2007 Playing Time: Broken Down by Position

[dcole]

The following is a breakdown of 2007 playing time by position. Note that the breakdown required a few judgment calls regarding who was playing where in a few limited cases (usually following subs), but for the most part the stats below are objective.

Left Back
Bornstein- 884
Spector- 164
Pearce- 106
Boca- 90
Barrett- 16

Right Back
Hejduk- 270
Spector- 237
Simek- 223
Moor - 180
Albright- 131
Cherundolo- 90
Wynne- 90
Namoff- 27
Gross- 22

Center Back
Onyewu- 613
Bocanegra- 540
Conrad- 540
DeMerit- 344
Parkhurst- 180
Boswell- 179
Califf- 116
Bradley- 8

Left Mid
Beasley- 588
Mapp- 360
Convey- 90
Rolfe- 74
Klejstan- 71
Nguyen- 28
Bornstein- 16

Right Mid
Donovan- 434
Dempsey- 245
Ralston- 138
Olsen- 133
Gaven- 73
Kljestan- 58
Mapp- 45
Gomez - 45
Mullan- 33
Hill- 16
Carroll- 15
Nguyen- 10

Center Mid
Feilhaber- 723
Clark- 577
Bradley- 572
Mastroeni- 488
Kljestan- 115
Beckerman- 105
Donovan- 96
Dempsey- 26
Marsch- 10

Forward
Johnson- 631
Dempsey- 456
Twellman- 405
Donovan- 324
Ching- 260
Razov- 66
Rolfe- 64
Cooper- 58
Davies- 50
Jaqua- 45
Gomez- 21


(In case you're wondering, Mike Bradley's 8 minutes at center back came after Gooch was ejected from the Guatemala game and before DeMerit came on. Some of the more controversial judgments I made include treating Dempsey as a center mid at the end of the El Salvador game and treating Johnson as a lone forward until Davies entered the Colombia game.)

A few of the more interesting stats:

1. Left Back- The divide between Bornstein's minutes and the other LB options is huge. Clearly, Bornstein is being catapulted along the learning curve.

2. Right Back- With Cherundolo out, each of Hejduk, Spector and Simek got an extended look. Interestingly, none of the three separated himself from the pack. Spector's versatility (RB- 237; LB- 164) may give him an edge. Interestingly, he has been given the second most minutes at both positions.

3. Center Mid- Feilhaber also is being fast-tracked, much more so than Bradley or Clark, who appear to be in a real battle for the second spot. Despite the impression by many on this board that Mike has gotten significantly more playing time than Clark, the stats show otherwise.

4. Left Mid- I don't think Mapp has done nearly enough with his 360 minutes. With Convey back, Mapp may find his window has already closed.

5. Right Mid- The majority of Donovan's time has been spent at right mid, the majority of Dempsey's at forward.

6. Forward- Eddie Johnson is getting some serious run. Is this grooming or an extended audition? Ching hasn't seen much of the field, due in part to fitness.

7. Overall- With the exception of left back, Bob seems to be distributing playing time fairly judiciously. Interesting to note that left back is an historical weak spot for the team. Arena's approach to left back was to keep searching, Bob's seems to be to settle quickly and ramp up.

[Elninho]

And the claims of nepotism go out the window.

I would suggest that Johnson's minutes are mainly a result of a serious lack of other options, as well as injuries to a lot of his competition. Dempsey and Donovan are getting some time at forward, but they also play in midfield a lot. Otherwise, we've basically seen Johnson, Twellman, and no one else. As you said, Ching has been injured; and likewise, I'm guessing we would have seen a whole lot more of Cooper and Rolfe had they not been injured throughout the Gold Cup and Copa America. At this point, I think it's almost guaranteed that Josmer Altidore WILL get a senior NT callup before 2007 is over.

[IndividualEleven]

Despite the impression by many on this board that Mike has gotten significantly more playing time than Clark, the stats show otherwise.



He did during the GC.

[Elninho]

Also worth examining is: are there any spots where an as-yet-uncapped player can work his way in?

Altidore at forward is the obvious answer, but it's also clear that working Adu into the lineup, if and when it happens, is going to be a real challenge, especially after Convey returns. If we're going to use two deeper center mids, then it'll most likely be two of (Feilhaber, Clark, Bradley) with Edu possibly entering the mix - and it leaves Bob with the same problem that Il Bruce had regarding the outside mids. That is: lots of left-footed attacking midfielders, only Donovan and Dempsey (one or both of whom might be playing forward at any given time) on the right side.

Right back looks like a spot that hasn't been spoken for yet... it's worth noting that Hejduk and Albright are probably just stop-gaps with no real chance of winning the position in the long run. I'm not sure I can say where Wynne and Moor stand, but conventional wisdom says that Spector and Simek both got auditions and probably haven't displaced Cherundolo from first choice.

And an opening for Nathan Sturgis? In his MLS career to date, he's appeared at CB, LB, and DM. He'll likely have to wait longer.

At CB, given their ages, I would expect to see Parkhurst working his way into the rotation, most likely at Conrad's expense.

[Elninho]

He did during the GC.

Keep in mind, however, that Bob was juggling player availability through two back-to-back tournaments. He knew he was going to have Clark for at least 3 more games. I would agree with the thread starter's premise that it's best to look at minutes played over the year as a whole, because of the differing circumstances that players were in over the summer.

[IndividualEleven]

Yeah, we'll see how things play out as Edu and Sturgis come through...

[IndividualEleven]

Adu is a withdrawn forward in BB's system.

[FC Tallavana]

And the claims of nepotism go out the window.


If not for the U20 Bradley would be leading the team in minutes played. If it's not nepotism it's stupidity. Either way I'm not very happy with the manager about it.

