Forget about Coach, let's talk about Players

1. No.
2. Bornstein ups his game in Mexico, but still he's not true starting material.
3. Not for the USMNT,
4. Not really.
5. Rodney Wallace is not International material. There is a reason neither US or Ticos talk about him seriously. He may pan out, but DC United is a wreck right now.
6. Yes, no talk about U-20's until after the Olympics.

We don't have many short term answers now. Clearly, the best guy we have is Miguel Angel Ponce, but the problem is that he plays for Chivas Guadalajara. In light of tradition, Chivas will likely nullify Ponce's contract if he decides to play for the USA. While born in California, Ponce is probably making a run for the Tricolor. He is better than Castillo by far, if Ponce ever leaves Chivas, and the Tri hasn't capped him yet, we need to make a serious play for this kid.

 

I'm no huge Bornstein supporter, but I wouldn't write him off just yet. I seem to recall having similar doubts about Cherundolo's ability when he first appeared for the nats in the early 2000s. It's entirely possible Bornstein may improve.

 

He's almost 26- the sand is moving very quickly.

 

Sounds like we are only talking about the left back position.

 

Gotta put somebody there.

And it ain't Convey. We already tried that experiment.

And since Bob is being retained, you can bet "his guys" like Bornstein aren't going anywhere.

Personally, I think Heath Pearce has played very well this season in MLS. He's been out of position at right back most of the time (as Benitez is playing well on the left). Let's remember that when Heath was getting club playing time at the start of the 06 cycle, he had pretty much won the spot. He was doing very well. Then he transferred to Rostock, didn't get playing time, and his performances suffered.

Well, he's back now. Hell, I thought he played better than Bornstein in the run up to the 10WC.

I'm also willing to try right backs over there on the left. Eric Lichaj? Why not. He played there on ocassion last year. Spector? Sure. Let's try every warm body.

 

Who are our up and coming wing mids or wide mids who provide more space in the attack?

Does Koroma fit that mold? I've only seen him once and he comes inside often as well. It seems like a lot of our wide midfielders have a tendency to come in.

 

Agree, Pearce has been very good in MLS. Better than Bornstein. But, he was in camp in January and May and failed to beat him out, granted Jon does have a teachers pet head start on him, but Pearce was awful in his nat games when he had the chance to impress.

Doesn't mean give up on him. As long as he plays well for club, he should be allowed to try to win the spot.

 

convey time has past and in 4 years he's NOT even close to being the answer...

people think mls success bodes well at a higher level..

bornstein did surprisingly well in south africa, his future is so problematic...

outside backs will eventually emerge, although who they will be by 2014 requires a crystal ball...

wcq itself will define them...

for me, mexico is a mortal lock, more so than ever...

costa rica and usa are the other 2 faves

 

I read that Mix Diskerud is an ambidextrous winger - capable of playing left or right... but I believe he plays primarily on right with Staebek...

Can anyone confirm?

 

If he's born in the US, how is Chivas able to field him? I thought their policy was all their players must be born on Mexican soil.

 

Really? I have been waiting a generation for a left back. And I don't see one player who even has the potential to possibly emerge at left back.

I will die of old age before the USA develops an international quality left back.

And Bornstein, while playing ok in South Africa, will not be the answer. We simply got lucky that he didn't ******** up bad. He is a competent MLS back. No more, no less.

 

Regarding Pearce, I agree he's looked pretty good in MLS, and isn't someone who should be discounted in the next cycle.

Problem is, he reminds me of Twellman. Looks pretty capable at the club level but just can't translate it at the National Team level. Physically he looks like he has all the tools, but I think he gets nervous when he turns out in the red, white and blue. If he can just forget about the stage and play his game, he may still have a shot.

 

He does play on both wings. There was a highlight reel up last year of one of his better games where he was all over the place setting up chances on both sides. I think in is YA thread he described himself as a central midfielder. I don't know what his primary position is now though.

 

I think it's going to have to be Bornstein for the next couple of years.

He has the physical tools to be an adequate LB...he showed it against Algeria and he's had flashes before. We had better all hope that his time in Mexico makes him a lot more consistent because thee really isn't anyone else right now.

Hopefully someone will emerge in the next couple of years, maybe Eric Lichaj.

 

Spector is the other candidate.

Very difficult to tell how develops into what position for the next cycle.

For example, Albright for a while was the best RB we had. Who could have called that?

Either way, the WHOLE backline is up in the air right now. Cherundulo, Bocanegra, and Demeritt will all be on the wrong side of 30. It's also to be seen if Oneywu can recover to his prior form, which was actually decent internationally. There are guys with potential, but they will need to step up.

 

I believe the policy is that the player has to be eligible for the Mexican NT, which he would be if he holds dual citizenship.

 

Glass half full
After 2006, we had Keller, Pope, Reyna, O'Brien and McBride retire. Nobody had a good World Cup, and there were question marks all over the field. In particular, there was a massive hole in the middle of the field, and we still didn't know Donovan's best position.

4 years later, Donovan stepped up his game and found a home as an attacking outside mid. Dempsey continued his progression and gave us another attacking option. Onyewu became a wiser central back. Howard Central mid was probably our deepest position. Altidore and Davies showed us, though fleetingly, that guys can come from nowhere quickly to be some of the most dangerous guys on the field.

Though there are questions on the backline, there is plenty of time to find the answers.

Glass half empty
We still don't have any striker depth. Aside from Spector or Bornstein, our backline is completely untested, and it's not like those guys were guaranteed starters. Though our depth has improved, we haven't necessarily improved our topline skill.

 

Boca, Pearce and Bornstein, for the next year or so.

After that, who knows. How about De La Garza? He can play left.

 

I'm hoping we might get Wolfsburg's Fabian Johnson this cycle. He's not in Germany's remotest plans for Euro 2012. And its questionable that he will ever get a chance to play for Germany. But, he could definitely help the US at left back.

 

Holden is going to be a really important player this cycle. It will be interesting what position he sees minutes for with Bob Bradley. He plays centrally for Bolton, but if Bob Bradley pushes him outside that will probably see Dempsey move to striker most of the time for the U.S. If he stays central for the U.S. it will probably mean that the U.S. will predominantly play 5 man midfields this cycle.

 

De La Garza ain't good enough for the right or left with the USMNT.