Gut Check Time

[USA4Life]

Arena really needs to make the right choices and thread the needle to make it out of the group in the WC. Mastroeni, Beasley, and Donovan all played well in 2002 with limited experience.

Clearly, some guys have really struggled of late and or have been injuried. I would rather gamble with inexperience and put guys on top of their game out on the field in the WC. Guys who I think can step it up in June.

My picks based on current form.
Casey over Ching and or Twellman
Rolfe over Wolff or JOB
Albright over Hejduk
Conrad over Berhalter

The other mistake is saying guys like Reyna, JOB, and McBride will start when they have not played an international game in a very long time.

The most important thing Arena needs to do is have short memory. In that the players that are playing well NOW need to start and make the roster.

[peledre]

My picks based on current form.
Casey over Ching and or Twellman
Rolfe over Wolff or JOB
Albright over Hejduk
Conrad over Berhalter


You do realize that Casey hasn't been capped in almost 9 months right?

[USA4Life]

Casey is currently playing in the same country as the WC. He will have played in every stadium that will be used this summer. He also has the size missing when McBride is not on the field.
Defending set pieces will be very critical. I remember the US getting beat by Germany in 1998 on a corner and by Germany in 2002 on a free kick.
The height of both Albright and Casey is very important with little guys like Cherundolo, Donovan, DMB, Lewis, Convey etc.

[peledre]

Casey is currently playing in the same country as the WC. He will have played in every stadium that will be used this summer. He also has the size missing when McBride is not on the field.
Defending set pieces will be very critical. I remember the US getting beat by Germany in 1998 on a corner and by Germany in 2002 on a free kick.
The height of both Albright and Casey is very important with little guys like Cherundolo, Donovan, DMB, Lewis, Convey etc.
That's all well and good but Casey hasn't even got a whiff of national team camp, much less the field in almost a year for the nats, he has 0 chance of making the roster. It's unfortunate, but that's reality.

[USA4Life]

Obviously Casey has been hurt and why Arena needs to have the balls to select him. Clearly, it would be somewhat of a gamble to morale. However, it would also be a wakeup call to the entire team.

Casey is now playing first team ball in Germany and playing at a similar level as McBride. We have no other forwards playing at this level.

I love MLS, but it is not even close what McBride and Casey are facing day in and day out.

[bunge]

I'd be OK with all four of those picks.

I too believe inexperience is OK this time around. I also believe we should be preparing for the next cup as well. That doesn't mean giving up on this one, I'd still take Keller, Reyna and McBride, but there's a host of mid-range players that will not be with the USMNT next time around. This range of players I don't think adds anything the youngsters can't bring.

[Elninho]

Casey is now playing first team ball in Germany and playing at a similar level as McBride. We have no other forwards playing at this level.

I love MLS, but it is not even close what McBride and Casey are facing day in and day out.

Casey's not exactly lighting it up in Germany...

[USA4Life]

The target forward doesn't have to score to be effective. He just needs to be an outlet for long kicks etc. The target forward needs to be big enough so that the big center backs can't just head the ball freely to an open player uncontested. Without Casey or McBride any long ball in the air is like a pass to the other teams center backs and a counter going the other way.

[USA4Life]

I'd be OK with all four of those picks.

I too believe inexperience is OK this time around. I also believe we should be preparing for the next cup as well. That doesn't mean giving up on this one, I'd still take Keller, Reyna and McBride, but there's a host of mid-range players that will not be with the USMNT next time around. This range of players I don't think adds anything the youngsters can't bring.

Thanks Bunge,

I think it will be a huge challenge this time around and we need all the talent available to be successful. The talented guys don't always bring their A game every night, but once in a while they play lights out. With the draw, Arena can't afford to have any non athlete not in peak form on the field.
The older guys may be consistent, but can never play at the necessary level to win a game.

The biggest thing is the defense and the best athletes need to be out there competing for every ball. If the US can keep the oponent from scoring one goal or less then they are always one shot away from either winning or tieing the game and earning points.

[grandinquisitor28]

I get the feeling a lot of people who want Casey haven't watched him play. I saw him at Sydney in '00, and in the majority of his starts on the US Nats and he's awful, no touch, lumbering, unathletic, the only thing he has going for him is size that he generally knows how to use. But he lacks touch, speed, and ability. Twellman and Ching are non-entity's as well at this point. I'd scrap both and just pick the two hottest guys in MLS that appear to have translateable ability. Probably Rolfe and maybe Cooper.

[JugglinNCWest7]

Casey's not exactly lighting it up in Germany...

Actually over the past couple months he's been Mainz's best player and has been playing really well. He's been creating scoring opportunities for his team every week. He might not have been great earlier this year but he's been bringing his best stuff recently... the exact opposite of Twellman.

I'd actually like to see him go over Twellman and Ching and this is coming from someone who felt like he shouldn't even get a whiff of the reserves for the WC...

[MikeLastort2]

I'm all for bringing Kasey to the World Cup. Keller, that is.

Conor Casey? Uh, no.

[USA4Life]

Are we talking about the same Casey in 00 that helped get his team to the semifinals of the olympics? I watched too and also believe his touch is not that great. Between Twellman and Casey, the touch is the same, but Casey is clearly much bigger.

