Here's a question for you all that I don't see discussed much: why have we seen so little of Jay DeMerit in a national team shirt? This is a guy with Premier League experience, at some points even captaining the side. He currently starts every game in the center of defense in the Championship, which I consider to be a pretty good league. And, he's 29 years old, right at the peak age for a central defender. So why doesn't he get more chances with the US? His resume looks pretty good to me. I realize he's unlikely to beat out either of our current center backs, but he seems to be just as good an option if not better than any of the current backups, and he may even be able to start if Bocanegra were shifted to the left back role he plays for his club. Thoughts?
He apparently had a great game against Cardiff last night. We know that Bob's going to go with the Boca-Gooch combination thru this cycle. Frankly, those two have done a good job. So, really, guys like Jay, Califf, Parkhurst, etc. are competing for the back up roles. I'm sure Jay will get an opportunity this summer to win one of those spots.
Jay himself has admitted that he has had terrible luck getting into camps and games for the U.S. Mostly his exclusions have had to do with untimely injuries. Agreed that if he's healthy he should get a fair shot at PT this summer.
This. Same reason we didn't see a lot of Rico Clark in the run up to WC06. A broken leg tends to limit the amount of minutes you can see in a competitive match.
This was discussed a lot in 2007 and in early 2008 when Gooch and Bocanegra were still gelling. Now that both of our incumbents are playing darn well, there's been very little room for DeMerit to get looks even when injuries/cards come into play because he is even behind Califf at this point. He is also injured too often which limits his time. He does not start every game but he does start most. Back in the fall of 2008, he and Califf rotated turns as the #3 CB on the squad. Two words: Danny Califf. Califf is ahead of him in the depth chart (currently #3) and even he barely sees time due to our starters getting the nods every game.
"Seems to be" -- doesn't actual performance count for more than past achievments on a resume? I think the question is "Why Jay". He is past his prime playing, to mixed reports this year, in a good, but not great league. Hardly the stuff of a shoo-in for the USMNT. I say go with younger players for the #4 CB spot.
So which younger players are head of DeMerit in your mind? Parkhurst? Someone else? Also, I think he quote above could easily be said about Califf, but there seems to be a concensus around here (not necesarilly from you, MF), that he is the obvious #3. How is a 29 year old in the Championship clearly a worse option than a 28 year old in Denmark? I think we need to see much more of both of them with the Nats before we can say that.
Great question. Truly. But what about as CB depth, but at RB starting? Jay could play right back. There is risk in playing an under-sized Cherundolo in 2010, an inexperienced Wynne or an old Hedjuk. Given these options, I think we have to consider alternatives. Demerit and Spector (who I'd give a good shot at LB) should be considered strongly.
I know Spector can fill in and play all along the back, but when exactly was the last time he played LB at any level? Thought so. And DeMerit at RB? You're joking right?