Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com
by FRANCO PANIZO
Whether it's a fringe player looking to cement a spot on the final 23-man roster, or a starter looking to silence his critics, the U.S. men's national team's friendly against the Czech Republic (8pm, ESPN) should provide answers for head coach Bob Bradley.
With Bradley selecting his World Cup team on Wednesday, the match at Rentschler Field will prove pivotal for bubble players such a Alejandro Bedoya, Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez. A solid performance against the Czechs could go a long way in helping a player book his ticket to South Africa.
"This past week we've had training to see how we were on our running," said Jose Francisco Torres. "Everybody has enjoyed seeing each other again, but now we have an important game. Everyone is focused on that."
While everyone is in World Cup mode, it is likely that some regulars will be rested in order to make room for the numerous players fighting for the final six or seven spots up for grabs.
One regular who won't be rested is Oguchi Onyewu, who has not played in a match since injuring his patellar tendon on Oct. 14. Onyewu stated during the pre-World Cup camp in Princeton, NJ that he's fully fit and healthy, but questions remain about how his form is after the lengthy layoff.
"I'm up to par and up to game fitness right now," said Onyewu. "All that's left to see is game situations and hopefully within the next couple of friendlies I'll be able to get the cobwebs off and put to rest all uneasiness that everybody might have."
Centerbacks Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit are also coming off recent injuries, but both might be given the night off due to their status with the team. Tim Howard might also be rested as he was healing a thigh strain during training camp.
If Howard does not dress, Brad Guzan and Marcus Hahnemann will likely split time against Czech Republic. Just exactly who is Howard's backup is uncertain, but the answer could come with a strong showing.
Of all the positions, forward is the one with the most question marks. Jozy Altidore and Brian Ching, if healthy, are locks to travel to South Africa, leaving Gomez, Buddle, Robbie Findley and Eddie Johnson to battle it out for the final one to two spots.
Gomez and Buddle are the more in form strikers out of that group, with both enjoying stellar seasons before joining the national team. Word around the team is that Gomez has enjoyed a solid camp, while Buddle has struggled a bit, especially with fitness. Buddle, however, feels up to the challenge if his number is called.
"If I get my chance, I'm just going to run with it and play hard and walk off the field knowing I gave it my all," said Buddle.
For Buddle and other hopefuls, the Czech Republic match is likely to make or break their World Cup spots. That pressure might not come close to what they will feel in South Africa if they make it, but it might be as close as one could get in a friendly.
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What do you think of tonight's game? What are you keeping an eye on? Do you see Onyewu performing well? How will Buddle and Gomez do?
Share your thoughts below.
Lineup v. CZE: Guzan; Cherundolo (c), Goodson, Onyewu, Bornstein; Holden, Edu, Torres, Beasley; Buddle, Johnson
maybe they wouldn’t have gotten bounced had they been able to relieve pressure and hold the ball aka, what ching brings to the table. Saying that he didn’t play on an embarassing team isn’t exactly an indictment of his skill.
Kick off is 8. Coverage starts at 7:30 on ESPN.
I don’t think Beasley vs. Bedoya is decided yet, nor is Pearce vs. a 4th striker.
Its good to see some people who dont bash Kljestan and Bornstein like its their profession
Oops. Didn’t see “makes sense” above. Don’t think the page loaded fully.
What are you smoking? Cooper? Seriously? Does that guy even have a team anymore? And since when do you have to lead the MLS in scoring to be on the national team?
Makes sense. Keep out the sure bets for SA. Can only dress 23.
6 subs
I think at least one of those players will get some time today. Boca and Demerit look to get some rest too.
As for Dempsey playing up top, if Gomez shows well today we might see Dempsey move to forward at the 65 minute mark like the confed cup. Bradley might also not want to show where his players line up and keep Capello guessing.
