Who Should Play in Both Summer Tournaments

[Arid_Torpor]

I only want to see a few players get used in both tournaments. We need to see which players can contribute to the team


gold cup roster

GK: Guzan, Perkins, Seitz

DEF: Simek, Marshall, Orozco, Spector, Parkhurst, Wynne, Sturgis, Goodson

MID: Zizzo, J Johnson, Edu, Clark, Sztella, Feilhaber, Rogers, Convey

FWD: Cooper, rolfe, Buddle, Johnson(yes Eddie Johnson)





No Adu or Holden? Both are fringe players with potential. That seems like the sorts of guys we should trot out in the Gold Cup. Davies may also be a guy to see in both tournaments (not sure of his club situation). It doesn't appear he'll get that much play in the Confed, despite probably being on the roster.

[TrueCrew]

Well, 2003 was the last time we participated in the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup within the same year. Take a look at the rosters. Bolded names appear on both rosters.

Confederations Cup Roster:

Armas, Chris M Chicago Fire (MLS)
Beasley, DaMarcus M Chicago Fire (MLS)
Berhalter, Gregg D Energie Cottbus (Germany)
Bocanegra, Carlos D Chicago Fire (MLS)
Califf, Dan D Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Cannon, Joe GK R.C. Lens (France)
Cherundolo, Steve D Calif. Hannover 96 (Germany)
Convey, Bobby M D.C. United (MLS)
Cunningham, Jeff F Columbus Crew (MLS)
Donovan, Landon F San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Gibbs, Cory D FC St. Pauli (Germany)
Hahnemann, Marcus GK Reading FC (England)
Hejduk, Frankie D/M Columbus Crew (MLS)
Howard, Tim GK N.J. MetroStars (MLS)
Kirovski, Jovan F Birmingham City (England)
Klein, Chris M Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Lewis, Eddie M Preston North End (England)
Martino, Kyle M Columbus Crew (MLS)
Mastroeni, Pablo D/M Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Mathis, Clint M/F (MLS)
Stewart, Earnie M/F D.C. United (MLS)
Twellman, Taylor F New England Revolution (MLS)
Vanney, Greg D F.C. Bastia (France)

Gold Cup Roster:

Beasley, DaMarcus M Chicago Fire (MLS)
Bocanegra, Carlos D Chicago Fire (MLS)
Brown, Adin GK New England Revolution (MLS)
Califf, Dan D Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Convey, Bobby M D.C. United (MLS)
Donovan, Landon F San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Gibbs, Cory D FC St. Pauli (Germany)
Hejduk, Frankie D/M Columbus Crew (MLS)
Keller, Kasey GK Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Lewis, Eddie M Preston North End (England)
Mastroeni, Pablo D/M Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Mathis, Clint M/F MetroStars (MLS)
McBride, Brian F Columbus Crew (MLS)
Mulrooney, Richard San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Ralston, Steve* M New England Revolution (MLS)
Reyna, Claudio M Sunderland (England)
Stewart, Earnie M/F D.C. United (MLS)
Vanney, Greg D 5'11" F.C. Bastia (France)
Wolff, Josh* F Kansas City Wizards (MLS)


That's 12 players who appeared on both rosters. The majority of them were MLS players, except for Gibbs (whose club had just been relegated from the German second division), Lewis (who I believe was starting for a midtable Championship side at the time), and Vanney (who would start a good deal for Bastia in Ligue 1 in the upcoming season).

Good find. Though this is a different situation, as 2003 was three years away from the WC, this time, we are one year out. Plus, we have a deeper talent pool this time.

[ill quixote]

Confed Cup is before the Gold Cup. Well I guess that's that. :)

[Flipstar508]

No Adu or Holden? Both are fringe players with potential. That seems like the sorts of guys we should trot out in the Gold Cup. Davies may also be a guy to see in both tournaments (not sure of his club situation). It doesn't appear he'll get that much play in the Confed, despite probably being on the roster.

I forgot about Holden, He should play in the gold cup. Not sure about Adu, we know what he can bring but I would take him if his club situation doesn't get better.

[Mr Martin]

I have generally preferred two completely separate teams this summer, with the A-team at the Confed Cup and everyone else with a shot at the Gold Cup.

However, I've been persuaded by reading a number of posts that a few players should attend both tournaments. Depending on fitness/health, the players I'd consider for both are:

Adu, Altidore, Edu, Wynne, Torres, Rogers, and Davies.

These are young, promising players who all have a serious shot at a 2010 roster spot and who would all benefit from collecting as many Caps as possible this year in competitive games. The first three (Adu, Altidore, and Edu) have gotten a fair number of Caps in the last year or so, but have seen little 1st team club time and could benefit from games. The next four (Wynne, Torres, Rogers, and Davies) are Nat's newbies with very few Caps but they provide very important depth/talent at positions of need for the US. Gathering Caps and experience is valuable for all 7 of these guys.

