Poll: Who will Arena pick as the 4th forward?

[Ronaldo's Idol]

I'm going under the assumption that McBride, Wolff, and EJ will be 3 forwards Arena names to the 23 man roster for sure.

McBride is obviously a lock (as long as he is healthy). And I believe it has become clear that Wolff will make the squad too. He's nothing great, he doesn't score much, but his play has been consistently at the level it has always been which is good passing, good dribbling, good set up man, poor finisher. And he's got quality WC experience. He's in, for sure.

One could argue EJ's spot is not guaranteed, and I'd agree, but in the end I think his 2004 performances and potential will get him a spot, and my sense is that most of the posters here agree with this. So for argument's sake, let's just say he is in.

So, for the fourth forward, who do you think that Arena will choose on May 2?
1) Twellman
2) Ching
3) Casey
4) Rolfe (most played MLS based forward besides EJ, Wolff, Twellman, and Ching since Scotland game)
5) Another MLS forward (Buddle, Adu, Jaqua, NOT Noonan)
6) None...Donovan will be a forward AND we'll take someone else (possibly Noonan/Ralston) to fill up the midfield.

[Sachsen]

I can't vote, simply because the question as worded is unanswerable. I don't think Arena knows himself. Right now I'd probably say Twellman OR Ching, but not both. It's all going to depend on the next 3 MLS games.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

I can't vote, simply because the question as worded is unanswerable. I don't think Arena knows himself. Right now I'd probably say Twellman OR Ching, but not both. It's all going to depend on the next 3 MLS games.


Personally, I can't answer it either. At least not with anywhere near a high level of confidence.

I think it's something that everyone is thinking about, including Arena, but so much depends on little fluctuations that can happen of the next couple weeks. Does Twellman finally start scoring in MLS? Does Ching score again? If either of those two happen, I think the answer is 1 or 2.

If neither Twellman nor Ching score again (which I consider a 50/50 chance) before May 2, then I think Casey and Rolfe both have a shot. Casey has to score in the Bundesliga, which I'd place at about a 15% chance. But if he does, it really helps him a lot. Rolfe has to score (I'd say an 75% chance), and hope options 1-3 don't score (about a 25% chance).

Option 5 is a long shot IMO.

Option 6 has a good chance to happen. I'd say even 50%. Even if Twellman scores a goal, Arena may still not have confidence in him after his repeated failures with the MNT against real competition. Same with Ching.

[swilso01]

I think Bruce should only take 3, and add another attacking middie, like Mapp. Hey...a man can dream.

I don't think he will do this, as I think McB needs a backup, which means we have McB, LD, EJ, and a either Ching/Casey/Twellman.

Amazing how quickly Twellman has fallen???

[PSVFIREBEAZ11]

Hes gotta start lookin at Alecko Eskandarian. Now that he's back healthy he is deserving of a look. Chris Rolfe will be 2010 and I don't think Ching will ever do quite enough. He burns the rapids for 4 but then can't do anything in the Nats games. Eskandarian has had some special goals with DC, as a fire supporter i remember them all too well. He deserves a few CAPs at least

[goyette82]

As a Revs fan I have a weird feeling that Arena is going to pick Ching as the 4th over Twellman.

[RHSHawklets04]

I don't think he will do this, as I think McB needs a backup, which means we have McB, LD, EJ, and a either Ching/Casey/Twellman.


You forgot Wolff

[TxFan]

i too fail to see the point of taking four forwards. i'd rather take another mid or defender. the way i see it mcbride, johnson and wolff get to go. 2 of the three have experience and johnson has the size and speed to be more of a factor than either twellman or ching.

[thedeuce_2]

I don't quite understand how we can assume that Wolff is going.

[LittleMaradona]

I don't quite understand how we can assume that Wolff is going.
He runs really fast.

[DCUSA]

I don't quite understand how we can assume that Wolff is going.

I don't either, but I guess I just can't see him being left out.

[USA4Life]

Rolfe seems to be the best forward I have seen in MLS this year. He is fast, runs well off the ball and is very fit.

He should be the second forward selected after McBride.

I like Wolff too, but he doesn't finish as well as Rolfe does.

EJ is flashy, but doesn't combine with the other forward and Twellman works hard.

Arena should take the following.

--------------McBride
----------Beasley----Donovan

----Convey-----Mastroeni----Dempsey

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

second team
---------------Twellman
-----------EJ--------Rolfe

------JOB-------Reyna----Mapp

Bocanegra---Conrad---Pope----Albright
-----------------Howard

Hahnemann

I would take
Mapp over Olsen
Rolfe over Wolff
Conrad over Berhalter
Albright over Hejduk

Berhalter and Casey are the two guys I would most regret leaving at home.

[DCUSA]

Rolfe seems to be the best forward I have seen in MLS this year. He is fast, runs well off the ball and is very fit.

He should be the second forward selected after McBride.

I like Wolff too, but he doesn't finish as well as Rolfe does.

EJ is flashy, but doesn't combine with the other forward and Twellman works hard.

Arena should take the following.

--------------McBride
----------Beasley----Donovan

----Convey-----Mastroeni----Dempsey

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

second team
---------------Twellman
-----------EJ--------Rolfe

------JOB-------Reyna----Mapp

Bocanegra---Conrad---Pope----Albright
-----------------Howard

Hahnemann

I would take
Mapp over Olsen
Rolfe over Wolff
Conrad over Berhalter
Albright over Hejduk

Berhalter and Casey are the two guys I would most regret leaving at home.

