Photo by ISIphotos.com
It might seem like it's still far away, but the U.S. national team is just about a month away from holding training camp ahead of a loaded June calendar, a calendar that includes World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup.
Consider the list of opponents in South Africa: Brazil, Italy and Egypt, a trio of very tough and very dangerous teams.
With that in mind, I recently wrote a piece for ESPN.com projecting the U.S. roster for the Confederations Cup. There are still a few weeks before a squad will be named, and plenty can happen between now and then such as injuries, but here is the 23-man squad I projecthead coach Bob Bradley to be calling in for the Confederations Cup, which the U.S. begins on June 15th vs. Brazil:
Projected USA Confederations Cup roster
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Goalkeepers– Tim Howard,Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann
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Defenders– Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Frankie Hejduk, Jay DeMerit, Dan Califf, Jonathan Spector, Michael Parkhurst, Jonathan Bornstein.
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Midfielders– Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, DaMarcus Beasley, Jose Francisco Torres, Pablo Mastroeni, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Freddy Adu
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Forwards– Landon Donovan, Brian Ching, Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies
If there are two issues with this roster it is the dearth of fullback and wing midfield options. I could certainly see Bradley dropping one of the central defenders and bringing one more fullback (such as Heath Pearce, Marvell Wynne or Michael Orozco). Steve Cherundolo's recent hip surgery make it seem very unlikely that he will be ready in time for this tournament.
The wing midfield issue isn't as dramatic because Donovan and Davies can play on the flanks in a pinch and there just aren't that many other flank options (Robbie Rogers has been dealing with a hamstring injury, leaving Jeremiah White as someone who I think might merit consideration.
What do you think of this roster? What players are missing that you feel should be on the roster? Which players made our cut that you feel shouldn't have? What do you think of the U.S. team's chances at the Confederations Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
i know this is off topic but will the gold cup be televised in the US? if it is who will be broadcasting?
Cooper might get a shot in the gold cup; I hope to heck he doesn’t appear in south africa.
Should be a good challenge, I’m looking forward to it.
What Italian team are you guys watching? this isn’t 2006 when they won on PK’s. They aren’t invincible, they are old and beatable. The number one part of the game that is missing for this team is swagger, belief that they can beat anyone, who cares if you can or can’t but if you don’t believe in yourself the games over before it starts. I think we’ll do very well actually it will be Hot better for us, its not in europe better for US.
Count me among those increasingly impressed with Marshall. He already offers more than Califf, and probably DeMerit. I like Spector as a wing back.
Cory Gibbs and Jimmy Conrad in for Jay DeMerit and Dan Califf.
There’s no reason to put Bornstein at left back over Beasley. I feel like Bornstein has the same qualities as Beasley, he’s just not as good at any of them. Beasley will get injured, you can bet on that. So the real question is, who will replace Beasley once he goes down…
Sacha can also sub on the wing, the only reason to bring adu or sacha is for depth on the wings… not ideal, but in case of injuries they are something.
We won’t make it out of the group stage.
oh, and as far as our chances, I will be screaming and cheering for an upset, but I think our chances are pretty easy to predict. 0-3.
so to make it a full 23:
Forwards:Cooper, Davies
Midfield: Edu, Mastroeni, Beckerman, Adu for subbing on the wing
Defenders: Cherundolo if healthy, Spector if healthy, Bornstein, Orozco, Simek
Keeps: Guzan,
Sacha’s defense just isn’t good enough to be a starter in the midfield. people just run around him. I’d put Edu, Mastroeni, Beckerman, and Clark ahead of him in the depth.
I can’t believe we have two more months to speculate! WooHOo, I love soccer.
I think Beasley would get exposed too much starting at left back against the likes of Italy, Brazil, and Egypt. Boca has been doing a good job at left back for Rennes. What I would like to see (provided Spector can ever get healthy) is…
———–Altidore———-Ching———–
———————Torres——————-
Dempsey——————————-Donovan
——————–Bradley——————
Boca——–Spector——–Gooch——-Hejduk
———————Howard——————
Ching worked great as a target man with Altidore. Altidore needs someone to run off of because that is when he’s most effective.
Posted by: Nate | April 27, 2009 at 04:33 PM
I got to say Nate, this one is hard to disagree with. However, I expect we will see, and hope for because we will not see Spector starting so your roster is just a beautiful dream, the way we finished the last game we played when we started scoring.
—————-Ching————————-
—————————Altidore————
Donovan——————————-Dempsey
—————-Torres——-Bradley————-
Beasley—————Bocanegra————-Hejduk
———————-Gooch——————–
———————Howard——————–
In your line up it does make since to put Donovan on the right, because the only reason to put him on the left is to play with Beasley. I love having the speed there with Beasley, but he will get torn apart against Brazil, Italy, and Egypt. Its fine for qualifying, but we must put someone like Boca out there on the left. The problem with that is it is too late to rebuild a center duo tandem like gooch boca, and we need that leadership and chemistry in the middle. So we are in quite a conundrum. I guess the most likely thing we will do is leave Beas out there and just hope for the best….Risky, but it does have offensive advantages that just might neutralize the weaknesses….
