With the deadline for naming the 18-man roster just a month away, U.S. Olympic coach Peter Nowak and U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley will spend the next few weeks hammering out the roster that will represent the United States in the Summer Olympics.
Who will be on that roster? When you consider that three overage players will be on the team, that leaves just 15 spots for the rest of the Olympic age-eligible players. So what might the 18-man roster look like? Here is the way I see the group shaking out:
Projected USA Olympic Team
GK- Brad Guzan, Chris Seitz
D- Dan Califf, Maurice Edu, Michael Orozco, Nathan Sturgis, Marvell Wynne and Kamani Hill,
M- Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Danny Szetela, Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven and Stuart Holden
F- Brian McBride, Jozy Altidore, Chad Barrett
———
A few quick points. So why Dan Califf as the overage defender? Bocanegra and Onyewu will be busy with the national team qualifier against Guatemala, as will Demerit, who will likely be dealing with a transfer move. On the MLS front, does Peter Nowak take someone like Jimmy Conrad away from his MLS team for a month? Califf seems like the best option.
The midfield was a tough call but I think this is the best group. Maurice Edu makes it seven but I think he’ll see action in the back because of the thin options there. No Dax McCarty, who hasn’t been playing regularly with FC Dallas. I’m not sure what Benny Feilhaber’s injury status will be come a month from now so he’s out.
Jozy Altidore is the big question mark at forward. Will he be available or will he decide that staying with his new club, Villarreal, is more important? I say he plays and if he wants to play he will be on the roster.
I know some folks will question the inclusion of Chad Barrett. I personally wouldn’t take him. I would take either Charlie Davies or Robbie Findley, but this 18-man roster is the group I see being selected.
What do you think of this roster? What would you change? Who did I miss? What do you think the team is missing the most? Share your thoughts below.
The Olympics are a joke! Why would the US possible risk a chance of losing a key game vs Guatemala to include Landon or any other overage player that would start or figure in the Nats lineup? Remember 2000? Sorry but I don’t want to have to win in the final game vs Guatemala to ensure passage to the Hex. Get it right out of the gate. Nobody is going to remember a US TEAM that places in the final 4(remember 2000?). The US won’t be winning the Olympics anyhoo so fogrget about it. McBride will do fine and so will Califf or any other fringe Nat. BTW why has Neven Subotic not been looked at?
Is there no chance that Landon Donovan will play as one of the overage players?
dwbpnm: well, the number of lineups BB has fielded without junior available is pretty small (7 or his 24 since getting the job), and 5 of those featured highly experimental lineups (2 first friendlies of 07 + 3 Copa matches), so it makes it hard to draw any meaningful conclusions about what BB would do in Guatemala if junior were to be off with the U23s.
In the Sweden friendly back in Jan 08, there was no MB and our midfield was:
Davis — Edu — Clark — Donovan
Did this mean EJ at forward? Even worse… a Twellman – Noonan pairing!
But again this was an odd squad (part of the Corrales – Moor disaster), so hard to put much stock in it.
Back in the Gold Cup final, MB was suspended due to his red card and BB went with a midfield of:
Beasley — Benny — Pablo — Donovan
with Dempsey and Ching up top. But, that was back in an entirely different universe when Feilhaber was good, so, again, that tells us nothing for Guatemala.
To me, the issue is not just what BB will do without MB, but without Edu as well. I am ok with Mastro, but BB will be scrambling to find another central mid.
The implications for the forwards may also depend on Jozy’s priorities. I.e., it’s not just club v. country, but does “country” means the U23s or the full MNT?
possible MNT attack in Guatemala:
—– Ching/EJ — Kenny ‘SBI’ Cooper —
-Lewis — Mastro — Dempsey — Donovan-
patrick/brett: yes, Guzan = overage.
juke box: yes, Eddie is better at his position than Califf is at his, but Eddie’s position is not left back. WC2006 much? He’s great further upfield on the left, though.
eye-viss: if your roster was the roster, how would BB play his precious empty bucket in Guatemala? Clark and Mastro? eeeky.
sushant: yes, Subotic has not decided yet. same with Jose Torres (Pachuca).
