Top Stories

Which player will you be watching when USA faces Czech Republic?

USMNTCamp (HowardCSmithISI)

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

The USA-Czech Republic friendly may just be an exhibition, but it will carry much more weight than most friendlies ever could.

The World Cup dreams of several players will be on the line on Tuesday night at Rentschler Field in East Hartford as we get our first glimpse of the group of players Bob Bradley will be choosing from to shape his 23-man roster.

There are players we already know plenty about, such as Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard, but Tuesday night's match will serve as a vital test for some new faces and some veterans working their way back into the fray.

Here is our question to you: Which player will you be watching the most closely on Tuesday night? Will it be Oguchi Onyewu? DaMarcus Beasley? Herculez Gomez? Edson Buddle? Alejandro Bedoya?

Which player did you pick, and why?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Good lord. Did you not see what I wrote DIRECTLY AFTER that?

    “But he didn’t (or couldn’t) earn it, so he isn’t here.”

    I’d say 15 years of contributions to US Soccer, plus carrying our asses in El Salvador could qualify as “deserving.”

    But it doesn’t, just as 30 minutes of international game time, 3 good runs and 3 goals for your club make someone DESERVE a spot with the team.

    It’s like Bedoya is the new Freddy Adu.

    John Wolyniec has scored as many goals for his club in the last year, as Bedoya and Adu have. Where’s the clamor for him to be called in for the Worl……….

    Oooooh, look! Kenny Cooper!

    Reply
  2. I’ll be watching Ching and Kljestan. Bob needs a good performance from both to justify taking them to SA. I think they are sadly in his 23 right now.

    Reply
  3. I like your lineup and yeah keep Donovan’s minutes down to keep him fresh and injury-free. He should start on bench and run a bit in second half, or skip game altogether would be my preference.

    Reply
  4. Torres ‘too skilled’ for the team? Are you kidding?

    What you mean is, there are still too many players in the USMNT pool with limited technical skills. You don’t solve that problem by removing technical skill.

    Torres on the plane means someone with less skills off – no problem.

    Reply
  5. So it seems…Jozy commercial was actually pretty funny. He must’ve been hung over then from a night out with his Czech porn star namesake because that interview with Landon was painful.

    Or it was…

    Executive Producer: Hey, Josh! Landon is here…we didn’t know…go interview him!

    JE: What?!?! Seriously?!? I’m not prepared!

    EP: So what…its Landon!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  6. you hit it all ives, those 5 are the main ones! not really expecting as much from gomez, but i hope all of them do well and that he proves me wrong, and that bob makes good but tough decisions.
    can’t wait to see the match in person!
    wut wut

    Reply
  7. This first friendly is pure evaluation and nothing else. Winning is only icing on the cake. We will have our first team against the Turks.

    Reply
  8. it means nothing. These games aren’t about results, more about who plays where and well with who, who is our LB, etc. If the US lost 4-5 but gomes had 2, buddle had 2 and ching had 1, would you be disappointed? What if we won 1-0 but played awful and won on bad PK call?

    Reply
  9. that sounds good in theory, until you look back at the Eddie Lewis, Bobby Convey and D. Beasley experiments at fullback, none of which worked out well for us…

    I’m not sure what you meant by “you guys”, but I’m just one guy and I’ve always supported Pearce, especially since the Argentina game in 08 when he was one of the better players on the field…

    Nobody is scapegoating Bornstein, but either him or Pearce are gonna go to S. Africa, b/c they’re the only 2 real left footed fullbacks we have. And given that battle, Pearce is gonna win in my opinion. I’m not saying he should be the 1st or 2nd option at the WC, but he’s gonna be there I think. Therefore, I think its important to play well leading up to it, so Bradley has more freedom to put his back line players in the best position to succeed.

    Does that not make sense?

    Reply
  10. Gooch, Rogers and Holden have my interest. I have heard whispers that Rogers had a good camp so I wonder if he can bring it to the next level. He certainly has the skills. Holden and Gooch-where are they after extended down time due to injuries?

