So 3 out of 23. One of which could have simply declined, which isn't on Bob, and another of which seems to be in decent form. My point is, calm down.
Something like this: [LINEUP-4-4-2]???, ???, Dempsey, Jones, Bradley, Donovan, ???, Bocanegra, ???, Cherundolo, Howard[/LINEUP-4-4-2]
Probably whatever lime up starts against Spain. My rough guess Howard Cherundolo-Goodson-Onyewu-Bocanegra (or possibly Bocanegra with Onyewu center and Bornstein left) Donovan - bradley - jones -Dempsey Agudelo (or possibly Wondolowski ) -Altidore
Seeing as Wondo's made the squad and has never played with our full team (the only field player never to do so IIRC), I would figure that he'll be on the field. If not as a starter than almost certainly come halftime or the 60th minute or so, I'd think.
you ever watch his goals? They are runs off the ball to tap in, head or breakaways that require a pass. If chicarito could create on his own, he would destroy us, but it is the guy who passes to him that we need to worry about.
I know whoever did the projections over at noshortcorners said Bunbury was on the squad. Maybe something changed there last minute too?
Bedoya & Mix are still playing their season, maybe the reason why they're not going to Gold Cup. Chandler, maybe asked for a brake. Gomez, had mediocre season with Pachuca. Wondo over Bunbury, hhmm...maybe this final judgement for Wondo quality for USNT. Rimando & Marcus really no future with USNT, their age with lack experience USNT. Yeddell, Guzan or Johnson need more USNT experience & have future with USNT.
Jozy is more hussle & muscle player, not quality finisher. Still Jozy has more impact in the game, he just sucks in scoring.
I expected JB to make it as long as BB is the coach. Very surprise with the Chandler ommision, if he got cold feet I wish someone (bob or chandler) would come out and say it, I hate it when people are just not forthcoming with the truth.
After thinking about the roster (and enjoying some of the classic over-reactions to a roster announcement), I'm down to this: 1) most of the roster was exactly what folks expected. 17 non-surprises. 2) 2 bordeline guys who most knew were in the mix, but beat out some favorite they prefered -- Bornstein and Kljestan. 3) 3 mild surprises -- Adu, Wondo, and the 3d keeper Rimando. But nobody really cares about the 3d keeper, and choosing an MLS guy is actually pretty smart. And Adu fans should be VERY happy. Wondo has been a top MLS scorer, but generally I'm indifferent to him; we shall see. 4) 1 big surprise -- Rogers. Presumably he replaced Chandler, who may have begged off at the last moment and forced Bob Bradley to scramble for an available replacement. Rogers isn't international quality, but whatever. The tournament won't turn on his performance, assuming he even plays. 5) My one big concern about this roster is actually what it may suggest for BB's lineups. There are arguably 10 midfielders and only 3 true forwards. Is BB thinking of continuing the 4-5-1 experiments??? I was hoping that was dead for now, after looking better every time the US switched from the 4-5-1 to the 4-4-2 in the post-Cup friendlies, and then fully committing to the 4-4-2 vs Paraguay. I really don't care to see more 4-5-1 setups until at least Holden returns to top form. But I'm not so sure based on this roster.
I share this concern. But I'm also thinking it's quite possible that he prefers Dempsey to any 4th forward and... had rather brought another wide mid instead of the forward options. So he chose Rogers (as a last-minute replacement). (Are you buying this? I'm not. I think he might still be thinking 451, if only situationally...)
I'm ok with the WONDO pick. Having JB play very litle with his mexican team and out of position and being subed in at his prior to last game and getting pulled out 18 minutes after coming in tells me how bad he is, YET, BB still rewards him with a call up. The Chandler obmission is either BB excellent insight on player selection or Chandler doesn't want to give up his GER. status. I just wished someone (Chandler or BB) would come out and say it, we are big boys, we can take it.
I think it's weird. Only three forwards indicates that Demps is in the forward mix. But, w/o Chandler, who would take his place at outside mid? Weird.
That was a 4-5-1, with Adu playing as an advanced attacking mid, at times almost as a second striker (so almost 4-4-2-ish). Two DM's supporting Adu and two out-and-out wingers running the flanks from penalty box to penalty box. But Adu was really good back then, against his (youth) peers. And Altidore was also very good back then. I'm not so sure about now. Especially since this team won't be built around Adu, supporting Adu. Adu is a role-playing sub these days for the Nat's, not an offensive fulcrum/playmaker.
There are quite a few candidates for the fourth attacking role. In order of likelihood I see these options: 1) Agudelo. We've looked better in the 4-4-2 and Agudelo has impressed in his opportunities with the team. 2) Feilhaber. Started in the Poland friendly and did a lot of interchanging with Dempsey in that game. I could see something similar going forward. 3) Adu. The classical choice if we go 4-3-3 (4-5-1). Has worked well with Altidore in the past. 4) Wondo. Another option if we want to go 4-4-2. Did not look good in his one Nat start as the single forward, so I would not expect him in that sort of setup. 5) Kljestan. I presume he would play wide with Demspey or Donovan moving centrally or to forward. 6) Rogers. Similar as with Kljestan but he is more of a pure winger option.