the US Copa Roster (my much calmer take on it)

Okay, I'll admit it. My initial reaction to the US Copa America roster was one of major disappointment. After giving it some thought I came to realize what was at the heart of my initial reaction.

I made the mistake of believing Sunil Gulati when he repeatedly said that the US team would be a strong one and one capable of doing well at the tournament. He brushed off concerns about whether MLS teams and foreign clubs would be okay with releasing players and laughed at suggestions that the eventual US Copa team would be a patchwork squad.

After getting over the disappointment of the US team not being as strong as expected I sat down and really looked at the roster and the tournament and think the team isn't horrendous and the chances of a trip to the second round aren't impossible.

Considering I got 16 of the 22 names right on the US roster(and would have had 18 of 22 if I hadn't let Frank Dell'Apa talk me out of including Charlie Davies and Heath Pearce) I had to ask myself why I was so convinced that the roster was awful. Not having Donovan, Dempsey and Onyewu was a key reason, as well as some of the players they were replaced by.

Now, do I think the US team will do well? I don't think you should rule out advancing to the second round considering the set-up makes it so that a win and a draw from three matches should be enough to advance. Beating Argentina isn't happening. I'm not sure the full-strength A-team could deal with Argentina's full-strength team, let alone a team this inexperienced. That said, I think the team could put up a good fight with this potential starting lineup:

---------Davies-------Twellman---------

Mapp------------------------------Nguyen

---------Feilhaber------Clark------------

Pearce-----------------------------Wynne

---------DeMerit-------Conrad-----------

------------------Keller-------------------

That really isn't bad at all. Can it beat Colombia or Paraguay? I don't see why not. Here's a look at Colombia's roster, which is pretty decent:

Goalkeepers: Robinson Zapata (Cúcuta), Agustín Julio (Tolima) y Miguel Calero (Pachuca, México) Defenders: Jair Benítez (Cali), Javier Arizala (Tolima), Gerardo Vallejo (Tolima), Aquivaldo Mosquera, (Pachuca, México), Iván Ramiro Córdoba (Inter de Milán, Italia), Amaranto Perea (Atlético de Madrid, España), Mario Yepes (Paris Saint Germain, Francia) Midfielders: Jorge Banguero (América), Alvaro Domínguez (Cali), Macnelly Torres (Cúcuta), Jaime Castrillón (Medellín), Camilo Zúñiga (Nacional), David Ferreira (Atlético Paranaense, Brasil), Fabián Vargas (Internacional, Brasil), Vladimir Marín (Libertad, Paraguay), John Viáfara (Real Sociedad, España) Forwards: Sergio Herrera (Cali), César Valoyes (Medellín), Hugo Rodallega (Monterrey, México), Luis Gabriel Rey (Morelia, México), Andrés Chitiva (Pachuca, México), Edixon Perea (Burdeos, Francia)

Then you have Paraguay, which beat Mexico at Azteca Stadium earlier this month. Here's there roster:

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Newell's Old Boys, Argentina), Aldo Bobadilla (Boca Juniors, Argentina) y Joel Zayas (Bolívar, Bolivia).

Defenders: Paulo Da Silva (Toluca, México), Claudio Morel (Boca Juniors), Julio César Cáceres (Tigres, México), Darío Verón (Pumas, México), Julio Manzur (Guaraní), Carlos Bonet (Libertad), Enrique Vera (LDUQ, Ecuador).

Midfielders: Edgar González (Cerro Porteño), Cristian Riveros (Libertad), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo, Argentina), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburgo, Alemania), Edgar Barreto (NEC Nimega, Holanda), Domingo Salcedo (Cerro Porteño), Julio Dos Santos (Wolfsburgo).

Forwards: Salvador Cabañas (América, México), Dante López (Crotone, Italia), Roque Santa Cruz (Bayern Munich), Oscar Cardozo (Newell's Old Boys), Nelson Cuevas (América).

All their forwards are dangerous and the defense is solid.

In other words, there are no easy games in the group and the U.S. team could go out winless, but the nucleus isn't terrible and Bob Bradley is the type of coach who will work hard to come up with good gameplans. It's easy to forget that nobody gave the US team a chance against Mexico back in February but they found a way to win. Maybe Bradley can work similar magic at Copa America.

Comments

[ben]

why no EJ in the starting 11?

[Ben]

-----Twellman---Johnson----
Mapp-----------------Davies
-----Feilhaber---Clark-----
Pearce----------------Wynne
-------Conrad---DeMerit----
-----------Keller----------

[Ives]

Have you watched Johnson play in the Gold Cup?

