Bright Future for Back Line

[chucknyce21]

If the Gold Cup and the other friendlies this year have shown anything it is that we have a a bright future in the back.

The play of new guys like Spector, Simek, DeMeritt, Parkhurst has seemed solid in their brief appearances while Bornstein at times looks shaky but still has plenty of potential.

Also the present and past play of Boca, Conrad, Hejduk and even Oneywu in certain matchups has been pretty good. If Gooch could just learn to chill out and become more proficient tactically he could be useful for the MNT.

Spector gives you options at both left and right back while Simek played beautifully against TNT at right back. Parkhurst could be used at times to balance Gooch's ineffectiveness against smaller quicker forwards and DeMeritt seems to be solid in the center and could play the same role as Conrad and Boca, while Hejduk gives us a solid offensive presence at RB.

I love our depth in the back and feel for the first time in a while that it may be our strongest asset especially when you combine with the goalkeeping of Howard and Keller (minus WC's of course).

[flash1316]

Spector-Parkhurst-Sturgis-Freeman for 2010

I like Simek too, but he didn't rhyme

[chucknyce21]

I even forgot Cherundolo and Gibbs, thats how deep we are

Also throw in Sturgis, Wynne and any younger guys

[Walter3000]

Anyone with pace out there?

I remember watching Sturgis at the U-20s but I cant remember what he was like, isnt he shorter like Parkhurst. Again, nothing against short CBs, but pairing them is probably a bad idea.

[Dave216J]

I don't know if we will get back to our 2002 level by 2010 (Pope was absolutely amazing, still for my money the best CB we've had, Sanneh was a doubt in my mind but had one of the best tournaments of any RB in it, Berhalter was a solid vet and good in the air, Hejduk had huge lungs and knew at least a bit about positioning).

But short of someone being at Pope's level (maybe Gibbs, by then, will be) we have prospects for at least as much talent, and more than we had in 2006 by quite a ways.

[MikeR]

I do think we need to address the DeMerit-Simek lookalike problem. One of the major papers (Wash Post maybe?) claimed that DeMerit and Simek both played center back and outside back against T & T. I may have missed something, but I don't think that was the case. DeMerit's older, Simek's just going to have to dye his hair black or shave his head to avoid confusion.

[Adam Zebrowski]

Spector, Simek, DeMeritt, Parkhurst

so far this tourney it's been crappy guatemala and t&t...

what test have they had really...

send them to copa america, and let's see how they perform then..

annointing people EARLY can be a problem...

i do think parkhurst and bornstein will be just fine....

demerit i need to see against quality forwards...

simek, i can't say yet...

spector needs to find a position and centrally he might be just fine...

i think onyewu needs competent refs who will call actual fouls and NOT prejudge based on size....

push comes to shove, usa backline of choice is:

cherundolo onyewu bocanegra bornstein...

conrad will be tough to beat out short term....

[sabretarheel]

In all truth, I am more unimpressed with our back line than any other unit this tournament. I have mostly been impressed with our midfield play (when we have decided to play through midfield), and our forward play has been about what I'd have expected (some good runs and hold-up ability, not much in terms of killer instinct as of yet). Many of the mistakes and jitters of the midfield can be attributed to this being their (Bradley, Clark, Feilhaber) first international tournament with the full squad; otherwise I have seen much to be excited about from them (admittedly a bit more from Feilhaber and Clark than Bradley).

With the defense however...the newer additions have been solid, but not great. Against the caliber of opponents we've had to this point, at least, I was hoping for better. But truthfully, I don't have much problem with the young guys, as I'm not one who thinks they should be completely developed and comfortable at this point. But along those same lines, our "starters" along the back line (Gooch, Bocanegra) have prompted more nervous moments than they really should have, particularly against these teams.

Am I still hopeful that the newer guys will turn out to be great once they get their feet under them? Absolutely, but with regards to the original post, I don't see our back line as an area that I look at and think, "that's the rock of our team" as I have been more inclined to do in the past. We may have a lot of depth, but as of today I wouldn't call it a major strength. Fortunately for us though, it's 2007, and the WC is several years away. :-)

[Dave216J]

In all truth, I am more unimpressed with our back line than any other unit this tournament.

