Which player do you think is our biggest variable?

[superdave]

The question is, which player, for you, best fits this description:

"He might really help us, or he might be a zero or hurt us." I think the choices in the poll show what I mean. Donovan...here's his chance to prove the career-enhancing portion of his decision to return home. How explosive and how effective will Johnson be? Will Pope be Agoosian? Will JOB be healthy and effective, or rusty? Will Lewis defend well enough? Which DMB will show up, the 2004 Nats/2004-05 PSV version, or the 2005-06 Nats/PSV version?

I didn't include players like Dempsey for whom playing time is a really big variable. Why? Because it's about the players, not Bruce's picks.

[I. Tristeza]

"He might really help us, or he might be a zero or hurt us."

DMB.

[I. Tristeza]

It was not too long ago (I think after the win against Mexico in Columbus) that the US coaching staff was pretty unanimous in labeling Beasley as the best field player on the US squad. Now all the quotes I hear from Arena seem to be more about getting him back to a certain level or quality of play.

I think Beasley will have a good tournament, but if he doesn't, the US probably doesn't advance.

[cpwilson80]

Johnson.

If he's on, he initiates a virtuous domino effect: Partners with McBride and is a viable second option at our position with the least amount of depth; keeps Donovan in the midfield; enables us to play our preferred 4-4-2. On an individual basis, Johnson brings speed and finishing into the team, two things that aren't always present on the US' frontline. If Johnson can stretch out a defense, we'll have more operating room in the middle for Reyna and Donovan.

[Scottt1115]

I didn't include players like Dempsey for whom playing time is a really big variable. Why? Because it's about the players, not Bruce's picks.

I'm not trying to be a dick here, I promise, but I don't understand this distinction. Dempsey was my first thought when I read the thread title. Are you saying that how much he sees the field is such a variable in and of itself that you would actually be compounding two variables by including him here?

Without Dempsey present, I went with Donovan because we have all seen him disappear in Europe before and quite simply, we have no replacement for him. All of the others can be at least reasonably replaced, but no one on our team can bring anything close to what Donovan does. Since the others are replaceable their potential for being a "large" liability is lessened because if they are sucking they will be replaced.

[Asprilla9]

Johnson.

If he's on, we advance.FYP.

[Alan S]

I think it is Eddie Johnson. He has incredible talent, speed and a threat in the air. He can be very dangerous in getting behind the defence. He can also be lazy and not pursue a defender with the ball right in front of him, or fail to make runs that could break open a game.

We will not advance if we cannot score, and McBride should not be expected to do it alone. He needs a striking partner. We will not advance if we cannot score and I think Johnson is the key.

Tony Sanneh had a brilliant WC2002 despite all his detractors before the WC2002 (and I was one of them) and made the difference for the WC2002 team. I think EJ stepping up to the challenge before him is the difference for this team getting out of the group.

[ursula]

Dave- good question. I thought about this for a while now and came up with a three part answer.

a) DMB

b) None of the above. I think this because for each game Arena will give specific asignments to each player that they can accomplish. This is where Arena really shines and why the players love playing for him. So since Arena will play guys who can accomplish various roles in each game there won't be much variation.

c) Pope

[superdave]

I'm not trying to be a dick here, I promise, but I don't understand this distinction. Dempsey was my first thought when I read the thread title. Are you saying that how much he sees the field is such a variable in and of itself that you would actually be compounding two variables by including him here?
Yes.

And don't worry, you're not being a dick. My aim was to avoid this being a "guess what Bruce is thinking" poll. I could have been more plain about that.

[superdave]

Johnson.

If he's on, he initiates a virtuous domino effect: Partners with McBride and is a viable second option at our position with the least amount of depth; keeps Donovan in the midfield; enables us to play our preferred 4-4-2. On an individual basis, Johnson brings speed and finishing into the team, two things that aren't always present on the US' frontline. If Johnson can stretch out a defense, we'll have more operating room in the middle for Reyna and Donovan.
Dude, you read my mind.

Before Rooney got hurt, England was my pick as having the best chance to win it, because they had 2 high quality strikers, and an amazing amount of firepower from midfield, arguably more than any nation including Brazil.

Johnson's a bit like that for us. If he's on, he gives us two pretty good strikers, is tactically important because he stretches the field, and he allows us to put Landon in the midfield. With Landon at striker, I don't think we have enough scoring punch from midfield.

