Top Stories

Who should Bob Bradley call up against Cuba and T&T?

National_team_stars_isi_photos

                                                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

With three points in the bag after last week’s 1-0 road win against Guatemala, the U.S. men’s national team heads into the next set of World Cup qualifiers knowing that two wins could all but lock up advancement into the Hexagonal round.

A trip to Cuba followed by a home date in Chicago against Trinidad & Tobago are up next and U.S. coach Bob Bradley will have some tough decisions to make regarding player selection. Steve Cherundolo is set to serve a suspension while Pablo Mastroeni is dealing with an injury that could keep him out. You also have some players who could be in the midsts of transfers.

So what will the 18-man gameday roster look like that Bob Bradley trots out against Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago (18 players will dress but more will be called in to camp) ? Here is one potential group:

POTENTIAL USA ROSTER vs. Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago

GOALKEEPER– Tim Howard, Brad Guzan

DEFENDERS– Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Bornstein, Marvell Wynne

MIDFIELDERS– Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Eddie Lewis

FORWARDS– Brian Ching, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Kenny Cooper

I could see Bradley calling in this group. Why? Well, the combination of Heath Pearce’s recent struggles coupled with a potential transfer from Hansa Rostock could lead Bob Bradley to leave him in Germany and give Jonathan Bornstein a look. I also think Wynne showed enough in the Olympics for Bradley to call him in as Frank Hejduk’s back-up at right back.

Freddy Adu is the glaring absence. Why no Freddy ? He’s in the midst of a new move to Monaco and I can see Bradley wanting to leave him in France to settle in. If he decides the time is right to bring Adu in, you might not see Eddie Lewis Sacha Kljestan. I could also see Bobby Convey getting a look ahead of Lewis if Lewis isn’t healthy (though as someone rightly pointed out, it has been a long time since Convey got a look. The 2-2 tie vs. Mexico in February to be exact).

At forward, if Altidore is healthy I can’t see him not getting the call. Given Clint Dempsey’s recent struggles Bradley need some fresh blood to look at. Kenny Cooper is the player everyone wants to see but I see him getting the nod because of Eddie Johnson’s recent loan move to Cardiff City. If Bradley decides he wants to use Johnson against a T&T team he has had success against in the pass, then fans will have to keep waiting for Cooper to make a national team appearance. That said, if the Americans beat Cuba, I can definitely see Cooper getting the mid-week call against Trinidad & Tobago.

It should also be noted that you could and will likely see changes to the 18-man rosters for the two games, especially if the U.S. team beats Cuba.

So who do you think should get the call? Feel free to share your thoughts on the potential roster below, and remember that more than 18 players will be called into camp, but only 18 will be in uniform on game days). But first, it’s time for a poll on whose absence would bother you the most:

Comments

  1. agreed that pearces “slump” is ridiculously exagerated.

    the primary flaw in his game, imo, is that hes caught out of position a bit too much trying to get into the attack- and against guatemala he was at a pretty sizeable disadvantage speed-wise, so yeah- he had a pretty poor game.

    that said ANYONE on the left side with lewis is going to look overwhelmed defensively (ask convey about that chech opener in the world cup).

    so, unless you think a couple games off are going to increase his pace dramatically then absolutely nothings changed.

    conversely- you want all the pace in the world in a guy that cant defend? bornsteins your guy.

    that said, im all for guys getting a look. we outclass our opponents by a lot- we can afford to break up the “first 11” weve been running out. we dont need change for changes sake- but are altidore/cooper going to score LESS then ching/johnson? dempsey hasnt looked like he cared in a while now- give him a break. (not saying drop him, just take a game or two to look at a kljsten on the right with donovan up top where he belongs, or for adu to play that withdrawn striker role).

    ive got absolutely no complaints with playing ching or hejduk or mastro when we go in to honduras or mexico- but against cuba i really think we could manage to squeak by with wynne or edu. hey, who knows- maybe they can do as well as “seasoned” guys who arent half the player they used to be, much less than the guys behind then due to “inexperience”.

    theres only one way to fix that…

    Reply
  2. I cannot stand the argument for Ching (by Pepe) that we should let others stay at their clubs. That just feeds the “no international experience” argument when important games come up. Jozy and Cooper need to get in the mix NOW. Freddy should be there too, but I don’t think anything is going to make him taller or less whiney when he gets fouled by 6 foot defenders.

