I think I remember seeing this thread before but I could not find it so here it is again. For these two squads (Gold Cup, Copa America) I used a rule that you can't call in more than two players from the same team for each tournament. The uner - 20's were left out including Bradley who should skip the U-20's and play for the full Nats. I don't believe Convey will be healthy, so he is out. Gold Cup ( A - squad ) Goalkeepers - Hanemann, Keller, Howard Right Back - Spector, Cherundolo Central Back - Onyewu, Conrad, Bocanegra, Demeritt Left Back - Bornestein, Pearce Center/Defensive Mid - Mastroeni, Clark, Fielhabber Left Mid - Beasley, Mapp Right Mid - Dempsey, Wolff Forward - Ching, Johnson, Rolfe, Donovan, Twellman Copa America ( B - squad ) Goalkeepers - Cannon, Guzan, Reis Right Back - Wynne, Simek Central Back - Boswell, Parkhurst, Califf, Jeff Parke Left Back - Burciaga, Dasan Robinson Center/Defensive Mid - Beckerman, Grabavoy, Maurice Edu Left Mid - Brad Davis, Herculez Gomez Right Mid - Victorine, Klejstan Forward - Chad Barrett, Charlie Davis, Cooper, Cunningham, Robbie Findley I know players such as Victorine, Cunningham, and Wolff have no chance of making the World Cup 2010 or even helping us qualify for the World Cup, but I believe they can help out the young players such as Kljestan, Gravaboy, Charlie Davis, Edu who have a chance of making the World Cup. Other players that I left out because their inclusion would have violated the two player rule include Matt Perkins and Michael Harrington. As far as formations go, I believe the major hole is right midfield, where the best approach would be a role like the one Klejstan and Victorine have on their teams. These teams would look better with the inclusion of the U - 20's (Altidore, Adu, Bradley, McCarty, Sturgis). Some questionable player notes: Victorine - playing at a high level right now. Size will help on corners. Other options iclude Brian Mullan. Robbie Findley - gets up really high on headers, lightning fast, could be used similar to Red Bulls' Dane Richards. Herculez Gomez - will need his long range shot if offense sputters, doing ok playing the left for Colorado Jeff Parke - Red Bulls have been playing good defense. I am not sure who is better, Parke or Mendes.
Now with Bradley at the helm (unofficially), we already know his stable of players. I'd have to disagree with casadomecq about some of the players listed. Consider Keller is going to be playing in MLS. So, he is likely to be the GK at Copa America. So, it looks like sample starting XIs would be: Keller/Simek or Spector/Conrad (skips GC after jaw fracture)/Parkhurst or Demerit/Bornstein/Clark/Bradley/Mapp/Lewis/ Cooper or Johnson/Twellman or Rolfe for the Copa America. For the Gold Cup: Howard/Dolo/Boca/Onyewu/Pearce/ Feilhaber/Mastroeni/Dempsey/Beasley/ Donovan/Ching Go kill 'em, Bob!
Why haven't we ever tried a 4-1-2-1-2? Gold Cup: ---------Timmy------- Cherundolo-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Spector -------------Pablo------------ Clint-----------------------Beasley ------------Donovan--------- -------Ching---------Johnson Copa America: --------Keller-------- Simek-Conrad-DeMerit-Pearce ------Feilhaber-Clark------- Bradley---------------Mapp ------Twellman-Cooper------
We frequently played the diamond under Arena. I'm damned happy that Bradley has shown no inclination to continue doing so.
At WC2006, you're mostly right. A lot of the rest of his tenure we played the diamond, though. The 4-5-1 or whatever you choose to call it wasn't really to blame for too much, though.
Onyewu should be listed for both tournaments and Beasley will probably feature in both tournaments as well.
Assuming they are looking for jobs. Beasley, I think, will get signed by Citeh and they probably won't be really happy with him playing two tournaments this summer. Onyewu may be in a position to play both, but I doubt he will.
sorry I don't have links but Gooch has been quoted as saying he plans on playing in both tournaments and Beasley has been quoted as saying he plans on playing in the Gold Cup and would like to play in at least 2 games at the Copa. Of course if either player has been signed by a club other than the one currently holding their contract I imagine that would change.
