23 US players coming to WC '06 prediction.

[TheOrator]

All picks are assuming that the mentioned players are healthy and match fit.

.................EJ..........................McBride.........
...........................Donovan...........................
DMB................................................Demps...
........................Captain Reyna......................
EL.............Gibbs..............Gooch...........Dolo...
............................Keller..............................

BACKUPS
Howard
Hahn
Hedjuk
Pope
Boca
Berhalter(Well who else you gonna bring? Conrad?)
Mastro
JOB
Convey
Wolff
Twellman
Ching(I hate to say it, but we have no one that's a good back up to McBride)

[generals soccer]

All picks are assuming that the mentioned players are healthy and match fit.

.................EJ..........................McBride.........
...........................Donovan...........................
DMB................................................Demps...
........................Captain Reyna......................
EL.............Gibbs..............Gooch...........Dolo...
............................Keller..............................

BACKUPS
Howard
Hahn
Hedjuk
Pope
Boca
Berhalter(Well who else you gonna bring? Conrad?)
Mastro
JOB
Convey
Wolff
Twellman
Ching(I hate to say it, but we have no one that's a good back up to McBride)

Pretty much spot on. I also have thought about a midfield with Reyna out wide and Mastro in the holding mid spot. As far as backups go I agree, except Ching. Please no Ching. I think someone like Ralston/Noonan instead.

[TheOrator]

Pretty much spot on. I also have thought about a midfield with Reyna out wide and Mastro in the holding mid spot. As far as backups go I agree, except Ching. Please no Ching. I think someone like Ralston/Noonan instead.

Ralston/Noonan are middies. Ching is the only viable back up to McBride as he is the only target forward Arena used. I would've liked to see more of Nate Jaqua, but he wasn't used since Norway for some reason.

[grandinquisitor28]

I agree with just about everything. Only difference is that I think if GAM continues to struggle (he is showing slow improvement in my view), Donovan may start. Am I the only one that came across that quote referring to Donovan's MF work in the January camp as (training in case Reyna isn't available). To me that implied that if Reyna is healthy (granted a big IF), Donovan could easily start up top with McBride like he did so often four years ago. He actually played Forward spectacularly in the stretch run to that Cup and in the Cup itself, though he's been spotty at it since (though excellent when he's had to for his club team).

I also don't think Ching is going. The Forwards will be McBride, GAM, Donovan, Wolff, and Twellman and that's it. Arena's had to play without McBride numerous times due to injury and he didn't try to force in deeply inferior players simply to fit a role he likes. He's not going to take Ching along simply because Chings big and can disappear while giving the false impression of a capacity to be a target man. Not sure who takes that slot, my guess is Noonan if healthy, or maybe Conrad, or a D-Mid other than Mastro or Zavagnin perhaps. Not sure who.

[TheOrator]

I agree with just about everything. Only difference is that I think if GAM continues to struggle (he is showing slow improvement in my view), Donovan may start. Am I the only one that came across that quote referring to Donovan's MF work in the January camp as (training in case Reyna isn't available). To me that implied that if Reyna is healthy (granted a big IF), Donovan could easily start up top with McBride like he did so often four years ago. He actually played Forward spectacularly in the stretch run to that Cup and in the Cup itself, though he's been spotty at it since (though excellent when he's had to for his club team).

I also don't think Ching is going. The Forwards will be McBride, GAM, Donovan, Wolff, and Twellman and that's it. Arena's had to play without McBride numerous times due to injury and he didn't try to force in deeply inferior players simply to fit a role he likes. He's not going to take Ching along simply because Chings big and can disappear while giving the false impression of a capacity to be a target man. Not sure who takes that slot, my guess is Noonan if healthy, or maybe Conrad, or a D-Mid other than Mastro or Zavagnin perhaps. Not sure who.

I just wish Areana used Jaqua a little more. If he had more games in, he could've been the answer. But we'll never know.

[grandinquisitor28]

I just wish Areana used Jaqua a little more. If he had more games in, he could've been the answer. But we'll never know.

Jaqua looked better in about 20 minutes than Ching has looked in his last 10-15 appearances. I'm not at all sold on jaqua, there are other guys I like more, but I'd certainly have given him a longer look than Arena did. I imagine he just felt he couldn't risk the youthful mistakes and rawness Jaqua still has to overcome. I'm also befuddled by the absence of Gomez. Why did we have to see Tino (who I was admittedly hopeful of, remembering his play with the U-17 team and his play as a rookie), Ralston, Klein and garbage like that that has no business at the next level when Gomez, admittedly raw as well was tearing it up. I'd rather give a guy a look who might be good enough, than a guy we already know isn't. I love Arena but sometimes his decisions baffle me a bit.

