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Bradley’s Bunch: The Azteca Aftermath
Another match in Azteca has resulted in another loss. As U.S. fans lick their newly acquired wounds, Max Zeger will attempt to weed through the changing landscape of the hypothetical World Cup Squad. Who is now on the plane, assuming the team qualifies? Who’s been booted off?
Aug 13, 2009 4:18:11 AM
By Max Zeger
It’s a tough pill to swallow. The match started off so promisingly. An ingenious Donovan through-ball, and a class finish from Charlie Davies had me thinking an upset was possible.
That was the best moment of the match for the U.S., and it came too early.
The U.S. would have taken a draw gladly from Mexico, and it would have been a fair result, but you can’t begrudge Mexico their win. Despite some fantastic defending byOguchi Onyewu, Mexico was the better team on the day. Now to the business end of things; what can we glean from this match?
The rankings go from most likely to have a seat on the plane, to least likely.
Naturally, since there are only twenty-three spots, the top twenty-three will comprise the squad. Everybody after that is not in the top 23 and is on the outside looking in. For the purpose of creating a balanced squad, I will be selecting 3 ‘keepers, 8 defenders, 8 midfielders, and 4 forwards in the first 23.
Additionally, there will be no Edgar Castillo and Jermaine Jones because they cannot yet officially wear the stars and stripes. So, let’s get to it.
1. Tim Howard—He is unquestionably the number one ‘keeper, and he was solid again against Mexico. Mexico’s goals couldn’t be saved, and barring injury, there’s a seat waiting for him on the plane.
2. Landon Donovan—His showing in the Confederations Cup was pure class, and he has continued his scintillating form in MLS. Why then, did he disappear from the match after assisting on Charlie Davies first goal? It’s befuddling, but despite this performance, Donovan will be in South Africa next summer.
3. Oguchi Onyewu—The six foot three inch monster can book his ticket after a big summer move to Milan, and a fantastic performance in the DF.
4. Clint Dempsey— It’s a shame that he so often slips out of the game entirely. Dempsey has skill and passion, a deadly combination that Bob Bradley will surely want at his disposal in South Africa, but he has to find a way to consistently perform.
5. Carlos Bocanegra—He didn’t have the best of games against Mexico, but, let’s face it, whether he’s playing out left, or in the center, he’ll be in South Africa. He’s the captain, for Pete’s sake.
6. Michael Bradley—Not the brilliant performance the U.S. needed against Mexico, but Bradley was attentive, and could have had an assist if Charlie Davies wasn’t flagged offside. He’s improved immensely in his time in Europe, but still has some growing to do. That said, he is a lock to start in the center of the park next year.
7. Brad Guzan—He’ll continue to be the backup for the foreseeable future, and certainly can’t complain with being mentored by Brad Friedel and Tim Howard. His solid showing against Egypt also has reinforced his World Cup spot.
8. Charlie Davies—Charlie is a game-changer, as evidenced by his goal at Azteca. He’s one of the few that really showed well. He’s also in pretty good company, one of only three Americans to score in Azteca. A summer move to France should be good for him as well. Charlie’s stock is soaring.
9. Jonathan Spector—Spector was benched for the Mexico match, but in retrospect, his crosses could have proved a useful tool. He’s been hampered by injuries his whole career, but when healthy, he’s a quality defender who can play anywhere on the back line.
10. Josmer Altidore—A brief anonymous cameo at Azteca. Hopefully it gives him a feel for the place, so in four years, he can help bring home a win. A solid year at Hull City would do wonders for his confidence heading into the World Cup.
11. Jay DeMerit—Before Bocanegra’s injury, DeMerit didn’t see much of the field for the U.S., but he certainly took his opportunity well in South Africa. He’ll look to remain a fixture in the lineup, and he hasn’t hurt his chances with a decent display.
12. Benny Feilhaber—Super-sub extraordinaire was his description in South Africa, but Feilhaber’s performance this time around wasn’t very inspiring. His touch was off, and he didn’t get forward at all. Feilhaber’s club form has been fantastic, though, so he will still see call-ups, and likely another visit to South Africa next summer.
13. Stuart Holden—Along with Marshall, Holden was a top performer at the Gold Cup, and he continued his good form in Azteca. With what was a surprise appearance, Holden looked sharp and could have had an assist to Davies with an awesome cross. It doesn’t hurt that he has played every midfield position for the Houston Dynamo either when Bradley’s picking his team. If Holden continues to play well, he will surely be going to South Africa.
