Here it is. Initially, don't see any big surprises. Of the Olympians, Bob Bradley chose to bring four along - Brad Guzan, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan and Michael Bradley.
Also, it's not a surprise but still disappointed to see Brian Ching selected over Kenny Cooper. Knowing Bradley, he'd probably like to get Cooper in a friendly or two before calling him for a qualifier so I suppose that's why I'm not surprised.
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)
Midfielders: Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado)
Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)
More thoughts inside...
Some quick thoughts:
- Frankie Hejduk continues to get called up. I dont have a problem with Hejduk but I know some people don't care much for him. He's still fit, can still contribute and has experience. Fine with me.
- Pablo Mastroeni may have gotten himself back in the good graces of the coaching staff. He struggled with injury a year ago that led to a dip in form but now is playing like the Mastroeni of old. It's good to have an experienced Mastroeni in central midfield but he'll pass the torch along soon enough to guys like Edu.
- Only five midfielders are on the roster; I'm guessing Mastroeni and Eddie Lewis will start as well as young Michael. That leaves a spot for either Sacha Kljestan or Maurice Edu, unless Bradley starts Landon Donovan in midfield and goes with Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson up top. Still, I think I'd feel more secure with an extra midfielder instead of six defenders.
Also, it's not a surprise but still disappointed to see Brian Ching selected over Kenny Cooper. Knowing Bradley, he'd probably like to get Cooper in a friendly or two before calling him for a qualifier so I suppose that's why I'm not surprised.
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)
Midfielders: Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado)
Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)
More thoughts inside...
Some quick thoughts:
- Frankie Hejduk continues to get called up. I dont have a problem with Hejduk but I know some people don't care much for him. He's still fit, can still contribute and has experience. Fine with me.
- Pablo Mastroeni may have gotten himself back in the good graces of the coaching staff. He struggled with injury a year ago that led to a dip in form but now is playing like the Mastroeni of old. It's good to have an experienced Mastroeni in central midfield but he'll pass the torch along soon enough to guys like Edu.
- Only five midfielders are on the roster; I'm guessing Mastroeni and Eddie Lewis will start as well as young Michael. That leaves a spot for either Sacha Kljestan or Maurice Edu, unless Bradley starts Landon Donovan in midfield and goes with Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson up top. Still, I think I'd feel more secure with an extra midfielder instead of six defenders.
I'm glad to see Heath Pearce getting more and more of a look. Since Lewis and Hejduk have age against them, Pearce might be the long-sought solution at left back.
ReplyDeleteSorry but Buddle deserves a shot over Cooper, Ching, and EJ.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that Bradley is going to call in an 18th player. I suspect it'll be another midfielder. I'd normally think Bennie Feilhaber, but I'm not sure we he wouldn't be named to the roster straight-out.
ReplyDeleteEverybody seems to forget that Ching has eight goals in his last 11 games. He started the season slowly but has been good lately.
ReplyDeleteGood point on the stats but I dont know, Jon. Some of the chances he has and misses are just frustrating. Sometimes I think 'If he were a real goal scorer, he'd put those away.'
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, he's scored some big goals before so I can't be too upset with him. It's not like he gets chance after chance on the US and doesn't do anything with them.
what about EJ does he really deserve a call up. Eddie Lewis i'm sorry time to retire him away form the national team.
ReplyDeleteI still don't get the omission of Cooper. What the hell does he have to do exactly to get the call? I know we have dozen of world class forwards, but we could probably squeeze him in somewhere, right?
ReplyDeletethe us should just stop playin now, is not like their ever gonna make it outta the group stage in a major tournament again, 2002 was just luck
ReplyDeleteBradley once again kicks the G's in the nuts...I hate you!
ReplyDeletelooks like Lewis wont suit up until September at this rate.
First time here posting. I agree that Kenny Cooper should get called up. And EJ? Well, that's for another day.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of hidebound attitude in selection is what did Arena in in 2006, and I hate to see Bradley follow a similar path. I am willing to cut him some slack considering this is the first of the qualifiers and it's on the road, so experience counts for something.
ReplyDeleteThe experience factor supports having Ching in, but EJ has been out of form for as long as I can remember, and is still in preseason with his club, while Cooper and Buddle have been performing quite well, and Cooper at least has international (club-level, reserve-level) experience.
The choices of Lewis, Hejduk, Mastroeni are massive head scratchers. Ricardo Clark must be wondering why he isn't on the squad in Mastroeni's place - he has done well with the Nats, I think. Likewise for Brad Davis in place of Lewis, and Freddy Adu as well, though Adu's case might be because of the fact that he's joining a new team, and has already missed a few weeks with them.
Screw Cooper over Ching, Eddie Johnson needs to be excommunicated from the MNT.
ReplyDeletethe usmnt must be excommunicated from the world cup...
ReplyDeleteThis is the toughest match of this round. No matter how good Cooper's form is in the domestic league, you don't bring a guy who has almost no experience with the national setup, and no experience at all in a match like this. Besides, as someone pointed out, if you go by recent form, Ching actually is also a good choice for that type of setup forward, plus he has infinitely more experience. Buddle has looked good, but again, one nice streak in MLS doesn't translate into success in the national side, let alone this particular situation. In the craziness of an away match in Guatemala, you want folks who are thoroughly vetted for that kind of pressure.
ReplyDeleteI know EJ has a history of scoring in CONCACAF, but I'd rather have strikers on the squad that have a chance of playing for their club.
ReplyDeleteEJ now needs to earn MNT honors on merit, not simlpy because he's on a European team. In fact, he will probably be on the second team at Fulham to begin the year and may have trouble getting back to the first. I still love his speed, but he's got to toughen up, be much more aggressive (ala Buddle), and friggin convert his chances-- watch how the Argentines finish. Perhaps Buddle would have been a better selection come to think of it!
ReplyDeleteI don't get the folks who say "you don't bring along inexperienced players for a game like this" as justification for leaving Cooper behind, yet Kljestan is there...he's just entering the nat'l team picture now.
ReplyDeleteI think the main criteria is you bring the folks who are most likely to get the win. I know folks are upset with EJ getting the call, but, regrettably there aren't many US forwards with EJ's speed that can stretch the defense. Now, if Davies gets hot at the club level, EJ better watch his back. But the fact that EJ is there highlights how few options we have at forward...and that's sad.
Forget about Edu, where's Adu? Where's Altidore and Orozco for that matter?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, LB. Cooper is more deserving of the nod than Ching.
Without Freddy Adu, this roster is trash.
ReplyDeleteHe is the greatest player the U.S. has ever produced.
sometimes experience can be overrated
ReplyDelete