I see the logic in picking Beasley, but my opinion (kind of violating my own rule) is that if Beasley sucks, Bruce will remedy the situation with Convey. Somewhat the same situation with Pope; if he sucks against the Czechs, we'll switch to Bocanegra.

And I see the logic in picking Donovan, but I believe in the guy.

[alffy]

I went with JOB because I think he is this generation's Reyna or Ramos (including, unfortunately, the injury problems). When he is on the field and "on" we are a different team- one with talent, skill, and some soccer ability. I think JOB is the difference factor- between a world class team and a hard-working over-achieving team

Donovan and Dempsey have skill and talent, but they are the Allen Iversons of USMNT- they are great individual players that don't really help the team to another level. JOB, and Reyna, are the Magic Johnsons or Michael Jordans of this team- they have great individual talent, but its the way they lift their team that really affects the game.

Then of course there is EJ- he's the wild card. If he goes crazy in the group stage we are golden, but he's never shown that ability against the highest quality competition, so I couldn't vote for him yet (maybe next WC after he makes me look the fool here :) ).

[Haole]

GAM because no one, not even USMNT followers, are expecting much based on the past year.

Czechs and Italians think GAM was some guy who got hurt and missed the cut and, was replaced by Eddie Johnson.

[sidefootsitter]

Donovan. There's a huge difference between the guy who played the 1st half vs. Latvia and the average Landon.

I am not sure if this has been posted but, in his Univision interview, Arena said something to the effect that if Donovan only performs to his minimum, he'll find his spot on the starting roster challenged.

The others perform the way they perform.

[alffy]

Donovan. There's a huge difference between the guy who played the 1st half vs. Latvia and the average Landon.

I am not sure if this has been posted but, in his Univision interview, Arena said something to the effect that if Donovan only performs to his minimum, he'll find his spot on the starting roster challenged.

The others perform the way they perform.

I think this is the biggest problem with Donovan- he is a player with quite a bit of individual talent but he seems to be lacking in something. He drifts out of games often and, I think, doesn't fully know his role on the team- is he a forward? An AM? A RM? What? Often all, and none, of these.

I think he peaked as a TEAM player when both he and Beasley were clicking together- they knew each other and played off each other so well, and that raised both of their games. Today, with Beasley faltering and Donovan lost at times, I think Bruce would due well to challenge both, maybe by sitting them for one of the early games (particularly if Reyna and JOB are both healthy and ready).

[sidefootsitter]

He seems to be the most comfortable in a "Skinny Y", where he has a freedom to pick up the ball considerably deeper than most attacking mids prefer.

I think that's what Arena likes to play anyway with JOB on the left and Reyna on the right, which allows both wingbacks to go forward.

But Donovan has to get his foot on the ball. When he disappears, the US is forced to swing the ball to the flanks around the midfield line and thus they become a lot easier to defend.

However, when he does have the ball, he forces the defense to collapse against him, which leaves wingbacks wide open for a cross into the box.

And that's the essense of the entire system.

[The Big Ticket]

It's between Johnson and Beasley in my mind, with the edge going to GAM. I can't see O'Brien hurting us in this tournament. I guess it depends on whether you count getting injured as "hurting us" or not. But who was Arena going to take if not JOB? Zavagnin? I think the only way O'Brien could let us down is with poor play on the field, and I doubt that's going to happen.

Surprised Lewis hasn't gotten any votes yet.

[Through-Ball]

The question is, which player, for you, best fits this description:

"He might really help us, or he might be a zero or hurt us."...

Beasley plays such a crucial role in the team. Does the old Beas we all know and love show up in Germany? Or, does the tentative, no confidence, no first touch Beas that we've seen lately show up? If the old Beas shows up than "he might really help us". If bad form Beas shows up and Arena is loyal to him even though he is struggling then "he might be a zero or hurt us".

The only other person on this list I thought was close to DMB was Johnson. He is also a great variable only slightly less than Beas imho.

[tbgh]

Johnson. Aside from McBride, he's the only player who has a shot at being a dominant forward. If he's not on, every other attacking player has a much harder job to do.

[mschofield]

GAM because no one, not even USMNT followers, are expecting much based on the past year.

Czechs and Italians think GAM was some guy who got hurt and missed the cut and, was replaced by Eddie Johnson.
Just watched a piece on German television talking about Johnson and how his form will be vital to US success. i don't think he's been forgotten.

[FC Tallavana]

I say Beasley. When he is dangerous we win. It really is that simple.