope
Wolff
Santino
Dempsey

[russ]

I would include Pearce into that equation.I also think Conrad can beat out Pope.

I also imagine if Casey if in shape by March,he will play in the March friendlies.

If JOB was the only one on this list nicked in May,I guess I'd take it.Hope Gibbs returns in good form.

Good stuff othewise.

[TrueCrew]

I think your missing a couple, Hejduk is in with a shot at FB.
Open spots: Total (IMHO) = 8. 3rd GK, 3 D's, 2-3 M's, 1-2 F's.
GK (1): I think the 3rd GK spot isn't completely settled yet with Howard in the lead. 3 must go to Germany.

D: (2-3) Dolo, Gooch, Gibbs, Lewis, and Boca look like locks here. Need probably 2 more FB and a CB. I think an experienced CB will go, I like Berhalter over Pope right now, with Conrad still with a long shot, too bad on Marshall's injury. At FB, I think Spector and Hejduk are leading right now, with Pearce and Albright in the running. Don't forget Pablo can play back here also. But I think 8 make the trip.

M: (2-3). Reyna, O'Brien, Donovan, DMB, Pablo, and Convey are going. That leaves 2-3 more spots, depending on how many Bruce takes. Lewis can play mid also, of course. If another striker doesn't impress, Bruce could go with three (not counting Donovan) and take another attacking midfielder (Adu, Dempsey, Martino) in lieu of a 4th forward. Right now the right wing spot is up for grabs: I think Ralston is in the lead, with Quaranta, Martino, and Klein chasing. Bruce will probably take another Central midfielder(probably a defensive): with Carrol, Olsen, and Dempsey all in the mix. Too bad for Clark. And if another middie is preferred to a 4th forward: Adu, Dempsey, and Martino could all fill the spot. I think 9 middies go: right now my 3 would be: Ralston, Olsen, Dempsey. I think this situation is the most fluid.

Forward (1-2): McBride and Johnson are locks. And in my opinion, Wolff is nearly so. If another forward doesn't impress, the 4th forward spot could be taken by an offensive midfield player (Adu, Martino, Dempsey). I think Ching has the best shot right now, as the Bruce wants a BMB clone: but Twellman, Jaqua, Rolffe, and others from the mid (Adu, Martino, Dempsey) could still claim it.

Locks: From most assuredly to least, back to front.
1. Keller
2. Dolo
3. Gooch
4. Gibbs (if healthy)
5. Lewis
6. Reyna
7. O'Brien (if healthy)
8. Donovan
9. Beasley
10. McBride
11. Johnson
12. Hahneman
13. Bocanegra
14. Mastroeni
15. Convey

Good Shape, but I'm not TOTALLY convinced yet
16. Howard: playing time problems = 3rd GK spot.
17. Berhalter: = Experienced CB Slot. Ahead of Pope, Conrad, Marshall.
18. Spector: still only 4-5 starts for Charlton, and their sinking fast. = Utililty Back spot: outside and in. Ahead of Pearce, Albright.
19. Wolff = 3rd Forward spot. Ahead of Rolffe, Adu, Martino.

In if it started today, but don't buy the ticket yet:
20. Hejduk: that beep test didn't hurt. Last FB spot ahead of Albright.

Really Up in the air
21. Ralston: RM spot: ahead of Q, Martino, Klein. Can Dempsey play there?
22. CM Spot: does Bruce go w/ another destoryer? If so, I like Olsen ahead of Carrol. Too bad for Clark and Armas due to injury. If not and Bruce goes for 4th forward also, a more attacking player may be selected, look for Dempsey in that case, maybe anyway.
23. 4th Forward/late spark slot. Bruce seems to want a target man here. Ching in the lead, Twellman, Jaqua, Rolffe, (why not Gomez?) in running. If opt for an attacking middie instead: Dempsey, Martino, and Adu in the running.

Sorry for the length.

Much more will be known after the two friendlies.

[the Next Level]

Forward (1-2): McBride and Johnson are locks. And in my opinion, Wolff is nearly so. If another forward doesn't impress, the 4th forward spot could be taken by an offensive midfield player (Adu, Martino, Dempsey). I think Ching has the best shot right now, as the Bruce wants a BMB clone: but Twellman, Jaqua, Rolffe, and others from the mid (Adu, Martino, Dempsey) could still claim it.

No way I'd be comfortable going to Germany with just EJ, Bake and Wolff as forwards. In fact, I bet Wolff gets cut if all the players in the pool stay healthy. Barring injury, Twellman and Rolfe will be F #3 and 4.

[Bigrose30]

Hejduk is a stone cold lock. Fittest guy on the team, experienced international, spent time playing in Germany, Bruce Arena favorite...read between the lines.

Not saying he'd be in my 1st 11 or anything, but he'll be on the roster.

[appoo]

No way I'd be comfortable going to Germany with just EJ, Bake and Wolff as forwards. In fact, I bet Wolff gets cut if all the players in the pool stay healthy. Barring injury, Twellman and Rolfe will be F #3 and 4.

god love the flavor of the month

[the Next Level]

god love the flavor of the month

???

