Galacep on McBrides replacement

[england66]

story on espnsoccernet by Ives Galacep on McBrides possible/probable replacement...lead story in the USA section

[dark knight]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=374580&root=us&cc=3888

[Calexico77]

Kenny m-fing Cooper, y'all. Get him in a USMNT jersey ASAP. Having him on the field would be like having a pointy-ball-style full-back running blocks for someone like Donovan or Convey. He takes up so much goddamn SPACE.

I love watching this guy play. My only hope is that playing in MLS doesn't take away his motivation to get better.

[Sandon Mibut]

Not to be too picky, but isn't Ching 28, not 26?

In international soccer, the difference between 30 - at the edge of one's prime - and 32 - past it - is often more than just two years.

[england66]

Not to be too picky, but isn't Ching 28, not 26?

In international soccer, the difference between 30 - at the edge of one's prime - and 32 - past it - is often more than just two years.

Ching is indeed 28.....seems like a relatively young 28 though and if he stays healthy could still be in the mix....

[rkane1226]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=374580&root=us&cc=3888


New England Revolution at Kansas City Wizards
The Wizards continue to be one of the league's great enigmas. They have one of the most talented rosters in MLS but they continue to play like their players just met in the tunnel on the way to the field. Look for their losing streak to reach eight games against a Revs team that will be eager to make up for its last home game, an embarrassing 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake.
Revolution 3, Wizards 2.



Except that the REVs are also capable of playing like they just met in the tunnel on the way to the field...

I hope the REVs don't read this.

[Klay]

Throw Jaqua in the mix too.

By 2010 we'll have three solid target forwards, Cooper, Casey, Jaqua.

[Li mu bei]

Throw Jaqua in the mix too.

By 2010 we'll have three solid target forwards, Cooper, Casey, Jaqua.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo . . . .

We need "complete" forwards.

[Shaster]

Throw Jaqua in the mix too.

By 2010 we'll have three solid target forwards, Cooper, Casey, Jaqua.

Ochoa and Altidore

[sidefootsitter]

Ching is indeed 28.....seems like a relatively young 28 though and if he stays healthy could still be in the mix.... Target strikers like McBride (and, yes, Kenny Cooper too) mature late anyway.

Personaly, I'd like to see Chinger take off for Bundesliga. If JP Peguero can make a Euro jump, so can Brian.

[Klay]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo . . . .

We need "complete" forwards.

Well, in that case here's your complete fowards come 2010..Cooper, EJ, Casey, and Twellman.

[pwip]

Ochoa and Altidore

Johan & Altidore.

Let's not revisit the re-treads. listening to a tim howard interview today tells me it didn't matter either if you was MLS'er or YA, they were not ready to play. It wasn't the quality of play in either arena. It was the quality of the players. If we have more than 5 players form this squad on the next, we have failed

[Eleven Bravo]

hopefully, the new coach can figure out who is going to play forward in the 4 years of prepartion he has. here are your options for speed/withdrawn forward....(O. Gonzalez, Zewe, and Vint listed as strong/target forwards)

Landon Donovan:
as bad as he pissed everyone off at the World Cup, he still is going to be a leading candidate.

Freddy Adu:
We don't really know the kind of line-up we are going to go with, but we're about 90% sure that Adu is going to be a key part in that line-up. where is he going to be a key part is the big question! At only 17, the new coach should be able to mold Adu into a quality withdrawn striker.

Eddie Johnson:
loaded with potential, but he needs desperately needs Trapping 101. Hopefully, the new coach doesn't give up EJ and works hard with his ball handling because he could be a very lethal striker.

Taylor Twellman:
Alright, Twellman! it's time to live up to the hype. everyone knows he's going to get his chances, but it should be very few compared to the other forwards. Also, not really a target forward or a withdrawn forward. But could be effective coming off the bench to use his workrate to steal a goal.

Preston Zimmermann:
depends a lot on what he does at Hamburg. If he breaks into their first team than expect big things, if he fizzles than expect a return to MLS. Anyways, he might not get many chances in 2010(unless he breaks out in Europe or MLS), but he should be a key player heading into 2014. Also, from what i've read and heard, he seems to be a younger Twellman. Hopefully, that doesn't mean he'll get lost in the fact where he's not big enough to be a target forward and not fast enought to be a speed forward...like Twellman.

Chris Rolfe:
Kind of resembles(in play) a younger Josh Wolff. As long as he stays healthy and in-form, he'll get his chances.

Lee Nguyen:
It's kind of hard to say with Nguyen since i've never really watched him play. From what i've read and heard about him, he could be something really special and i like the fact he's learning from the experts at PSV. Hopefully, he'll get some minutes with the first team soon. From what i've read he's more of a wing/wing forward type, but if the coach works with him he could push towards the center if need be.

