Wow! It was Costa Rica. You do know that the only reason Bocangera was playing was because we had no other defenders available? You do know that he finished the Brazil game at target forward because he cramped up badly and could barely walk? You do know that the Costa Rica game was by most accounts the worst game he ever played for the nats, and he scored in it? We have _one_ guy who might currently be better than Bocanegra and that's Pope, and it's close.
Soccerfan, if Bocanegra is your first to cut then I'm glad your not Arena. Bocanegra is consistently mentioned as one of the top 5 American prospects for European teams. I didn't catch that game, but I can assure you he's been one of our better defenders and is our best defensive prospect at this moment. I think 95% of USMNT fans would tell you the same.
Unless Friedel, Keller or Howard pick up some serious injury, Walker isn't going to have much of a chance. Especially with the likes of Thornton and Hartman contending with him.
I don't know that much about Walker. I had always heard he'd done well in Chile or wherever he was. How old is he?
Born: 9-13-74 in Torrance, California Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee College: Louisville How Acquired: Acquired on July 14, 2003, to replace Tim Howard Previous Clubs: Colo Colo, Chile (2003); Universidad Catolica, Chile (1997-2002); Huachipato, Chile (loan; 1998-1999); Jacksonville Cyclones, A-League (1997); Dallas Burn, MLS (1996); Memphis Jackals, USL (1992-1993) National Teams: U.S. U-23; U-17 http://www.metrostars.com/yourteam/jonny_walker.htm
OK it is time to chime in because I have had enough of seeing Taylor Twellman's name as a US player. He's the next David Regis. Bruce, please drop this guy now. How I hope Freddy Adu can get to this level to push Twellman out of the picture ASAP. Bocanegra will be a starter for the team. I have faith in his skills. Frankie will factor in qualifying, no doubt at all. His speed will make any team fearful of a run out of the backline. Please, remember that Nick Rimando is or at least should be on the goalkeepers list. He has been a solid keeper and I think has damn good skills.
TeamUSA, pretty much all of us know that Boca is a badass, but Rimando? Frankie? and a 14 year old for one of the MLS's top scorers? You've got to be kidding me with this. Not to be too harsh(ah screw it) Frankie's a soon to be "has been" and Rimando is a "never was". Maybe I'm being a little hard on Rimando, it's not his fault we have 3 great keepers(and a few more good ones behind them), but he's not going to see any significant playing time in crucial qualifiers. Ever.
For what round? I'm with voros...unless we draw both Cuba and haiti for the SS Minnow round, expect to see an all-domestic roster for the first round, with a few spots used as a "Hey, great season" or maybe even a "Hey, great career" type of gesture... Bruno has, after all, done this before (Jesse Marsch comes to mind) when the game has meant little to nothing (I'm assuming that, if the aforementioned two nations are not in the US group it will take les than four matches to qualify)... I'd also expect to see a few junior players... Count on seeing Taylor Twellman in this first round. Don't be shocked if he gets at least 3 goals and becomes Flavor-of-the-Month again. The rosters many of you are tossing out there are very suitable for the semi-final round. Bocanegra will be there.
Puke ahhh Twellman flavor of the month? I never heard of him being the flavor of the month, except by Rev fans. I never thought much of him. El Ross, I wrote: I hope Adu, yes a 14 or 15 year old, can get up to the next level to push him out ASAP. Not that it's going to happen before qualifying starts. Twellman may be a leading scorer in MLS, but he still blows chunks and I would take Adu right now over Taylor any freaking day of the week. Rimando is a solid keeper. Don't be surprised to see him getting time. Frankie isn't done just yet. Please recall that before the world cup, most posters here laughed, and cried foul about Frankie and loved Regis and look at how things turned out? Regis saw the pitch from the bench while Frankie took his spot. I had also said that Sanneh still had the skills and the man was stellar. So write it down, get it tattooed, bookmark the page, pin it to your shirt, or whatever you need to do. Everything above it about to be reality.
TeamUSA, it sounds like you've got your heart set on those guys, so I'm not going to try and persuade you, but you've heard my opinion.
My 22 for qualifying: GOALKEEPERS: Brad Friedel Kasey Keller Tim Howard DEFENDERS: Eddie Pope Carlos Bocanegra Cory Gibbs Danny Califf Bobby Convey Frankie Hejduk MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley Kyle Martino Claudio Reyna Chris Armas Pablo Mastroeni Steve Ralston Ricardo Clark John O'Brien FORWARDS: Clint Mathis Landon Donovan Brian McBride Taylor Twellman Freddy Adu
Adu is NOT going to be on the qualifying team he's still only 14, don't put him up there for qualifying, especially with the first round starting in the next few months.
Well, we all know that teams like Tottenham, Blackburn and ManU would be FURIOUS to lose their goalkeepers in the middle of the season for a game against Anguilla or St. Kitts/Nevis, so let's rule out on the important overseas players right off the bat for Jan./Feb. So here is a list of guys i would give a shot. Johnnie Walker Adin Brown Cory Gibbs Carlos Bocanegra Eddie Pope D. Beasley Bobby Convey L. Donovan Kyle Martino Ricardo Clark Edson Buddle B. McBride Todd Dunivant Ante Razov Frankie Heyduk Pablo Mastroeni Clint Mathis Taylor Twellman Kelly Gray Ben Olsen Eddie Lewis That leaves 1 guy, so pick another goalie from MLS and keep on rolling ........... if we can't beat St. Lucia with that squad, we are truly in trouble!
Goalkeepers: Adin Brown Johnny Walker Nick Rimando Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra Eddie Pope Bobby Convey Corey Gibbs Kelly Gray Todd Dunivant Chris Gbandi Midfielders: Kyle Martino Eddie Lewis Ricardo Clark Pablo Mastroeni Richard Mulrooney Chris Klien Damarcus Beasley Kyle Beckerman Forwards: Brian McBride Landon Donovan Taylor Twellman Edson Buddle
Of course, we won't need every available player from Europe, but technically FIFA qualifiers, regardless of opponent, allows you to call up whomever necessary. In addition, camp for the qualifier may include 22 players, but the number of players to be dressed for the ACTUAL match is 18, IIRC.
sounds like you may need to up your medication. Rimando will not see any qualifiers unless they play a DC double header and he watches from the stands. Cannon, who has not seen a minute this year is ahead of little nickie. Brown, Cannon, Thorton, Hartman and Walker are all better, Countess is probably better too. As for twellman, you can hate him as much as you want but u will be seeing him throughout qualifying. He is a solid hardnosed(albeit broken nose) player who can score with his head and feet with the best of them. Take it to the bank, Twellman will see more games than Rimando. In almost 2 seasons Twellman has 36 goals, 8 against your boy Rimando. WOW that close to 1/4 of his amount against Rimando. If twellman is crap and can score 8 goals against DC and Rimando,,,what does that make Little nickie?
Good thread. A lot of interesting ideas.....So here's my $0.02. GK: Friedel Howard Defenders: Pope Bocanegra Hejduk Gibbs Sanneh Convey Midfielders: Reyna O'Brien Mastroani Beasley Lewis Martino Forwards: McBride Donovon Buddle Conor Twellmen Mathis