It is 3-1/2 weeks to the match in Foxboro. Who will Arena call up, in that this is supposed to be preparation for the 1st qualifiers? Since we did better with (nearly) only MLS players vs Mexico than before, will Arena continue with his most recent midfield strategy and have Reyna playing more or less in Zavagnin's position. Convey still at LB? Pope and Boca as CBs? Sanneh or Dolo at RB? What about Mastroeni and Gibbs? Would O'Brien be able to play finally? Will Lewis be called in? How about Mathis, McBride, Casey, Twellman, Noonan, Wolff, or Berhalter? I suppose there will be a "camp" in 2-1/2 weeks? USSF announcement in 1-1/2 weeks?
Mathis, Reyna and McBride will no longer be needed by there clubs after May 22-23 weekend I believe. O'Brien hasn't played due to injury for a while and probably isn't fully fit even if he could play. I bet Arena will use mostly MLSers again and give the Euro guys a deserved break from compitition, perhaps Casey will be called again. Then he will bring them in for camp before the Qualifier. But hey BA has surprised us all before.
Let us all bow our heads in prayer. Prayers that Tony Sanneh's international career has come to an end.
Here's what I'd like to see for the 18 man roster. Tune up for Grenada Starters: ----------------Howard-------------------- Cherundolo----Pope-----Boca--------Convey --------Reyna------------Mastro----------- ---------LD----------------DMB------------ --------Wolff--------------Casey----------- Subs: Berhalter, Hejduk, Gibbs, Mathis, Walker, Twellman, Armas
That's a nice starting 11 and would be happy to see you correct. Of the paleyrs you have listed I'd say the substitution pattern (barring injury) would be Mathis (Casey), Twellman (Wolff) and Armas (Reyna).
I've heard he has been looking really good in the practices. Jeff Bradley mentioned it in one of his columns a while ago.
I think we will see a more balenced squad about half MLS and half Euro. With the qualifier a week and a half later, getting some Euro players in so they don't get rusty and adjust to each other is key.
Hard to get more balanced than 5 European players and 6 MLS Players, which is exactly what I had as the starting 11: Euro: Howard, Boca, Reyna, Casey, Cherundolo MLS: LD, DMB, Mastro, Pope, Convey, Wolff
Is this because you think Dolo's so much better or that Sanneh is just worthless? All reports I've heard said that he was doing well for Nurnberg. I know he's getting on in years, but he hasn't caught Agoositis, has he?
Wolff is a true forward with speed. Our other speedsters are part forward, part midfield. He's a clutch player who knows where to be and where other's should be so that's how he is such a good passer. He just seems not to be working hard, but his brains are working all the time.
Assuming Howard is given a week to rest before showing up for the camp, this is fine. otherwise, he leaves for camp immediately after the FA cup on the 22nd? Let the man have a few drinks. An idea, keller will be available, but why not give Meola his 100th cap. He's playing well enough.
Convey Update: Roster for US-Honduras Convey may be doubtful. He left yesterday's game with what appeared to be a hamstring pull. I haven't seem an updated report today, yet.
Re: Convey Update: Roster for US-Honduras Copy that- I was watching DC, and I was hoping it wasn't too bad.....
Why? Has he reverted to his form during 2000/1, when my wife thought his first name was Dammit? As in "Dammit Sanneh!"
Assuming you want to rest Howard, you might even see Howard rested through the qualifiers as well. If that's the case, then Bruce will likely bring Keller and Walker to these qualifiers, and see if Kasey can put up a couple shutouts. Then, if Friedel and Howard are recovered, they can pick up the ball for the semifinal round, should we qualify. However, that June 2 friendly is useful for Keller (hasn't played since the Holland game) to get reacquainted, or for Walker, who I believe only has two caps.
The knock against Wolff in the Mex game was his apparent loss of speed - he was beaten handily to one long ball by a Mex central defender that I saw. But frankly, that's hardly a fair criticism, as it is based on one performance. I'd be interested in hearing how he has looked in his MLS games and practices ? He has been injured a lot the last two years.
yeah he has numbnuts. he's started the last four and every match for almost 2 years for metro and ManUre. he's still the #3. Bring in Brad.
This is one camp where my theory that the US has shifted: From a team that doesn't have enough quality players to fill up the roster spots To a team that has too many quality players for the roster spots available will be tested in force. Here is a group of already-capped players who could reasonably be called in for this camp who are healthy, playing for their club teams, have been capped recently by Bruce, and currently available: GK - Keller, Friedel, Howard, Walker D - Pope, Bocanegra, Gibbs, Hejduk, Cherundolo, Berhalter, Sanneh, Albright D/M - Convey, Mastroeni M - Reyna, Beasley, Armas, Zavagnin, Mulrooney, Lewis, Klein, Noonan, Ralston, Olsen* M/F - Mathis, Donovan F - McBride, Casey, Wolff, Kirovski, Twellman, Wolyniec * - I count Olsen although he hasn't played for the nats recently because he has been capped regularly by Arena in the past, has looked like he is very close to full health in recent weeks, and could likely get another look soon. By my count, that is thirty two players who could reasonably get called into this camp. IIRC, only eighteen of those players can be on a WCQ roster at one time. This list doesn't even account for guys who I think are on the cusp of a callup (Eddie Gaven and according to a recent Bell NYT article, Ricardo Clark) or guys whose status none of us are really sure about (John O'brien). How Bruce is going to narrow down this field will be interesting to see.
As much as people like to trash Sanneh, he is miles better than Cherundolo, and probably the best overall athlete on the team. I suggest taking a look back at his performace in WC 2002, particularly vs. Germany. Granted, he didn't actually score and we lost, but he kept us in the game for the last twenty minutes, becoming our sole OFFENSIVE threat in the end. Also, remember his cross to McBride vs. Portugal? The only thing that I can say about his admittedly sometimes questionable passing decisions out of the back is that he isn't a RB, and never has been. They just put him there on the National team. He was a forward/winger in college and the A-League, and he plays centrally in Germany. Outside back is one of the most exposed positions that there is, and every mistake looks huge... Who have we ever had that looked steady against teams like Mexico or Honduras? Jimmy Banks? At least Sanneh has the speed and size to recover when he does make a mistake. That said, I think that it would be nice to see guys like Mathis, McBride, Reyna, Lewis and Sanneh back here for the game, but I don't expect too many of them. The MLS guys looked good vs. Mexico, though we still don't have a playmaker here the caliber of Reyna or O'Brien.
I love Sanneh, but we can't keep referring people back to Korea/Japan. It was TWO years ago. People age, fall out of form, get hurt, get passed by other players. As it stands now he's an older player coming off a major injury who hasn't played much soccer for the last two years. No guarantee he'll ever be the Tony Sanneh you remember against Germany. Though it would be nice if he was.
Not yet, because minutes on the pitch is the real battle now between Reyna and LD at AM. I'm sorry, but I was in the Cotton Bowl to see LD, and he's more offensively threatening than Reyna ever has been, and he's a much more reliable starter than JOB. I'm sorry to say it because I love JOB and Reyna, but as a US fan with a high amount of pragmatism, they are not among the players that I feel we can and will consider irreplaceable. That is the point that many are making in here these days (Nutmeg above) is that if you're not healthy and playing well, you're not in the picture indefinitely like many in the past... Bruce can afford to have healthy, in-form players now...no matter who you are, your name will not get you selected anymore. Not even if you're say, goalkeeper of the year in the Premiership. Total Amt. = $ .02 Cash 1.00 Your change .98 No refunds of the .02 either