MLS Cup & USA Soccer

[El Kabong]

Oumafan, see if you get your way then the only "striker" we'll have on the team is Jozy. I think Freddy Adu can play Striker better than playing midfield at this point in time, he played striker for the U-23 side with Altidore and they had great success. No Adu isn't getting much playing time but he's worked with Jozy before and they have had success together, it was at a lower international level but I think he deserves a shot because #1 we simply don't have many quality strikers and #2 we're currently shorthanded at striker and Freddy can and has played that position and his skill set pairs well with Altidore.

Ching and Casey need never suit up for the US again IMO. Ching is horribly average, he's not really fast, he's not big, he doesn't pass or shoot in a spectacular manner and Casey is the same except only slower. They offer next to nothing. I put more value on Kenny Cooper being a striker coming off the bench than pretty much anyone else, he has the most complete game and he's big enough to help out on corners and set pieces, and if Altidore was the one injured instead of Davies he'd fit perfectly. Findley on the international level is an unknown quantity and that's why he's getting a shot, same with Tracy.

Eddie Johnson and DeMarcus Beasley are in the same boat, they've had their chances, they've blown them, and now they want back in. DeMarcus is looking great playing for Rangers but he's looked that good before and when he was put on the pitch in a USA jersey he's sucked it up. They are the two most frustrating players probably in the history of our National Team...so much potential and it's just been wasted. I remember when Johnson and Dempsey were going to be a great pairing at striker and EJ just fell off the damn face of the Earth. It would be wonderful if Beasley could play CDM for us, providing Jones doesn't wow anyone but Ricardo Clark has done a pretty good job playing there in the absence of: Edu, Jones, Beasley, etc. so I think he is going to make the team no matter what and Bradley is just looking for either someone to sub for him, protection if he gets injured, or maybe he'll let someone start over him.

[HattonTheHammer]

Oumafan, see if you get your way then the only "striker" we'll have on the team is Jozy. I think Freddy Adu can play Striker better than playing midfield at this point in time, he played striker for the U-23 side with Altidore and they had great success. No Adu isn't getting much playing time but he's worked with Jozy before and they have had success together, it was at a lower international level but I think he deserves a shot because #1 we simply don't have many quality strikers and #2 we're currently shorthanded at striker and Freddy can and has played that position and his skill set pairs well with Altidore.

Ching and Casey need never suit up for the US again IMO. Ching is horribly average, he's not really fast, he's not big, he doesn't pass or shoot in a spectacular manner and Casey is the same except only slower. They offer next to nothing. I put more value on Kenny Cooper being a striker coming off the bench than pretty much anyone else, he has the most complete game and he's big enough to help out on corners and set pieces, and if Altidore was the one injured instead of Davies he'd fit perfectly. Findley on the international level is an unknown quantity and that's why he's getting a shot, same with Tracy.

Eddie Johnson and DeMarcus Beasley are in the same boat, they've had their chances, they've blown them, and now they want back in. DeMarcus is looking great playing for Rangers but he's looked that good before and when he was put on the pitch in a USA jersey he's sucked it up. They are the two most frustrating players probably in the history of our National Team...so much potential and it's just been wasted. I remember when Johnson and Dempsey were going to be a great pairing at striker and EJ just fell off the damn face of the Earth. It would be wonderful if Beasley could play CDM for us, providing Jones doesn't wow anyone but Ricardo Clark has done a pretty good job playing there in the absence of: Edu, Jones, Beasley, etc. so I think he is going to make the team no matter what and Bradley is just looking for either someone to sub for him, protection if he gets injured, or maybe he'll let someone start over him.

Seen beasley play a few times for rangers this season and more often than not he has been the best player on the pitch. Cant say the same about johnson. For a striker he doesnt really possess great speed or power!

Any side with the likes of howard, beasley, dempsey, donovan, onyewu etc should be way too good for the likes of algeria and slovenia. And dont ever rule yourselves out of beating our lot!!

If you make the quarters youve had a good world cup
2nd round will be a dissapointment
knocked out in the 1st round and you would of had a disaster

[OumaFan]

Lyle Beasley and Johnson are not in the same boat, one guy's been a pretty good player for us albeit a frustrating one at times and the others Eddie Johnson.

And Adu isn't really good as an out and out striker, he's more of attacking mid that can play right behind a striker. Nevertheless I don't want him but if he makes the team hopefully he'll do well.

And Bob Bradley will bring Ching or Casey at the least, its just reality. He likes to have another physical type forward at least coming off the bench. We can talk about it all we want but he will bring at least one of those two almost certainly.

Of that group Altidore, Dempsey, Donovan, Findley and Ching can play striker. Maybe there should be another guy. Maybe take two out of Jones, Edu and Clark and bring someone else whether its Adu ugh, Cunningham ugh, Kenny Cooper, or preferably Charlie Davies if he made an amazing recovery.

[El Kabong]

I think you forget that EJ CAN score 39 caps 12 goals, not impressive for a striker but compare it to Beasley's 89 caps and 17 goals it's a deluge of goals. Granted they play different positions but with the way things stand right now NEED a striker and like it or not EJ is in the running as is Freddy Adu. We don't NEED a midfielder but if Beasley can correct himself that would be a nice extra to have if someone gets injured, is suspended for red cards, or to use as a sub. If Beasley can play this well for the National side then I'm all for having him...but again the NEED is at striker and not midfield unless #1 Dempsey is permenantly moved to striker (possible) or #2 Jermaine Jones & Maurice Edu aren't in shape to play.

We need to keep open minds about strikers, I just don't want Ching or Casey on the team, they don't add anything to the team. I would rather use someone brand damned new than Ching or Casey! Freddy Adu is a good player to have because he can play midfield or striker (he's more of a forward) and it saves a coach the decision to put an extra midfielder or striker on the bench.

Whatever way this ends up working out hattonthehammer is correct, the US should still advance.

[OumaFan]

A lot of those 12 goals came early in his career with us in a relatively short period of time versus not that great teams. He's been abysmal ever since. I'd rather have Ching or Casey and they are both enormously uninspiring.

[El Kabong]

A lot of those 12 goals came early in his career with us in a relatively short period of time versus not that great teams. He's been abysmal ever since. I'd rather have Ching or Casey and they are both enormously uninspiring.

Then who do you suggest as a STRIKER? I mean Beasley can't help us there.

[OumaFan]

Its awful really. I'm not even as high on Jozy as a lot of people but with this group he's a penciled in starter. Then you have Ching or Casey (I'm fine with bringing one of them, not both), Findley Cooper EJ, Cunningham, after that I have no idea.

I guess I'd take Jozy, Ching, Findley and Cooper. But it seems more and more clear that Dempsey is going to have to play up top as if he does we can replace him with Holden, Benny, Beasley, etc., quality replacements whereas they just aren't there up top.

Fuck it, see what McBride is doing Or pray that Davies makes a miraculous recovery.

I just don't see Adu as a viable option unless its maybe coming off the bench playing as an attacking mid/withdrawn striker. Part of the difference in opinion here is you think he's a striker and I really don't. The best performance I've ever seen out of Adu for the national team was as the attacking mid/playmaker when he played against Spain in a friendly before they won the Euros, with Eddie up top. Eddie was pretty poor if I remember correctly but Adu played well, very well really. But he wasn't playing as a true striker.