It is obvious that BB (and I'm a fan of his) has a thing for Clark. I also think Edu and Benny are better pairings with MB in the middle of the pitch, but for some reason, Clark gives BB a hard on.
Yep, I'd rather see Rolfe. I guess that BB feels that there is no possible way Rolfe could have the composure to play in a WCQ, by the time the WCQ's roll around. Because, Rolfe is definately playing better soccer right now. Maybe he doesn't want to ship Rolfe over to England. But, the fact that he did include Wolff indicates a lack of confidence in Rolfe, as they'd play the same role. Loved Wolff in 2002.
no no, see, its brilliant, we're already preparing ourselves for 2010 if Jozy Altidore gets a red card. We will be playing with de facto ten players on the pitch. Its a stroke of genius Seriously, could we tell the MLS just to piss off when we are playing top 10 opponents??? Pray for 0-0. Unless donovan, beasley, or dempsey is lucky enough to get tripped up in the box for a PK, no way we are scoring in the open field with EJ up top.
Benny never plays.........ever. After this summer he's gonna have more appearances for the USMNT than as a professional club soccer player. And he's only on 16 caps right now. Bob recently has been quoted as saying that his assessment of Freddy Adu is "incomplete." Why? Because he doesn't get enough playing time at Benfica. To me at least it's the height of hypocrisy for him to continue trotting out Feilhaber then. Who never plays. By my count Freddy has over 100 first team appearances in MLS and at Benfica. Benny has 20, and he's 5 years older. The point of my rant is thus: There's no chance he starts Benny Feilhaber for this one. If Edu was unavailable for whatever reason, then Clark is the perfect choice. There are people (I'm not one of them) who think Clark is better than Edu. So we'll see. 12 months ago everybody and their brother was on here bitching about Michael Bradley's inclusion. And now there's not a single person talking about it. He's gone out over the last year and done the business. Maybe Clark will too.
BB said that about Adu but not because of playing time. At least I don't think so. And Benny has had some tough stretches, but when he is in form, he is a unique asset in our player pool. Noone else right now can make those defense-splitting passes like Benny.
Oh God... I feel the same way... EJ seems to lack any sort of killer instinct or sense of aggression... Furthermore, he doesn't seem like he gives 100% and he shies away from 50%/50% balls.... Please, somebody tell me, when did EJ last score a goal in National play during the run of play (not the penalty kick against Argentina)...!!! Please!!!! For God's sake... Somebody do a heart transplant on EJ... and put Heydude's "die for the shirt" soul into EJ!!! Otherwise, NO MORE EJ!
Definitely won't happen but this is what I'd like to see. ----------Dempsey --Beasley---Adu---Donovan --------Mikey---Benny------ Spector-boca-gooch-dolo ----------howard
Bold added to quotes. Not only were these BS forums alive with bitching about Mike Bradley last year, but all winter long posters were furious with Bob Bradley about EXCLUDING Ricardo Clark! Many posters thought Bradley had a thing against Clark in order to favor his son's place in the starting XI. Times have changed...
Beasley shouldn't start, he hasn't played in a competitive game in a long long time. Lewis should start on the left.
Game's in England, against England, i think BB will try to start as many England-based guys as possible and will fill gaps with other guys (MiniBradley and Donovan are guaranteed): Howard Bocanegra DeMerit Onyewu/Cherundolo Spector Donovan Beasley/Bradley Feilhaber Lewis Dempsey Johnson
I'd like to see the following: ------------------Howard------------------ -------DeMerit---Onyewu---Boca--------- Cherundolo------------------------Spector --------------------Clark------------------- ----------Benny----------MB--------------- -----------------------LD-------------------- --------------Dempsey--------------------- or ------------------Howard------------------ ------------Onyewu---Boca---------------- Cherundolo------------------------Spector --------------------Clark------------------- ----------Benny----------MB--------------- --------------Adu------LD-------------------- --------------Dempsey--------------------- And we'll know how Benny looks as of 7:30am.
