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World Cup draw & World Cup roster...; Discuss away!
Topic Started: Nov 21 2013, 08:39 AM (952 Views)
Johnbuildr
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vince stravino,Jan 29 2014
08:20 PM
Chandler is cap-tied to the USA. He cannot flip anymore.

And so JK may well be just letting him stew and wait a little longer than he otherwise would have if Chandler had been wildy enthusiastic about the US team all along....(or still a "free agent")
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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Gaffer
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shelsoccer,Dec 6 2013
12:28 PM


The travel involved is another question.

The saving grace in the traveling is that there is only one time zone to deal with, so that helps.
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Gaffer
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raconteur,Dec 6 2013
12:51 PM


I think the talk of travel distance, while inconvenient for fans, is overblown for the teams. They'll be traveling in jets from city to city plus Natal and Recife are only 160 or so miles apart. It is inland Manaus that is a bit of a journey but not too bad. it would be I think like playing games in Washington DC, New York and Dallas over a 10 day period.

What the US needs to rethink I feel is using far away Sao Paulo as its training base. They'd be better off I think choosing someplace closer to Natal or Recife as their base camp.

As for the teams the US face, that first match with Ghana will be key. Time for the US to end its losing streak against its World Cup nemesis. A win is an absolute must in this first game. Then comes Portugal in another huge match, hopefully Germany beats them in game 1 and the US can avoid defeat in that one and head into the final match against a Germany which hopefully will have already clinched and is on cruise control. That is the best case scenario, the worst case, the US loses or ties Ghana, then does the same vs Portugal causing it to must win over Germany to advance. One advantage is Klinsmann will know Germany and its coaching staff inside out, a disadvantage is Joachim low knows Klinsmann and his way of thinking pretty well too.

Pretty spot on.
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Gaffer
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Winslow,Dec 10 2013
02:26 PM
Agreed that the first match is critical, and the US benefits from playing Ghana first (the Black Stars were slow starters in '06 and '10). As for the Portuguese, they had Luis Figo in '02 and we remember what happened in Suwon. I was there!

And it could be worse--we could be Australia. To me, the combination of Spain, Holland, and Chile makes B the true Group of Death.

I would probably lean towards this group as the true group of death. Only because I think the top three has some trepidation playing against each other.
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Yogi
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shelsoccer,Jan 29 2014
06:55 PM
In addition to the game in the Ukraine, there's word that a friendly with Mexico is the works. You also need to keep an eye on the political situation in the Ukraine.

The Mexico game apparently would be played in early April so that would be a domestic based only match for both national teams. But both have substantial amount of players in World Cup contention playing domestically so that should still be a good tune up. Plus for US players based in Mexico, notably Castillo, Gomez, Torres and Orozco who are fighting for a roster spot (we can all agree Beasley is, if healthy, a near lock to make it to Brazil) this game, probably even more than the Ukraine match could be their last chance to make a final, lasting impression on Klinsmann.
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Sammy Maudlin
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That is a good point Yogi about that proposed Mexico game and its effect on fringe players like you named. I say that because the Ukraine game will likely see Klinsmann use as close as possible his first line players with any fringe guys being just that, only seeing limited minutes in that game. But that Mexico game could be their chance as Yogi stated.

Hey Gaffer, welcome to the message board, glad to have you join us and I look forward to reading your comments here.
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Sammy Maudlin
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Gaffer,Jan 31 2014
12:01 PM
Winslow,Dec 10 2013
02:26 PM
Agreed that the first match is critical, and the US benefits from playing Ghana first (the Black Stars were slow starters in '06 and '10).  As for the Portuguese, they had Luis Figo in '02 and we remember what happened in Suwon.  I was there!

And it could be worse--we could be Australia.  To me, the combination of Spain, Holland, and Chile makes B the true Group of Death.

I would probably lean towards this group as the true group of death. Only because I think the top three has some trepidation playing against each other.

