Forwards/Strikers, WCQ 2006 [R may be implied]

Okay, so I was thinking about the depth of forwards we have in the USMNT player pool for World Cup Qualifying for 2006. This list of strikers was gleaned from and double-checked against three sources: MLSnet, The US National Soccer Players Association site, and The National Soccer Hall of Fame site. If you see an error in the number of caps/goals next to a player's name, complain to them.

I do want to point out a couple of things. First, I have only listed most but not all of those players in the current eligible pool who have already received at least one cap. My reasoning for not including uncapped players is that Bruce, if his past behavior means anything, is unlikely to play any of them now that the semis are upon us, with only one friendly before it begins. Second, my other point is that my analysis of each player is based not on what I think of them but on what I think Bruce makes of them. Hopefully, discussion will center on what we think Bruce is thinking and not on how you think Freddy needs to be capped.

KEY: Player (caps/goals)

Edson Buddle (1/0) - Under his current form, Buddle has probably fell a bit low on Bruce's radar, but it's in Edson's favor that he's still on the radar at all. Even so, don't expect ot see him get a call-up in the semis.

Conor Casey (4/0) - Currently injured, this big target forward is what Bruce likes and might be a replacement for McBride should Brian go out through injury.

Brian Ching (1/0) - If Brian keeps up his current form, Bruce is likely to at least call him into a camp or three. Not that Bruce will start him, but he might see PT as a late second half sub if we've got the matched iced.

Jeff Cunningham (8/0) - You have to think Jeff is currently out of favor, but his recent form with the Crew, if it continues, may well earn him a call-up in a friendly, but I don't expect to see him in any qualifiers

Landon Donovan (51/16) - Listed as a forward, but has been playing midfield for Bruce's squads for some time. I don't expect to see him starting up top, but you have to count him in on the depth chart should the favored forwards be out through injury, suspension or club duty.

Alecko Eskandarian (1/0) - Even more of a long-shot than Cunningham, but his form for DC will be monitored, you can be sure.

Cobi Jones (160/14) - If he's on the squad you can be sure his role will be that of mentor and late-game sub only. You have to think Cobi will be happy with any PT he gets and that he knows what's expected of him.

Jovan Kirovski (62/9) - Despite poor finishing in his last two matches, he makes well-timed runs and pulls defenders with him, opening up space for other forwards and attacking mids. May be on some squads for depth off the bench, but I don't see him starting.

Jason Kreis (14/1) - Let's just say that Jason is far from having a place in Bruce's plans.

Clint Mathis (40/11) - Never count Cletus out. Form and fitness will always be something that Bruce will scrutinize with Clint, given their history as "demanding coach" and "player with wild reputation."

Brian McBride (75/25) - As long as Brian is healthy, he's starting. 'Nuff said.

Joe-Max Moore (100/24) - See: Cobi Jones, except Cobi probably has more of a chance to get some late second half PT than Moore.

Ante Razov (24/6) - You have to think that Ante will continue to be looked at by Bruce, and if nothing else, he's depth to be used if needed. I don't see him getting on many squads as long as every one else is available.

Taylor Twellman (7/0) - Injuries haven't helped him, but TT still has something to prove and may yet still figure in Bruce's places, as Taylor is the type of hard-nosed forward that Bruce likes.

Brian West (7/0) - Can we count him out completely? I think so.

John Wolyniec (2/0) - Bruce seems to like this guy, probably looks at him as a diamond in the rough, a player who can be molded into his system. Woly may not get any time on the field, but I wouldn't be surprised if Bruce calls into camp if his form improves.

Josh Wolff (25/7) - If Josh can stay healthy, and he's showing signs of doing better, you have to think he will figure in big with Bruce's plans, maybe not as a starter for all matches, but perhaps as a starter against those nations which have older and slower back lines, and certainly a sub to be used if a starter goes down or spends the tank in the Central American heat.​

Comments? Omissions?

 

I like Alecko also. I just hope he continues to improve to the point that Bruce will have to call him into camp some more.

 

Um, yeah, I explained that in the second paragraph of the first post: "...I have only listed most but not all of those players in the current eligible pool who have already received at least one cap."

 

Okay, but in Bruce's eyes, Cobi still has a role to play, albeit a limited one.

 

No, you're not the only one, but the point is this: How far down the depth chart do you think Arena places these guys? Based on number of caps over the last year, you have to think that Bruce prefers to use Jovan over Ante. Not that Jovan is any better, but Ante has a reputation as a spoiled brat who whines of he doesn't get PT, and since Bruce seems to place a heavy emphasis on team chemistry, of course he's going to go with Kirovski over Razov, given a choice between the two.

So I guess the question is, on Bruce's ladder, how far down past McBride, Wolff, Casey and Mathis is Jovan placed? He might be as high as #5, but could be as low as #6 or 7. Then again, this tyoe of ranking might well be irrelevant given that Arena likes to play certain players based on who the opponent is....

 

As far as what the best combination is, I think there's no easy answer to that. Bruce gave the start to two big target forwards in McBride and Casey in the first leg against Grenada, thinking that we'd need that height advantage. Unfortunately, Brian got that knock to the head and Casey got that little injury and had to come out before the both of them could settle together, so we never got to see the outcome of that experiment.

Against smaller defenders like we might see against Panama and El Salvador in the semis, Arena might not feel the need to play two big target forwards like McBride & Casey, but might go with McBride and Wolff. Josh has had good showings against Central American teams in the past.

We might just see that McBride & Casey combination again against Jamaica. Bruce might be thinking that Wolff is too small and not strong enough against those big Jamaican defenders, but then he might just use Josh and instruct him to use his speed to manouver around those big defenders and perhaps draw fouls in around the box, not by diving but by simply using his speed against the not-so-subtle nature of Jamaican defenders. Should be interesting either way....

 

I disagree. Based on Earnie's form, or lack therof, I doubt very much that Bruce will give any PT to Earnie in WCQ. Not that Cobi would see a lot, but I do believe Bruce sees Cobi as being an asset in coming off the bench to provide "offense as defense" when we need to ice a match. Especially when the preferred forwards are spent, and count on that happening in Panama and El Salvador.

 

I think it's fair to say that Earnie was only brought in the Grenada match as a second half sub so that he could get his 100th cap. If we see him again later on in qualifying, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong.