I'm really only troubled by the Corrales move. Not only does he have little or no international experience, but he is mediocre and he's a hothead and unpredictable in a game on this stage. He retaliates a lot when fouled, and I won't even mention the towel snap. If you're going to go with someone emotionally risky like Corrales, then by rights it should be Dempsey out there, because the two are equally petulant, equally inexperienced in this sort of international match, and Dempsey is a far superior player.
I know exactly how you feel, I was more excited about this game just because I was hoping to see guys like Dempsey, Clark and Gaven on the field together, instead I have to watch Ralston, Albright and Corrales. I'm not even sure I'm going to watch the game anymore. Great job Bruce, way to blow an opportunity to bleed new players in by wasting the on players that will probably be never called in again.
I've always thought that Ralston was excellent for MLS, but too slow in the international game. He is a deadly server of the ball if given time and space, so perhaps his insertion is tactically motivated as they might look to counter through early serves to EJ. If this lineup is correct, let's hope that Dempsey or Gaven or Martino is able to come on early in the second half. Let's also hope that it is a shootout a la Arsenal and Tottenham's encounter this past weekend!
Also, I'm not really sure why everyone is surprised that Bruce is not including too many 1st timers out there. We should keep in mind that EJ is still new blood, Albright's not been in a meaningful match with the Nats for a while, same for Ralston and Corrales. Maybe this is just an indication that folks like Dempsey, Gaven, and Martino aren't quite there yet. And of those three, I'd have to say that Martino has got to be the next to break through, especially if BA decides to use him as Andrulis did in the 2nd half of the MLS season. I'm not convinced about Gaven's ability to play quick enough at the international level, and as much as I love Dempsey, he just doesn't have enough games under his belt as a pro to satisfy BA's comfort level in him as a player. I also find it funny that many people want to throw Gaven and Dempsey into the starting line-up immediately while others decry the mention of Freddy Adu as one to invite to a Nats camp.
We only have three subs and along with those three I would like to see Spector, Martino, Clark... I guess we will find out at 7:31 when they announce the lineup and show the bench so we can see the reserves.
It's crazy to think that Bruce takes this match seriously enough not to release the roster yet he has filled out the roster with shite. The only reason I can see for him not releasing this roster is that he didn't want to be laughed at all week.
Important enough to start several long-time veterans (Keller, Donovan, Sanneh, Mastroeni, McBride), some of our highest-upside players who have moved into the "future is now" category (Johnson, Onyewu, Gibbs) and three solid veteran two-way players who can give us flank play and are guaranteed to play very hard (Albright, Ralston, Corrales)? As far as I see it, there are only two "weak" starters on this squad - Albright and Corrales. Also, I believe the positions for Mastroeni and Sanneh are reversed.
Spot on here. All we can ask for. Had hoped to see Russell, but the dude apparently has no luck with injuries. We can hope to see Gaven for some meaningful minutes as well...
Relax, if the game is chippy and Albright gets a yellow, you can just bring Suarez in and things will settle down!
Gibbs carrying yellow card (also Beasley and Hejduk). Methinks that the source aint too reliable... I'm not sure why Il Bruce would play Gibbs in a meaningless game, risking a suspension for Matchday 1 of the Hex (a VERY meaningful game), other than to jam the BS servers with "Fire Bruce" posts.
This has to be wrong. If there is any justice in the universe, Buzz is dead wrong this time. p.s. I too threw up in my mouth a little.
As long as you are not the source, youthinks wrong. Gibbs already picked up 2 yellows and served his one game suspension last game.
Could've sworn I put a in that post...someone must have scuttled it...Bobby is known to have an attitude problem however, so...
Buzz or no Buzz, my money is on Spector to get the start tonight. This is a perfect opportunity to see what he can do against a motivated opponent. We really have nothing to lose. Gibbs WON'T play tonight.
I'm not too sure EJ can go a full 90. just judging from his comments after the last WCQ, in which he said he was tired after just 20 minutes because it was soooo fast. Then also judging by his comments on the videos at training camp this week - he was tired after the 30 minute half, and still had 30 more minutes to go; tired because, again, it was sooo fast and intense - and that's at practice! Course, that's a good way to get game fit, is to be forced to play longer than you think you can, at a faster pace. And this is a good time to do it - when there is no pressure on the outcome of the game, but all the pressure to impress the coach.
Here are the links to the 5 official match reports for the semifinal round. I only see 1 card for Gibbs. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/sc/archive.html?id=37988&year=2004&month=8&day=18 http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/sc/archive.html?id=37990&year=2004&month=9&day=4 http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/sc/archive.html?id=37992&year=2004&month=9&day=8 http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/sc/archive.html?id=37994&year=2004&month=10&day=9 http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/sc/archive.html?id=37996&year=2004&month=10&day=13 Convey, Casey, Hejduk, Besley, Gibbs all have 1 card. None will play tonight.
Your right maybe the young guys aren't ready but what makes guys like Corrales and Albright more deserving of a start. Neither of the two outperformed guys like Gaven or Dempsey all year so their all of a sudden supposed to be better then them just because its a NAT game. I mean really do you really think Corrales will ever be called into a camp every again?
If Spector comes on as a sub, I think it will be for either Sanneh or Gooch in the middle (his natural position), or for Albright on the right (Spector is right-footed, and played left back for ManU just because they needed him there).
Cards from Stage 1 (vs. Grenada) were carried over into this round, Gibbs picked one up vs Grenada (6/20), a second vs El Salvador and has already served his one game suspension (vs Panama). http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/sc/archive.html?id=35939&year=2004&month=6&day=20
To be honest, I don't hate this roster all that much. The only guy I'm really disappointed to see in there is Ralston. He's a slightly above average MLS player, and nothing more. He's hads his Nats chances before, and failed. Corrales, at least, hasn't had chances before. Maybe Bruce sees something that will transition well to the int'l game. I don't know, but it certainly makes more sense than Ralston to me.
Actually, IIRC Ralston has the highest number of assists per 90 minutes played of any active Nat. He didn't have a great Confed Cup, but neither did many of his teammates - hard to argue that he's been a "failure".