I'd almost consider Spector for both, but the risk of him GETTING injured again is greater than the benefit of more games. I'd take Spector to the Confed Cup but keep him explicitly away from the Gold Cup.

[appoo]

Here's my answer, done by priorities

#1. Strongest Team for ConFed Cup
#2. Don't screw MLS
#3. The only players who should be on both rosters are 1st teamers trying to regain fitness for the next European season, either after a wasted season or injury (this means you Freddy)
#4. Gold Cup should be purely 2nd team, and fringe players. Treat it as the waste of time it is.

[kokoplus10]

No one

Agreed.

The only exception should be players who are:

1. Not in MLS.
2. Need both tourneys to facilitate a transfer/loan deal and haven't seen a lot of playing time this year.

This could include a players like Beasley, Adu, and Pearce, etc. who may have a tough time finding the right club for their upcoming season.

Players who are settled into a club and would jeopardize either their much needed summer rest or their preseason for said club shouldn't even be considered for the Gold Cup.

[SJB]

Beasley, Adu, Edu and Altidore need playing time, so if they could play both...Thats Great!The reason they need playing time is that they don't start for their club teams. The way to address that is to have them in club-camp from day 1, not to take them away to play in the Gold Cup which will overlap with most of the Euro pre-season camps.

The ONLY way you do this is if the CLUB says they are fine with the player getting pre-season reps with our national team regardless of our 'right' to demand release due to it being a FIFA tournament.

Side note: Beasley doesn't even need Nats time, he is a vet and knows Bradley's system and his teammates enough that he can pop into a WCQ camp and be ready to go. A few more games in the summer won't matter if he isn't getting games for his club.

The other three listed, Adu, Edu and Altidore would all benefit from an extended nats camp and game times BUT not at the expense of earning a starting role from their club and if that means they just get bench time at the Confed Cup instead of starts in the Gold Cup, so be it.

[Adam Zebrowski]

torres ia playing full time with pachuca...

give him one summer tourney...

he'll need a break at some point....and i suspect he sees time in one of the next 2 hex matches..

monitor how much time jozy gets this spring, i wouldn't push him all that much for both, but give him the confed cup, just because i'd prefer he see that level of play..

adu and edu could do both, given current situations...

i'm sure BB has a grand strategy, with rest being essential for guys playing major minutes for their euro clubs..

[kokoplus10]

Beasley doesn't even need Nats time...A few more games in the summer won't matter if he isn't getting games for his club

He will need Nats time if he wants to make a move to a different club and there are doubts about his current level of play.

The other three listed, Adu, Edu and Altidore would all benefit from an extended nats camp and game times BUT not at the expense of earning a starting role from their club and if that means they just get bench time at the Confed Cup instead of starts in the Gold Cup, so be it.

Agreed.

[iyutepo]

My short answer to the question is, "Nobody should play in both summer tournaments," but with a caveat.

My reasoning is we need to give our National Teamers a break so they can rest and recoup and recharge and have a bit of an off-season. Our European players' domestic seasons end right around the time we are "getting our Confed Cup on," and almost immediately after that we have the Gold Cup. By the time that is done, the European domestic leagues will be gearing up. We also have the WCQ schedule on top of all of this.

The result will be European players that didn't get to rest or recoup or recharge, and I believe that will lead to an increased injury risk for the 2009-2010 European domestic season. If a guy gets hurt, he rides the bench, and then come the spring of 2010, he's struggling to find playing time. This is exactly when we need our players to be playing, getting into form for the 2010 WC.

The caveat is that players who just don't have any playing time, and are unlikely to get any playing time any time soon -- those players should be considered for playing in both tournaments. That list probably begins with Freddie Adu, but remember the U-20s get their tournament in the fall of 2009, so that's an extra opportunity for them.

One thing I believe Bob Bradley has done -- agree or not -- is to use the USMNT as a means of showcasing American players in order to help them get a contract overseas. Or in Guzan's case, by capping him so many times in such a short period, it helped him meet the work permit requirements. I supposed that would be the 2nd caveat.

What you don't do is play the "you have to release them so release them!" card. For all the shortcomings people point out in Bradley, this is not one of them -- I have full confidence he'll pick the right rosters and will be on excellent terms with the various club managers after this summer is over.

[Pull One Back]

I think there should be mild overlap, maybe 4 or 5 players, as others have discussed. Guys who are Confed Cup worthy invites but who are not first 11 choices (e.g. Adu and Altidore) run the "risk" of seeing a total of 30 or 60 minutes on the pitch, if we go three and out. So players who would be primary backups at the Confed Cup, and who are not playing much in Europe, I say put them on the Gold Cup roster as well. Guzan and Edu I think fit the bill as well.

[Grumpy in LA]

If I were Bradley and had little intention of playing guys in both the Gold Cup and Confed Cup, I'd still put a few of them on the list and then tell each player's club teams that the player had asked to be back with the club team during the club's preseason.

PR points, I guess.