US National Team Manager

You've just been made the manager of the U.S. Men's National Team. Copa America starts in 3 weeks. Sunil Gulati has told you he expects a strong showing in the competition, but also the need for grooming some players for South Africa 2010. Who are your first 11? Key subs? What formation will you use?




Under this scenario, the Gold Cup doesn't exist.

 

-------------------Howard---------
Cherundolo--Demerit-----Gooch------Dunivant
-------------------Olsen----------
Dempsey---------------------------Convey
--------------------Adu---------------
--------Twellman--------Beasley


Cannon
Feilhaber
Boca
Ching
Cunningham

 

Fun game!

My go at who gets 23 tickets (as Don said, first shot):

---------------------------- Howard ---------------------------

--- Cherundolo----- Spector ----- Onyewu ----- Gibbs ----

---- Dempsey ----- Adu ----- Mastroeni ----- Convey -----

------------ Twellman ---------------- Cooper ---------------

Subs:
Hahnemann (GK)
Guzan (GK)
Demerit (D)
Wynne (D)
Boca (D/M)
Pearce (D/M)
Donovan (M)
Feilhaber (M)
Bradley (M)
Ching (F)
Johnson (F)
Beasley (F)

 

Interesting to note that so many of you rate Gooch ahead of Boca. Is this because Gooch is playing in his natural position more regularly, or because you simply think he's better.

I happen to rate Boca very highly and when he is back playing his natural position of CB I think he'll be one of the better defeneders in the premiership.

If Gooch is rated so highly ( Ihaven't seen much of him) should Fulham pursue him more vigourously?

 

By the way, if you all ask nicely enough, I'll happily take over the US mens team. I brought a pair of boots with me from the UK and I am sure I can dig out a pair of sweat pants from my bottom drawer.

 

Gooch - strong, fast, intimidating, and big

Bocanegra - strong, fast, pesky, and not so big

Yes, Fulham should be pursuing Onyewu more vigorously. I feel secure in believing at least one team is. Many of us are sitting on pins hoping it us.

 

PCB, good point on Copper. I completely forgot about Mastroni.

Now that I think more about it I might also take a look at Ricardo Clarke, Lee Nyguen, and perhaps Jemal Johnson and Micheal Bradley. Perhaps not at Copa America but these guys should get a look at the Gold Cup.

 

This thread is reminding me how I know more about the England Team than the US Team. That's not cool.

I also noticed that only 1 out of 4 lineups above have Donovan starting. Is he a lost cause for the USMNT, or could a new coach get him to play more like the superstar all his endorsment deals and the media suggest he is?

 

It don't know enough about the US players to put a team forward, although I would offer the following advice, it is something England would do well to listen to.

Choosing an international team is not about choosing the best players, it is about choosing the best team, the work ethics and the spirit are more important the 11 prancing primadonnas.

When choosing Jack Charlton, Sir Alf Ramsey said he wasn't even the sencond best player in his position at Leeds! But he was the right man for the team.

The other thing it to watch out for is the play that never gets noticed but does the hard work. We had a guy called ?Michael Cole? play for us at the end of the 80's or early 90's. He was awful, he could not score for love nor money. He missed an open goal from 2 yards against Port Vale, and the crowd gave him hell. At the end of the season I got the goals of the season video and to my horror the guy we had been slating all season set up just about every goal and the ones he did not set up he helped with good decoy runs and being a smart player. Sometime a player with a good brain is better than a player with all the skills.

 

Which is why I am leaving Donovan and Beasley on the bench. My fear is that, if they have not gotten over themselves yet, they could still infect the team even while not playing. May have to leave them off the squad altogether. Or make them play in the Gold Cup. hmmmmm, even better/worse?

 

I would defeinitely give Altidore and Adu a shot. Not as starters, but as subs. Demert, Gooch, Bocanegra, and Gibbs in back. The midfield..... hm.... I say Mastroeni, Convey, Dempsey, and Lewis. The two strikers will be Twellman and Ching. Keeper is a tough choice, but I go for Howard. Donovan and Beasley on the bench.

 

There has been a lot of discussion about the team, like all national teams there will be some disagreement with the final 11 chosen. For the sake of arguments I propose that DCHeather has been made national coach (since she was the first to post a team). How would you tell them to play. High tempo, long ball, wing backs? Just a reminder of the first squad from the new guvnor:

How are you going to tell the midfield to work - will Dempsey and Beasley switch wings - how will defensive duty be shared out. Are you looking for Gibbs and Gooch to carry the ball out of defence and distribute? Will Donovan anf Fielhaber be playing balls over the top for Altidore to run onto or will you play your way through defence?

 

Midfielder with size, experience, and decent game = Mastroeni

 

I'm not in favor of giving Altidore a cap yet. He's yet to earn it. Not that thats a knock on him he's only 16!

There are other MLS forwards who are more proven then him at this point. Rolfe, Jaqua, Copper, Herculez Gomez for example. Not saying they all deserve a call. But in my mind they deserve their chance before Altidore gets his.