Copa Roster Spotlight

Copa America 2007 is a few short days away and it has come the time to examine the roster. At first glance you might have just notified anyone within a 16 mile radius just how you were feeling about the selections. The overall summary of those reactions was probably a resounding “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?” What? You’re not excited by Drew Moor you say? How can that be? And as Mexico took the lead in the Gold Cup final just before the half, I am willing to bet that more than just myself extended that 16 mile radius I was talking about out to somewhere between 23 and 27.

But as good prevailed and the boys eventually walked out with the hardware, us Yank fans got a second, much calmer, look at the roster.

One of the large gripes among the US soccer population was the fact that LD would not be participating. First off, we do not know for a fact that this was LD’s decision. For awhile there it looked like he was ready to go. If it indeed was his decision, I can’t say I fault him for it. He was the best player on the team that won the “most important” tournament for us this summer. He did his part to get us into the confederations cup. Job well done, and adios. I can’t bring myself to blame him for wanting to be a part of the biggest event in the history of the MLS and maybe soccer in this country all together.

Sitting out the tournament with Landy are the other mainstays such as Beasley and Dempsey. My speculation on the matter is that once Commander Bob saw that he wasn’t going to get Donovan or maybe another main player, he decided to give them all a rest. This I cannot fault him for either, and here is why…

Although I can’t think of anyone who would not want to just go out with the “A” team and try to win the damn thing, but this is just the way the cycle works. You can’t always have the roster you want.

Sick of our entire list of forwards spending entire blocks of 90 minutes on their knees blowing chance after chance? Had enough of EJ running (or walking) around on the pitch without any instincts like instructions are being typed into his robotic brain through a teleprompter? Tired of Mr. Bianca floating blimps from the corner flag? Here is your chance to find out if someone can do it better. This tournament will be dedicated to the depth of the national team. This is where we find out who that super sub will be in qualifying when, or who might just take one of the old vets spot by the time 2010 roles around.

I know I am excited about some of the younger guys like Nguyen and Wynn, as well as the continuing reign of the hero Benny Feilhaber (who continues to have his name slaughtered all over the fox sports report by the shmuck who sits on the left).

Who are you looking forward to seeing possibly step up?

EDIT: Sorry the comments were not open before. As always feel free to use this space for discussion on who you are excited to see on the roster.