Does Cunningham deserve a call up?

I figured the January camp was the logical time to give Cunningham a look.

But now with the sad Davies news, and with the Denmark Friendly set, I'd call Cunningham into any November friendlies. The logical strikers to call in are Altidore, Dempsey, Casey, Cooper, and Cunningham. EJ would get the call if any of the other 5 can't participate.

 

I would be very surprised if the injury to Charlie did not thrust Eddie back into the striker picture.

 

An alternative is Dempsey, with Holden starting.

 

We really can only hope not. EJ is not featuring at all with Fulham and really didn't show anything from his loan to Cardiff last season to justify inclusion in a WCF-level team. We just have to have better options.

Much better option than trying to fit EJ into the mix. Think about it-- who would you rather have on the field right now- EJ or Holden? While putting Dempsey up top at the start of a match raises it's own set of issues, especially for a fast-break type of attack, it's still keeping our best players on the pitch. I think this is the logical answer right now, but I'd be happy to see what Cunningham can do with the USA given his current form.

 

I'm thinking that we need a speed guy if we're to continue with a similar sort of team chemistry. Otherwise, we'll probably have to make a lot of team-wide adjustments, as this pretty much changes everything. Not really sure right now which is the best way to go.

The two speed guys I'm thinking off the top of my head are Cunningham and Johnson. Both players have their issues. Johnson isn't seeing much of the field right now. This all has been kind of a blow, and I think it'll be a couple months before we can see clearly what our new direction should be heading into the big dance.

 

Altidore and Dempsey make the most sense with Holden and Donovan providing the attacking pace out of midfield. The first two lack the pace of Davies but are proven scorers and playmakers against elite competition.

 

Really sad about the Davies situation, and by that I mean I feel for him as a person, not only seeing it from a fans perspective.
But looking at the team from a logistical stand-point, and how how his absence affects us: we will miss his speed factor (as has been noted). Dempsey does not have that, but I still am supporting him moving up top with Jozy and Holden playing on the right. The dynamics change with this change from Davies to Dempsey fo sho.

As for having the speed option, I am very wary of Cunningham. He is fast, scoring a lot of goals, and basically on top of his game. However, I have concerns about his mentality. How many teams has this guy bounced around from? And he's good!! Why don't teams want to keep him? I fear he's a clubhouse cancer and I DO NOT want that in South Africa....WCs breed enough drama on their own. Maybe Bob can handle Jeff with a Velvet Glove and make it work....it would be a great success story for sure. However the downside isn't worth it if he is a headcase.

I would like to see Findley though fo sho.

No Eddie Johnson please. Little faith in his production from what I have seen in the past years....feel bad saying that, really like the guy

 

As it was stated in earlier portions of the thread, the number of teams almost means nothing in view of the MLS salary cap situation.

W/ CD9 out, I would love to get Cunningham into camp as the speed option for a late game substitute. If he has got the legs to blow by tired defenders coupled with his hot streak of scoring Denmark may have their hands full in November.

I also like the Idea of having "Deuce" up top w/ Jozy. I loved their play together against Mexico in Houston a year ago. I have been fairly disappointed that we have not utilized this combo together more often. Jozie's qualities combined with Clint's passing and invention will give most international sides all they can handle.

I also would have not objection to Jozy being subbed off for the speed and hustle of JC @ 70'.

Just a thought.

Get WELL CD9!

 

Cunningham is on fire right now. I don't think Bob can afford to be choosy. He needs to give him a chance. But we all know Bob won't bother because Jeff is not part of the clique.

 

48 hours ago, no.

Now. Yes.

Though, I want Dempsey to move up so Holden can be on teh field.

 

Yeah, he didn't get jumped in with the extremely small numbers of players Bob has used for the USMNT ...

I'm no huge Bob fan, but it really helps if the critique is justifiable. Bob has capped something like 85 players. It's been a long time since I went to High School, but I don't think even with inflation 85 players is a "clique."

I think a recent post around here somewhere quoted Bob as saying he was strongly considering calling up JC a little bit ago. My guess is that means he will get a look soon enough. My other guess is that Bob will not find him useful enough to take him to SA.

 

dude, how many players he capped don't tell the whole story. Some players get called up way too frequently even though they keep sucking or are out of form. Some players get capped and then we don't see them again. People like Cooper and Torres should have more caps.

