Player Pool Discussions

I heard on ESPN Deportes that the roster won't be released until this Monday, so we'll have to wait to see which other newcomers make the list. I suspect the delay is to enable Bradley to see which teams get eliminated this weekend in the MLS playoffs thus freeing up some players for national team duty.

Good point merengue and with all 4 MLS series capable of going either way it would not be easy for Bradley to guess beforehand on who would advance thereby making their players not available for these two national team matches. Thankfully the US was not forced to play the playoff against the CONMEBOL 5th place team that week. Can you imagine the problems if say Landon Donovan, Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching were forced to choose between a MLS semifinal or the CONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff?

<<.. The reported hazy indiscretions of Harkes (minor?), ...>>

LOL, unless you were the teammate whose wife he was banging!

Another note on Davies' injuries; I am not a health care worker, as it sounds like our esteemed Vince may be, but I have had fractures of major leg bones.
The key to total recovery lies, among other factors, in how shattered the bone(s) may be. A clean break, even of the femur, can fully heal to pre-accident condition.
But, on the other hand, if there are several pieces which have to be fitted back together, then all kinds of problems can ensue relating to exact length and balance when compared to pre-break specifications, whether the breaks are near joints or not, etc, etc.
Unfortunately, as far as NT play goes, not our wishes for his best and speedy recovery, we probably have to forget the poor guy, short of a near miraculous recovery.

Good point merengue and with all 4 MLS series capable of going either way it would not be easy for Bradley to guess beforehand on who would advance thereby making their players not available for these two national team matches. Thankfully the US was not forced to play the playoff against the CONMEBOL 5th place team that week. Can you imagine the problems if say Landon Donovan, Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching were forced to choose between a MLS semifinal or the CONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff?

Yes it is a relief for more reasons than you name that the US did not have to play the regional playoff. But with MLS refusing to take breaks even during international weeks, the US runs the risk of placing it's players in a difficult situation. Odds are Los Angeles, Columbus and Houston will be in the MLS semifinals so the US likely will play against Slovakia and Denmark without Donovan, Marshall, Clark and Chng. Their loss is however the opportunity for others to step up but the big question is who can fill in for Donovan? Maybe a chance to try Freddy Adu out? Or give Jose Francisco Torres a more offensive role?

Well Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers are free for selection by Bob Bradley now.

While Columbus supporters won't be happy about it, this is a good thing for the U.S. Marshall and Rogers are two players who should get additional looks IMHO.

While Columbus supporters won't be happy about it, this is a good thing for the U.S. Marshall and Rogers are two players who should get additional looks IMHO.

One door closes, another opens...

I agree with Gunners, Columbus' misery is Bob Bradley and the US' gain with Onyewu out, Marshall may get the chance to play in central defense and if LA Galaxy win this weekend then Donovan won't be at these friendlies thereby increasing the likelihood that Rogers can play.

On the down side, however, we don't get to run out Findley. He has impressive moments.

Vince with the glass half empty view! But it is true Findley is looking pretty good for Salt Lake and I am sure we will see him at the January training camp. So based on our past discussion of Findley and Cunningham as possible alternatives to Davies, I wonder if this opens up a chance for Cunningham?

Good news, but the road will no doubt be hard.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 10, 2009) – The Washington Hospital Center released a statement this afternoon stating that U.S. Men’s National Team forward Charlie Davies has been released from the hospital and will be starting his rehabilitation.

Davies was involved in a single-car accident on the George Washington Parkway on Oct. 13, 2009.

Vince with the glass half empty view! But it is true Findley is looking pretty good for Salt Lake and I am sure we will see him at the January training camp. So based on our past discussion of Findley and Cunningham as possible alternatives to Davies, I wonder if this opens up a chance for Cunningham?

After watching the playoffs and MLS Cup I came away thinking Findley really is another Davies. Maybe not as strong or as polished yet but a year ago neither was Davies that polished. I think there is some hope with Findley that he can fill the role Davies was occupying. Both he and Cunningham should be at the January training camp.

Kyle Beckerman was on the Gold Cup team and made one World Cup qualifying squad after that. His calm midfield play for Real Salt Lake should ensure he gets an invite in January too. And there is one other player for the new MLS champions who should also be considered for that camp, central defender Nat Borchers. He gave a very professional performance in the center of Salt Lake's defense, enough so that he should be among the domestic players picked for the first camp of 2010. He remains alongshot for South Africa but his play, according to the MLS Cup broadcast he was voted Real Salt Lake's season MVP, I think deserves a look from Bob Bradley.

Borchers has been on the USMNT before. I think he has two caps (and he played on the fated 2004 U23s that stank up the joint in Guadalaja for the Preolimpicos along with a pretty interesting collection....Beckerman, Donovan, Convey, Beasley, Spector, Weigert among others). Borchers has always been fairly steady and has a bit of size. He has continued to improve from his senior year in college to the present. Had a few seasons in Norway as well, I believe. I guess his speed and technical ability with the ball at his feet would be my biggest concerns.

Beckerman is a really interesting case. I think he has really found some leadership qualities being around Kreis and his play, perhaps with Mathis' guidance, has become incredibly confident. He is extremely strong on challenges and seems to come away with the ball on nearly every one. He is fit, has attitude and shows a knack for being able to feed the ball into the box with a nice touch. The more I see, the more I like and this is from a player I thought would never progress. Congrats to Kreis. He seems to have made standard MLS players something better than what was thought possible.

And, I echo Maudlin's thoughts, Findley will be interesting to see in a MNT uniform. Just hope he has enough time to prove his worth. He plays confident...like Davies had been doing.

Vince Stravino makes some interesting points worth discussing. Let's take them in order,

1. Borchers- I agree with his conclusion that Borchers is a longshot even for the January training camp because he is a bit slow and with the Scandinavian leagues out of season in January players like Goodson, Califf and Parkhurst should be available for selection in addition to MLS guys like Marshall and Conrad. Perhaps if any one of those players can not make it then Borchers could get a call.

2. Beckerman works hard on the field and as Vince writes shows a lot of confidence now, has become a good ball winner and is an improved distributor of the ball. There is no doubt he will be in the January camp, the question I have is whether he is a legitimate candidate to win a spot on the World Cup roster? With Edu and Jones seemingly perpetually injured this season which brings in to doubt about their ability to be ready by next June there is I think an opening for beckerman if he continues to play as he has done this season since the Gold Cup.

3. Findley was very active last night in the MLS Cup and I can see how people can say he reminds them of Davies. His close control of the ball was the one aspect of his game which most concerned me but some of his problems with that last night could be due to the fast artificial surface in Seattle. Other times I have seen him play I did not recall his ball control suffering. It is not as good as Cunningham's but Findley is more explosive. Between those two forwards is I think Bob Bradley's best hope to find an alternative to Charlie Davies.

With the way Dempsey is scoring at Fulham, (see the Yanks Abroad discussion for more), he is probably now the best alternative to playing forward alongside Altidore. You lose speed but gain in technique. Findley and Cunningham will get their chances starting in January when foreign based players like Dempsey and Altidore won't be available but right now Findley and Cunningham even with the promise they are showing are still fighting to win a World Cup roster spot. Dempsey and Altidore, unless injured, will be on the plane to South Africa.