US National Team Roster

Well, we are now about 13 hours removed from the US National Soccer Team's loss to the Czech Republic, and several hours prior to the unveiling of the final roster for the World Cup. Since my picks are usually better for producing derisive laughter than accuracy, here's my take on who should be getting boarding passes to the South Africa Express.

Starting Lineup

• Jozy Altidore, S - Perhaps the key to US success in South Africa. You can defend like crazy and get by, but if you want to be a threat you must score goals. Altidore has shown flashes, but not consistency yet. If he can deliver 2-4 goals for the US, I think they can at worst be competitive, and perhaps beat a weakened German side to get to the quarterfinals.
• Brian Ching,F - Ching is not Brian McBride, but he is the best option among the other US forwards to pair with Altidore. A tireless worker and quality holding forward with good awareness and passing ability, he showed last night he is healthy again after a hamstring problem.
• Landon Donovan, LMF - The playmaker. Donovan seems to play his best out on the left, rather than in the congestion of the middle where it is easier for opposing defenses to swarm him. The US really needs his creativity to shine this time, rather than the muted performance of 2006.
• Clint Dempsey, CMF - The wildcard. Dempsey blows very hot and cold, but when he's on he is a serious scoring threat. He's also the US team's best shooter from distance. In a more aggressive look, Bob Bradley can push him up and effectively go with three forwards.
• Michael Bradley, DMF - As long as he plays under control, Bradley is by far the best defensive midfielder the US has. He also has a nose for goal and is not afraid to attack. The only concerns are that he has a propensity to accumulate cards (which has hurt the US in the past) and if he is too aggressive, he forces Dempsey to play too much defense.
• Stuart Holden, RMF - A year ago he's not even in the picture. Yesterday, he was the best player by far for the US. Willing and able to both attack and defend, fast enough to get up and down the flanks, and a skilled crosser and set piece taker, he's pushed the more experienced Beasley to the bench.
• Steve Cherundolo, RB - He gets the nod mostly by virtue of his experience. Smart and conservative, the concern is he can be overpowered by more physical players. Still, he is capable of getting forward and crossing well, and is rarely caught out of position. Basically, a solid professional.
• Oguchi Onyewu, CB - Coming off a serious knee injury, Onyewu did little to dispel the jitters of Sam's Army with a tepid performance against the Czech's that showed both rust and fitness issues. Getting out jumped by a shorter player for the first Czech goal is a huge concern for a player facing the 6'7" Peter Crouch in the World Cup opener. Still, he's a quality player and a presence other teams must deal with, so barring a setback he needs to be in the side. He could really use a month's worth of games, but he only has 2 left. Cross your fingers.
• Jay DeMerit, CB - Another razor thin determination based on experience, as I feel DeMerit's Premiership experience against top strikers has him best prepared to pair with Onyewu. He's physical, fast, and has a nose for the ball and a knack for deflections, all positive traits. Plus, it's unlikely he'll be intimidated by anyone he faces as he's already played many of them on a regular basis. Again, a solid pro.
• Carlos Bocanegra, LB - A real need call, as I would much rather play Bocanegra in the middle with Onyewu. However, other US left backs have ranged from bad to disastrous, so Boca goes outside where he plays for his club side, Rennes. Tough, physical and experienced, he's a classic defender, but can be a threat to score on set pieces. The sole concern is his lack of speed, which he often is able to offset with good positioning.
• Tim Howard, G - One of the best keepers in the world, Howard is a commanding presence with excellent athleticism and reflexes. His ability to read the game is much improved as a result of his time in the Premiership, and his play is key to a good US Cup run.

