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european roster for america
The MNT Player Pool is grab bag of who-knows-what. ISI photos for ussoccer.com caught this player pool in Venezuela during Copa America.
GOALKEEPERS- Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann. DEFENDERS- Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Spector, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Bornstein. MIDFIELDERS- DaMarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey, Benny Feilhaber, Michael Bradley, Pablo Mastroeni, Bobby Convey. FORWARDS- Landon Donovan, Josh Wolff, Charlie Davies, Kamani Hill, Sal Zizzo.
There are very few MLS inclusions for the August 22nd friendly against Sweden in Sweden. It’s not at all surprising given the European location, but the fact that our best players are over there in increasing numbers is only going to continue to create rosters like this one. The usually split down the middle squad will continue down this path of a weighty European ratio.
Bradley’s two cents, my pennies, and whatever you want to chip in are after the jump…
Coach Bradley: “We are happy to be able to see so many of our foreign-based players in action and to put them in another challenging environment. We are continuing to develop our team as World Cup qualifying approaches, and this group will certainly play a large role in that process. Sweden is bringing a very competitive roster, so it should be a great match.”
Besides the return of Convey to the fold, Sal Zizzo is the most interesting addition. Really, you think?
Wolff’s inclusion simply proves there are no available strikers in Europe who aren’t Brian McBride. Oh sorry, Kamani Hill, yeah, that ain’t gonna to cut it. Lets throw Hill and Charlie Davies up there and see what happens. Can’t be any worse than what we’ve seen out of our forwards so far this year.
I’ve already received a few e-mails about this, but what with his recent transfer, Adu’s absence is not a surprise. Danny Szetela too for that matter. Let them move and settle in to their new clubs… but the midfield, especially the central position Adu prefers, may be hard to break into no matter when the U20 all-stars get a shot at the big show. It’s not like Jozy Altidor, Zizzo, Adu, and Szetela are just going to immediate start playing a lot on men’s team.
Pablo, eh. Why bother shipping him across the pond when all he should do is sit on the bench? Bradley likes him for some reason. I don’t.
To answer another on-the-ball e-mailer, I’m not sure exactly why Nguyen isn’t there. Injury, disappointment, or is Bradley simply spreading the call-up love? I’d easily have him there instead of Pablo. I like to look toward the future instead of living in the past, not that I want either of them on the field presently.
Pearce would have been a nice addition, which brings us to the problem these roster announcements cause. There’s a lot of players out there on the fence. Besides a handful of obvious inclusions, its a total crap shoot. Hopefully Bradley can boil down his list before things start to matter.
Popularity: 4% [?]
TRob
on Aug 14th, 2007 - 4:22pm
I don’t see the problem with US born players going overseas, nor do i see it as a knock to US soccer development(MLS or USMNT). IF you look at the names, like Beasley, Spector, Convey, Hahnemann, they all play for big clubs in(regardless of what the bobble head Lalas says)the biggest and most important league in the world. The issue is development and money.
Take a look at the Argentine Classura. Every year teams such as Boca, River Plate, and Estudiantes, churn out talent that is subsequently snatched up by the world superpowers(i.e. Milan, Barca, and United). Yet they still pack stadiums and they still show case a great brand and style of soccer.
Why because the money and development are there. Not to mention the passion for the game, but thats another story. We have in this country the resources necessary to make our league and our national team a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
First shell out the money. Start development programs and club sponsored outfits(like that of the junior gunners). Sign young talents to contracts(like MLB does). And wring Becks for every bit of star power he has(show kids that soccer players can be ballers like that of their football and basketball counterparts).
Next let em go. Our numbers are there as far as kids that play the game. we will always unearth new upcoming talent as long as the vehicles are in place to show the kids the way. But let em go, if the foundation is there the house wont fall. Giving our guys the change to compete in larger markets only enhances their ability to compete once they rejoin their national team outfits. Plus the money generated from transfer fees will only increase; thus boosting the economic level of our league.
Money, money, money. We’ve got it, lets start using it(wisely)
Jebus
on Aug 14th, 2007 - 6:01pm
I’d have to agree with you on pablo. He hasn’t shown lately, and I still haven’t forgiven him for that horrible tackle against Italy. I mean, seriously, you’ve JUST gone a player up and you make that sorta challenge? You know the ref will be trying to equalize. I think that tackle was the pivot point for the USMNT in the world cup. Sorry for the deevolution, 3 beers at lunch will do that to me.
Adam Spangler
on Aug 15th, 2007 - 9:16am
the point here Ric was not to slam USSF, only to point out that USSF found a replacement game, a good one at that, before announcing the cancellation. Then as usual, little information was given as to why the game was cancelled, as you pointed out. that’s classic USSF and not the way a public business should be run. That is why i was curious to see if a reporter would ask a question about it.
Sunil is an elected official who owes answers. And if for one second you dont think USSF worried about the cancellation and how fans would react if they didnt fill in the date with the likes of Brazil and come up with some stupid name like Clash of the Champions, well, you’re having trouble seeing through the smoke screen. USSF avoids discussion and transparency at every turn.
and i dont know, why not work out your TV rights before announcing a game, especially one that immediately becomes a HUGE game for fans?
They slipped this one pass the keeper, but I am not going to applaud them for that. It’s about as meaningful as settling a game with PKs. sorry Houston.
Mike
on Aug 15th, 2007 - 8:36pm
I’m really happy with this American roster. Aside from still trying to solve the striker equation, I have just one problem. Why does everyone insist on listing Landon as a foreward every time a U.S. roster is announced? The majority of the time he lines up at attacking midfield (even out on the right occasionally under Bradley), and in my opinion should never start up front for the U.S. He gets lost out there at striker. He needs to get the ball and carry it up field to be effective. Stop listing him at foreward.
And for what its worth, I think Pablo is still are strongest holding midfielder.
Ric
on Aug 15th, 2007 - 9:11pm
Hm. Didnt know we had moved this discussion to a different post.
Anyways, so going back to the Zeigler piece, apparently someone did ask about the situation, because, as Ziegler writes:
“yesterday a federation spokesman claimed the two sides ‘had a contract that was finalized to play on Sept. 9 in Mexico on Univision.’ The key words in that sentence: ‘On Univision.’”
So, in other words, they DID have a contract with the television rights all set up, but then Mexico pulled out because of their current deal. Seems the USSF was trying to be somewhat politically correct, especially with another FA, particularly one that they need/want to deal with regularly. Most businesses try to do that with businesses that they partner with.
And I dont doubt for a second that the USSF was worried about the cancellation, no need for a smokescreen there. But I’d figure it was BECAUSE they were worried about the cancellation (and the public reaction to it that would have come) that they went and got Brazil before the announcement of the cancellation. No PR scramble, no face-saving needed, just making the best of a situation that changed, and not because of the USSF botching it for once.
Still, the U.S. being able to move on quickly and get Brazil sounds much better than Mexico’s handling of the situation: take your biggest rival, get them to come to your house, botch the deal, pull out, and replace them with….Panama? Talk about a letdown.
Adam Spangler
on Aug 15th, 2007 - 9:35pm
thats my bad. sorry ric; i dropped that into the wrong post. your arguments are fair. mexico definitely got the short end of the stick.
Alex
on Aug 16th, 2007 - 1:15pm
Our players must never go in “The Suck Pool” again. That Copa-swimming pool have had some kind of suckage-chlorine special brew in it because our guys showed about 10 minutes against Argentina and they were done. Hopefully they’ve all been cleansed.
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