Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men’s national team’s next World Cup qualifier isn’t for another three weeks but all U.S. fans want to talk about is which new players Bob Bradley will bring into the World Cup qualifying mix.
Here is my story for ESPN.com today on seven players I think have earned the chance at coming into a World Cup qualifying camp and could get a look next month.
So who made the list? The obvious three lead the list. Jozy Altidore, Kenny Cooper and Freddy Adu. I’m definitely in the "Call in Jozy ASAP" group these days, but while I think Cooper and Adu should get calls I am not in the "Start them now" crowd.
So who were the other picks?
I went with Chad Marshall, Robbie Rogers, Charlie Davies and Jeremiah White. I chose them for their club exploits and for their unique characteristics.
There were other players who I know are popular among MLS fans as potential call-ups, such as Edson Buddle, Nate Jaqua and Bobby Boswell, but I think those players will get consideration in the January national team camp rather than this year.
I know a lot of the urgency among fans for new blood is the questionable production of the U.S. offense, but I’m not sure if any of the prospects mentioned above are the missing link that would have put a few more goals past Guatemala or Cuba. I do think that, of the aforementioned prospects, Altidore is the one who I feel is ready to step in and play major minutes. i know there are some questions about whether you take it slow with an 18-year-old prospect, and whether Altidore has the make-up to handle so much, so soon. That’s why it wouldn’t surprise me if Bradley took things slowly with Altidore. I personally wouldn’t waste any more time and start integrating him into the national team.
As far as the less obvious selections, I do think Charlie Davies merits a look. I also think Chad Marshall has taken major steps toward establishing himself as the best young central defense prospect in MLS. Jeremiah White is a player I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of considering the lack of natural right wing options in the pool.
What do you think? What players would you like to see at least get a look in the remaining World Cup qualifiers this year? Share your thoughts below.
great article. love this discussion. hopefully coach bradley is focused on the long-term goal of wc2010. in which case, it’s time to work the youngsters into the lineup and start leaving the older guys at home. let the youth movement commence!
thanks for your previous contributions guys, but the national team no longer requires your services:
lewis
hejduk
wolff
robinson
conrad
twellman
johnson
welcome to the big time, kids. keep working hard, and you’ll wear the shirt in south africa:
altidore
adu
wynne
orozco
holden
szetela
kljestan
Soumare has stated he would love to play for the US once he gets his citizenship, probably next year. He needs to be on the long-term radar, but can’t be on the team at this point. We need to be realistic about how many new players BB brings on at this time. I really want to see Jozy get to work with the other starters. I also was impressed with the little I saw of Charlied Davies at the Olympics and think his club form should earn him a look. I think Rogers has potential as well and would love to see what he could do with the USMNT. We really need to get some additional experience for some of these younger guys so that can be ready for the hexagonal and WC 2010.
There are a lot of people quick to jump on the Charlie Davies bandwagon, especially after he came on against Nigeria in the Olympics and shook things up.
But if you’ve spent any time actually watching Charlie train day in and day out, you quickly see that he’s very gifted athletically but has not developed much of a mind for the game.
He has a lot of developing to do and while it would be great to see him developing under the eyes of the national team staff, he has no business at this point being fast tracked as the next great scoring threat.
Soumare has stated he wants to play for the US and has started his begun the citizenship process.
Kandji will never play for the US, he’s in talks with his native land of Senegal to potentially come into camps for them and has stated his desire to play for them.
I also feel that Bradley needs to bring in the Mexican Americans playing in the FMF like Orozco, Torres, Castillo (bro), etc that have not played for Mexico. We need to mix it up and get the best players possible.
Jozy, Freddy, Coop, Robbie, Charlie Davis, and Nate Holden, Parkhurst, Wynne, Szetela. Oh and keep Sasha Klejstan in the team please.
MLS coaches will be less than thrilled losing players to Nats while clubs are fighting for play-off spots. I expect mostly Europe-based players for Cuba and T/T. Some players from eliminated MLS teams should get the call against Guatemala.
As for Soumare, he’s too raw. That would be even more obvious if not for Conde. Soumare’s time will come in ’14 and ’18.
Ives,
“…the U..S. national team hasn’t had a truly dangerous creative midfielder in the middle of the park since before John O’Brien turned into the Howard Hughes of American soccer…”
That is quality, Sir.
-BBB
Forget Subotic. Any player whose #1 choice is not the US, is not worthy of the jersey. We are deep enough now that we no longer need to take whoever. Let him go and focus on those whose dream it is to play for the US.
