is Guatemala the last straw for some players?

[Eleven Bravo]

after this game i would think bruce would want to try and start to merge the Euros with the MLSers to get ready by june. so who will Arena leave out if they suck against Guatemala?

no chance in hell:
Boswell-maybe 2010
Wells-"
Guzan-"

players that need to impress BIG time:
Brian Ching-he needs to take notes from TT because if he wants to replace him as McBride's backup than he better score a hat-trick or at least get a goal or assist.
Santino Quaranta-i thought Tino was going to be DMB '02 all over again. call it silly but ever since he was playing for the U-17 i thought the SQ/EJ combo would be equal to the LD/DMB combo. so far, i was wrong but i hope he changes my mind....again!
Kyle Martino-Martino is a longshot right now and he needs something really special to give him a chance.
Brian Carroll-a poor game against Japan and also being behind Olsen and Zavagnin in the pecking order can't sound good to him. he REALLY needs to have a good game.

players that have done well but need to do more:
Jimmy Conrad-so many good CBs sucks for him but needs to be ready in case of injury
Chris Klein-he's a pure right mid. needs to have a game like Norway not like Japan.
Chris Rolfe-he might get another look after this game but it depends on Wolff's performances. a goal, assist, or just a really good game might tip the tables in his favor.
Ben Olsen-might be Mastro's replacement if he's doesn't get healthy. but hopefully, we'll see 2000 Olsen and not 2006 Olsen.

players that will get another shot:
Heath Pearce-a pure LB is just too precious to give up so soon
Frankie Hejduk-bruce loves this guy! and he's probably Dolo's backup and an alternate for LB.
Eddie Pope-he's played so well lately that i think bruce will give him another shot no matter what.
Kerry Zavagnin-no Reyna or O' Brien? than it will have to be Zavagnin.
Eddie Johnson-we know he can play. it's only a matter of getting him in form.
Josh Wolff-he is still the frontrunner for #4 but he does need to start showing something or he might see a Noonan type taking his place.

[smith07]

how much did carrol actually play vs. japan?

[goussoccer]

after this game i would think bruce would want to try and start to merge the Euros with the MLSers to get ready by june. so who will Arena leave out if they suck against Guatemala?

no chance in hell:
Boswell-maybe 2010
Wells-"
Guzan-"

players that need to impress BIG time:
Brian Ching-he needs to take notes from TT because if he wants to replace him as McBride's backup than he better score a hat-trick or at least get a goal or assist.
Santino Quaranta-i thought Tino was going to be DMB '02 all over again. call it silly but ever since he was playing for the U-17 i thought the SQ/EJ combo would be equal to the LD/DMB combo. so far, i was wrong but i hope he changes my mind....again!
Kyle Martino-Martino is a longshot right now and he needs something really special to give him a chance.
Brian Carroll-a poor game against Japan and also being behind Olsen and Zavagnin in the pecking order can't sound good to him. he REALLY needs to have a good game.

players that have done well but need to do more:
Jimmy Conrad-so many good CBs sucks for him but needs to be ready in case of injury
Chris Klein-he's a pure right mid. needs to have a game like Norway not like Japan.
Chris Rolfe-he might get another look after this game but it depends on Wolff's performances. a goal, assist, or just a really good game might tip the tables in his favor.
Ben Olsen-might be Mastro's replacement if he's doesn't get healthy. but hopefully, we'll see 2000 Olsen and not 2006 Olsen.

players that will get another shot:
Heath Pearce-a pure LB is just too precious to give up so soon
Frankie Hejduk-bruce loves this guy! and he's probably Dolo's backup and an alternate for LB.
Eddie Pope-he's played so well lately that i think bruce will give him another shot no matter what.
Kerry Zavagnin-no Reyna or O' Brien? than it will have to be Zavagnin.
Eddie Johnson-we know he can play. it's only a matter of getting him in form.
Josh Wolff-he is still the frontrunner for #4 but he does need to start showing something or he might see a Noonan type taking his place.

Yes.

The only modifications I would make is that as much as BS seems to be enamored by Rolfe, I think he is in the 'needs to impress BIG time' category given the amount of playing time that BA has given him. The same probably goes for Olsen.

[The Big Ticket]

I think Eleven Bravo pretty much nailed it down, but here's my take.

I think the players from this roster who have one foot in Germany so far are Pope, Zavagnin, Wolff and Hejduk. Conrad gets the shaft because he doesn't have the international experience of our other center backs. He could still make it, but only if Berhalter is not playing well and/or Gibbs is struggling to come back from injury.

I think EJ needs to show something, because time is running out. Still, considering his competition for the 4th forward spot are Ching and Rolfe (who has barely played), he could sneak in without doing anything spectacular.

