Has bruce already picked out our 4 forwards?

[after_the_fall]

It would at least seem he has picked strong favorites. I guess they are the obvious; McBride, EJ, Twellman, and Wolff. Bruce moving Rolfe, one of our most promising prospects up front, back to left mid for the guatamala match might suggest that. I guess i understand the circumstances given the depletion of our roster, but he could have easily given Rolfe more clock in other games. He's not even giving our prospects a chance. He seems to favor experience, which i guess is wise to an extent. But he should also note without searching for new prospects, we would have no Eddie Johnson. Im not sure many would have predicted the tear he went on. Rolfe could do that, Gomez could do that, etc.

dont get me wrong, im not arguing against the four that seem to be the favorites, theyre all actually pretty good and Id say all of them but Wolff are cemented. I just dont think Bruce has the heart to sack Wolff. Im starting to think that this is a strong reason Eddie Pope might be coming (not my favorite pick, and i think Onyewu, Gibbs, Berhalter, and Bocanegra are better picks but i just cant see him being left behind....we could have 5 center backs). There are some who say thats not how Arena works, but he obviously has soft spots and favorites that he picks for duty, from callups to the roster of 23. Its the reason Ching is on the roster, and Joe Cannon is not.

[helmzgk]

It would at least seem he has picked strong favorites. I guess they are the obvious; McBride, EJ, Twellman, and Wolff. Bruce moving Rolfe, one of our most promising prospects up front, back to left mid for the guatamala match might suggest that. I guess i understand the circumstances given the depletion of our roster, but he could have easily given Rolfe more clock in other games. He's not even giving our prospects a chance. He seems to favor experience, which i guess is wise to an extent. But he should also note without searching for new prospects, we would have no Eddie Johnson. Im not sure many would have predicted the tear he went on. Rolfe could do that, Gomez could do that, etc.

dont get me wrong, im not arguing against the four that seem to be the favorites, theyre all actually pretty good and Id say all of them but Wolff are cemented. I just dont think Bruce has the heart to sack Wolff. Im starting to think that this is a strong reason Eddie Pope might be coming (not my favorite pick, and i think Onyewu, Gibbs, Berhalter, and Bocanegra are better picks but i just cant see him being left behind....we could have 5 center backs). There are some who say thats not how Arena works, but he obviously has soft spots and favorites that he picks for duty, from callups to the roster of 23. Its the reason Ching is on the roster, and Joe Cannon is not.

In a World Cup year, if you're prospects aren't tearing it up, you stop giving them chances. Rolfe has an amazing chance against Guat this weekend, one that could unseat Wolff, we'll see. Wolff does have World Cup experience, and at the World Cup, as silly as this sounds, having WC experience is very helpful. Wolff plays well out there, he just doesn't score, and to be honest, he hasn't looked very dangerous lately either. He makes good runs, holds the ball decently well, always seems to be involved in our attack in some way or another, he's just never the one ending the attack with a goal.

Pope makes it with his experience. He could start, but I don't see it. It's been said he'll probably fill the "Llamosa" role, which I agree with. Come in late to hold the lead, and he'd be perfect for it. He's been there, twice, once with the worst WC team we've ever had and once with the best. He knows his stuff and he is regaining his form at a surprising rate.

As for Bruce having anybody picked out, maybe on his little yellow note pad, but you're gonna have to ask him yourself. I have a feeling only he knows, Myernick and Onalfo are probably wondering the same things we are.

[Shackleton]

It would at least seem he has picked strong favorites. I guess they are the obvious; McBride, EJ, Twellman, and Wolff. Bruce moving Rolfe, one of our most promising prospects up front, back to left mid for the guatamala match might suggest that. I guess i understand the circumstances given the depletion of our roster, but he could have easily given Rolfe more clock in other games. He's not even giving our prospects a chance. He seems to favor experience, which i guess is wise to an extent. But he should also note without searching for new prospects, we would have no Eddie Johnson. Im not sure many would have predicted the tear he went on. Rolfe could do that, Gomez could do that, etc.


You could be right. It's also possible that Arena is giving everyone a chance in practice and that, in Arena's opinion, Wolff is outperforming Rolfe in practice, and thus earning game time. Arena has praised Wolff's play over the last two months, so, even if I don't see it, Arena does.

[JohnR]

Good thread.

Yes, I would say. With decent health, McBride, EJ, and now Twellman are in. Wolff won't be knocked out by a pure forward (because there are no credible candidates left), but I think there's the possibility that a combo midfielder/forward such as Noonan, Dempsey, or I suppose Rolfe could take Wolff's slot. But I'm betting that Wolff has become comfort food to Arena, as Cobi was for so many years, and that one way or another Josh will be on the roster.

To me, the midfield looks a whole lot more unsettled.

[galperin]

At this particular moment, I think the forward spots are set...EJ, McBride, Twellman, and Wolff.

I do not like Wolff, but there is no one right now who could overtake his spot.

However, June is still a while off, so you never know what could happen.

[Adam Zebrowski]

rolfe is NOT going to unseat wolff by playing well well against guatemala...

if arena gives rolfe a look against germany and he performs well there, then we have a chance for rolfe to get seriously into the mix...

right now, rolfe would be an alternate at forward....meaning a johnson or wolff injury is his way onto the roster......

[UDPride]

I just havent seen much from Wolff thus far that really gets me excited. When CR is on the pitch up front, I feel like "ok something amazing could happen". It might not happen, but I dont run to the fridge either just in case. Wolff polished off a PK against the Scots and had a decent effort there, but he never seems to be on the end of major stuff. Im all for conduit players, Im just no so sure this team can afford another one. The WC is single elimination after the round robin. You are gonna have to win a game or two on 5 seconds of individual brilliance.

