With Convey, it's just about getting him some playing time while getting him involved with the new setup. We have plenty of players that can start in his position, but he's a crucial player for us (when fit), and needs time to get used to the setup too. This isn't a tournament, you can experiment in friendlies, and so, I'm not sure that questions over fitness really apply. Sure, you'd never bring a hospital ward, but one or two guys on the fritz isn't the end of the world.
Are you kidding? Have you ever been to Central America? How many arenas in Europe are surrounded by guys with machine guns? How many fields in Europe are goat farms, with holes, no drainage and long grass? How many places in Europe do you have to play in 95 degree heat at midday in the middle of a swamp with 95% humidity? How many places in Europe are the players woken in the middle of the night to a blow-out party going on outside their window? How many places in Europe do you arrive to practice only to find that the practice field is locked? How many places in Europe do you have to bring your provisions with you? How many places in Europe exist where you are at such altitude with such smog that you are coughing up brown mucus at half-time? How many places in Europe do you need a set-up so all your players can get oxygen at half-time? How many places in Europe are the officials so intimidated that they have to worry about being assaulted after the game and therefore don't do anything to offend the local fans? Going to Central America to play qualifiers is far harder than you could imagine. The places the USA plays to qualify are hell holes compared to European venues. No comparison really. England Germany, France Italy....these teams would NEVER get a result in Mexico City and would really struggle in, say, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama. Doesn't anybody remember that game in the 2002 qualifier in Mazatenango? What a nightmare. A trip to Albania or some other Eastern European dump is a day at the beach compared to Central America
Honestly, I find just as many wisdom filled post by newbies as I do from the bleeding heart deacons of big soccer. However, I do read more banana filled posts written by newbies then I do by the bleeding hearts. I guess the truth is somewhere in the middle. Anyway,seems to me people who have followed the US National team for like….(a long time) maybe a little too conservative. Especially when it comes judging how will do against Brazil, as if they have some deep romantic notion about it. No doubt, Brazil is extraordinary when it comes to soccer but it's only because their good at it, not because their Brazilians. Just as we have all the cliche thoughts about how they play, they have their own about the US and that doesnt prove anything right now. After all, if Mexico……
And when he says machine guns, he means machine guns. Not those wimpy little sub-machine guns you see carried on shoulder straps. He means big honking machine guns mounted on tripods with three soldiers(who all look about 15) manning them.
sfs is more eurosnob than anything when it comes to evaluating fan behavior... for a national match, far more yuppie euros have access to match tickets than the hooligan element, who can't get into most nationalm team matches... in central america... bad weather... bad pitches... urine and batteries... ah, those three are NOT the rule in europe... as to the empty bucket... against elite teams, usa fans are fooling themselves IF they think usa can field and offensive line-up, and NOT go defense first... the extra dmid does limit your offense, but no dmid, and only 5 defending, you better hope you are lucky that day, as the game will be far too open... open match against better attacking talent, hope howard is sharp, or the other guy finishes poorly
I remember during the 2002 Qualifying campaigin we BARELY got by Barbados away. It was ridiculous.........the field was like a cow patch. The players had to run gingerly because if you hit one of those holes hard your ankle would turn and then you were done. The they played the home leg and the USA won 7-0 or something.
He must be stuck in the 70's or something. Those European arenas are completely yuppified. A couple places might be no fun to play at (Belgrade, Moscow, Tirana,) but really, where would you rather play? Belgrade or Tegucigalpa? Kingston or Tirana?