Heath Pearce has gotten the shaft. Pearce started vs. Canada, a game it which we struggled. Then Dunivant got a shot in the Norway game, impressed with his play, and then got another shot in the Japan game, where he was even better. The problem is Pearce wasn't really given a chance to show what he can do. Dunivant is a very good player going forward, but I've never been impressed with his defending, and he wasn't tested in either game.

Other players who could find themselves sneaking onto the final 23:

Olsen - injury problems in central midfield
Klein - lack of a pure right mid
Rolfe - lack of depth at forward/right mid
Ching - you'd think he's out by this point, but if Ching scores a couple vs. Guatemala, he's very much in the running

Everyone else is a long, long shot.

[Martin Fischer]

...I think EJ needs to show something, because time is running out. Still, considering his competition for the 4th forward spot are Ching and Rolfe (who has barely played), he could sneak in without doing anything spectacular.

EJ is currently fighting for the 1st forward spot, not the 4th. Now, it is conceivable that he could play so badly over time that he would fall off the team but being outplayed by Ching or Rolfe in this match is not going to do the trick. It will take a lot to erase EJ's dominant performance 12-18 months ago.

...Heath Pearce has gotten the shaft. Pearce started vs. Canada, a game it which we struggled. Then Dunivant got a shot in the Norway game, impressed with his play, and then got another shot in the Japan game, where he was even better. The problem is Pearce wasn't really given a chance to show what he can do. Dunivant is a very good player going forward, but I've never been impressed with his defending, and he wasn't tested in either game.

Pearce has not got "the shaft." He has been outplayed by Dunivant, at least in Arena's mind. Arena has to balance club considerations and for that reason, Dunivant played against Japan, not Pearce. As for Canada versus Norway, there was no real way to predict which one would be the better opportunity. Moreover, Arena has watched these guys every day in practice and in two scrimmages -- so while you have not seen Pearce play that much, Arena has.

Pearce has a perfectly good chance to shine against Guatemala and he needs to take advantage of it.

[The Big Ticket]

EJ is currently fighting for the 1st forward spot, not the 4th.
The first forward spot belongs to McBride. Currently, even Twellman and Wolff are ahead of GAM. Like I said, EJ could still make the roster with mediocre play, but if he wants to start alongside McBride he has to show at least some glimpses of his form of a year ago.
Pearce has not got "the shaft." He has been outplayed by Dunivant, at least in Arena's mind.
Yes, he did get the shaft, because he started vs. Canada and sat vs. Norway, and it could have been the other way around. I didn't say that Bruce has treated him unfairly or that he is better than Dunivant. Just that he's had bad luck so far because he hasn't gotten a chance to show what he can do. Even if he plays well against Guatemala - it's still Guatemala, and they're not even bringing their best team.

[Adam Zebrowski]

johnson is coming off injury and when push comes to shove, meaning he's healthy in june, he'll start....

there's stuff johnson brings which neither twellman nor wolff can bring....

and that's the difference against elite world cup finals defenders

[Martin Fischer]

The first forward spot belongs to McBride. Currently, even Twellman and Wolff are ahead of GAM. Like I said, EJ could still make the roster with mediocre play, but if he wants to start alongside McBride he has to show at least some glimpses of his form of a year ago.

....

Look, I don't think you know whether Twellman and/or Wolff are ahead of EJ. The best indication of that will come in the March friendlies in Europe.

As for McBride being #1, he is now and I hope he continues to show this form. But a year ago, he was out of the starting lineup -> who knows what the situation will be in 3 months and EJ certainly has the talent to surpass McBride.

[Soccernethost]

McBride has NEVER been out of the starting lineup when healthy for a match that mattered. He's an automatic starter, in the same category as Donovan and Beasley.

[Bob Morocco]

Yes.

The only modifications I would make is that as much as BS seems to be enamored by Rolfe, I think he is in the 'needs to impress BIG time' category given the amount of playing time that BA has given him. The same probably goes for Olsen.

By playing time you mean 40 minutes. Twellman went 8 caps and scored only once and yet Rolfe who has made defenders look foolish in the close door games he has gotten a chance to play in gets only 40 minutes to prove himself?

[BED-STYPUNDIT]

By playing time you mean 40 minutes. Twellman went 8 caps and scored only once and yet Rolfe who has made defenders look foolish in the close door games he has gotten a chance to play in gets only 40 minutes to prove himself?

Thats why he will get a chance sunday

[Martin Fischer]

McBride has NEVER been out of the starting lineup when healthy for a match that mattered. He's an automatic starter, in the same category as Donovan and Beasley.

Putting something in CAPS doesn't improve your knowledge of the facts. In the two World Cup qualifiers in March of 2005 in Mexico and against Guatemala in Birmingham, McBride was called into camp, was healthy but played only 7 minutes in the two games combined. He was benched because his form had dipped due to a lack of playing time with Fullham.

[DrBobC]

Based on his experience and play so far this year Pope is all but a lock for Germany, provided he is healthy.