I don't think anybody can deny that Bob is cliquy. He is so obvious that I don't think he tries to hide it. I thought Bruce under-utilized Mulrooney, and Bob under utilized a few other players. All coaches are cliquy. All coaches have favorites and have special working relationships with his selected group. This kind of subjectivity is necessary but at the same time can hurt a national team. But perhaps we should have had a clean break from the bloodline after Bruce left. That was perhaps the problem.

Meanwhile I just hope Bob will get out of his tribe or sect and at least call up Cunningham to one camp and evaluate him objectively.

 

I think we'll see Cunningham in November now - unless FC Dallas gets to the MLS Cup.

 

"dude" if it is something "all coaches do it" then I don't see the point of the post. Is Bob supposed to be the one coach who "doesn't do it." It's a silly, and not very accurate criticism of Bob. And I think he will probably give JC a look anway. And I think JC will fall a bit short of what he is looking for SA.

Just my guess.

 

I eluded to it earlier and am wondering if I am in the wrong.....Don't want to say things I'm not sure about

But I was under the impression that JC was a bit of a headcase and that was why he had been bounced around from so many teams...not because of salary cap issues...

Am I confusing him with someone else or dreaming?

 

JC being a drag in the lockerroom is certainly part of the book on him. How much is fact and how much fiction is unclear to me at this point. But you are not wrong in thinking that is part of his rep.

 

Thanks for clarifying, I appreciate it.

But I think that this is a pretty big factor then....I mean how much of an issue is this? The downside good be big.....

 

Maybe guys don't like the music he plays.

 

You have 75 pages that discuss this issue.

One side says "yes, he's a locker room cancer and a selfish player," and another side that says "he's bounced around so much because despite his high salary he's still a valued player that scores boat loads and is liked by coaches and players alike." Take your pick.

I'm sure Bob has a rather highly developed opinion of him from years of MLS experience. He's not a blank slate on JC.

 

Yea, all the posts and now it's all crystal clear.

 

Don't be dishonest here. Cunningham hasn't moved because of the salary cap in most cases - he was run out of town because the coach, rightly or wrongly, couldn't take him any more.

Well, actually dude, if the question is whether the coach takes a look at enough players or not, it actually does tell the story.

Players get called up frequently and other much less, because the coaching staff is doing their job - deciding which players are better. Please understand that your gripe is simply that you don't agree (in some undisclosed way) with his judgment.

Based on last night's performan ce, I am not sure ragging on Cooper not getting more time is a real telling criticism.

I deny, and others just did on this thread. He simply makes judgments on which players are better that you either don't agree with or are unable to understand.

What is the "problem"? We just qualified first and come off a summer where we came in second in the Confederation Cup, despite our complete lack of superstars. Bradley is certainly par for the course at this point, though of course the real test is to come.

Soccer is subjective and you pay the coach to be subjective and not just put a bunch of numbers in a computer and do whatever it spits out.

And with Davies being off the depth chart, Cunningham undoubetedly will get a look soon as he is the closest thing we have to a similar player - unless he pisses off another coach between now and then.

 

Well for me its more clear atleast.....I'm not going to read through over 700 posts - and the possibility of JC being drama is an importnat factor.

I heard he was a headcase and am concerned about bringing that into the Nats lockerroom and training grounds.....I asked if attributing this to JC was correct or I was thinking of someone else....now I know this is a possibility.....so its clearer.....but not crystal ball clear

 

Don't mind old guy, he sat on his balls this morning or something. (and he's sure JC is not a cancer. Or if he is, is not so much of a cancer that he shouldn't be called up or something. at the same time, a poster purporting to be a soccer journo has claimed some USMNT have spoken badly of JC as a teammate. Me - I got no idea. I do think they guy could have been bait-and-switched a bit with respect to the USMNT. He gave up Jamaica and either had some indication he was going to figure here or just was so sure of his ability that he couldn't imagine not being in the mix. When he gave up Jamaica and then didn't become a pick, you could see him getting a bit sour too ... so there are probably a lot of angles on this story.

 

Why do you always have to get all romantic on me?
I'm fairly happy knowing what I do

 

'cause you're cute in a crummugeonly, Oscar madison, never washes his socks sort of way.