New faces vs El Salvador and T and T

[deuteronomy]

Most expect a 23 man pool to be called in. Here was the last 20 man roster prior to the Mexico match.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 4/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 7/5 SO)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 16/2), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 1/0), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 3/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 14/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 12/1), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 7/0), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC: 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 21/6), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 6/2), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 6/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 1/0)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Xerez C.D.: 3/1), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 12/6), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF: 1/1) Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 12/4), Landon Donovan (Bayern Munich: 25/9)
Pablo Mastroeni sat the match out due to card accumulation. Most expect Spector to get a look. The third goalkeeper is certainly a question and will offer an early look at who the frontrunner might be at this point in time. The group called in vs Mexico got the job done. It might be a surprise if there were any changes. It would be a surprise if Freddy gets called in. Davies appears to be ahead of Cooper. Any other possibilities?

[cleansheetbsc]

Most expect a 23 man pool to be called in. Here was the Any other possibilities?

With the exception of maybe one or two players from the January camp or Edu & Adu and/or Spector, no 'new' faces will be called in before June. They will go with the core team until they can get a Confed/Gold Cup camp under their belts.

[FirstStar]

USMNT order or priorities for this year:

1. Qualify for WC

2. Qualify for WC

3. Qualify for WC

4. Qualify for WC

5. Qualify for WC

6. Qualify for WC

7. Qualify for WC

8. Qualify for WC

Did I overlook anything? Bob will f--- around with the roster after taking care of all these priorities.

[Bigrose30]

Country situations change when club situations change.

Jonathon Spector is now playing, but I expect he'll need a solid run of 8-10 matches before he's considered again.

If Maurice Edu starts to get time for Rangers, I feel like he'd be brought in. Same with Freddy Adu.

MLS players currently not in the fold will probably have to play extremely well in MLS and get a Gold Cup invite in order to work their way on to the team.

Other than that, it's status quo until August.

[jcerak]

If Pablo, Spector, StevieC, and a 3rd goalie get called in, then we'll have to trim one to get down to a 23 man roster. My guess is that Bornstein or Wynne don't get the call up.

[Prime Time]

Yeah, if Steve Cherundolo is ready I'd think Wynne would get overlooked for the next two friendlies. It appears that Hejduk is the backup RB as of right now.

[Clint Eastwood]

If Pablo, Spector, StevieC, and a 3rd goalie get called in, then we'll have to trim one to get down to a 23 man roster. My guess is that Bornstein or Wynne don't get the call up.

If Mastroeni is called in, how many central midfielders so we actually need? Certainly not five. (Bradley, Mastroeni, Kljestan, Torres, Clark). One will be dropped. You don't need backups for backups.

[FC Tallavana]

Jonathon Spector is now playing, but I expect he'll need a solid run of 8-10 matches before he's considered again.

When's the last time Heath Pearce had a "solid run of 8-10 matches"? Or, for that matter, DaMarcus Beasley?

[Adam Zebrowski]

it's all about the current guys remaining the current guys, UNLESS cards or injuries intervene..

real news faces aren't likely until a gold cup....

but if cards or, again, injury knocks a current guy out, it's not all that hard to determine who's next in line...

spector would be a perfect fit for a gold cup...same with adu...

those two ain't likely for confed cup, but with the hex having 5 matches after confed/gold cups, those two can show their wares versus concacaf level sides and merit 2nd half hex action, once usa clinches south africa

[cleansheetbsc]

When's the last time Heath Pearce had a "solid run of 8-10 matches"? Or, for that matter, DaMarcus Beasley?

When was the last time Spector had a "solid run" of 4 or 5 decent matches for the USMNT?

The other two have earned their spot by being healthy at the right time, playing well enough at thin positions at and having a lot of experience with the current group.

Spector is good, he is not THAT good that he automatically goes to the head of the class when healthy.

