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Started By
Message
All of the sudden, we seem to have quality depth at a lot of positions
Posted on 6/19/13 at 2:09 am
Posted on 6/19/13 at 2:09 am
In past WC cycles, the biggest issue has not been the lack of quality we have had backing up our XI (and in some cases, we lacked so much quality that we have started Rico Clark and Jonny Bornstein in WC games).
However, as we stand here a year away from Brazil, I honestly feel like we have a quality player at all 11 positions and they aren't backed up by some scrubs.
We still do have a slight question at LB as it appears we are moving Fab Johnson up to the wing, but even if we trot out Beasley, Castillo, or Johnson at LB with GAM playing the wing, it's leaps and bounds better than where we were in 2010 when we had Bornstein as our first choice LB and the backup plan was Boca moving over from CB.
On the right, I think we are still in good hands with a healthy Cherundolo, but if he can't go for whatever reason, we still have Timmy Chandler, Geoff Cameron or even Brad Evans (who has played decent in these last few WCQ's) as a worst case scenario.
In the middle of the backline, I think that Matt Besler has been quite the discovery and while Omar has made some stupid decisions, he is talented has room to improve from now till 2014. If not, Cameron can easily fill in.
In the midfield, we have a much more mature Michael Bradley as the holding mid to pair along with Jermaine Jones. Behind those two we have Cameron, Danny Williams, StuBear and even Maurice Edu. All well respected players off the bench.
On the wings, it appears Fab Johnson is being groomed for the left side, but should he play be forced to play LB, GAM has proven that he can take on defender 1-on-1 and can score from either side. An in-form Beasley is another option on that side. The right side hopefully will include LandyCakes, because when he is in form and motivated, he is our best serviceman and rivals Bradley as one of our most technical players on the pitch. If for whatever reason Cakes' time with the USMNT is done, Zusi has shown that he can provide fantastic service in the box. GAM has shown that he can play on that side as well.
As for up top, Jozy can hopefully build off of this month and keep the international mojo going into the WC. If he and Dempsey are on the same page, we will get chances against even the best backlines. GAM, Herc, and Boyd are in the bench mix as well.
As it stands right now I think our WC roster will look like this:
Howard
Cherundolo-Besler-Gonzales-Beasley
Jones-Bradley
Cakes-Dempsey-Fab
Jozy
The other 12
GKs: Brad Guzan, one of Hamid/Johnson/Rimando
DEF: Cameron, Chandler, Bocanegra
MID: Williams, Edu, Holden, Zusi
FWD: Gomez, GAM, Boyd
However, as we stand here a year away from Brazil, I honestly feel like we have a quality player at all 11 positions and they aren't backed up by some scrubs.
We still do have a slight question at LB as it appears we are moving Fab Johnson up to the wing, but even if we trot out Beasley, Castillo, or Johnson at LB with GAM playing the wing, it's leaps and bounds better than where we were in 2010 when we had Bornstein as our first choice LB and the backup plan was Boca moving over from CB.
On the right, I think we are still in good hands with a healthy Cherundolo, but if he can't go for whatever reason, we still have Timmy Chandler, Geoff Cameron or even Brad Evans (who has played decent in these last few WCQ's) as a worst case scenario.
In the middle of the backline, I think that Matt Besler has been quite the discovery and while Omar has made some stupid decisions, he is talented has room to improve from now till 2014. If not, Cameron can easily fill in.
In the midfield, we have a much more mature Michael Bradley as the holding mid to pair along with Jermaine Jones. Behind those two we have Cameron, Danny Williams, StuBear and even Maurice Edu. All well respected players off the bench.
On the wings, it appears Fab Johnson is being groomed for the left side, but should he play be forced to play LB, GAM has proven that he can take on defender 1-on-1 and can score from either side. An in-form Beasley is another option on that side. The right side hopefully will include LandyCakes, because when he is in form and motivated, he is our best serviceman and rivals Bradley as one of our most technical players on the pitch. If for whatever reason Cakes' time with the USMNT is done, Zusi has shown that he can provide fantastic service in the box. GAM has shown that he can play on that side as well.
As for up top, Jozy can hopefully build off of this month and keep the international mojo going into the WC. If he and Dempsey are on the same page, we will get chances against even the best backlines. GAM, Herc, and Boyd are in the bench mix as well.
As it stands right now I think our WC roster will look like this:
Howard
Cherundolo-Besler-Gonzales-Beasley
Jones-Bradley
Cakes-Dempsey-Fab
Jozy
The other 12
GKs: Brad Guzan, one of Hamid/Johnson/Rimando
DEF: Cameron, Chandler, Bocanegra
MID: Williams, Edu, Holden, Zusi
FWD: Gomez, GAM, Boyd
1
Posted on 6/19/13 at 2:16 am to Broski
We're pretty stacked for a US squad. Hopefully we can get a World Cup draw like we did in 2010.
Posted on 6/19/13 at 2:30 am to The Boat
It's pretty remarkable considering how doom and gloom we were during the last round of qualifying before the hex.
Posted on 6/19/13 at 2:33 am to americanoutlaw
People (well.. crazy people) didn't think the US would get out of the 3rd round and make the Hex only having 4 points after 3 matches after the loss to Jamaica.
Now we stacked.
Now we stacked.
This post was edited on 6/19/13 at 2:34 am
Posted on 6/19/13 at 2:34 am to The Boat
People like danny williams, maurice edu, brek shea, and even beckerdreads were pretty important last year and now they barely have roster spots. Not to mention agudelo, mix diskerud, and gatt
Posted on 6/19/13 at 2:35 am to americanoutlaw
I think another option is drop Fabian to LB, put donovan at left wing, and leave zusi at right wing
Posted on 6/19/13 at 4:21 am to tigerfan88
quote:
I think another option is drop Fabian to LB, put donovan at left wing, and leave zusi at right wing
this ^^^^^
Posted on 6/19/13 at 7:29 am to Mrtommorrow1987
I don't understand the Cherundolo theory. I say we move on and put him on the bench.
Posted on 6/19/13 at 9:49 am to Shane4689
What don't you understand about it? If he is healthy, he is our best right back.
Posted on 6/19/13 at 11:19 am to Broski
I thought Chandler has done well for us at LB in the past. He would seem like the leading option for us there with DMB backing him up. He and Fabian would probably do really well on the left side together. Otherwise but Fabian at LB and put EJ, Donovan or Zusi at LM.
Posted on 6/19/13 at 12:08 pm to lsugradman
quote:
Otherwise but Fabian at LB and put EJ, Donovan or Zusi at LM.
I don't think EJ is a realistic starting option when we have our whole team in the squad. I honestly wonder if Jurgen has him above Gomez on the outside because jurgen really likes gomez and he's probably a better all around player.
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