[BWMcTell]

Jaqua looked better in about 20 minutes than Ching has looked in his last 10-15 appearances. I'm not at all sold on jaqua, there are other guys I like more, but I'd certainly have given him a longer look than Arena did. I imagine he just felt he couldn't risk the youthful mistakes and rawness Jaqua still has to overcome. I'm also befuddled by the absence of Gomez. Why did we have to see Tino (who I was admittedly hopeful of, remembering his play with the U-17 team and his play as a rookie), Ralston, Klein and garbage like that that has no business at the next level when Gomez, admittedly raw as well was tearing it up. I'd rather give a guy a look who might be good enough, than a guy we already know isn't. I love Arena but sometimes his decisions baffle me a bit.

I was also thinking about Jaqua while watching Ching lose header after header after header against the Germans. He's a bit raw but he clearly has potential and might benefit from a few years overseas (or at least a year without injuries). He'll be a guy to watch for 2010 since Bruce has brought him in and doesn't seem to be interested.

[fatmaradona]

All picks are assuming that the mentioned players are healthy and match fit.

.................EJ..........................McBride.........
...........................Donovan...........................
DMB................................................Demps...
........................Captain Reyna......................
EL.............Gibbs..............Gooch...........Dolo...
............................Keller..............................

BACKUPS
Howard
Hahn
Hedjuk
Pope
Boca
Berhalter(Well who else you gonna bring? Conrad?)
Mastro
JOB
Convey
Wolff
Twellman
Ching(I hate to say it, but we have no one that's a good back up to McBride)

I think Bruce has 22 players and is waiting for Mathis or Adu to show some magic in the MLS

[BenfromUSA]

Ralston/Noonan are middies. Ching is the only viable back up to McBride as he is the only target forward Arena used. I would've liked to see more of Nate Jaqua, but he wasn't used since Norway for some reason.


twellman is his backup...

[grandinquisitor28]

I was also thinking about Jaqua while watching Ching lose header after header after header against the Germans. He's a bit raw but he clearly has potential and might benefit from a few years overseas (or at least a year without injuries). He'll be a guy to watch for 2010 since Bruce has brought him in and doesn't seem to be interested.

I don't think it's that, I just think it's that some guys, guys like Gaven, Mapp, Jaqua, maybe Herculez, as well as Adu and Chad Marshall and the like probably struck Arena as 12-18 months away from being ready to really perform in serious matches for the USMNT and he didn't see the point in bringing in a guy whose super raw, and not very experienced with the team at this point in time. The only guy he really brought in that didn't have at least half a dozen or more caps during this cycle to the Germany game was Pearce and that was because we're super thin at LB. I think he's plenty interested in Jaqua, but probably rightfully believes Jaqua is a year or two away from really competiting for serious time with the US Mens team.

[Shaydee]

STARTERS
Kasey Keller
Steve Cherundolo
Oguchi Onyewu
Cory Gibbs
Eddie Lewis
Landon Donovan
John O'Brien
Claudio Reyna
Damarcus Beasley
Eddie Johnson
Brian McBride

RESERVES
Tim Howard
Marcus Hahnemann
Carlos Bocanegra
Eddie Pope
Frankie Hejduk
Jonathan Spector
Pablo Mastroeni
Clint Dempsey
Steve Ralston
Bobby Convey
Josh Wolff
Taylor Twellman

[mrliioadin]

All picks are assuming that the mentioned players are healthy and match fit.

.................EJ..........................McBride.........
...........................Donovan...........................
DMB................................................Demps...
........................Captain Reyna......................
EL.............Gibbs..............Gooch...........Dolo...
............................Keller..............................

BACKUPS
Howard
Hahn
Hedjuk
Pope
Boca
Berhalter(Well who else you gonna bring? Conrad?)
Mastro
JOB
Convey
Wolff
Twellman
Ching(I hate to say it, but we have no one that's a good back up to McBride)


You got 5 Forwards on your roster. It's a bit of overkill. I believe the 23rd slot will go to either another midfielder or a defender and whether you guys like him or not (and I do) Zavagnin will be on the roster. Bruce is fond of him and coming from being an Ex-keeper he probably likes him for his abilities to help out breaking up plays in and around the 18 defensively... something I believe a lot (but not all) U.S. Fans would overlook.

Personally I think (not that it matters much) the 23rd slot is filled by John O'brien and he is a bit less of a lock than everyone else says he is. I feel like the very last and final pick will depend on his performance or absence from the Jamaican friendly.

[kronz21]

right here perfect roster but probably wont happen

keller
cherundolo...pope...boca...sannah/vanny/albright
.......................reyna
o'brien..........................beasly
.....................donovan
................mcbride......ej


hannahman
gibbs
onyewa
berhalter
mastioni
lewis
ralston
convey
twellman
wolff

[kronz21]

I just wish Areana used Jaqua a little more. If he had more games in, he could've been the answer. But we'll never know.

because why hes a target forward? screw that speeds more important than size without mcbride i say ej and twellman and thats the period on that problem

[grandinquisitor28]

right here perfect roster but probably wont happen

keller
cherundolo...pope...boca...sannah/vanny/albright
.......................reyna
o'brien..........................beasly
.....................donovan
................mcbride......ej


hannahman
gibbs
onyewa
berhalter
mastioni
lewis
ralston
convey
twellman
wolff

Sanneh hasn't played serious minutes for the US Nats in a long, long time, and unlike O'Brien, he's old. Albright might make it, but he won't start and Vanney has been out of the running for a while, he's concacaf fodder. Pope and Boca at starting centerback? Gooch is one of the starters, the other centerback belongs to whomever can claim it among Gibbs, Boca, Berhalter and Pope. Berhalter just took a big step back. My money is on Gibbs right now as I'm sure Arena doesn't want to put Pope in there for serious minutes.

