US players--Retirement and Replacement?

[Shaster]

Instead of have every single thread running, we may better serve with one:

1) Reyna. Who will replace it? Bruce Arena said Benny Olsen. :p Or any half-decnet players in DC United midfield. At least Carroll and Sims all showed up in US Nat uniform already, only pool Dema who has no citizenship paper to earn a Nat shirt.

All anti-Bruce BSers cry for Ricardo Clark. Also long lists with Feilhaber, Bradley and Kiljestan. People also forget other Bruce greats--Armas, Marsh, and Zavignon.

2) McBride. Who will replace it? McChing, or Twell-half-man (sorry, not about his character, but rather the comparable size with McBride. :p )? Or stone foot Casey?

Anti-Bruce BSers say "forget the concept, no more target forwards". Calling for Cooper or Jaqua are heard.

3) Pope. We don't need replacement. We have more players are better for advancement.

I would like Keller to announce for retirement too. Sorry, Kasey, you are a good keeper, but when there is a guy named Brad who always find a way to stop PKs in World Cup, your luck may not go alone with it.

Who else should retire? Oh, I forget Donovan who is already in retirement mode when he is on the field. Get to find someone to replace him too. :p

[MtMike]

Instead of have every single thread running, we may better serve with one:

1) Reyna. Who will replace it? Bruce Arena said Benny Olsen. :p Or any half-decnet players in DC United midfield. At least Carroll and Sims all showed up in US Nat uniform already, only pool Dema who has no citizenship paper to earn a Nat shirt.

All anti-Bruce BSers cry for Ricardo Clark. Also long lists with Feilhaber, Bradley and Kiljestan. People also forget other Bruce greats--Armas, Marsh, and Zavignon.

2) McBride. Who will replace it? McChing, or Twell-half-man (sorry, not about his character, but rather the comparable size with McBride. :p )? Or stone foot Casey?

Anti-Bruce BSers say "forget the concept, no more target forwards". Calling for Cooper or Jaqua are heard.

3) Pope. We don't need replacement. We have more players are better for advancement.

I would like Keller to announce for retirement too. Sorry, Kasey, you are a good keeper, but when there is a guy named Brad who always find a way to stop PKs in World Cup, your luck may not go alone with it.

Who else should retire? Oh, I forget Donovan who is already in retirement mode when he is on the field. Get to find someone to replace him too. :p

I imagine Lewis is done. I don't think Wolff will retire, but I don't see him in the next WC cycle. Same with Keller. Hejduk probably done.

[Sachsen]

I imagine Lewis is done. I don't think Wolff will retire, but I don't see him in the next WC cycle. Same with Keller. Hejduk probably done.

Hejduk's probably the one old guy I could possibly see still aiming for a backup spot in 2010. Still phenomenally fit and tireless. Great locker room guy. Can play on the right or the left. The only question is whether he gets any smarter as he gets older. ;)

[CbR]

Hejduk's probably the one old guy I could possibly see still aiming for a backup spot in 2010. Still phenomenally fit and tireless. Great locker room guy. Can play on the right or the left. The only question is whether he gets any smarter as he gets older. ;)

what are the odds of hejduk developing a wicked bending/dropping cross in within the next 4 years?

I love the guy,,we're gonna need a handful of vets like him during this transitionary period. We cant just assemble a group of ONLY young players.

[SoCalian]

the obvious replacement for Pope is Gibbs.

[motownajax]

Im looking for Nate Jaqua to step up and produce for us in the future. He only played anout 15 minutes or so for the nats but he seemed to possess some, almost undescribable, knack for doing as he pleased. Id love to see him in the future.

[bltleo]

Hejduk's probably the one old guy I could possibly see still aiming for a backup spot in 2010. Still phenomenally fit and tireless. Great locker room guy. Can play on the right or the left. The only question is whether he gets any smarter as he gets older. ;)

do you really think that Frankie Hejduk has a chance to be in world cup 2010?
I doubt it. But I would be happy if it happens.

Regarding Keller. I think goalkeeper can be older. Our Lehmann is 36. And he will be goalkeeper in european cup in 2008 and maybe next world cup (not sure of course). I think goalkeepers can be older than players. Or am I wrong at this? I think older goalkeeper are experienced. Look at our Kahn (well he retired now, but he played with 36 and this is "old man").

Donovan will be in his best age in 2010 - 28:). He might play leader position like our Ballack in our current team now.

[Adam Zebrowski]

i'd say howard, now that he's at everton has every shot to seize the keeping job...

guzan will be in the equation too, with lots of time for him to continue to develop....

[clashcityrocker]

the obvious replacement for Pope is Gibbs.

I thought the replacement for Pope was Cardinal Ratzinger.



Badda Bing. I'll be here all week, folks.

[ugaaccountant]

This is a 1-2 year horizon as the immediate starting replacements are obviously the bench from the wc if we actually had games this year.

Reyna and likely O'brien - Clark, Feilhaber and Bradley will be brought into the fold for this spot.

Lewis - I'm thinking this spot becomes Spector's

Pope - Gibbs

Mcbride - Cooper and Zimmerman

Keller - Howard

Wolff - Rolfe, Altidore

[USAin2006]

I thought the replacement for Pope was Cardinal Ratzinger.



Badda Bing. I'll be here all week, folks.

I just flew in from Munich and BOY are my arms tired!

[ETucker]

bltleo:

I would love for Donovan to grow as a player to be able to play the "leader role" that Ballack does for Germany.

However, his game is all offense and no defense. Has anyone ever seen him tackle someone or backtrack to break up a play?

In short, he is too one sided to play centermid. He will continue being an attacking midfielder against weakly Concacaf opponents, but cause formation problems when the US faces real oppossition that necessitates two-way midfielders.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I disagree completely with the concept donovan plays NO defense.

He regularly back tracks, and while he isn't a strong tackler, he does apply pressure defensively.

That's for the usmnt...

as to the galaxy, he's a freaking forward there, and his role is vastly different from his role under arena

[the stranger]

IMO we would be better off NOT replacing McBride and Reyna (their roles, that is).

[eric_appleby]

We don't need another Reyna.
We can do without an anchor on our attack.

[sidefootsitter]

The problem with the replacements is that you almost have to assume that the new coach will not be a moron with his Xs and Os. That means no destroyer in a 4-4-2 Box, which was one of the most common errors by Arena. If you play Box, you need two two-way deep mids, preferably a lefty and a righty to split the field evenly.

Personally, I'd like to see someone like Kljestan being given a chance to earn one spot eventually. The US is not a top ball-handling team to begin with and getting an Armas type onto the field made it even worse.

The first dibs on McBride's job ought to go to Ching. Cooper is a bit different style wise than the Brians.

And Pope's replacements should have arrived two years ago. When I saw him being dominated by Jason Roberts in the Grenada games, I would have sat Eddie down right at that point.

[Dr.Phil]

Dont froget Chad Marshall

[Tonerl]

We don't need another Reyna.
We can do without an anchor on our attack.

Hey, look. Even the mods can tow the BS (in more ways than one) line.:rolleyes:

(I agree about not needing another target forward, though. ;) )

[Hedbal]

Don't overlook Bobby Boswell as a possible successor to Pope. He is remarkably calm under pressure, not slow, and two footed. Also very good in the air.

[Shaster]

We really need to replace the reitred Donovan. :p