Well, it's not a great roster, but given the obvious favors to MLS, it's about as good as possible. Although if we're leaving out non-essential MLS guys (read: LD), I don't know why we brought Clark. Is he that important that we bring him, and not Cooper, when our Euro forward choices aren't doing crap? Overall I'm pleased. I'd be ecstatic with an Adu start, but I doubt that's happening.
I guess we are saving Jozy and Cooper for Barbados. I really would like to see these guys get a lot of time in these tough friendlies to see if they are the real deal, but I guess BB does not need that.....
As would I, but given Bradley's lack of a true number 10, we'll see the same ol' , same ol'. There will be plenty of eyes on Michael Bradley in these three games, including EPL teams. Contrary to some pundits, he's still an unproven commodity at the international level. These games might determine his team and paycheck next season; and there's no reason to believe he won't start all three games.
miniBRADLEY will definitley start all three games. He has been starting seemingly every single game for the United States National team since his father was hired as head coach. As was speculated near 2 years ago with his surprise inclusion into the national team that there was a family plan to gain him more than 75% of all USA starts thereby assureing miniBRADLEY qualification for a work permit entrance into English Premier League football. What the phrophets have written has now come to pass! MiniBRADLEY went out and did the business this year after being brought into the national team nearly two years ago. Actually this moment/now should have been the moment or this year miniBRADLEY would have been introduced to the national team set up had his father not been the coach. It is not the sons fault that the coach picked him a year before he went out and did the business in Holland this season. He is becoming a good player. But who knows who else would have solidified their spot in his position had they had the opportunity. Actually don't those players also need time on the field and need national team games? What if MiniBRADELY ever gets injured...what is Dad's plan if no one else gets time in USA games at miniBs position?
Not when you got a flunky for a head coach.... An unexplored avenue. We all assume an Empty Bucket. But could Bob go into a more defensive formation such as 4-3-1-2 or X-mas Tree 4-3-2-1? ---------------Howard------------------ 'Dolo-------Gooch-------Boca------Pearce -----------Clark-------------Bradley------ -----------------Feilhaber---------------- Dempsey---------------------------Beasley ------------------Donovan-----------------
I believe he should be the starter over Bocanegra. While neither player has played lately, Spector was injured. Boca was dropped from one of the worst teams in the Premiership due to form. When both players were healthy this season, Spector played better central defense than Boca...and Spector was on the better team. Personally, I think it's stupid to waste a talent like Spector on the bench. He needs to play. And he certainly needs to play in these marquee friendlies. I mean, we're talking about a guy who played four positions in one Premiership game this season and who also managed to make the league team of the week at two different positions. As West Ham demonstrated when he started and ended up playing four different positions in a game, he provides just as much versatility from the field as he does from the bench.
Why? How? The MLS is the employer of these players and they are mostly cooperative and let their players go to the national teams whenever asked for tournament games. But a little sensitivity has to go to the people who actually pay these players their wages to play the sport. They aren't paying the players to play on the national team (but yet do let them go when needed). The MLS teams do want to win and are trying to be competitive and the National team has to respect that. The cooperation between MLS and National Teams does have to go both ways... especially for friendlies. Look at the Red Bulls and Jozy. If Jozy goes for all 3 friendlies, plus Olympics, pre Olympic tune-up friendlies, and World Cup Qualifiers he misses most of the season.
I highly doubt that Sunil Gulati is going to tell the MLS to "piss off". Get it straight, Gulati is paid by both Kraft Soccer, and SUM, two entities that have a pretty large stake in the future of the MLS, he has shown in the past(Copa America) that he isn't about to jeopardize that situation.
Except Arena was coach then and Bradley wasn't even on the radar as apossible NT coach. Yeah because Clark, Edu, and Feilhaber have not gotten any signifigant time since 2007 to play as a midfeilder in coach's system. Get real. He earned his spot based on quality play.
Well MLS was under no obligation to release anyone for Copa America, so even if Sunil told MLS to "piss off" it would have fallen on deaf ears.