That's an interesting couple of Christmas trees you have there. I really can't find fault with any of it. I don't like Boca as a left back, but that's nitpicking. Good job.

[10101010101]

I really can't find fault with any of it. I don't like Boca as a left back, but that's nitpicking. Good job.
Yeah Good Job USA4Life...

You have a left wing midfielder who plays no defense (when we're stocked at left mid) over the only other holding mid prospect after Pablo.

You have a guy whose only asset is his head on setpieces over a guy who went 90 in the greatest US match ever played, even though we have four other defenders who are EVEN better targets AND actually play defense.

You even say you would regret leaving Casey at home when the guy has done NOTHING in the Red White and Blue to ever warrant another call-up.

Yeah, great job. You really put a lot of thought into that.

The only sense you make in the whole post is taking Rolfe over Wolff. But I'm thinking, judging by the rest of your ingenius ideas, that's as much based on current form than it is on overall, bonafide talent. (For the record, on current form AND on overall talent, Rolfe should definitely go over Wolff).

[DCUSA]

Yeah Good Job USA4Life...

You have a left wing midfielder who plays no defense (when we're stocked at left mid) over the only other holding mid prospect after Pablo.

You have a guy whose only asset is his head on setpieces over a guy who went 90 in the greatest US match ever played, even though we have four other defenders who are EVEN better targets AND actually play defense.

You even say you would regret leaving Casey at home when the guy has done NOTHING in the Red White and Blue to ever warrant another call-up.

Yeah, great job. You really put a lot of thought into that.

The only sense you make in the whole post is taking Rolfe over Wolff. But I'm thinking, judging by the rest of your ingenius ideas, that's as much based on current form than it is on overall, bonafide talent. (For the record, on current form AND on overall talent, Rolfe should definitely go over Wolff).

lol. I guess you don't like it? By the way, what are you saying? Your post is obtuse. If your talking about Convey not playing defense, he had one of the most impressive defensive performances from that position I've ever seen in a Nats jersey when he went toe to toe with Cafu, so he's certainly capable. If you don't want Dempsey in there, instead Reyna, why not just say so instead of the smarty clown business. Unless you have some personal agenda with that poster I don't get the attitude.

[TxFan]

i think that wolff is a lock. for starters, he scores as often as ching and twellman at the international level: never.

however, he does more than either of those players. his passing and speed are assets on the field... twellman and ching rarely get invoved and disappear for huge streches.

[ScissorsKick]

i think that wolff is a lock. for starters, he scores as often as ching and twellman at the international level: never.

however, he does more than either of those players. his passing and speed are assets on the field... twellman and ching rarely get invoved and disappear for huge streches.
No way Wolff is a lock! When we say someone is a lock, that is suppose to mean there is no doubt he will be on the roster. McBride yes... Wolff... he is not a lock. Although I do agree with what you think he brings, I do not agree that he is a lock. If Arena decides to go with Donovan or Beasley at forward, that only leaves two or three available spots at forward. If both Reyna and O'Brien are fit and in good form than it would not surprise many people if Donovan was positioned at forward. Johnson has most likely earned a spot above Wolff. That only would leave the last position for Wolff. However, Arena must also be considering what may happen if McBride goes down. If Donovan is at forward, and Johnson and Wolff are the only options, we are then without a true target forward. Both Twellman, Ching, and even Casey can fulfill that role. One can argue Johnson filling that role, but that is not were his strength is. Lastly, speed and passing is all well and good, however, there comes a point, especially at the international level, where you have to have depth at forward in terms of putting the ball in the back of the net. My point is... Wolff is not a lock and has been walking a thin line for a while now.

[Poachin_Goalz]

i too fail to see the point of taking four forwards. i'd rather take another mid or defender. the way i see it mcbride, johnson and wolff get to go. 2 of the three have experience and johnson has the size and speed to be more of a factor than either twellman or ching.

IMO if we only take three forwards and one of them gets hurt, then we are limited in our attacking options off the bench if we need a late-in-the-game offensive spark. It would force Bruce's hand in playing LD up top therefore diminishing LD's potential verstility.

[Martin Fischer]

i think that wolff is a lock. for starters, he scores as often as ching and twellman at the international level: never.

however, he does more than either of those players. his passing and speed are assets on the field... twellman and ching rarely get invoved and disappear for huge streches.

You mean Casey and Jeff Cunningham are the only forwards in the pool who never score (well Rolfe too, though he doesn't have enough minutes to fairly make that claim), as Wolff, Twellman and Ching all have multiple goals for the Nats, right?

As for scoring ratios for the Nats, Johnson is at a goal every other game, McBirde a goal every 3 games, Donovan a little over a goal every 3 games, Twellman just under a goal every four games, Wolff a goal every 5.5 games and Ching a goal every 6 games. Then we get to the never guys.

[BED-STYPUNDIT]

You mean Casey and Jeff Cunningham are the only forwards in the pool who never score (well Rolfe too, though he doesn't have enough minutes to fairly make that claim), as Wolff, Twellman and Ching all have multiple goals for the Nats, right?

As for scoring ratios for the Nats, Johnson is at a goal every other game, McBirde a goal every 3 games, Donovan a little over a goal every 3 games, Twellman just under a goal every four games, Wolff a goal every 5.5 games and Ching a goal every 6 games. Then we get to the never guys.

Yup, BIG differences between scoring and never score.