It remains me in 1999, Japan has a very good U-20 team. That team plus Nakita and few is used in 2000 Olympics and tried to go farther (but stopped by USA). That is the same team plus more players for 2002 World Cup. Compare with this, US didn't have such great U-20 team this time with only one player made Senior Team (Convey) and three of players in fringe of Senior Team (E. Johnson, Quaranta, and Clarke). But difference is that we have two World Cup veterans in Donovan and Beasley and one Olympic veteran in Casey. Look forward for 2006, we also have some great players such as Pope, Reyna, JOB, Friedal, and Keller to give veteran leadship that Japan lacks. Here is what my takes on if we have enough talents to win the 2004 Olympics: Goalkeepers--whoever we put there are good enough as world class. If we don't use overage player (Howard) here, then we have three MLSers--Countess, Warren, and Saunders. Outside Defenders--Still our weak point but better than last Olympics. The center defenders have to be full time starters in their club team. Looks like Convey will be the left starting back as he plays in Senior National team. His skill will give our usually unskilled center backs an outlet for passes. Other than Regis, we normally don't have a skillful left back but Convey may fill in that role. In the right side, don't know how Onyewu got developed. If he can't pin out and we may have some troubles here because no one in our age group playing the right outside back right now and we don't want to ask Hedjuk again, but since Cherundolo missed last time and we may use him as an overage slot. The things are we have bunch of guys in the age group for outside backs but they are sitting on MLS benches. Center Defenders--Burciaga is the only one got starter job right now. Gray gets some sub time. Yi got some starts in Europe too. If we don't have anyone step up, we may have to get two overage players and the best candidates are Bocanegra and Garcia. Left midfielders--Beasley is the starter. So who got most MLS minutes will be his backup. Alvarez and Mapp are for the slot. Interesting enough, Davis plays on the right side now and that will increae his value to the team. Center midfielders--Looks like a crowded one now. Ricardo Clark and Kyle Martino are starters now. So is Pause. Berkerman is starting too. Stone got major minutes. Right midfielders--Guess everyone who cannot get a forward spot will eager to play this one since it isn't lock up yet. Davis plays in here now. Many of others--Eskandarian, Quaranta, Migee etc. will be willing to play here as a third forward. Forwards--the best and deepest position. Looks Buddle and Donovan are starters. Everyone else has to step us and score big goals to get a backup spot. Supersubs--Who will be the supersub for us? We need someone who can cause havoc on tired defenders. Currently, two names come to my mind--Alvarez and Adu.
I think the real question is, "Do we have a team that can medal?" I think medalling will get us excellent PR, which is, frankly, what this tournament is about. I think we certainly have a team that can medal.
It depends if we use an overage goalie with plenty of pro club experience and if our defense can hold. We'll go as far those 2 positions take us. We appear to be solid everywhere else.
Who is the "Davis" that is now playing on the right? If you are referring to Brad Davis, he does not play on the right at all, just center mid, left mid, and up top as a forward. Of course it has only been two games, but I can't see any situation where he would move to the right. Where did you see him on the right?
The Dallas vs. LA game, he played at the right after sub-in. Most of two-feet players can play in both side.
games (at this point) will be shown only on telemundo, so no english coverage of the men... although you can get english coverage of the women
Davis did not play on the right. He subbed in for Chivas Martinez at left midfield. Vaca played the right mid spot the whole game. Davis was on the right side when he assisted on Kreis' goal, but he was over there only for the free kick which he took immediately before the goal. He also takes the corner kicks on the right side, but I assure you, he was not the right mid.
Sorry, he subbed for Chivas in the New England game. In the LA game he subbed in for Kries and was playing as a forward, not right mid.
Argentina has that awesome U-20 team two years ago. Brazil has unearthed a few teenagers who are on the level of Ronaldo in the last two months. It will be hard to beat those two teams. Getting a medal is very possible.
Don't forget the Africans Nigeria 1996 gold medal Cameroon 2000 gold medal Those guys always deliver in youth tournaments
You DO understand the irony of that statement, don't you? Hmmm... "I'll take 'OVERAGE players with false birth certificates' for $1,000, Alex."
well..... Yeah, because they send adults to play in youth tournaments. How many times have they been caught now? This is the reason so many people question Freddy Adu's age.
