Who will wear it in South Africa?
Bob Bradley made his choices. Now, we must look forward, and as much as we might have had visceral responses when the picks first came out, it’s time to look at them with a night’s sleep under our belt.
I read NY Kid’s liveblog and about the first 40 comments on the post yesterday during a work lunch. I have intentionally avoided all stories and analysis since then because I knew I was going to write this piece. I also read a short but passionate e-mail discussion on the subject between some fellow UFers. Other than that, I’m looking at this with nothing but numbers and a list.
First things first: as much as it pains me to say it, there really isn’t a major mistake with the 30. If some of these picks make it on the plane, however, that’s going to be a problem.
Second, let’s be clear: It sounds as if Bob told the truth and made a (shudder) good decision on Charlie Davies.
Let’s get the Davies issue out of the way first. In my preview piece, I said this:
I think many of us agree that Davies should make the plane even if he doesn’t play for morale. But I suspect Bradley is more cautious than that and won’t take Davies unless he can actually play.
It turns out I was right, and Davies’ club helped make that decision clear. I heard from two reporters after the announcement (yes, I’m that cool). People other than Bradley confirmed that Sochaux wasn’t convinced by Davies’ team training. They said they wouldn’t fully clear CD9, so it made Bradley’s toughest decision quite simple.
We all want Davies to be OK. We all want him there, but every indication is that Bradley is telling the truth and that, while Sochaux are protecting their investment, they also are telling the truth. With that being the case, Bradley made the right choice. God, I hate writing that.
So let’s get on with the rest of this.
GOALKEEPERS – TIMMAY! (Everton); Brad Guzan (Aston Villa); Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton)
No real analysis to offer here, since there was no decision to make. I lean toward Hahnemann as the No. 2 over Guzan, just because of playing time.
DEFENDERS – Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan); Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes); Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Steve Cherundolo (Hannover); Jay DeMerit (Watford); Clarence Goodson (IK Start); Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew); Heath Pearce (FC Dallas); Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
I called Bornstein earlier, so his selection isn’t surprising. What is a little surprising is that Bradley only has nine defenders on this list. That means he’s only going to cut one or MAYBE two guys. Heath Pearce has to be tops on the cut list. Has to. The second cut? Chad Marshall seems the most likely, since he’s been hurt, but he did play the full 90 in Columbus’ last game. Seeing this, I’m thinking Bradley takes 8 defenders, and Pearce or Marshall is the final cut.
The one missing player for me is Edgar Castillo. I thought he could bring some attack-mindedness to the mix, but I guess that’s not the right fit this time around.
The starting four? Bocanegra and Spector on the outside, with Gooch and DeMerit in the center is my guess from Big Bob. I’m a fan of DeMerit, and he and Gooch make a formidable tandem capable of stopping just about any attack. We’re not exactly burning it up on the flanks, though, and that will continue to be a major problem against guys like Theo Walcott. Overall, the expected and pretty safe picks. Bradley does get massive bonus points for not choosing Frankie Hejduk.
MIDFIELDERS – Landon Donovan (Galaxy); Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro); DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers); Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo); Clint Dempsey (Fulham); Maurice Edu (Rangers); Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus); Stuart Holden (Bolton); Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA); Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew); Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca); Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Bob the Elder picks 12 midfielders for camp. That’s a good thing because, really, Dempsey is going to play up front at least some of the time. That means the main lineup is actually pretty easy to pick. If Deuce is in the midfield, you play him, Donovan, Bradley the Lesser and either Clark or Edu in the middle. If Deuce is up top, you move Holden into that right wing.
Believe it or not, I like this group of midfielders. The subs can bring different things and different energy to the game. The problem, of course, will be Bradley’s tactics, but that’s a debate for another day. Bedoya will bring pace. Torres will bring energy. I’m really glad to see Bedoya on this list. He could be a real find — if he makes the plane.
The two easy cuts for me are Beasley and Kljestan. Neither has shown a damn thing (Beasley’s good minutes against Netherlands don’t make up for the last couple years of ineptitude) and neither is worthy of the spot. If you cut a third player, Robbie Rogers is next in line, but personally I’d keep him for his crossing ability.
And thank effing god that Freddy Adu isn’t there.
STRIKERS – Jozy Altidore (Villarreal); Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake); Herculez Gomez (Puebla); Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)
Here’s where things get sketchy, as is typical for USMNT discussions. My first choice is Jozy and Deuce up top with Findley and Gomez as subs. Findley isn’t hitting like he did last season, and I know that Buddle and Johnson are hot, but Findley’s the only one on this list with speed to burn, and I think a speed man is more needed than a traditional target man, as both Jozy and Deuce can play with their backs to the goal.
I’m really glad Conor Casey isn’t on the list, but Ching shouldn’t be either. That said, I know he’ll be on the plane. To me, you cut Buddle, Ching and Johnson. In the end, I think it’ll just be Buddle and Johnson.
