If… Rudyard Kipling Was An MNT Fan

May 6th, 2006 | by: Daryl |

Spotted this literary masterpiece over at Big Soccer, and renowned author Kinstlinger has kindly let me share it with you.

For the Kipling original go here, but I suggest you read on for the USA 2006 remix…

IF Kasey gets injured…
9 on the worry scale
I like Marcus, but he hasn’t played much with this team, and that’s important. Kasey brings much more than just his skills. I can’t imagine T-Ho being annointed the starter; just not enough playing time this season in important games.

IF ‘Dolo gets injured…
7 on the worry scale
Who backs him up ? Albright ? A good MLS player with scant national experience isn’t the best person to put in that role, but whereas Frankie’s mistakes can be redeemed by his upside, Albright doesn’t make mistakes, he just doesn’t have the upside.

IF Gooch gets injured…
8 on the worry scale.
People are talking so much about what he brings to this team in terms of size and power, about his battles with Koller and Toni. If we lose him, it means we’ll probably see Pope/Conrad/Gibbs/Boca as centerbacks.

IF Gibbs gets injured…
6 on the worry scale
Boca/Pope/Conrad get the nod. There is a big drop-off from a ‘fit’ Gibbs to his backups, but we don’t know his fitness in 5 weeks. Depends on the opponent

IF Eddie Lewis gets injured…
6 on the worry scale
Can Gibbs fill at left back ? I guess he’d have to. It means hoping he’s fit enough to run and advance.

IF Mastroeni gets injured…
7.5 on the worry scale.
Not that Mastro is world-class, but because his position would be filled by Olsen, who is all heart, but not the same shut-down abilities.

IF Dempsey gets injured…
7 on the worry scale.
Who else would play right mid ?

IF O’Brien gets injured…
IF ??

IF Reyna gets injured…
8 on the worry scale, depending on JOB’s health.
If O’Brien can play come June, he can handle Reyna’s duties, but if he can’t, this team looks awfully toothless without a distributor.

IF Beasley gets injured…
I used to think this would be an 8, but I’d say 6.5
Although Beasley has the WC and International pedigree, I think Convey would be able to step in nicely, if he had to. Nobody knew who DMB was 4 years ago.

IF Donovan gets injured…
9 on the worry scale..
So much more than just his duties.

IF GAM gets injured…
Anything we’d get from Eddie would be icing on the cake. If we’re assuming he’s the focal point of our attack, we’re behind anyways.

IF McBride gets injured…
8.5 on the worry scale.
Ching has his moments, but not enough of them.

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Cajun Nick

I know that the players actually play, but…

If something should happen to Bruce Arena, what is the reading on the Worry Scale?

Any guesses?
daryl

11
ETucker

If there is a 4-2-3-1 (4-5-1) formation, who will play the back two in midfield? Reyna and O’Brien? What about Mastroeni?

I think both Reyna and O’Brien are fantastic distributors, but neither one of them is a pest/tackler. Also, given the injury to Frankie, I think we need to have Pablo on the field as an enforcer.

Maybe a better formation would be a 3-5-2 with Landon alongside Mcbride, no Lewis, and Reyna at the #10?

It all comes down to whethe Mastroeni would be a better holding midfielder than Lewis would be a left back? I like Lewis’s freekicking specialities from the leftside, but am not so sold on his defending.
Cajun Nick

Daryl,

I think you’re right. Sometimes I believe that we do well only because Arena makes the boys believe they can do it. Really, I think that Il Bruce should be wearing the Captain’s armband.

ETucker,

We’re going to need some defense to get out of this group. Eddie Lewis will not be able to take advantage down the wings on Italian defenders, and his crosses will be dealt with by the Italian central defense. This is not a CONCACAF match.

Plus, the Czechs need a little harassing in the midfield, and Mastroeni will provide that.