[Tonerl]

Keep in mind, however, that Bob was juggling player availability through two back-to-back tournaments. He knew he was going to have Clark for at least 3 more games.

It should be noted that this is speculation, whereas the disparity in their minutes during games in which each was available is fact. Is it possible that Bob only played Mike in the Gold Cup because he knew Clark would be available more often? Yes, it's possible. It's at least as possible, however, that he feels Mike is ahead of Rico right now.

[ugaaccountant]

It's at least as possible, however, that he feels Mike is ahead of Rico right now.

Not that there's anything wrong with that thought.

[rochester rhinos]

At CB, given their ages, I would expect to see Parkhurst working his way into the rotation, most likely at Conrad's expense.[/quote]I think jimmy is a better degender than parkhurst. lets all remeber jimmy was a late bloomer and if he can maintain his physical self then i think he still might be in the mix for south africa he will be 33

[Tonerl]

Not that there's anything wrong with that thought.

I think he's wrong if he feels that. For argument's sake, we'll say I'm right. It is possible that Bob's evaluation is honest and he's just mistaken. It is also possible that it is colored by their relationship. Correct?

[Tonerl]

I think jimmy is a better degender than parkhurst. lets all remeber jimmy was a late bloomer and if he can maintain his physical self then i think he still might be in the mix for south africa he will be 33

He's already showing his age. He was pretty bad at Copa and even against MLS competition has looked significantly worse than even a year ago, in my opinion.

[Wearethecrew1]

I think he's wrong if he feels that. For argument's sake, we'll say I'm right. It is possible that Bob's evaluation is honest and he's just mistaken. It is also possible that it is colored by their relationship. Correct?

I think Michael Bradley has played well this year. I put him slightly ahead of Rico at this point. I feel both of them are better players than mastroeni at this point. If Michael Bradley's name was Michael Brown or something other than the coaches son i dont think he would be as heavily criticized. He is physical and a better offensive player than mastroeni and he is only like 20

[Tonerl]

I think Michael Bradley has played well this year. I put him slightly ahead of Rico at this point. I feel both of them are better players than mastroeni at this point. If Michael Bradley's name was Michael Brown or something other than the coaches son i dont think he would be as heavily criticized. He is physical and a better offensive player than mastroeni and he is only like 20

No real argument, I just feel Rico has played better (or played well more often).

[ugaaccountant]

No real argument, I just feel Rico has played better (or played well more often).

That doesn't mean coach Bradley's wrong though. If Nowak thought he was playing his kid out of nepotism the **** would have hit the fan by now. That guy doesn't play around.

[TimB4Last]

And the claims of nepotism go out the window.

I would suggest that Johnson's minutes are mainly a result of a serious lack of other options, as well as injuries to a lot of his competition. Dempsey and Donovan are getting some time at forward, but they also play in midfield a lot. Otherwise, we've basically seen Johnson, Twellman, and no one else. As you said, Ching has been injured; and likewise, I'm guessing we would have seen a whole lot more of Cooper and Rolfe had they not been injured throughout the Gold Cup and Copa America. At this point, I think it's almost guaranteed that Josmer Altidore WILL get a senior NT callup before 2007 is over.

Your first line is an all-time BS classic. Dream on - those claims will not go away anytime soon, and quite possibly they will follow MB forever.

With MB's assets and potential for growth, he should obviously be in the mix. I question why BB is bringing Mastroeni to Sweden, not Clark, but it's only one game and I haven't tried to sort out their club schedules and other possible factors. It's clear that BB is not ready to put Mastroeni out to pasture quite yet.

[tab5g]

Gros

(one 's' in the last name)

[Nutmeg]

A few things stand out:

- The two guys getting a lion's share of the minutes are, IMO, hot and cold guys where consistency is the most valuable attribute. In short, I don't like the Gooch-Boca pairing. One or the other, but rarely both.

- BradleyCo is in some cases, IMO, too enamored with "tools" and not focused enough on results. Gooch and Davies are prime examples. These guys may look on paper, timeclocks, and tape that they may be the answers at their positions, but their results from both club and country need to be carefully evaluated.

- I disagree with Elninho on Adu. I don't think it would be that hard to bleed Adu into the US Team - both Olympic and Senior. It's a matter of sitting Dempsey. While I think Dempsey has performed pretty well with the US Team (people seem to forget he was pretty damn good in the Gold Cup), I think looking at a talent like Adu is pretty obvious. I struggle with guys like Nguyen getting looks over him.

- I think Maurice Edu may be hitting the rookie wall, but he needs to be given a fair shake with the Olympic team. And if he outplays Benny or Bradley there, he needs to be seriously considered for the Senior Team. Probably not before, though.

- Altidore is the best US Forward in MLS today, where he is outperforming EJ and TT at production per 90 when Bruce starts him at forward. I see no reason why other players who compete in the same league should be called over him, other than an overemphasis on experience over talent and production.

[Geneva]

Left Mid
Beasley- 588
Mapp- 360
Convey- 90
Rolfe- 74
Klejstan- 71
Nguyen- 28
Bornstein- 16

Center Mid
Feilhaber- 723
Clark- 577
Bradley- 572
Mastroeni- 488
Kljestan- 115
Beckerman- 105
Donovan- 96
Dempsey- 26
Marsch- 10

3. Center Mid- Feilhaber also is being fast-tracked, much more so than Bradley or Clark, who appear to be in a real battle for the second spot. Despite the impression by many on this board that Mike has gotten significantly more playing time than Clark, the stats show otherwise.
In addition to missing the Copa, IIRC Bradley also missed a Gold Cup game due to suspension. I think he's been just as fast-tracked as Feilhaber, and has played almost every time he's been available.

How can Convey be on your list? Hasn't he been injured since 2006, or am I forgetting something?

Really nice work on these stats, BTW.