Based on who BA has played (when, where, and against whom since J/K), I'm fairly confident that this is the roster right now (health permitting). CB (4) Pope, Gibbs, Onyewu, Bocanegra LB, RB (3)Vanney, Cherundolo, Hejduk DM (2) Mastroeni, Armas CM (2) O'Brien, Reyna OM (3) Beasley, Lewis, Ralston AM (2) Donovan, Dempsey F (4) McBride, Johnson, Noonan, Wolff GK (3) Keller, Howard, Hahnemann Gold cup exclusion does not bode well for these guys who have played a lot/key minutes for us: Mathis Convey Berhalter Zavagnin Ching (I know he's hurt, but it still diminshes his liklihood) And it also doesn't bode weel for the young guys: Gaven Spector All of the other foriegn unkowns and MLS babies, and BS darlings... I'm looking at the list of everyone capped since J/K and I really don't see many names that could beat out the 23 above...time will tell though.
I recall reading an interview with Arena saying he requested Spector but ManU wanted to keep him for preseason. I'll try to find it.
Your LOCK list has 17 players, not 16. But I agree with you on each of the 17. Indeed, I posted an identical list in a thread this morning about the 15 World-Quality STARTING players in the pool. I had 15 players plus two (Dempsey and Howard) who can develop into starting-quality in the next 11 months. Great minds think alike. So, I'll begin with your 17 players, including Howard written in as the 2nd Keeper. Hahnemann seems the most likely 3d string keeper, although it doesn't matter much since 3d keeper in a WC almost never plays. Still, that's 18 of 23 positions filled. 3 keepers, 6 defenders, 7 midfielders, and 2 forwards. However, either Donovan or Dempsey are likely to join a 3-man starting rotation at forward, so maybe this is really 3 keepers, 6 defenders, 6 midfielders, and 3 forwards. 5 spots are open: #19 = a 4th forward spot goes to veteran Wolff. Been there. Done that. Will do that again. Striker depth is thin. #20 = a 7th midfield spot goes to a much needed defensive midfielder to backup Mastroeni. It's either Armas or Zavagnin but not both. Neither is a top talent and neither is World Cup starting-quality, but you just have to suck it up and take a guy who can come in late in a game, clog the midfield and help hold a result. Current flavor may be Armas. #21 = a 7th defensive spot goes to a defender. Center back has enough depth (Boca, Gibbs, Oneywu, and Pope). Outside back is very thin and must be filled. My hope is that Spector shows enough for his club team and in future Nat Team callups to take this spot. If he doesn't, the team may need to take Vanney. At this point, with 3 keepers, 7 defenders, 7 midfielders, and 4 forwards picked, 21 spots are filled and only 2 remain. You could take a veteran specialist like Vanney, Ralston, Zavagnin, or Ching. You could take more multi-dimensional players like Noonan, Convey, Gavin, or Quaranta. These are really tough choices. All of these players will probably be named as alternates if they don't make the final 23. Vanney may go anyway if Spector doesn't make the cut. Do you take a 5th forward in Ching who cannot play elsewhere, but might be valuable if McBride gets hurt? Ralston is probably too one-dimensional and not athletic enough. Any of these players can make a good case and none would surprise me, but I'll go with: #22 = Quaranta is a best guess for the moment based on the ability to play outside mid and forward, and because he seems to play quickly and cleanly, passing well, all things Arena likes. #23 = Convey is the last guy based on his flexibility to play outside back or midfield. Besides, we need someone to be called Arena's pet during the tournament.
Howard's play at Man U will definitely impact this-- if he doesn't get in there and play well, he might not be included. Also, I'd choose Ching over Noonan. I'm not sure Casey will be back up to speed by then to even deserve consideration. I think we otherwise think alike. I'm willing to bet you'll be able to accurately predict Arena's World Cup 22.
