Who should stay and who should go by Qualifying (R)

Based on what we've seen so far this year, and at the Confed Cup, who do you think should stick (at least for the time being) and who should be dropped from the Nats roster.

In looking at the Confed Roster I have some basic views but I'd love to hear those from the rest of you.

Goalies:

T. Howard-Of course he sticks around. He has yet to play a bad game as a National Team Goalie, and hasn't really let in any soft goals of late from what I can tell. While he wasn't outrageously good today, he did keep the game 1-0. A lesser goalie probably would have given up at least one more goal.


J. Cannon-Haven't seen enough to judge. Anyone know how old he is?

M. Hannehman-Not much of a chance to save the Kiwi goal a while back. Looked alright and is seeing nice time at Reading. Should be kept in the mix.

N. Rimando-Looked great in Nat duty, but awful early on for DC. Has come back nicely over the past month and may earn another luck. When he's on he's one of the best five or six goalies in the MLS.

Defenders:

G. Berhalter-His time is done. Supposedly did very well with Cottbus this past season but he's looked awful in every match he's played for us in 2003. He's up there in age and out of his depth even against relative minnow teams. Done.

D. Califf-He's young and has size, but not lots of speed and certainly is weak in the burst department. In my view he's played one solid game for the US, and a bunch of mediocre to poor one's. I would only give him a sniff in the opening rounds of qualifying. Right now he just doesn't look like he has what it takes to me.

C. Bocanegra-Looked okay today, played fairly well, and has been dangerous on the offensive end against weaker Concacaf teams. Has had only one poor game for us in 2003. He looks to be a fixture and a starter by 2006 unless he's injured or we suddenly develop a surplus of quality defenders.

F. Hejduk-Certainly doesn't belong on a 2006 World Cup roster, but I think there is room for him in qualifying, particularly if we has injuries. Not especially impressive, but he has lots of speed and can give teams fits at times, and he is the only defensive minded player we have that can catch up to someone w/a breakaway that I can see. That's a potentially valuable asset. He's borderline for me.

G. Vanney-I don't see any point in keeping him around unless are squad is decimated w/injuries. He's never looked impressive to me at the international level, and I've seen nothing to change my mind on him lately.

N. Garcia-Simply haven't seen nearly enough of him in internationals for me to really come out w/an opinion. I'd like to see him some more.

Dolo-Looked okay today. Considering how on and off he's been in recent games, he played pretty well against Brazil. Certainly wasn't outstanding, but I never felt he was exposed or manhandled by a superior squad. He deserves more looks and should certainly see time in qualifying.

C. Gibbs-Looked a little shaky early with some silly mistakes, in letting balls go out of bounds, but other than that he was solid. Not at all as frighteningly out of sorts as our guys looked against Turkey. Right now, I have no problem penciling him in the starting back four when we play a 4-4-2. I'd like to see more of him.

Midfield:

C. Armas-I've always felt that he had a place with the team in qualifying, but against top of the line teams he tends to get abused. Now that he's coming off an injury that only emphasizes that issue. He may have a role in qualifying, but I don't see a reason to keep him among the final 23 unless we are completely unable to find a quality backup for Pablo.

Pablo M.-Looked average today, nothing awful, nothing good either. He's definitely our D-Mid for the time being, nobody in our roster really plays as effectively as he does at winning balls, and shutting down attacks. He also plays with tons of energy and confidence. I like what I've seen of him.

C. Klein-I've felt that he has a place on the qualifying roster but probably not on the final 23. Simply not enough speed, and not enough skill on the ball to really earn a role in that final 23 to me. We have far more dynamic midfielders than Chris, and while he has had a knack for scoring this year, he just looks like a guy that doesn't really have what it takes to succeed on the highest levels. In the MLS, sure. In early qualifying, probably, against the likes of Brazil, Cameroon, Turkey, or say Argentina, Nigeria, the Dutch, the French or Say South Korea, I just don't see it.

J. Kirovski-Has seen time as a striker but belongs more as an A-Mid. Kirovski does nothing at all for me. I wish he saw more time as a MF as I believe he is ill-suited to a strikers role. We can't have a guy continually starting in key games that is a lightswitch when it comes to effectivness. While Mathis may have off days, he's always on the cusp of dangerousness, the same can't be said of Kirovski. He's either getting it done, or he isn't, and it's the latter far, far too often.

