Robbie Rogers or Kenny Cooper

[jetdog9]

I know they don't quite play the same position, but...

if it came down to it, Robbie Roggers or Kenny Cooper, and at the expense of which player who's already getting caps?

[mcnaulty21]

Do you prefer apple or Coke?

[Bigrose30]

Kenny Rogers.

[SCBozeman]

Hmm, an addition to the Gang Who Can't Shoot Straight (KC) or an addition to the Old and the Lame (RR)? Seriously, our forwards, even when healthy, don't produce sufficient offensive threat. At least when Beasley or Lewis or Convey aren't banged up or getting over bed sores, they're serviceable.

[Sandon Mibut]

Kenny Rogers.he'd roast the opposition.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.seinfeld-fan.net/pictures/kramer/kramer055.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gothamist.com/2007/11/24/thanksgiving_kn.php&h=240&w=320&sz=21&hl=en&start=1&usg=__nEtm-uM2a_poeb1zl4FYHDq2kjE=&tbnid=rMs5mUGHLBH5xM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkramer%2B%253D%2Bkenny%2Brogers%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

[Scotty]

http://www.qwipster.net/sixpack.jpg

[onefineesq]

This simply isn't even close to an either/or question. They play totally different positions, as you yourself attest to.

[appoo]

This simply isn't even close to an either/or question. They play totally different positions, as you yourself attest to.

I'll try to help the thread starter...

If you had 22 players selected for a tournament, and you were down to either Rogers or Cooper...who would you choose?

[MLSNHTOWN]

I'll try to help the thread starter...

If you had 22 players selected for a tournament, and you were down to either Rogers or Cooper...who would you choose?

Again this is dumb. How many left mids and how many right mids are on the roster? If one of those positions are particularly thin, then you choose the corresponding player. However, if we need just one forward to play for the USMNT tomorrow, I go with Kenny Cooper right now as I think he is more of a forward than Rogers who I see as left mid who plays really, really high.

[appoo]

Again this is dumb. How many left mids and how many right mids are on the roster? If one of those positions are particularly thin, then you choose the corresponding player. However, if we need just one forward to play for the USMNT tomorrow, I go with Kenny Cooper right now as I think he is more of a forward than Rogers who I see as left mid who plays really, really high.

Not neccesarily. Who adds more value to this side at this point in time? IMO the answer is Robbie Rogers

[TimB4Last]

Not neccesarily. Who adds more value to this side at this point in time? IMO the answer is Robbie Rogers

Not even close - Rogers by a country mile.

[BKcitystriker]

Not even close - Rogers by a country mile.

If Rogers is in the form he was last night, he's probably even one of our top attacking option on the right flank, besides maybe donovan, and maybe Dempsey, although Rogers has Dempsey on pace by a country mile, which in my opinion is probably a winger's best assets.

People have to get over the MLS bias. He's one of the best young players for probably the best team in MLS.

However, If he's in the form he was during the olympics, then I'd take Cooper. This is a guy who couldn't get a decent cross into the box the entire tournament.

Rogers, although inconsistent, has to be looked at a good prospect for the USA. However, he brings practically nothing on the defensive side of the ball, which poses problems against non-minnow opponents. A good option for qualifiers, but probably not in major tournaments, especially if we plan on having other zero impact defensive players around the midfield (Adu).

[JohnJohn]

If Rogers is in the form he was last night, he's probably even one of our top attacking option on the right flank, besides maybe donovan, and maybe Dempsey, although Rogers has Dempsey on pace by a country mile, which in my opinion is probably a winger's best assets.

People have to get over the MLS bias. He's one of the best young players for probably the best team in MLS.

However, If he's in the form he was during the olympics, then I'd take Cooper. This is a guy who couldn't get a decent cross into the box the entire tournament.

Rogers, although inconsistent, has to be looked at a good prospect for the USA. However, he brings practically nothing on the defensive side of the ball, which poses problems against non-minnow opponents. A good option for qualifiers, but probably not in major tournaments, especially if we plan on having other zero impact defensive players around the midfield (Adu).

He played great defense last night and showed he could play good defense in the Olympics against Nigeria.

[england66]

Not neccesarily. Who adds more value to this side at this point in time? IMO the answer is Robbie Rogers



Cooper is basically the ONLY value at FCD at "this point in time"

[TimB4Last]

Cooper is basically the ONLY value at FCD at "this point in time"

Your post is long overdue. Where have you been for the past 12 hours or so?

[appoo]

Cooper is basically the ONLY value at FCD at "this point in time"

I agree with that, and I wasn't being critical of Cooper, whom I think should be at the top of our striker depth chart.

But I think Rogers is potentially a game changer whom a defense would have to game plan around.

[SCBozeman]

Unless Beasley blows a rubber-band, Lewis declines dramatically and Convey doesn't ever regain form, Rogers is likely sitting. Not saying that should be the case, but just is.

The pool above Cooper seems less stacked -- Ching's rickety knees, Johnson's utter dunderheadedness and lack of touch, or midfielder up top (LD, CD). It would seem that if Cooper got into a couple of USMNT matches, which is a big "if", and if he was a scorer or big threat, a slightly smaller "if", that he'd be a starter and immediate contributor.

[rgli13]

cooper. unless theres injury/suspension weve got beasley on the left- one of the few positions we have a world class player (dont get too excited, im not saying hes ribery, just that hes CLEARLY the starter and holds his own at the highest level).

i think its more important to find a starter than a backup, and we arent even close to being set up top. even if you project altidore/donovan, fact is altidore isnt proven- so cooper is, imo, the better call right now.

...of course this is assuming altidore is busy or something- he should be getting michael bradley minutes. and in all honesty id rather see davies than cooper. still- the pressing need is up top, not on the left.

[appoo]

Unless Beasley blows a rubber-band, Lewis declines dramatically and Convey doesn't ever regain form, Rogers is likely sitting. Not saying that should be the case, but just is.

Beaz - still hasn't recovered from Injury

Lewis - if he declines any further he'd be me...and I suck

Convey - hasn't regained his WC form.

[ua6870]

I feel the reason Cooper has not been called to the national team of late is that Bob and other national team coaches don't know where and how to play him. I've watched Cooper in person and on TV and it's confusing how he plays. He doesn't play like a conventional winger because he rarely goes from 18 to 18 ( especially defense ). He doesn't actually play as a forward because he won't play with his back to the goal, even though he is 6'2+ and 180-190 lbs. He doesn't play as a withdrawn forward because he rarely positions himself centrally.

Instead, he prefers to play out on the left and wants to run at defenders. He's not bad in the air, but he is no McBride. Truth be told, he's kind of an enigma. He has tremendous physical gifts but doesn't seem to want to use them to his advantage. Recently, with the addition of Cunningham, his goals appear to have dried up some. Does this mean he doesn't play well with two strikers up front? Or maybe doesn't play well with others at all?

I like the looks of Kenny and his game in general, but it does make one think that coaches have a hard time finding a system to maximize his effort.

Rogers, on the other hand, I have seen many times in person and he is the consumate attacking outside mid. He can beat defenders and make them miss, his crosses are improving in quality and he genuinely seems to like to set up others. He has a tremendous shot which CLB wants to encourage. And, he really seems to come alive when he plays with a playmaker the quality of Schelotto. He has deceptive speed with several gears.

So, in the end, I take Rogers, but, I would continue to monitor Cooper's progress and be ready call him up as well.