2010 LB: The List

[mick357]

I am perplexed with the lack of quality LB's for the USMNT over the last 6 (!) years, and I think it is our weakest link. Did I miss anyone on the horizon?

Here is the list. Pick the best 2 for the 2010 WC. Feel free to add/correct:

Heath Pearce
Eddie Lewis (M)
Jonathan Bornstein
Clarlos Bocanegra (CB)
______________________
And emerging:
Michael Harrington (KC)

Anyone else from MLS? Europe?

[PhillyQuakesFan]

Spector, Pearce, Bornstein, Orozco, and Harrington are the ones to watch.

[Maximum Optimal]

I am perplexed with the lack of quality LB's for the USMNT over the last 6 (!) years, and I think it is our weakest link. Did I miss anyone on the horizon?

Here is the list. Pick the best 2 for the 2010 WC. Feel free to add/correct:

Heath Pearce
Eddie Lewis (M)
Jonathan Bornstein
Clarlos Bocanegra (CB)
______________________
And emerging:
Michael Harrington (KC)

Anyone else from MLS? Europe?

Anthony Wallace looked good playing one age group up for the U20s. He'll be 21 by the next WC. Don't think he'll be ready for that one, but he should be part of the mix in subsequent cycles.

[Hyuuga Neji]

Spector, Pearce, Bornstein, Orozco, and Harrington are the ones to watch.
I would pretty much agree with this except Spector doesn't play on the left and switch Boca for Orozco.

[Prime Time]

I would pretty much agree with this except Spector doesn't play on the left and switch Boca for Orozco.

Spector does play on the left side. He can play any of the back four spots. And Bocanegra will NOT go back to LB. His lack of speed is definately exposed at LB.

[Maitreya]

Any guesses on what position Sean Franklin would play at international level? I don't think it's a stretch to think that he will earn a call-up if he continues to improve. I tend to think that if Franklin only occassionally plays left back for the Galaxy, he will not be given the chance to play that position for the national team over more experienced converts like Bocanegra and Spector.

[lurking]

Harrington has looked very suspect at the U23 level. Not saying he couldnt figure into the mix, but, I wouldnt consider it a good bet.

[Mr. Bandwagon]

I am perplexed with the lack of quality LB's for the USMNT over the last 6 (!) years, and I think it is our weakest link.

You didn't rate Cory Gibbs? He owned that position leading up to the '06 World Cup.

[Marko72]

I would pretty much agree with this except Spector doesn't play on the left and switch Boca for Orozco.

He's done quite a bit of it. Not only in the Premiership in past seasons, but with the nats. He's played all the way across the backline (though I do not ever recall him in a CB position with team USA).

[Marko72]

You didn't rate Cory Gibbs? He owned that position leading up to the '06 World Cup.

If we ever see Cory Gibbs back at the same level of form, he'll figure in, for sure. But... as for myself, I am seriously beginning to doubt we'll ever see that form again due to his chronic injury woes.

[SFEarthquakes]

There was this guy called Frankie who did a pretty good job at left back against Portugal in 2002.

[Marko72]

There was this guy called Frankie who did a pretty good job at left back against Portugal in 2002.

I do have the feeling that, for the time being, he's still the emergency LB fill-in.

[Sachsen]

You didn't rate Cory Gibbs? He owned that position leading up to the '06 World Cup.

Cory Gibbs is the new John O'Brien.

[USvsIRELAND]

Next WYC will be Wallace's breakout party.

Freddy
then
Jozy
then
Wally

or if you prefer:
Adu
then
Altidore
then
Anthony

See the connections?
:D

[KALM]

Someone should probably mention Nate Sturgis since he was our first choice left back during Olympic Qualifying. Orozco, from what I'm told, can play on the left, but he played centrally throughout qualifying, if I remember correctly.

[nerdymexican]

Nathan Sturgis(sp?) looked pretty good at that position during Olympic Qualies.

[RalleeMonkey]

I'm adding to the Sturgis bandwagon. I was going to suggest him, before I saw the previous 2 posts. (Really).

And, now to taint the Sturgis meme . . . . whatever happened to Burciaga & Dunivant? I know that no one would get excited about either guy & there will be enthusiastic assailing of my intelligence & character for having mentioned them. But, 2 years ago those guys were considered decent second choices. The question was about depth. So, why don't these guys offer some (minimal) depth.

Let the assailing begin!

[sidefootsitter]

Pearce
Spector
Bornstein
Dunivant
Lewis
Hejduk
Sturgis
Randolph
Harrington
Wallace
Burciaga
'Dolo
Simek

Dudes ... this is the US's deepest position.

[studzup]

There was this guy called Frankie who did a pretty good job at left back against Portugal in 2002.

Please.

[studzup]

Cory Gibbs is the new John O'Brien.

O'Brien is weird. Gibbs is just snakebitten.