Pearce has been unable to become a starter in the lineup of a BL2 club Rostock, which is actually in the relegation zone at moment. How can we trust left back to him, and especially, how will he be effective in a World Cup versus much better competition than El Salvador, TnT, etc. Shouldn't we start playing and considering options like Spector or Demerit....or even taking Hedjuk or Cherundolo from the right and putting them left? Bornstein should also be re-considered. Its one thing not to start on a Prem club (Spector) + Spector has 60 or so starts in the Prem. Pearce has a much weaker resume, and it is troubling that he can't even start at BL2. This will get found out, and we are better off trying to integrate sooner than later
I agree. Pearce is a liability out there. Unfortunatley we don't have tons of reasonable options at that spot. I don't think Bornstein is real great but I do think he' better then Pearce.
Our options at leftback are: Bornstein, Bocanegra, Spector and Hejduk. Pearce is at the end of that list. Don't start on this "Boca shouldn't start their crap" You saw how shaky the defense was against Mexcio, the first real quality team we've faced after months of CONCACRAP. They just aren't the type of centerbacks that can work together. If they don't have an absolutely amazing game against EL Salvador (which means more than just scoring off a free kick) then the back line needs to be remade very quickly.
Saying Boca is shaky in central defense isn't a real good argument for saying he should start out wide. And its "start there" not "start their." And, no, Boca shouldn't start there. He's a CB. He doesn't have the speed, agility, or ball skills to be out on an island so much (his worst moments vs. Mexico were bad touches). Rennes play a 3 man backline, so he's not playing that spot for club. Now if we went to a 3 man backline (Spector/Marshall--Onyewu--Bocanegra) I'd be all for Boca playing the LB spot. And I disagree about how shaky the D was vs. Mexico. They really only had 3 quality chances all night, maybe 4. (early Dos Santos shot, the melee before the red, the shot Boca cleared, and the 2nd half shot that went wide). That's a pretty decent defensive showing. Do you expect the other team not to have a chance to score? And in case anyone hasn't noticed, Bornstein seems to make one huge mistake that leads to a goal nearly every game (Copa backpass, getting beaten goalside vs. Sweden), Pearce doesn't. I say keep going to with Pearce and Bornstein at this point. When Spector gets healthy, he may be an option (but I think he's better at RB or even in the middle), and we can always plug Frankie in if needed, you know what you are getting (like it or not) from him. The only other possibilities I see are: 1) Michael Harrington stepping up in class 2) Cory Gibbs regaining the form of 4 years ago. 3) Moving Beasley or Convey back. Personally, I think this would be interesting: ----------Howard---------- Dolo--Gooch---Boca--Beasley --Bradley---Kljestan/Torres-- Donovan---Adu----Rogers ----------Altidore---------- You could even plug another d-mid type (Mastroeni, Clark, Edu) since Freddy is in there. That's a lot of speed. BB will never do it, but I'd love to see it vs. a minnow, just for fun (El Salvador at home?).
How about Wynne?? He's never played LB as far as I know, but neither had Frankie until the Portugal game in the '02 WC.
Edu played center back in the olympics... he should be tested out at LB. Other than that, Spector and Wynne should be given looks....
I think Spector or Beasley would be the best option. Preferably Spector so Beas can stay at the midfield. Is Spector still hurt or is he just not playing because he's been hurt so much.
Yet Pearce was solid for the most part against Mexico. Bornstein should be re-considered? The same Bornstein that got owned against Sweden's C team? Pearce could start for Hansa, he has just fallen out of favor with the coach. Just like Beasley and Adu.
Seriously?! We need to start this thread over again? SuperCoop, I know you've been around this place long enough to know that a simple search would've turned up the exact same thread you just started. Agreed, Pearce's lack of club time play is a worry. However, each of your suggestions has liabilities of their own. 1. Spector can't stay healthy. When he does get there, I'd love to see him get a shot though I think he's a better RB. I won't get into that though. 2. Demerit?! Give me a break! He's got a great story. He's a serviceable CB at this level and not a lot more. 3. Bornstein has bigger defensive lapses than Pearce does and has shown it more than once. Bob obviously believes something similar as Bornstein was in the last two camps and didn't get vs Mexico. 4. Hejdude, maybe. His defensive hustle certainly would be an improvement, but he's not left footed and would be an offensive downgrade from that side. I wouldn't mind giving it a shot to see however. 5. I haven't ever seen Stevie C. on the left, but if it was going to be given any thought we would've seen it by now for sure. I actually thought that Pearce had a good game against Mexico. There was some rust of course, but his overlapping runs were spot on. He served dangerous crosses on multiple occasions. I need the time to re-watch the game, but I only counted two passes he really tanked. Of course that can't continue, but given his club situation I can understand (not condone mind you). My guess is Bob is waiting for Spector to get healthy. He'll likely get call ups for Qualies vs. the lower tier Hex teams. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in for El Salvador and then T&T. After that we'll see.
listen i personally don't like the guy, but he's the best option we got today..... in 2007 Johnny B was the left back and reall thought he owuld be our left back for next 5-6 years or so but that injury really got him down which sucks, but we can try beas, he looked good at left back the last 20 min or so against cuba! lol plus his bad first touch and shooting touch is good to keep him away from the attack and more clearances n stuff! plus he has speed! wouldn't mind seeing that and put someone more deserving on left mid like torres or rogers! beas is a waterboy for rangers, doesn't even get on the bench!
If we have a better option, he will play back there. Until that point, Heath is the man to do the job.
The same Bornstein that had to track back when Rogers missed his man upfield? Yes. I'm not saying that Bornstein is the answer either. But I like Bornstein as a sub behind Pearce, who also has his lapses and got BURNED against Mexico (Luckily Gooch can pick up the pieces), especially after minute 60. I really think Pearce starts and Bornstein is backup until Spector gets healthy. Then the dynamic may or may not change.
this might sound bad but i seen torres play alot in Pachuca and is a great defensive mid what if we try him in LB!!! ???
It's clear Bradley isn't thrilled with pearce either and he's taken a hard look at Bornstein again, but the fact of the matter is that we don't have a better option. Boca is not an option and neither is Wynne or another RB. Spector is the preferred option, but he needs to be healthy. I still maintain that nobody will step up and take the LB spot by early 2010 and as a result, Bradley will try Beasley at the position. Whether Beas is our LB in S. Africa I don't know, but I think he was be tried there, not because Bradley wants to move him from LM, but because we'll have better options at LM then LB at that point.
The only thing that's preventing Beasley from getting moved to LB is that noone has emerged to take the LM spot. Until that happens, Beasley will be playing LM.
I'm not opposed to that but Rogers needs to hone his skills, big time. I, frankly, wish that Adu could find some playing time and learn obtain some defensive bite so that he could play LM for us. He wouldn't be a traditional LM as he'd be pinched in towards the middle more often than not but it would give us another dynamic player on the pitch. He had some time there against Cuba last October and got an assist (to Gooch). Obviously the talent (and score) he was up against made it easy, but if he could learn some defense, he could be a solution there with DMB making overlapping runs.