Bob Bradley has named his team for the qualifier versus Barbados.
I guess the big story here is that Kenny Cooper wasn't called in.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (out of contract: 0/0), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA: 0/0), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 3/2 SO)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract: 11/1), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland: 1/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 14:0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 0/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 11/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 7/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica: 0/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 14/4), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen: 0/0), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC: 0/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 0/0), Eddie Lewis (Derby County: 17/2), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids: 9/0)
FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 6/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 20/7), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 7/0), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC: 7/7)
27 comments:
Kenny Cooper > Brian Ching
I don't know why Bob Bradley doesn't feel the same way.
Especially if Bob is about developing young players and potential - I don't understand it either.
Why is EJ still being brought in for these. He doesn't have the mental fortitude for the National Team, or Fullam.
Dallas is playing Chicago on Sunday.
I don;t care if Dallas were playing Manchester United on Sunday. It's a qualifier and if he wanted him on he would have called him on. It's claer that he doesn't have enough confidence in Cooper for these games and that he's at best seventh or eighth in the pecking order.
It's World Cup Qualifying.
The team hasn't scored in a while.
Who is the leading scorer on the team?
Who works very well with said leading scorer?
A WCQ, no matter how small the opposition, MUST be taken seriously. You do not bleed a brand-new player (which is basically what Kenny Cooper is) for the first WCQ. You do not take chances no matter how easy the competition is - in fact, you'd better not take your opposition lightly. The US knows that.
Kenny, if he keeps it up, will get his chance. But the first WCQ is too important for that.
Ching has started finding the net. Ching works extremely well with Landon Donovan. We need to score as many goals in this first game as possible. Hence, Ching gets the call.
No brainer, really.
someone should fire Bradley's incompetent ass. Its going to be a blowout no matter who plays.
WHY IS LANDON PLAYING??!!!
While I think the US can easily beat Barbados with a "B" side or a youth side, I don't think Bob Bradley can beat anybody without Landon Donovan.
WOWW!!
Hes bringing in Landon knowing damm well they play SanJo on saturday.
And i agree with why the hell do they keep calling up EJ..? Kenny cooper and hell even Brian Ching right now > EJ. Id like to see a future Kenny cooper and Altidore pairing up top.
Well, he already did - the Swiss and the South Africans.
Bob Bradley esta ciego. No ve lo obvio, Cooper es el delantero de la hora. El merece sus orportunidad!
Eddie Johnson no sirve.
Very disappointing decision. Zero goals in the last three games too. Combined with BB's recent Adu comments, I wonder what this coach is thinking. If Kenny's last name was Bradley would we be having any discussions about "not ready for a US callup"? ....Works both ways Bob.
Sacha Kljestan gets a well deserved call up. He played great in the 2nd Half of the Argentina match. His composure on the ball, his pinpoint passing, and his attacking mindset in the midfield is refreshing.
I have no problem calling up the big boys for the first home qualifier... getting a 5-10 goal lead... then bleeding the younger guys in Barbados.
I like Kenny Cooper, but for all his size he doesn't play the target forward role. Thats the open spot right now, and Ching plays it. Plus, he is healthy and scoring goals and he combines well with Landon. I wish Bradley would get on the phone to McBride. I still think he is our best option.
What about Altidore? Does he have a commitment that doesn't allow him to play in this WCQ, or was he just not selected?
I don't think it's time to give up on E. Johnson just yet though. He showed some improvement against Argentina. If he would just play with more fire and attitude I think he could be pretty good. IMO, he's thinking too much out there and trying to be too perfect.
Also, is Conrad injured? Thanks.
EJ smokes too much of the dank shit, thats why hes getting slow. I would love to see how cooper would do up top. The whole bleed the young player argument is bullshit, since that was exactly what EJ was during 06 WCQ.
No Cooper=personal vendetta?
what do the #/# stand for after the players' names?
to the previous anonymous: i think the numbers are caps/goals in WCQ, and caps/shut-outs for GK's in WCQs.
World Cup Qualifiers have to be taken seriously, and Brian Ching is our best available experienced option as a #9 striker.
Altidore is slightly injured and is unlikely to play before July 1st, when the most important transfer in YA history will occur. No reason to jeopardize that when more experienced options are available.
Cooper may get an appearance in the away leg if a healthy margin is established.
Howard, Pearce, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Bradley, Beasley, Adu, Dempsey, Donovan, Ching
4-1-3-2
I think that Brian Ching is more proven than Cooper on and international level. BB Made it very clear that Cooper is a work in progress and I think that we should respect that. What I'm more surprised about is th exclusion of Robbie Rogers he's been lighting it up for the crew yet cant seem to make an impression on Big Bob.
C'mon. Are you kidding me with the latest poll? The US will win by at least five goals. No other or more option?
if eddie johnson gets some time i will be pissed
No Cooper!?!?!? WTF!
Bradley is an idiot. And please explain to me why Cooper is a work in progress? 2nd in goals in MLS, goal in first ever cap. BS!
I think Cooper refused to ____ (enter favorite expletive laden action) Bradley.
Fire BB!
Based on what I saw these last three games, for this series of games the goals will come from Donovan or set pieces. It doesn't really matter who plays striker because the US right now can't pass the ball out of defense to save their lives. Cooper is a brand new player (he has been hurt a lot) to the USMNT setup and there will be other games to test him out but Bradley needs to nail down two wins to take the pressure off, so he will go with the tried and true. Did anyone see what Venezuela did to Brazil?
With the exception of Jozy none of the US strikers are currently much better than the others anyway. Ching is in their because of his hard work and how he plays with Landon. So expect to see a lot of EJ.
John
The Offside Rules has a great compilation of Cooper's goals. And Bradley states he's a work in progress! Idiot.
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