Where do you think Spector fits in on this team? He has yet to play mid for the USMNT. If you take off Sacha (or Mix) for Spector who will likely only play defense. That's 9 defenders. You don't think that is too many? The US brought 8 to the World Cup and Goodson and Spector didn't even play.
He played as a hybrid RB/RM late in the Paraguay match and the US had the ball so much, Spector was basically a midfielder. I strongly disagree with you that Spector is still a defender on Bob Bradley's squad. He may be an emergency RB or CB, but I'm thinking his best chance of playing time in the Gold Cup will be as a midfielder, whether it be at RM or CM.
For a tournament like the Gold Cup or World Cup I would take seven defenders. However, there are questions about the health and fitness of DeMerit and Gooch. That would argue for going with eight. In addition, I think Chandler will see some time as an attacking player. Also note that the 23 I gave were the players I thought Bradley would pick. I myself would not pick one of Gooch or DeMerit and just go with seven defenders. Edu and Spector can provide some cover. As for Bradley's use of Spector, so far he has only used him as a defender. I wouldn't assume that will always be the case.
Spector is being brought in as cover for RB, LB, RM, CM. He isn't a starter but if he couldn't play LB, I doubt he would be on the roster. I think getting out of WHU will help him but he needs to find a position and stick with it for a year.
My sense is Buddle and Bob had a fall-out after the Argentina game. I would still love to know why he left abruptly after getting zero minutes. I know, some will say he went back to help his team; I am not buying it.
I know your a pro-Jozy guy, but nowhere in the last couple of months has Jozy shown that he is competent enough to play as a holding forward. In fact he's become pretty awful at it.
Nah. Not buying that train of thought. The word at the time (I can't be bothered to find a link) was that his club asked for him to be released. Bob brought Buddle to the World Cup over a few veteran forwards. Bob likes Edson but definitely has a sense of where he fits into the squad as a whole. Bob was going to give Agudelo another run anyway.
Is there an Olympics 2012 thread anywhere? That's where I'd put Starikov (as well as the other fringe-y players who don't make the cut this year).
I'm not a "pro-Jozy guy." The fact is that is he has 10 goals in 34 matches for the US as a 21 year old. He didn't score as many goals as you would have hoped for this season, but he has been playing in La Liga, Europa League and the Super Lig this season. That's a higher level than MLS or the 2.Bundesliga. You and another poster argued that he was playing less at Bursaspor because he wasn't playing well. That has been debunked since Bursaspor is trying to buy him, so apparently he has been playing "competently" enough for a quality team like Bursaspor to want him and he's getting interest from Eredevisie teams . . . again. And how in the world would you know if he sucks as a holding forward now? Doing more EA Sports scouting with FIFA? He did not play as a target forward for Villarreal all season and was playing out wide a lot for Bursa. He was part of a team defense against Argentina and had one of his worst matches in a US jersey against Paraguay. The fact is that he is still the second most accomplished American striker by the age of 21, arguably only behind Landon Donovan. He's playing in quality leagues in Europe when no other American striker is playing above the Mexican Primera or the 2.Bundesliga.
Not that we'd necessarily use it on him, but in the past FIFA used to allow 3 overage exceptions on the Olympic squad, unless they've changed that rule to make it a strict U23 (a change which I know clubs have been asking for). Have they?
Ah I'll give you the MLS but 2. Bundesliga has about 7 internationals in it who have been called up by their respective countries. The Super Lig has the same if you not include the the three supers that is Fener, Gally, and Besi. Europa League is of a higher quality than MLS but the issue is when and where in the Europa League. Gooch was getting in the big games while Jozy was playing against the teams that already had their fates decided. Plus my memory goes to the Club Brugge game where he had 5 golden chances and....missed every one of them. Bursapor also bought Kenny Miller; doesn't mean its a good buy it means its a buy. Sure Bursapor wants this because it opens up markets, they also have Club America reject Insua doesn't mean its a great idea or that interested in him it means they have more than one motivation to buy a player. Fact is Jozy has never been a target foward as he cannot hold his ground while standing. He is very strong on the move but that is because he knows where to distribute the weight. At every level the US has used Altidore as a target striker without a supporting striker or Center Attacking Middie; we have tied or lost. Don't believe me, look it up. Mexican Primera is viewed as one of the top leagues in the world and if Agudelo continues on course this Altidore talk is nonsense.
I believe we already "beat this horse to dead" as far as the 10 goals at 21. I'm too lazy to look for the thread but those numbers are very much misleading.
Saw Jozy play today..he held the ball well enough and was dangerous. He looks sharp..but was gassed at the 68th minute mark.
How is it misleading? Its not like he was scoring against Haiti and Nicaragua in friendlies or the non-Confederations Cup qualifier Gold Cup. He led the team in goals scored in World Cup qualifiers, I believe, if he didn't then he led for much of the time. He had a hat trick against T&T, scored against Cuba and scored against El Salvador twice all in World Cup qualifiers. The other matches he scored in were against Spain, Turkey, Poland and Mexico. Not exactly a bunch of slouches. He also scored against the Netherlands in the Olympics and was one of the leading goal scorers in the 2007 U-20 World Cup. Its not a fluke when it happens that much. Its definitely been rough for him since the Confederations Cup, but the willingness to give up on such a young player who has been a good player for the US astounds me.
And one day away from a lot of "Why isn't ____ on the list??" and "Bradley is crazy for not including ____" posts.
Thats unfortunate for Jay. Saw that coming though. We're getting more depth to positions now where form is more of a factor than ever. Meanwhile..Bedoya continues his terror. Has bagged one goal, and a assist so far in a 3-1 match vs GAIS [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2t3aqt1ucc"]YouTube - Alejandro Bedoya Double "Assist" And Goal‏[/ame] check out the back heel for the assist...thats good stuff.
Bedoya has been a man on fire this season, easily the most important player for his team by all accounts. Also, WOW what a backheel/sole