NT Ready Forwards?

Most guys who play deserve a look but not everyone's game translates to the international level. And even if they do, they might not necessarily be best used in a particular system. I would hesitate to use a guy like Herculez Gomez in Jurgen's system unless he's the right mid/forward right wing depending on whether we have the ball.

 

cough cough cough ... I mean why think about Gomez? ... he is only the most consistent scorer we have ... (extreme sarcasm implied here).

let's see - what is the criteria both Klinsmann and Bradley implied or publicly stated?

1. Regular playing time
2. Match fit
3. Performing well ..

For a striker performing well has to be one of two things - scoring or assisting regularly ....

I just think it is nuts that Gomez is not being called in regularly by JK.

And Gomez is scoring in the FMF which has to be equivalent or superior to scoring in MLS.

I am not a Gomez apologist ... just trying to point out logic gaps that seem to be apparent.

 

it would be speculation on my part ... I only claim that FMF is equal or superior to MLS based on head to head competition results.

We need all these strikers to play and score or assist with convincing regularity. This year only Gomez and Wondo are doing so.

But I think Altidore, Gomez, Agudelo, Wondo and host of others should get a solid look from Klinsman and a chance to show that they can score (or not). If we were already scoring goals then it would be a no brainer but we are not (2 for 5) and therefore JK should be taking a good look at a bunch of strikers.

 

One thing I do know, from what Klinsy has said, is that any MLS player who wants to play for the NT cannot take off more then 3 weeks.

So, we'll find out pretty soon who's going over to Europe to train with clubs, leading up to camp cupcake. Any MLS forward who is not training with a club, will most likely not be considered. Klinsy has said that more then once.

His plan is for MLS guys to train with a Euro club until mid Dec, so they are in top form for camp cupcake. If they're not, he'll send them on their way.

Doesn't apply to the Euro guys obviously, or to Gomez.

But if Wondo wants a shot, he needs to line something up with a Euro club within 3 weeks. His season is over, and that's the max allowed break according to Klinsy.

Guys like Agudelo and Bunbury, when they're knocked out of the playoffs, will need to find a club abroad to train with. Klinsy has said he'd help with all this. Bringing this up, because if a guy you want called up sits on his ass for the next 2 months, don't waste the time by bringing his name up. He's not meeting the prerequisites.

One guy I hope finds a club to train with, and follows that by getting called into camp, is Sapong.

 

Of course, he also said only players who are regular starters with their clubs would be picked...yet Michael Orozco, Juan Agudelo, and Danny Williams have been called up and started on multiple occasions.

 

I thought he said regular time, not starting. Either way, practicing daily and being used as a sub is much different then sitting on your ass and training alone for 3 months.

 

So what about guys like Todd Dunivant (thin to nonexistant), Danny Califf (thin mid-aged) and Brad Davis (weak)? And if we're talking about forwards only, Wondo?

 

I do have to admit. USA hasn't looked all that great. Many numerous flaws. Every team has it but the victors damage control better. Its tough to win any soccer game with low shot attempts. Under 3 shots a half isn't record pace for runs at records. Which brings the viewership and fanbase back to mimics. When is the last time USA ran off 30 shot attempts? Brazil and Spain did that back in the Confederations Cup. USA has yet to establish a foothold on its new placement. Some goals are left unanswered by the other opponent. Primarily this can drag down a team. That is okay. Just gotta get back on ye toes and answer some of these unanswerables. We started to see signs from Mr. Dempsey getting a goal after a sure shot at the top of the box. Virtually the samething but the positions was off and final placement was in that vicinity. That is called Mimics in my book of snooks. Which brings us to Wondo! He looks great at times and hustles for the play both receives and generates effectively. However he is deadpanned for the Nats, his first initial sweats is great... I mean... Top Notch... Once he cools down, he becomes an average player at best and often times disappears. It happens but the standouts reappear more quickly and effectively than others. This is for many players but his name was recently mention. I know. Everyone states... these runs aren't important but it is very important. The overall record was tarnished by some very below average play. I don't mind losses but like to keep my head held high and I felt. The other Confederationalist did that much better. I know France is to be tough and Slov's might be hungry. Lets end this year on a higher note and Take some Big O swings with some Auto 4 win minni Groups...

