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Well I agree with everything but the fitness comment. While Arena has said some things about this year I remember last world cup may European teams complaining the reason they bowed out early was because their seasons were too long and too close to the World Cup. I would rather have to work players hard for a month before and have fresh legs then injuries or dead legs at the end of seasons…

Jimmy Conrad was a huge surprise to me, I thought he played worse than Berhalter in the Germany game and if he gets in just because of the form he has had in the MLS, shouldn’t that warrent Twellman a spot as well? I was a bit confused by the remarks Arena made during his Sports Center interview. We really lack a scoring option off the bench, in ‘02 i thought Mathis was kind of our late game super sub guy but in ‘06 there clearly is not one of those players. Josh Wolff and Brian Ching? I’m not sure the mention of either of those two guys are causing any headaches among our group opponents.

The sagacity of Arena’s selections for the 23 man team this cup will ultimately be decided on injury and fitness. And while that might be as revealing as saying the outcome of the matches will depend heavily on the number of goals we score, our success will be determined by how well our team links up on the field. Reyna and O’Brien have the temperment to settle the midfield and develop play from the back, but neither is quite back to full fitness. I think Ching was included with Johnson to add as many foils to McBride’s playing style as we may need. While I am not convinced of Ching’s skills, his physical presence may be enough to ruffle some teams back lines. Twellman is just too similar to a very young McBride: both are poaching attackers needing service. The question centers on the adaptability of the team’s playing style. If Renya gets injured, can move our game out to the wings more? If McBride goes down, can the team adapt to let Johnson and Dempsey run at defenders?

while everyone is looking at this individual and that one, it seems only arena is looking at the team package. sure, just like everyone else, i’m baffled by some of the roster; however, i’ll stand behind our usmnt manager and hope for the best.

look at all the Bruce love going around. I think he is overrated, and I would love to see the US MNT when they have a real futball manager. Arnea is a great trainer, great preparer, but i don’t believe he is the best out there.

I’m sure Bruce chose Ching for his “chemistry with Donovan”, but if that is the case why not just bring Herculez Gomez?

Both Ching and Gomez are where they are today because of Donovan.

I’m sure Twellman with a good cast of characters behind him, rather than the ragtag mf’s he has played with on NT duty, would perform just fine. He would be the best backup to Brian McBride.

“a very good reason” ??? care to explain this?

i hate this internet bickering, but what i’m saying is i’m a graphic designer for a living, and my coaching career hasn’t gotten past my kids recreational U6 team so far. i don’t know what you do for a living stephen, so i’m not going to assume, but i’d be willing to bet the majority of the people posting about bruce arena’s picks for his world cup roster don’t have too much professional coahing experience. i’ve never said he was the best, but i’d say he hasn’t done too bad so far.

Didn’t Arena win collegiate national championships while managing the University of Virginia and win MLS championships with DC United? He’s proven to be the best “American” manager out there. He may not be the best manager in the world, but he is the best in this country and as a growing soccer nation I believe it is important that Arena leads the team because he is an American. That being said, I sincerely hope that after the WC this summer he quits and gets a job coaching a club team in Europe just to prove his skills.

I don’t want to see Bruce move to a European Club.

I want him to be the US Manager for life!!!!!!!!

What are you saying Stephen that Jose should come on over and assume the role of US manager? Thats completley idiotic for a million reasons. Bruce Arena is the most qualified man for the position and the best for it. End of question you need to only look at his credentials to see that. There is no better American coach for the position and no better foreign coach, atleast that would be willing to take the position of course.

Without sounding xenophobic… the U.S. nat’l team should be managed by an American. I agree with Connor, et al in this regard. With all of the talk of growing talent at home through MLS and onto the WC squad we also need an American manager with his ear to the ground and intimate knowledge of our game. We had foreigners come over and try their shtick (remember Bora, 1994?) and it was less that impressive. Although there was Sampson as a knock against American coaches. Never-the-less, just when America is developing our American style of play is it crucial that we had American coaches at the fore front of our nat’l team. It wouldn’t send the right message otherwise.

Let’s put down the red kool aid for a moment folks. I think we all like what Bruce has turned our national team into the past few years, a real threat to play with anyone in the world. I also think most of us aren’t naive enough to believe he isn’t mistake free. We all probably remember Agoos nightmarishly bad play in the last World Cup for one thing. Be happy that he has built a team good enough for us to believe we can take on the Italy’s and Czech’s of the world.

And what fun would the internet be without bickering? That’s what makes sport so great. The passion it incites in fans. It’s why the first thing I do when I get home from working on a computer all day is grab another computer and start checking soccer sites. It’s what inspires us to take risks and love and to hate and all that good stuff. If you think you have to be some sort of expert to post on a blog or a forum thats fine. I for one will be comfortable in my idiocy. I will spend hours at a bar debating the finer points of whats wrong with the mls (lots for short). I feel comfortable sending a 2 page email to a friend in Germany about why I still think we are a better team than them despite our recent drubbing.

I’ve kind of rambled in that last paragraph. But who cares thats my right as an internet sports fan. This is my call to all soccer fans: Stop holding your opinions to yourself. Stop caring about what other people will think about your crazy belief that convey should start at the outside left spot. Let our your inner idiot. Join us.

I would have to disagree with Albright be worthless. As a Galaxy fan, i have always been impressed with his work ethic. I think that Lando nis a bit over rated, he never shows up on the big games. His inability to make it over seas was a clear indacation that he is not the greatest footballer ever produced in the USA. I would have to give that to soemoen else; i would even dare to say John Harkes might fit that bill. I dont know what awaits us i Germany, but there are some players on that list that worry me. Reyna is one for sure, he has lost more than a step, he is never match fit and often injured. Well, thats my take so far, just glad to see another four years have past, and ready to see the worlds greatest sport.