when you bother to write them all down, it shows how tight the competition will be to get on the roster. counting goalkeepers 2 and 3, i think 18 slots are pretty much filled. that's with dempsey as a lock, which i believe is the case. only a complete meltdown prevents him from going. do we even need zavagnin or armas? i agree with those who said spector's chances look good if he plays a lot this season. if he comes i'm not sure we need vanney or convey or berhalter. convey's versatility isn't that useful to me since he's about my fifth choice at left mid. but he and casey have gotten more callups than i would have given so who knows. honestly, i don't think casey is off bruce's radar. if failing to score doesn't do it, the ACL tear might not do it either. he'd be off my radar a year ago, but bruce... if some of the old-timers (pope, reyna, mcbride) deteriorate quickly, the roster might get more flexible. we won't know that until closer to next summer. i think they're all highly likely at this point. judging from bruce's decisions, it seems like he wants another post-up guy, so ching or casey or whomever will probably go. bruce sure calls up wolff, ralston, and vanney a lot... were there any guys that he called up this consistently who didn't make the roster last time? i would be very surprised if we were totally injury-free next summer, so somebody will probably be out for that reason. i think we'll see at least one 'surprise' young guy with few caps currently. if he considers LD as a potential forward, wolff's chances probably go down. but, wolff seems to be one of those guys bruce likes. i think i'd like to see dempsey as A-mid with donovan up front. i'm not sure if it'd work, but i'd like to see us try it. i'd also like us to try starting 15 people simultaneously and see if anybody notices. given injuries, yellow cards, fatigue, and bruce's penchant for frequent line-up changes, i have no doubt that somebody good (lewis, dempsey, etc.) will not start the first game but will play an important role later, esp. if we get out of the group. i really like this group, even without filling the last few spots. particularly the midfield...can we play a 2-7-1 formation? 1. Keller 2. GK 3. GK 4. Dolo 5. Boca 6. Pope 7. Gibbs 8. Gooch 9. Hejduk (Bruce will do it, you know he will) 10. 7th D (Spector, Vanney, Berhalter, Convey, Marshall) 11. 8th D 12. LD 13. DMB 14. Mastro 15. JOB 16. Lewis 17. Reyna 18. 7th M (Dempsey, IMO) 19. 8th M (Ralston, Noonan, Q, Gaven, Zavagnin, Armas, Adu, Convey, me) 20. Johnson 21. McBride 22. 3rd F (another target striker, IMO, probably Ching) 23. 4th F (Wolff's spot unless somebody else claims it)
1. Keller 2. GK 3. GK 4. Dolo 5. Boca 6. Pope 7. Gibbs 8. Gooch 9. Hejduk (Bruce will do it, you know he will) 10. 7th D (Spector, Vanney, Berhalter, Convey, Marshall) 11. 8th D 12. LD 13. DMB 14. Mastro 15. JOB 16. Lewis 17. Reyna 18. 7th M (Dempsey, IMO) 19. 8th M (Ralston, Noonan, Q, Gaven, Zavagnin, Armas, Adu, Convey, me) 20. Johnson 21. McBride 22. 3rd F (another target striker, IMO, probably Ching) 23. 4th F (Wolff's spot unless somebody else claims it) EXCELLENT FORECAST... I think we have a winner here....
good one Elbita. Armas is not going. I'd much rather have convey than armas called up, armas plays a type of game that we don't need anymore. He has absolutely no offensive talent and could only play def mid. We have at least 4 other guys sure to make the roster that can play that position; O'Brien, Mastroeni, Reyna & Dempsey, so Bruce will take someone more flexible than Armas. Since the 3rd keeper won't even play, and won't even be on the bench (only 18 can dress per game right?) Bruce should call in Ditka.
Yeah, that's my prediction at this point. The only question I have is whether or not Bruce will take equal numbers of mids and defenders or split them 9/7. I would also add Mapp to that list for the 19th slot. In the 10th slot, I think Spector has the upper hand in terms of youth and versatility. It all depends on how much game time he gets this year.
Am I the only that thinks Reyna shouldn't be on this roster? Was it just me or was he dying for air in Azteca?
It was too soon after injury for Reyna, but he wanted to play in the big game. Every player did, but why Arena put Reyna out there when his fitness was in question is hard to explain. By 25 minutes in, Reyna was out of it. I'm not holding that game against his future with the team, as he shouldn't of been out there to begin with. That game, in many ways, is on the Bruce for an odd line-up and an odd formation.... A fit Reyna is still one of the best 23 we've got, and his experience and flexibility in the midfield will be extremely helpful. However, at this point, he cannot simply expect to waltz into camp next June and ask where he's playing. He needs to be in camp this fall, working hard for a position, fit and in form. Bruce has put that pressure on him, and was right to do so....
