Live on sportscenter this evening at 5 central. What are everyone's thoughts on our roster?

I am being kind of selfish here...but I wouldn't mind if Ching did not make it. but the bad thing is...even if he doesn't, he would serve as an alternate and be gone anyway so with that being said, I hope he makes it full on.

Ching will be an alternate, IMO. Even with the horrible lack of depth at striker, he's fifth on the depth chart AT BEST. I enjoy watching Ching play in the MLS, but he has shown next to nothing with the USMNT.

As opposed to who tool? I'm not saying Ching deserves to make it with his performance, but the sad fact is that we don't really go four lock deep at the position. It wouldn't suprise me if he made it.

1. McBride - he could lose both his legs tomorrow and still make the roster at this point.

2. EJ- yeah, he hasn't done much in awhile, but neither has anyone else, and he has more potential.

3. Wolff - hustle player, but hasn't scored a goal in forever seemingly

4. twellman - not shown much

5. ching

6. Casey

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As opposed to who tool? I'm not saying Ching deserves to make it with his performance, but the sad fact is that we don't really go four lock deep at the position. It wouldn't suprise me if he made it.

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You have him fifth on your list, and that's where I said he probably is.

McBride is our best striker, period.

Johnson is also a lock, despite seemingly not being completely back after his long injury absence.

Wolff will go because he has a ton of experience and Bruce and other players seem to like him. Wolff hasn't earned a spot on the field with his play the past couple of years, IMO, but we don't really have a choice.

Twellman had a really hot streak against a number of the lesser opponents and has shown a lot of hustle.

Ching has shown me nothing at this level. I can count on one hand the number of plays he's made with the national team that looked good to me. Most of the time he is invisible. Honestly, I might put Casey ahead of him at this point, but I don't think Bruce sees it that way.

Last World Cup, four forwards made the cut and there were two alternates. BMB, EJ, Wolff, and TT are all clearly ahead of Ching based on performance. Hence my comment that Ching will be an alternate.

Another option for Arena is to only take three forwards or count Donovan as one of the four forwards and take another midfielder, since we seem to have more depth there. That's what I would do.

In any case, I just don't see Ching on the active playing roster barring injury to another forward ahead of him.

I do have him fifth, but I guess I was trying to say that it wouldn't shock me to see twellman left off for him.

I dont think any of our forwards have shown anything to merit being on the field (except for mcbride obviously) I say go with a 1 striker format cuz we have a ton of midfielders or move landon up

I think that is why Ching has suffered...because lack of a good midfield game behind him when he has played.

Ching is not the kind of guy that will beat you one on one but is awesome off of set pieces and crosses.

I think it will be interesting to see who makes it in for defense and midfield positions. My predition is

Defense:
Boca
Oguchi
Pope
E. Lewis
Cherundolo
Gibbs
Hejduk (don't know the spelling and don't think he deserves it)
Albright

Midfield:
Beasley
Donovan
Reyna
O'Brien
Dempsey
Mastroeni
Convey
(I'm forgetting someone but the spot won't go to Ralston, Noonan, Zavagnin)

Oh... Ben Olsen

I mostly agree with Cade's picks.

But I think you need to swap Berhalter for Albright. I think Hejduk is a lock and deserves it.

I'm with the group on striker positions. Ching just doesn't make the cut. We've got enough targets from back/midfield, so his strength doesn't add much. I'm a huge Wolff fan, expecting good things from him in WC.

I think goalies are a lock. Keller, Hahneman, and Howard. Who's 2nd stringer? I'd guess Hahnemann at this point, unless Howard started getting on the field lately.

where does Hahnemann play? I've never heard of him before

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where does Hahnemann play? I've never heard of him before

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He plays for Reading in the Coca Cola Championship. Named to the Championship Team of the Year this season. He's been hot lately and I wouldn't be surprised to see him out there if (god forbid) something happens to Keller.

Ching in Twellman out

Roster Announced:

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Goalkeepers: Kasey Keller, Marcus Hahnemann, Tim Howard.

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jimmy Conrad, Cory Gibbs, Frankie Hejduk, Eddie Lewis, Oguchi Onyewu, Eddie Pope.

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Pablo Mastroeni, John O'Brien, Ben Olsen, Claudio Reyna.

Forwards: Brian Ching, Eddie Johnson, Brian McBride, Josh Wolff.