    Reply
  3. It is not a good sign that Dempsey didn’t even get in to the Carling Cup game today. Typically teams like to play their reserves in the cup game. Fulham went with more first stringers then is normal and never went to him.

    I think you have to look to who is really in form. Since none of the guys playing in England have had preseason or game time except the goalies, Convey and DeMerrit, I’d say only take the guys getting playing time. Beasley looks pretty good. The guys playing Olympics and the MLS guys are in form and they should play as well. Bradley needs a rest.

    Reply
  4. cooper won’t get called in. neither will wynne. he wants a training camp to get them acquainted with the other players first. it just won’t happen

    Reply
  5. Hey everybody. Stop including Cherundolo. The last I checked none of you have the authority to recind a red card suspension.

    Reply
  6. I have to agree with some of the other posters that this team needs a little offensive shakeup. How many goals have we scored from the run of play this year? We should be dominating possession against a team like Guatemala and commanding the game. I think that game should be a wake up call to Bradley. The Olympic team looked good. If he is not going to give some of these young guys a chance now, when? 2011? Give Cooper/Altidore/Davies a chance, and start a more attack minded mid, like Adu or Holden or Kljestan.

    Reply
  7. there are still players that I don’t see mentioned here and they deserve a chance.. And all from MLS too

    Michael Harrington… Not too many options at left back, and he’s been overlooked, should have made the olypics too

    Clyde Simms I like him a lot and should be given a chance over the coaches son

    Marvell Wynne the other fullback..with Harrington on left.

    Brad Davis.. Always loved his playing and a good backup for Beasley

    Here’s my experimental line up I would try for T&T (if we beat Cuba)

    Howard

    Wynne

    Califf

    Eddie Robinson (should be called back too)

    M Harrington

    Rico Clarke

    Landon donovanC Simms

    Brad Davis

    kenny cooper

    jozy

    Reply
  8. Wow, I don’t even know where to start, but I’ll try……

    @Dan- Sal Zizzo and Bobby Convey? Really? You’re serious?

    @Nevin Rossi- Not a bad idea but Bob “Empty Bucket” Bradley will never do something like that.

    @Nate- The deal is, Dempsey has lost form, and thats why hes not playing in the Carling Cup. In other places around the world, the don’t let you keep your place in the squad if you are playing badly, unlike here in the states.

    Carry on.

    Reply
  9. EmorySoccer,

    Its not that Convey is out of favor; it’s just that he was hurt for so long and is only now getting back to seeing regular time with Reading. It would be good to see him get back to team MVP form of three years ago but he just needs to string together a few games where he plays well for the full ninety and then I bet folks will be fine with seeing him called up again. Beasley gets hurt often too, but he seems to recover more quickly and his game seems to have improved while at Rangers; and though there is not a lot of love for Lewis — as Ives points out — he has been a versatile and consitent player for club and country making the need for Convey not as pressing (not even counting Rogers who has also begun to emerge).

    Reply
  10. I’m actually relatively new to soccer, and am by no means much of a tactician, but here’s my go of it:

    GK: Howard, Guzan

    Def: Bocanegra, Onyewu, Pearce, Wynne, Hejduk, Wynne, Bornstein

    Mid: Dempsey, Beasley, Bradley, Adu, Kljestan, Edu

    For: Cooper, Altidore, Donovan, Davies

    ——————Howard—————–

    Wynne——-Onyewu——-Boca——-Pearce

    ————Kljestan—–Edu————–

    —-Dempsey——-Donovan——-Beasley—-

    —————–Altidore—————-

    Depending on how the game goes, I’d bring Adu on for Dempsey in 70′ or so, put Adu at CAM and move Donovan over to RAM.

    Reply
  11. Something Ives mentioned while answering questions also tweaked my interest. I know it’s been mentioned over the past couple of months here but do we REALLY need two deep middies? Edu and Bradley are both good players but should we playing a bucket midfield or even a 4-2-3-1 vs the level of opposition we’re facing?

    Just a thought.

