Does Bob Bradley know what he is doing? a C team to Copa America

Discussion in 'USA Men' started by Juan Luis Guerra, Jun 22, 2007.

  1. irish56

    irish56 Member+

    Oct 30, 2006
    indy
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not all that bad. Not a squad that can win the Copa, but it will be interesting to see a midfield that does not consists of the trio of Ld, Beas, and Deuce. Justin Mapp the spotlight is on you. Can EJ paired up with Davies be able to finish chances off? If not EJ, Hercules? I think this squad can be useful find missing pieces for the Nats. I would like to see gaven drop from the squad and another forward added.
     
  2. ezelljones

    ezelljones Member

    Aug 4, 2003
    David Regis was teh xhsit too. He;d be all balling if he was called up for t coap.
     
  3. sportin_mad_LBs

    sportin_mad_LBs New Member

    Jun 11, 2007
    this roster could instill a little bit more competition for spots on the national team..... if certain people do well, its going to light a fire under some of the guys butts that think they have a position sewed up..... and i expect for us to be competitive, and for there to be a little bit more competition among the players in the player pool
     
  4. Onionsack

    Onionsack BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jul 21, 2003
    New York City
    Club:
    FC Girondins de Bordeaux
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What is wrong with the line up? Its not like we were going to win Copa with even our A team anyway. Give some up and comers some hostile minutes and see what happens, only dicks send their top squad to another federations tournement. I am looking at you Mexico.

    We are an invited side and this squad is exactly what i expected to see.

    So Bob is a bad coach because the US donest have exteme depth like Brazil? Get real and just enjoy the games and cheer for the boys (whoever they are) that are wearing our shirt.
     
  5. smokarz

    smokarz Member+

    Aug 9, 2006
    Hartford, CT
    didn't we all screaming for young blood on the the nat team???

    and when BB gives us new blood, we call him an idiot? come on now..have a drink and cool down...

    i am quite satisfy with this group..and i hope that a new forward (or two) will emerge from this competition and we can put EJ to bed forever.
     
  6. rocketeer22

    rocketeer22 Member+

    Apr 11, 2000
    Oakton,VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  7. thanatos80

    thanatos80 New Member

    Aug 12, 2005
    Burien, WA
    Don't you follow the MNT members at the club level? Marcus severly broke his hand in Reading's league final, and won't be back until almost the beginning of the EPL season. Otherwise, he probably would've been with Kasey on the GC squad (better numbers, and ranked higher, in EPL than Tim).
     
  8. Brownswan

    Brownswan New Member

    Jun 30, 1999
    Port St. Lucie, FL
    It's a good chance for this lot to see the elephant, with a few vets like Keller to lend some experience to the safari. I'm willing to take the long view: 3 and out.
     
  9. ghazi

    ghazi Member

    Feb 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Some fan you are, Einstein. Its not COMCACAF. . its CONCACAF. You dont even know our association but think you have all the answers when it comes to our team and the best way for them to prove themselves. These guys are human beings, not robots. They have lives and families and bodies to take care of. The biggest Brazilian stars arent even playing in their own regional championship, which is a common occurrence in the Copa America.

    All Bradley has done is everything Bruce didn't - 1) he got young fresher players to play, 2) he got young talent to actually produce on the field and show they can be productive, 3) he got older talent like Hejduk to wind back the clock and show their mettle 4) he brought in guys like DeMerit and Simek and let them show what they could do, and 5) he got this team using its speed advantages in an attacking, confident style tha tplays to our strengths, and finally 6) he's used various formations and starting 11's to see what is productive and see who can do what.

    And we're still undefeated besides all of his experiementation. Damn. Do you guys even know anything about this sport? Have you ever played. You're like those idiot Madrid fans who boo'd Capello before he had a full season to craft his team and let them gel. . . . would you rather be supporting the awful looking Mex team right about now? BRadley is single handedly removing the stale taste of Germany from our mouths and letting our once-annointed Captain Donovan that he has to prove himself. he's letting our youngsters know that they can have a future if they produce better than vets. WHAT MORE DO YOU GUYS WANT?!!?!?!?

    Look, man. We're all wanting to see our top guns play. But get it thru your guy's heads - the European players are absolutely tanked and running on fumes. They start training in a couple of weeks with their club teams. MAny of them were in the World Cup and their bodies are fuggin' wrecked. Whether you like it or not, they're not robots and they deserve a rest.