[Clint Eastwood]

I do remember that Bradley had enough confidence in Spector to start him in the Gold Cup final against Mexico. If I remember he had to be taken off due to injury (surprise) and Simek replaced him. I thought he looked quite good for West Ham this past week, but i wouldn't call him up for this. I'm happy with any two of Cherundolo, Hejduk, and Wynne.

[cleansheetbsc]

I do remember that Bradley had enough confidence in Spector to start him in the Gold Cup final against Mexico.

And that was his last cap. He hasn't been involved since. Like I said, he is good, but not that good that you disrupt everything to bring him without any recent training with the squad.

[Raulduke]

And that was his last cap. He hasn't been involved since. Like I said, he is good, but not that good that you disrupt everything to bring him without any recent training with the squad.

Actually, he is, when you look at the competition for that position. He's by far the best player we can put in if he can stay healthy. How many other left back prospects do we have that are getting significant pt in the EPL?

[cleansheetbsc]

if he can stay healthy

Very important words. See John O' Brien and Cory Gibbs.

Give me a good run of games between now and May, and we'll see him in June. In the meantime let the competent (nothing more, nothing less) players hold the fort for the next 2-3 games.

Spector has been away for so long that he should not come in until he gets prolonged work with the squad, not 1-2 days of half-speed training to work out jet lag.

Heath Pearce is not great, but damnit, he should be good enough to get at least 4 points in the next two games.

[cleansheetbsc]

How many other left back prospects do we have that are getting significant pt in the EPL?

Including Spector? Zero. Hopefully that will change between now and May.

[Raulduke]

Pearce should be good enough to get us points in the next two matches, but that's not the question in my mind. I would like BB to identify the best player at that position and get him in with the rest of the a siders to build some continuity for 2010.

Also, if he continues to get time and stays healthy, I don't think there's any question he's brought in by June. I personally think he'll be brought in and get significant playing time in at least one of the next two matches.

Once again, Spector's lack of appearance for nats is not because he isn't the most talented player at the position, it's been injury and club issues.

[Clint Eastwood]

Pearce should be good enough to get us points in the next two matches, but that's not the question in my mind. I would like BB to identify the best player at that position and get him in with the rest of the a siders to build some continuity for 2010.

Also, if he continues to get time and stays healthy, I don't think there's any question he's brought in by June. I personally think he'll be brought in and get significant playing time in at least one of the next two matches.

Once again, Spector's lack of appearance for nats is not because he isn't the most talented player at the position, it's been injury and club issues.

I haven't seen enough of Spector over the last several years to truly say he's "the most talented player at the position." He never plays, for the reasons you've mentioned. We need to bring him in and get a look. These WCQers aren't the right time for that. Perhaps once we're a little further into the Hex, and advancement looks assured, we can bring in guys who've been out for a while.

[FC Tallavana]

And that was his last cap. He hasn't been involved since. Like I said, he is good, but not that good that you disrupt everything to bring him without any recent training with the squad.

He came on in the 72' against Poland on March 26, 2008.

He came on at the half against South Africa on Nov. 17, 2007.

He was an unused sub against Brazil on Sept. 9, 2007.

He came on in the 64' at Sweden on Aug. 22, 2007.

[SeaOtter]

Bob's not the type to take qualification for granted, I don't believe. So I doubt we see any new faces until we hit the magic number.

If we have enough games to experiment with after that, then I'd expect the qualification call ups to get very interesting. Gold Cup is going to be great just as a comparison to the Copa America, for me anyway.

[Raulduke]

The fact is, we haven't had a consistent clear starter at left back for quite a while. Pearce hasn't exactly owned the position, getting his 11 starts in 2008 because of a lack of alternatives as much as any great play on his part. Having seen both Pearce and Spector, I don't think starting Spector is a "gamble." What is a gamble is going against top quality competition using a left back who doesn't have the talent to do the job.

Primary concern for the left back is preventing offensive wing players from getting off clean accurate crosses. I've SEEN spector prevent some of the best EPL wingers from doing this, and I've SEEN pearce struggle with this against lesser talents.