The Bench

• Herculez Gomez, F - A classic poacher whose goal against the Czechs clinched his spot. His lack of international experience is offset by his ability to score goals and current red hot form. A 20-30 minute sub when offensive punch is necessary.
• Edson Buddle, F - Another selection mostly based on form, a willingness to mix it up in the 18 (as shown with his creation of the first US goal against the Czechs) and the other candidates. Unlikely to see much playing time.
• Maurice Edu, MF - Rapidly improving as a quality defensive midfielder who also has a nose for goal. A replacement for a tiring Dempsey if the US has a lead or for Bradley if he gets in card trouble. Can play central defense, but only should in a real emergency.
• Ricardo Clark, MF - Another defensive midfielder with the ability to shoot from distance. Given Bradley suspension problems in the past, and the possible need to move Dempsey to forward, this is a necessary duplication. Also enhances the ability to kill off games if in the lead late.
• Jose Torres, MF - Provides a creative spark off the bench, as well as a skill player who can settle possession and control tempo. Could be brought in with Gomez if there is a need for offense due to a deficit.
• Damarcus Beasley, MF - A nonfactor six months ago who has played his way back into the side with renewed passion and a new found willingness to defend, Beasley provides both vast experience and considerable speed to throw at tiring defenses. You just hope you get the 2002 version, and not the Confederations Cup version, but the potential reward is worth the risk.
• Robbie Rogers, MF - Another fast flank player who is a better crosser and offensive threat than Beasley, but with far less polish and experience. Unlikely to see much playing time, but a better option than those left behind.
• Jonathan Spector, D - The first choice off the bench, Spector could also conceivably start at left back if Bob Bradley chooses to move Bocanegra into the middle with Onyewu. As a Premier League veteran, Spector should be ready to play. The big question is his speed, and can he handle the fast flank players he would be facing.
• Clarence Goodson, D - Another who has played his way onto the team in the last year, Goodson is the backup central defender for Onyewu. Smart and physically gifted, he lacks only experience and looks to be a match for Onyewu in the future.
• Jonathan Bornstein, D - The lesser of two evils as the backup left back. This is a critical sore spot for the US, already forcing Bocanegra to move out from the middle. The idea of Bornstein facing Theo Walcott or Neil Lennon is just short of terrifying. While he has some speed and is physically solid, Bornstein is prone to biting on ball fakes, doesn't read the game well and is caught out of position far more than one would like. USSoccer really must spend the next four years trying to develop some depth at this position.
• Marcus Hahnemann, G - The clear #2 for the US, coming off an excellent season with Wolverhampton where he started the season on the bench but won the starting spot. Big, experienced, and very sound positionally, he could start for a number of other World Cup sides.
• Brad Guzan, G - Along for the ride, hopefully. The backup to Brad Friedel at Aston Villa, Guzan is physically gifted, but has shown some rust and inexperience in recent internationals. He's young, and the future is bright, but he needs games. As a side note, there isn't a team in the world as deep in talented keepers as the US.

The Outsiders

• Eddie Johnson, F - Physically gifted, but his touch, game sense and finishing simply are not of international quality.
• Robbie Finlay, F - Speed to burn, but an awful first touch and lack of finishing skill doomed his chances. He was rumored to be carrying an injury as well.
• Benny Feilhaber, MF - Simply too many mistakes and too hot and cold, either he was very good or very, very bad. There was not enough consistancy here.
• Alejandro Bedoya, MF - There is some promise here, but this is a young player who needs more experience in a tougher league.
• Sasha Kljestan, MF - Played himself off the team. After the Sweden friendly last year, you couldn't imagine him not going. Could really have benefitted from the transfer to Celtic that fell through.
• Chad Marshall, D - Showed flashes of ability in central defense, but an injury carried into training camp likely killed his chances. Someone to consider for the future.
• Heath Pearce, D - Given every chance to succeed in the left back competition, and couldn't get it done. Constantly victimized by opposing forwards, he simply failed to show any international level ability.

Well, that's how I see it. We'll know for sure what Bob Bradley thinks in just a few hours. More coming soon on the World Cup! Stay tuned. [see below for more.]

John

3:30pm, Wednesday 5/26

Well, the deed is done and there are only two differences from what I picked. Feilhaber goes over Rogers (obviously Bradley is gambling on getting good Benny), and the one that surprised everyone, Findlay over Ching at forward. The reasoning here is pretty clear, with Bradley going for speed (to replace Charlie Davies) over a slower, more experienced holding player. The concern here is twofold. First, given Findlay's slight build, this makes effectively makes Altidore a holding forward. To use an old expression, this seems to me to be making a racehorse into a mule. In addition, there is little evidence that this is a role Altidore is suited for. We saw a little of it against Holland (with mixed results) due to the ineffectiveness of Conor Casey, but that's all I can recall. The other problem is that this means either you are starting a very inexperienced forward in the World Cup (Findlay, Buddle and Gomez combined have barely a dozen caps) or you have to move Clint Dempsey up to forward, weakening the midfield. Neither is a very palatable option, in my view. We should get a better idea of what Bradley is thinking Saturday against Turkey. See you after than with more thoughts.