With the defense however...the newer additions have been solid, but not great. But along those same lines, our "starters" along the back line (Gooch, Bocanegra) have prompted more nervous moments than they really should have, particularly against these teams.

Am I still hopeful that the newer guys will turn out to be great once they get their feet under them? Absolutely, but with regards to the original post, I don't see our back line as an area that I look at and think, "that's the rock of our team" as I have been more inclined to do in the past.

My memory may be a bit faulty after a few days, but I did think that our back-line, possibly with the exception of Gooch's overzealous half in the first game, kept our opponents to a quite acceptably minimal number of chances. I agree that it has not been the rock of the team, but I haven't felt like that about our defense since the end of the WC2002 run, when it was clear that Pope was sticking around but getting older, and that other than Cherundolo, we had no outside backs who looked solid.

For the last 5 years, our RB depth chart has been Cherundolo/Hejduk/Albright, and our LB depth chart has been Lewis/Convey/Hejduk. Our CBs have been Boca, Gibbs, Gooch, aging Pope, and Berhalter.

We now have Cherundolo being legitimately pushed by Simek and Specter, both with some solid experience; Bornstein/Pearce emerging at LB with Specter also able to play there; Boca seemingly more reliable in the center, and Demerit emerging from almost nowhere into a clearly talented prospect.

It may not be a rock, as in 2002, but it's as good as it's been for half a decade, and looks like it will get better over the next 3 years. To me, that's a sea change. So I agree with your post (as edited/copied) completely, but I see that cup as very much half full, and rising.

[JeffreyWyatt]

demerit i need to see against quality forwards...



Henry, Rooney, Drogba not enough for you? He was the only Watford defender that looked liked he belonged on the same field as those guys this season. There's a reason he's a transfer target, and very well should make a move back to the EPL

[cleansheetbsc]

For the last 5 years, our RB depth chart has been Cherundolo/Hejduk/Albright, and our LB depth chart has been Lewis/Convey/Hejduk.


Don't forget Vanney at LB! What a treat it was to watch him on the national team.

[CescMate]

Henry, Rooney, Drogba not enough for you? He was the only Watford defender that looked liked he belonged on the same field as those guys this season. There's a reason he's a transfer target, and very well should make a move back to the EPL

In truth, although a key figure in the team he was exposed numerous times during the season and didn't look like he belonged. Spector faired slightly better although there were a couple of occasions were he sold himself horribly short.

Dspite this I would have them in for 2010 at this moment in time.

[sabretarheel]

My memory may be a bit faulty after a few days, but I did think that our back-line, possibly with the exception of Gooch's overzealous half in the first game, kept our opponents to a quite acceptably minimal number of chances. I agree that it has not been the rock of the team, but I haven't felt like that about our defense since the end of the WC2002 run, when it was clear that Pope was sticking around but getting older, and that other than Cherundolo, we had no outside backs who looked solid.

For the last 5 years, our RB depth chart has been Cherundolo/Hejduk/Albright, and our LB depth chart has been Lewis/Convey/Hejduk. Our CBs have been Boca, Gibbs, Gooch, aging Pope, and Berhalter.

We now have Cherundolo being legitimately pushed by Simek and Specter, both with some solid experience; Bornstein/Pearce emerging at LB with Specter also able to play there; Boca seemingly more reliable in the center, and Demerit emerging from almost nowhere into a clearly talented prospect.

It may not be a rock, as in 2002, but it's as good as it's been for half a decade, and looks like it will get better over the next 3 years. To me, that's a sea change. So I agree with your post (as edited/copied) completely, but I see that cup as very much half full, and rising.

I would agree with you on most all points really. My angst, if one could say I really had any, is not in the performance of our youngin's, as I believe they've done pretty well, and only stand to get better. It's in our vets. They've not been awful, but they just have been surprisingly weaker than I was hoping to see (Gooch, Boca).

