Target Forward

[USA4Life]

The US really needed a big guy up front today to win headers. Twellman helped a little, but McBride was really missed today on goal kicks, keeper punts, and clearances from the back.

Since Bruce is trying guys in different positions, I had a thought that Klein would make a good target forward. He is big and fast and can pressure the backs. He is also willing to shoot.

I believe Bora converted a center back to play up top for China. Canada also played a center back up front as well.

Other options include Coner Casey and Ed Johnson.

Any thoughts...

[BennyDee19]

There is no replacement for McBride.....he's a battler, he goes 100% all the time, it'll be interesting what BA does about this....

Klein might be an good candidate becuase he is tall...how tall is he??? The other two sound good, as well....That was the biggest thing today, no one could hold the ball, we need to find somone soon before McBride gets to old or maybe hurt....we need a target forward badly and fast....

-PB20

[K.P.]

I have read the one of our younger players in Germany, Connor Casey, is in the McBride mold. My question for someone with more knowledge about these matters is when will we get to see Casey play with the national team? I guess the more general way to phrase that question is when will the second tier euro players get their chance with the full national team?

[Michael K.]

In the South, do they call it a Tar-jhay forward?

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by USA4Life

I believe Bora converted a center back to play up top for China. Canada also played a center back up front as well.

Yes, but both of those countries have a nasty tendancy to suck.

[jeffmefun]

What about Buddle? There were several times today when I wished we had had a big body with good footwork up front & Buddle seems to fit that bill.

[footfetish]

Originally posted by Michael K.
In the South, do they call it a Tar-jhay forward?

no its pronounced fuhk-awf.

;)

[passtheblizz]

Johnson is more of a target man than Buddle, who is a little shorter I think... EJ collects the ball really well, and I have no doubt he would look at least as good as Twellman has in the last few games. The same goes for Buddle. He is a little more quick than EJ, and a little faster on the dribble. Connor Casey is a good player, but I haven't seen him play for a while. He has decent speed, but his strength is definitely in possession and finishing, like McBride. For a while he was the big name guy, but he lost his size advantage when everyone else grew. The jury is still out on him I think. Klein isn't a player well suited to being a target man... he almost never plays with his back to the goal, and does best when he can move into space, not when he moves out of it. I have serious doubts about his ability in close quarters.

What about Bocanegra in there, if you are talking about converting defenders. He is great in the air, very composed with the ball, and can score... I would rather see him in the back personally.

Seriously though, Sanneh was the king of all target men in college, believe it or not. He was a goal creating machine up there. I don't know why everyone thinks that he can't play offense or something. Vs Germany in J/K he was our only hope at the end there.

I think that while McBride is a lock as the #1 forward right now, three years is a long time, and Brian is not exactly durable. We need to develop somebody who can kind of duplicate his game, as important as it is to our team (the final link between our defense and offense?).

I firmly believe that someone will emerge from the crowd by 2006 to be the next real option, and there are enough guys to make it really interesting I think.

[RevsRule]

Who's playing forward is not the porblem. The fact is that there are NO CHANCES being created by the midfield.

Paint a bullseye on jersey of your forward of choice and it won't make a bit of difference.

PS - Connor Casey shot himself in both feet by stinking up the place in the Olympics he played in. Don't see him getting out of the dog house any time soon

[FootyMundo]

Originally posted by USA4Life
The US really needed a big guy up front today to win headers. Twellman helped a little, but McBride was really missed today on goal kicks, keeper punts, and clearances from the back.


As I sat in the Orange Bowl and watched us launch ball after ball after ball forward to be headed away by the Argentines, I thought the same thing. They are not a big and imposing team, but they have incredible timing and they are all very good athletes.

A very well stated point.

I'd also note that our ground attacks broke down because we lacked enough speed to separate ourselves in the corner. #4 in particular was too tough for us to handle in the corner. Convey had a devil of a time dealing with him. Donovan (and to a lesser extent Convey) made a couple of decent runs up the middle, but each time this guy would step up to bust things for us. He played very well IMO.

[cyberthoth]

Originally posted by RevsRule
- Connor Casey shot himself in both feet by stinking up the place in the Olympics he played in. Don't see him getting out of the dog house any time soon

come on...that was like what more than two years ago. check yanks abroad...casey came off the bench this weekend in bungladesliga...and he would be playing more if he hadn't spent most of the season injured. surely that warrants consideration for the nats.

the casey from two years ago is no more relevant to current discussion than talk of chris albright being the future at forward for the nats (remember those discussions from the same time period)

speaking of olympics...why don't we reserve judgement till he plays in the olympics he's supposed to by age...the one two years from now.

cyberthoth

[Tejas]

EJ and EB

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by RevsRule
PS - Connor Casey shot himself in both feet by stinking up the place in the Olympics he played in. Don't see him getting out of the dog house any time soon

You mean the guy who got signed by Bundesliga champ Borussia Dortmund? The one now fighting for playing time with Hannover in the 1st Bundesliga(on loan from Dortmund)? You certainly missed mpegs of him scoring goals last year for Hannover, didn't you?

I agree with the previous poster, our midfield didn't create ************ until the last 20 minutes of the game when Convey and Cunningham started running at the defense.

Players who I think can perform well in the McBride role are:
Twellman
Buddle
Casey-will probably be on the Confederations Cup team
EJ after this MLS season.

Target forwards need service though, and Twellman sure hasn't seen any when he's played.

[michael greene]

Originally posted by The Wanderer
Players who I think can perform well in the McBride role are:

Twellman
Buddle
Casey-will probably be on the Confederations Cup team
EJ after this MLS season.


This next year might be the last chance for Casey to stick with the Nats. Let's hope he does get called and gets a chance to show what he's got because we do need a replacement for McBride.

Twellman isn't making the most of his limited chance so far, but then again, his service has been pathetic. He's not the kind of talent on the international level who is going to create a lot for himself, so he is very dependent on his strike partners. So far, the combos haven't worked.

Not sure if Buddle or EJ will get many looks this WC round.

[RevsRule]

Mike Greene said "Twellman isn't making the most of his limited chance so far, but then again, his service has been pathetic. He's not the kind of talent on the international level who is going to create a lot for himself, so he is very dependent on his strike partners. So far, the combos haven't worked."

I give TnT zero chances so far. He's getting no service and it's obviously frustrating him greatly. The problem today is with the halfbacks. Until that is resolved, goals against good teams won't happen. Take the example of McHead. People question if he can still play and with the crew, he's often invisable. Put him with some food halfbacks/defense that can deliver the ball and he's a scoring machine. While TnT isn't as big as McHead, I've seen him do some amazing things and he doesn't need too many chances to convert. I still believe he can play at this level and when he starts getting the ball, will convert. Lets just hope that Arena gets some people that can deliver the ball before he starts looking elsewhere for forwards.