John

Potpourri

Well, I'm back after a short (ha!) hiatus caused by, well, heck, I just didn't feel like posting. For 5 months. No writer's block. No time constraints. Just too much laziness and Mafia Wars on Facebook (which I'm still not very good at...). Nor do I come bearing any great messages or solutions to the world's problems. I'll just give a few opinions and snarky thoughts on sports matters of the day, then be on my way...

1. Floyd Landis is a cheat and a liar - Well, I am just shocked! Floyd Landis, the disgraced and disqualified 2006 Tour de France bicycle race winner has finally admitted that yes he doped, but NOT for the race he was busted in, just for the rest of his bloody career! Oh, and by the way, Lance Armstrong, George Hincappie and just about every other cyclist does it, which is why he did it in the first place. He only spent 4 years and millions of dollars (much of it raised on his website from fan donations) in a futile attempt to prove his innocence. Now he pulls this stunt. And why? Because, by his own admission, he's broke and the statute of limitations for penalties from his actions has expired. What a hypocrite! This is why the world of sport can make one physically ill. The blatant cynicism, greed and attention-whoring of a significant number of the world's athletes is repulsive, and is not just an American phenomenon. No question, there are a lot of athletes who do an enormous amount of charitable work (Martina Navratilova, Darrell Green, Dikembe Mutumbo and the late Roberto Clemente are just a few who come immediately to mind), but as with a barrel of apples, the rot of a few tarnishes the work of many. It seems a shame that the desperate attempts of a failed con man can distract from the many events going on this spring and summer. Let us move on to...
2. The Premiership season has drawn to an end, and as usual I missed my picks for the top of the table. While I got three of the top four sides right (Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal) and the fourth was one of my projected surprise teams (Tottenham Hotspur), with the exception of Arsenal finishing third I missed on the order. Chelsea's title owned much to two factors, the return to form of a number of their older players (notably Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure) and the late season injuries to ManU's Wayne Rooney and that side's general losses to the training room all season. Would a healthy Red Devil side have been strong enough to keep the title away from Chelsea? It's impossible to say, especially given the Blues' excellent form in games against the other contenders, but I would like to think the last several weeks would have had greater suspense than simply watching Liverpool implode. Speaking of the Reds (my other top 4 pick), is it any surprise that they were completely undone by injuries? I worried about that in my preview, and sure enough Gerrard and Torres spent more time in the training room than on the pitch. Combine that with Rafa Benitez's increasingly erratic managerial style, and this was a team perfumed with the stench of decay. Some serious offseason renovations will be necessary to make Liverpool a contender again. On the other end of the table, however, I came up aces. Unfortunately, that wasn't much of an accomplishment, as the demises of Burnley (too little talent) and Portsmouth (no money and too much off-the-field baggage) were clear from day 1, and Hull was clearly the inevitable Phil Brown meltdown away from collapse. West Ham's woeful offense and Wigan's equally dreadful defense made things interesting for a while, but neither was a serious threat to go down. In fact, if you put West Ham's attack with Wigan's defenders, you had.....Burnley! Ugh. With the completion of the Premiership season, we look now to the....
3. Champions League Final - If I had said at the beginning of the UEFA Champions League competition that neither Barcelona nor Manchester United/Chelsea would make the finals, I would have been regarded as a leper in a nudist colony. And yet, under the most improbable of circumstances, Saturday's final is Bayern Munich v. Inter Milan. Both are sides that at one point or another appeared to be on the verge of elimination, and yet after each disposed of a major contender (Bayern dumping ManU on Robbins' scintillating score at Old Trafford in the quarterfinals and Inter's stunning dismissal of Barca at the Nou Camp while down a man in the semi's) here we are. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the Bundesliga, which frequently resembles rugby, and I don't trust the Serie A and it's history of bribery and corruption, but both of these sides have advanced on merit. Thus I am hopeful of a quality match. The way I see it, if Bayern can score first, preferably early, then we should be in for an exciting match. However, if Inter can get an early strike, or keep the game scoreless, I can see this being a long, dull affair. As much as I would prefer to see Bayern win, I think that we'll see see that the loss of Frank Ribery will be too great to overcome, and Samual Eto'o will find a way to score against the run of play as Inter wins 1-0. Hopefully I am wrong. The end of this match will lead us right to ...