    Reply
  12. Just to clarify again, I wasn’t trying to discourage discussion (as if anyone could in here), but trying to point out that many, many posts are the same rants, each and every time the MNT suits up.

    And look! While I take no credit, the posters today have actually raised a whole lot of good points. Cool, huh?

    Now, for my opinion…ah never mind….somebody already said it. All except that if Ching or Twellman see the field in either of these qualifiers, I will just cry.

    Reply
  13. ” why did convey lose favor with everyone?”

    Yes Convey is doing well in the Coca Cola League so far. But can you point out when he has looked good in a Nats uniform in the last 2 1/2 years?

    Reply
  14. Clint,

    I like you’re roster the best, all things being equal, I’d second your lineup. However, Ives and others make a very good point about playing time with clubs…therefore I do not see Edu coming in. Secondly, I would be very very surprised if Bradley goes with Wynn on the right over Hejduk. Eventually? sure. But not now. Here are my adaptations.

    ———–Howard———–

    Hejduk—Onyewu—Boca—Bornstein

    ———Bradley—–Sasha——-

    Dempsey——-Donovan——Beasley

    ———-Ching———

    It’s not that Cooper shouldn’t start up top, its that Bradley has shown a penchant for not starting young players, but working them in slowly. I expect Cooper to be there, (and would also argue that Buddle should be there as well in place of Dempsey who is struggling for the Nats and for Fulham and he needs to find his rhythm and playing time). Buddle, however will not involved in this round. No way BB pulls 3 Gals, as he will bring Lewis to back up LM & LB as Ives noted, he is quite versital in that regard.

    I do not think Jozy, Adu, Edu, Pearce are brought in for the reasons Ives made. Gooch I think is here, too important on a back line with 2 new starters at the FB position to leave him out.

    Reply
  15. NateinSF – Roy Hodgson went with his best 11 and at the moment Dempsey is not even close to cracking it. His form has gone from bad to worse since Feb last year and he will most likely be playing reserve games by Christmas without a rash of injuries at Fulham. That is just the facts.

    Reply
  16. It would be AWESOME to just professionally dismantle a weaker team piece by piece just like it should be regardless of who is called up. I actually watched the CONCACAF champion’s league last night, because I have no life, and was sickened by how truly awful we, NE and Chivas, looked in both games. To me that was the worst night in MLS history for establishing the leagues credibility. We can play Everton even up but our best club in league history GETS SCHOOLED BY JOE FRIGGIN PUBLIC. They should show that SETANTA for all of you who are pissing and moaning about our young talent going to Europe. Those 2 awful displays last night will put an end to any transfers full stop.

    Think Spain goes to Luxembourg or Andorra hoping to come out with one point? I know someone will sight Barcas loss yesterday to a Polish side but to that I say this:

    Barca isn’t trying earn respect and create a pedigree my friends- they have had one for 90 + years. MLS can’t slag any opportunity off to establish their “superior” level of play over these minnows and after thoughts.

    Garber should furious, ashamed and on the war path today. What a joke. I can’t believe the level of outrage on this board isn’t higher.

    Reply
  17. GK:Howard, Guzan

    D:Hejduk, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Pearce, DeMerit, Wynne

    M:Donovan,Beasley,Bradley,Mastroeni,Edu, Kljestan, Adu

    F:Ching,Dempsey,Altidore,Cooper

    It’d be awesome to see how a Cooper-Donovan forward combo would do. Ching-Altidore would be great too. Even with Dempsey not having a great year at forward, the Dempsey-Altidore combo was a success against Mexico. But we all know we just wanna see Cooper and Altidore as the striker combo, admit it. I dont blame you. I’m curious as to how that would work out, but i doubt they would both be getting the start. Bradley needs a rest. He’s just a kid.

    Reply
  18. Neven and all Donovan haters…get over it! He’s so bad he’s scored the most goals in USMNT history at the ripe old age of 25. Outside of goalkeepers, he is one of the best players American soccer has yet to produce. Dempsey looked good for a while but is no way near the threat Donovan can be when he is on his game. Granted we want to see him play great in every game, but by any criteria, this is one player we never want to leave at home.