I apologize if the tenor of my post suggested that I don't foresee a bright future for our back line, as I fully believe in its potential. I was simply noting that I hadn't seen as strong a unit so far this Gold Cup as I had been anticipating--which again, mostly hinges on the substandard play of two of our vets.

[olephill2]

I'm pretty excited about our defensive depth as well, and I'm convinced that we're as deep as we've ever been in defense.

RB
Cherundolo, Simek, Spector, Hejduk, Albright, Wynne, Namoff (just kidding)

CB
Conrad, Bocanegra, (Gibbs?), Onyewu, DeMerit, Parkhurst, Boswell, Sturgis, Berhalter (as an emergency pick in the next 1-2 years if needed).

LB
Bornstein, Pearce, Dunivant
(Ok, so we're not so deep on natural left backs, but we have enough versatility that plenty of guys can slide over, notably Spector, Bocanegra, Hejduk, DeMerit & Sturgis).


We have more quality depth at center back than we do at any other position on the field, including left midfield and goalkeeper. And our right back situation is looking better and better with the emergence of Simek & Spector, as well as the return to form of Hejduk. And once Stevie C gets back from injury, people around here will start talking about him again.

[Riotom9]

I do think we need to address the DeMerit-Simek lookalike problem. One of the major papers (Wash Post maybe?) claimed that DeMerit and Simek both played center back and outside back against T & T. I may have missed something, but I don't think that was the case. DeMerit's older, Simek's just going to have to dye his hair black or shave his head to avoid confusion.



It's easy to tell them apart - Simek has no neck. Just look again. Torso, arms, shoulders, head. No neck!

[Dave216J]

I would agree with you on most all points really. My angst, if one could say I really had any, is not in the performance of our youngin's, as I believe they've done pretty well, and only stand to get better. It's in our vets. They've not been awful, but they just have been surprisingly weaker than I was hoping to see (Gooch, Boca).

I apologize if the tenor of my post suggested that I don't foresee a bright future for our back line, as I fully believe in its potential. I was simply noting that I hadn't seen as strong a unit so far this Gold Cup as I had been anticipating--which again, mostly hinges on the substandard play of two of our vets.

I agree - and no apologies! The vets have been the let-down, which is why we need to get Simek, Specter, etc. to become vets in their own right. I still think Boca can play a good complementary role, and would like to see him with Gibbs, if he's ever healthy enough. Gooch should be relegated to the prospect status, and maybe with some of the weight of expectations off, he can do well; it's hard to be a hyped CB prospect. It's not there now, but we're well positioned to have a solid, well-gelled, and experienced back line, with good starters and proven depth, by 2010.

[MikeR]

It's easy to tell them apart - Simek has no neck. Just look again. Torso, arms, shoulders, head. No neck!

Good call. I'll keep that in mind. :)

[USAin2006]

Henry, Rooney, Drogba not enough for you? He was the only Watford defender that looked liked he belonged on the same field as those guys this season. There's a reason he's a transfer target, and very well should make a move back to the EPL

He did well, I agree. But in the interests of fair disclosure, there were times he looked foolish. There was one goal by Robin van Persie that made him look particularly foolish, IIRC. Having said that, he did well, and I think he certainly looked better against those forwards than Gooch did.

[ulyssesr]

I do think we need to address the DeMerit-Simek lookalike problem. One of the major papers (Wash Post maybe?) claimed that DeMerit and Simek both played center back and outside back against T & T. I may have missed something, but I don't think that was the case. DeMerit's older, Simek's just going to have to dye his hair black or shave his head to avoid confusion.

Simek should go for a Mohawk and DeMerit should go for a Ronaldo haircut.

[superdave]

Henry, Rooney, Drogba not enough for you? He was the only Watford defender that looked liked he belonged on the same field as those guys this season. There's a reason he's a transfer target, and very well should make a move back to the EPL
I'm not aware of Demerit being a transfer target. And that's as nicely as I can put my response to this post.