4. The World Cup - I'll have a lot more to say about this in the coming 21 days, so I'll just touch on a few hot buttons. A.) I love Charlie Davies. He leaves everything on the field, he has a nose for goal and an infections love of the game. He also has no business on the US Team. I can't express enough my admiration for his recovery from the near-fatal car accident last fall, or his desire to make the team. But when club and country physios are unanimous that you are not ready to play, then it's not a conspiracy. It's honest concern for a player's well being and future. It's time to put aside the bitterness of not making the side and concentrate on making a full, measured recovery to be able to play your best for Sochaux come August. B.) People are surprised at the omission of Toni, Del Piero and Totti from the Italian side. Really? Why? Because they are well known names and veterans of the Azzuri? Toni was not a serious factor in club play this year, and has shown repeatedly to be a no-show when it comes to international competitions. Del Piero is so far over the hill he can't even see the summit anymore. Totti was at least tied for 6th in goals and for 12th in assists, and an argument could be made on his behalf, but there are number of younger, demonstrably better options to him. Factor in his history of injury, and I'm not surprised in the least at his omission. Though these elder statesmen of Italian football will not be going to South Africa, I am still worried about the age of this squad, especially on defense. While theirs is a middling group, and I can see them progressing, I have trouble seeing them get past Spain in the quarters if they win their group (or past the Netherlands in the round of 16 if they finish 2nd). Keep an eye on Giuseppi Rossi, the American-born forward, who has authored some very classy goal in recent international call-ups. C.)More upset over the Brazilian omissions of Ronaldinho and Adriano. Again, why? Ronaldinho's best days are past him now, and while he still plays at an impressive level for his age, he has been surpassed by other players on Dunga's roster. Especially with Brazil, their goal in every World Cup is to win, and that means there is no room for valedictory tours for older players. That is Ronaldinho's position at this point, and there is no reason to give a roster spot to someone who will not play now OR in the future. Adriano is the football equivalent of Terrell Owens: poison in the clubhouse. Regardless of his skills, he is simply not worth the trouble he causes, and the farther Dunga can keep him from the Selecao, the better for Brazil.
5. DC Ughhh, I mean United - Well, I hate to say it, but my favorite club is in desperate straits. Bad defense, zero (and I mean NO) offense, a raft of injuries and a manager who appears out of his depth: this is not what I as a fan expect from MLS' most decorated team. It's hard to know where to start, so we'll start at the top. Owner Will Chang says all the right things, and he's popular with many fans for his accessibility, but really, what has changed? There is still no solution to the stadium problem, and none appears imminent. The team is hemorrhaging money, and is showing a reluctance to spend on players (though it's unclear if that is an ownership or management decision). There is vague talk of the June transfer window, but by the DC may be out of contention, especially given the form of Columbus and New York (I can't believe I just wrote that) in the East. GM Kevin Payne is looking more and more out of his depth, and the club just lost John Maessner, the youth program director that developed young stars Bill Hamid and Andy Najar. The scouting department hasn't produced any players of note other than draft picks Chris Pontius and Rodney Wallace last year, and their veteran player acquisition record is abysmal. Manager Curt Onalfo was not productive in Kansas City (from which he was sacked last summer), and has continued that trend with United. Granted, the team has been gutted by injuries to half the roster, but even so, it is only in recent games that the team has even been competitive. The selection of Onalfo was disparaged by many supporters (including myself, who preferred New York assistant Ritchie Williams). If the team continues on it's current path, not only are the playoffs an impossible dream, but Onalfo (and hopefully Payne) will likely face the axe. On the field, things are difficult to evaluate due to the plethora of injuries. The are several bright spots, starting with Bill Hamid in goal, who has sent high priced Troy Perkins to the bench. Though he was the victim of swiss cheese defense, Perkins' seeming loss of confidence and inability to coordinate the defense have made him a mere shadow of what United fans expected. Hamid has made some rookie mistakes, but he clearly has organized a defence that has improved in recent weeks, and has the physical tools that Perkins lacks. Hamid has future star written all over him (the upside is a Tim Howard-like career arc), and I would not be surprised