    Reply
  19. ———–Howard———–

    Wynne—Onyewu—Boca—Bornstein

    ———Bradley—–Edu——-

    Dempsey——-Donovan——Beasley

    ———-Cooper———

    Reply
  20. I’d like to see Kenny Cooper or Taylor Twellman get a call. Our scoring has been inconsistent, and I think we should try something different.

    I also think Pearce got exposed a little in the back against Guatemala. Is Spector available, or is he injured? It would be good to get a look at him in the D. We could also give Jonathan Bornstein another opportunity back there. He has great speed, and also makes good runs forward when they’re there.

    Reply
  21. ———Jozy—–Cooper——

    DMB—–Bradley——EDU——–ADU

    Conrad—Bocanegra—GOOCH—Hejduk

    —————-HOWARD———

    Cooper honestly is owning MLS, Conrad is most sold defender in MLS, he’s got like 4 big goals, I saw him at an RBNY game he played great

    Reply
  22. usfed should dump bradley he wiil never use new blood he should open te field for other players he uses te same player over and over .felix garcia from laredo heat is a very good player .he should give others a chance but it will nerver happen

    Reply
  23. Angel – I disagree. Donovan is the one who is invisible in international play. What about Dempsey’s goal in the WC?

    He is being played out of position for all of this summer’s friendlies and the Qualifiers.

    Reply
  24. So far pearce has had 1 bad game and he should be thrown out… you sound like a bunch of pinko commies.

    We have no one else unless you included Juan Epstein.

    Reply
  25. I am going to write something controversial here and I am guessing that half will agree and the other half will go into full attack mode. “Landon Donovan should retire from international futbol.”

    From my pont of view, he and Dempsey play the same position (right mid). Donovan gets the crap kicked out of him everytime he plays in Europe, he disappears. In my opinion, Dempsey is a much better suited to playing international soccer. He is more hard-nosed than Donovan and can give as good as he gets. He’s not afraid to take chances and stick his neck out (ala his goal in WC 2006).

    Donovan can’t/won’t do that.

    I am probably old-fshioned but I would play Gooch as a sweeper with Subotic (keeping my fingers crossed) in fornt of him. One the right Simek/Wynne. On the left, Spector (if he can regain his health/form).

    In the midfield, you pla either Edu or Bradley in the back ofthe diamond, Dempsey on the right and Beasley/Rogers/Convey on the left.

    Up top (I KNOW AM DREAMING HERE) you play with Rossi and Altidore. And don’t tell me Rossi is set for Italy. He still hasn’t played in an A Game for Italy.

    If you are Rossi, do you wait for WC 2014 to play? When you will be 28 years old? Or do you jump ship if they don’t pick you for qualifiers and play for the US in 2010 when you are 24 and at your peak?

    Let the posts start to fly…

    Reply
  26. Not sold on Pearce or Bornstein on the left. Try Bocanegra or even Clark on left. Would like to see Chad Marshall and Parkhurst get their shot with senior MNT.

    Reply
  27. >> Ching is not international class and should never again play for the USMNT.

    Our first game is against Cuba which barely qualifies as “international class”. I’d call him up just to keep others at their clubs. I also think Ching does more good than is realized. Though the #1 job of a forward is to score goals. Something NONE of our current forwards are doing.

    I’ll put in a 2nd (or 3rd) for Thorrington. He’s been playing great AND has been the heart and soul of Chicago. I guarantee he would go out there and battle.

    Reply
  28. Neven,

    have you seem Dempsey play, I don’t think he is playing good, or maybe I’m wrong. But I think Bob Bradley is doing a bad job on how to lineup the players. Sometime I see Donovan at front as a foward, middle or left midfielder. Same as Dempsey so either they are no good or Bob is playing them not in the right Natural Position.

    Reply
  29. Although they are WCQ and obviously very important, BB needs to be careful of the European based players. A risk, which we’ve seen happen, is that a player, especially if with a new team, misses 2 weeks for WCQ, comes back and never wins a spot he might otherwise have won. That’s not in his or the Nat’s best interest long term.

    It’s just something to keep in mind as we consider Jozy, Edu, Adu, and others. And yet another reason to call in Cooper 😉

    That said, if BB thinks a guy is important and plans on starting him, then fine. But I’d hate to see a guy come into camp and sit the bench and fall behind with his club team. This could happen with a guy like Edu.

    Reply

Leave a Comment