What IF Jermaine Jones gets some games before the winter break? Then plays like he is capable of and playing in the US's friendlies? What IF Demerit doesn't have anymore complications with his eye? Then returns to being Watford's captain? What IF Edu gets some games in December? Then regains his starting spot in Rangers' midfield? What IF Onyewu returns by March? Then AC Milan actually decides to give playing time to their investment? What IF Davies returns when he thinks he will? Then gets playing time in April? What if they all come back in time and have at least a little chance to get in form? How much better do hopes get for the World Cup?
if they all come back then someone else will go down. Injuries are a part of sports that every team deals with.
We all like to dream, but at least 2 of those what ifs won't happen. Which ones? I'll let you decide. But the Chuck Deezy comeback would be of epic proportions.
Well, in response, 1) Jones. Best prognosis of the group. He'll be back and he'll play well. Magath will try to freeze him out, but he's the best DM we have. He makes the squad. He'll get a call up. Even if Magath punks us in January, he has to release him in March. 2) DeMerit. If the eye heals, he'll be back. They love him at Watford, and so does BB. Last report I heard indicated he hoped to be back by late December. Should be plenty of time. 3) Edu. He's the next furthest along, injury wise. He's been out since late summer. If healthy, he should push for a spot at Rangers. Even with PT, the DM core is crowded. 2 DM's seem certain to go, and Jones is likely one, which means Edu/Clark for the other. And Rico could be headed overseas as well. Still, I prefer Edu. 4) Onyewu. He's probably going to be healthy, and if healthy, he plays. Match fit is another question altogether. Milan sucks. The bests option may be for them to terminate the contract, then he can go get some PT somewhere (MLS/Standard?) before the WC. 5) Davies. Encouraging update this week, but still a long way to go. But if the doctors are expecting him to make it, I say he does. How match ready is, again, another question. Personally, I think Jones and DeMerit will both be back playing within a month, and both make the squad easily. Edu will take a bit longer, and his being on the 23 is more problematic, but doable. Gooch will be healthy, but probably not be very sharp. And Davies may not even make it back. My money is on all 5 making the 23.
I worry a little about Jones and Edu healing and being on the squad, because they've not been in USMNT camp/haven't played with the squad in a long time (or ever, in Jones' case.) That said, they are quality, and if they are healthy they probably make the 23. Having DeMerit back would be a huge boost. Having Gooch at 75% is as good, or better, than our other CBs at 100%, and would be probably be a psychological boost to the team as well. Having Davies come in late during a WC match and put in a goal in injury time would be the greatest sporting moment of my life.
It would be amazing to have all those guys available. I don't know if Edu makes the squad though if Jones is healthy and in form. If they are both healthy then who do you leave off from this group of midfielders (Dempsey, Donovan, and Bradley not included as they are obviously already in for 2010)? Edu, Bennie, Torres, Jones, Clark, Holden, or Rogers I think Edu has a good chance of being left off unfortunately if everyone is healthy and in form. Edu could get the nod if Bob wants to utilize him as a CM and a CB (which is obviously another discussion). I guess we could take a total of 9 and only bring 3 fowards and plan on using Dempsey or Donovan up there as necessary. I would love to bring all of them since we have some talent at midfield and some of those guys are versatile enough to play up top.
TrueCrew, I'll take your bet for $100 gazillion. Jones - never played for US. Outside chance of playing once before world cup. Not going to happen. Edu - needs games with Rangers before he plays for the Nats again. Midfield is full of options. A newly healed player who hasn't been on the team in over a year shouldn't be one of them. Onyewu - hope he is fit in time. Don't know why he would want Milan to cancel his contract. "No, don't pay me that million dollars we agreed on." Davies - will be very lucky to be fit by WC time much less match fit and back to his old ways. DeMerit has the best chance of the lot to be back in action. I would love it if all these guys were healthy, but they will be totally out of synch if they are not playing 90 minutes every week for a few months leading up to the Cup. Very doubtful.
I think Rico Clark could be the odd man out, he is very one dimensional, and with Walter Smith salivating at Edu's return and Magath's love story with Jones, they'll both have the PT and form (hopefully) to be more than ready for South Africa. Clark is a good destroyer with a good long range shot. Edu is a good destroyer, but is becoming a box to box player with Ranger Jones' nickname translates to "the ultimate destroyer", and he also has a dangerously accurate long range shot. Unless Clark makes an unprecedented move abroad and outperforms either Edu or Jones, which I don't see happening, he may be left off.
Demerit's eye problems are a freak occurrence. Edu has simply been out for a while with a long injury. Jones has had complications, but is close to being back and a coach who wants him back. And Onyewu will be plenty healthy in time for the World Cup, its just that Milan isn't likely to help him out very much. All 4 of these guys are likely going to be in the 23, its just that there are so many damn pessimists on this board. Davies is the only longshot, but he might have been the strongest-willed player on the entire squad even before the accident. Now he's driving himself harder than ever before.
Davies Altidore Donovon Bradley Jones Dempsey Bocanegra Onyewu Demerit Spector Howard Just wanted to see that in print, if nothing else.
From news this week (which most of you probably already know), but in case you missed it: Demerit is traveling with Watford and doing some drills with the team, including heading drills. Edu has been practicing for the first time with Rangers this week, and is targeting a Jan 3rd Old Firm match for his comeback date. Jones is practicing with Schalke again, as of this week. Getting playing time is a totally different story. But at least they're not all just in the recovery stages at this point.
Seconded. With that lineup, you're looking at Feilhaber, Torres, and Holden being the attacking subs with energy. If Davies doesn't start (which is more likely) and Dempsey starts up top, then its Feilhaber, Torres, and Davies coming off the bench. Either way, that lineup (even with Cherundolo at RB) has tons of top flight experience and quality for a US squad.
On the subject of Onyewu: He should definitely be healed in time, and as an AC Milan fan (way before Gooch got signed), I think he's got a decent chance of getting some playing time now. Milan are playing well, but they're also playing a lot of matches. And the last time Kaladze had to fill in, he did not impress. Milan will most likely advance in the CL, and they should make a decent run in the Coppa Nazionale. While Nesta and Silva are good, they won't be able to hold up through all those matches, and I'm sure Leonardo will want to make sure they (or at least Nesta) are rested for the important matches. Although I'd be up for Voltron suiting up for the USMNT too.
It'll all come down to how he performs on the training ground, but in Kaladze's last game he was at fault for one goal, and if I remember correctly, arguably at fault for another. There just isn't anyone better behind Kaladze, currently, to take his spot.
If all those happen, then the U.S. will boast a squad that can make a serious push into the World Cup's quarterfinals.
Freddy Adu has a not-enough-playing-time injury to his ego. That's another thing that might change in the coming months, although his comeback for SA would be almost as miraculous as Davies' if either happen. Let's all say a secular soccer prayer that no one else gets any major injuries from now on, ever.
Seriously, since I started the thread, the outlooks on Edu, Jones, and Demerit's injury looks a lot better. Gooch was always slated to back around March or April. But like I said before, BS is full of pessimists who still think Jones isn't worthy of a spot on the squad. Davies is the only longshot right now. But with his will, I don't see how anyone can count him out now.
Even Davies is better than early December. He said in an interview that his doctors expect him to be able to play in the World Cup.
That's good to hear that Davies has an actual shot at being ready to play, does anyone have an article with the update?
This was him talking on radio or tv. This being the US, we've only got his word for it that the doctors actually expect that. He's certainly going to go for it.