[Adam Zebrowski]

while rolfe is the hot flavor on BS, those considered NOT a BS favorite would have been roasted for the rolfe imitation of mike burns...

still, rolfe is the 5th forward in my view, and injury is about the ONLY way he'll make the final 23....

[rollo]

while rolfe is the hot flavor on BS, those considered NOT a BS favorite would have been roasted for the rolfe imitation of mike burns...

still, rolfe is the 5th forward in my view, and injury is about the ONLY way he'll make the final 23....

I agree with both points.

I was thinking the same think as I saw the ball go through the gap between him and the post.

Wolf has definitely put up a fight for a spot and has the edge of experience over Rolfe anyway. I like Rolfe very much and think he is a better finisher than Josh (one of Josh's weaknesses besides horrible crosses). However, nothing short of an excellent game against Guatemala will keep him in the running against Wolf at this point. Rolfe had a chance but Josh as stepped up and made his case. Now chances are running out ....

[Adam Zebrowski]

I think rolfe will end up being an alternate...

say rolfe, noonan and berhalter as the 3 named alternates....

in a couple more years, do think rolfe ends up being a better player than wolff...

but right now, arena knows what he can get from wolff, his performance curve is very known...

i thinh arena really likes what wolff can do outside the box....

now if wolff could finish, he'd be more than a bench player

[dark knight]

Putting something in CAPS doesn't improve your knowledge of the facts. In the two World Cup qualifiers in March of 2005 in Mexico and against Guatemala in Birmingham, McBride was called into camp, was healthy but played only 7 minutes in the two games combined. He was benched because his form had dipped due to a lack of playing time with Fullham.

It seems odd to me that people only seem to give credit to McBride now that he's doing well at Fulham when he's arguably lost a half step. I agree with what you're saying, but given McBride's current success, his WC experience and Arena's appreciation for veterans, I doubt that EJ will supplant McBride in Arena's mind -- even if BMB goes to the bench leading up to the World Cup. I guess a more interesting question to me is -- if EJ and McBride are both in form, do you start them together? Or will Arena go with a player that is more strictly a speed merchant like Wolff alongside McBride? It will be interesting to see how he juggles the lineups in the WC.

[USA4Life]

Arena never seems to close the door on players.

As long as guys are playing well for their club team then they will get invited to camp. In the camp players need to perform to get on the field.

Ching is clearly not out of the picture and may still go to Germany as may Casey. Injurries are going to be very important.
Ralston, Casey, Gibbs, etc still have a chance.


All these guys in camp can play when in form and confident.

Martino, Olsen, Rolfe, Noonan, Klein, need to all be ready because they will be called upon if a guy ahead of them goes down.

The position they play and the health of the starters ahead of them will be critical in the final selection.

[UDPride]

How can we effectively say has been give the chance yet. Hes come in at mop up time in nearly every game thus far. I dont think hes has more than 20 minutes of continuous soccer yet in an "official" cap. Yet when hes on the field extensively in unofficial scrimmages against Hammerby or the Koreans(?), hes unflappable.

Im not sure Rolfe is off the board by any stretch if he doesnt plop in a goal or assist or earn MOTM. Wolff by and large has been tepid the entire camp. Not god awful, but certainly nothing that will strike fear into any opposing defenders either. In other words, I do question why Wolff seems to get such a long leash. Yeah he has experience, but that and $1.00 will get you a cup of coffee. The soccer ball doesnt play favorites.

I think we've got longer to go for BA to find his 23 than a lot of us think.

Though I do completely agree Rolfe at MF is a conversation starter. It can be taken two ways. Either he thinks Rolfe must make the team on diversity rather than simply as a striker and no more, or he thinks all the other options at attacking mid are pretty mediocre among the vets and thinks Rolfes skill set is probably more capable of handling it. Meaning BA has confidence in him.

As I said earlier though, Rolfe is going to come out of this golden no matter what. Nobody excepted him to even be asked to something like this 8 months ago and then he arrives and then he showed he can play at this level. Hes earned respect of other vets and will be certainly on the short list for other MNT friendlies after the WC and possibly 2010. Perhaps he hasnt hit a home run, but hes hit a bunch of doubles down the line.

We'll just see how everything plays out. Id just like to see a PAIR of opportunities for Rolfe to get 70 minutes or so. Then let the performances speak for themselves. Given CONCACAF, its possible he might have that chance. What he does with it is ultimately up to him.

[Ringo]

i think rolfe is in 'needs to impress NOW' camp.

he's played 40 minutes. that's telling. people can salivate all they want over how well he's done in training and scrimmages. and yet bruce has played him 40 minutes. That oughta be a big hint there. even if he does do well against Guatamala, it still might not be enough. Rolfe needs to do well against Guat AND start out like a mofo in MLS.
Bruce has seen a lot of the kid and hasn't felt he deserved playing time. again, that's telling.