No doubt an incredibly tough group but I think the point is whichever you consider the #4 team in the US' group- either the US or Ghana is a stronger team than Australia the #4 team in that other super tough group (and the same applies to the Uruguay, England, Italy group with Costa Rica as the 4th participant) so my thinking is top to bottom the US' group is the most difficult.
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raconteur
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Gaffer,Jan 31 2014
11:47 AM
raconteur,Dec 6 2013
12:51 PM


I think the talk of travel distance, while inconvenient for fans, is overblown for the teams.  They'll be traveling in jets from city to city plus Natal and Recife are only 160 or so miles apart.  It is inland Manaus that is a bit of a journey but not too bad. it would be I think like playing games in Washington DC, New York and Dallas over a 10 day period.

What the US needs to rethink I feel is using far away Sao Paulo as its training base.  They'd be better off I think choosing someplace closer to Natal or Recife as their base camp.

As for the teams the US face, that first match with Ghana will be key.  Time for the US to end its losing streak against its World Cup nemesis.  A win is an absolute must in this first game.  Then comes Portugal in another huge match, hopefully Germany beats them in game 1 and the US can avoid defeat in that one and head into the final match against a Germany which hopefully will have already clinched and is on cruise control.  That is the best case scenario, the worst case, the US loses or ties Ghana, then does the same vs Portugal causing it to must win over Germany to advance.  One advantage is Klinsmann will know Germany and its coaching staff inside out, a disadvantage is Joachim low knows Klinsmann and his way of thinking pretty well too.

Pretty spot on.

Too bad neither Klinsmann nor the UUSF are listening to us. they have settled on Sao Paulo as their training base for the World Cup. Now reportedly they loved the site when they were there this month for two weeks as it is supposed to be top notch. That is the good side but doe sit add unnecessary travel requirements to the team?

Good point Gaffer about the time zone, or is that true and there are not separate time zones in a country as large as Brazil?
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americafutbol10
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Agree with Sammy Maudlin...Group G, with the USA, Germany, Portugal & Ghana, is the definite "Group of Death" :o

All this talk of training base & travel will be a moot point...if the USA advances from the group & makes it to the QFs or further ;)

By the same token, I would not place the blame for a poor WC on those same points.
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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Gaffer
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raconteur,Jan 31 2014
02:32 PM
Gaffer,Jan 31 2014
11:47 AM
raconteur,Dec 6 2013
12:51 PM


I think the talk of travel distance, while inconvenient for fans, is overblown for the teams.  They'll be traveling in jets from city to city plus Natal and Recife are only 160 or so miles apart.  It is inland Manaus that is a bit of a journey but not too bad. it would be I think like playing games in Washington DC, New York and Dallas over a 10 day period.

What the US needs to rethink I feel is using far away Sao Paulo as its training base.   They'd be better off I think choosing someplace closer to Natal or Recife as their base camp.

As for the teams the US face, that first match with Ghana will be key.  Time for the US to end its losing streak against its World Cup nemesis.  A win is an absolute must in this first game.  Then comes Portugal in another huge match, hopefully Germany beats them in game 1 and the US can avoid defeat in that one and head into the final match against a Germany which hopefully will have already clinched and is on cruise control.  That is the best case scenario, the worst case, the US loses or ties Ghana, then does the same vs Portugal causing it to must win over Germany to advance.  One advantage is Klinsmann will know Germany and its coaching staff inside out, a disadvantage is Joachim low knows Klinsmann and his way of thinking pretty well too.

Pretty spot on.

Too bad neither Klinsmann nor the UUSF are listening to us. they have settled on Sao Paulo as their training base for the World Cup. Now reportedly they loved the site when they were there this month for two weeks as it is supposed to be top notch. That is the good side but doe sit add unnecessary travel requirements to the team?

Good point Gaffer about the time zone, or is that true and there are not separate time zones in a country as large as Brazil?

Sao Paulo is a strange decision if they do go with it, it's Brazil biggest city and it's pretty far south.

It seems that Recife would be a better option, less crowded but fourth largest city so their will be all the amenities that a modern football team will need, less stress too. Plus being farther north the average temp is in the low to mid 80's while at Sao Paulo is in the low to mid 70's... better to get acclimated to the jungle heat in Recife. Also Recife is the last stop in the group stage, since if that was the base it would be like coming home for a home game, and that's an advantage on the last leg of a group stage, we're already settled there.