Right now ANYBODY should be in consideration for forward #3 and 4.

Unless we are committed to consistent ineptitude.

[appoo]

???

Right now ANYBODY should be in consideration for forward #3 and 4.

Unless we are committed to consistent ineptitude.

you watched Rolfe for 20 minutes and conclude he's better than Josh Wolff.

who's probably our best playmaking forward other than Donovan

[Scoobs]

The drop off from Donovan to Wolff is pretty steep.

Rolfe has shown better technical ability through his play
in MLS regular season and especially in the playoffs. That
and his athleticism would suggest his play would translate
well to the international level.

[Scoobs]

GKs: Keller, Hannehmann

room for one more

CDs: Gibbs, Berhalter, Gooch, Bocanegra
no help needed

FDs: Dolo, Albright, Lewis
one more at LB

CMs: O'brien, Mastroeni, Reyna
one or two more

FMs: Beasley, Convey
one or two more

Fwds: Donovan, McBride, Johnson
one or two more

6 slots open

[the Next Level]

you watched Rolfe for 20 minutes and conclude he's better than Josh Wolff.

who's probably our best playmaking forward other than Donovan

I am a Fire fan right? And since when have you seen me to post knee jerk here?

Also, I am a youth guy in Region II - ironically where Rolfe grew up and developed. I live 20 minutes away from Chicago Fire Premier PDL base. I have sent kids to the U. of Dayton to play. Secrets to some are not as much so for others.

But regardless. Though I am saying I like Rolfe, more to the point is that I DON'T like forwards that don't score. Period. I will settle for best available, but I am not stuck to Wolff. I hope we can dispense with him this cycle.

And if we are stuck with Donovan up front then we have a problem.

[Davids26]

GKs: Keller, Hannehmann

room for one more

CDs: Gibbs, Berhalter, Gooch, Bocanegra
no help needed

FDs: Dolo, Albright, Lewis
one more at LB

CMs: O'brien, Mastroeni, Reyna
one or two more

FMs: Beasley, Convey
one or two more

Fwds: Donovan, McBride, Johnson
one or two more

6 slots open


Agree with this list, except that the only way Albright goes to Germany is if Hejduk and/or Cherundolo are injured...

[Adam Zebrowski]

1) keller
2) hahnemann
3) howard
4) cherundolo
5) onyewu
6) gibbs
7) lewis
8) bocanegra
9) mastroeni
10) reyna
11) beasley
12) donovan
13) o'brien
14) convey
15) mcbride
16) johnson

those are my definites

17+18) 2 out of wolff , twellman, ching, casey, rolfe and others

19+20) two of of dempsey, carroll, ralston, quaranta, noonan, etc

21) either pope or berhalter or conrad or marshall

22+23) two of albright or hejduk or spector or pearce

so, I have only 16 definites, and if injury hits those 16, there's less

[afgrijselijkheid]

EDIT - new Bigsoccerr sucks ass. why is eveything auto-formatting into one big paragraph? go clear your browser cache, then everything should work

[Scoobs]

Agree with this list, except that the only way Albright goes to Germany is if Hejduk and/or Cherundolo are injured...

Albright's shown well at the rb position and can play on the right in a three
man backline. Better distribution skills than Hejduk. Better size. Better speed.
As good of a defender.

Arena loves the hell out of him.

[rgli13]

its a stretch to say spector is a lock. hejduk however will be on the plane before all the assistant coaches find a seat.

and id put tino at a maybe. not a longshot, but not right on the edge either.

but pearce is interesting because weve seen him for @10 minutes- and not at the position he would play for us. the last thing we need is another left mid (beas, convey lewis could all start), i think we should probably see how he handles playing lb before we even guess where he stands. all weve seen is that theoretically he will help us making runs out of the back.

but we still havent seen him in the back...thats sorta important for a left back, id say.

[Treat2506]

Hejduk is a stone cold lock. Fittest guy on the team, experienced international, spent time playing in Germany, Bruce Arena favorite...read between the lines.

Not saying he'd be in my 1st 11 or anything, but he'll be on the roster.



I have to agree with Bigrose30, Frankie will be running all day up and down chasing someone for atleast one match in '06, maybe more. His work rate compensates for his other deficiencies.

[Scoobs]

I could see Hejduk making a run at an LB.

Realistically though we have enough skilled athletic players that the Frankie
Hejduk types days are numbered.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I can see hejduk coming off the bench to sub for lewis when usa is up....

it's more a defensive sub than anything....

personally, I don't want cherundolo to sit because I think he offers way more than hejduk would.....about the only time would be in those situations where a BIG right back is needed, hence to nod to albright..

my earlier speculation was:

17+18) 2 out of wolff , twellman, ching, casey, rolfe and others

19+20) two of of dempsey, carroll, ralston, quaranta, noonan, etc

21) either pope or berhalter or conrad or marshall

22+23) two of albright or hejduk or spector or pearce


which I'll whilttle down to:

17+18) wolff , rolfe

19+20) dempsey, carroll

21) pope

22+23) albright , hejduk