[JugglinNCWest7]

I get the feeling a lot of people who want Casey haven't watched him play. I saw him at Sydney in '00, and in the majority of his starts on the US Nats and he's awful, no touch, lumbering, unathletic, the only thing he has going for him is size that he generally knows how to use. But he lacks touch, speed, and ability. Twellman and Ching are non-entity's as well at this point. I'd scrap both and just pick the two hottest guys in MLS that appear to have translateable ability. Probably Rolfe and maybe Cooper.

I hate to say it but I disagree with you. You can't use PT 4 or 8 years ago to judge if a player should make the WC squad. I could say that Tony Sanneh should make it this year because of how amazing he was in 2002 ... but that wouldn't exactly work.

Up till last year... Casey was awful. But this season he's been playing great at Mainz and he's definitely worked on his touch, skills/technique, athleticism, speed, and finishing. I'd take Casey over Rolfe, Cooper, and Ching any day...

[JugglinNCWest7]

Raise your hand if you watch the Bundesliga on a regular basis and/or have seen Casey play 2 or more times this year... OK now those of you with your hands up can comment on whether he's better than Twellman NOW, IN THE PRESENT DAY, IN THE CURRENT... not 4 or 8 years ago. Hey, I think Agoos and Sanneh and Ernie should come back too... oh wait that was 4 years ago. :rolleyes:

[cappuccino_kid]

Albright over Hejduk


I'll admit I haven't seen much of Dunivant's play other than vs Norway and Japan and his last game vs. Chivas, but I think he brings more than either Albright or Hejduk.

He defends well and he can actually pass -- not to mention his long throw-ins.

I know he was was injured (hip) for the Poland game, but is he considered OUT of the pool at his point?

[bunge]

The talented guys don't always bring their A game every night, but once in a while they play lights out. With the draw, Arena can't afford to have any non athlete not in peak form on the field.
The older guys may be consistent, but can never play at the necessary level to win a game.

This is essentially what I was trying to say, but you said it much more clearly than I did.

The old guard is consistant, but doesn't play to a high enough level. The young kids can excel, but aren't consistant. But I believe in the abilities of the younger players to show up when necessary. I think in 4 years we'll look back at this cup with regret if we don't plan ahead.

[DCSharksFC]

Raise your hand if you watch the Bundesliga on a regular basis and/or have seen Casey play 2 or more times this year... OK now those of you with your hands up can comment on whether he's better than Twellman NOW, IN THE PRESENT DAY, IN THE CURRENT... not 4 or 8 years ago. Hey, I think Agoos and Sanneh and Ernie should come back too... oh wait that was 4 years ago. :rolleyes:

i got my hand raised

casey f*ing rocks, he's a better version of mchead, yeah, i said, he's better, why? cuz he plays in a much more physical, defensive league, of course, mchead's gonna have goals this year, he's in the EPL, that's where the good goalies are, cuz they face a lot of shots, A LOT, of course, u could also talk about concentration over the course of the game w/ bundesliga goalies who won't face a shot over teh course of an hour, and then get pummelled in 2 minutes, and not see ne action after that

my 4 forwards:
mchead
casey
johnson
twellman

speaking of guts, who'll be on defense and midfield is making my gut turn over and over again, i really hope johnny O can get fit and healthy, fast

[IndividualEleven]

Arena really needs to make the right choices and thread the needle to make it out of the group in the WC. Mastroeni, Beasley, and Donovan all played well in 2002 with limited experience.

Clearly, some guys have really struggled of late and or have been injuried. I would rather gamble with inexperience and put guys on top of their game out on the field in the WC. Guys who I think can step it up in June.

My picks based on current form.
Casey over Ching and or Twellman
Rolfe over Wolff or JOB
Albright over Hejduk
Conrad over Berhalter

The other mistake is saying guys like Reyna, JOB, and McBride will start when they have not played an international game in a very long time.

The most important thing Arena needs to do is have short memory. In that the players that are playing well NOW need to start and make the roster.

Casey was a non-entity in all but one of his Nats run outs. Worse
than Ching(smarter player who links well) and Twellman(better
physical player).

JOB isn't a forward and Rolfe isn't a central midfielder. Rolfe has
however been the most impressive US forward from Camp
Cupcake to the present.

Albright is the second best RB in the US pool but Hejduk and
Spector are more versatile.

If we take 4 cds then neither Conrad nor Berhalter will be
going.

The players who have helped themselves most since the season
started.

1. Chris Rolfe. Too bad a player who scores golazos against Milan,
South Korea, and who detonates DeeCee in the playoffs gets
left off the roster for the last few Nats games in favor
of the likes of Ching and Twellman. Continuing the form in the
new season leaving defenders all higgledy-piggledy as he
creates opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Got to believe he's going.

2. Jonathon Spector. Starting and reportedly playing well while
others in front of him have faltered one way or the other.

3. Playing well in league and with the Nats when at right back.

[onfirst]

Actually over the past couple months he's been Mainz's best player and has been playing really well. He's been creating scoring opportunities for his team every week. He might not have been great earlier this year but he's been bringing his best stuff recently... the exact opposite of Twellman.


What are the facts to back this up? His current form is his only form this season, there was no earlier form for him. Casey has played what, 7-8 games this entire season, 3 starts and a few sub appearances? His team has not scored in its past 3 games, how good can he possibly be playing?

Im not saying he isnt better than Twellman or Ching, but come on, he isnt lighting it up or helping his teammates light it up either right now.