This roster for the San Jose match is a dog. It's debatable whether Bruce is going a bit too far in not taking guys from their MLS teams, but the people who bought tickets expecting to see a representative side can't be pleased with these rosters. So, my question is: "What has been the worst U.S. Men's National Team roster since the beginning of MLS?" At first glance, this comes in a distant second behind a 4-1 loss to Peru in Lima on October 16, 1996. Mark Dodd Tim Martin Lawrence Lozzano Tayt Ianni Zak Ibsen Eddie Lewis Jorge Flores (Joey Leonetti) Dario Brose Scott Benedetti (Ramiro Corrales) Jean Harbor (Mac Cozier) Ted Eck (Paul Holocher) The goalkeeping for that match was far more experienced internationally than the two guys in camp for the San Jose match. It was Dodd's 11th start/12th appearance and he had seven shutouts coming into the match. Rimando and Cannon have combined for zero starts, two appearances and 90 minutes at the full National Team level. Of the fifteen guys that played, only Dodd, Corrales, Lewis and Brose appeared for the MNT again after this match. This is the only career cap for Benedetti, Cozier, Flores, Holocher & Ianni. I suspect we'll see additional appearances by more than four guys that play Monday, but I expect we could see a few of these guys play for the U.S. for the first and/or last and/or only time.
That game was during a national team strike. The US not wanting to cancel the friendly sent other players, and the result shows how much they missed the real players.
Arena's already said he took an overwhelming number of players from San Jose and DC because they don't play over Memorial Day weekend. I think thats basically the sole reason for this roster, hideous though it is.
I wouldn't call the roster hideous. It's not first 11, but it could be mix of first, second, and alternate players. Frankly, I'm glad to see Petke get another call up. Landon's there, and Goose has been playing well in the league lately. Good to see Lewis again --and Berhalter. I'm looking foreward to the match.
First caps (if they play): Cannon, Ching, Eskadarian, Suarez Last caps (probably): Agoos, Ching Last caps (possibly): Brown, Cannon, Corrales, Kirovski, Petke, Vanney
Kirovski and Vanney at least will play again - and I'd expect Cannon might get some camps - at the very least for matches in Europe. Why bring a keeper over who won't play if you've got somebody a short train ride away? And Jovan still has his usefulness, IMO.
I absolutely agree that this roster is hidious. The only positive that I could see coming from this is that maybe Bobby Convey will get to play as a central mid instead of a damn left back.
Any other predictions for the future Bruce? Since you are coaching the team, you must know everything...
Actually I like this roster because it will be interesting to see how some of these guys perform. Sure it's not our "A" team (maybe not even our "C" team) but it will be an interesting experiment and a good chance to give some of the fringe National teamers a chance to play since Wales won't be playing its full strength squad either. At least Bruce didn't have 17 out of 39 players withdraw like Wales did. (http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,4060-1091358,00.html)
yes I agree this roster is pretty low level but I am hoping that Convey and Donovan will be able to combine with each other and create some quality chances. I might cringe when the starting 11 is shown but i'm still going to watch.
Mark Dodd? Ted Eck (didn't he get a lot of indoor call-ups?)? Wasn't that the match where the regulars were on strike? Still, is there any question this squad has greater talent than that squad did? Tony
Might be a bit off topic...but why does everyone hate Kirovski? Is it because he plays a simple direct game and isn't 'flashy' enough for some of you? I hope he has more than a few caps left...
I've been wondering the same thing. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other regarding Jovan, but many posters do. Is there some specific event(s) in the past (for example Agoos' 2002 adventures in Korea) or does the dislike come from years of what is perceived as underacheivement?
I imagine it's because he's a pretty good attacking midfielder who for some unknown reason has always suited up for the national team at forward and not produced at that position.
Do the Metros have a game that week? I thought Bruce pulled mainly from DC, San Jose, and players on red-card suspension because they had a week off. In sure Clark will get a look from Bruce sometime soon.
Rather its the fact that Bruce prefers athletic, well-rounded players (skills-wise - no Meola or Mathis V.2002 jokes) who track back well, show good work-rates and play physically. Jovan is more of a flair player who works better off the ball, plays mediocre defense and requires to much cover to play in midfield . . . plus he is not physical enough, quick enough (I don't mean overall speed, I mean first step) or capable of creating his own shot. In other systems, Kirovski would be more valuable. But he simply doesn't fit into Bruce's style. The only player that we have who marginally compares to Kirovski is Mathis and for most of his nat team career he has been quicker, shown more determination and a greater willingness to take people on than Kirovski - plus he does everything that Kirovski does at least as well. Who would you sit in our standard set-up to see Kirovski get more time? McBride. No way. He hustles like crazy, scores goals and sets up others. Donovan? Funny. Mathis? Not if he continues his mini-renaissance. Wolff? Possibly, but he is so quick when healthy and links up well with his USMNT teammates. Even the combo midfielder/forwards like Earnie Stewart or Cobi Jones played very valuable roles in the World Cup and bring more to the table than Kirovski, though they are getting long in the tooth. After that we are talking about youngsters like Taylor Twellman and Edson Buddle. There is simply no compelling reason to select Kirovski (who is 26 and has shown relatively little development the last few years) above these guys, because they are the future of the USMNT. I don't mind seeing Kirovski play in B-team matches like this one - in which he can labor to demonstrate his ability to mesh better with the team and earn future camp invites. And if one of the senior guys above is injured, he does have his use as an offensive sub late in the game. But he doesn't belong in the A team in my book. Just like Ante Razov.
Call me crazy, but this might be a rather entertaining match. I mean, a lot of these guys have a lot to prove, since you've got to believe that they absolutely know that there's no way they would have gotten a call-up if all the regulars were available. So they're going to be giving it their all and it'll be interesting to see how these pretty low-level MLSers do against an equally low-level?? Wales side? I mean, I don't know too much about the Wales team, but are the players pretty much at a comparable level with their home clubs? Also, maybe Bruce is testing out his young guns - Donovan, Convey - in a sense of "how well can you lead this team, given the other players that you've got to work with?" I'm actually looking forward to how things play out. Hope I'm not disappointed.
I'd take Corrales off that list as Arena has stated a couple of times this season that he's been watching Corrales and he'll be getting called in to more camps. He's a guy who has previously played to the Nats and played in the last Olympics, but is really just coming into his own right now.