to see European sides looking seriously at him in a year or two. A huge preseason concern, the defense has been in flux all season due in part to major injuries to center backs Dejan Jakovic and Juan Manuel Pena, and outside backs Brian Namoff and Marc Burch. Their replacements have ranged from the disastrous (Julius James, who has no business on an MLS side) to the retreads (Carey Talley) to the stopgaps (Rodney Wallace). Only rookie Jordan Graye has made any kind of positive impression, and he is still very prone to youthful errors. Just as critically, the injury to defensive mid Clyde Simms was disastrous, as there was simply no one to replace him. It's no coincidence that United's defensive improvement began with Simms' return. The midfield has been an absolute black hole, with injuries to Pontius, Najar and Santino Quaranta depriving the team of any creative play (not that any of the injured are the answer to the need for a quality playmaker). Starved of service, the forwards have produced little of consequence, though Adam Christman and Australian international Danny Allsopp are showing signs of a partnership. Still, this team began the season relying on 36-year-old Jaime Moreno for scoring, and recently resigned castoff Luciano Emilio, both desperation moves in my eyes. There is one overriding common denominator for this team: a dreadful lack of team speed. Given the fact that MLS teams still rely as much on physical talent as they do on skill, this is the kiss of death in the league. Worse, there is no easy solution. One or two signings will not turn this side around unless they are Arjen Robben and Carlos Tevez (though being the mercenaries they are, they might consider it for the right price - just kidding!!). It's shaping up as another rough year to be a United fan....Sigh.
6. Quick Hits - Wizards get #1 Pick - Good for them. As bad as their last year was (Abe Pollin, dies, the Arenas/Crittenden gun debacle, blowing up the team via trade and finishing out of the NBA playoffs yet again), they deserved a little luck. Here's hoping this pick works out better for them than Kwame Brown.....Redskins Holdout, Moss and more controversy - Their best defensive player (Albert Haynesworth) hates the new coach and won't show up for offseason workouts. Their best returning offensive player (Santana Moss) is now embroiled in a criminal investigation involving performance enhancing drugs. The work ethic of their top draft pick is being questioned by many observers. So, is there any good news about the team. Umm, well, no. Capitals Playoff Debacle - They were the #1 overall team in the NHL regular season, as well as the highest scoring. They boasted a two-time MVP, and three solid offensive and two good defensive lines. The only small , minor niggling concern was goaltending. Hello, Achilles. A combination of a hot goalie (Montreal's) and two who were not (the Caps') and once again, it's an early golf season for the locals. And in the most frustrating way possible, coughing up a 3-2 series lead because the opponents simply played solid, blue collar hockey and outhustled the Caps most of the way. The talent is there, but discipline and grinding are clearly items that must be addressed if the Caps hope to be a factor in the future. Reversal of Fortune, sort of - The Orioles stink. I mean, they are really, really bad. Going to get the manager fired kind of bad. There is some potential in the starting pitching, but the bullpen stinks and and outside of Mets castoff Tye Wigginton, so does the offense. Another high draft pick is in the offing, methinks. 45 miles down I-95, the big news is that the Nationals are competitive as long as Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn are healthy and imitating Mantle and Dimaggio. I don't think that will last much longer, but with pitchers Drew Storen and phenom Steve Strasburg on the horizon, there's a lot to look forward to in Washington. NBA Playoffs - Yawn. It'll be the Lakers and the Celtics for the 4,924th time. Kobe decides he wants another ring more than stats after 3 games, and the Lakers win in 6. Lebron James is still overrated and hasn't won anything of consequence yet. NHL Playoffs - Lost interest after the Capitals gagged their hairball, though the Bruins choke job was even worse. Throwing a dart at the board, let's give it to the Sharks over the Flyers in 5 games. It's sad how much of a niche sport hockey has become since the strike decimated the fan base....Tiger Woods - Yawn. The womanizing is old news (as is his marriage), and he's rusty after 6-months off. He'll be back. Next...Dancing with the Stars - Yes, I watch, and I'm rooting for Erin! Top Chef Season 7 - Starts June16th, and I can't wait. Rooting for Suser Lee on Top Chef Masters (awesomely bizarre surf 'n' turf challenge - duck tongue? geoduck? sea slug aka sea cucumber? - loved the looks on the chef's faces when they saw that assortment!).

Well, I'm headed for carpel tunnel here, so I guess that it's time to wrap this up. I look forward to your comments, and hopefully it won't be 5 months before my next post! Until then,

"Wherever you go, there you are," Buckaroo Banzai