I would be very worried with this roster. The backline is thin and Barrett is unnecessary. I would most certainly drop him and add someone from MLS – why worry about taking someone like Conrad (who’s on a last place team anyway) away from MLS if you’re going to take Barrett anyway? Also, I frankly have the utmost confidence in Seitz. I think he’s going to be a huge star and don’t really feel like taking Guzan is necessary. I’d open up an overage spot for someone like Conrad by dropping Barrett and Guzan, and adding a backup U-23 keeper. Two forwards is fine when your midfielders include the likes of Adu and Rogers, who can step up top easily if needed. Ives, I really hope the roster you posted is not the one sent to China.
Messi isn’t overage, Donovan is. Also the US has a world cup qualifier at Guatemala during the Olympics, I don’t believe that Argentina has that issue.
No one on Ives’ roster is a natural right winger, I’d love to see Zizzo included, and please no Barrett.
What about Jorge Flores? I think he deserves a look ahead of Chad Barrett. El Sueno and Freddy Adu in the same attack!!! Imagine the possiblities
The Guatemala game provides a real dilemma for the BB and Nowak. That is likely to be our most difficult game of this qualifying round and it is our opening game. Granted we should be able to drop points at Guatemala and still advance but you don’t want to be playing catch up. MB normally starts with another defensive/two-way mid, but when he doesn’t play BB’s default seems to be to put someone at AM and move the other CM back to more of a holding player. The person who seems to be stepping into the AM role on the national team is Adu who could also be missing for the Olympics. As a result by putting both Adu and Bradley on the Olympic squad we are forced to go to Guatemala and play our top 2 forwards(Dempsey and Donovan) in the midfield and start EJ again. So the question is are the Olympics worth it?
Any idea why Subotic isn’t on the roster? Is he still trying to decide between US, Germany & Serbia(?) ? Are the Olympics not important enough for him?
Just curious.
Also, based on what I saw of Gaven at Copa and Zizzo at U20 WC, I’d take Zizzo. Yes, yes, (slightly!) different level of competition but I liked what I saw out of Zizzo. Not so much from Gaven.
I like parkhurst as an overage backline defender and i really think ferrari has some talent up top. If benny is healthy it’s a shame that hes not on the team, but as we saw with adu at DCU Nowak has to big a ego and personality sometimes and doesn’t care up high prospects.
I can dig your selections, Ives. One big change: I’d take Eddie Lewis over Califf b/c imo Eddie’s better at his position and b/c the team sorely needs a left back, particularly with Spector out and Sturgis recovering. I agree with most of the others with Davies or Findley over Barrett, and the kid Sueno over Gaven as a better spark off the bench. And a late push to convince Subotic would be great. As is…
—–Jozy–McBride—-
Rogers—Adu—-Holden
——-Bradley——–
Lewis————-Wynne
—–Orozco—Edu——
———Guzan———
with Seitz, K.Hill, S.Franklin, Klejstan, Fielhaber, Flores, Davies
Please….no more of “Lead Foot” Barrett and “No Heart” Gavin on a USMNT of any level!!!
If so, Nowak is just as unimaginative as Bradley for a national team coach….and an indictment of Sunil Gulati who only cares about turning the US Soccer Federation into a cash cow and not winners on the international stage!
Chad Barrett haters are people who want to see forwards finish gimmies.
Overage player….. 2 words Eric Wynalda
Why on Earth would we not bring LD? He has said already indicated that he would accept the invitation if it was offered. If Argentina is bringing Messi, as is rumored, then the USSF should be able to sack up and release Donovan. And why on Earth would we waste a roster spot on Barrett? He’s utter crap.
When I look at these prospective U.S. rosters (here and elsewhere) I think that we are going to get absolutely creamed by the opposition. This isn’t rocket science – bring your best players. Don’t even bother to bring guys who are incapable of playing at a high level. What’s so hard to figure out?
The Olympics are a big tournament and I hope we take them more seriously than this. Grrrr.
Sturgis not being fit really brings LB into play.
I think it will go to Freeeman but Mike Randolph has been playing really well for LA lately and he may get a look again.
And speaking of LA, Sean Franklin has been playing to well to ignore. I wouldn’t be surprised if he squeezes out Hill, who doesn’t get any club playing time.
I also would take Charlie Davies over Barrett but Nowak seems to have a hard-on for Chad, so that probably won’t happen.