Alternates: Chris Albright, Chris Armas, Gregg Berhalter, Conor Casey, Todd Dunivant, Chris Klein, Tony Meola, Pat Noonan, Steve Ralson, Matt Reis, Chris Rolfe, Taylor Twellman, Kerry Zavagnin.

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is ralston an alternate because he still has a nagging injury?

Wow. I guess Bruce really likes Ching's size and feels like the midfielders need another big target out there. I'm surprised, but I'm ok with that. I just hope we're not in a position where we have to rely on Ching (or Wolff, for that matter) to score in order to win.

My only real quibble is with the inclusion of Conrad. That guy was mediocre on his best day, and on several occassions was just plain awful.

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My only real quibble is with the inclusion of Conrad. That guy was mediocre on his best day, and on several occassions was just plain awful.

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Gotta disagree with you there. He blew chunks against Germany but he played very solidly against some good teams both in the run-up to the WC and in the Gold Cup last summer. But I am surprised he made it. I would have thought that Berhalter's experience would have seen him through.

The only one I don't like is Hejduk but I've never really liked him to be honest. Looking forward to June 12th like you wouldn't believe.

I'm a little suprised with Ching over Twellman, but they basically have the same type of game except that Ching is a little more physical and has been on fire lately.

Twellman is better than ching, and berhalter is garbage. That is all.

I thought Twellman locked it up with his performance against Norway, but that was a long time ago. It looks like dubag is right. Ching was taken because he's been playing better lately.

Oh, and I agree with PatAg about Berhalter to an extent. I do, however, remember a marvelous performance he had against Italy a few years ago.

so we're ****ed vs the czech rep?

about that...is nedved a go or not?

[This message has been edited by stillmerk (edited 5/3/2006 5:18p).]

I dont think so, depends who we are starting and if we have the balls to attack them. If we have mcbride, johnson, donovan, beasley(or convey) dempsey, reyna and obrien(or even mastroeni) starting...well I think we can win.

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if we have the balls to attack them

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This is the key, IMO. There's too much talk on other message boards about a 4-5-1 for my comfort. Then there's Reyna and Beasley on the US Soccer podcast sounding like they just want to play defense all day. Of course I know that's important--I'm a defender myself--but it's not necessarily going to be enough. The US beat Germany up and down the field in 2002, but lost 0-1. The team MUST create chances, and in order to do that the midfielders can't be constantly worried about staying in a defensive position.

What are the possibilities of Beasley and Convey on the field at same time? Seems like it's one or other with Arena.

If we had Donovan, Convey, and Beasley on the pitch together, our attacking speed would certainly scare some folks. Some of who might be US fans though, not sure if we control middle as much as we'd like.

Nedved is out due to (a recent)injury isn't he?

There are a few questions about the choices. You can always find something wrong... but remember, Bruce knows what's best.

My only hang-up is that Hejduk should be cut for a younger guy. He's had his turn in multiple World Cups, let the youth get their chance.


ps- Keller, Reyna and McBride are a different story than Hejduk. Hejduk isn't on the same level as most of the old guard that made it this time.

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My only hang-up is that Hejduk should be cut for a younger guy. He's had his turn in multiple World Cups, let the youth get their chance.

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Ask and ye shall receive.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=366876&cc=5901

I've never been a big fan of Hejduk but I hate to see anyone go out like that. Albright can look scary in defense...I seem to remember him getting schooled several times against Jamaica... but he can put in a good cross and is dangerous in the air.

I thought Albright had a better game than Hajduk. I also remember Hajduk getting beat bad a few times during the Jamaican game (including the goal).

He has done well for US soccer and for that I thank him. 'Hate to see him go out like this, but at the same time, he has had his time in the spotlight.

That sucks about Hejduk. I don't think his game was quite at the same level as some of the other guys, but he has been around forever and is impossible not to like. Just having him in the locker room would have been a big positive. He's also one of the fittest players on the team, even as an "old man."

I like the versatility albright shows, and he has pretty good foot skills, and is strong in the air.

How funny that if Albright and Lewis were to play at the same time, both of our outside defenders would be converted forwards. I also like Albright for the presence he presents on certain set pieces, defensively and offensively.

albright has no shot at starting over cherundolo

I didn't say he would start but he could end up playing if there are more injuries in camp of if Dolo has a bad game.

I would rather him be the first one off the bench on d. So I guess that means we both want to see him get playing time.

I know I'm wrong, but I'm not too big on 'dolo for some reason.