Clint Dempsey:
He's going to be our right mid for the next four years, but i'd like to see him tested at forward sometime during the cycle. It's possible because of his size that he could be a very lethal withdrawn forward.

Pat Noonan
He's not the fastest player, but he's a very intelligent player. kind of a could be broke-man's Zidane if he received the proper coaching. He knows how to find space and he's a good passer. Even if he's not playing withdrawn forward, he'll get his chances as an outside mid.

Kyle Martino:
Never really lived up to the hype. But a lot could happen in 4 years. To be frank, if i were the coach i wouldn't try him unless A) He's starts tearing it up in MLS or an ok European league or B) no one else steps up in the next couple years. I just feel time would be better spent on a younger player with more potential. (and more size too...he always seems easy to push off the ball)

Edson Buddle:
Kind of like Martino(a lot of hype but never lived up to the potential), but still hasn't received a chance for the national team so you never know. Buddle should definately get his chances, but he's definately not something to be jumping over joy for just yet. Hopefully, he can become a dominant striker in MLS and translate that success to the national team.

Josmer Altidore:
Seems to be an Eddie Johnson style player. If he'll be able to trap the ball better than EJ but still have EJ other qualities, he's is going to be a great forward. Hopefully, Arena will give him some minutes at NYRB.

Chad Barrett:
Broke man's version of Wayne Rooney. He has the potential to be a really quality forward, but he has to get to a club where he'll start day in and day out. Anyways, i expect big things from Barrett.

Eddie Gaven:
Honestly, i think i like Gaven more in the center than the wing anyways. He doesn't seem to have the speed to get up and down the wing, but with proper coaching could be a quality withdrawn forward.

Marc Burch:
has good size and speed. he's not really ready to be a standout, but has potential and you never know what could happen in 4 years....watch and see.

Alecko Eskandarian:
Definately seems to have recovered from his concussion. I think he'll be a good forward in MLS for years to come, but i question if he could translate it into international success. he should definately get chances though.

David Arvizu:
From what i've read, heard, and briefly seen...Withdrawn forward should be his bread and butter. We'll have to wait and see until he at least starts getting some minutes for NYRB. come on Arena...cap these guys or sell them.(for the record, i'm not blaming Arena now because they haven't played)

Sammy Ochoa:
From what i've heard he's going to be a really good forward. He should be able to bring a little bit of Latin flair that would be nice to have. Hopefully, he doesn't get ignored because he doesn't play in MLS or Europe.

Jonathan Villanueva:
More of a youth prospect, but if he can land a deal with Ajax than that definately makes him a player to keep a sharp eye on.

Herculez Gomez:
Gomez definately deserves some chances because he could seriously be a quality forward.

Kei Kamara:
Now this is getting kind of desperate because i don't think Kamara would be a quality player on the national level, but he definately seems to have the physical tools to be a quality player. Maybe with the proper coaching, he could be a force to be reckon with.

Quavas Kirk:
One of the hottest prospects in the country, but this guy's touch is down right terrible. He seems lost in all the games i've seen him in...and that was at wing. However, four years is a long time...hopefully, Yallop and the new coach can mold him into a quality player.

Mike Magee:
I've been excited about Magee since his rookie season. I seriously thought he would be a contender for the 2006 line-up, but he seemed to regress a little bit. Hopefully, NYRB don't have to dive in their pocket to bring in a new forward if Peguero and Djorkaeff leave because of Magee stepping up. The new coach would be a fool to not give him some chances.

Justin Mapp:
Another left midfielder? well, what are Mapp's best qualities? it's his speed and ability to run at players. Withdrawn forward could be a good spot for him to bloom if he gets the proper coaching. hell, with his size i'd like to have him up top anyways.

Clint Mathis:
Now before people rip my head off...2006 is over. He should not have made the 2006 roster. BUT...33 for a Mathis style player is not that weird for him to still be playing at a top level, and Mathis has FOUR years to get his act together. if he can only get mentally sharp than expect for a Mathis comeback.

Yura Movsisyan:
He's going to definately be a player to watch. Withdrawn forward seems to be his style position and if he keeps improving than he should get his chances there.

Jacob Peterson:
Peterson should definately get chances to shine because he's definately a hot prospect. We are just going to have to wait and see how he develops to see if he is going to be a quality international player or not. However, if i were the head coach, i'd bring him to camp as many times as i could to see if i could coach him into the player i want him to be.

Santino Quaranta:
It really sucks he keeps getting injured because Quaranta is extremely talented. He has a rocket of a shot and when he's hot...he's fearless. His defense his questionable, but his vision, passing, and shooting are not. Withdrawn forward could be a good transition for him since A) he has the size and skills for it B) he played there for the youth Nats. If he recovers from his injury and regains form, it would be a crying shame if he didn't get chances to shine.

