What kind of game test will El Salvador - a team that only scored 10 goals in the final round of qualification, finished second to last in the that final round CONCACAF region, and is only bringing three strikers on its roster to Tampa to play the U.S. - be ?
Apparently as good as our MLS players (see the roster below) are going to get. Lest we forget though this little Central American country has given the U.S. some problems in their past two meetings, a 2-2 tie back in 2008 and a 2-1 U.S win last fall in which the U.S. trailed early to the feisty El Salvadorans.
However, this is why the game is a crucial one as questions still surround the 23-man U.S. World Cup roster.
Picture this fun little scenario. Clint Dempsey has some kind of set-back, he's not ready to go by the World Cup. Oguchi re-injures his in knee at Milan in training or does not play a single minute of game-time and is not match fit. Charile Davies does not get back on the pitch for S0chaux in France - not match fit. And/or Landon Donovan breaks a bone in his foot/leg on a crunching tackle in the Premier League for Everton. Meanwhile back at home our MLS boys have not played a single minute for their domestic teams because they are stuck on strike in a bitter labor dispute with the league over guaranteed contracts and free agency - something MLS simply cannot afford.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but boys and girls that little nightmare could easily happen to the men's national team, and then won't we the Red, White, and Blue Army have a fun World Cup ahead of us.
The injury problems that currently plague the U.S. team (and fortunately look better and better each passing day for the MNT) and the very real likelihood of a lockout to start the MLS season make this upcoming seemingly meaningless friendly with El Salvador all the more important. Potentially as Leander Schaerlaeckens points out in his ESPNsoccernet story, this could be the last time any of these MLS players lace 'em up to take the pitch in competitive action before the World Cup begins. Let's hope not, but it's possible.
Picture this fun little scenario. Clint Dempsey has some kind of set-back, he's not ready to go by the World Cup. Oguchi re-injures his in knee at Milan in training or does not play a single minute of game-time and is not match fit. Charile Davies does not get back on the pitch for S0chaux in France - not match fit. And/or Landon Donovan breaks a bone in his foot/leg on a crunching tackle in the Premier League for Everton. Meanwhile back at home our MLS boys have not played a single minute for their domestic teams because they are stuck on strike in a bitter labor dispute with the league over guaranteed contracts and free agency - something MLS simply cannot afford.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but boys and girls that little nightmare could easily happen to the men's national team, and then won't we the Red, White, and Blue Army have a fun World Cup ahead of us.
The injury problems that currently plague the U.S. team (and fortunately look better and better each passing day for the MNT) and the very real likelihood of a lockout to start the MLS season make this upcoming seemingly meaningless friendly with El Salvador all the more important. Potentially as Leander Schaerlaeckens points out in his ESPNsoccernet story, this could be the last time any of these MLS players lace 'em up to take the pitch in competitive action before the World Cup begins. Let's hope not, but it's possible.
For me there really are about 6-8 completely open positions to fill out the U.S. roster whether it be in terms of a starting spot or somewhere on the bench and these are the positions you should be paying attention.
Let's take the optimistic approach and assume Oguchi is back in time and the rest of your defenders are healthy (it's a long way to go but bear with me) - this is where the U.S. has the most depth and three locks in Oguchi and Jay Demeritt in the middle with captain Carlos Bocanegra most likely on the left.
What becomes interesting is who fills that final spot on the right and which players earn reserve spots. Steve Cherundolo has occupied that spot in the past, but has been injured a great deal for Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga. I think his experience will earn him a spot on the WC roster, just not in the starting lineup. Jonathan Spector of Westham has also battled some injuries this season, but has started five of the last six games for his London club, and due to his performance in the Confederations Cup last summer probably for the time being has to be the favorite to earn the starting nod.
But as for players that are playing tomorrow I will be watching Chad Marshall, Jonathan Bornstein, and Clarence Goodson. By all accounts Bornstein is the most highly rated of these three and may even challenge Bocanegra for the left back spot or be slotted there if Guch is not back. Goodson scored the lone U.S. goal on a header vs. Honduras, but really was unimpressive in his second half sub role. And Chad Marshall to me is somewhat of an unknown, but has been the heart of the Columbus Crew, who won the MLS Cup 2 years ago, the past couple of season.
Clearly the midfield and attacking positions are where the U.S. roster has been most ravaged by injury. Dempsey, Davies, and Jermaine Jones (Schalke, Bundesliga) top the list. We saw relatively little free-flowing aggressive attacking the last friendly and I hope and would believe that should be an entirely different case in this game as essentially some of these players dreams of ever earning a World Cup roster spot are on the line.
It's funny almost how far a player like Sacha Kljestan has dropped - just two years ago there were rumors he was set to make a big move to Scotland's preeminent power Celtic of Glasgow. Now to me, he is a wash and a waste, probably someone who will never fulfill that potential.
I look at holding center midfielder Kyle Beckerman as probably the biggest dark horse, a player that like Chad Marshall for the Crew, was the heart and soul of last season's MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake. However, despite posting one of the few solid performances against Honduras, Beckerman will have a tough road to overtake any of the following for a WC spot - Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Maurice Edu, Jones, or even Freddy Adu - as Michael Bradley has the other central spot locked up. But the team needs more feisty, do-what-it takes, character guys like Beckerman - and that's why I wouldn't rule him out just yet.
The two Robbies - Rogers and Findley - are the last two guys I will be keeping a close watch and wishful eye on. They are two of the hottest names in the MLS and admittedly I do not know much about either. Rogers is potentially vying to be the outside left middy spot if Davies cannot comeback and Dempsey has to be pushed up front. Findley is a burner, someone in the Davies mold but by all accounts less skill.
I do not believe last season's top MLS scorer Jeff Cunningham has any realistic chance to make the roster. He's too inconsistent and simply does not possess the skill to play with World Class defenders, which is why he was never called by any club in Europe even the little guys.
Lastly I must once again say - PUT THE KAYBASH ON BRIAN CHING. In my book the guy is a stiff, if the ball is not played directly to him he's useless. He's somewhat decent in the air but is nowhere near the same class as former U.S. great Brian McBride, and simply cannot make this roster.
And if you follow that logic than Connor Casey isn't getting a sniff of Jozy's jock either. The guy is a lesser version of Ching.
Anyway, enjoy the match. Go Red White and Blue. And come back later in the night for post game analysis.
U.S. roster
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C. United) and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway); Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew); Heath Pearce (FC Dallas) and Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo); Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo); Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders); Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew); Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA); Dax McCarty (FC Dallas); Chris Pontius (D.C. United) and Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Attackers: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas) and Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
U.S. roster
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C. United) and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway); Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew); Heath Pearce (FC Dallas) and Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo); Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo); Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders); Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew); Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA); Dax McCarty (FC Dallas); Chris Pontius (D.C. United) and Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Attackers: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas) and Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
Much to your wishes; you know that Bradley will bring either Ching or Casey to S Africa........
ReplyDeletePossibly both is Davies can't make it back.....