I like him as a centerback, as well. I can't recall whether this was speculation on what Geoff or Bob Bradley said or explicitly stated, but I believe the talk was Geoff at right mid under Bob.
CASTROL RATING STARTING XI FOR S & Gs: ------------------------Kennedy------------------------------ -----Myers-------John----------Gonzalez-------Dunivant------- -----Donovan---Cameron--------Beckerman-------Shea-------- ----------------Wondolowski-----Braun------------------------ GK Bench: Hamid D Bench: Boswell, Ihemelu, Sheannon Williams, Moor M Bench: Grabavoy, Magee, Gaven, Zusi F Bench: Pontius, Bruin Feel free to giggle about how silly the computer is or discuss who you would exclude/include in a hypothetical All MLS USA lineup.
Power guys to me. And out of the 4 categories, the power guys have been the best. Even Jozy, as unpolished as he as a young power guy and Casey, as limited as he is, have had their moments. Compared to a Twellman, probably the best poacher in MLS history, never really making an impact in a meaningful Int'l game.
It's not a different sport, it's a different level. This is a commonly accepted piece of knowledge. Yes, the US does play teams like Barbados every once in awhile. That's not the level with which we judge players.
Fyi eddie gaven is higher than Beckerman and Mike Magee is top 10 on the list, so he should replace Braun. After those switches I acually like the lineup a lot
Of course. At a lot of different levels (e.g. youth, highschool, ncaa), sometimes you see players who were good at a lower level not quite make the cut at the higher level. What you never see is someone who is struggling at one level to do well at the next level. They simply get manhandled. This is how I think about USMNT selection, so I disapprove of speculative roster spots for "prospects" who are barely above average in MLS. For example, agudelo is an exciting young player, but in terms of current offensive impact he is so far down in the MLS player pool that id prefer to wait til he is one of the top players in the league (though he is already one of the most popular due to NT caps). It's just too speculative to hope that some 19 year old who is maybe the 50th most dangerous offensive player in MLS to eventally make the jump to top 10. Give him caps once he's proven he can cut it at the MLS level. Same goes for the rest of these guys who are "international quality" but aren't highly regarded in MLS
Unfortunately, Kinnear needs him as a CM more than a CB. I thought his lack of time at CB really showed in his sub appearance against ManU in the MLS All-Star game. Don't see how he'll make it as a CB for the Nats (although I think his ceiling projects highest there long-term) so long as he's working as a CM for his club.
Goals/90 minutes for USMNT eligible forwards in MLS play (at least 800 minutes played) Davies 0.78 Casey 0.67 Donovan 0.63 (if you want to think of him as a forward) Bunbury 0.47 Agudelo 0.45 Ching 0.45 Wondolowski 0.44 Lenhart 0.39 Braun 0.35 Wolff 0.33 Mwanga 0.31 (just for giggles) further examples are Sapong at 0.19, Bruin at 0.22, Cooper at 0.18, etc. etc. RBNY/Backe have been patient with Agudelo, not putting too much onto his shoulders right now. But when he plays, he scores at just about as good of a clip as any USMNT-eligible forward in the league. And not tap-ins either. As far as USMNT-eligible forwards go, Juan Agudelo is one of the "top players in the league." Unless you want to call up Chad Barrett or Cam Weaver..............
Yeah, I agree with Clint Eastwood. Behind Altidore we probably have Bunbury and Agudelo as this pools starters. Both score in the MLS and in their few caps looked like players that could contribute.
Great post. Would rep if i could. Additionally, if you remove PKs from the equation [rightly or wrongly], you get the following numbers for the guys above Agudelo: Casey 0.56 Davies 0.50 Donovan 0.41
Agree with this, in the sense that when Cameron plays CB for any extended period, he looks very good to the point that it looks like he could play at another level, be that in a higher tier league or for the USMNT. When playing CM, however, he looks rather ordinary by MLS standards and his CM play provides little to no motivation to see him playing at any other level.
I know it was in a losing effort, but I liked Alston and Feilhaber tonight. I don't know how you put a ball-control team together for the US and ignore Benny. Portland has S.P.E.E.D. Nagbe had a very nice game.
Good for Tim Ream, I'm not a huge fan of his, but maybe he improves dramatically in the next few seasons.
If he improves dramatically the next few seasons he will be our best CB by far. He isn't too far off now.
Well he did help create the Red Bulls goal, and if Lindpierre hadn't decided to sky it over from 8 yards and passed to Agudelo five feet next to him, he would have scored.
That Mike Magee is really something. He is having an amazing season this year. Added 2 goals tonight. Omar Gonzalez helps get yet another shut out.
They showed a stat in today's game that he is second to Charlie Davies in scoring as a subsitute in the league.
Yeah, I saw that. Also worth noting that he's scored a bunch of different ways - headers, breakaways, one-touch at the post, etc. Very promising, especially when compared to Bunbury who's really just an Eddie Johnson-type one-trick pony.
Bunbury has a higher soccer IQ than EJ. I do agree that Agudelo has a variety of weapons and is more likely to go farther in his career.