US MNT World Cup Qualifying

With Copa America finished (for us at least), U-20 underway, and the WC2010 Qualifying schedule coming out in November of this year, I thought I post my thoughts on the make-up of the USMNT WC Qualifying Team (from which the 22 World Cup Players will be selected). Players are listed alphabetically, not in quality order. I am listing up to 2 backups for each position, up to 3 if it is potentially a 2-player position. Some players can of course play multiple positions.

Goal
Hahneman
Howard
Seitz

Left Back
Bornstein
Chorundolo
Spector

Center Back
Bocanegra
Conrad
DeMerit
Onyewu
Parkhurst

Right Back
Hejduk
Moor
Simek

Defensive Midfielder
Bradley
Clark
Feilhaber
Mastroeni

Left Midfielder
Beasley
Convey
Mapp

Attacking/Right Midfielder
Adu
Dempsey
Donovan
Kljestan
Szetela

Forward
Altidore
Ching
Davies

Let the discussion begin!

[Edited once]

 

Our forwards suck!!

 

I assume you mean Davies, not Davis, right? (Go BC!!!)

Should probably add Ferrari to the forwards. I'm with you on leaving EJ and Twellman off the list. They just don't cut it.

Won't Hedjuk have to play in the Old Timers World Cup in 2010?

 

SoCalJoe. I'll think we'll be ok with these three. Altidore has the potential to be a world class striker (IMO), Ching, while no superstar, is solid in a holding striker role, being good in the air and with his back to the net. He's looked more consistent with what he does than EJ & TT. Davies is raw, but its raw speed - worth cultivating from what I've seen. He has the right mentality and that's more than EJ will ever have.

BC - Davies, yes - fixed. I thought about adding Ferrari, but he hasn't even played in the U-20 yet. If he makes the Olympic team, he'll get some more looks, but at this point, I doubt if he'd get picked. I doubt if Hejduk will make the World Cup squad, but I can see him getting used during qualifying.

 

I don't believe Ching will be on the WC side. Possibly qualifying, but won't go to South Africa. The lineup as a whole looks solid, but just can't get over how toothless the US is in attack.

 

A couple of comments...

Hahnemann is already 35. I can't imagine he'll really be in the mix for a spot in the WC finals. Maybe some games in qualifying, I guess.

I don't know that Cherundolo has ever played left back. He's maybe our first choice right back if he can ever sort out his injury issues, though.

Adu is left-sided, if I'm not mistaken.

 

ToM. Of Ching, EJ, and Twellman, Ching impressed me the most over the last few weeks. Not that he's a great striker, but he was consistent in his holding role and has a good workrate. I figure we'll need at least one striker who's over 23.

Don. With my mistake placing Churondolo on the wrong side, then we'd need to add Pearce (though he didn't impress yesterday). For the other strikers, as with Ferrari, unless they make the Olympic roster and shine there, I can't see them getting a look (Cooper might as he has some caps). I think Mapp has potential enough to look at some more - I do like him as a late attacking sub; he just can't defend. Clark is already on the list (Def MF). I can't see Nguyen replacing anyone on the current list unless he shows something spectacular in the Olympics (if he's young enough).

jmh. Holy Cow! I didn't know Hahnemann was that old! Replace with Guzan I guess.

re: Adu. I listed attacking midfielder and right MF together because in most cases, the players can play in either spot. Adu is really ONLY an attacking mid (central) and hasn't been that effective on the left. So, he's on that list because I combined them, but I agree that he's not a Right Mid.

 

I think Andy was right to include Ching, by the way - he impressed me more in the Gold Cup than Johnson or Twellman, and it's basically him or Cooper that have the size and disposition to play the McBride role for the USMNT. (Jaqua is a big guy too, but I don't think he's good enough.)

 

Ching is probably better than EJ and Twellman, but the fact that he will be 32 by the time the WC rolls around doesn't offer much incentive to keep him in the USMNT. I can see him playing in the qualifiers, but Cooper has a better shot, IMO, of playing in South Africa.

 

once Kenny Cooper comes back from injury, he'll get an opportuntity to be the Target Forward...although if Conor Casey ever gets back to what he was prior to his injury, I think you could throw him in there. I think Altidore will lock up the other spot, unless somehow EJ pulls his head out.

RB...Cherundolo is a lock at RB...no one will touch that spot...write that down!!! Hejduk as his backup in the early part of qualifying...then Simek to take over as the backup later.

Lee Nguyen impressed me in the short time I saw him because it's the first time I've seen somebody actually go at someone with the ball...Donovan and Beasley did this alot in 2002...i want to see more of it.

LB......NOBODY!!!! this to me is the biggest question mark...more so then striker...and that says alot. Think back to Germany....how badly it cost us to not have a left back!!!! somebody has got to step up here. who will it be?

 

LB could be filled by Bornstein or Spector.

Bornstein needs more time to adjust...for some reason he has a mentality of simply attacking the opposition and expecting the backline to bail him out. Spector is a solid option and he continues to prove his worth being the utility man of the backline.

 

Spector is the answer, or at least the best we have. He is still young and will only get better playing in the EPL.

 

i can accept that but he needs to play then...and by play i mean left back. i believe he's not a natural lefty and I would prefer a natural lefty on that side. Pearce impressed me every time i've seen him with the exception of last night against Columbia, and Bornstein has a ways to go even though he shows flashes of ability. also, somebody earlier said kick Beckerman off...did they watch last night? his passes were pinpoint and he did a great job of pressuring Columbia in the midfield and forcing them into turning the ball over. I'm not saying he should start and play every Qualifier, but I think he should be given opportunities to be in the team cuz I think he will push the first XI in practice every second. If you haven't seen much of him, try catching a Rapids match and I promise you'll like this guy.

 

I watched Beckerman last night - he didn't impress me. His role is defensive midfielder and his defense isn't good enough for this level.

 

I still think Bornstein is better than our other options there. (Disclaimer: I haven't seen much of Pearce.)

 

I'd like Chris Seitz to be on the roster. He showed some real class at the U-20 WC.

 

I really do think Johnson is the best American forward by virtue of the fact he moves well enough without the ball and the moment he breaks his slump is the moment he destroys everything like he did in the last WCQs. For what it's worth, aside from the finishing, I thought he didn't have such a bad Copa America and he should have gotten more minutes in the Gold Cup.

As far as anyone else in question: I would imagine the three (four?) friendlies the USMNT has this year should help spell out whether Adu, Altidore, Szetela, etc. can handle the senior level of international play now or later.