Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) According to FIFA regulations, the roster for the first Grenada match needs to be finalized 7 days in advance of the match, so presumably it will come out on Sunday, as Arena would be wise to let the weekend's MLS games to play out in case injuries occur in them. Regulations state the roster needs to be 18 deep. Apparently, we know that Keller and Meola are the keepers. Any ideas on the remaining 16?
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Here's my guess at what it will be: 1. Donovan 2. McBride 3. Beasley 4. Convey 5. Bocanegra 6. Pope 7. Reyna 8. Armas 9. Mathis 10. Cherundolo 11. Vanney 12. Lewis 13. Gibbs 14. Stewart 15. Mastroeni 16. Wolff
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) I think Connor Casey will get the nod over Wolff, even though I highly disagree with it. Sanneh may get the nod over Gibbs as well. I hope Stewie isn't called in, but I bet da' Bruce wants to give him his 100th cap.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) GK - Keller*, Meola Def - Cherundolo*, Bocanegra*, Sanneh, Pope*, Vanney, Convey* Mid - Donovan*, Reyna*, Armas*, Beasley*, Lewis, Mastro For - McBride*, Casey*, Wolff, Mathis That's what I would name. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Stewart there instead of Wolff. My starters have the asterisks.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) I believe US Soccer's Match Report says the "roster will be released tomorrow". The Match Report was posted at 3:40 AM so I'm not sure if they mean today or tomorrow (6/4). Either way it'll be soon, not Sunday.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Mathis might get held out b/c of the injury that kept him from playing last night. I suppose we'll have to see how bad a knock it was. I expect Casey will be named instead, particularly since he played pretty well last night. I would not be surprised to see Hejduk on there instead of Stewart as well. He's quite the favorite of Arena and can provide cover in a few spots.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Here's my list. Goalies are taken as a given, relevant injuries are Berhalter and Twellman. I'm not counting Mathis as hurt. My bigger problem at the moment is that I want to start 14 guys. The name of the game, as far as I'm concerned, is trying to throw goals up against Grenada. They're not going to score many on us if they do score, so if we throw up three or four, we can get them demoralized and end this thing early. Forwards: McBride - too effective last night to be left off of the squad. Casey - cover for McBride, or even as a starting tandem. He's ready. Wolff - Provides a very different option up top that we can't get from anyone else. Particularly with Twellman injured, we need him for these two games, probably as a starter. Offensive Mids: Donovan - Can't take him out of his role with the team doing so well. Mathis - If healthy, steals a roster spot, probably from a d-mid (Zavagnin), as Mastro can double as a center back and d-mid. Beasley - Less good last night than previous two games, but he's got to be there on effectiveness vs. Mexico and Poland, too. Lewis - Right now, may not make my 18 if I wanted to play a defensive philosophy. But Eddie creates danger, like he did a little last night. Defensive Mids: Reyna - Only O'Brien can stabilize our possession like Claudio. More able to break down a possible bunker than most. Armas - The "thinking like me, not like Bruce" part of me gives Zavagnin a shot. Mastroeni - He's played so well as a CB, I almost want to start him there. But he backs up these two. Convey - Listed here for no particular reason. Probably my left back starter instead. Defense: Pope - Eddie will be solid in these games. Bocanegra - Both as a CB and LB option, invaluable. Cherundolo - If he gets space like he did last night, and he probably will if Donovan pinches centrally, as is his style, Steve could have another couple great games. Playing with a ton of confidence. Hejduk - Very confident in Hejduk as a backup on both sides. Well-suited to our current style of play, coming off a great Mexico game. Sanneh - Kind of a wild card, good general late-game sub if we're well up. Toughest cuts: Vanney - He may be more solid defensively than any LB option except Boca, who'll probably play centrally. I don't think we'll need that, though. I think we need Convey. His lack of versatility kills him, because if he's not starting, there's no reason to bring him. Gibbs - I think he's still recovering from injury and out of form. Loses his spot to the more experienced, somewhat healthier Sanneh. See you in the semifinal round. Stewart - If we need more goals and bring in second half subs to get it, would you rather see Mathis or Stewart? Lewis or Stewart? Guys I left off, like Kirovski and Noonan or Stewart? Kirovski - Playing very well, but also loses his spot in favor of Casey/Mathis, whom I just think are more dangerous. Noonan - see Kirovski. Zavagnin - Mastroeni is a more experienced and versatile option. A more defensive philosophy, and I'd have Kerry in there. Gaven - wrong time for a first cap, but damn. Califf - too deep on the chart. Albright - Will have to displace Stevie and Frankie some other time. Frankie's experience is a huge factor, and I still think Steve is just better.