Reyna was fit enough to play 2 full games for Man City before the Mexico match. He was fit last September when he played very poorly against Panama. I'm not ruling Reyna out, but his poor play isn't just a question of fitness. Reyna still needs to prove himself. He might be useful at RM. I just don't want him to get a free ride and then find out he can't pull his weight.
agreed on reyna. i just think reyna, pope, mcbride, et al, would have to deteriorate dramatically for bruce to leave them off the roster altogether. mapp. i don't know enough about him, but i hope he gets in the mix. i saw him a couple of times in chicago last year, and he seemed really dangerous.
Fair agreement with this. Changes: D--drop Berthaler, Convey, add Hejduk (sorry, adds a lot of options) and Spector (for the experience, not to play) M--drop Noonan, add Gaven (for the experience) F--no argument here
When Manchester has far better air quality than another city, that's saying something. Reyna was just gassed, and wasn't able to even go 30........if he was fit, and that's questionable, then it had to be the game conditions, an illness, a hangover, something..... Heck, it made me feel in shape! But for the life of me, for a number of reasons, I cannot figure out why he got the start in that game. And I completely agree that there is no reason to guarantee him any position when he hasn't shown himself in camp or in a recent USMNT game. This fall is very important for the national team future of Claudio....
Reyna has experience and I agree with you, a fit Reyna would be extremely helpful. He needs to work very hard if he wants to be on the 2006 roster.
the big question to me is, if NOT reyna than who takes his place... right now, JOB and mastroeni are the d-mid/holding mids of preference... reyna is #2 holding mid and NO other d-mid really excites any of us... reyna clearly is ahead of armas or KZ... and is dempsey an attacking player or viewed as a partner to mastroeni... I can see reyna being the 3rd guy in a mastro/JOB rotation
I agree that he wasn't 100% ready for Mexico, just pointing out that he was playing for City. The issue to me is that he was fit last summer and was still horrible against Panama, and not very impressive against El Salvador and Grenada. This makes me worried. I think Donovan, Bease, Lewis, and Mastro (maybe JOB and Dempsey too) all need to start over Reyna. Will Arena screw with the lineup and formation to force Reyna on as a starter like he did in Mexico, or will he have the guts to leave him on the bench as a late game sub? If everyone is healthy Arena will have some tough decisions to make. I hope he has to make these decisions this time instead of having injuries make the choices for him.
Well first off I don't think Reyna can handle the Dmid spot on his own anymore so he's not Mastro's back up. He has to be paired with a true Dmid and that forces Arena to either sit a player like Lewis or play a 5 man midfield. Reyna isn't a good Amid, he just isn't. He might be able to play Rmid in a 4-4-2 but then Lewis sits. Formations and players will change throughout the Cup I just don't think Reyna will be much more than a spot player. If he's okay with playing less minutes then he did in 02 then great, bring him along. If not, he stays at home.
I agree, reyna is a holding mid, and that's his role...if arena tactically looks for that sort of player, then reyna is the best fit, although JOB can do it too... I just see JOB, Reyna and Mastroeni as being the NON-attacking mid types.... and I agree reyna needs a pure d-mid...meaning mastroeni to be out there for the pure dirty work.... people are evaluating reyna based on his attacking role, which I agree has virtually disappeared..... a box mid field should have beasley and donovan at the attacking slots... unless arena goes 3-5-2, with reyna at rm, I don't see reyna being a dead lock starter... job and reyna could split the holding role
I worry that Reyna might become a distraction. His role on the team is very much undefined, and I think there's a bit of a mindset that he can simply roll into camp whenever he likes and take a starting slot, regardless of how or if he's even been playing. Bruce has publicly told him to get into camp, and we'll see if he understood that message, or if Bruce sticks to his guns. And yes, I'd put Reyna 7 deep on my midfield grouping as well, and clearly in a reserve role. Lewis is the guy that seems to fly under the radar, as he brings another dimension to the team with crosses, sharp passing, and some accuracy from distance. Reyna, at this point, is a central midfielder, in my thinking, and I think his best chance is to take some minutes from Pablo in the D-Mid role, and not from Lewis or DMB. I do know that if Reyna doesn't show up for the Trinidad and Tobago game, but chooses to waltz into town for the Mexico, I'm going to be one ticked off fan. Nobody should earn the right to pick-and-choose the qualifiers they play in, and you should earn your role in camp. This fall will be very telling for Reyna, and for Bruce in how he decides a roster for next summer.........