Sandon, how can you be disappointed at this point? We all know Bruce is like the hot girl who has some real quirks, but gets away with it because....well, she's hot. And, gosh...he doesn't play for DC United. Otherwise, he woulda got capped after his 2nd good game in a row. Regarding Barrett, fully understandable. That funky sideburn thing (which has been going on for years, different combinations) finally got to Bruce, and he just couldn't take it anymore...
The worst roster I've seen during Bruce's tenure, I mean come on Heaps? How guys like Gaven, Herc, heck even Namoff didn't get calls over Heaps is just ridiculous. This is gotta be US-GUAT part 2. No true center mid to run the show, unless Bruce has the balls to try Quaranta there if not we'll see Dempsey running like a chicken with his head cut off and the entire offense disjointed.
I'm disappointed is seeing Heaps and not Parkhurst. Parkhurst is a rising star and I wish Arena had at least invited him to camp to see for himself.
Wow... Umm, this is a tough one to figure... GK: Howard, or he would have gone home. D: Spector, same reason. Pope probably just to have someone with experience. Califf since he's been in camp. Great reasons to be playing people, eh? Fourth back, I guess would have to be Albright. I wouldn't be totally surprised to see Ralston moved into the right back spot later in the game. M: Ralston. I mean really, is there any other mid on the roster that can even get a good cross off in MLS?? I'm thinking Clark for the 'been in camp' reason. Mapp on the left? Kind of a cruel thing to do to Spector, but the only other guy on the roster that could play wide left looks to be Ralston. So one more. Dempsey or Martino? Lord help us, Dempsey would be the choice for an experienced stabilizing influence. Putting Martino out there with an uncapped DMid behind him, an uncapped LM beside him, and two target forwards is like tying weights on and dropping him in the deep end of the pool. F: Probably Twellman/Ching. Just too little experience everywhere else. Starting someone for their first cap isn't something Bruce seems to like to do, and I agree with that. But I don't see how someone in the midfield isn't going to have to. Adding that to the mix, it's probably a box with Clark/Dempsey in back, Ralston wide and Martino. Spector as LB going forward. Dempsey as a holding mid, over Mapp as a left mid, to help out Clark, and because he provides more options in the reshuffle when the subs come in. Also that would make it easier to start Marshall instead of Pope. Subs: Mapp for any of the mids, shifting formation as necessary. Q for Ching or Twellman. I guess Heaps for Albright. Maybe Mapp for Albright and Ralston plays RM. Mapp for Albright and shift to 3-5-2 would be REALLY scary, but we'd get a pretty definitive answer on the 'Mapp plays defense like....' question. If he can, and can stay wide, a midfield of Clark/Dempsey/Martino central, Ralston WR and Mapp WL at least sounds intriguing.
WTF is Bruce thinking only bringing in three forwards. Awful selection. He could of at the very least added Cunningham or Wolff to this line up. Why the hell does he callup D. Califf or D. Hernandez. It's ********ing ridiculous. Thanks for the loss to a second class team Bruce.
Ok, to all who think this is the worst roster ever, please tell us which 18 players you would call in, and why, and what lineups you would play.
Holy heaps batman, BA is out of mind.... how bout before embarrassing the crest on the front of his shirt by handing caps to carroll and heaps who i'm sorry but have no business putting a national team shirt on we give some unknown commodities a chance.. guys like frankie simek, or phillipakos (sp), jay dermitt.. kenny cooper.. hell even try and call up rossi.. just to see what happens. anyone that watches mls semi regularly knows that heaps and carroll will NOT be on the roster for the world cup ... 100% can not argue it, even if you are a fan of them not 1 person can honestly say that they will be on the roster.. so you will argue it's a shot for them for the future. well, here's an idea. why not look at players that you don't get to see in person..ever... who are playing against better competition in better leagues, that actually have a break during international weeks, so it's not like they are missing pivotal games. i'd like to see a guy like cooper, who is consistantly scoring for united reserves and training alongside RVN and rooney, than twellman and ching, or simek and dermitt get a shot to man the backline, instead of jay hackin heaps.. my main point is... bruce used to give guys chances, now he gives the illusion of chances. he has given many new guys caps and brought a ton of people into camp, but they are all B level guys, not all... mostly. why not give true shots to guys you don't get to see every week.. because if carroll or heaps are on the WC roster, i won't even turn a match on.
As long as he's setting his roster to minimize travel, why not roster Chris Rolfe who will be playing New England over the weekend and send Ching back home.
Oh, I have a feeling that we will be seeing Hercules Gomez in Germany. He may continue his form well into '06 and if Eddie Johnson's stress fracture and turf toe doesn't get any better the Bruce may not have a choice!
Wow. Just wow. If last game was uninspired sloppiness, this game will be one to remember. I just hope Spector plays well. Whatever happened to Cunningham? I just don't see the point of having Ching/Twellman up top, especially when they midfield is no go and they'll probably not get quality service. I want someone up top that can run with the ball, anyone!
Not going too much out on a limb there, soccerbom, considering there were 12 players in that proposed lineup.