Brazil has only two time zone, last time I'd checked.
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raconteur
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Ok let's change topics slightly here and look at the current state of the US roster and which players are near certainties to make it to Brazil and which ones are fighting for a place. In my mind the US will have 3 goalies, 8 defenders, 7 midfielders and 5 forwards (acknowledging that this could change by a number or so as there are players like F. Johnson, Cameron and Dempsey who could be classified as players for multiple positions.)

GOALKEEPERS
Certainties:
Howard
Guzan
Rimando

The most settled spot on the team. Barring injury these three are going to the World Cup. If one or more gets hurt Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid and Tally Hall will fight to replace him.

CENTERBACKS
Certainties:
Besler
Gonzalez

Bubble (2 players):
Goodson
Orozco
Brooks
Onyewu
Ream

Goodson may be close to being a certainty which would leave only 1 spot open (or maybe none if Klinsmann uses Cameron as an additional option here)


FULLBACKS
Certainties:
Cameron
F. Johnson
Beasley

Bubble (1 spot)
Cherundolo
Chandler
Evans
Parkhurst
Lichaj
Castillo

F. Johnson also could be considered a midfielder and Cameron a centerback which may mean Klinsmann will select two of the bubble players here. Much depends on the health of Cherundolo and the willingness of Chandler.

MIDFIELDERS
Certainties:
Bradley
Donovan
Jones
Zusi

Bubble (probably 4 players)
Beckerman
Bedoya
Corona
Kljestan
Diskerud
Davis
Edu
Feilhaber
Shea
D. Williams
Gatt
Torres

There are spots open for any of these players who step up in the next few months. Beckerman seems to be a Klinsmann favorite and maybe on the certainty list.

FORWARDS
Certainties:
Altidore
Dempsey
E. Johnson

Bubble (1-2 players):
Johansson
Boyd
Gomez
Wondolowski
Agudelo

Johansson is quickly sewing up a spot which leaves the other 4 to fight it out for one roster spot.

Except for a player or two most of th positions on the roster are I think filled except in midfield where a lot can still happen between now and the end of May when Klinsmann will have to make his decisions. The March game against Ukraine and the April one versus Mexico (if as likely that takes place) will be vital in determining these undecided positions.
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americafutbol10
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Great choices all around, raconteur...can't disagree with any, though I might prefer Beckerman to Jones as a certainty ;)

I'm very interested in what the Ukraine roster will look like!
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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Johnbuildr
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Terrific run down raconteur!

My thoughts are that there are more "certainties", barring amazing breakthroughs or injuries.

Defenders that are probably "certainties" at this point: Parkhurst, Goodson, Evans.

Mids, likewise: Beckerman (a JK favorite as r. mentions), Bedoya

Forwards: Johannsson, Wondo(another JK favorite with a hot foot at the perfect time).
Boyd, Gomez, and Agudelo have been too inconsistent, time has probably have run out for them.

If the above were true, that would mean that only a 2 or 3 spots are really still up for grabs. And I would not be surprised if that were the case, barring an amazing performance in the next couple of games.
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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americafutbol10
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Dempsey & Altidore struggling, Chandler injured...along with Beasley, Johannsson & Gooch...and others not getting playing time!

Thankfully, we still have four months until Brazil :rolleyes: <_<
US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me!

Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!)

LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions!

Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros!
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libero
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Chandler injured his meniscus last weekend and likely will be out to mid April. That seriously damages his World Cup hopes. sad news, especially with Cherundolo's health at right back also still very much in question.

Onyewu will be out for 3 weeks too which likely ends his chances of making the Ukraine roster too. Chandler at least is shining for his club so if he can return in April there is a chance Klinsmann could leave a spot open for him but Onyewu, after so much inactivity, I think he really needed to show Klinsmann he could still play at the international level, especially a she currently is just playing 2nd division ball.
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