I guess getting regular playing time in the EPL = nothing. Sigh………
Since this is a friendly, how many subs are allowed? If subs are not limited, then we could see a few different looks. If it is the standard three, then what we see will greatly depend on how training has gone. I agree with Ives that we’ll probably see either Hahnemann or Guzan in goal, and Howard get rested. I also agree that Bocanegra and DeMerit are locks to go, so they may be rested in favor of getting looks at guys like Goodson and Bornstein. It will be interesting…
You know, Kljestan is my favorite player on the national team, but this whole thing of saying Bradley plays favorites just needs to stop. I don’t really think Kljestan or Bornstein are getting on this roster just because Bob was their former manager. Why are they still being used? Because there really isn’t anybody else. Pearce had been out of form until the El Salvador game, DeMerit and Onyewu were out so there needed to be cover at center back, which is why Bocanegra played there and Spector hasn’t played well at left back for West Ham and his crossing ability might just be the best we have. As far as Kljestan goes, Bob Bradley hasn’t used him seriously since the Confederations Cup, and the only reason he was being used there was because Feilhaber was better off the bench, Torres was tired, and Adu was out of form.
i actually disagree with you on Jozy. Jozy has done a lot to earn his spot. Cooper has hardly played since going to Europe. he started off well in Germany but has had like 20 minutes in his entire time in England. He doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near the 23…or the 30 for that matter. I like Cooper, but he has a lot of work to do.
big man?!?! Ching is 6’1″. So are Dempsey, Buddle, Jozy and EJ. Dempsey said he would prefer to play a target role if he plays up top. Jozy obviously does pretty well as a target guy. And Buddle can do as much as Ching can, in my opinion.
Based on the photos I saw on US Soccer, I don’t think Dempsey, Donovan or Bradley will play. They looked like they were doing fitness yesterday (or the day before). Doesn’t bode well for them playing in a game today.
Dempsey, Donovan and Bradley won’t play. You heard it here first.
Imitating Bob.
Do you know what a cobb web is? I think it’s when you get a spider in your salad, but I’m not really sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3kmPaLTB8
There’s every goal he has scored for the nats, most off crosses, either taps from being a smart forward, or smashing it in with his head.
Hmmm…….scored a goal against Spain, the number 1 team without an assist, the youngest American to score a hat trick in an international game, top goal scorer for US in our qualifying group…..shld I continue? What has he done, what kinda question is that?
Anyone think it is time to start Jozy and Dempsey up top together. Most people, including Ives, think thats what we will see come the 12th, isnt it time to practice with it in an actual game???
That’s because Jozy is super lazy! He never even fights for 50/50 balls! Apart from being lazy he is a wuss. He looks seriously scared to go into a hard challenge.
Makes sense. Some need some rest anyways. He definitely needs to push the guys that are playing.
He definitely better get 45 min. a game in these friendlies if he is going to SA. Need to see if he’s even healthy enough to hold up. Stress test him now before potentially wasting a spot on him.
To answer my own question, I’d say that he’s already got it all locked in and only a magical performance could change anything.
I totally agree!
Also, why is Jozy a lock?? What has he done?
I still think we need at least one experienced forward out there.
I can see the Ching haters will not stop hating until Ching proves himself out there. So I’ll stop debating. Let’s just see how things go on the field.
How many goals has Ching scored off of set pieces in his entire 6 year national team career? How many were on headers? How many were against good teams?
Because he hopes that somebody out there will read into it as a major concern. Congrats, you win.
A prominent soccer blogger/writer at a prominent newspaper in our nation’s capital writes “the very early — and very unconfirmed, unofficial — buzz is that several regulars will remain in street clothes. The names I hear are Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Carlos Bocanegra.”
Ives doesn’t like it when you link to others here.
Bryan, I can’t agree more with you! What have Jozy or Ching done?? Ummm, hardly anything spectacular. Have either of them led MLS in scoring? Jozy has made one lucky goal against Spain and he’s a lock??
I prefer Kenny Cooper as a target player over Jozy! He is sooooo OVERRATED!!
The tragedy of Kljestan included over Torres is still a very real possibility, one understandably disregarded or denied by some. Kljestan has a better chance than Bedoya, I think we all can see that. I hope I’m wrong.
Because the style of play he represents simply isn’t effective against good defenses, he isn’t especially good at that style, and the US doesn’t need to rely on a less advanced style of offense now because it has better technical players than it once did in the midfield and up front. Ching has never scored an international goal against a good team and hasn’t scored any club goal outside of MLS. He almost never scores anyway, he doesn’t run well, with the ball or without, he doesn’t beat defenders, and he isn’t particularly good in the air. I’m not sure how good Davies is, really, but I think we all know how much better the US looked when we had speed plus better technical ability in the number 2 striker spot. Dempsey would start over him of course. And Gomez, who led the rather good Mexican league in goals, appears to bring more ability to the table. But in the end, I can’t think of any good international or club team that devotes a starting striker of first sub position to someone with Ching’s skill set because no one good really tries to play football that way.