If Brek Shea can get called in to camp to train with the US team (what does he have, like, 3 appearances w/Dallas?), we need to have some more youngsters there to get their feet wet and to see what they can truly do. For any player born in 1988 or older there are no more tournaments to show their stuff, so any attacker (Zimmerman, Ferrari) should be called in now and for the January supercamp. Also any good attacker/creative midfielder born in 1989 or 1990, who should contribute major minutes to the 2009 U-20 team (Bryan Arguez, Jorge Flores!, Felix Garcia…yeah, I said it) should be there.
what about Corey Ashe…last time I saw him was at the tournament in France, but he was pretty good. I don’t know how he’s been playing for Houston but he might be worth a look. Just since I’m a big FC Dallas fan what about Dax McCarty, Brek Shea, Anthony Wallace or Eric Avila. Is Peri Marosevic eligible to play for the full senior national team…he’s been scoring in loads for the U-20’s
correction about A Alvarez; has what US players DONT have
fantasy & unexpected moves
sorry
here’s a few more names that I want to add
they are not to be taken as definitive for 2010
but rather as players who deserve a chance to be looked at wearing a US jersey (and that never have)
Jeff Parke (reminds me of Italian defenders)
J Larentowicz (very smart player who usually makes good decisions)
Clyde Simms (said it before & will say it again)
Brian Mullan ( he’s an idiot & arrogant met him once.. But I admit he is indeed overlooked, plus he can also play right back)
Lawson Vaughn I know he’s been injured but once back at 100% is a very interesting player who combines very well with players on the right especially Kjlestan
Arturo Alvarez has what most US player have; fantasy & unexpected moves second only to Adu in that.
I’m glad that some of the Dynamo players’ names were brought up (thanks “undrafted”). Holden made his share of mistakes in the Olympics, but he has the ability to play attacking center midfield (he sometimes fills in for DeRo) or the wing. He’s got that offensive *spark* that seems missing in the US attack.
Ricardo Clarke has been rock solid in the holding midfield position for the Dynamo. He’s no Javier Mascherano, but he puts a lot of force into tackling, and is very disruptive.
Nate Jaqua has been really impressive since coming back to the US. His ball control and vision are obvious assets, but he’s also tall and strong.
The question, I guess, is whether these guys are MLS-good or US-good. And, if they’re the former, then they’re not really solid prospects for 2010, and it’s a waste of time to give them squad experience in 2008 and 2009.
Agree with your list Ives. Just disagree with one comment: Adu is ready to start and he needs those minutes to get better. He is the ONLY creative midfielder we have. I love LD but he’s really a forward. Adu is the only player we have with ideas. THE ONLY ONE. And I disagree about him being a defensive liability. Did you see him track back and drop deep in the defense to help out at the Olympics? I did and was impressed. Please point out where he has been a liability on defense, maybe a game where he cost us goal. I want to see what I’m missing. Keep up the great site. Thanks.
@Paul Lorinczi:
Szetela is starting for Brescia and has been playing 90 minutes. As to productivity, I don’t know. They have drawn their last two matches, 1-1, and 0-0 but I don’t do a lot of reading on Serie B.
Regards,
If we can get this in every International game we will be in great shape for WC2010.
http://crewonespot.blogspot.com/2008/09/keys-to-victory-against-
Next Freddy Adu already getting so much hype that arsenal is looking at him>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AspL1ShdsroonH5Bj0uLBwAmw7YF?slug=go-nextadu091808&prov=goal&type=lgns
@ arena futobol: what, no hieroglyphics?
What about Szetela?
Isn’t he getting minutes and being productive with Brescia?
Altidore and Davies are the two most important guys to call up. Altidore is just a phenom. I wouldn’t start Davies. Put him in as a 60 minute sub and let his speed kill a tired defense. The US women’s team uses Natasha Kai as a super sub in the second half, and she destroys tired defenses with her pace and intensity. Davies can be that guy on the men’s side.
arturo alvarez
Jaqua scored some goals in Austria. Probably turned down some slightly better offers to come home and play in Houston.
Cuervo
Daniels
Smirnoff
Heinz
Hershey
….
and Subotic, of course.
Howard, Conway (hot lately before last night), Bocanegra,Onyewu, Subotic, Wynne, Cherundolo, Bradley, Kljestan, Adu, R. Rogers,Beasley, Clint, JOZY, COOPER, Landon
NO CHING
Can anyone tell me what happened with Jaqua in Austria? He seemed quality playing for Chicago, but has seemed to have dipped off. American strike force: Cooper & Altidore, Landon in the hole, Dempsy out wide right (Joaquin style). Twellman and Adu waiting on the bench.
Torres from Pachuca
Stuart Holden
get soumare on the nats asap. the kid is the future of defending.
Robbie Findley, Jeff Parke, Brad Davis.