Watford manager wants Arena to look at DeMerit

[alocksley]

Jay for the USA? (http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=363860&CPID=4&clid=&lid=4&title=Boothroyd:+Jay+for+USA)


http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10400~783066,00.html

http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1807_1021892,00.html

[AndSomeAreAngels]

Why hasn't he ever gotten a shot? Seems like he should at least be given a camp to show what he can do.

I realize it's too late for him to make the WC roster, but it just seems a bit unfair if you ask me.

[Davids26]

Well that's a pretty good endorsement. The guy probably doesn't know about our depth at the CB position, but it might be worth it just to call the guy into camp for the Poland game. If for whatever reason a lot of our CB's go down to injury, it can't hurt...

[NBlue]

Gotta figure BA gives him a look in the Poland camp. Its interesting that central defense has become our second deepest position after left midfield and, as a result, I think it will be very difficult for DeMerit to make the squad at this late a date -- that said, I would think he's definitely worth a look . . .

[m vann]

http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10400~783066,00.html

http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1807_1021892,00.html

Two more articles on Jay. DeMerit has been on a good run of form this season, especially lately as he's defended flawlessly and how even banged home a few hearders from set pieces. He's impressing folks around England and over on the YA forum, myself included. It says quite a bit abpout player and manager that Boothroyd has contacted Arena and voiced his thoughts. I have no idea if Jay is international caliber but his play has warranted at least a look. I hoping the chance will come against Poland and/or Germany.

[Chicago1871]

If for whatever reason a lot of our CB's go down to injury, it can't hurt...
You mean if all five of them are run over by a busload of nuns?

[m vann]

MODS merge threads please :)

[Deuteriumoxide]

Well that's a pretty good endorsement. The guy probably doesn't know about our depth at the CB position, but it might be worth it just to call the guy into camp for the Poland game. If for whatever reason a lot of our CB's go down to injury, it can't hurt...


Depth at the CB position? Gibbs hasn't played a game in six months and until last week people were carving Eddie Pope's international tomb stone...

That leaves Onyewu, Bocanegra, Berhalter and a bunch of MLS guys with very little experience at a higher level.

Give the guy a shot.

[alocksley]

Pope and Conrad have absolutely played themselves into contention.

[m vann]

Jay's play has certainly been on a constant climb since he joined Watford and it has been noted by the club that he has an amazing ability to learn quickly. He's shown that he's learning curve is quite high and that he can easily adapt to systems whether it be one he's playing or playing against. with that said, I will throw out that twice in a cruch this season, he lined up in the as a D-MId and even as a striker for a game and drew some praises. He scored as a srtiker, too, I believe. If he has the ball skills to survuve in the middle, throw him out there and see what he can do as a D-Mid.

[Wahoo]

You mean if all five of them are run over by a busload of nuns?
I don't think it has to be nuns.

Hey everyone, I'm one of the biggest fans of Jay around.
I just love his rags to riches story so far and I am amazed how well he's been doing at Watford as the team push for promotion.

I see this a couple ways....
1) We have established central defenders that have quality. These include: Berhalter, Bocanegra, Gibbs, Onyewu, Pope.
2) We also have Conrad who has played pretty well in the chances he's gotten.

Now we have this guy that came out of the blue.
For those who don't know his story, he was an unheralded player at Univ of Illinois Chicago (hope I have that right) who eventually made it to England.
August of 2004 he got picked up by Northwood (most of you are going ????) which I think is in the Rhyman League - lower than the Nationwide.

The first time he plays in a scrimmage for Northwood, it's against local bigshots Watford. Watford officials are impressed with Jay and sign him (sort of as a project player). By the end of the 2004/5 season Jay is playing significant minutes.
Now in 2005/6 Jay has gone from spot player to regular starter and gets some very good reviews. Watford has also extended his contract with them until 2008)

So...... it's possible that the guys we already have in camp are good enough.
It's also possible that Jay "MAY" be a better option than some, though he definitely doesn't have the experience of the international game.

I don't think Jay will make the team this year but stranger things have happened and if he gets a callup to a camp you never know.

I remember being at an ACC school and the Olympic Baseball coach brought along one of his freshman shortstops to the tryouts to get him some experience. Well that shortstop kept impressing, and there was no way to cut him. Finally he made the team. The guy was good enough to get an invite (due to a friendly coach) and then just kept showing more and more. By the way, that was Nomar Garciaparra.

It could happen here.
By the way, for those who care about such things....
Jay is 26 years old and 5'11" and about 180 lbs.

