Here's my Projected USA starting 11 in 2006. McBride Mathis Beasley Obrien Mastroeni Donovan Gibbs Berhalter Pope Sanneh Freidel Main Subs: Howard Adu Reyna Lewis Hedjuk
by my count mcbride will be 34 or 35 by then, not so sure he'll be up front in germany (if we get there). he might lead us through qualifying, but wolff, or donovan/mathis, would be a better pairing. i'm glad there's no califf on your list.
Berhalter hardly even played this past Cup. No way he starts in 2006. He should be about 33 by then. Sanneh will be about 35 by then. Pope will be 33. Reyna will be about 33. McBride will be about 34 as mentioned earlier. While it isn't impossible to play at that age, it's highly unlikely that all of them will still be able to play at their ages. Remember that when South Korea burned us they went right at Jeff Agoos who was 34 years young. I think Carlos Bocanegra might step into the starting lineup at defense and who knows what Freddy Adu will be able to do at that age. You have to also consider Bobby Convey as an attacking mid-fielder. If Ben Olsen can stay healthy he should be there. I would think that your starting XI should look something more like this. Mathis, Donovan Beasley, O'brien, Mastroeni, Olsen (Convey if ankle isn't healed) Bocanegra, Hejduk, Pope, (Sanneh, Gibbs, or someone else for the last spot) Friedel/Howard/Keller
Mathis.........Wolff .......Donovan...... Beasley........Olsen .......O'Brien...... ......Mastroeni..... Bocanegra......Gibbs ........Pope........ .......Keller.......
If we don't improve our ability to play out of the back, then we will absolutely need someone like McBride... as much of an improvement as we've made over the past 15 years, our backs (and to some degree our midfielders) still get pressured very easily... we consistently launch balls forward (and many times they are not educated balls) in order to relieve pressure in our defensive third... when you only have guys up front like Mathis, Wolff, Donovan, Twellman, Cunningham, Eddie Johnson, Quaranta, et al, they'll never see the ball... these guys have some things that McBride obviously doesn't bring to the table... Brian is never going to beat someone 1v1 like Donovan or Mathis or Cunningham... he certainly doesn't have the wheels of a Wolff or Cunningham... but if we don't improve our ability to play out of the back, then he needs to be on the field... Perhaps Connor Casey or Edson Buddle could eventually become a similar type of player to McBride... they are probably as adept at maintaining a deep position on the field, giving themselves room to check back to the ball... they will probably eventually be as good playing with their back to goal and either holding the ball or getting fouled... but i don't think either of them has demonstrated any sort of prowess in the air... not that there are many around the world who are as good in the air as McBride... I think Arena sees this as well... that's why he's trying to get someone like Convey and Victorine as outside backs... i think he realizes that when McBride isn't on the field to win headers, get fouled, hold the ball, create easier "2nd ball" situations, then our best players (Donovan, Mathis) become invisible... they are simply not the players to do these sorts of things... but if we can come out of the back with possession, then we can have these two on the field at the same time... So here's my line-up for 2006... Friedel/Keller/Howard (they're all good... it's whomever is in form at the time) Back Three: Bocanegra & Pope as marking backs... Reyna playing behind them... Midfield: Mastroeni as the ball winner... O'Brien as the organizer... Mathis playing in front of them... Convey on the left... Klein on the right (he's going to make it very difficult for Bruce to keep him off the field & it's not like we have an overflow of right sided players in our system)... Up Front: McBride & Donovan Subs: whichever two keepers aren't starting... Beasley, Armas, Adu and whomever else is in form at the time...
Is twellman not American? I know it is only 3 years away but I wouldnt be suprised if there are some players who most MLS players wouldnt recognise, as I fell that the draft players coming into to some of the MLS teams are getting stronger.
why stop at 2006 , lets try 2010 seriously I don't belive anyone knows what the team will look like, and i don't see any point in speculating 3 years ahead
Until he proves otherwise, I'd drop Mathis from the starting 11. Except for that flash of brilliance against Korea, Mathis has looked decidedly mediocre for more than a year. Who knows what's holding Mathis back: maybe a nagging injury, perhaps a weight/stamina problem, or maybe his attitude. But whatever the cause for his decline, all Mathis deserves right now is to be used as a sub off the bench.
Re: Re: 2006 USA Starting 11 Actually, half the team is already chosen unless the younger players from 2002 get injured. ---------Buddle-Donovan ------------Convey -----Beasley--------RMID -------------JOB --LB---Blackmouth--Pope--Cherundolo There are only 10-12 new spots for the 23 IMHO.
Re: Re: 2006 USA Starting 11 Agreed...everyone thought they had it all figured out in 98 right after the World Cup....no one though Donovan or Beasley would be at Korea...so lets just wait and see...Im sure that BA does know what he's doing... -PB20
I think we've seen some nice positives this year so far: 1) the emergence and continued good performance of Blackmouth(Bocanegra)-can play LB or CB 2) the seasoning of Cherundolo in the Bundesliga 1st, RB 3)Onyewu finally seeing some time in France-RB 4)Some new potential LB candidates in MLS(Joy, Lewis, hopefully Salyer) Bocanegra helps to address the need to find a better replacement for Agoos and Berhalter(super slow). Cherundolo and Onyewu's further development gives us a good 1-2 at RB in case Sanneh can't go. The only really big question mark I see is the left back spot. Barrett saw early time there, Paul Broome hasn't got a shot yet, Lewis, Joy and Chris Gbandi still haven't played in MLS. Salyer is still negotiating with the league, and Cory Gibbs of the 2nd Bundesliga team St. Pauli hasn't got enough time with the national team yet.
Olsen got sent home with pain in his ankle. He has ony looked so so since returning from his surgeries. He is far behind where he should have been without those problems. I get the feeling his national team career could be over soon and he won't be on any of my lists until he is performing at a high level in MLS. I would like to think we have better options than to keep asking him to camp.
why doesn't someone start a more realistic thread and try predicting our starting lineup for the beginning of world cup qualifying? This is ONE year away now, not much time considering we have two big tournys this summer and only a limited number of friendly match opportunities until before then.
Olsen is fine: http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20030215-16785660.htm While he may not be the same player he was before the surgeries he did make an impact with DC United. After Olsen returned to the lineup in 2002 on July 27th United went 5-4-3. Without Olsen they were 4-10-2. Can't argue with results.
----------Donovan-----Casey------------ -------------(23)---------(23)------------- -----------------Mathis------------------ -------------------(29)------------------- ----------------------------------------- Beasley---------O'Brien---------Quaranta --(23)--------------(27)---------------(21)--- ----------------------------------------- ----------------Mastroeni---------------- --------------------(29)------------------- ----------------------------------------- Convey-----------Pope--------Bocanegra --(22)-------------(33)--------------(26)--- ----------------------------------------- -----------------Friedel------------------ -------------------(35)-------------------
That is good news. I hadn't heard anything about his ankle problem since he didn't make the trip to Jamaica, or got sent home from Jamaica, whichever. And yeah, if he is playing well in MLS he could find a place on the team. Most likely as a substitute, role player. I just dont think he has it in him to become a consistant starter.