Or we could just put Orozco back there at left back, keep our middle duo, and hope for heyduk or dolo to heal up quickly!
I think that is better than breaking up the boca gooch tandem. trying beasley first, and if he can’t handle it, putting orozco or bornstein out there. beasley will be perfectly capable in world cup qualifying though.
Ching must be up top, he sets up all of our goals.
I really really hope Torres will start to get the starting role besides Bradley.
I love having Donovan on the wing, I think his style of attacking play and his speed suit him out there, and obviously his understanding with Ching and beasley make him very dangerous.
Just out of curiousity, what are the L-Mid and R-Mid depth charts for Ives’ roster?
L-Mid: Donovan, Beasley, Torres(?), Dempsey(?)
R-Mid: Dempsey, Donovan, Adu(?), Klejsten(?)
As for Davies, have we seen him ANYWHERE for the National Team (or U-XX teams) other than Forward? I don’t think so. I doubt Bradley would play him on the wing if he’s never played there for the team before.
Orozco over Pearce
Simek over Califf
Beckerman over Sacha
I think that another RB is necessary.
As far as I can tell, with Ives’ roster, the depth cart at LB includes perhaps up to FOUR players: Beasley, Bornstein, Spector, Bocanegra. However, the depth chart at RB is only two-deep: Hejduk and Spector. (Can any of the others credibly play RB? I don’t think so.) I would prefer to be three-deep at Fullback on each side.
Additionally, this roster is 6-deep at Center Back (all the backs except Hejduk and Bornstein can play Center Back). You don’t need to be 6-deep anywhere; 5-deep at Center Back is plenty. You’ll never get to play your 6th string Center Back.
I’m not sure which is the better option this summer for someone wanting to play their way onto the WC10 roster – a reserve slot for the Confederations Cup or extensive playing time at the Gold Cup.
I tend to think that some of the youngsters not getting playing time with their clubs (Adu, Edu, Guzan)would be better served actually seeing a USMNT pitch this summer as opposed to riding pine in South Africa.
I don’t think the Confederations Cup roster needs to be a preview of the WC10 roster. Some simply need to play and those opportunities will be far more plentiful at the Gold Cup….
hahahahaha
chris wingert?
WOW.
What about Chris Wingert? He can prove to be just as dangerous in getting up the flank as Hejduk.
That’s a reasonable projection, by the way. I would drop Califf, personally, in favor of Wynne for some depth at right back. Spector and DeMerit should provide plenty of depth at centerback.
Although I have a sneaking suspicion Bradley would omit DeMerit before Califf.
Hmm…
The more I think about it, the more I actually like the Christmas Tree for the US:
———————-Ching———————-
———–Donovan——Altidore———–
—-Torres——-Bradley——-Dempsey—-
–Beasley–Bocanegra–Onyewu–Hejduk–
———————-Howard———————
I would have Dempsey and Donovan switch periodically to keep the defenders on their toes. Plus I think Dempsey and Torres might complement each other well with quick short passes.
I like the central midfield combo of Bradley-Edu more than Bradley Torres because both of them are:
1. Athletically gifted
2. Large
3. able to create and destroy
With the other central midfield combos we were looking for polar opposite central midfielders. Bradley is a central midfielder that while he is able to defend well, he can display the technical ability on the offense. For example, the brace against Mexico, he not only did well on both goals, but he stifled the Mexican attack and covered loads of ground. Edu has the edge in terms of finesse and passing but really his defensive game matches perfectly with Bradley’s. I just feel that if we get two central midfielders that can play well on all thirds of the field we can dominate posession more.
Anyone heard anything about TV coverage for this tournament?
It is usually FSC but I have not seen anything yet.
I think you’re right Wispy…If we know Bradley he won’t try a new face.
Posted by: LittleRockAnt | April 27, 2009 at 04:01 PM
_____________________________________________
Absolutely! Because, you know, we’re still trotting out the same old lineup we used in 2006.
Sheesh.
In my opinion it would be good to put Boca at leftback but the only suitable replacement in the center is Spector. If he’s healthy for the confed cup then the lineup I want to see is the same as Nate’s. I would like to see Adu as a sub but the thing is apparently he won’t play in the wing which is currently the only place he will play. It might be better to leave him back for the gold cup.
Replace Davies with Cooper….
So this is something that has bothered me for awhile, and maybe those smarter than I can explain. What does Califf offer that Marshall doesn’t? I have always found Califf to be lumbering and terrible with the ball at his feet. I think Marshall is better in the air, and with the ball at his feet, and probably equal speed wise. To my eye the difference is Califf went to the pseudo Euro leagues of Scandanvia. I would also like to see Beasley stop getting calls until he finds some playing time, because every game I have seen him play over the last year, he looks very rusty. But I guess have left foot, will travel.
OK but seriously the real lineup in my opinion is this
————-Altidore—Ching————–
Donovan——-Bradley—–Edu——-Dempsey
Bornstein—–Bocanegra—Onyewu—–Hejduk
———————Howard—————-
Eventually Bobby Convey will need to be put back into the mix.