Jamil Walker:
Walker has the speed to be a really good forward, but that seems to be the only thing he has. However, i'm not complaining because you can't teach speed. I'd like to see the new coach call him up if he becomes a mainstay with D.C. and try to mold him into a quality player that he has the potential for.

DaMarcus Beasley:
Withdrawn forward might not be his best position because his touch SUCKS!!! (something the new coach needs to work on immediately) and he's not really big enough to be a forward. But, with Convey as probably the clear #1 LM now, Beasley needs to figure out a way to get on the line-up. Whether that's RM or WF, the new coach and Beasley need to sit down and discuss a way they can work for each other instead of having a repeat of the 2006 WC.

Sacha Kljestan:
This kid has vision and a lot of potential. I think somewhere down the road he'll be converted to more of a defensive midfielder, but i'd like to see him maybe get a chance here or there at withdrawn forward if he keeps improving and no one else steps up.

Michael Bradley:
More of a Central Midfielder but if he's getting minutes with Heerenveen at forward(and scoring!) than maybe he should get a few tries at forward with the national team if no one else steps up.

Johann Smith:
depends a lot if he breaks into Bolton's first team or anybody's first team if he can be counted on to be a quality player. Definately seems to have the speed, but will he live up to the hype?

Jemal Johnson
If he can get some first team action this season than like Smith and Zimmermann you can hope for big things. until then, you just have to wait and see. He seems to be an EJ style player with size, speed, and confidence...and i would really like to have that depth in my selection if i were the coach.

Youth Players to Look Out For: Zizzo, Davies, Nakazawa, Soroka, Williams, Dominguez, McLoughlin, Seabrook, Guadarrama, Rogers, Sanchez, Hidalgo, Marosevi, Townsend, and Renken. (feel free to add to this list)

[CbR]

so what if ching is 28? some ppl seem to forget that we're not gifted a spot in the WC. I have a feeling we're actually going to have to fight in the WCQ's this time around. We're gonna need some vets

[Galaxian]

I cant wait to see Cooper play more and more . hes big , strong , smart , young , and has a good eye for goal . I hope he gets his first cap very soon and starts to get used to the international game . Then who knows what could happen...

[MarioKempes]

Clint Mathis:
Now before people rip my head off...2006 is over. He should not have made the 2006 roster. BUT...33 for a Mathis style player is not that weird for him to still be playing at a top level, and Mathis has FOUR years to get his act together. if he can only get mentally sharp than expect for a Mathis comeback.


Please stop it. He's been done for awhile.

[sokol]

When I saw Cooper in person last week against RSL, I was very impressed. Not only by his physical attributes and surprisingly good touch and quickness, but mostly by his workrate. He was constantly moving. Defending him was a nightmare for Pope, Akwari and Besagno (and somehow between the three, Besagno gave him the most trouble). By the end of the game they were completely exhausted and that is probably what led to Pope and Besagno just lunging into Thompson and giving up the late goal.

IMO this is a two person race between Ching and Cooper. Ching will get most of the time right now, but Cooper will get minutes and by the time qualifying starts it will be an interesting dilemna for the coach. Do you go talent and raw ability or do you go experience? Of course we still have to see what Cooper actually does with the nats. There have been many talented players who just haven't fit in well with the national team so you never know. But if I had to place a bet today, I'd say Cooper will be starting at the next World Cup.

[nobody]

We will need to replace McBride, but until we have a coach and figure out how we're gonna play in the next few years, we can't necessarily assume we'll replace him with another similar player.

[Elninho]

hopefully, the new coach can figure out who is going to play forward in the 4 years of prepartion he has. here are your options for speed/withdrawn forward....(O. Gonzalez, Zewe, and Vint listed as strong/target forwards)



I think you may be reaching a bit... did you just list everyone in the potential pool who could possibly play forward?

BTW, Dempsey's been tried at forward (disaster - his goalscoring comes mostly from deep runs, which means he'll actually score more from midfield!) and Twellman, Noonan, and Bradley are probably all more likely to play target forward than withdrawn forward if we field them up front.

Also, Movsisyan isn't eligible for the USMNT - IIRC he's only a citizen of Armenia, not a dual citizen.

[Eleven Bravo]

I think you may be reaching a bit... did you just list everyone in the potential pool who could possibly play forward?

BTW, Dempsey's been tried at forward (disaster - his goalscoring comes mostly from deep runs, which means he'll actually score more from midfield!) and Twellman, Noonan, and Bradley are probably all more likely to play target forward than withdrawn forward if we field them up front.

Also, Movsisyan isn't eligible for the USMNT - IIRC he's only a citizen of Armenia, not a dual citizen.

I listed the people who should get a run sometime in the next four years at forward if they keep progressing. specially, if we don't get a clear clut choice for the withdrawn/speed forward.