The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup looms ominously on the horizon of the United States National Team's future, beckoning for an encore of the success they enjoyed during this past summer's World Cup. As America finishes out 2010 with a friendly match in Cape Town against World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa, we naturally set our sights even higher for 2011 and beyond. The Gold Cup will provide a chance for the U.S. to prove, once again, that they are top-dogs in CONCACAF.
Looking ahead to the roster, many American fans are calling for a "changing of the guard" this summer, sending out the old stalwarts of our team in favor of new faces looking to get acclimated to the national team setup. I'm here to explain why that's nonsense.
Don't hit the panic button everybody, we aren't quite as old as people seem to believe. In fact, many of our older players are enjoying some of their best campaigns thus far in their careers.
Captain Carlos Bocanegra (31) is holding a starting spot for second-place St. Etienne, while Steve Cherundolo (31) is captaining his side to a 7th place start in the Bundesliga. While Tim Howard (31) is not having the best season with Everton, it can easily be argued that the teams slow start has not been his fault, especially after his MVP performance in the Merseyside Derby this past weekend. The only World Cup 2010 roster member who needs a replacement by this summer is Marcus Hahnemann, who is considering retiring from international duty to focus on his club play with Wolves.
The "Poster Boys"of U.S. Soccer such as Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley are all on the good side of 30, leaving them with a few more years before age will even enter the discussion when it comes to their selection for an international tournament.
With the age issue addressed, this is my take on the 23-man roster for next summer's Gold Cup.
Roster (Number, Name, Club)
1- Tim Howard (Everton FC)
2- Heath Pearce (FC Dallas)
3- Carlos Bocanegra (St. Ettienne)
4- Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
5- Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan)
6- Steve Cherundolo (Hanover 96)
7- Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers)
8- Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC)
9- Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux-Montpelier)
10- Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
11- Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes)
12- Frank Simek (Carlisle United)
13- Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa FC)
14- Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
15- Jermaine Jones ( Schalke 04)
16- Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
17- Jozy Altidore (Villareal)
18- Brad Guzan (Aston Villa FC)
19- Maurice Edu (Rangers)
20- Mikkel Diskerrud (Staebek)
21- Clarence Goodson (IK Start)
22- Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus)
23- Bill Hamid (DC United)
GK: 3 (Howard, Guzan, Hamid)
Def: 7 (Pearce, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Simek, Lichaj, Goodson
Mid: 10 (Bradley, Holden, Dempsey, Donovan, Convey, Jones, Torres, Edu, Diskerrud, Feilhaber)
Fwd: 3 (Davies, Buddle, Altidore)
Now for a closer look at some of my roster predictions, broken down by position.
GK: Howard is the obvious choice as the #1 for the US, with Guzan as the clear-cut backup. The only spot up for grabs is the less than important 3rd goalkeeper, who is generally looked upon as a young goalkeeper who can gain invaluable experience in national team camp with the 1st team during a major tournament. Enter: Bill Hamid.
This 18 year old enjoyed some great success during his rookie stint at DC United after being signed from their Youth Academy. Several performances stood out, including his first-ever win, where he stole Tim Howard's record as youngest MLS goalkeeper to record a victory, as well as his heroics against star-studded AC Milan. This is the perfect opportunity to get our goalkeeper of the future some experience.
Def: Bocanegra, Cherundolo, Onyewu, and Goodson all return to the roster after making the World Cup roster this summer. Boca, Stevie C, and Clarence are all in great form right now, with Onyewu still fighting for minutes at Milan. Some younger faces have shown well in recent club play and international friendlies, so they've earned the nod for the roster next summer.
Eric Lichaj, who had a fantastic second half at right back against Colombia, has overtaken Jonathan Spector for the #2 utility back. His play at Aston Villa also indicates he can line up on the left, where I have him in our starting lineup.
Frank Simek has been having a great campaign for Carlisle in League 1. I realize that this is not exactly on par with the Premier League, but an American defender getting consistent minutes at a respectable club is nothing to sneeze at, so he's earned a spot.
