Picking The 23: Defenders

Oguhi Onyewu

I’ll skip some of the obvious ones and be the guy to go out there and say the name that no one else wants to say: Berhalter

Cherundolo, obviously

You’re going to have to come up with a convincing argument for Berhalter! I’m thinking that once the “obvious ones” are in there might be no room for Gregg. He’s there for now though.

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Here are my eight. starters look to be Lewis, Gibbs, Gooch, Cherundolo. Four back ups you bring Bocenagra, Berhalter, Spector, Pope. I think the first four are obvious since Arena is planning on using Lewis as a defender. I had Conrad coming but after Germany Berhalter and pope have experince that will probably put them over. Spector comes because he can play multiple spots along the back and they need him to get the experince for 2010.

Eric,

I really want to make the final 23 reflect everyone who reads and contributes to World Cup Blog, that’s why it needs to be one player per comment.

Gooch and Cherundolo and Berhalter are already in.

So those 3 (Gooch, Cherundolo, Berhalter) aside, who do you most want to be there?

I nominate Eddie Pope.
I know he’s lost a step (1/2 a step maybe?), but I wouldn’t think his selection should need too much justification

Sorry, I want spector there.

Eddie Lewis over Berhalter

I vote for Gibbs.

And a big “no” to Berhalter.

That makes 2 for and 2 against Berhalter. Shoule he be in the 23 or not?

onyewu, gibbs, pope, bocanegra, cherundolo, lewis, hejduk, and spector.

i vote against Berhalter after his performance in Germany…

maybe its just me, but i actually think Eddie Pope has a great chance of not only being there but i vote for him as a starter

No for Berhalter and no for Hejduk. For me, both lack international class… as hard as Frankie works, skill just doesn’t match up.

Bocanegra.

Other than that, I agree with the selections.

My starters: Cherundolo, Onyewu, Gibbs, Lewis

I don’t see how you dump Berhalter after 1 bad performance in a meaningless friendly. Berhalter has experience at the World Cup level, and I can’t believe that is erased by one match. And I seem to remember that he would have a goal in the WC if not for some German getting their paw in the way. Spector has all of what, 3 caps???

This is jumping the gun, but has Arena (or anyone) ever thought to give Eddie Lewis a shot at forward?

I think we need him at left back but he does have a nice touch and tons of energy. Crazy?

Seems Berhalter is suffering a pretty severe backlash for his performance against Germany. I currently count 2 votes for and 3 against.

That gives us 7 so far:
Onyewu
Cherundolo
Pope
Gibbs
Lewis
Spector
Bocanegra

Unless someone else gets a mention it looks like being between Berhalter and Hejduk (who got a passing mention when Lyle overshot the ‘one player per comment’ rule by a factor of 7)

Despite what some others may think, I like Hejduk. He’s has a lot of energy. He’s scrappy. He always gives 100%. He is one of fastest guys in the player pool. It looked like Berhalter gave up on a few of those goals. Say what you will about Hejduk, but he never gives up.

Heydude, yes.

Beerholder, a resounding NO!

Spector is unproven, and doesn’t yet play regularly or well on loan from Man U.

The D, in order of their chances of being selected: Onyewu, Cherundolo, Lewis, Pope, Berhalter (experience in the European game), Bocanegra.

Gibbs, Conrad and Hejduk are in a dogfight. Gibbs’ strong return is a problem for Conrad. You have to think Hejduk will somehow make it, because of his fitness and high regard in the eyes of Arena.

Hejduk over Berhalter (even though the latter’s bad showing in Germany was partially the result of midfield breakdown). The reason is balance: aside from Cherundolo and Lewis, everyone else is essentially a center back. Hejduk is needed as cover for Cherundolo and Lewis. He also would help as a late-game shot of energy against tired opposition legs.

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Tom hit the nail on the head. Yes to Hejduk and no to Berhalter. And bringing Spector is a ridiculous idea. You don’t bring people “to get experience,” you bring who can contribute to the team and he doesn’t seem to be there yet.

No to Berhalter & Spector. Both have been unimpressive against quality opposition, despite playing in top(ish) leagues.

Yea to Hejduk. Versatility at the wings, and plenty of savvy. Yea to Pope–he’s hungry, strong, and wizened.

I’d also like to nominate Conrad, if for no other reason that to be able to read his dispatches from Germany. Journalist/Player, anyone?

