Horrible news for US Soccer

[JazMerkin]

I doubt Beasley will ever play again for the National Team we're better off with Torres on the left but as for filling Dempsey's spot, no one is better suited than Benny Feilhaber.

I WISH we would use Marvel Wynn at LB but he's more of a project at this point. I think Spector is the best fit and Cherundolo can be used as well.

At CDM, I would hope Maurice Edu comes back... he may be better quality than Clarke

Dempsey should be used up front but I think the big thing we miss with him up there is #1 We lose a quality midfielder although Feilhaber is good he's not a PROVEN player at the level Dempsey is and #2 Altidore needs to play off of SPEED. The good things we get from Dempsey moving up are #1 We're better on set peices #2 Dempsey is a better passer than Charlie Davies (although Davies was good at finding the goal recently). Another thing we could do is move up Landon Donovan and fill his spot with Dempsey but we'd still be left with a hole at midfield. If we use Freddy Adu or Kenny Cooper we don't have to worry about midfield but since we are deeper at midfield than at striker it would make since to move Dempsey or Donovan upfront.

I only hope Onyewu heals up in time, but if he doesn't Jay DeMerit is the best chance and maybe Gibbs comes back and plays well, there was a time where people thought he would replace Onyewu.

Edu is going to have to get playing time, where that will be I don't know as he's been on the end of a fair bit of racial abuse in his time in Glasgow, some from his own fans last night.

I honestly don't think you guys will be able to play such an attacking formation at the World Cup. I'd say have Donovan up front, purely because Dempsey tends to track back, whilst Donovan often suffers from the typical #10 syndrome of not being arsed to come back to help the defence.

Onyewu should be ok, luckily he plays at the club with the best medical facilities in the world & I think he should be back late January or early February. What he needs to do then is get a run in the Milan team, but with Nesta, Thiago Silva, Kaladze & Bonera all ahead of him that may not be quick to happen. Shame because I'd like to see him get a game for them (my Dad's Italian btw, hence me supporting Milan), Standard Liege have definitely suffered without him, & I can't see either DeMerit or Gibbs offering what Onyewu does.

[El Kabong]

The absolutely worst thing that could happen is if Bob Bradley shifts us into a single striker formation just the way Bruce Arena did.

The US also needs to play the ball through the midfield more.

You know if worse comes to worse we could always bring Brian McBride back, he's 37, he's got loads of experience and we wouldn't have to swap a midfielder in

DeMerit and Onyewu played extremely well together in South Africa, I hope we can put that tandem out there again this summer, but if not Gibbs was doing very well before he got injured and I have been shocked he hasn't even been on the bench recently

[JazMerkin]

The absolutely worst thing that could happen is if Bob Bradley shifts us into a single striker formation just the way Bruce Arena did.

The US also needs to play the ball through the midfield more.

You know if worse comes to worse we could always bring Brian McBride back, he's 37, he's got loads of experience and we wouldn't have to swap a midfielder in

DeMerit and Onyewu played extremely well together in South Africa, I hope we can put that tandem out there again this summer, but if not Gibbs was doing very well before he got injured and I have been shocked he hasn't even been on the bench recently

The thing is Kenny Cooper is good for that & he would let Altidore have a bit more freedom. He may not be as tough as McBride or as good in the air, but IMO he's actually got a better eye for a pass, so if holds the ball up, I think that he's a better option to release one of Altidore, Donovan or Dempsey.

[El Kabong]

Yeah I figured Cooper would be a regular on the team but for whatever reason Bradley loves some damn Brian Ching and Conor Casey.

Cooper could also bust out the Super Goal if needed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrJPYCIZTvo

I wonder why nobody has mentioned Sal Zizzo recently?

[JazMerkin]

Yeah I figured Cooper would be a regular on the team but for whatever reason Bradley loves some damn Brian Ching and Conor Casey.

Cooper could also bust out the Super Goal if needed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrJPYCIZTvo

I wonder why nobody has mentioned Sal Zizzo recently?

Probably because his time in Germany has been an unmitigated disaster. I agree completely on Ching & Casey.

Cooper should at least be the choice now Davies is out, but unfortunately he won't be getting those goals with the keepers at the World Cup.

[El Kabong]

Zizzo is just 22, Donovan had a rough go in Europe when he first started out too.

Michael Bradley hasn't played all that great recently

[El Kabong]

Some decent news for US soccer

#1 Jermaine Jones is now eligible to play for the US after FIFA ruled on him. The bad news is he's currently hurt.

#2 Edgar Castillo is no going to throw his hat in to play for the US and that will really help us out given the injuries and poor play from our defenders. The bad news is he isn't a proven player yet, he's very young, but that would be great for him to get a chance starting.