USA Gold Cup Squad

[Ziegler1988]

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach).

Defenders: Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg SV), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution).

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
That looks pretty much like a full strength squad and with Bradley saying most players won't play both the Gold Cup and Copa America, it looks like our Copa America squad is going to be really weak :(.

[mhtwins113]

You have to be kidding me. Fuck you, US Soccer.

You want to tell me that El Salvador and Guatemala are better competition for our top boys than Argentina and Paraguay? Fire Gulati!

[brain26]

off to the Confederations Cup in South Africa

[cartbran]

You have to be kidding me. Fuck you, US Soccer.

You want to tell me that El Salvador and Guatemala are better competition for our top boys than Argentina and Paraguay? Fire Gulati!
I'd like to fire Gulati too, but not for this reason. Plain and simple, since the Gold Cup is our federation, it should be more important. Winning the Gold Cup just earned us a spot at the Confederations Cup, which is important.

But also, since the Copa America is later in the summer, it can cause a problem for our Europe based boys. Seeing as how we do not have an outfield player right now with a secure spot in any squad in Europe right now (except maybe Simek), I think it is important to allow Beasley, Bocanegra, Gooch, Simek, Spector, Dempsey and Howard to rest and then return to their teams for preseason training. All of the players that participate in the Copa America will miss the first few weeks of the season, because they will need to rest and then basically have pre-season training by themselves away from their teams. For our players, that could be a significant problem because they may not be able to regain their first team positions if they are away from their clubs for the first weeks of the season.

The Europe-based players that are named, like Nguyen and Feilhaber are mostly playing for their clubs reserve teams and good showings by them against S. American competition could raise their profile back at their clubs and improve their positition there.

The one thing that I really objected too with the Gold Cup squad selection was how many MLS players actually played ahead of Europe based players and in some cases un-deservedly so. Simek and Spector should have both played in front of Heyduck and Bornstein. Especially since Bornstein will be at the Copa America too.

Our biggest problem will be the lack of creative attacking players, without Beasley, Dempsey and Donovan. But Clark and Feilhaber showed that they play great together in the second half against Mexico, so I am not too worried about the central midfield. I also like Mapp, he is a bit thin and gets knocked off the ball easily, but he can be silky smooth. I expect a 4-5-1, with DeMerit and Conrad anchoring the CB positions and a combination of Clark, Olsen and Feilhaber playing centrally (Feilhaber probably in a more advanced role) and EJ or TT up top. I'd bet EJ, Bradley does not seem to like him and he has sat out most of the Gold Cup, but he is stronger than TT and more suited to a lone striker role.

Because it has not been posted, here is the Copa America squad (bolded players are named to both squads)
GOALKEEPERS -- Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

DEFENDERS -- Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS -- Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven), Ben Olsen (D.C.United)

FORWARDS -- Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Herculez Gomez (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)

[brain26]

makes sure when the USA is participating in the Confederations Cup in 2009 that you turn your TV off and remember that you said "Fuck You"

USA won the tournament that allowed them to participate, by wiining the Copa America, this would not have happened.

SO USA soccer says "Fuck You" back LOL

[mhtwins113]

makes sure when the USA is participating in the Confederations Cup in 2009 that you turn your TV off and remember that you said "Fuck You"

USA won the tournament that allowed them to participate, by wiining the Copa America, this would not have happened.

SO USA soccer says "Fuck You" back LOL
Haha touche.

Argentina is still gonna rape us Thursday.

[TheLionLyon]

GOALKEEPERS -- Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

DEFENDERS -- Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS -- Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven), Ben Olsen (D.C.United)

FORWARDS -- Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Herculez Gomez (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)

:( I pray for USMNT. Bradley will basically use "not playing his "top" players"(see what I did there) as an excuse for the thrashing(s) he will receive in the Copa America. I understand him playing to win the Gold Cup, but I guarantee you, if selected Tim Howard, Beasley, Dempsey, Spector(unless that collision with Guardado is still bothering him. Very sick), and even Donovan would have happily accepted playing in the Copa America. Also, where's Connor Casey? I remember seeing him in the Bundesliga. He needs to play on the national team.

[boomersooner]

You have to be kidding me. Fuck you, US Soccer.

You want to tell me that El Salvador and Guatemala are better competition for our top boys than Argentina and Paraguay? Fire Gulati!

You're a dumbass. Yeah we'll get slaughtered this time, but we're still 3 years away from 2010. You forget that by sending our best team and winning Gold Cup we get to play the Euro/Copa America and asian champions the year before the World Cup....that experience is invaluable.