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Bruce has named 22 for camp: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=67588 Goalkeepers (2): Kasey Keller (Tottenham Hotspur), Tony Meola (Kansas City Wizards) Defenders (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Cory Gibbs (Dallas Burn), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Pope (MetroStars), Tony Sanneh (FC Nürnberg), Greg Vanney (FC Bastia) Midfielders (7): Chris Armas (Chicago Fire), DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Lewis (Preston North End), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City), Earnie Stewart (D.C. United), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards) Forwards (4): Conor Casey (FSV Mainz), Jovan Kirovski (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian McBride (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Starting in goal is three-time World Cup veteran Kasey Keller, the USA’s all-time leader in shutouts who has posted 33 clean sheets in 68 international appearances. Keller is also tied for the record for most wins (37) with Tony Meola, the Kansas City Wizards goalkeeper who joins the U.S. roster for the first time since the 2002 World Cup. Gee, no hope for Tony to start in Columbus it seems.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) since walker won't play, let him get time with his club team. that'll do him more good than sitting on a bench.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Why Meola over Howard? I guess Mathis is really hurt. Otherwise, I think this really is the best roster Bruce could have picked.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Why not? KK will be the only one playing, unless he gets injured. Meola has done Qualifiers before, has great experience and attitude.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Howard is getting a well deserved rest after a long EPL season plus the 1st part of last MLS season.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) I agree with you, but I figure that WalkerHartmanCannonBuschRing could have played last night, backed up by WalkerHartmanCannonBuschRing.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Even though i'm not a Tony fan, i'd rather have him as the back-up as compared to any other MLSer, and should he be forced to earn his 100th cap due to a KK injury, i'd be happy having a goalie with WC experience out there vs Greneda.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Tony will be fine. I'd be happy to see him between the pipes.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Plus he'll be busy making babies. He is going on his postponed honeymoon.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Will Meola be allowed to participate in the MLS match the night before?
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) Here is where Arena's experimenting and introducing many new players immediately after WC 02 pays off. Look at the experience of players young and old entering the first round of qualifying: Player (caps) Armas, Chris 55 Beasley, DaMarcus 33 Bocanegra, Carlos 24 Casey, Conor 3 Cherundolo, Steve 18 Convey, Bobby 24 Donovan, Landon 49 Gibbs, Cory 10 Hejduk, Frankie 56 Keller, Kasey 68 Kirovski, Jovan 61 Lewis, Eddie 56 Mastroeni, Pablo 28 McBride, Brian 74 Meola, Tony 99 Pope, Eddie 60 Reyna, Claudio 100 Sanneh, Tony 40 Stewart, Earnie 98 Vanney, Greg 28 Wolff, Josh 24 Zavagnin, Kerry 5 Look at the young guys: DMB, Boca, Dolo, Convey, and Donovan are all international veterans at this point. Gibbs and Casey are the only younger players without extensive international experience. And who would have guessed Kirovski had more caps than Pope?
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114983&page=1&pp=15 This is from Andy Mead in the above Wizards forum that discussed this topic. Never given up a goal in WCQ play Meola year gp/gs mins gf ga so gaa w-l-t 2002 2/1 128 4 0 1 0.00 1-0-0 2001 3/3 270 3 4 0 1.33 1-2-0 2000 4/4 360 9 2 2 0.50 3-0-1 1999 3/3 197 3 1 2 0.46 1-0-1 -- no games from 7/4/94-1/25/99 -- 1994 14/14 1260 15 13 4 0.93 5-4-5 1993 18/18 1588 25 24 7 1.36 7-7-3 1992 16/16 1395 18 20 4 1.29 5-7-3 1991 16/16 1440 21 13 6 0.81 7-4-5 1990 15/14 1260 14 27 1 1.93 3-11-0 1989 7/6 585 7 1 5 0.15 4-0-2 1988 1/1 90 0 1 0 1.00 0-1-0 ---- ----- ---- --- --- -- ---- 99/97 8573 119 106 32 1.11 37-36-20 no yellow or red cards World Cup Qualifiers Sep 17, 1989 in Tegucigalpa, El Salvador 1-0 W vs El Salvador Oct 8, 1989 in Guatemala City, Guatemala 0-0 T vs Guatemala Nov 5, 1989 in St. Louis, Missouri 0-0 T vs El Salvador Nov 19, 1989 in Port of Spain, Trinidad 1-0 W vs Trinidad and Tobago Nov 15, 2000 in Waterford, Barbados 4-0 W vs Barbados Errata #7 in appearances (tied with Reyna) #4 in games started Keller just passed Meola for MNT lead in career wins #2 behind Keller in career shutouts 7 shutouts in 1993 is a MNT record I'd say that and when he got this call, he was leading MLS in Goals against. Easily capable of handling Grenada. WCQ or not.
Re: Roster for Grenada 6/13 (roster due 6/6) I agree Meola could handle Grenada. I just hope this is merit based and not trotting out Tony for #100.