Of your backups, I agree on all save Ralston who almost certainly just misses the cut. Arena knows that Ralston isn't a signifigant upgrade over Klein when it comes to right mid/wing, and he's not good enough to cut it at the next level. Midfielders going if healthy: Donovan, Reyna, O'Brien, Beasley, Convey, Dempsey, Mastro, Lewis. Since Lewis, Donovan and Convey all can play in multiple positions outside midfield, he may add another midfielder, not sure who, but I'd definitely take Clark over Zavagnin, apparently Arena won't.

[robchap628]

4-4-2 box midfield to open up against the Czechs with

----------------------Keller

Cherundolo-----Onyewu-----Gibbs-----Lewis

-----------Reyna-----------O'brien(Mastroeni)

----------Donovan----------Beasely

------------Johnson-----McBride

Hopefully O'brien will be healthy and in form, if not Mastroeni will do fine. My final 23 is:

GK- Keller, Hannehman, Howard

D- Onyewu, Gibbs, Bocanegra, Pope, Cherundolo, Lewis, Hejduk, Spector

M- Donovan, Reyna, O'Brien, Mastroeni, Beasley, Convey, Dempsey, Noonan

F- McBride, Johnson, Wolff, Twellman

Expect Convey to get lots of minutes off the bench and maybe start a couple games. Mastroeni is our best true D-mid and defending skills will guarantee him lots of minutes as well.

[robchap628]

4-4-2 box midfield to open up against the Czechs with

----------------------Keller

Cherundolo-----Onyewu-----Gibbs-----Lewis

-----------Reyna-----------O'brien(Mastroeni)

----------Donovan----------Beasely

------------Johnson-----McBride

Hopefully O'brien will be healthy and in form, if not Mastroeni will do fine. My final 23 is:

GK- Keller, Hannehman, Howard

D- Onyewu, Gibbs, Bocanegra, Pope, Cherundolo, Lewis, Hejduk, Spector

M- Donovan, Reyna, O'Brien, Mastroeni, Beasley, Convey, Dempsey, Noonan

F- McBride, Johnson, Wolff, Twellman

Expect Convey to get lots of minutes off the bench and maybe start a couple games. Mastroeni is our best true D-mid and his defending skills will guarantee him lots of minutes as well.

[kronz21]

Sanneh hasn't played serious minutes for the US Nats in a long, long time, and unlike O'Brien, he's old. Albright might make it, but he won't start and Vanney has been out of the running for a while, he's concacaf fodder. Pope and Boca at starting centerback? Gooch is one of the starters, the other centerback belongs to whomever can claim it among Gibbs, Boca, Berhalter and Pope. Berhalter just took a big step back. My money is on Gibbs right now as I'm sure Arena doesn't want to put Pope in there for serious minutes.

Of your backups, I agree on all save Ralston who almost certainly just misses the cut. Arena knows that Ralston isn't a signifigant upgrade over Klein when it comes to right mid/wing, and he's not good enough to cut it at the next level. Midfielders going if healthy: Donovan, Reyna, O'Brien, Beasley, Convey, Dempsey, Mastro, Lewis. Since Lewis, Donovan and Convey all can play in multiple positions outside midfield, he may add another midfielder, not sure who, but I'd definitely take Clark over Zavagnin, apparently Arena won't.
dempsy no way id rather have noonan and i think we should go for experince thats why i went with vanny and sannah iam sure there better than any other option we have at LB and how can you pass up on ralstons crosses i know i couldnt and when it comes to gooch starting i dunno i think we should have him come off the bench in the first game atleast to see how he fares in a wc situation,boca has had more expericence on the nt but even he might be a question in wc situation but if i had to gamble id pick boca for the first couple games atleast berhalter even with the expercience i dont think hes good enough to start but who knows anyways on pope not starting i dont see why you'd say that i believe its his spot to lose of course i did miss hes games at salt lake was he really that bad?

[Lord141]

Arena needs to bring Adu for the ride. It will be good for his developement.

[kronz21]

All picks are assuming that the mentioned players are healthy and match fit.

.................EJ..........................McBride.........
...........................Donovan...........................
DMB................................................Demps...
........................Captain Reyna......................
EL.............Gibbs..............Gooch...........Dolo...
............................Keller..............................

BACKUPS
Howard
Hahn
Hedjuk
Pope
Boca
Berhalter(Well who else you gonna bring? Conrad?)
Mastro
JOB
Convey
Wolff
Twellman
Ching(I hate to say it, but we have no one that's a good back up to McBride)if we start "douche bag" dempsey! we mind as well go home now