http://www.goal.com/en-US/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=42444 Probably not a huge surprise to anyone, but interesting to think he has always thought of himself as an "outsider."
Not a bad mindset and public stance to have. It might also make him hungrier. Personally, he ranks better than Pope for me...
it's fairly obvious who arena likes centrally...onyewu, gibbs, bocanegra and pope the bigger question is whether berhalter or conrad would both be alternates... given the need to have one on case a top 4 guy goes down is difficult
He's a fine player, but he would seem to be exactly where he should, the fifth or sixth center back. If BA planned to play a lot of 3-5-2 or 5-4-1, he'd have a shot, without injury. Not sure that he does now.
Maybe Jimmy should try and tackle the runaway train that is Aaron Pitchkolan. As it were, Jimmy treated him like Ronaldo.
If Arena takes 5 centerbacks then Conrad goes imo. 1. Gooch 2. Dolo 3. Pope 4. Lewis 5. Gibbs 6. Boca 7. Albright 8. Conrad
that's your analysis of Pitchkolan's game winner? seriously? you make no comment on the fact that there was a miscommunication between EJ and Burciaga Jr., and a signficant lack of sustained hustle/effort on both of their parts. and on top of that the desire by Pitchkolan and a lucky bounce to spring him. Conrad was not positioned to provide supporting cover on that play, but that is in no way saying he failed to tackle Pitchkolan. the attacker had a 2-3 stride lead on him on that play. of course, this is not a defense of Conrad and his skills and an argument for his inclusion in the WC roster. he's done well to go from relative obscurity to being a top 6 central defender for the US.
I don't know how many CB's Arena is likely to bring. but for eight defensive spots, i'd suggest that Arena still perfers both Hejduk and Berhalter to Albright and Conrad. and to keep a balance of 4 CB's and 4 outside backs (as Arena has stated his strong preference for the 4-man backline), i'd venture that Arena perfers Albright to Berhalter. and that is probably why Conrad justifiably feels he's on the outside looking in.
I think Conrad's an alternate, but in my mind he's the 5th centerback, before Berhalter, and with Bocanegra's injury he has a chance.
Seriously. Jimmy takes a bad angle and just jogs along ... in added time, he better do a flying dive and tackle like Brian Urlacher than give a guy a clear shot from 20.
I think Pope, Gooch, Gibbs and even Bocanegra would have made that play -- though the guy really got a good head of steam going.
if it was possible for any of those guys you mention to make such a play (or perhaps position themselves better to not have to make such a recovery), I doubt Arena is basing his final decisions on CB's, and Conrad specifically, on the play at the end of that FCD/KCW match. or maybe Arena is that thorough.
I doubt that anybody's inclusion comes down to ONE play, Conrad included. Just an observation about what I think is the athletic superiority of those guys over Conrad, pure speculation.