BARRING INJURIES I PREDICT THIS LINEUP FOR THE USMNT AT WC 2006. F-MCBRIDE, F-DONOVAN, LMID-LEWIS, ATM-REYNA, DM-MASTROENI, RMID-BEASLEY, LB-VANNEY, CB-POPE, CB-BOCANEGRA, RB-HEJDUK, G-FRIEDEL.....AND WHAT IS YOURS?
Mine is: Goalkeepers: 1. Friedel 2. Keller 3. Howard Defenders: 4. Gibbs 5. Pope 6. Bocanegra 7. Sanneh 8. Onyewu 9. Cherundolo 10. Hejduk Midfielders: 11. Beasley 12. Lewis 13. Convey 14. Martino 15. O'Brien 16. Reyna 17. Ralston 18. Mastroeni Forwards: 19. Buddle 20. McBride 21. Wolff 22. Mathis 23. Twellman I think we'll line up like this: ......................Friedel....................... Sanneh......Gibbs.......Pope....Bocanegra .............Reyna...........O'Brien............. .....................Beasley............Lewis.... Donovan........................................... .....................McBride.......................
In 1999 had you ever heard of Donovan, Beasley, Mastro, Mathis or Wolff? And if you had, would you have considered them for the WC 2002 squad? The answer is no, it's too early for any of these predictions because there are players we haven't heard of or aren't considering right now that will be on that squad. Let's what about 18 months before predicting something. We might as well predict the 2010 squad from now, it'd probably be just as accurate. Besides, you left off Freddy!
We should not be against any of those guys just because of their age. However, for them to be in the starting lineup, they will have to play significantly better than '02. Otherwise, it's REALLY a bad sign that USMNT is not progressing and the team has no better options.
Wow....Cart->Horse...... Maybe Friedel, but you;ve only got three other players on your list that will even be on the squad, IMO. Lot of things will change in the next three years, kid.
Sanneh, McBride, Reyna & Pope are all older and injury prone to begin with. I would not be shocked if none of them were on the team in 2006. I'll be surprised is Sanneh ever plays for the US again. Most of the US team will be made up of guys on the 2004 Olympic Team. Adu has as good a shot as any of the current U17 players. Donovan & Beasley made it three years after their U17 year and Adu (age aside) is at a similar place in his playing development.
Sanneh is class IMO. Underated, but probably too old for 2006. He will get the Arena fare-well though, Agoos did.