USA in 2014: The Rebuilding Starts Here

[Aztattooedfootballfan]

Good for Altidore, but Dempsey? He's got a pretty good gig at Fulham and is one of their best players. I don't see them selling him to Napoli, which I'd probably consider a step down from Fulham. (probably).

TxB - I thought Clark played well last year in the qualifiers. I don't question his selection to the team at all. I guess I just question his selection to start by BB as he obviously hasn't been in form of late. Oh well.

I agree with Grogtank's post. Bradley & Holden, yes. Edu, yes. Feilhaber off bench as creative mid? yes.

Pettyfog - I see DeMerit remaining a first-choice option on that back line until we can find someone better (Omar?). While he had two very costly mistakes against Ghana, he was our best pure defender back there the rest of the tournament (Cherundolo was awesome but that's largely due to his ability to press forward & send those crosses - as a pure defender i feel DeMerit was actually better). Adu, agreed with you - that guy doesn't deserve to be talked about at this point. Gooch - still think he's one of our better players back there, but he clearly wasn't back and ready yet. Hopefully Milan plays him at some point, or else you're right - rotting on a bench won't help him. I don't think Boca is even a bench option for CB next world cup - he'll be well past his prime by then, and if he's slow now, he will need a walker by next WC.

Also have to give credit where it is due - Bornstein was way better than we were expecting those last two matches. Obviously his strength is pressing forward (which he did well), but he also didn't get burned (from what i can remember) on defensive play. Color me surprised and happy for him. Wish we could get that out of him every time.

With Roy leaving Fulham, who knows what the new coach will do and who he will play? Napoli could be a regular in Europe while Fulham was a shocker to be there even though they had an amazing run. In the end, that is a middle of the table club. Then again, no one knows what the coach of any other club would do in playing him certain minutes just as unknown as the question of the new Fulham coach.

 

[TX Bill]

Dynamo vs. Pachuca in Superliga action tonight.

Both Torres and Gomez played and Torres was very very good against us.

Didn't put a bad foot forward.

 

[SconnieToffee]

Dynamo vs. Pachuca in Superliga action tonight.

Both Torres and Gomez played and Torres was very very good against us.

Didn't put a bad foot forward.

I really think Torres will be a vital player going forward for the U.S. 2010 may just have come a bit early for him in terms of his developement at the international level. He's certainly a diferent part compared to the rest of the central midfield options.
As for Feilhaber, I can't recall a game in which he was effective as a starter. Impact sub may be his best role, since he can be thrown in at a number of positions. I'd rather see Torres or Holden in before him.

 

[TX Bill]

I really think Torres will be a vital player going forward for the U.S. 2010 may just have come a bit early for him in terms of his developement at the international level. He's certainly a diferent part compared to the rest of the central midfield options.
As for Feilhaber, I can't recall a game in which he was effective as a starter. Impact sub may be his best role, since he can be thrown in at a number of positions. I'd rather see Torres or Holden in before him.

He started against us in the center of the park and was putting the ball at the feet of whoever he wanted to. 2nd half he was out wide and the game kinda passed him by.

I do think he'll be better off in the center for the USMNT.

 

[pfim]

There are more promising US players than ever. I'm a bit excited about the competition that will take place over the next 4 years, but a bit worried about cohesiveness, especially in the back.

I don't agree with the earlier conversation about Feilhaber. Yes, he did create, but the US had to send numbers forward when he came on, they were behind. I don't think they can play like that consistently with a shaky back 4, so I don't see him starting unless they completely change their shape and put him in an attacking center MF role from the start.

Goodson and Onyewu are 28 and should be on the squad if they keep up their form. I've always liked Goodson, think he's a better player now than Demerit. I think Bocanegra will play a role in qualifying and could find his way to the bench by 2014. Hopefully there are younger players pushing for his spot. There are some good, young RB options, Alston, Franklin etc. Hopefully they will improve. If not, I wouldn't rule out Cherundolo playing a role, even at 35. I'm glad Bornstein will be playing in Mexico, hopefully playing against more skilled wide players will improve his defense.

Wild card for either fullback position: Robbie Rogers.

Michael Bradley will be in his prime by 2014...I think there are too many options to list in the center of midfield, really. It will just be down to form and who improves the most. I think Edu covers the most ground of any defensive midfielder in the pool, so he's there. The wide options will continue to be Donovan and Dempsey, imo, unless one of them is moved up top out of neccessity.

Altidore is 20 and is improving (at least with the national team). He just seems like someone who constantly needs to be motivated. Not exactly the best characteristic, but I don't think hold up play, finishing etc is his problem. He just needs to show up for every practice and every game.

Davies is in the mix here if he can get back to health, although I wouldn't say he's a lock as a starter. I think people need to realize that he excelled for a very short period of time before the accident. Hopefully they can land guys like Danny Mawanga, Najar (MF obviously) to get more talent into the pool. Tristan Bowen is another guy everyone should be high on.

As far as Bob Bradley goes, I'm a bit ambivalent. I don't agree with those who say he's taken this team as far as he can. I think he's shown he's adaptable and I think that's the most important aspect of taking on a second qualifying cycle. And I wouldn't be upset if he was replaced either, as long as we're talking about someone who walks in with international managerial experience.

I think I'd rather see someone a bit more detached from US soccer. I think Bradley got his tactics right for the most part, something lacking in American soccer, but I think he grew too fond of certain players and it hurt the team.

 

[Hellerad]

Now that the US is out, what are your thoughts for the future?

Hopefully Donovan and Dempsey can stay young forever, but I think we have to start looking hard for new players to develop. I'm glad we have the youth that we do have: Adu, Altidore, Bedoya, Bradley, Castillo, Davies, Edu, Feilhaber, Findley, Holden, Johnson, Kljestan, Quaranta, Rogers, and Torres.

Also, there are some names that I hope will come into the fold in the next couple of years: Brek Shea, Tristan Bowen, Steven Lenhart, Chris Pontius, Dax McCarty, Eddie Gaven, Sean Franklin, Nick Rimando, Bobby Wood, and Christopher Ortega.

Ultimately I think we need to tap into some young, aggressive attacking options. We can hold our breaths and hope Davies and Altidore can build something great, but I'd love to create a new explosive attack mentality. After the match against Ghana, we simply do not have any dangerous strikers. It's a damn shame that Montero isn't American.

I would love to see other people's own thoughts and maybe some lively discussion of some of those I mentioned (Adu? Kljestan? Johnson? wtf?) I'm also pretty unfamiliar with the the current state of US youth development, so if anybody knows of any more up-and-coming talent, I'd love to hear about it.

Ignoring my fellow colonists for a moment, I'd also love to hear some fresh perspective from those finely-tuned football minds from across the pond.

What a different world post 2010.

 

[davidloach]

What a different world post 2010.

We still have that lack of dangerous strikers problem I see... I wish Johannsson was able to feature more in the past few weeks to see how good he is.