I do not pretend to know Arenas team better than Arena though. If hes putting Rolfe in the MF, he must think the MF needs Rolfe.

[trizibester]

I don't think there is anything could happen (other than injury) that will get Rolfe in ahead of Wolfe. I have a lot of faith in Bruce and if he is giving Wolfe a lot of praise, then there is a reason for it. I agree, to certain extent, that he may have "soft spots" for some players like Wolfe and Pope. But, they have earned it. Pope has been great and Wolfe does well, although not scoring. But, he must be training very well or he wouldn't even be out there. I do like Rolfe, think he has big upside, but just too untested. Even if he and Wolfe were dead even, I would err on the side of caps and WC experience.

[TxFan]

i too think our forwards are set with McBride, EJ, Wolff and Twellman. Not a bad bunch.

[Crimson Ace]

I can see Bruce leaving Wolff off the list. When the final roster is announced, it may look like one of these:

1) McBride, Johnson, Twellman, Noonan; or

2) McBride, Johnson, Twellman, Donovan (w/ Noonan listed as a Midfielder).

You may not agree - but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[Dr.Phil]

I can see Bruce leaving Wolff off the list. When the final roster is announced, it may look like one of these:

1) McBride, Johnson, Twellman, Noonan; or

2) McBride, Johnson, Twellman, Donovan (w/ Noonan listed as a Midfielder).

You may not agree - but it's not out of the realm of possibility.



:eek: Noonen on a WC roster?????

[Sachsen]

:eek: Noonen on a WC roster?????

You apparantly haven't been paying attention lately. Bruce's latest comments regarding Noonan:

“Pat Noonan, I think, is a terrific player. I really like him, he has a great personality. He’s good for our team on the field and off. He’s a real winner and a great competitor, as are all the Revolution players. Whatever Stevie is doing with them, they’re really competitive guys and the kind of players you need to have on the field in international games. Pat, I think, had his best game ever for the national team against Japan. He played well on both sides of the ball. He was involved in one play that set up a goal. He was involved in a bunch of other plays that created goal-scoring opportunities, and, as I said, played well on both sides of the ball. He was a lot more comfortable on the ball and had a very good game against the right-sided Japanese players. He had a super game."

[ursula]

Good thread.

Yes, I would say. With decent health, McBride, EJ, and now Twellman are in. Wolff won't be knocked out by a pure forward (because there are no credible candidates left), but I think there's the possibility that a combo midfielder/forward such as Noonan, Dempsey, or I suppose Rolfe could take Wolff's slot. But I'm betting that Wolff has become comfort food to Arena, as Cobi was for so many years, and that one way or another Josh will be on the roster.

To me, the midfield looks a whole lot more unsettled.

I think you are making a lot of sense here, John. If Wolff doesn't make it it will be because some combo of midfielder/forward types will take his place. We'll have to wait till May and see who's injured to know.

[Bajoro]

From my vantage point at last week's game (very close to where Donovan got his corner-kick assist), Wolff had a decent game, and Noonan had an even better game. I wouldn't be disappointed with either one making the roster. They both answer some important needs.

imho, Wolff is much better than people give him credit for. With his experience, he could play the Cobi Jones role in Germany.

[SamsArmySam]

From my vantage point at last week's game (very close to where Donovan got his corner-kick assist), Wolff had a decent game, and Noonan had an even better game. I wouldn't be disappointed with either one making the roster. They both answer some important needs.

imho, Wolff is much better than people give him credit for. With his experience, he could play the Cobi Jones role in Germany.
That's funny. I had exactly the same impression of Wolff when I saw him play live in Chicago (England friendly) last summer. Totally changed my opinion of his value watching him make runs off the ball to stretch the D.

[Bajoro]

Yes, SAS -- Wolff is one of the few guys we have that actually intimidates opposing defenders. He puts them on their heels, dribbles between double-teams and nutmegs the poor suckers. The move he executed just before he came out of last week's game (I think it was a nutmeg) was one of the best individual moments of the match.

I think people underestimate his value. No, he didn't score any goals the last two matches. But he was in the game while his teammates scored 8 goals!! That's not a coincidence, that's proof of his quality, whether he scores or not.

And I bet anything Arena agrees.

[Eleven Bravo]

i agree, bajoro. look how fast our attack has died in the past three games when Brian Ching came on. Wolff could be a valuable sub off the bench to rip open some tired defenders in the WC. but yes, there are things he needs to improve on.

[TxFan]

I've got to disagree with the comments suggesting wolff will be left off the roster. i know that he has taken some knocks on bigsoccer, but i still think he can contribute. he is always working hard on the pitch and his speed is hard to replace, especially if he comes on as a sub.

i know he hasn't scored a lot of goals, but even TT went through a stretch like that...

Wolff also has tons of experience which we need when facing Italy and the Czech Republic in Europe...

[Adam Zebrowski]

looking at the forward situation presently, I've listed the guys in the mix and the probability they make the final 23, sans injury of course:

1) mcbride 100
2) johnson 90
3) wolff 80
4) twellman 70
5) rolfe 40
6) ching 20

it adds to 400 since presume 4 forwards are going....I don't think any other forward is in the mix unless injury pops up

[EEUU]

I thought you were picking 4 forwards? Shouldn't a pre-requisite for this position be that the player be a threat to score once in a while? Wolff doesn't score any more. It's a sad state of affairs that our forwards list includes 2 very talented but hardly seasoned forwards, and one that has experience but doesn't score.

McBride deserves to be at the top of our depth chart at forward based on who's on the list, but at his age I'd be more comfortable if he was our third or fourth choice. How far has Clint Mathis fallen for him to not even be in consideration given this list of forwards?