This can't possibly be true. I think it's a near mortal lock that KK, THo and Marcus are the 3 keepers going to Germany, leaving 3 spots for your remaining 4 players. I would bet my left nut that any combination of 3 consisting of Albright, Spector, Ching and Quaranta will not be on that roster. Not one of them at this point has showed he belongs, although at least with Q and Spector they are still young and (presumably) improving. Only a rash of injuries (I hope I did not jinx us) would make me change my mind. Of course, it's not my mind that matters.
Then how do you explain the Clyde Simms call up? He had even less MLS experience than Hercules Gomez when he got his first call up.
---------------Howard------------------ Albright-----Pope----Marshall----Spector ------------------Clark----------------- -Ralston-------------------------Mapp-- ----------------Quaranta--------------- --------Dempsey----------------------- ----------------------Twellman--------- Why no Noonan? The only reason Twellman makes sense is if Noonan's playing, or Shalrie Joseph. They have a connection. Nevertheless, this is it for Twellman. Ching is a lock in my eyes, so if Twellman can't score with 2/3 of his Rev buddies around, forget it. I want to see Q at the AM, as I believe this will ultimately be his best position. He can play quickly, he can hold, and he doesn't get rattled with 2 or 3 defenders around him. The big news is Ricardo Clark will have his opportunity. I sincerely hope he knocks the Bruce's socks off to the point that Armas and Zavagnin are distant memories. Also, Brian Carroll isn't a bad pick b/c he will be the best player of this group come 2010 Hey, guess what, Spector will be playing 90! Isn't this what everyone wanted? He needs to dominate his side of the field. Long shot, but I'd like to see Ralston at RB and Martino at RM. Defensively susceptible? Most likely, but I'd like to find out if Ralston could cut it there defensively, and if Martino can be an upgrade at the RM.
Oh man, your left nut! Good luck. At this point if anyone could nail down the 23 to a man, they should get an extra nut. I think that it's next to impossible to predict the final roster; so much can happen between now and then. And it's easy to dismiss some of the players, as they all have some shortcomings. But let's look at each one. Albright is a big lug with questionable technique, but a lug with size and decent speed. If Dolo is injured again and Frankie as well, Chris is your standby. Spector is a different story. The question is not if his time will ever come, but when. First team action with Charlton, and then some first team play with Man U (I guess he'll go back after Christmas) might put him clearly in Bruce's radar ahead of schedule. And his versatility (CB, LB) increases his chances. Ching is still not game sharp after his long recuperation from injury. At times he has teased us with some solid work, so if he can regain his former status, he's still in the mix, and especially so if injuries hobble some of the other forwards. Quaranta is still a work in progress, and after all these years of being set back by injuries, he's finally starting to show some life. He's still inconsistent, especially at the int'l level, but at his young age another six months in his development could potentially put him over the top. And given the paucity of reliable RMs, he stands a better chance of making it than someone competing for a position where we have better depth. It may turn out that none of them will make the roster, or maybe two, or maybe all four will. Because $hit happens, I just can't predict right now.
How does MLS expect to increase their attendance figures by continuing to host these silly exhibition games midweek?
so we played 3 in the back against CR away, now we will play 4 in the back at home against Panama ?............yeah
---------------------Reis--------------------------- --Heaps-------Califf--------Marshall--------Spector ---------------------Clark-------------------------- Quaranta-----------Dempsey--------------Mapp----- -------------Ching-----------Twellman-------------- Throw Reis and Heaps a bone...they've played well in MLS and deserve some recognition from Sir Bruce! Marshall has to get some time for suffering through a season in the hole that is Columbus! Califf and Rico are playing great right now, got a chance to see them shut the Revs down last week We have to see Spector play a full 90, we've heard enough talk, let's see him play....Q is clearly better than Ralston right now and Mapp deserves some time as well.....Dempsey is not a #10 but I can't stand to watch Martino play another minute!!! Ching deserves a chance to make up for the stinker he put up in CR....and Twellman speaks for himself...I'm SURE he'll have AT LEAST one goal that counts on Wednesday JMO, we'll see!
I think everybody needs to chill a little here. Bruce has done a BIG BIG favor here to the MLS coaches. A lot of the teams still have something to play for, especially NY and KC. Notice that there isn't a single player on either of those teams on the roster. Notice please that Dallas, Col, and LA are still fighting with each other for playoff position. Home-field is worth fighting for. Only one player from those 3 teams, Chris Albright. If I was an LA fan, I DON'T want to lose Herculez for this meaningless Panama game. Same goes for Cunningham. So please everybody chill, this roster is a result of Bruce doing the MLS coaches a favor by not calling in their players. Plus there are 3 players that everybody on BS has been throbbing for: Mapp, Clark, and Spector.
Right on! I was going to eventally point this out...thanks for hitting the nail on the head. Arena has only called a single player from an MLS team with something to play for, and that's Albright...and I think we can all agree that his callup is a direct audition for the backup to Cherundolo at right back. I, as well, have been doing some major-league throbbing for Mapp, Clark and Spector. Hope to see all three of them playing Wednesday.