Mid: Hands down, our deepest position. it only makes sense to drop a back and a forward in favor of two more versatile and talented mids, so I've come up with a list of 10 for next summer. Automatics: Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley. These guys held down our midfield in South Africa, each of them tallying at least 1 goal, with Donovan netting 3. These three stars are supplemented by plethora of young talent brimming with the confidence to get onto the pitch and make an impact for the country.
Central midfielders Maurice Edu, a starter for Champions League side Rangers, and Jose
Torres, a regular for Pachuca, have seen limited minutes in a US kit but enjoyed great success during this time.
Outside midfielder Benny Feilhaber owns the title of "supersub" for the USA, and will continue to do so for as long as he wants after his Golazo against Mexico in the 2007 Gold Cup Final. Youngster and dual-nationality Mikkel Diskerrud (Parent from Norway) has also earned a nod after his remarkable goal-scoring form and play for Staebek. Comeback player of the year nominee Bobby Convey has played his way back into the national team picture with his incredible campaign for San Jose, where he's seen time at left mid and left back, reminding some American fans of his form during his time at Reading.
Now, the X-Factors for the United States for this tournament. Central Mids Stuart Holden and Jermaine Jones.
Holden is the top-rated tackler in the English Premier League, a remarkable statistic attesting to his work rate tracking back on defense after player the role of spark plug for his Bolton Wanderers offense. At 24, if his development continues on its current pace, Holden will emerge from this next World Cup cycle in the same role as Landon Donovan played this past cycle, the life of the team.
"Germany Jones," as fans have affectionately named him, has earned a starting role following his 90-minute MVP performance against Poland, and his solid outing against Colombia. Providing the "destroyer" characteristic that the team seemed to be missing, Jones also proved his offensive prowess with an incredible through ball to Altidore to set up the opening goal against Poland.
The tandem of Holden-Jones is our best pairing at Central Mid, although I see nepotism getting in the way of that, with Sweatpants Bob refusing to take out beloved son Michael from the starting lineup. For this reason, I see Jones out wide on the left, where he sometimes lines up for Champions League side Schalke 04.
Fwd: Our weakest position, especially following the past two World Cups, where an American Forward failed to tally in seven games.
Altidore may seem to be our best option, and at a mere 20 years old, he's got room to grow. A lack of playing time for club side Villareal has hurt his international performances as of late, showing in a painfully obvious manner when he failed to score with so many chances in South Africa. It was obvious that after the Algeria game, if not sooner, he should have been replaced by the in-form striker...
Edson Buddle: MLS MVP candidate and league-leading scorer snuck onto the World Cup roster at the last moment due to his goal scoring tear. His strike rate has fallen off a little bit since returning to America, but his form has warranted not only a spot on the roster, but the displacement of young Jozy for a spot up top next to Dempsey in the starting XI.
I admit that my last pick is based entirely off of emotion, and maybe even an element illusion. If he continues to progress with his rehab and reserve team matches, I believe that his work ethic and determination will pave his way back to the national team. I think you've figured it out by now. Charlie Davies, USA's number 9. We need this kid as a super-sub for this tournament, both from a physical standpoint as a fast-paced striker to come on and run past tired defenses near the end of the game, and emotionally, where the team and the fans will certainly have a huge boost when he finally steps back on the pitch in the Red, White, and Blue.
Now for my projected starting XI:
---------Dempsey---------Buddle--------
Jones----------Holden-----------Donovan
---------------Edu--------------------
Lichaj-----Goodson----Bocanegra---Cherundolo
--------------Howard---------------------
If Bob Bradley can put nepotism aside, and recognize the importance of replacing out of form players with in form players, regardless of age or experience, then this team will have the perfect opportunity to book their ticket to the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Just like the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, the 2013 Confed. Cup in Brazil will provide us with the opportunity to acclimate ourselves to the climate, stadiums, and atmosphere that we will encounter in the following summer's World Cup, where we will look to build off of the leaps and bounds made by Donovan and co. in South Africa this past June.
Please leave your feedback and keep checking back for new articles!!!
