US Best XI

For starters you have three RB's, Sanneh is seriously injured as is Reyna. So in defense, add Bocanegra at LB, Pope at CB along with Berhalter, and Dolo at RB. In MF, Pablo's fine as is JOB, instead of Reyna put on Martino or Convey. DMB or Eddie Lews is neck and neck at the left mid position.

 

i know as of late (besides demolishing Canada), Mathis has been a little shakey. But after watching his exploits on the MNT, i would have to put him in there. i don't know where -- but he'd be in there as one of the All XI.

 

For what reason??? I have lost absolutly all faith in him. He is basically a waste of talent

 

That might be a little extreme but he isn't ahead of McBride and/or Donovan right now at Forward. We know how ineffective Mathis and mcBride is up top. We know how ineffective Mathis is in MF, he is ok, but not great. So, Mathis to the bench, for now.

 

K Friedel
LB OBrien
CB Pope
CB Boca
RB Convey/Dolo
LM Lewis/Beaser
AM Donovan
DM Mastro/Armas (Rico Clark will be here soon)
RM Stewart
S Mathis/Buddle
S McBride

 

I think I would have to replace Mastreoni with Armas, and Hedjuk with Boca. That would round out my top 11.

 

okay, mathis just came back from surgery and looks like about the 10th best forward so far this season in mls. can someone explain how right now he is one of the best two forwards on the national team?

same with armas. before his injury pablo and he were neck and neck, but he has looked rusty from the start of the season after coming back...so explain to me how he is better than pablo and some of the other d-mids so far this season in mls?

 

What, 11 goals in <30 matches against international competition doesn't do it for you? Agreed he doesn't look top form in MLS yet this season, however, the Jason Kreis theorem states that MLS is not a clear cut measuring stick for international success. The guy can flat out score goals for the national team, if nothing else. If and when he stops scoring, the bench he will ride. Until then, how bout some credit?

Agreed, Mastro is ahead of Armas b/c he has more skill. Always has, always will. That said, I like Armas a lot. Such a tough competitor. (Ricardo C. looks awesome)

On my previous post, I forgot about Berhalter. I think he should be at least considered best 11 at this point also. Thoughts on the guy with the arm on his forehead?

 

i had a lot of confidence in him and still do but to put him on the top 11 right now is just not right, he does not belong on the current team's starting line-up given his current form with his club and national team...the dude just came off of an injury. in time he will be back, but not a starter now...sorry.

 

If I had to field a team right now for a major competition:

GK Friedel
RB Cherundolo
CB Bocanegra
CB Pope
LB Hedjuk (*)
RM Stewart (*)
CM O'Brien
CM Reyna (*)
LM Beasley
F Donovan
F McBride (*)

But this is very conservative lineup, taking few if any risks. Ill go further to say that its almost assuredly not our best lineup, rewarding known quantities to the exclusion of younger but unproven players. The best lineup going we could play would include at least 4-5 players i think who are still trying to develop a body of work with enough to put them on the list, and I've marked the players that I think are the most likely to be replaced in the next 2 years.

 

minutes, man, minutes. You've got to go by minutes, not games. That's the BenReilly thoerom. He'll be by sometime to do that for you.

 

at this precise moment:

..................friedel
............pope.......berhalter
cherundolo....................bocanegra
..................mastroeni
...donovan......................lewis
.....................JOB
.........wolff..............mcbride

key subs: DMB, stewart, armas, hejduk, klein, kirovski (im sure everyone will open the artillery at me for this one, but i wouldnt mind havin him on the field late in a match down 1 or level in case we get a FK near the area - of course lewis is good too)

this is probably a futile exercise, but assuming everyone is 100% when confederations cup rolls around

................friedel
..........pope.......berhalter
sanneh..........................lewis
.................armas
..donovan...................JOB
.................reyna
......mathis..............mcbride

key subs: DMB, wolff, mastroeni, cherundolo, stewart, hejduk

 

I'm going to do this thinking a little bit ahead. In otherwords, Sanneh and Reyna aren't going to be around much longer IMO for serious National competition. Having said that, both of those guys could play for maybe the tournaments this year, so whatever.


For the back you need Pope, Boco, Cherundolo. The fourth man is where I'm not so sure. Hejduk is ageing, I have no clue how old Berhalter is, and JOB can play back there.

Left Midfielder is no question Demarcus Beasily. Right Midfielder is a question mark though. I'm not high on Eddie Lewis, so can I put Pablo there? I'll place Armas in one Central Midfielder position and JOB in the other. I really think the US team should start playing through O'Brien, I'm really high on him.

Up front you have to look at McBride as the best true forward we have. I like Wolff a lot, and I'm not too fond of Mathis, but McBride is probably better than both. Donovan needs to be playing up front, not in the midfield.

I should also decide on a formation to run. I think McBride should play further up than Donovan.

Ack, I can't decide on anything. DMB should be a winger, but who can wing on the right? Someone help me out with that.

Better just finish this up;

D=Pope, Bocangera, Cherundolo, and Berhalter. I don't know where to place them, they can figure it out.
DM=Armas.
LM=DeMarcus Beasily
RM=Mastroeni...out of place.
CM=John O'Brien
Forward=McBride
Trial behind foward (somewhat like an Attacking Midfielder, whatever)=Landon Donovan.

Captian= Co-Captians Landon Donovan and John O'Brien. Though Eddie pope may make more sense, being older and all.


So hard to do this.

 

Switch Donovan and Reyna around and then...well I had something I was going to say but I forgot. Mastroeni in for Armas.

Eh this isn't making sense this morning. I'll let Bruce worry about it b/c I'm sure he'll us all something we don't think of.

 

It seems like there is another of htese threads made every week.

 

i could see that too but im not convinced LD should be in the so-called '#10 spot' - i like him swooping in from the wing a la rosicky or overmars

 

If I were Arena and I had to call make a roster right now, this is what I would put on first 11.

------Friedel---------
-Cherundolo-Pope-Bocanegra-Berhalter
---------Mastroeni-------
--Stewart--------Beasley------
--------JOB-----
---Donovan------McBride

It's a shame that I, a huge Mathis fan, can't put him in there. He's a sub for now. He does better on the nats than for his clubs most of the time it sems like but not as well with McBride as Donovan does. I hope to all the gods that never were that he regains even 80% of his old form, but until then he's on the bench.

I put Dolo on for Hejduk because Dolo can actually cross the ball. Hejduk is a lot faster, though.

I can see JOB being our A-mid in 2006 if Reyna isn't around, but I'd rather see him in right midfield than Reyna. I didn't know who else to put there except Olsen and I'd take JOB over Olsen anyday, especially since I had to put JOB in there somewhere. Can't bench him how he's playing.

Subs bench would be: Mathis, Howard, Buddle, Hejduk