The USA World Cup Blog Podcast – Episode 2: 23 Spots, 400 Options

A suggestion from the editors desk? How about naming the “mouthful” podcast name to “The Yanks Are Coming” . . . . bad enough you guys have that song stuck in my head now. Bastards.

And Daryl – boo to you sir. For being English.

None of you guys seem to be as up for it as I am, but given what Holden has shown us in the past year I’d really like to seem him play outwide on the right and start Dempsey in the middle. Dempsey as a winger just doesn’t work for me with the national team. I can’t think of one time I’ve seen him cross. The times he’s played striker for Fulham this year have been impressive and he’s got one of the best noses for goal on the US team so I don’t see why he shouldn’t be up top with Davies or Altidore.

Marlon, so if you push Dempsey up, would you go 4-3-3 if Altidore and Davies are playing well/healthy? Or do you drop one of them, push up Dempsey, and go with a 4-4-2? I personally wouldn’t mind seeing the 4-3-3 against Slovenia or Algeria…

I still say the US doesn’t have the Drogba-esque target man needed to play an effective 4-3-3. Seems like Marlon was advocating for 4-4-2, with a forward pairing of say Altidore and Dempsey, presumably with Deuce playing a little more withdrawn than Jozy.

I personally like seeing Dempsey arriving late in the box from deep, rather than starting further forward. Though if Davies isn’t fit in June and there’s no obvious partner for Altidore, maybe it’s worth at least trying.

Ya there is no middle man in 4-3-3. OchoCinco perhaps?!

Daryl has gathered my thoughts effectively. I don’t think we have the personnel to pull off the 4-3-3. The last few times we’ve played in that formation it hasn’t gone well.

I respect Daryl’s opinion about Dempsey arriving in the box late, but I’d also like to point out that the following occurred while Dempsey was playing striker:

http://usa.worldcupblog.org/group-e/amazing-clint-dempsey-goal.html

I am actually pretty high on Holden, I like what he has shown in his games with the senior team particularly his ball playing and crossing ability..

Having said that i think that we are all still holding on hopefully to a Davies return with jozy up top and that leaves dempsey and landycakes as our wingers and Holden looking in from the outside.

i think if all that happens it is simply getting our most talented eleven players on the field and fitting the game to them as much as possible.

I agree with most of the names being on the final squad, but I think that you should consider Steven Cherundolo again. I think he has some good experience that the USA could use, not that I think that the MLS experience is rubbish…..But, the Bundesliga experience could be useful. Steve does very well for Hanover, and has been with the United States for quite awhile.

But then again, which Defender on your list could be cut for him? Maybe you could remove a midfielder for him, Freddy Adu?

The other argument I wanted to make for Cherundolo is that fact that he gets forward in a cross-the-ball-into-the-box attacking fullback stylee that neither Spector nor Hejduk can offer.

bump dempsey because he cant play anyway he’ll be injured and out of form…and replace him the beasley, he’s playing for a top notch rangers squad right now

Spector can cross pretty well Daryl, but Cherundolo is quicker than him I’ll admit.

Assuming Spector’s a lock, would you take Cherundolo over Hejduk, or vice versa?

jermaine jones needs to be on the squad.
They need a strong experienced european defensive midfielder to play with Bradley. If they can’t make that work, then US has no chance.

I’d take Cherundolo but I’m learning Taylor’s word is law and I would like to keep my head down.

Leaving Dolo seems like an absolutely crazy decision. Period.
If you aren’t assuming Dolo is hurt, what is keeping him off that squad.
He plays solid for Hannover, which is slightly more than you can say for old man hejduk… Or Goodson.

And I expect at least one of the Rangers duo to make it in form without getting hurt by WC time…

Don’t worry Marlon, Taylor’s dictatorial powers only work within the confines of the studio. They don’t extend to the comments section of USA WCB.

Coincidently on my blog I just picked my USA World Cup squad. There’s a few differences.
http://macaussiefootball.blogspot.com/2010/02/countdown-to-south-africa-spotlight-on_15.html

Great podcast you guys, keep up the good work!

The hell they don’t… but yeah, I may have underestimated all of you “Dolo” fans out there… So he goes and Hejduk stays? Or Goodson?

The Jermaine Jones argument is pretty simple in my opinion from his form last year in germany he would obviously look like our best central midfielder, but he actually needs to play a game in the USA squad before im willing to place him solidly in the roster.

PS i really want jones in the starting lineup i tihnk our midfield sorely needs him.

I agree that Jermaine Jones needs to be given consideration. When he’s healthy, he’s a regular starter for Schalke, one of the better teams in the Bundesliga. That said, he’ll probably needs a few games to get used to the US team.

Leave hejduk.
Goodson could use the learning experience of watching the WC from the bench.

Agree that Dolo, if not injured come May (should be back mid-March), needs to be in SA. If Spector plays at LB or gets hurt while in SA, Dolo’s a better bet to go a full 90 over Hejdux. I’m a big fan of Frankie’s, gotta love his heart, but I still have nightmares of the Denmark game and his two-footed tackles (still don’t know how he never got carded). And with the US’s tendency to get red cards (deserved or not) in major tournaments, Frankie’s tackles need to be left home.

Also believe that Edu, DMB, or Rogers (depending on injuries/form) should get a seat on the plane before Kljestan

Is this list some sort of joke? Where is Jermaine Jones? Jones on one leg is better than half of those guys on two. Also, why put a mid 30’s Hejduk on the list, regardless of experience, given how badly he played in the last inernational friendly. Finally, there is not a chance in hell that Jeff Cunningham, nor Conor Casey will make the final roster. If they do, we will be laughed out of South Africa.

@ ben
i agree tht casey and cunningham suck and hedjuk prob wont go because bette roptions have come up but jones doesnt even play for his club because of an injury hes had for what seems like forever besides the fact he has 0 caps for the usa. whens the last time a team took an out of form player with 0 caps to the world cup….never

what ever happened to bobby convey?