MLS Cup & USA Soccer

[El Kabong]

OK here's my best case scenario (Gooch is healthy & Jones works out as planned) side:

-----------Dempsey---Altidore------
-----------------Donovan-----------
-------Fielhaber------------Bradley--
-------------------Jones-------------
Bocanegra---Onyewu--DeMerit--Cherundolo
-------------------Howard---------------

Bench: Adu, Edu, Spector, Guzan, Holden

[RozzySean]

OK here's my best case scenario (Gooch is healthy & Jones works out as planned) side:

-----------Dempsey---Altidore------
-----------------Donovan-----------
-------Fielhaber------------Bradley--
-------------------Jones-------------
Bocanegra---Onyewu--DeMerit--Cherundolo
-------------------Howard---------------

Bench: Adu, Edu, Spector, Guzan, Holden

I like that a lot. The difference between Johnson and DMB is that DMB is actually producing for his club and Johnson is on the reserves. I also think that DMB has contributed far more when fit to the nationals than Johnson has. Johnson has always been the great tease...great physical tools, underachieving production.

[El Kabong]

At one point in time everyone was talking about how horrible Onyewu was with Newcastle...so I'm not saying the doors are shut on Beasley but as you said we're deep in the midfield and as for Johnson, Charlie Davies got seriously injured and we don't have many strikers that have POTENTIAL much less actual skill, at least EJ has "flashed" some true skill with the National side.

Either way Bob Bradley SHOULD put together a solid squad and we should advance and be a live underdog vs England to win the Group.

Oh and if Onyewu isn't healthy I think Gibbs is a solid CB that can add depth if not start, when Gooch was struggling Gibbs was seen as a solid replacement although shortly thereafter he had injury problems but I still think he's a quality player

[HattonTheHammer]

OK here's my best case scenario (Gooch is healthy & Jones works out as planned) side:

-----------Dempsey---Altidore------
-----------------Donovan-----------
-------Fielhaber------------Bradley--
-------------------Jones-------------
Bocanegra---Onyewu--DeMerit--Cherundolo
-------------------Howard---------------

Bench: Adu, Edu, Spector, Guzan, Holden

I like that a lot. The difference between Johnson and DMB is that DMB is actually producing for his club and Johnson is on the reserves. I also think that DMB has contributed far more when fit to the nationals than Johnson has. Johnson has always been the great tease...great physical tools, underachieving production.

will definitely make last 16

If your up against germany i wouldnt fancy your chances. If its australia or ghana however i dont see why you cant make last 8

[OumaFan]

Altidore

Dempsey


Donovan Bradley Jones/Clark/Edu? Beasley

Spector Gooch Boca Cherundolo

Reserves:

Guzan
Random third string goalie
Demerit
Marshall
Hedjuk
Bornstein
Clark (or Jones)
Edu (or Jones)
Benny
Holden
Findley
Ching

I was the first to want to never see Beasley again after the Confederation Cup but he's finally playing for Rangers lately and has been listed as being a possible man of the match in all three games which were apparently 3 of Rangers best performances all year. Rangers fans have gone from hating him to loving him quickly. Look at this goal a couple games ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0rmD...m=PL&index=100Some of their opposition is poor in the SPL no doubt but he's been a good player for us in the past. He keeps playing well he'll make the team no doubt. I also like Stuart Holden so he could play there or even Benny.

This also allows us to move Dempsey up front. I'd much rather have Davies up front with Dempsey on the right but that probably won't happen. There is some speculation apparently that he could be back but you have to assume he won't be.

I like Dempsey a little behind Altidore, keeping possession up top, using his passing ability but also getting in the box to use his aerial ability which is probably the best on the team as far as our attacking players go.

Jones and Edu are both question marks with the injuries and Jones having never played for us before. But Jones is a high level player in a high level league. Edu played well for Rangers last year and is a pretty good prospect IMO. Maybe you don't need three pure defensive midfielders, if so maybe bring Torres. Please no Adu!

I don't know much about Castillo yet. Bornstein worries me though. If he comes in and plays well for us in games leading up to the WC by all means take him instead of Bornstein. Hedjuk's ok cover. Spector has played left back before and he and Cherundolo are clearly our best fullbacks IMO. Bradley has been hesitant about playing him there seemingly so I wouldn't count on that happening.

I would start Demerit with Gooch over Boca. But he's the captain, its not happening. We obviously need Gooch to get healthy.

I don't dislike that team really.

[El Kabong]

Why bring a "random third string goalie" when we could have Brad Friedel?

Here's the January workout roster (ie the guys who may play reserve roles):
Goalkeepers: Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), Troy Perkins (Valerenga, Norway), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
Defenders: Kevin Alston (New England), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Brandon McDonald (San Jose), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro, Sweden), Geoff Cameron (Houston), Brad Davis (Houston), Brad Evans (Seattle), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus, Denmark), Eddie Gaven (Columbus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas), Jeff Larentowicz (New England), Dax McCarty (Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C.), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)
Forwards: Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Conor Casey (Colorado), Jeff Cunningham (Dallas), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Marcus Tracy (Aalborg, Denmark)

I think Findley and Tracy can really work well together and they both have a very good shot at earning the chance to contend for that last striker postion. I find it odd that Eddie Johnson isn't on this squad, it either means he's on the team OR that he's off the team or that he's on the fence based on how Findley and Tracy play.......ENOUGH ALREADY with the Conor damn Casey!!!!

Marvell Wynn is a darkhorse for wingback and CDM he's very quick, a lot of upside with him (same as a couple other players).

Jones and Edu are unknowns but at this point so are DeMarcus Beasley and Eddie Johnson...they have all the potential, in the world but never seem to come up with results when they matter. And if we're judging players 100% on potential why all the hate for Freddy Adu? He's young, talented, he's quick, he can put the ball in the goal and he can pass....I just think the guy needs a chance to develop.

I'm sure Bob Bradley will figure something out

[OumaFan]

Jones and Edu are unknowns cause of injuries, well and the fact that Jones has never played for us. Beasley its just a question of does he have it together finally and I think there's reason to be cautiously optimistic that he does. Eddie is just Eddie, unless he makes drastic improvements at Fulham we know who he is and I just don't think its good enough. Fulham in their Europa games have played a lot of reserves and still Eddie isn't getting any time.

I think Tracy has a lot of potential, will he be ready to help us by the summer, I kind of doubt it but we'll see.

Holden, Benny, Beasley, Donovan and Dempsey obviously, these are all guys I'd rather have as attacking options over Adu. I think his potential is a bit overrated but meh.

I'm not totally sure about Findley over him but Findley at least is a striker which we need off the bench. Adu is just not really a striker, just an attacking mid and I like our attacking mids that I've named earlier much better.

Ching I don't love but there's a place for him on the bench since we don't really have a physical presence at striker off the bench instead of him. Now starting him is a different story.

Is Adu getting any time with a club team now? That doesn't help his case. Or Eddie's.

Is Friedel willing to play internationally again?

[Master]

Friedel is one of the best goalkeepers in the premiere league.