    Donovan is no hero of mine and i think he should be going because he is one player who needs to prove that he can show up in tough games and lead this team. He hasnt played a full Euro season either, so he should go. . . but i understand the predicament, because LA is paying him after all.

    We're in position to win OUR regional title in style. We have friendlies against two Euro World Cup teams this year IN EUROPE. We have a coach with no favorites and a shrewd sense of tactics.

    Just shut up and enjoy the ride. I promise you. . .. you will miss BRadley when he's gone.
     
  10. Soccer Bob

    Soccer Bob Member

    Aug 19, 2004
    This is not THAT outrageous of a lineup. It's a B team, granted. I can see a starting lineup that includes Keller, Conrad, DeMerit, Bornstein, Olsen, Clark, Feilhaber, Mapp, Twellman, Johnson and a right back that I'm not sure of (and one that Bradley hasn't looked at in the position this year).

    So there are reasonably experienced players in most of the starting positions. Then substitutions will bring in players that may be looked at and seasoned under pressure. It looks well thought out.

    I'm guessing that Bradley would have brought Simek in, but it looks like he's resting the English and Dutch league players for the season. In all the 2007 friendlies, if he didn't start Hejduk, he started Simek.

    Someone implied that this is the chance to finally rule out Johnson. I think it's the chance to finally rule out Twellman. Johnson at least shows the proper coolness around the goal. (Although we'd all like to see a bit more aggression from him outside the 18.) He's the one of the two that has the chance to be bona fide striker. (If someone can do the quick gene splice, we need someone like Twellman outside the 18 and someone like Johnson in front of goal, except it has to be the same person.) Herculez and Davies seem to be long shots right now. They'll see time in hopeless situations, or injuries.

    B team. Three and out. Anything more will be cream. I was discussing this with my son, and he wonders if we show with a B team, if the S.A. Federation will even bother inviting us next time. And that would be the only drawback to the whole plan. This is potentially a good, rare chance to look at new players in a real tournament. It'll be fun, once Bradley goes to the subs.
     
  11. Yank-RUGGER

    Yank-RUGGER New Member

    Mar 30, 2007
    Baltimore
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    At first I thought he was crazy..but reading everyone's thoughts and remebering that Bradley did say the Gold cup was first priority this all make sense.

    But next time I think the Gold Cup and Copa Shoudl be on alternate years with the winner and runner up from the Gold Cup bieng invited ever time.

    I can see that he is sticking to his word..or US Soccer's word.

    But I think that the Copa Brass would be upset we arent sending our top team?
     
  12. Yank-RUGGER

    Yank-RUGGER New Member

    Mar 30, 2007
    Baltimore
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good post

    Lil Brad is a good player, I swear people get so pissed when a father plays his son. It comes from a few things.

    Yes we all have seen Dad/Coaches make bad moves before but this isnt one of them just yet..lets Give Big Brad some room to breathe..he might have some integrity..also some people are just born insecure haters and cnat stand to see this kind of story.JEALOUSY
     
  13. Juan Luis Guerra

    Juan Luis Guerra Red Card

    Jun 11, 2001
    New York City
    Look at his goalies selection. First picking a 89 year old keeper and then picking a keeper that does not even won a good reputation in MLS. A keeper that has never won anything in the league and who is not yet reliable. You cant bitchhhhh around all you want, but this is the worst USA team I've ever seemed. I want our team to advance and win, but we will be extremely lucky if you make it to the second round.
     
  14. ChelseaMatt

    ChelseaMatt Member

    Apr 12, 2005
    Memphis
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Bruce didn't subject his teams to this because he cared about the confidence of his players. That is obviously not a consideration for Bob. Want to see what dejection and humiliation look like? Tune in to USA vs Argentina in the 75th minute. It's really a shame, because I believe our first team could play with those guys.
     
  15. art

    art Member

    Jul 2, 2000
    Portland OR
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ? What do we have to prove in CONMEBOL? We're not in that confederation. Bradly is exactly right to be sending the guys he's sending. Don't take the Donovans and Chings away from their MLS sides when they're needed most, bring the younger guys, with just enough experienced veterans, who'll be the first stringers before long. Bradley's not only not an idiot, he's a guy I like more and more as time goes on.

    I;m sorry but our doing well in the Copa America is of secondary importance in the end. Not to say I dont care how they do, but you have to be realistic, given the available players, the schedule coming on the heels of the Gold Cup (for us, the more important competition), the MLS season, and the need for the European based players to get enough rest before their club seasons. At least we;re going, after having turned down this invitation since 1995.