I think Beasley would get exposed too much starting at left back against the likes of Italy, Brazil, and Egypt. Boca has been doing a good job at left back for Rennes. What I would like to see (provided Spector can ever get healthy) is…
———–Altidore———-Ching———–
———————Torres——————-
Dempsey——————————-Donovan
——————–Bradley——————
Boca——–Spector——–Gooch——-Hejduk
———————Howard——————
Ching worked great as a target man with Altidore. Altidore needs someone to run off of because that is when he’s most effective.
I have difficulty understanding why some of you are so stuck on Adu. I believe he has potential, but it has to be developed and that AIN’T happening at Monaco. With no playing time how do you just plug him into the Nats? My biggest concern for the Confed Cup is will Jozy be back up to speed yet after his toe surgery.
So our B-Team roster would look like this
——————Altidore—————–
Kljestan———–Torres—————Adu
—————Bradley—–Edu————-
Bornstein—–Califf—-DeMerit—–Spector
——————–Guzan——————
Tim – Wake up and smell the coffee. Pearce has some HW to do.
—————–Altidore——————
Beasley—————————–Donovan
————Bradley——Edu—————
——————Torres——————-
Bornstein—Bocanegra——-Onyewu—Hejduk
experiments.
I thought Pearce would get selected.
Brant – How dare you. Soccer is all about having a real strategy, not some suicide mission.
Germans like to compare football with Carl von Clauewitz, who wrote the book On War and was the creater of modern strategy.
almost no mls players.. should not have much of an impact on the summer season, except houston and chivas. hopefully klinsman can find a spot on the team, but i think bradley is doing a fine job.
My brother once had an interesting take on our roster – put Beasley, Donovan, EJ, Wynne, Davies, and every other speedster we can put our hands on out there together. We might not win, and we might not play great, but whatever mistakes we make, we’ll make at Mach 2, and not at 2mph…
I wish he would leave demerit, parkhurst, and adu back for gold cup. BB has shown he doesnt want to play them, so atleast give them some minutes on the B team instead of riding pine on the A team.
Don’t get me wrong i would like to see all three up on the A-team playing, but when they do get up there bob doesn’t play them (adu somewhat exception)
Kaiser,
I love your comments BTW.
Maybe we could drop Pablo and play Landon in midfield and call in Kenny. I’m neutral on wanting it to happen or not but there is a chance. If Bradley sees the lack of depth at the forward spot to be a pressing matter, than sure. If Bradley see’s the need fore a veteran presence in central midfield/defense than thats up to him. This is also a tournament we can be a bit more flexible in. We may see this,
————-Altidore—–Dempsey———-
–Donovan—————————–Adu–
————Bradley——Torres————
–Beasley—-Bocanegra—Onyewu—-Hejduk–
——————-Howard——————
I think that this lineup exposes our field to alot of different styles of attack. We can cut inside with Donovan-Adu and leave the flanks to Hejduk-Beasley, We could play the long ball with Bocanegra-Onyewu. If we keep our options open in terms of the attack we will eventually find a weak point in the opponents defense.
Kyle – Open your horizons to world football language. In Germany and many countries in Europe, it’s “trainer.”
I like your projects Ives, though personally I’d love to see Califf out, in favor of Wynne or Orozco.
Otherwise its a pretty strong team. It will be interesting to see how they fair.
Here’s the 11 I’d like to see start (4-1-2-3):
Howard
Hejduk Bocanegra Onyewu Beasley
Bradley
Dempsey Torress
Davies Donovan Altidore
I know Bob would never even fathom putting 5 attack minded players up front, but I’m allowed to dream right?
I mean we’re gonna be playing two top five teams in Brazil and Italy and the toughest team in Africa in Egypt so I figure we might as well throw all of our firepower and skill up front and give it a go.
Maybe it’s the Barca fan in me but I just feel that if we’re gonna be going up against quality competition we should at least make an attempt to play some free flowing attacking football instead of just hoping for success on set pieces.
I think the key here is to construct the Confederations Cup roster as your top dogs, and let the non-automatic starters strut their stuff in the Gold Cup, or in the qual rounds after we clinch.
The Confederations Cup team needs to show that we can really play, and you don’t audition up-and-coming talents there. That’s why, as much as I’d love to see Chad Marshall ahead of Califf, I’m not going to stress it, b/c Marshall should get a look during the Gold Cup. Marvell Wynne plays in the Gold Cup this year; Frankie’s earned his Confed berth.
I think you’re right Wispy…If we know Bradley he won’t try a new face.
Ives, gotta bring Wynne. He has a lot of upside.. We know what the rest of the guys bring to the table…
I think this looks about right, Ives. I can’t see Pearce making this roster, especially since Boca can play LB in a pinch. The only difference I think we may see is EJ over Davies (not saying I agree with it, just saying we might see it).
Der Amerikanische Kaiser
it should just be Klinsmann for coach
For starters; Klinsmann as the trainer.