Connolly on the 23-man roster...

[keller4president]

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060215&content_id=52260&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

Good article from Marc Connolly on trying to come up with the 23-man roster. I pretty much agree with his initial roster, just replace Ralston, Ching and Conrad with Dempsey, Zavagnin and Dunivant.

If anyone else goes down, put Noonan and Klein as first in line for a spot.

[Pygmalion]

I think the comment on Noonan is spot on. He brings some steel to the team. I haven't seen a lot of him but every time I do I just get the sense that he is a natural leader. Some may question his speed etc. but there are other qualities you need on a World Cup team.

[Autogolazo]

"Zavagnin, on the other hand, has plenty of experience. His 18 caps have been spread out through the years, and he's a longtime veteran as a professional. His fate will likely be decided by the health of Reyna, O'Brien and Mastroeni. If even one of them cannot go, Arena won't hesitate to bring Zavagnin. He knows what he gets with him, and trusts him when he's on the field."

I agree with this, I even started a whole thread on it, but if Arena thinks this, and the "experts" think this, why wasn't Zavagnin on the original camp roster? Why was he stuck behind Olsen and Carroll?

Did Bruce forget about him or something?

[NBlue]

Interesting that he didn't name the 23 -- I would have liked to hear his thoughts/prediction on how it shakes out -- right now it seems there is tough competition at a lot of spots.

btw, I really like Noonan's heart, huste and savvyness, I just have a hard time seeing how he's going to make the list unless we have a few injuries.

[NoSix]

"Zavagnin, on the other hand, has plenty of experience. His 18 caps have been spread out through the years, and he's a longtime veteran as a professional. His fate will likely be decided by the health of Reyna, O'Brien and Mastroeni. If even one of them cannot go, Arena won't hesitate to bring Zavagnin. He knows what he gets with him, and trusts him when he's on the field."

I agree with this, I even started a whole thread on it, but if Arena thinks this, and the "experts" think this, why wasn't Zavagnin on the original camp roster? Why was he stuck behind Olsen and Carroll?

Did Bruce forget about him or something?

From what I saw of his play with the Wizards last year, he seemed to be having an off-year for his club.

[chessplayer]

From what I saw of his play with the Wizards last year, he seemed to be having an off-year for his club.

Probably that, and the fact that he did not know Carroll/Olsen and Ricardo Clark, who was originally called in but got injured, as well as he knows Zavagnin. Arena is just building depth and giving some guys a taste for the experience who probably won't be there this summer (Clark, Carroll) but will likely be in the pool after the WC and can be in contention for WC '10.

Plus, Olsen went to UVa, and some deference probably had to be shown..

I was a little surprised to see Wells and Guzan as the newby GK's called in, rather than some more-established MLS GK's like Garlick, Rimando, and Cannon who have more polished games at this point. But Guzan seems to be making believers out of people, so we'll see what happens.
I am reading good things about Meola's fitness and form in Metros preseason camp, it would be neat to see him earn that third spot again, behind Keller and Hahneman.

[crewfighter]

Ralston and Ching are you kidding? Especially Ching needs to sit home.
Dempsey not on his roster? Dempsey should be there before Mastreoni. No doubt. Before some others to. Dunivant. I want Dunivant there he was very impressive against Japan.

[reddog694]

He doesn't even mention Pope as a possibility.

i hope this is an oversight, because if not, he's just plain wrong.

[Slingerfan1977]

He doesn't even mention Pope as a possibility.

i hope this is an oversight, because if not, he's just plain wrong.He does....

Eddie Pope, who was not in my list back in September on a hunch he would lose out in a numbers game, is right back in the mix after a strong six weeks, making it that much more difficult for someone like Gibbs.

[soccertom]

I would love to pore over Bruce's Yellow Pad! I love analyzing sh!t like that...

[beastmode18]

I think there is more locks than you think:

Keller
Hannaman
Howard
Gooch
Gibbs
Pope
Heydude
Dolo
Boca
Reyna
JOB
Convey
DMB
Dempsey...now
Lannycakes
BMB
GAM
Wolf
Twellman...

Trust me, all of these will be in Germany

[NBlue]

Ralston and Ching are you kidding? Especially Ching needs to sit home..

Did you read the article?? I think you completely missed his point.

[Mike22]

This is my 23, somewhat based on some of Bruce's and Marc's comments about players doing well in camp. Bold is a lock (if healthy). alt(ernate)s listed.

3 GK
keller, hahnemann, howard (very dark, but not quite bold b/c of PT)
alt: an mls goalie

2 RBs
cherundolo, hejduk
alt: albright, klein(?)

2 LBs
lewis, dunivant
alt: pierce

4 CBs
onyewu, pope, bocanegra, berhalter
alt: conrad, spector, gibbs

2 RMs
dempsey, donovan
alt: noonan, klein

2 LMs
beasley, convey
alt: adu?, (lewis moves in, pierce at LB)

4 cms
reyna, obrien, mastroeni, zavagnin (almost bold?)
alt: armas, (donovan here, noonan at RM)

2 ST
johnson, wolff
alt: rolfe

2 CF
mcbride, twellman
alt: ching, casey

i'm not sure that one can say its premature to say that twellman is not a lock. no one has matched his level in any of the games. and the fact that he got the starts suggests that he's doing better in camp as well.

[keller4president]

You forgot Gibbs, who I think battles with Dunivant for the last defenseman spot.

[ty webb]

I think there is more locks than you think:

Keller
Hannaman
Howard
Gooch
Gibbs
Pope
Heydude
Dolo
Boca
Reyna
JOB
Convey
DMB
Dempsey...now
Lannycakes
BMB
GAM
Wolf
Twellman...

Trust me, all of these will be in Germany

Did you forget Eddie Lewis and Mastro?

2 spots left.

[beastmode18]

Did you forget Eddie Lewis and Mastro?

2 spots left.

Yeah, sorry, realized it after I posted it

[sidefootsitter]

Good article from Marc (and I slammed him for many that weren't up to par).

New dark horse - Pat Noonan?

He can play left mid, right mid and either forward ... hmmmm... something to ponder.

[Crimson Ace]

New dark horse - Pat Noonan?

He can play left mid, right mid and either forward ... hmmmm... something to ponder.I, along with a few others, have been discussing Noonan's strengths for quite a while. With the exception of center back, Pat can play any position on the field. Jack of all trades - master of none - however, that makes for a tremendous utility player in Germany. I truly hope he makes the roster.

[Deuteriumoxide]

Dempsey not on his roster? Dempsey should be there before Mastreoni.

um. I think Dempsey should go, but not before Pablo Mastroeni. Nobody in our pool does what Pablo Mastroeni does as well as Pablo Mastroeni. Kerry Zavagnin is a competent D-mid but i'm terrified of the dropoff between he and Pablo.

[TrueCrew]

The idea, at ANY time, that Arena would take 5 forwards, without counting Donovan as one, is/was/and continues to be idiotic.