    Our "first" team might well do better, but that's irrelevant. The only thing that serves is pride. More is accomplished, IMO, with the roster that's going. Results are not everything, development counts too.
     
  16. SND1

    SND1 Member

    Aug 9, 2006
    NJ
    Implicit in the title of the post is that Bradley's not bringing guys that want to go... This team is, no doubt, a function of guys like Beasley, Donovan not raising their hand and saying they want to subject their bodies to another tournament. That's fine...

    The reality is we're all just disappointed (at least I am) from a fan's perspective. I was rallying last year to have us participate in the Copa so that we could get world class experience to toughen up the USMNT (and provide a measuring stick after last summer's debacle). What we're getting is a test of our second-tier players. Should be interesting, just not as competitive. We'll be looking for those moral victories instead of the real ones...
     
  17. art

    art Member

    Jul 2, 2000
    Portland OR
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Total nonsense. Guzan's a terrific young keeper who "hasn't won anything" largely because he's only been a pro, with a poor club side, for a couple of seasons. Keller is precisely the kind of uflappable veteran that's needed in this lockerroom, on this trip, whether he plays a minute or not (and I suspect he will) he will be one of the most important guys on the US roster.
     
  18. AreYouNuts

    AreYouNuts New Member

    May 28, 2007
  19. hoboken16

    hoboken16 Member

    Jan 16, 2003
    Jersey City, NJ USA
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That is funny, I recall reading somewhere that Donovan really wanted to skip Copa and stay with the Galaxy

    I don't know about Davies AND Gomez being selected plus it I would have liked to see Simek or Spector but Bradley said all along that Gold cup was the priority. If we get to the second round I will be happy and toasting the squad from some bar in downtown Montreal
     
  20. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Why the hell is anyone bitching and moaning about the Copa roster? We knew it wasn't going to be an "A" roster. Do some people just have brain farts and can't remember that this was been discussed at length by Bradley and USSF since we accepted the invite. Jesus, some people around here are so narrow minded that they just want something to spew about. Look at the bigger picture, these players Nguyen, Wynne, Feilhaber, Mapp, Clark, Gomez, ect. are going to better served in the future thus helping our national team. People this is a transition year, we all know it, so why bitch? Sit back and enjoy the new faces we have coming into the mix. Despite what some think this is an exciting time and an exciting summer. The future is now. It's upon us faster than we thought.
     
  21. DCFAN96

    DCFAN96 Member

    Apr 24, 2004
    At very best I think the first teamers of this squad could be considered B teamers. But once you start looking at the bench, i.e. Moor, Gaven, Herc your really pushing C or even D team players.
     
  22. Duck506

    Duck506 New Member

    Mar 22, 2007

    Micheal Bradley is playing the u-20s, thats why he is not at Copa America.
    He is basically our starting cm mid now, thats why people say he favors him.
     
  23. WittyNickname

    WittyNickname Member

    Jun 12, 2006
    Glasgow, Scotland
    One thing I didn't like about Bruce (and even Sampson) is that he seemed to painfully avoid situations which could produce dejection and humiliation. As a result, I don't feel like his teams knew how to lose -- and bounce back.

    Yes, this may be a brutal Copa, but it could really make some of these young players hungry.

    I remember hearing about something that coach Mike Krzyzewski once told his Duke basketball players on the bus after a particularly hard loss. The players were all talking about how they need to get it out of their mind and move on (pretty typical sports-speak). Mike scolded them, and told them just the opposite: to never forget that awful feeling, to remember forever what it feels like, so they will never want to taste it again.

    Yes, a Copa spanking may disappoint both the players and us fans, but it could be a great hardening tool. And, maybe they'll surprise us all and put a pretty good string of games together!
     
  24. dncm

    dncm Member+

    Apr 22, 2003
    Boston
    Agreed
     
  25. onefineesq

    onefineesq Member+

    Sep 16, 2003
    Laurel, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What I find hilarious is that there were a scant few of us who pointed out the issues of playing both of these tournaments in the same year (namely not being able to convince some team and top players to play both, since clearly they couldn't be forced to play both and it was in the middle of the MLS season). However, all the shortsighted BS masses insisted it was the only thing to do, and that the USSF/US soccer were idiots unless they did it. Now, when the totally foreseeable happens, and the US is forced to not take certain high profile players, everyone wants to jump on the USSF and Bob Bradley. Y'all are a trip. Get over it. You got what you wanted. This is just proof positive that the USSF is smarter than the vast majority of BS posters, and it isn't even close.
     

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