GK- Brad Guzan, Chris Seitz
D- Dan Califf, Maurice Edu, Michael Orozco, Carlos Bocanegra, Marvell Wynne and Kamani Hill,
M- Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Danny Szetela, Arturo Alvarez, Sal Zizzo and Dax McCarthy
F- Brian McBride, Jozy Altidore, Brek Shea, Jorge Flores, Buddle
Ok this just a list I think it should be at the Olympic in China, but thats just my opinion, Now I hope Nowak knows what he is doing, remember to be a coach in a international level is way different than been a good league coach, I think Nowak and Bob Bradley is just that a good league coach, I hope that we don’t go and do as bad as previous international games ALA Copa America and World Cup 2006. But My Heart is always for USA to do GOOD, GO USA!!!
Kenny Cooper should be on this roster! He should be on every US roster!! He should be flown back and forth from China to the US to play in our World Cup qualifiers also!!! He should be our overage selection for the U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19, U-20, U-21, U-22, U-23, U-24, and U-25 teams!!!
yusef… benny will not be in the olympics because of hes not good enough…. basicly hes going for money not playing…. hes sat at derby and now is playing like an ok player…. well if he would go to mls we would see his stock rise up again and i bet he would be with the usmnt again….
Yes, i agree with andy b, I would take Zizzo over Gaven. Gaven seems too lazy at times.
Patrick,
Re: Guzan
A player cannot have turned 23 prior to Jan. 1 of this year and be age eligible. His birthday would put him slightly out of contention.
He is considered overage. I hope I’m sorely mistaken and we can have the extra slot, but I don’t think that I am.
brett–
I’ll echo Marc again; my thought process was based on the general skill set he brings to the table being more of an asset than the other options. I totally see your point about current form, but I don’t think we’re comparing apples to apples. I think Zizzo without much PT lately is still more valuable than Gaven with PT lately; Zizzo can do things Gaven simply can’t and I don’t think he’s going to be so rusty from lack of PT that it changes things…
oh forgot about wynne at rb in that last lineup
I hear you Brett, and you may be right. My recollection was that he did a decent job at the Olympic qualifying, but I may be wrong. I wouldn’t be opposed to replacing Barrett with a guy like Zizzo. Adu plays like a withdrawn striker, so he could ostensibly be considered a 3rd forward.
Here is the line up i want to see
Guzan
Demerit Orozco Sturgis
Bradley Feilhaber
Holden Adu Rodgers
Jozy
basically a 4 2 3 1 with potentially another overage player to replace holden on the right, i would also like to see Zizzo play that spot because i think he was our third best player on the u-20 team that did so well
I am ok with this line up. If Jozy can’t play then Charlie Davies would be my choice. We will see what this team will be like before they hit Beijing since they are are playing in a tournament in Hong Kong from 7/30 to 8/2. Holland, Ivory Coast and Cameroon will make up the other three in the 4 team tournament. I hope someone covers this here in the states. FSC hello!
brett – guzan is 23 and turns 24 in september, which i think makes him still u-23 for this cycle… does it not?
What about Patrick Ianni from Houston Dynamo? He has played a lot in the backline and the Dynamo have a solid GA average.
Marc- as i said above, he was one of my favs. in the U20’s…. but after that, he’s seen VERY little PT from both club and country… i dont doubt the kid’s ability, but rather his current form…. practice is far different then games..
andy b.- out of curiousity, what has shown you just reason to include Zizzo?? U20’s?? the fact he’s in europe??
dont get me wrong, he was one of my favorite players in the U20’s but quite frankly, he hasnt gotten much playing time since… he would be a nice option, but i dont see it…
I’ll be shocked if Dax isn’t on the roster.
Yes, I was basing it on past performances. I thought Zizzo was a very solid performer and is more dangerous than Gaven. He is tireless on the flank and that is not Gaven’s strength. I have not seen Alvarez play in the past month or so, but I had the same thought process as with Zizzo. It seems like we are solid in the center of midfield with Adu & BRadley, and possibly Szetela and Edu (if used there). We need dynamic, tireless guys on the wings.
patrick – isnt Guzan an “overage” player??? otherwise i would think he wouldve started the Quals….