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

Didn't take you long to change you mind and start drinking the USSF coolaid, huh?

So,why don't you ask Gulati why he made those statements?

THIS is why JK turned USSF down, and lapdog Bradley was given the job.

I'm embarrassed I spent thousands to go to Germany to support this organization,and they don't even care enough to send a real team to the best competition we will see until 2010!!!

[Nick]

I actually think this is a decent squad given that Fulham likely wouldn't give us Dempsey and Boca, DMB wants to find a new team and Lando wants to play with Becks (which you can't really fault him for).

I am just praying that Bradley uses Eddie Johnson sparingly. He is great in MLS, but like Frank Lampard playing for England he just can't produce like he does for his club team.

I would have loved to have seen what this team would have been like had the U-20 World Cup not been going on at the same time. Jozy, Freddy, and a few others could have used a good run out as full internationals.

[Joamiq]

Nick, I agree with everything you said.

I'm honestly shocked at intensity of the negativity in response to the roster. Is acting indignant the new trendy thing or something? Let's set aside the fact that almost every player who has been suggested as a better choice is not available to play - what, we think Donovan, Dempsey and co. are good enough to beat Argentina? Really?

There are players worth watching here, guys who are going to figure into the picture for 2010. Yes, the bottom of this roster is pretty bad. But the top of it is certainly good enough to put up a good fight against Paraguay and Colombia and maybe make it into the second round.

And I'm amazed at how quickly people have gone turncoat on Bradley. Remind me when was the last time this guy lost a game, because I can't seem to recall it. As far as I know, he hasn't actually done anything wrong yet, so let's wait until he does before we skewer him, eh?

[Rhys]

Bradley seems to be doing a favor to all the kids that are jockeying for first team positions overseas or those trying to make the jump across.

If they perform well in a competition of this quality, there'll be significant upside career-wise for many.

[Ives]

Come on Lloyd, why is it "drinking kool-aid" to not hate the roster? I'm not saying I like it, just that as a potential starting 11 goes it will be interesting to watch. What's the point of crying about the squad? How about waiting for after Copa America to complain?

[m_____s]

Gold Cup is clearly our top priority. I'm OK with that.

One thing this Gold Cup has shown American soccer is that our deepest position is probably winger -- with Donovan, Beasley and Dempsey all showing tons of class. To clear them out for Copa America, and give talented guys like Mapp and Nguyen a chance is an idea I can get behind. If we bring any two of 10/7/8, neither Mapp nor Nguyen would have gotten significant runs.

I believe that Copa America is important, but only the World Cup is the World Cup. We do need to develop a roster that can withstand drops in form, and we need to develop relationships with club teams like Fulham. So, anyway, I've got trust in Bradley. He's earned that much, at least.

[m_____s]

All that said, of course, our defense makes me cringe. Wow. It looks ridiculously weak.

I don't think any of our top five defenders made the roster -- Gooch, Carlos, Hedjuk, Steve C or Spector -- and even those guys (minus Steve, of course) have been shaky of late.

[Tim]

Why did Bradley not select Donovan?

[Paul Lorinczi]

I am surprised that Gooch and Beasley are not playing. I thought they would have liked to showcase themselves for potential new clubs.

There is no Kool Aid to be drank here. Bradley had some tough choices to make given the proximity of the Gold Cup and the Copa America.

Let's just make sure we win on Sunday. If we do, we get a good tune up tournament in the Confederations Cup in 2009, plus we may even get a seeded position, if we make it to the WC.

[Sean]

As someone eluded to above, I can't seem to understand why the Gold Cup was considered more important than the Copa America. Who cares about another US trophy in the Gold Cup? Or, is this about money?

[Braden]

I have tons of respect for the work and sacrifice that players such as Dempsey, Beasley, and Gooch put into their club teams and the national team. If, ultimately, they made the decision that joining their teams' preseason training sounded better than traveling to Copa America to represent the US then I also have to respect that.

But don't give me this bull about not being able to call up Dempsey because of Fulham. Copa America is a FIFA-sanctioned international tournament and club teams are required to release their players.

IF these players wanted a vacation then I have no problem with taking this team. HOWEVER, if Bradley turned away a willing Beasley or Donovan than yes, I'm upset at him! And, if this was the plan all along I'm upset at Gulati for signing us up.

That being said, I agree with Paul. Much will be forgiven if we can win on Sunday and get that ConFed Cup spot.

[Murphy]

Ives, your lineup looks good except Wynne will be exposed against these good teams. That's what bothers me about this roster--too many of these guys have not been dominating in MLS, why should they get a call up? Because of how high they were drafted? I liked Gaven with the Metros but he hasn't played well in 2 years and doesn't deserve to be on this team. Martino and Grabavoy are playing better than him right now.