B. Convey-Has been invisible thus far in the Confed Cup but has plenty of talent. He's not ready yet, but should be much better by 2006, and very effective in qualifying. He has too much talent too miss the '06 tournament, but right now I'm frustrated that Arena hasn't found a role for the kid that maximizes his effectiveness. Teamed up w/Beasely, and Donovan he could be a revelation, but it hasn't happened yet. Definitely belongs in Qualifying.

K. Martino-Wait and see, he's very early on in his development, but he could be a potential answer to the question of how to get more effective play out of our MF against top of the line teams. Right now, he's really raw, but he should certainly be on Arena's rolodex, and hopefully see some time on the field against Cameroon. The tourney is over for us, and Cameroon can rest so it's not like this should be too intense for him.

Run DMB-Other than a sweet goal against Turkey, he's been quite quiet. Not bad, just not as impressive as I imagined many of us hoped. He has a lot to learn as he tends to rely far too much on his speed, and far too little on his passing, and shooting. He really needs to work on his finishing, and his passing before he really jumps up to a new level as many of us expect he can. His first touch is usually nice, but his passing is just too erratic, and he can look positively awful when it comes to firing off shots. That being said, he's got loads of energy, plays nice defense and is always a threat that needs to be acknowledged on defense. A very nice asset to have for the run to World Cup '06, let's just hope he doesn't plateau.

Eddie Lewis-Two years ago, he was so one dimensional, it was almost comical. Run and Left Cross, and that was it. Now he's capable of shaking and baking w/the best of them. He's got sweet cut back moves, and is nice enough w/both feet to deek nearly anyone from time to time. He's a nice solid passer, can finish, a great crosser, and he's even better on the defensive end. He may be too old by 2006, but right now, he looks like a lock for the qualifying campaign a nice problem to have at midfield. Has grown by leaps and bounds as a player since moving to Preston North End.


Earnie Stewart-I was sick to death of Earnie as a National Teamer over the past nearly two years (really since the fall of '01), but he's had two nice matches in the past two months. He was one of the few bright spots today, not fantastic, but he served up our best shot for an equalizer, and brought composure to the team after it fell behind. His veteran presence is an asset, even if his finishing skills have completely vanished since the 3-2 defeat in D.C. against Honduras. Has a place in early Qualifying, but not with the 2006 club.

Forwards:

L. Donovan-Not a great tournament for Donovan. He hasn't been bad. Has worked hard at times on the defenses end, served up a beautiful assist, and had the two best chances to score, but he's still been unable to score consistently against the very best teams we fact. Against Germany twice, against Turkey and against Brazil he's been unable to put the ball just right. We know he's a must for '06, but let's hope that he can get a bit better at finishing. Complaints about him are a bit much, since he's consistently are more dangerous player, but we need him to be like the most elite of players, players that find a way to finish their chances, w/consistency. He's not quite there yet.

C. Mathis-Had two great chances in back to back games but played the negative Mathis games, by which I mean, disappearing for long stretches and having one or two chances to make all the difference, but failing at it. I thought an offside call or two were dubious, as apparently Clint thought. He just needs to get a bit of a better work rate out there, he still tends to coast a little too much. Still, he's our most gifted finisher, and besides McBride, is the only player the game and game out is confident enough to take the shot anywhere, anyhow at any time. Even Donovan isn't neccesairly quite there yet.

T. Twellman-Frustratingly limited amount of time at the cup. Maybe he hasn't shown enough in practice. I don't know, but unless I'm mistaken I believe Twellman has only started one game as a national teamer since become a part of Arena's pool last November. If we are to know if he has what it takes he needs more time on the field, and time working w/players that can provide good service and aren't spent.

J. Cunningham-Hasn't seen much of any time, usually comes as a late game speed sub, and tends to swallow the ball up like a blackhole anytime he gets near it. Just doesn't seem to see the game on the international level very well. If he could keep his head up, and see more of the field when he dribbles, learn to pass better, and play with better vision maybe he'd have a place. Right now I don't see it.

Who are my definite keepers for the qualifying run right now among the confed roster?

1. Howard*

2. Cannon

3. Hannehman

4. Bocanegra*

5. Dolo

6. Gibbs

7. Pablo M.*

8. Run DMB*

9. B. Convey*

10. E. Stewart

11. K. Martino

12. C. Klein

13. E. Lewis*

14. L. Donovan*

15. C. Mathis*


*-Should definitely be on our squad if we make World Cup '06.

What are your thoughts on the future for guys who made our Confed roster?

 

He'll be 17 during the World Cup in Germany.