Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By JOHN BOSCHINI
CARY, North Carolina- Nine months after the United State's exited the 2010 World Cup, Bob Bradley was finally set to coach a full-strength national team. Injuries changed those plans after news that breakout midfielder Stuart Holden's knee injury would keep him out for six months and defender Steve Cherundolo suffered a groin injury.
"We all feel bad for Stuart," Bradley said. "He got injured last year when we played Holland and was able to work his way back and be in the World Cup but he still wasn't 100 percent. He's had an excellent season at Bolton and he's a player we still see as an important part of the team."
Holden needed 26 stiches to repair a gash in his knee inflicted by a nasty challenge from Manchester United's Johnny Evans. Holden said on Twitter that Evans called to apologize and the 25-year-old will undergo surgery on his injured knee in London today.
"We were looking forward to him being back 100 percent and confident," Bradley said. "This is a setback but he's shown in the past the mentality to fight through these things and he knows we're all behind him."
Bradley also said the team would miss Cherundolo, who's enjoying a stellar season as captain of Hannover 96, but that it would give some younger defenders the chance to prove themselves.
Joining Cherundolo and Holden on the injured list is Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread. Bradley called up 22-year-old Leeds United defender Eric Lichaj to replace him but U.S. Soccer confirmed that no one will be called up to replace Holden and Cherundolo, bringing the total roster to 22.
Players traveling with the team to New Jersey for Saturday's game with Argentina will be announced Thursday.
————–
What do you think about Holden's injury? Disappointed Bradley won't call anyone else up?
I’m fairly confident we will see this in the front seven:
Altidore
Donovan Bradley Dempsey
Jones Edu
I am less certain of what we will see in the back, but possibly,
Boca, Ream, Gooch, Spector, (although Lichaj could start as well)
Lol dude. It doesn’t matter how many times you keep pimping Gooch at LB on this site, no one is going to agree with you.
He is on the roster
Someday I’d like to read just one post about the national team without some moron bashing Bob and/or Michael (and btw, there’s no apostrophe when pluralizing Bradley).
this guy does over do it doesn’t he?
And off the top of my head I remember him sending a nice through ball to Ching who struck it straight at the keeper and then Dempsey buried it. He also had a niiiice assist with Gladbach this season.
Bradley’s 5 Robbie Findley and 5 Rico Clark clones are only half gestated in their cloning vats at his secret lair.
I think even BB was going to start Holden…well moving on for the Argentina match probably your lineup is mostly right but not sure if BB will start Chandler, maybe Spector starts at RM
Otherwise what about Jones at LM with Edu and MB holding, Donovan outwide and Demps in the hole?
I don’t forget in that game, there was rain which took some of their advantage…ball control, do we have any rainmakers in the payroll? we may need his services.
Yawn….yep, that sums up Mikey’s game (when he can get one, still hasn’t played a full 90 in 2011) and it sums up dad’s coaching style too, both will be gone shortly. Party time when that happens.
Clearly its not a Bornstein vs. Messi comparison since JB isn’t even on this roster.
True Messi is better now, but even back then at age 20 he was still a much, much better player than JB. I’m not saying its not likely that he’ll smoke whoever is marking up on him (he does it to the best defenders in the world), I’m saying there’s a reason the games get played and the US as a team is not an easy game for anyone (especially at home).
*yawn*
How about some
Jozy
Donovan Dempsey Chandler
Bradley Jones
Boca Ream Gooch Lichaj
Could switch Edu with Ream or Spector with Lichaj
switch gooch and boca and you might have it right …
This is not a razzle dazzle travel team, there is no such thing as “attacking” center mid. If you want to play at this level, center mid has to “attack” and “defend”. Mikey can’t do either, 50 caps now and still not a single assist to his name and then in is his only club start in 2011, FA Cup vs Man City, his complete laziness and ineptness in not closing down Silva on City’s 3rd goal, shows that he can’t defend either.
The Bradley’s have to go, and it won’t be long now, after the Copa Oro is my guess.
If we can’t stick someone out there that can at least stay with him then there are other ways to minimize his damage. You can’t defend him as a team…you will turn him into an assist machine. The only real ways to attack his game is to shut down the passing lanes to him and deny him the ball. This will force him deeper into the MF to recieve the ball. That tactic requires everyone in that MF to attack ARG’s short passing game. Fortunately, the MF can collectively execute this plan and it’s easier than trying to stop Hurricane Messi in and around the 18. In any event, the game is going to be entertaining.
Lichaj and Chandler split time at RB; Boca and____ at CB; Gooch at LB like in his Dutch league play and we are good and/or big at back line.
For the record otergod, Lichaj has TWO caps not one…and yes of course someone will be tested, you are right.
well said, well said
How about we play a back three with two dms?