I guess we'll see what Bradley can do with these guys. If they tie Argentina it will have to be considered one of the greatest results in U.S. history. Paraguay looked really good vs. Mexico. Maybe a win against Colombia is their best shot. It will be interesting...

[anon]

I like the roster as well, and am looking forward to see how it performs under pressure. The truth is, Beasley, Dempsey and Onyewu get big game experience every week in the EPL. They don't need to go to Copa America for that. Donovan has also played in two World Cups, so I think he understands what it means to play under pressure. Let the young guys start developing those same skills.

However, I would have liked to see Grabavoy, Martino or Adam Cristman have a shot at this roster to see what they could offer.

[lawrenceterp]

You guys keep slamming BB and SG for the way they're handling this tourney, but the real joke is the tourney itself. There is zero chance that the group selections were random. It was completely set up in Venezuela's favor. Not only did they "luckily" get to avoid Argentina and Brazil in the group stages, but the knockout round was set up so that they'd avoid them until the final as well. Go take a look at how the teams will get placed into the bracket after the group stage is over. It's a joke.

And as long as the tournament is rigged like this then who cares. I love the way BB is using this tournament as a tool to test out a lot of the younger players. Would you rather him get locked into a specific set of players a la Bruce Arena? I compliment him for going in a different direction and learning about players now, early in the cycle. He is doing it the right way. See as many candidates as possible in order to best make roster decisions later on.

I don't understand the acrimony. Relax, and enjoy watching some of our young players grow up. It's going to be a great tournament.

[h4]

Given how things played out, I wish Parkhurst and Simek had gotten a Copa call instead of playing sparingly in the Gold Cup. I'd like to see each get an extended run.

[Joe Rhode]

Lloyd, I empathize. If I had spent thousands to get to the world cup I would have been ten times as angry about our performance as I already was. Then, the botched deal with JK after weeks of speculation in the media. For me, BB still has much to prove. We've had mediocre showings against mediocre to poor teams. Of course there have been very isolated displays of great futbol, but not nearly enough to convince, or to outweigh many minues of questionable play. So for me, Copa America is a HUGE test for BB. The first time he'll field a team that will see real competition. If he doesn't show well, then we start sending flowers to JK and begging him.

As far as the line-up goes, after initially being angry, I'm excited about the prospect of some guys getting the chance to step up. If certain players take advantage (Demerit, Mapp, Nguyen, Feilhaber, Clark, Pearce), this could create some great competition on the team in future camps.....I'm hoping for the best, but in the recent past optimism has usually led to disappointment.

[Du Pont Mike]

Donovan is the most dangerous US player on the field. I really would have liked to see him on one of the premier stages in international play. That's why I'm disappointed. It sends the message that the US doesn't care about winning this tournament. I want to believe (realistic or not) that we are out there to win every match we play.

[Nick]

Braden, you're right, this is a FIFA sanctioned event, but since this isn't the US's confederation I'm 95% sure that clubs aren't required to release their players for a tournament that really has no bearing on the USMNT at all. Ives, can you confirm or deny that ruling?

[Derek]

I, for one, am excited about the team. I doubt most of the head-scratching names on the roster will see much/any time on the field. We were not going to win the Copa America with Donovan, Dempsey, and Beasley anyway...now we'll get to see some talented young players in a hostile environment.

[Uncle Dav]

---------Guzan/Keller-------
-----Demerit----Conrad----
-Wynne---------------Pearce--
Herc Gomez------Ben Olsen---Feilhaber---
---------Mapp/Nguyen-----------
------Davies---Johnson----------

[Ben]

To whomever said if this team ties Argentina it will be one of the greatest results in American history, do remember that the 1995 Copa America team, which was pretty much on par with this team beat Argentina 3-0.

By the way, I've heard some mentioning of WC seeding. HEre's my predictions for 2010.

1. Brazil
2. Italy
3. Argentina
4. Germany
5. Netherlands
6. France
7. England
8. Spain

Sorry, don't see it happening for us in 2010.

[Ben]

As a matter of fact, although I'm sure no one cares, here's my current World Rankings,

1. Italy
2. Brazil
3. Argentina
4. Germany
5. France
6. Netherlands
7. Portugal
8. Spain
9. England
10. Czech Republic
11. Greece
12. Croatia
13. United States
14. Ukraine
15. Scotland
16. Cameroon
17. Sweden
18. Mexico
19. Turkey
20. Romania
21. Russia
22. Ghana
23. Serbia
24. Australia
25. Nigeria