I've been watching and playing soccer all my life. Have followed the national team since the Hugo Perez, Bruce Murray and Ricky Davis days. Frankly, I like the direction this board is heading in. Indeed there are those who prematurely call out a coach and player selection just because they can. But that is a minority, which for a message board is par for the course. Generally those questioning a selection make intelligent, well-thought out arguments. That you may disagree with them does not diminish this. More importantly, we've come to a point in US soccer where we should question every decision our national team coach makes. Every decision matters, including which players are called up. The days of free passes for national team coaches are gone, especially since we have more depth than ever before. In all other major soccer countries, the national team is scrutinized left and right by the fans, but even more so by the media. No doubt El Clarin would be all over Basile if he left out Aguero for the friendly against Australia in favor of, say, Gallardo. Which, I believe is the equivalent of calling Wolff in favor of Adu. And as for the somewhat far-fetched scenario of not having Dempsey, Donovan, or Ching, I say even more reason to play the younger players now. If Wolff has such valuable experience then clearly there is no need to waste minutes on him in these friendlies that can be given to a younger player. To wit, an experience guy has much less of a need for friendlies than a younger player like Adu. Test Adu now. And if he plays well, keep playing him. That way, by the time you do face the qualifying games, he will be more battle-ready. If not, then Wolff, given his experience, is there for the backup role. You have more to gain in calling up Adu for these games and very little to lose in not calling up Wolff. Because of that, Bradley deserves the criticism. Bottom line, criticizing a national team call up is not a sign of a newbie know-it-all. Rather it is a sign of progress.
the racist chanting from the former yugoslav states versus field and weather conditions in central america.... i'd be willing to give fan behavior a push, but the other conditions don't equate... even the frozen pitches in eastern europe are better than cow pastures....
Just by being there for us, I guess, by listening sympathetically and not being judgmental. And a goal or two wouldn't hurt.
By pushing the other players in practice. That's all he's really there for...he'll bust his ass in practice and remind guys like Clint and Landon that they'd better be sharp, because there are plenty of guys who would love their spot. I doubt he'll see the field, other than a reward type cameo. The typical route for MLS standouts is to separate yourself from the other elite MLS players at the January camp. He'll have to take that road...but you never know.
Good Post. These kinds of posts do make good conversation pieces though. This board would be very boring if everyone made sensible posts.
As someone who regards Nike era national team fans as newbies, oh bury me far away please from some of these comments. In my opinion it's just as likely that Mastroeni will have the fitness, speed and form to handle central midfield in his third World Cup as it is likely that Fielhaber will become a seasoned, strong, intelligent professional worthy of starting over Mastro. IMO we'd be far better off with Mastro than another deer in the headlights with BigSoccer's hopes pinned to him. P.S. Mastro was sick, that's why Zav was called in, right?
I've been to Mexico ... and your have an apt description of what soccer was like 10 years ago. In other words, you are living in the past. FIFA closed Saprissa for a match when the fan behaviour got unruly and they threw stuff from the stands. It's very unlikely anyone will get away with this during a regular WCQ match, as they risk forfeiting the result. When Anders Frisk was injured in Rome, the club lost rights to have fans for the next 2 matches, which cost it a bundle of money. Plus, it was settled with a 3:0 loss to Dinamo Kiyv, which knocked it out of the Champions League. As to heat and humidity and so on, how exactly playing all the vets aid the US at Panama, Jamaica and Mexico? Aside of Cobi Jones scoring at Jamaica, the vets had as much difficulty playing as the other guys. In fact, the over-30 players were tired way before the younger players. Besides, the Central American nations are for the most part minnows. A feared Carlos Pavon has done nothing in MLS, Carlos Ruiz is a shadow of his former self and no Salvadoran, Guatemalan and Panamanian has been successful in MLS in years. Bob Bradley may have lost five matches ina row but he surely rolled over the Central Americans at the Gold Cup. So all this is a red herring because you argue about the situation that the MLS based national team had faced 10 years ago with the talent that it had 10 years ago. But back then Sampson and Arena had trouble scraping together a few European minor leaguers and MLS itself was far poorer than it is today. But the milieu has changed. The US now has a bunch of talented young kids hoping to make it big in Europe. If a vet is going to make the roster, he's going to have to make it on merit, not on his old deeds 'cos that just gives you another Jeff Agoos. As to crappy fields, was that why Soldier Field was so pathetic?