If you check out Yanks-Abroad or the USSF site, you'll see the list of MLSers on the preliminary squad for the Mexico game on Feb 7. The article on Y-A says that there'll be "up to eight" European-based players going. Considering that this probably won't include anyone from the Scandanavian leagues, and that some Americans abroad -- like Bolton's Johann Smith and Hamburg's Feilhaber -- will be part of the U-20 tourney, who do you like as the "European Eight" Hatter Don's Eight: 1. Carlos Bocanegra -- I think that Cookie will hold Dempsey back, but I think that Carlos' experience and versatility will be just what Bradley's looking for ... Speaking of which ... 2. Young Mr. Bradley -- He's had a good season with Heerenveen [or however that's spelled], and he might be the most talented young American on the continent now. 3. Onyewu -- We have to build our defense around him for 2010. 4. Jay Demerit -- If he doesn't get invited and doesn't start, I'm going to post everywhere I can that Bradley get sacked. He has been THE bright spark for Watford and, when they go down, don't be surprised if there's big money splashed out for him. 5. Marcus Hahnemann -- He's had a solid year in goal, and we have some seriously weak keepers in the MLS. In Europe, however, we have three that are head and shoulders above the England keeper. Speaking of which: 6. Tim Howard -- his best year between the pipes since his first year in the EPL. 7. Steve Cherundolo -- if Hannover doesn't hold him back because of relegation concerns, I think he's important to join. 8. DeMarcus Beasley -- He looks good whenever I've seen him for City. I think he's ready to clain the LMF for his own. And yes, I realize I'm leaving off Bobby Convey, Eddie Lewis, Frankie Simek, Josh Wolff, and a few others, but I think these are the most deserving. what say ye?
Hmm. Notable exception,...... CLINT DEMPSEY!!!! And I'll take Convey over Bradley, for now. Hate to say it, but that leaves either Boca or Beasley as odd man out. Why do I not see Beasley being left out? Because not all that much has changed at U.S. Soccer, Inc. This is fun. Starting line-up: --------------------------------- Howard ---------------------------------- --- Cherundolo ---- DeMerit ----------- Onyewu ------ Conrad ------- ---- Dempsey ------ Donovan --------- Beasley ------- Convey ------ ---------------- Twellman --------------- Cooper ------------------------ The fact that I now think Cooper (and Ching, where the hell is he?) is our biggest threat up front means Team USA is in dire need of help at Forward. Not that Coop is terrible, but not exactly my idea of a constantly threatening scorer.
Re: RE: Which Eight? Can't dissagree with that we have a huge hole up top right now and not that many young options on the horizion. At this point I think Beasley is the best choice we have for the position. Either that or you can throw Dempsey up there, but then you don't have a natural right mid to fill the hole you've just created.
RE: Re: RE: Which Eight? I dont know how you can come up with that... the implication is that most MLS keepers are weak. Considering that I thought Hahnemann was super-ordinary before he went across.. Zach "Pie-Eater" Thornton's the only one I know who couldnt hack it across the pond.. Whatever... I do agree with you about Demerit. Leaving him out is ridiculous.
RE: Re: RE: Which Eight? Petty, I don't watch nearly enough MLS, but I must say that watching an MLS-based keeper have a great match in national colors is very rare. It was our prime weakness against Denmark and, in the past, when we were without Freidel, Keller, or Howard, the MNT defense looked weaker. PCB, the reason I didn't pick Dempsey is that I'd be surprised if Bradley would pick him this early in his FFC tenure or, if he did, that Cookie would want to let him go. Dempsey is on a tight schedule to be match fit, and I don't think it would be wise to interfere with that schedule for a friendly -- even against Mexico. I basically said this in the Boca comment. I do believe that just as the defense will have to be built around Gooch, the midfield will have to be built around Dempsey.
Feilhaber is too old for the U-20 tourney, he's 22. I think he might be part of the 8, if Hamburg can release him. They need all the help they can get right now.
RE: Re: Which Eight? Don, that's what I get for paying more attention to your bolded names and less attention to what came after. Still, I think Dempsey could still find his way against Mexico. Just because Cookie doesn't like Diop's fitness after his country's friendlies, I not sure that translates to his feelings about all international players. Diop is probably more of the problem than the friendlies. In the meantime, we can all conjecture. Looking forward to the anouncement.