[sidefootsitter]

Pope and Conrad have absolutely played themselves into contention. Yes. But wait until Pope has to go against someone 6'2", 170 and with pace. The last time he went against a physical stiker (Jason Roberts, 6'1, 175), Eddie was bounced around but good and the WC competition of Toni, Iaquinta and Jan Koller promises to be very physical indeed.

It's also possible that Jay "MAY" be a better option than some, though he definitely doesn't have the experience of the international game. Colaship is international enough.

[Martin Fischer]

If Bothroyd can actually name four other US central defenders and where they play, I will consider his opinion worth something. Until then .....


As for the March camps, I would not be shocked if BA invited two uncapped players and that those two were DeMerit and Nguyen. I doubt either would get into the game and even less that they will make the final squad.

But I wouldn't be shocked if no uncapped players were invited in March either.

[Adam Zebrowski]

with the poland matchbeing the ONLY FIFA mandated day, I'd suspect the best available american euros play that day...

meaning onyewu, bocanegra, berhalter are clearly the guys to look at during the match...

a call to camp is possible...

if them manager really wants demerit to get a look, then how about germany on march 22, which is NOT a fifa date....

release hinm then, and perhaps he'd get a better look...

still central defense is the deepest pool of talent....

and other than a major tragedy happening, it's hard to imagine borderline, at best guys getting a look...

marshall is ahead of demerit too

[purojogo]

Why hasn't he ever gotten a shot? Seems like he should at least be given a camp to show what he can do.

I realize it's too late for him to make the WC roster, but it just seems a bit unfair if you ask me.
'cause Boswell is awesome and has proven he can score...Just don't ask me to go into any details about this.... :p

[Wahoo]

with the poland matchbeing the ONLY FIFA mandated day, I'd suspect the best available american euros play that day...

meaning onyewu, bocanegra, berhalter are clearly the guys to look at during the match...

a call to camp is possible...

if them manager really wants demerit to get a look, then how about germany on march 22, which is NOT a fifa date....

release hinm then, and perhaps he'd get a better look...

still central defense is the deepest pool of talent....

and other than a major tragedy happening, it's hard to imagine borderline, at best guys getting a look...

marshall is ahead of demerit too

Why is Marshall ahead of DeMerit? Just because he plays in MLS?
I wouldn't put him ahead of DeMerit because he just had his chance to shine for Arena and the ones that came out of the recent games in the USA were Pope and Conrad. DeMerit has never had his shot to impress.

But anyway, good luck asking for DeMerit to get released for a non-FIFA day.
Watford is currently in 4th in the English Championship League (2nd Division) and had been on a 7 game win streak until last night against Leeds and Eddie Lewis. They are still withing distance of 2nd place Sheffield United for the 2nd automatic promotion spot (though last nights loss did them a world of hurt) with 12 games to go in the season. If I was a manager there is now way I'd let him go for the Germany game. That is where you play Berhalter certainly..... not DeMerit.

I ought to close with..... I put DeMerit's chances of getting a callup for the Poland camp at around 35%. I think his chances of getting into the World Cup team are around 2%. I would just like him to get the callup to the camp.

[Martin Fischer]

Why is Marshall ahead of DeMerit? ....

Because he is bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced (with the USMNT)?

[Wahoo]

Because he is bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced (with the USMNT)?

but is he "better"?
How tough is he?
How well does he read the game?
How is he positionally?

Seriously, on what are you basing your comparisons?
You may be right (or not) but that doesn't always tell the whole story.

[sidefootsitter]

... I ought to close with..... I put DeMerit's chances of getting a callup for the Poland camp at around 35%. I think his chances of getting into the World Cup team are around 2%. I would just like him to get the callup to the camp. Another thing working against Jay is that with Watford likely heading for the play-offs, he'd be late for the May camp as well.

If Bothroyd can actually name four other US central defenders and where they play, I will consider his opinion worth something. Until then ... Or maybe (probably?) Boothroyd saw Bocanegra play and thought, "My boy is a lot better than this."

[Martin Fischer]

... Or maybe (probably?) Boothroyd saw Bocanegra play and thought, "My boy is a lot better than this."

Maybe. But he would be a fool if he compared Bocanegra's performanace against Ruud Van Nistelroy to what Demerit does against Championship caliber players.

I have seen DeMerit play last year and he is not impressive at first viewing -- not big, not fast and without any apparent ball skills. But that was a year ago, so I don't know if Demerit is currently better than Marshall. But it is hardly surprising that when you are are talking about the 6th CD spot on the roster, that more time is going to be invested in the bigger, faster, younger player who is actually available when you have most of your camps.

P.S. The point of the last sentence is that it is difficult to break into the USMNT playing in the Championship. If your focus is on the USMNT, you better break-in before you go to the Championship because there are just not a lot of times when you can go to camp with the USMNT.