I’m with Marc in wondering: what about Mr. Zizzo? Not as convinced re: Alvarez.
I know there was mention of this re: McBride saying he was interested at one point, but is there further information to indicate he really has been in discussions about it, or made his interest more “official?”
Finally, I have to say that I think Mr. Bradley is going to be a star for this team– if things go well, I think it’ll be a big tournament for him. My one concern is if he manages to get a transfer deal set up early this summer– will he definitely want to participate?
Marc- what has zizzo done to condone a spot?? or are you simply looking back on past performances??
ill give you Alvarez… he should be included… but who to take out?? Alvarez would be competing with Rogers, Holden and Gaven (as all can play left mid)…. Gaven would be your best chance of replacing if we included alvarez…
so are the only overage players you think we’ll take Califf and Mcbride? what about our 3rd spot?
i agree with most, i would not want to see Barrett included in the roster… the kid needs to find consistancy in the MLS before he should be an option… his recent form may scare Nowak into looking elsewhere…
as for Brek Shea… im hoping by his inclusion with the nats that Nowak is tempted in including him… he impressed me in France… however his lack of intl exp may hurt his chances for being included…
personally id like to see Bernardo get called… wont happen, primarily b/c of his lack of intl exp as well… but if we are talking about dropping a spot on barrett we may as well drop it on a kid that shows improvement from year to year…
honestly tho… at the forward spot, l agree Davies seems a better option at the moment… but Barrett does bring effort to the team, but thats not always what we need
Ives, how much of an impact does McBride’s possible spot on the Olympic team have on talks between Toronto & Chicago? If Chicago were to get him would he still be interested in joining playing on the Olympic team?
Sal Zizzo? Alvarez? I think both of those guys should be in serious contention if healthy.
Thanks for paying attention – again.
Dax hasn’t been playing with Dallas because of a groin injury suffered while playing for the US, not because he isn’t good enough to play.
Yeah, no reason to think he might make the team.
I agree with this pretty much, but I think I would rather have Demerit over Califf (personal preference only).
Also, I believe I would try and take Shea, Davies, or Ferrari. Shea is a definite wildcard/game changer IMO. Davies’ would be a versatile asset up top or out wide. And Ferrari is one of the more technically gifted forwards we have in this age group in my estimation.
Barrett is a wasted roster spot at this level.However, bringing Chad along would add one more star to Nowak’s dunce cap.
Brek Shea should receive an opportunity to camp since his performance at the Toulon tourney was very good and can play numerous positions on the field. Although this does not mean that he will make the team, his abilities translate well on the international game with great athleticism, versatile, attacking skills, and size.
I would insert Charlie Davies any day over Chad Barrett.Hopefully, Mcbride will play for the team. It will be great to see him again. Go USA.
Sturgis has been hurt for almost 2 months now and has not played a game. I doubt whether he’s going to be ready to go in time.
Chad Barrett has become this site’s new Wilman Conde. Every time he’s featured in a post Ives can count on a few more comments and page views from the legion of haters.
This team will be lost if Jozy doesn’t play. We need him in there, and I’d be sickened by him if he didn’t go to the olympics for such selfish reasons as he prefers to train with Villareal instead. It’d be a slap in the face to all in American soccer.
Are they going to wear our new kits or are they going to be in the crummy looking ones pictured?
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Flores over at Chivas made this team. He seems to star every time he starts with them, and did well with that youth team that went to the English reserves awhile back.
If Nowak employs the double foward tandem, McBride and Altidore would be exciting to watch with a midfield consisting of Adu, Rogers, Sasha, and others backing them up. It sure will be awesome to see McBride back in the national team uniform one last time. Or who knows, this may convince him to come back for further world cup qualifying.
Dax hasn’t featured because he has had hernia surgery again. When he was healthy he was starting, and his absence has been a big reason, in my opinion, why Dallas has taken a turn for the worse. He has shown every time he has played with the youth Nats that he is an important part of the team, even when be asked to play right back.
And if Gaven is a member of this team, not to mention Barrett, I hope neither see any of the field. Those two are wasted roster spots.
Whatever gets Chad out of the Fire lineup is alright by me.
Injury or not, it is amazing that in less than a year, Benny Feilhaber went from Gold Cup hero to under-23 fringe player.