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Onyewu surgery successful, could miss up to six months

 
Onyewu injury (Reuters)

Oguchi Onyewu's knee injury could leave his World Cup status in jeopardy for next summer. Onyewu, who suffered the injury in the dying minutes of the U.S.'s 2-2 tie against Costa Rica last week, went under the knife this week after tearing a tendon in his knee.

The surgery, completed by U.S. Soccer's team doctor, was a success. However, the estimated time for recovery is six months. If Onyewu misses such a long time, it raises questions about his ability to be fit for South Africa. Even if he comes back sooner, his pre-injury playing time is no indication that he would be able to get up to match fitness.

Initially it was stated that Onyewu would only miss 3-4 months, and there's no way to be certain how long the defender will be out for — though after surgery is looks more like six. Throw in the injury to Jay DeMerit and the center of defense is suddenly becoming a much bigger headache for Bob Bradley and his staff.

What do you think will happen to Onyewu? Will he be able to recover in time to be at full fitness in South Africa? Is he really going to miss six months? Who should start in his place if he doesn't recover?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Even IF Gooch gets healthy by March, where’s he going to get into game shape? Not at Milan.

    He looked awful against Costa Rica.

    Could we drag him along in desperation to South Africa as an extra body? Sure.

    Will he start? I seriously doubt it.

    Given the late April time frame, if that comes to pass, it gives him 6 weeks until the WC starts on June 11th. No way he starts.

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  2. I had the exact same injury as Oneywu 8 years ago. While i’m not Gooch, I was in very good shape and had excellent doctors, I even had surgery 2 days after it happened. I wasn’t allowed to walk for over a month, so you could imagine the time it will take for rehab, never mind getting fit. I believe that it will be six months minimum before he gets into heavy training and contact. I hope its sooner because he is such a good player.

    For a replacement, I think DeMerit is the logical choice with Marshall behind him. Wouldnt mine seeing an Orozco or Gonzalez get a bit of a look, maybe for a back up spot.

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  3. I agree Brian, Demerits injury requires no rehab (can’t really rehab an eye), unlike Gooch…as long as he keeps in shape, getting match fit at Watford is much more doable. No worries about Jay

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  4. I like the idea of using Jones and Edu as twin destroyers in this system. In a more advanced system. Although, I’d prefer to see Torres rather than Holden start.

    ——–Altidore——-
    Donovan-Bradley-Dempsey
    ——–Torres——–
    ——-Edu–Jones—–
    –Castillo–Boca—Dolo-
    ———Howard——-

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  5. Can anyone tell me why these announcements always say “the operation was successful”? What would an unsuccessful operation be – one where the patient died? One never knows if an operation is successful until the athlete is back to playing.

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  6. This is bad news. First Demeritt, then Davies, now Onyewu. Well there is always Orozco, Goodson, and Marshall. One of those will need to step up. I just hope Bradley gets these guys into camp so they can start working together.

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  7. Yeah I would like to see Omar called into the Jan. camp at least. He isn’t the solution for this WC but as you said down the line who knows.

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  8. Might a 3-5-2 be the answer? If Edu and Jones are both fit and in good form, the MNT will have two really good defensive CM’s available–players who are too good to leave on the sideline if it can be avoided. Put Bradley in front of them and it might not be a beautifully fluid offensive team, but it’ll probably create better ball control and distribution than we’ve seen from the current lineup–and it will sure as heck disrupt opposing play through midfield, which is where we’ve gotten killed against good attacking teams.

    Here’s a lineup that would scrap like heck on the defensive side of the field, be strong on set plays at both ends of the field, and be capable of scoring goals against the run of play:

    ———-Dempsey–Altidore

    ————–Bradley

    Donovan————————Holden

    ———-Edu———Jones

    Bornstein——Boca———Spector/Dolo

    ————–Howard

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  9. Just some food for thought for the future of USMNT. Omar Gonzalez. I don’t think he is the answer for this world cup cycle but could add something to the bench and definitely should become a Contender in the years to come.

    He is 6’5″ just taller than gooch . In his rookie year he has started all 29 games for the mls going on 30 this saturday. Has played 90minutes in all but one game.

    He holds dual citizenship with mexico. I say we find a way to cap this guy and try to prevent a possible subotic #2.

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  10. Injuries happen. If it’s 6 months, it’s a legitimate question whether he should take up a roster spot. Minimal training, not game shape, and certainly not game/speed aware.

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  11. Take a look at that picture!! His knee cap is completely out of place. Poor guy, guess we just have to hope for the best at this point

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  12. As much as I want to believe someone else can step up and play in the heart of the defense, it’s not likely to happen. Gonzalez will be on the MNT next world cup cycle, but he hasn’t been capped yet, and we can expect him to step into a starting role for the biggest competition in the world minus the olympics?

    It’s very far-fetched.

