we had a busy summer this year, but what's on que for next year? i understand we have a couple of qualifiers, but isn't that just going to be in the semi-final round of qualifying? reason being is i'd really like to see the US bring back the U.S. Cup or Nike Cup if at all possible. Hopefully, it'd look like this [Note: i'd do the tournament where the team plays whatever team is ranked the same in the other group for a total of four games for each team]: Group A: 1. Host-USA 2. Asian Invite- Japan 3. African Invite- Nigeria 4. South American Invite- Brazil Group B: 1. North American Invite- Mexico 2. Asian Invite- South Korea 3. African Invite- Cameroon 4. South American Invite- Argentina Others (if you can't get one of the above): Asian: Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, China Africa: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Angola, Togo, South Africa South America: Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay North America: Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras *Euro miss out- TBA Potential roster i'd go with (considering no limit on players)...And i'm bored so take don't get your panties in a bunch that i'm looking into the future: GK Howard, Hahnemann, Guzan DF Cherundolo, Simek, Spector, Bornstein, Pearce, Parkhurst, Onyewu, DeMerit, Conrad, Bocanegra, Gibbs MF Dempsey, Donovan, Beasley, Convey, Adu, Feilhaber, Bradley, Clark, Szetela FW Cooper, Altidore, Rolfe, Johnson Game 1 line-up: -----Johnson--Dempsey------- Beasley---------------Donovan -----Feilhaber---Bradley------- Bornstein--------------Spector ----Bocanegra-Onyewu------- ----------Howard------------ Bench: Hahnemann, DeMerit, Gibbs, Clark, Adu, Altidore, Cooper Game 2 line-up: ------Johnson----Cooper-------- Convey------------------Donovan ------Feilhaber----Szetela------ Spector------------------Cherundolo -------Parkhurst--Onyewu------- ------------Howard-------------- Bench: Hahnemann, Simek, DeMerit, Bornstein, Dempsey, Bradley, Altidore Game 3 line-up: --------Cooper-----Rolfe-------- Beasley------------------Donovan --------Clark-----Bradley-------- Pearce---------------------Simek --------Gibbs----Conrad--------- ----------Hahnemann------------ Bench: Howard, DeMerit, Bocanegra, Feilhaber, Adu, Altidore, Johnson Final line-up: ------Johnson---Dempsey------- Beasley-----------------Donovan -------Feilhaber--Bradley-------- Spector-----------------Cherundolo -------Gibbs-----Onyewu-------- ------------Howard-------------- Bench: Hahnemann, Bocanegra, Bornstein, Simek, Clark, Adu, Altidore ***What i would like to get from this tournament would be: 1) Adu's, Altidore's, & Szetela's coming out party. 2) Gibbs makes a come back. 3) We learn if we can trust Cooper and/or Rolfe. 4) Build team chemistry because these are most likely going to be most of the players we select from for our final 23 from.
That will never happen. Next year in the Olympics, so we will have some of our younger players gone to that in the middle of the MLS season while the senior squad is playing friendlies to get ready for WCQ and playing in WCQ's. I think CONCACAF is going to use the same system as last time, so that means 2 teams will play in a 2 leg series and the winner of that will play us in a 2 leg series. The winners of those will then start simi-final group play in the fall like they did last time.
If CONCACAF goes with the same WCQ we'll have a two leg qualifier in June and then the semifinal round starting in August. The Semifinals are regarded by many as being harder than the Hex, especially if you get drawn into a group like Canada had last time around. Add the Olympics for the U-23 and I think the summer is busy enough.