14. Maurice Edu—He probably would have started alongside Bradley this summer had it not been for a knee injury in the final Scottish Premier League match, but if he’s able to regain his position in the Rangers lineup, he’ll make the squad.
15. Ricardo Clark—A poor performance in Mexico, to say the least. He failed to link passes with consistently, and looked sluggish. He rarely does well going forward, but his defensive prowess will land him a spot on the squad. A potential move to Livorno this winter will not hurt his chances.
16. Brian Ching—So many harsh words come to mind: useless, futile, slow, and daft. Most U.S. fans don’t like Ching because he is not a game changer. He offers little going forward, but Bob Bradley appreciates the work Ching does in holding up the ball and his veteran experience. For those reasons, despite the fans' frustrations, Bob Bradley will take him to South Africa.
17. Steve Cherundolo—2008-2009 was a season to forget for Cherundolo, and this Mexico match was no different. Hopefully now that he is healthy and has started playing for Hannover again, he can regain his form.
18. Chad Marshall—Chad has jumped up into the squad with his dominating Gold Cup performances barring the final 35 minutes of the final. He’s as of now, the fourth central defender on the squad, and that is good enough for a ticket.
19. Conor Casey—I don’t think I would have Conor Casey this high if I was judging based upon performances with the national team. Casey hasn’t looked very dangerous internationally, but Bob Bradley continues to call him in, so Casey will likely make the squad.
20. Jonathan Bornstein—Carlos Bocanegra wasn’t great in Mexico, but he’s still better than Bornstein. The Chivas USA man is a shaky defender, and solid going forward, but the U.S. is shallow at left back, so he will likely travel to South Africa ready to back up the more capable Carlos Bocanegra.
21. Jose Francisco Torres—Everybody was very impressed after the El Salvador match, and he got a deserved start against Costa Rica, but was unceremoniously pulled at half time. He didn’t feature again this summer, but Bradley called him in for the Mexico match, so it looks as if Torres is still in Bradley’s plans. He’s also technical and can play on the left, which doesn’t hurt his chances.
22. Troy Perkins—Perkins is a capable third keeper: not at the level of Guzan or Howard, but a sturdy number three. He will certainly face competition from Marcus Hahnemann who looks set to compete for a spot with Premier League newcomers Wolves.
23. Heath Pearce—The left back spot was his to lose, and he lost it. If he can find a club, and some regular playing time though, he will make the 2010 squad.
On the Outside Looking in…
24. Freddy Adu—A wasted two years in Europe has pushed him out of the picture, but if he can find playing time, he could find a way to South Africa.
25. Damarcus Beasley—After being a staple on the U.S. squad for almost two full World Cup cycles, Beasley has had trouble finding playing time, and his form for the national team has suffered. He’s got the skill, so if he can find his form, he’s got a great shot of making the team.
26. Marcus Hahnemann—If he can find playing time with Wolves in the EPL, Bob Bradley might be inclined to bring him along.
27. Sacha Kljestan— He is one of Bradley’s favorites from his Chivas days, but some horrendous form since a move to Celtic broke down has found him out of the picture.
28. Frankie Hejduk—The dude was a great option at right back, but since his injury, both Spector and Cherundolo have shown they are equally, if not more, capable of filling that same role. His age isn’t helping him either.
29. Danny Califf—Califf looked like a solid option as the fourth center back, but some suspect international performances and the emergence of Chad Marshall have seen his stock drop.
30. Kenny Cooper—He never really impressed me when playing for the national team, but in the Gold Cup, he found a way to put them in the back of the net. His move to Europe will do a world of good for him, and some success there could help his chances immensely.
31. Kyle Beckerman—He had a fairly good Gold Cup, but is still too turnover prone. At this point, Beckerman is looking like a long shot.
Max Zeger will update Bradley's Bunch on a monthly basis
For more on the U.S. National Team visit Goal.com's U.S. National Team page.
It’s a tough pill to swallow. The match started off so promisingly. An ingenious Donovan through-ball, and a class finish from Charlie Davies had me thinking an upset was possible.
That was the best moment of the match for the U.S., and it came too early.
