US Roster for Mexico

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by bshredder, Feb 8, 2009.

  1. purojogo

    purojogo Member

    Sep 23, 2001
    US/Peru home
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    the one good thing is that he won't have to face Guardado....
     
  2. babytiger2001

    babytiger2001 New Member

    Dec 29, 2000
    Melbourne
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Common threads merged.

    Let's keep all of the roster-related discussion here, folks.
     
  3. NoSix

    NoSix Member+

    Feb 18, 2002
    Phoenix
    Yes. Bradley started Kljestan over Clark in the last two meaningful qualifiers (rounds 3 and 4 of the semi-finals). I see no reason to expect Bradley to change what seems to be working just fine.
     
  4. Martin Fischer

    Martin Fischer Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Kampala. Uganda
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Except, arguably, Mexico's short passing game requires somebody with Clark's range and physical abilities to disrupt. Of course, Clark usually winds up disrupting our passing game as well...
     
  5. NoSix

    NoSix Member+

    Feb 18, 2002
    Phoenix
    Kljestan also gets stuck in, and offers a lot more going forward. USA are at home, and MEX are struggling to find their form right now. I would be willing to sacrifice a bit of midfield bite in exchange for reducing the probability of a 0-0 draw.
     
  6. shotcallin04

    shotcallin04 Member

    Feb 12, 2008
    Kljestan is a willing defender, but more in the sense that he can run all day. He defends up and down the pitch. However, his tackling doesn't have Clark's bite. I'm okay with that as long as Kljestan is paired up with Bradley. Bradley tackles with purpose, has good positioning, and isn't afraid to commit a professional foul. You can definitely tell he's the coach's son by the way he plays CM.
     
  7. NoSix

    NoSix Member+

    Feb 18, 2002
    Phoenix
    Bradley is a lock to start this match. The only positions even open for debate in my opinion are Kljestan/Clark and Pearce/Bornstein.
     
  8. Cool Hand Luke

    Cool Hand Luke Member+

    Aug 13, 2008
    Austin Texas
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Pearce has got LB locked up I think
     
  9. NoSix

    NoSix Member+

    Feb 18, 2002
    Phoenix
    What we have here is a failure to communicate. ;)

    Actually, I agree that Pearce will start. But given that Bornstein was the starter in 2007 and has just completed a month long camp, while Pearce has been on winter break/not in the 18, I think a reasonable argument could be made for Bornstein.
     
  10. Cool Hand Luke

    Cool Hand Luke Member+

    Aug 13, 2008
    Austin Texas
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You make a good case, I now will not be surprised if JB gets the start:D
     
  11. Rainer24

    Rainer24 Member

    Jan 6, 2008
    Nashville, TN
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pearce hasn't even been making the bench consistently for Rostock, at eam in the relegation zone of the 2. Bundesliga. No way he is a lock for anything. I never thought he was a better player than Bornstein, not that the latter is a world-beater either. It is unquestionably the weakest position on our team, but most teams in the world would have to say the same. There just aren't enough lefties to go around.
     
  12. USINEU

    USINEU New Member

    Jun 9, 2006
    bradley is a lock to start each match until his dad gets sacked.

    bradley is a lock to be named captain, awarded mvp (even if he does not play well or score) and choose the rest of the squad if he likes.
     
  13. Bigrose30

    Bigrose30 Member+

    Sep 11, 2004
    Jersey City, NJ
    He also has first dibs on the massage table, and gets 10 extra tickets for family and friends. He gets to take home one teammate's girlfriend after each game, and if he scores a goal that puts wives and mothers in play. US Soccer has recently commissioned a bronze statue of him to be made, which sit in front of the Soccer House in Chicago. If Bradley is injured and cannot be with the team, the statue will travel in his stead.
     
  14. Heathens '87

    Heathens '87 Member

    United States
    Mar 4, 2004
    Michigan
    Club:
    RSC Anderlecht
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agreed, and the Clark vs. Kljestan choice will tell me a great deal about Bob's mentality going into the game. One is more comfortable going forward, the other more of a true defender.

    Start Ricardo and it's a defensive-oriented, counter-attack approach. Put Sacha out there and we're far more likely to attack the net through the run of play. Clark would allow Michael Bradley to get forward a bit more, but I'd rather have Sacha making those runs right now from the center-mid slot.

    It's an interesting choice for Bob. How much do we respect Mexico's attack vs. how vulnerable to we think they are right now?! Hmmm......
     
  15. cleansheetbsc

    cleansheetbsc Member+

    Mar 17, 2004
    Club:
    --other--
    No sh!t. Check the bullpen of every major league baseball team.
     
  16. chad

    chad Member+

    Jun 24, 1999
    Manhattan Beach
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The beauty is that the dilemma could be resolved by playing Clark and Klejstan, while sitting Bradley.
     
  17. appoo

    appoo Member+

    Jul 30, 2001
    USA
    Why would you sit the better player? Bradley has proven himself at both club and country level to be better than Clark, imo.
     
  18. Reccossu

    Reccossu Member+

    Jan 31, 2005
    Birmingham
    Only surprising thing about the roster is Rogers, who really was poor against Sweden. It's not really credible that he could make the gameday 18, so why bring him in? Experience? This is WCQ v. Mexico, man! Bring in someone that has the chance of showing you something in preparations that you think you can use. That could be anyone from Adu to Thorrington -- but don't think it's Rogers.
     
  19. Autogolazo

    Autogolazo BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 19, 2000
    Bombay Beach, CA
    He's already in Columbus, right?

    I'm assuming if anyone in the midfield gets hurt in the next 24 hours, he can be penciled in for the last spot on the bench.

    Having Adu fly in from Monaco to sit around for a couple days on the miniscule chance that he can make the bench seems a bit insulting.
     
  20. smokarz

    smokarz Member+

    Aug 9, 2006
    Hartford, CT
    NO, I don't feel bad at all.

    This is actually great for Adu. I want BB to continue leaving him off the roster until he get his *ss to a club that's willing to put him on the pitch regularly. Warming the bench of a mediocre club does not earn you spot with the Nat.
     
  21. Dr Jay

    Dr Jay BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 7, 1999
    Newton, MA USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This pretty much sums up what I guess is BB's thinking.

    I don't disagree with your assessment of Adu's passing ability, but the problem I see is "who's going to be on the end of those passes ?" Certainly Donovan, but if you play Donovan and Adu as your striker pair, neither might see the ball if our backs are pressured. You need someone who can play back-to-goal and hold the ball up since our back line tends to boom it when pressured. As you go through the line up, I think you realize that the player who sits if Adu plays is Beasley.
     
  22. diablodelsol

    diablodelsol Member+

    Jan 10, 2001
    New Jersey
    Because soccer isn't about getting your best 11 players on the pitch. If Clark/Klejstan is a more effective pairing than either Bradley/Clark or Bradley/Klejstan, then Bradley should sit.

    And aside from his brilliant season in the highest scoring league in Europe, I'm not sure I agree with your assessment either. Time will tell.
     
  23. Aaryque

    Aaryque Member

    Apr 26, 2007
    Norcal
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You know he's under contract, right?
     
  24. Tigerpunk

    Tigerpunk Member+

    Jun 17, 2004
    I suspect we'll see Pearce and Kljestan over Bornstein and Clark, as well.
     
  25. narko

    narko New Member

    Jul 16, 2007
    North Carolina
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And you know that Clark/Kljestan is the best pairing, because they had a good match against Sweden's C-squad.
     

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