Yes, because it’s very confusing seeing ‘Edon Buddle’…who else could that be confused for? Maybe ‘Egon’ from Ghostbusters?
I believe the integrity of the article is still intact.
You bring up a good point about Ching’s questionable fitness. I am one of the seemingly few who is okay with him going to the WC but his fitness and form as you mentioned are iffy.
The only point I’d make is that while Gomez and Edson have looked good domestically they are still unproven on the big stage, let alone the biggest stage. Since Ching really isn’t out there just to provide an offensive threat, its not as much a concern with him if he can’t crack defenses.
Agreed. But as Beta said, if somebody comes out and tears it up that may may a difference for the 23rd spot. But for the most part it should just be a confirmation of what he expects.
“How the eff is Chung a lock?”
That doesn’t even deserve an intelligent response.
That Edon Buddle is a near-mythical talent.
Frankly though, I think that’s a little bit ridiculous… he’s got another few weeks to kick it in gear. He’s shooting the lights out… even in the games where he hasn’t scored, he’s put several really good shots on frame in them and if it wasn’t for some awesome saves would have even more goals to his tally.
Brian Ching is a known quantity… and that quantity is not the lightning in a bottle that Buddle COULD be. I’d personally rather have Buddle back up Jozy … who knows if Ching will go down with another injury before the Cup… (though I guess Buddle could be his replacement in that event anyway)
If you paid attention to the USMNT for more than this qualifying cycle, talking history, you will see that set pieces are the most important part of this team doing well at a World Cup.
We have always lived and died by set pieces, and the ability to be strong in the air and smash a ball in the back of the net is a real talent.
Give me Boca, Gooch, DeMerit, and Ching in the box on corners and set pieces, there will be goals.
Bravo!
I would love it if we had better options than Ching, but we simply don’t. Gomez has had a couple of great months after years of mediocrity with almost no national team experience. Buddle is 29 with no national team experience. He’s always been able to score goals in MLS but hasn’t had a chance with the national team because he is known around the league as being lazy.
How isn’t he???
Brian’s been getting slower and injured more often – it happens to older soccer players. Ching looked good in 2008 for usmnt in early qualifying; it’s been downhill for Brian since then.
2 years downhill for a guy who didn;t get off bench in 2006 = please don’t put him on the plane, younger and healthier is what is needed.
One camp update from someone had him lagging significantly behind the group during the after practice fitness regimen… the thought is he won’t be able to handle the increased fitness demands of the international game.
Well that Settles it: USA/Ching gets a pat on the back for a good “work rate” and England wins 2-0.
Forwards must be able to turn defenders and score with their feet. Otherwise, they become tactically irrelevant apart from set pieces (which can, admittedly, be significant). But Ching can’t do this and his magical “holding” power and 50 cents will get us a cup of coffee.
Agree with what you’re saying, other than starting. CONCACAF qualifiers are not the World Cup, the defenses we’ll be facing will be taller, stronger, and faster than our qualifying.
That said,
Altidore Dempsey will be your forward tandem, Gomez if you need a spark, Ching to kill some clock.
All solid options and enough to get out of the group stages, which after than anything can happen. So people need to stop freaking out about Ching because he does have MORE goals, MORE caps, and MORE experience than every other forward, and that DOES matter.
exactly
Nobody said he’s your starter or your first choice sub.
He’s the guy you’re going to look to if Jozy gets hurt, or you need to kill some clock at the end of a game.
Emile Heskey.
Perspective: His goal ratio for the USMNT is better than Charlie Davies’.
Give me Gomez any day, and I’ll take Buddle on Sundays, over Ching.
A year ago, 3 years ago, the answer would be different, but seriously Ching has not been sharp or that physically healthy for a year.
For WC, we can’t afford that, give me someone healthier with better odds of scoring. You don’t score, you don’t win, that simple. Forwards who can’t score at WC level should not be in the game period.