You can't be serious with that squad. It's like a C or D squad. I would be surprised if that team left Venezuela with a point.
if gooch does play in BOTH tourneys, then gold cup gives him time to find form, and then copa america a chance to excel, and impress club teams still, i'd rather limit tourney's and give more guys a chance to show themselves
I agree this squad is nothing to get excited over, but that is what we have. The team would look a lot better if some players participated in the two tournaments. I wouldn't like mls players taking part in the two tournaments, and the only European players that have cemented their status on their team allowing them to take part in both are Cherundolo, Hanemman, and maybe Bocanegra and Pearce. Everyone else is going to have to attend and excel in preseason training if they want legitimate playing time. I also want to see how some of our young MLS players perform. I especially would like to see the midfield of Beckerman, Kljestan, and Grabavoy; the central pair of Boswell and Parkhurst, and Dasan Robinson on the flanks( he has been getting into the Fire's attack frequently in their three man line. )
euros have a longer season, in general, than do mls guys.... for them to do TWO events gives them precious little off time.... my preference for euros is the top ones do gold cup, and the 2nd line ones, meaning those who are NOT the A list, do copa america....with the caveat bradley can get their clubs to agree....
Can't wait to see a midfield of Beckerman, Grabavoy, Davis and Victorine line up against Argentina -- Messi, and company won't stand a chance. Though, on a serious note, Tevez will find it difficult to penetrate our backline of : Robinson----Califfe----Park-----Wynne
My rosters based on the current situation (I assume that no Under 20s will particpate in either tournament): Gold Cup: Ching Donovan Cooper Cunningham (one last shot to see if his game has matured) Beasley Dempsey Martino Mullan Feilhaber Clark Beckerman Victorine Spector Cherundolo Pearce Bornstein Onyewu Bocanegra Califf Parkhurst Howard Guzan Copa America: Johnson Twellman Rolfe H. Gomez Mapp Gaven Brad Davis Klejstan Grabavoy Mastroeni Simek (unless he transfers, he is well established enough to play in the CA) Albright Dunivant Conrad Demerit (same as Simek - no transfer means he can go to the CA) Boswell Robinson Keller Reis Other contenders: Hejduk, Gros, Namoff, Freeman, Burciaga, Klein, Hill, Edu
Martin, I think your list is the best so far though I think Johnson will be at the Gold Cup and Cunningham more likely at the Copa, if he gets a call at all. Little else to argue with.
Clint Dempsey had this to say on his website. "I've got Gold Cup and possibly Copa America which i'll participate in this summer." I'd take it to mean that he wishes to participate in both tournaments.
martin what's gonna happen to josh wolff??? gomez or cunningham will lose out, unless you have another name to drop?
I wouldn't put Wolff in consideration, too old, too injury-prone and a known quality that we don't really need to reevaluate. don't really see the percentage in trotting him out there at this time. I guess I should have included him in the possible pool, as he might be useful to help the squad compete better at the Copa America, sort of like Hejduk. It now appears to me that it will make sense for any European-based player who plays in the Copa America (Demerit and Simek, maybe Bocanegra, Onyewu and Beasley) to also be on the roster for the Gold Cup. If those guys' club situations allow them to play in the Copa America, I would move Parkhurst, Bornstein (reluctantly as I think he is our best left back) and maybe Martio to the CA roster and drop Brad Davis, Boswell and Robinson.
if spector does GC, then i do expect bornstein to do CA... bornstein is another of the demerit/simek/cooper guys who i'd like see play in venezuela because of the caliber of play there... on the whole, martin has a very reasonable group for each tourney
I don't know how many listened/watched the press conference today, but Bradley said there will be a handful of players who will be on both rosters, Gold Cup and Copa America, and said handful will be both European-based players and MLS-based players. So who starts the thread on speculating who those players will be? And how many is a handful?
Just wondering You know how Bradley say he wants to take our A team to Gold cup because he wants us to qualify for the federation cup. I was just wondering if we would win the Copa America wouldn't we qualify to the federations cup too?