yeah, i think we have all known this for a couple weeks. the game agaisnt sweeden was Wynn's chance to show he could do it. he wasn't all that bad (didn't impress me), but he didn't earn the spot. frankie should be starting. and i know the captain's band belongs to Boca, but it would be pretty sweet to give it to Frankie in his home stadium.
I am thinking Robbie Rogers will make the bench and may get some playing time. Not sure on Gaven. Had a steady camp but...
i really don't see robbie making the bench. i hope i'm wrong since its in columbus, but based on our depth at midfield, i don't see it happening. any chance of hesmer making the bench?
HAHA well we are use to her just posting things we have already talked about... Its her new things.....
Regarding Robbie, I think Beasley will start at LM. And both Torres and Adu can play LM and are both ahead of Robbie right now (though LM in not the best spot for either: Torres is a CM and Adu a 2nd striker or CAM). Thorrington is more versatile (RB, RM, CM) and has a shot to be the backup RM. Robbie is two footed and can play either side, which is a plus, but I'd be shocked if someone who is young, and has few caps, plays vs. Mexico at home. Shocked. There is zero chance Hesmer makes the bench. Only 2 GK will make it. Howard will start and Guzan is almost assuredly 2nd. If not, I'd go with Marcus Hahnemann of Reading. Gaven = no. Again, had a decent showing, but Thorrington looked like he was ahead in BB's opinion, and I'd go with Robbie ahead of Eddie as he can play either side, or someone like Rolfe (who can also play F). Bottom line, I think Frankie will be it for the Crew, maybe an outside shot at Rogers. My prediction: G: Howard D: Hejduk, Gooch, Boca, Pearce M: Dempsey, Bradley, Kljestan, Beasley F: Donovan, Ching Bench: Guzan, Califf, Clark, Torres, Altidore, Adu, Thorrington Out: Cherundolo (injury). Just missed (I wouldn't be shocked): Bornstein, Wynne, Edu, Davies. I'm surprised: Rogers, Busch, Hesmer, Perkins, Cooper, Rolfe.
Freddy can not play defense and has done nothing yet at the club level. I am thinking the hype on the kid is over and he will start being required to prove himself before he is givem the silver spoon again. He brings nothing to a LM role. The only role he is effective is as a A mid or tucked in foreward (like GBS-but Freddy does not pass anythign like GBS) so I would think that would be a wasted spot. Torres is a peppy party time player in the Mexican league. I would see rather see him play than Freddy as a enter mid but I think with Bradley, Sacha and Clark on roster there may not be room for him. Rogers is the obvious next left wing /mid (but can also play right effectively) after Beasley. Granted, he is new to international play at this level but I see Bradley mentoring him along because the kid has the talent, just needs the training and opportunity. I say Robbie makes the 20 and would not be surprised at all if he makes the bench. Frankie-I think he will start. His experience and leadership on a familiar field gives him the nod. And lets face it- he finished off the season with the Crew in superior form and was on a role.
I see no such thing. I see a picture of 2 Crew players who are in camp with the Nats right now. That's all. Man, I thought we'd gotten you over this "I heart Robbie" stuff...
If it also would have mentioned Frankie then I would have given it some credibility. Otherwise it is just them trying to hype up the game/sell the few remaining tickets that they held back.
per ussoccer.com here is the 20-person roster: U.S. Men’s National Team Roster vs. Mexico Feb. 11, 2008 – Columbus Crew Stadium – Columbus, Ohio Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Caps/G Hometown Club Altidore, Jozy F 6'1" 175 11/06/89 6/2 Boca Raton, Fla. Xerez C.D. (Spain) Beasley, DaMarcus M 5'8" 145 05/24/82 82/17 Ft. Wayne, Ind. Glasgow Rangers (Scotland) Bocanegra, Carlos D 6'0" 170 05/25/79 62/10 Alta Loma, Calif. Stade Rennais (France) Bornstein, Jonathan D 5'9" 145 11/07/84 14/1 Los Alamitos, Calif. Chivas USA (MLS) Bradley, Michael M 6'2" 175 07/31/87 25/3 Manhattan Beach, Calif. Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany) Califf, Danny D 6'1" 175 03/17/80 22/1 Orange, Calif. FC Midtjylland (Denmark) Ching, Brian F 6'1" 195 05/24/78 32/9 Haleiwa, Hawaii Houston Dynamo (MLS) Clark, Ricardo M 5'10" 150 05/10/83 16/1 Jonesboro, Ga. Houston Dynamo (MLS) Davies, Charlie F 5'10" 160 06/25/86 5/1 Manchester, N.H. Hammarby IF (Sweden) Dempsey, Clint M 6'1" 170 03/09/83 46/13 Nacogdoches, Texas Fulham FC (England) Donovan, Landon F 5'8" 150 03/04/82 105/37 Redlands, Calif. Bayern Munich (Germany) Guzan, Brad GK 6'4" 210 09/09/84 11/0 Homer Glen, Ill. Aston Villa (England) Hejduk, Frankie D 5'8" 155 08/05/74 81/6 Cardiff, Calif. Columbus Crew (MLS) Howard, Tim GK 6'3" 210 03/06/79 35/0 North Brunswick, N.J. Everton FC (England) Kljestan, Sacha M 6'1" 150 09/09/85 13/3 Huntington Beach, Calif. Chivas USA (MLS) Onyewu, Oguchi D 6'4" 210 05/13/82 38/5 Olney, Md. Standard de Liege (Belgium) Pearce, Heath D 5'10" 175 08/13/84 21/0 Modesto, Calif. Hansa Rostock (Germany) Rogers, Robbie M 5'10" 165 05/12/87 1/0 Huntington Beach, Calif. Columbus Crew (MLS) Torres, José Francisco M 5'7" 135 10/29/87 2/0 Longview, Texas Pachuca (Mexico) Wynne, Marvell D 5'9" 170 05/08/86 2/0 Poway, Calif. Toronto FC (MLS)
I would guess we will see a lineup like this for Wednesday Howard Hejduk-Bocanegra-Onyewu-Pearce Dempsey-Bradley-Clark-Beasley or Kljestan Ching-Donovan Though I think it should be Sasha, I think experience will be played first.