I watched a couple of games with Gomez since the announcement, and this guy’s for real. If Bradley decides to leave Dempsey in midfield, I really wouldn’t have much problem with an Altidore-Gomez pairing.
So your starting XI for June 12:
Timmay
Spector–DeMerit–Gooch–Bocanegra
Holden–Edu–Bradley–Donovan
Altidore–Dempsey
The cuts from this camp, as I say they SHOULD be: Pearce, Beasley, Kljestan, Rogers, Buddle, Johnson, Ching.
The cuts from this camp, as I think they WILL be: Pearce, Marshall, Bedoya, Kljestan, Rogers, Buddle, Johnson.
Overall, Bradley could have done a lot worse. And our English friends will point out that their side has tons more talent than ours blah blah blah.
That’s why they play the games, my friends. I still think getting out of the group is a legitimate and reachable goal. Beyond that is gravy. Less than that is failure.
So start the countdown. We’re 30 days from the World Cup and 31 days from Revolutionary War 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Can’t really argue with your analysis. I might start Rico Clark over Edu in central midfield, but I think those two are nearly even.
I’ll be a little peeved if Bedoya gets cut, especially in favor of Beasley, but old Chicago Fire guys have to stick together I guess.
Torres and Benny bringing pace?
Negative. I think they are the slowest midfielders on the squad. Watch some of their games
Is Gooch fit? He hasn’t feature for Meelan since his injury.
Thank you, TSE, for recognizing that Deuce is playing up top.
I actually think that’s the best thing for him. I like Holden and Donovan on the wings.
Also, we are awful at the outside back spots especially since Donovan and Holden will pinch in so much.
@Primoone: Bedoya brings pace. Torres brings energy. I didn’t say anything about Feilhaber. I fixed the sentence construction to make it more clear. Thanks.
@epiblast: Gooch was a candidate for the bench over the weekend. He just didn’t get picked. He’s fit, according to Meelan.
@ TSE. You say Gomez is for real down at Puebla. Last year, when I watched him with KC, he was awful playing on the wing. What convinced you he’s now for real?
@corky: I saw him at KC too when I lived there and I agree.
Now, I like his confidence with the ball and the runs he’s making. It’s as if the game is slowing down for him a little bit. He’s finding the right spots. As we know, strikers do their best work without the ball, and that’s where he seems to have improved immensely.
Honestly, I don’t know that he’ll fit cleanly into a Bradley system, but I think he’s good enough to get on the plane.
I don’t want to see Robbie Rogers near the plane to South Africa unless he’s loading luggage onto it.
Your spot on though- it’s not the selections that are the issue, it’s what Bradley will do/not do with them.
The selections are okay. The Ching-Beasley of it all is baffling. Ching has never impressed while wearing the shirt, and unfortunately due to ill-timed injuries has seen the game pass him by. Speed up top will win games. The US proved that at Confederations Cup. I think the US has established somewhat of a style after all of these years. It is the very fast and direct counter attack, right up the gut. Hard to defend. However the only way that will work is if Bradley doesn’t get scared and stifle the creativity with overly defensive tactics. If Spain and Brazil’s defense couldn’t stop the attack down the middle what makes anyone believe an aging and arrogant England defense would fare any better.
Maybe the gov’t can give Ronaldinho, Pato and Benzema citizenship before the WC, although Bob prolly wouldn’t play them because they never played for Chicago/Chivas/or Arena.
USMNT shouldn’t bother with Dempsey in the midfield and keep him on the roster as a forward. Take JZ, the two most-in-form other strikers from camp, and Dempsey.
I was on the Castillo bandwagon too TSE, but I think he’s been hurt since at least April.
If they let Beasley on the plane they might as well call up Jeff Agoos as well.
I really hope Bedoya, Gomez and Buddle make the squad.
I really hope Bornstein, Kljestan, Pearce and Ching do not.
Preparing myself for disappointment.
@Ryan: Supposedly he was back to fitness. I guess not.
@TSE Oh okay, you might be right then. Still, I don’t think he’s featured for his club in a while, and as we know this means everything to Bob.
Unless of course it doesn’t (see Ching, Brian).
Amazing that Bedoya and Charlie Davies went to Boston College – just happens to be my alma mater.
Ching is Bradley’s poor man McBride. Works hard defensively and helps shape the opponents attack, which makes it much easier to defend for the rest of the team. Can hold the ball up, and does have the ability to put one in every now and then. It’s a little bit wistful thinking on Bob’s part that he can play the role anywhere near as good as McBride, but I understand the desire. He’ll be on the plane.
The only three that stand out for me are Beasley, Klejstan and Pearce. They should be no where near this team. For all the other fringe guys it will depend on their performances over the next few weeks.
oh yeah – and although relieved not to see him on the list, what a fantastically nice guy Frankie Hejduk is. Hard to say anything bad about the guy.
Findley is garbage, I’d take Ching instead, because he is reliable. Reliably mediocre, but that’s something.