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  13. Instead of whining, why don’t we move forward. I really hope Gooch can make it back in time for WC 2010, but if not we’ll have to play someone else. I am sure Bob is already thinking about this and will use the Jan. camp as the prime assessment period for CBs, and new players like Castillo/Jones (if healthy). Let’s hope Gonzalez or others can grow into this in time for the Cup.

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  14. this could be our starting lineup next summer:

    ————–Altidore——–

    —–Dempsey——————

    Donovan—-Bradley/Feilhaber/Torres—–Holden

    ———–Jones————–

    Castillo/Bornstein–Boca–DeMeritt–Spector/Dolo

    ———–Howard————-

    Depending on form, I would insert Feilhaber or Torres in Bradley’s place. Dempsey’s perfect role is a withdrawn forward role where he can lurk behind Jozy with the freedom to move where he wants, collect the ball, and combine with the central midfielders.

    Luckily there are only a few positions locked up, leaving a lot of room for competition between players.

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  15. Bradley owed it to Honduras, Costa Rica, the rest of CONCACAF, and the rest of the soccer-loving world to play the final game, although meaningless, with integrity. Sending starters back to their club teams (who were on a FIFA-mandated break, by the way) would have accomplished the opposite. I didn’t hear anyone complaining that he started most of the regular starters the day of – it was all “Yes, let’s win the group,” or “Since Honduras showed us so much respect, let’s win/tie and put them in.” Now, it’s “How can Bradley let this happen?”

    Just because the result turned out wrong doesn’t mean the decision was wrong. Some people just can’t stop hating on Bradley. It’s disgusting.

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  16. so doing the math, he will be recovered by late April. He will have two months to rehab, at the worst. He can make the squad but he will probably be very rusty and we all know how important PT is to game sharpness.

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  17. I’m guessing he won’t be the same when he does come back. Honestly, now is the perfect time to groom the next Gooch.

    There are some OK candidates, but really Gooch was a bit overhyped because of his size. He was awesome against Mexico and other CONCACAF teams. However, against top teams he was inconsistent.

    I hope he’s ready for WC2010, but we need more depth.

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  18. They usually say it is a lot longer than it really is. If it is 6 months you really have to move on to plan B for another defender. He will not get any time at all from AC Milan where he will not even be close to match ready.

    Bob has to make a tough decision. I say you move on without him unless he can recover in 4 months.

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  19. Enough with the gloom. We don’t even know our group yet. All of this “out by the group stage” is ridiculous. If we are in the anti-2006 group, we could be ok, and then who knows in the knock-out stages.

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  20. Who knows the next time he would have seen game action at AC Milan. When you don’t play for your club at all, save a 25 minute cameo, you need to get matches where ever you can.

    Just turned out sour this time around.

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  21. Makes that “meaningless” game against Costa Rica all the more meaningful. Looking back, since hindsight is also 20/20, maybe Coach Bradley should have sent some starters back to thier club teams and not worried about the Costa Rica game. Damn our luck!!!

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  22. Poor Gooch. He won everything in the air in the Confed Cup. But others are calmer with the ball. It depends who the opponent is.

    But damn. Which of our marquee players is next?

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  23. This is horrible news. I am depressed. Every player after DeMeritt, Boca, and Gooch in the center is crap. Marshall, Conrad, Goodson, they will all get smoked next summer.

    My expectations for our world cup aspirations have gone from possibly making a deep run to no chance at making it out of our group in a matter of one week.

    Terrible…

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  24. So, what is the general take on if he should have even been playing? I realize it means naught now, but should BB have taken the conservative route or was it truly important to beat CR and try to win the group? Easy to answer in hindsight but I betcha Gooch has wrestled with this question a few times. Hope Gooch isn’t this WC cycle’s Cory Gibbs.

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  25. I guess we know Bocanegra at left back will probably never happen again. Once Demerit is healthly again, he should imediatly be back in the mix for significant playing time at Watford. Even if Onyewu does recover in 4 months, it does not look likely that he will be getting any playing time at Milan.

    If I had to put money on it, I would bet our starting CBs in South Africa will be Bocanegra and Demerit.

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  26. You never know with knee injuries. Having had one I can tell you it is a crap shoot as to when he will be ready to play. Coming off of the recovery time you have to rehab and then get back into game shape which isn’t always easy as there is the physiological part of the injury you have to get beyond too. I’ve found most knee injuries of this sort usually take up to a year or more before the athlete is fully 100% fit. With that being said, I wish him the best and hope he is ready to play in 8 months.

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  27. Subotic… oh sorry wrong forum… Time for guys like Rico Clark to learn to play defense…

    Marshall and Goodsen will get looks

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  28. BB needs to make a decision quickly and set a lineup. Play those 4 together for every friendly going forward so they can gel together. It would be better to have 4 guys that can work with each other than have the 4 best talents that don’t mesh.

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