    Reply
  11. josh elliott is actually one of the bigger soccer fans amongst all espn personalities. In the morning sportscenter on big soccer game days he’ll mention how he’ll be watching this, or that, etc. It’s also the reason he’s in the commercial for jozy.

    Check out this article from last year mentioning him begging people to watch the champs league finals

    http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/24726/espns_josh_elliott_begs_you_to_watch_the_champions_league_final

    Reply
  12. If the US loses to Czech Republic (again) without Milan Baros, Tomas Rosicky and Zdenek Grygera, what does that say? It’s also a weak team.

    Reply
  13. just watched that game again. it was a great rip from distance, only about 4 or 5 feet off. also the keeper didn’t have it covered. so yeah, it was a good shot.

    Reply
  14. Agreed the focus has been on conditioning, but there should have been plenty of 3v5 and the like…how else would the milk toast statement that “all the strikers look sharp” have come up on a few different articles?

    For example, maybe Ives can’t “officially” write about that for foxsoccer for one reason or another (too subjective maybe?) but he sure as hell can blog about it…saw some tweets with some beef this evening btw…thanks for that Ives.

    Anyone else catch the LD interview with Josh Elliott? He tries to come across as a fanboy, but seemed to struggle with the interview on the facts front and knowledge front…hmmm. No wonder they needed to hire British announcers.

    Reply
  15. Good analysis. Feilhaber delivers a much needed spark. I think we are in the minority that thinks Pearce should make the final 23.

    Reply
  16. I know this sounds crazy, but I also want to give Findley another test. I know he hasn’t been the best but BB must see something in him. His speed could be very useful against England, so I’d like to see him play a bit tomorrow.

    Reply
  17. I will be watching Gomez, Buddle Rogers, Boca, Klejstan Gooch, and Holden. Finley has got to prove he can do something internationally, I have not been impressed with him at all.

    Reply
  18. It tough to find a replay with the second angle but the replay everyone has seen doesnt do that shot justice. The second angle is from behind the net and is impressive, you’re exaggerating how mush it was off by.

    Reply
  19. I love how your post is filled with so much suspense like a Soap opera, Tele novela, or an episode of Degrassi. I am very excited to see how our players will perform tomorrow. I cannot wait, your post has me wondering what will be the big outcome tomorrow. 😀

    Reply
  20. I would like to see Robbie Rogers light a fire and burn through the defenders. I am also interested in seeing how Holden and Gooch are doing.

    Reply
  21. I thought Pearce looked good in the Gold Cup but then everyone did until the Mexico game. Since then he has looked okay except he hasn’t really played when anything important was on the line. I think England would tear him to pieces.

    I would leave him and Bornstein home. If someone besides Boca or Spector has to play left back let it be Robbie Rogers, who really should ask the Crew to play him there. Otherwise, I’d just go with Spector, Dolo, Gooch, Demerit, Boca and Goodson as the defenders, assuming health is not an issue. I’d rather load up on midfielders.

    Reply
  22. We’re not talking about the “”old”” Pearce. We’re talking about the present Pearce. You know, the one who has shown confidence, comfort, and skill on the ball dribbling out of the back, which, in case you haven’t noticed, is a novelty considering our back line. He had an excellent game against game against Sergio Kun Aguero and showed some of his offensive skills against Argentina. He did extremely well offensively against El Salvador and brought some combination play up the flank against Holland. He’s yet to receive a real challenge of his defensive skills since his renewal of form, but the Czech Republic seems to be his chance.

    Reply
  23. As most people have pointed out, the big question mark is Gooch. I’d also add that pretty much everyone on our defense is either hurt or sucks in some capacity. This is what I’ll be watching intently.

    So pretty much our big issues are keeping goals out and putting goals in. No big deal.

    Reply
  24. Without having read any of the above, though I’m about to, it’s Buddle, Gomez, Bedoya on the bubble, and I’m looking forward to watching them tmw. Choppers, Denver, if anyone’s local.

    Reply
  25. I want to see Gooch for a half to build game fitnes. I hope to see Holden & Beasley as well. However, one major key will be at forward. Can either Gomez or Buddle handle the speed at the international level. We BADLY need one of these 2 to come through.

    Reply

Leave a Comment