After a flood of support Hejduk is now locked in.

Berhalter and Spector now have more votes against than for, but we need to fill the eighth and final spot.

So, who should it be? Berhalter or Spector?

Berhalter – you have to go with experience. If someone flames out like Agoos did in ‘02, you have to have someone available to settle. Berhalter saved our butts in ‘02. With Lewis and Cherundolo available for creative runs, there is no purpose for Spector this time. Next time perhaps – he’s got potential.

Big mistake with hejduk. Berhalter in my view is a lock. He’s a captain of a German squad! Not everything was his fault against Germany. He is prone to as many mistakes as Bocanegra and Pope and Gooch. Does everybody forget the atrocious marking of Borgetti in the Mexican qualifier at Azteca?

I vote Berhalter a resounding YES.

As for Spector, he can do everything Hejduk can and then some (like filling in a center back). Spector is a definite YES in my book. Granted, Arena loves Hejduk.

What do you guys think of pushing Mastroeni back from midfield to stopper, and pushing Gibbs to left back? that would leave a defense of gibbs, mastroeni, onyewu, and cherundolo. Our midfield could then be Beasley, Reyna, O’Brien, and Convey. Of course McBride and Donovan up front. This puts our most talented players on the field. The question is whether Gibbs at left and Mastro in defense would be as effective as in central def, and withdrawn center mid (respectively). Any thoughts?

Scot, there’s one key reason why I don’t like the diamond-shaped back four that you’re suggesting–it will make it a lot more difficult to maintain a good defensive shape when Cherundolo and Lewis join the attack which is probably their biggest strength as outside backs.

call it diamond or whatever you want, we still want a four-defender back line right? Isn’t that being implied on this board, that we will have 4 defenders? I agree with you having lewis and cherundolo out wide is attractive for going forward. Just not sure that (namely Lewis) is strong enough defensively. My suggestion was also an attempt to keep beasley, reyna, mastroeni, o’brien, and convey on the field. With your suggestion one of those guys needs to come off, right?

I’d argue that Mastroeni’s strongest position is central mid.

With the depth of talent already in central defence (Onyewu, Pope, Gibbs, Bocanegra, Berhalter etc) and the injury worries in midfield (O’Brien just coming back, Reyna injured again) Mastroeni has to be down as a mid.

Here’s the problem: You want to get your best 11 on the field but putting someone in a position they don’t excel in may make them no longer one of the best 11. I think that’s what would happen by trying to squeeze Mastro into the back four. Furthermore, I don’t think moving him back there would make the D any stronger. Sure, you take the weakest defender off but at the same time you give Gooch a much tougher assignement of controlling the back middle by himself with Mastro playing in front of him. I’d feel much more secure with Gibbs and Gooch playing side-by-side even if it means one of those guys has to come off.

I think Convey is the one who will be left off the starting 11, mostly because his defense not a strength and he’ll provide a great offensive spark off the bench.

I take that back. Maybe. Reyna, Johnny-O, and Mastro on the field at the same time may make us too slow through the middle which might make Donovan have to play too far back. That being said, he can run forever.

Crap. Tough decisions ahead, eh?

With regard to the Berhalter vs Spector debate I feel like Berhalter just about has the edge right now, comments wise.

We’ll leave it open until tomorrow morning (Eastern time) before making a final decision and moving onto selecting a midfield.

With Spector v. Behrhalter, we’ve got it down to the right decision anyway. Love the creativity from Scot, though the counter-arguments were stronger. Mainly, too many central backs to argue for playing Mastro out of position, but by the same token, where exactly does that leave Behrhalter? Would that make Bocanegra the left-back-backup? I guess so. As much as I want to see Spector succeed and tune into all the Charlton games in the hope of seeing a flash of brilliance, I have to admit it’s just not happening yet. He’s not ready and I challenge any supporter of his to cite the match where he’s proven it. Behrhalter stunk up the joint against Germany, just aweful stuff, probably worst of his life. But ultimately, he gets the nod over Spector.

Just say “Agoos” and remember how much better we have it this time around. Gives you hope for a great mundial…

With Gibb’s relative success out of position, I’d bet that he’d fill in at left back if Lewis went down. Then Pope or Boca could take over in the middle.

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[...] We’ve got 3 keepers, 8 defenders and 8 midfielders. Now we need 4 forwards to complete the World Cup Blog 23 man roster. [...]