Injury Cascade at Defensive Mid

[H]

Armas, Reyna, JOB, Clark, Mastroeni. The good news is that except for Armas, most of these guys have a chance to recover in time for the WC. The other positive is that the Bruce will get a chance to see if any of the leftovers--Olsen, Carroll and now Zavagnin--can cut it. I have a feeling (partly based on the Scotland game) that Olsen is going to seize this opportunity and play himself onto the squad.

This cascade of injuries may also lead the Bruce to look at a couple intriguing possibilities in Europe. Cherundolo has recently mentioned that he thinks defensive mid is his best position but that his club (and country) has usually needed him more at outside back. I still think outside back is where his value is the greatest but it wouldn't hurt to establish his ability to fill in at d-mid in a pinch. Spector is another one I'd like to see tried there. From what I've seen of him, he doesn't have the kind of overpowering physical presence (think Gooch or Pope in his prime) you want in a central defender or the speed and crossing ability you want in an outside back. However, he does seem to have a certain comfort on the ball and gives hints of being a good passer. I'm not saying Spector should start at defensive mid in the WC but it would be good to establish him as an option.

One other point I would make about this set of injuries is that it illustrates the need to be as deep as possible at every position. It has often been noted that we almost ran out of defenders in the last WC. But that isn't always the case. In 1994 we had a cascade of cards and injuries at midfield and in 1998 we lacked healthy forwards. So we need to be deep everywhere, not just on defense.

[the Next Level]

Cascade of injury in January means overwhelming health in May.

[dbiesecker]

Cascade of injury in January means overwhelming health in May.

But a lack of match fitness, match 'practice', and all that usual drivel. It's just that the drivel does really mean something. Dealing with the pace of internationals having come off injury can be really tough.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

The chances of anyone other than JOB, Reyna, or Mastroeni playing DMid in the WC are probably less than 5%. Maybe less than 1%. I'm not even considering it beyond knowing that we could just play without a Dmid if necessary, or we could put Gibbs or Cherundolo or whoever there as we have too many quality defenders as it is.

[MarioKempes]

From what I've seen of him, he doesn't have the kind of overpowering physical presence (think Gooch or Pope in his prime) you want in a central defender or the speed and crossing ability you want in an outside back.

Are you kidding me? Cherundolo has good speed and is one of the best crossers of the ball in the pool.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

Are you kidding me? Cherundolo has good speed and is one of the best crossers of the ball in the pool.


I think he was talking about Spector.

[chad]

Cascade of injury in January means overwhelming health in May.
I think I had that fortune cookie last night.

[dfb547490]

But a lack of match fitness, match 'practice', and all that usual drivel. It's just that the drivel does really mean something. Dealing with the pace of internationals having come off injury can be really tough.

Mastro is out for 6-8 weeks and IIRC Reyna and Clark are both also out for 1-2 months...who ever knows with JOB, but Clark and Mastro will be back in time to join their MLS clubs for preseason training and Reyna will play the last 2 months or so of the EPL season. Between that, the Germany and Poland friendlies, and the May East Coast friendlies, all 3 guys should be in form come WC time.

[Shackleton]

Mastro is out for 6-8 weeks and IIRC Reyna and Clark are both also out for 1-2 months...who ever knows with JOB, but Clark and Mastro will be back in time to join their MLS clubs for preseason training and Reyna will play the last 2 months or so of the EPL season. Between that, the Germany and Poland friendlies, and the May East Coast friendlies, all 3 guys should be in form come WC time.

I think you're right, if they all come back from their injuries fully healthy and when projected. As we've seen recently with JOB, EJ, and Gibbs, coming back from injuries when projected is far from a sure bet. If any of these guys' recovery is delayed much, it really will start to eat into the time needed to be fit and in form before the WC.

[MightyMouse]

I think I had that fortune cookie last night.

There is an old Chinese proverb... hell if I know what it is though!

[ghazi]

I'd like to see Spector get a couple runs at Dmid as a sub in some of these friendlies, just to see what he can do there.

I am not confident with him as a central defender from what i have seen (albeit he is still full o' potential). But I am impressed with his fluid ball skills, and have seen moments of impressive passing range.

It would be nice to see if he coudl develop into an imposing physical frontline to the back four and ignite the transition game with his offensive skills.

[tab5g]

this cascade must be some higher power telling Il Bruce that he should not use two defensively-minded central midfielders in the same line-up.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I don't consider reyna nor o'brien to be defensively minded mids....

mastroeni is a pure d-mid, and his absence from camp should provide carroll the chance to nail down the back-up slot....

assuming mastroeni is back by the end of februrary, playing against poland would be very problematic...

I'd suggest carroll gets a chance to validate his ticket then...I'd give him 90 minutes...

bring back mastroeni march 22 against germany and play him for about 60 minutes, then bring on carroll again...

all this carroll stuff is based on he does NOT fall flat on his face....

as to the current mastroeni injury, it shouldn't have any affect on his health in may to june...

the good side of it, is it gives arena a chance to look at people during training

[Allamerican74]

Spector and even Boca could be slotted in there. If Ledley King can do it with England then they can.

[keller4president]

Does Cobi Jones play defensive mid? Could he play there if neccesary? Is this his chance to get back on the squad?

[Shackleton]

Does Cobi Jones play defensive mid? Could he play there if neccesary? Is this his chance to get back on the squad?

You're meant to included a ":rolleyes: " at the end of that post; right?

[johnh00]

The answer is clear: ABMOD.

[glove]

Martino, Olsen, Zavagnin and Carroll-the later three left to man d-mid and Martino to run the show-let's hope that some of the injured heal quickier than expected and are in form by the WC . ABMOD LMFAO, why not pair him with Clintinho? Any idea if Arena would consider Mulrooney at D-mid?

[Klay]

Spector should play it, kid's got handles and a shot to go with his D

[Javer42]

Spector should play it, kid's got handles and a shot to go with his D

I'd be more comfortable with Feilhaber; it's more of a natural position for him.