Re: Re: well..... Well, at least 4 (Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana) have had scandals regarding this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sports_talk/2772109.stm
Re: Re: Re: well..... Not caught through..... I know of the rumors/scandals regarding Ghana and Nigeria. I am 80% sure that Ghana was playing older players in the early 90's, but they have not been caught. I do not think Nigeria was caught either. I
concede to Shaster Well, I must now back track. In the Dallas game v. DC, Davis subbed in for Vaca, who was playing right mid. I will say Obrien and Davis swapped back and forth from center mid to right mid, but Davis did spend a good deal of time over there.
So what would be a provisional XI right now? Stop and correct me where I could be wrong. Countess Gray--Yi--???should have been Burciaga???--Convey Magee--Martino--Clark--Beasley Donovan--Buddle Subs? Defense: ??? Midfield: Beckerman Davis ??? Attack: Casey Johnson
Convey would not be the starting leftback, though it is possible. He has only been there with the senior USNT and is too valuable in attack to play there at a lower level - the U23s or U20s. Prior to injuries the line-up could've looked like this... Countess - Onyewu, Gray, Burciaga, Lewis - Convey, Beckerman, Martino, Beasley - Buddle, Donovan. Now with Onyewu (how long is he out?) and Burciaga gone due to injury - look for Chris Wingert to step into the rightback slot for any friendlies. Nelson Akwari or Alex Yi could fill Burciaga's role. Ricardo Clark has yet to see time with the U23s. This could change in the next 6-9 months. The U23s start Oly qualifying on November 15th or 16th, so injuries have time to heal, though Burciaga may not be back - even for the CONCACAF finals (if the US gets there) in Mexico. If I had to pick an 18-man roster for the two legs vs. St Kitts or Antigua it would be... GK - DJ Countess (Dallas Burn)* GK - Doug Warren (DC United) DF - Oguchi Onyewu (Metz)* DF - Kelly Gray (Chicago Fire)* DF - Alex Yi (Royal Antwerp)* DF - Ricky Lewis (Los Angeles Galaxy)* DF - David Stokes (DC United) DF - Nelson Akwari (Columbus Crew) MF - Bobby Convey (DC United)* MF - Ricardo Clark (MetroStars)* MF - Kyle Martino (Columbus)* MF - DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire)* MF - Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids) MF - Brad Davis (Dallas Burn) FW - Edson Buddle (Columbus Crew)* FW - Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes)* FW - Conor Casey (Hannover '96/Borussia Dortmund) FW - Santino Quartanta (DC United) *Starters (4-4-2) Clark, Convey, and Quaranta will most likely be unavailable since the U20 World Cup starts eight days after the U23's qualifiers. I could see Brian Carroll stepping in for Clark, David Testo for Convey, and Alecko Eskandarian for Quaranta. The first 18 I listed would be my "A" squad. Here would be my "B" squad... GK: Josh Saunders (San Jose Earthquakes) and Curtis Spiteri (Portland Timbers); DF: Frank Simek (Arsenal - an U20), Chris Wingert (St. John's), Chad Marshall (Stanford - an U20), Zach Whitbred (Liverpool - an U20), and Philip Salyer (Dallas Burn); MF: Jordan Stone (Dallas Burn - an U20), David Testo (Richmond Kickers), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Ned Grabavoy (Indiana - an U20), Brian Carroll (DC United), and Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire - an U20); FW: Ed Johnson (Dallas Burn - an U20), Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire), Devin Barclay (DC United - an U20), Mike Magee (MetroStars - an U20), and Alecko Eskandarian (DC United). Scot Thompson (Los Angeles), Roger Levesque (San Jose), Jason Thompson (Dallas), and Jose Burciaga (Kansas City) all would be included, but have torn their ACL. Keep in mind a certain Freddy Adu (Bethesda SC)will be available. The U17 World Cup will be over on August 30th. How many would stick him on the right wing in midfield? As to can the U23s win the Oly's? The intelligent bet would have to be a resounding no! As a long shot? Maybe. Depending on the draw - and of course making it to Greece - I would feel getting out of their group is very possible. If healthy, this squad is better than the side in 2000 and if given the proper respect should be talked about like the Japan 2000 Oly squad was.