 

I myself don't see either Bunbury or Agudelo as being ready as of yet. Let them keep with the u-23, u-20 team throughout next year. I'm sure when qualifying kicks up in 2013 they'll be closer to the NT level. The problem with that though is we're extremely lacking in Strikers after Jozy. Buddle is decent to a degree but will only play a minor role at best in qualifying. Same with Gomez, though at least with Gomez, you know he will attack and will be close to scoring. But I think Jozy, Gomez and Buddle will be enough for another year. And if we need more help, we can always play Clint up top.

 

Landon
Clint
/end of list

 

Jozy has to be on the list if he's the starting forward (& scoring) on the club in 1st place in the Eredevisie. Finding the right partnership/formation between those three should be the goal. Personally I'd like Jozy and Landon up top...........with Dempsey & Shea on the wings.

After that..........all other forwards are some version of a question mark.

 

We only have two.

Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan.

 

Yep, Jozy isn't doing sh*t for us.

 

Terrence Boyd got his first call up to Bor. Dortmund over the weekend! Though he didn't see any playing time; to get called up to the first team is awesome news for a 20 yr old striker! It's also good news to the NT if he continues to progress and stays with the US.

 

Boyd will soon be on the national team. We should start Adu but Adu needs to start being consistent for the Union first.

 

I'm not sure about adu anymore! Your right he reallyyy needs to start being consistent for both club and country! He had a great showing in the GC, but other than that 1 and 1/3 games in the GC he hasn't done much. Of what I have seen of him in Philly he has been very unimpressive, both farfan brothers, torres and mwanga look better and more like the freddy adu we used to know! Saying that adu still has loadddds of potential and is still young, if he could ever fullfill that potential he would be awesome!

 

Intersesting article from Yanks Abroad:

"AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek announced today that Jozy Altidore will not start tomorrow's Europa League against Austria Vienna

The Dutchman criticized Altidore's recent efforts on and off the field in comments to the local press. Verbeek, who is known as a strict disciplinarian, had previously expressed his displeasure with the forward's lack of fitness.

Despite issues with match fitness, Altidore has produced seven goals across all competitions this season for AZ.

This incident is not the first time Altidore has run into trouble with a manager. He was left out of the squad by Phil Brown after arriving late for a match with Hull City in October 2009."

http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=blog&entry=226

 

I agree. The US has 2 consistent goal scorers. Landon and Clint. Everyone else is either living on table scraps or blows their auditions. Not to sound alarmist, but they will be 32 and 31 respectively come Brazil, so this is probably their last WC cycle. If no one else steps up, our anemic scoring will get even more anemic in a few years.

I admit that I've never been sold on Jozy. One good game does not a good striker make. Consistency is what does it, and that's something Jozy doesn't have. Clint is also incredibly inconsistent, but he's consistent enough to get the job done. Jozy has a powerful frame and isn't afraid to use it to push the defenders around. This is great, but it somehow doesn't translate into increased goal-scoring opportunities. This is very frustrating and makes me wonder what's holding him back.

He is a NT starter for one simple reason: No one else seems to want the striker job. (Besides CD. But he's forced to always play mid for some reason) If anyone else shows consistency at the national level I'd gladly dump Jozy for them.

Agudelo isn't ready yet but I love that he's only 18 and is already getting NT time. If he pans out he has 10+ years in him. That translates into 3 WC cycles.

I think Wondo deserves another look. He had one bad miss in the GC and was promptly dumped from everyone's radar. But he scored the most goals for an American in MLS this year and that deserves another chance. But first he needs to find a new club.

Gomez should get another look. Agudelo hasn't done squat under JK and Gomez has already scored more goals in half the FMF season then Agudelo did all season long in MLS.

I don't know anything about Boyd or Bunbury or any other youth prospect so I can't say. But I expect I'll see them in the Olympics and I'll get a better feel for them then.

 

that article was 9 days ago.

 

Jozy's hot streak at AZ has slowed, which is sort of the story of his life. He gets nullified by defenses somewhat easily. The difference between now and earlier in his career is that defenders are treating him like a serious threat and marking him out of games. When the best thing you can say about your striker is that he draws fouls...well, that should tell you something.

 

You mention Dempsey's inconsistency but what about Donovan? He's been hit or miss since the WC for the US.