Cuba & T&T Squads

[Dan Roudebush]

Cuba is at home 10/11. T&T away 10/15

One would expect that a squad of twenty or so would be announced. Then a cut or two depending on injuries, made for play day.

Until actually qualified BB might still go conservative, but I expect at least one or two younger players to be brought in. Assuming a point or three from Cuba, T&T away would be a chance to get some time on the field. And who knows one, two at the most, might get a chance to play against Cuba.

Leading candidates to be dropped IMHO would be Johnson and Lewis.

But I'd also like to see a fersh look on the back line. Don't seem to be working up replacements there a much as we have midfield for example.

Guys that get the call will probably have been in a couple of camps. Otherwise it will be like for Orosco this last time. Indoctrination time only.

[olephill2]

I'd like to see a few of the following players who haven't seen many looks with the senior team called in among the 20:


Stuart Holden
Edson Buddle
Kenny Cooper
Marvell Wynne
Robbie Rogers
Freddy Adu
Josmer Altidore
Michael Parkhurst


I'm not asking for all these players to be run out onto the field at the same time, because as our match @ Barbados has shown, mass player experimentation all in one game doesn't really teach us much of anything. But I would like to see 2-3 of these guys mixed in to the line-up as starters or first subs off the bench.

[Marko72]

because as our match @ Barbados has shown, mass player experimentation all in one game doesn't really teach us much of anything. But I would like to see 2-3 of these guys mixed in to the line-up as starters or first subs off the bench.

That's my maxim as I've said a million (well, maybe a thousand) times before and after Barbados, and I'm still stickin' to it. Doesn't tell the coach as much, doesn't teach the player as much, doesn't tell the team as much to run around in a US shirt when he's not playing with something resembling the USMNT. The core of the team still has to be on the field, even in an "experimental" match.

[fusion101]

We play Cuba at home and T&T away correct? I would expect the home game vs Cuba to be the same as last match- 3 or 4 nothing. The T&T game away can be difficult, but Guatemala did tie them at home.

[Martin Fischer]

We play Cuba at home and T&T away correct? I would expect the home game vs Cuba to be the same as last match- 3 or 4 nothing. The T&T game away can be difficult, but Guatemala did tie them at home.

Beat Cuba and we clinch. In that case, I would expect Bradley to follow Arena's path on this and release all the old Euros and try some new guys. He will probably also release those MLS guys whose clubs are fighting for playoff position, though the good news is that this shouldn't be an issue for Cooper.

[TimB4Last]

Culled out from Goff's Q&A ...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/09/questions_answers.html#more

....

Q: If I plunk down 35 bucks to see the Nats next month, am I more likely to see youngsters like Edu and Cooper or old hands like Ching and Johnson start?

A: I think you'll see many of the same players from the first three games. While it's all but certain the Americans will advance, they have not clinched yet. And the last thing they want to do is take the Cuba game lightly, end up with a loss or tie, and then feel some pressure to get a result at T&T a few days later.

Q: Provide some criticism of Bob Bradley. Where do you think he is misguided (player selection, positioning, strategy, etc.)?

A: Like many of you, I am a bit surprised he has not implemented young attacking players sooner. He has gotten defenders into the team (Wynne, Orozco) and added midfielders (Kljestan, Edu). Perhaps we will see Altidore soon. And maybe Cooper as well. Adu needs to start playing regularly with Monaco to warrant national team consideration.

Q: Will the MNT roster be completely overhauled for the rest of qualifying? Or just a few new faces?

A: It's not over yet. They need to beat Cuba in order to clinch. Training camp in Washington will open 5-6 days before the Cuba game. I imagine Bradley will call in a large group of players, but end up relying on most of the same personnel as the first three matches at RFK. If they beat Cuba, as they should, he'll probably turn to the younger players and new players in camp for the T&T trip. The finale is in mid-November against Guatemala in Denver. By that time, all MLS players except those involved in MLS Cup will be available.

Q: Does Bob Bradley actually think he's building a 2010 squad by trumping out dinasours like Eddie Lewis when we're up by 3 goals?

A: Not at all. He's doing what he needs to do to win that particular game. He said he is planning to bring new players into future training camps, particularly the big one early next year before the final round of qualifying begins.

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See a pattern? There are several other MNT questions (on Bradley, etc.), although non-DCU fans will have to skim over and around many questions of DCU-only interest.

[Dan Roudebush]

Here's BB quote:

On whether there will be changes to the roster for the next games(Cuba & T&T):
“I think we need a little time to digest these games. As you know we have a really good pool of players. We’ve used different guys and we want to continue to build that pool. The job is not totally finished yet in this round, so that has to be considered. Certainly we always want to look for the right moments to get some of the other players who are on our radar screen into camps and on the field.”