Being fit is really not an issue when it comes to Bradley giving his favorites PT. If you are on Bradley’s list…all you have to do is have a pro contract and your golden. You will get at least 2-3 calls/per year to show him how worthless you are.
Hmm… perhaps, maybe that’s why he’s having it taken care of in London, and not back in the US by Dr. Steadman or Andrews, who are experts at joints, knees and shoulders. Just about anyone can set a bone.
There’s usually a gentleman’s agreement between MNT coaches and club coaches regarding notice of call-up (time).
The match is this week; too soon to bring in someone else last minute. Also if BB has a good idea of whom he wanted to play where and he could work around these injuries, no sense in wasting replacement players’ time.
That would be preferable to a mangled up knee or serious ligament damage, no?
Of course who knows if it’s true, “I heard”…
Since that copa america in 2007, messi has been twice named world player of the year and has scored 94 goals in 104 games at barca. What has Bornstein done since then?? You dont honestly believe he can contain messi once more. I mean, it would be nice but lets be realistic here. That was a young 20yr old kid. Now he’s a 24 yr old vet in his prime. Im a big USMNT supporter but also a realist. An unjury depleted backline vs an explosive Arg does not bode well for the Yanks
Why would Bob think his side would have to fight for their lives against Argentina? It would be nice to have Dolo and Holden but the U.S, is very capable of beating Argentina at home.
For whatever reason, Messi hasn’t been terribly effective against the US (Senior level, he tore them apart at that U-20 or U-17 tourney). At the last Copa America the Nats attended, Jonathan Bornstein of all people did a fantastic job of containing Messi.
There’s a reason why the games are played on the field and not just on paper.
Yep. Hence why Stu is out injured for 6 months and Johnny Evans is calling him up to apologize.
I’m a Man U fan but to lay any of the blame on Stu is pure idiocy.
Apologizing doesnt make it hurt less :'(
Ives, did he say specifically why they didn’t want to bring in anyone else?
Well Bocanegra has played some rb at st. Et but theres nothing bob can do. It could end up being really bad.
who do you suggest take his place?? Lichaj, Spector and Chandler are our 3 RB options
1 is out of form as a defender, 1 has 6 pro matches and no US callups til now, and the last has 1 cap and Championship experience.
Someone is CERTAINLY going to get tested
It is nice that Evans called him up to apologize. I know its part of the game and Evans didn’t do it on purpose, unlike the dirty dutchman.
one was a slide tackle, the other was a studs lead lunge
Oh, and last time Arg was in town we drew with them. Theyll be looking to show that was a fluke and redeem themselves
Hey meatballs! It is called going for it and playing with passion!
Did you just say Lichaj can cover Messi and di Maria?? Need i remind you what Tevez did to Lichajs career…thank goodness he was left out of thr Argentina roster. If you dont remember, Tevez burned Lichaj twice which led to him not seeing the field for Villa since. Theres nothing Bob can do but pray. Hopefully Timmy can have another miracle game otherwise this could get really bad, friendly or not. Messi will be playing for his national side (which he has been criticized for not playing as well) in a billion dollar stadium in New York in front of 50k+. Do you think he cares if its a friendly?
How did Whitebread score and play nintey minutes on the weekend and end up injured…What happen?
Shea’s face expression is more like, “damn the Gooch is strong” is he dating anyone?j/k
Brek Shea’s face says it all as it dawns on him: “wait…this is gonna be the only time i’m ever here right? …oh.”
What else would you have him do? Considering how quick Messi is, having some young guys in there could be good. DeMerit is awesome, but he’s getting older and isn’t at his peak fitness regardless, so maybe having Ream, who has good pace and reflexes, in there would be better. We also know that Lichaj is capable of putting in a good performance against more skilled opponents. And anyway, we’ll probably see a mix with Gooch in the center and probably Bocanegra on the left. Bottom line–it’s going to take the entire back four to stop Messi.
Besides, the Argentina game is being hyped because of who we’re playing, but in the end, it’s a friendly. I’d rather he give younger players PT now and see how they fare so that we know what they can do when the GC rolls around.
That’s actually what I thought too. They both threw themselves into the tackle.
Does Bob want to try put young defenders against Argentina and FIFA player of the year Messi??? This cant be good
I heard it was actually a fractured shin… not sure though.
It was a dumb slide tackle by both of them
Ives- Any idea how match fit Benny is? Its got to be Benny, Sacha, or Mix up top in the CAM role right? (I am a huge MB fan, but am not sure he will press high enough to sustain attack.)
Wow!!!!! six months is a very long time goodness. D:
Will you just go away already?
No. We don’t. We can keep guessing though, but I’m sure they will eventually say what exactly happened.
Did someone say attacking center mid?
Does anyone have any idea what else happend to stu’s kneed which is causing for surgery