It's official, the masses are content. After all, Bob Bradley has just released a 23-man roster that is made up of the usual suspects, mixed in with some younger talent for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago.
Fans had been pleading for the inclusion of the likes of Freddy Adu, Josmer Altidore, and other young talented players since the beginning of this round of Qualification. Many believed that the younger group would provide for more exciting soccer, and would have pulled out better results than the 1-0 scorelines witnessed at Cuba and Guatemala.
However, Bob Bradley continued to call in mostly veterans to his camps, much to the dismay of the fans. What many fans overlooked though, was the fact that Bradley was indeed incorporating young talent into his rosters. Sacha Kljestan, Maurice Edu, and Heath Pearce all saw extended time during the first three matches, and that's invaluable experience gained to young players who look to be apart of the 2010 squad.
What was important for the team was to secure qualification as quickly as possible and they've pretty much assured that by winning their first three games with a goal differential of +5. The team would have to lose the next three matches, two of which are at home, to possibly be knocked out of qualifying. To be honest, the chances of Sunil Gulati winning the lottery is more probable than the American's not making it to the Hex in 2009.
During the three games, although the play wasn't always pretty, it was effective. The older veterans like Brian Ching, Frankie Hejduk, and Eddie Lewis all made contributions to the team's success. Ching, especially, should be applauded for the job he put forth against Guatemala. Not sure that Jozy Altidore - for all the talent he has - would've been able to hold the ball up like Ching did in the closing minutes of that grueling encounter.
Regardless, the United States has put itself in a good position to advance, and now has the flexibility to insert some of the younger players into the mix, which looks to have been Bradley's plan all along. The roster called up for the next two matches includes a little bit of everything for everyone. You have the veterans such as Ching, and Landon Donovan mixed in with some of the younger regulars like Pearce, and Michael Bradley. Then there's the talented youngsters looking to impress including Freddy Adu, Charlie Davies and even surprise call-up, Jose Francisco Torres of Pachuca, who just announced he'd play for America instead of Mexico.
With a win against Cuba, the Americans will officially be through to the final stage of qualifying, with two games remaining. Those two games will most likely be served as a way for Bob Bradley to continue his scouting of younger players. It looks plainly obvious, that Donovan, Tim Howard and other mainstays at the club level will be released to their clubs if the Yanks beat Cuba on the the 11th. That would leave for a much younger, inexperienced lineup with a sprinkle of veteran leadership for the match at Trinidad and Tobago.
Regardless of the results in the next two matches, we will see new faces get playing time. Bob Bradley has done a superb job mixing youth with experience for this roster and still, some fans will complain that there is no Kenny Cooper, Robbie Rogers, Marvell Wynne, or Chad Marshall on this roster. Those fans are either related to one of those individuals, or they'll probably never be satisfied.
For the time being though, the majority are pleased with the roster, and that in itself, is a rare occasion.
23 Man Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton FC), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF).
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca).
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy).
What do you think of the roster? Which players are you most excited to see? Anyone make the team that should've been left off? Anyone not make the team that you'd like to see? How do feel about the call-up of Jose Francisco Torres and him deciding to play for America? Share your comments below.
Fans had been pleading for the inclusion of the likes of Freddy Adu, Josmer Altidore, and other young talented players since the beginning of this round of Qualification. Many believed that the younger group would provide for more exciting soccer, and would have pulled out better results than the 1-0 scorelines witnessed at Cuba and Guatemala.
However, Bob Bradley continued to call in mostly veterans to his camps, much to the dismay of the fans. What many fans overlooked though, was the fact that Bradley was indeed incorporating young talent into his rosters. Sacha Kljestan, Maurice Edu, and Heath Pearce all saw extended time during the first three matches, and that's invaluable experience gained to young players who look to be apart of the 2010 squad.
What was important for the team was to secure qualification as quickly as possible and they've pretty much assured that by winning their first three games with a goal differential of +5. The team would have to lose the next three matches, two of which are at home, to possibly be knocked out of qualifying. To be honest, the chances of Sunil Gulati winning the lottery is more probable than the American's not making it to the Hex in 2009.
During the three games, although the play wasn't always pretty, it was effective. The older veterans like Brian Ching, Frankie Hejduk, and Eddie Lewis all made contributions to the team's success. Ching, especially, should be applauded for the job he put forth against Guatemala. Not sure that Jozy Altidore - for all the talent he has - would've been able to hold the ball up like Ching did in the closing minutes of that grueling encounter.
Regardless, the United States has put itself in a good position to advance, and now has the flexibility to insert some of the younger players into the mix, which looks to have been Bradley's plan all along. The roster called up for the next two matches includes a little bit of everything for everyone. You have the veterans such as Ching, and Landon Donovan mixed in with some of the younger regulars like Pearce, and Michael Bradley. Then there's the talented youngsters looking to impress including Freddy Adu, Charlie Davies and even surprise call-up, Jose Francisco Torres of Pachuca, who just announced he'd play for America instead of Mexico.
With a win against Cuba, the Americans will officially be through to the final stage of qualifying, with two games remaining. Those two games will most likely be served as a way for Bob Bradley to continue his scouting of younger players. It looks plainly obvious, that Donovan, Tim Howard and other mainstays at the club level will be released to their clubs if the Yanks beat Cuba on the the 11th. That would leave for a much younger, inexperienced lineup with a sprinkle of veteran leadership for the match at Trinidad and Tobago.
Regardless of the results in the next two matches, we will see new faces get playing time. Bob Bradley has done a superb job mixing youth with experience for this roster and still, some fans will complain that there is no Kenny Cooper, Robbie Rogers, Marvell Wynne, or Chad Marshall on this roster. Those fans are either related to one of those individuals, or they'll probably never be satisfied.
For the time being though, the majority are pleased with the roster, and that in itself, is a rare occasion.
23 Man Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton FC), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF).
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca).
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy).
What do you think of the roster? Which players are you most excited to see? Anyone make the team that should've been left off? Anyone not make the team that you'd like to see? How do feel about the call-up of Jose Francisco Torres and him deciding to play for America? Share your comments below.
No comments:
Post a Comment