The U.S. would have taken a draw gladly from Mexico, and it would have been a fair result, but you can’t begrudge Mexico their win. Despite some fantastic defending byOguchi Onyewu, Mexico was the better team on the day. Now to the business end of things; what can we glean from this match?
The rankings go from most likely to have a seat on the plane, to least likely.
Naturally, since there are only twenty-three spots, the top twenty-three will comprise the squad. Everybody after that is not in the top 23 and is on the outside looking in. For the purpose of creating a balanced squad, I will be selecting 3 ‘keepers, 8 defenders, 8 midfielders, and 4 forwards in the first 23.
Additionally, there will be no Edgar Castillo and Jermaine Jones because they cannot yet officially wear the stars and stripes. So, let’s get to it.
1. Tim Howard—He is unquestionably the number one ‘keeper, and he was solid again against Mexico. Mexico’s goals couldn’t be saved, and barring injury, there’s a seat waiting for him on the plane.
2. Landon Donovan—His showing in the Confederations Cup was pure class, and he has continued his scintillating form in MLS. Why then, did he disappear from the match after assisting on Charlie Davies first goal? It’s befuddling, but despite this performance, Donovan will be in South Africa next summer.
3. Oguchi Onyewu—The six foot three inch monster can book his ticket after a big summer move to Milan, and a fantastic performance in the DF.
4. Clint Dempsey— It’s a shame that he so often slips out of the game entirely. Dempsey has skill and passion, a deadly combination that Bob Bradley will surely want at his disposal in South Africa, but he has to find a way to consistently perform.
5. Carlos Bocanegra—He didn’t have the best of games against Mexico, but, let’s face it, whether he’s playing out left, or in the center, he’ll be in South Africa. He’s the captain, for Pete’s sake.
6. Michael Bradley—Not the brilliant performance the U.S. needed against Mexico, but Bradley was attentive, and could have had an assist if Charlie Davies wasn’t flagged offside. He’s improved immensely in his time in Europe, but still has some growing to do. That said, he is a lock to start in the center of the park next year.
7. Brad Guzan—He’ll continue to be the backup for the foreseeable future, and certainly can’t complain with being mentored by Brad Friedel and Tim Howard. His solid showing against Egypt also has reinforced his World Cup spot.
8. Charlie Davies—Charlie is a game-changer, as evidenced by his goal at Azteca. He’s one of the few that really showed well. He’s also in pretty good company, one of only three Americans to score in Azteca. A summer move to France should be good for him as well. Charlie’s stock is soaring.
9. Jonathan Spector—Spector was benched for the Mexico match, but in retrospect, his crosses could have proved a useful tool. He’s been hampered by injuries his whole career, but when healthy, he’s a quality defender who can play anywhere on the back line.
10. Josmer Altidore—A brief anonymous cameo at Azteca. Hopefully it gives him a feel for the place, so in four years, he can help bring home a win. A solid year at Hull City would do wonders for his confidence heading into the World Cup.
11. Jay DeMerit—Before Bocanegra’s injury, DeMerit didn’t see much of the field for the U.S., but he certainly took his opportunity well in South Africa. He’ll look to remain a fixture in the lineup, and he hasn’t hurt his chances with a decent display.
12. Benny Feilhaber—Super-sub extraordinaire was his description in South Africa, but Feilhaber’s performance this time around wasn’t very inspiring. His touch was off, and he didn’t get forward at all. Feilhaber’s club form has been fantastic, though, so he will still see call-ups, and likely another visit to South Africa next summer.
13. Stuart Holden—Along with Marshall, Holden was a top performer at the Gold Cup, and he continued his good form in Azteca. With what was a surprise appearance, Holden looked sharp and could have had an assist to Davies with an awesome cross. It doesn’t hurt that he has played every midfield position for the Houston Dynamo either when Bradley’s picking his team. If Holden continues to play well, he will surely be going to South Africa.
14. Maurice Edu—He probably would have started alongside Bradley this summer had it not been for a knee injury in the final Scottish Premier League match, but if he’s able to regain his position in the Rangers lineup, he’ll make the squad.
15. Ricardo Clark—A poor performance in Mexico, to say the least. He failed to link passes with consistently, and looked sluggish. He rarely does well going forward, but his defensive prowess will land him a spot on the squad. A potential move to Livorno this winter will not hurt his chances.
16. Brian Ching—So many harsh words come to mind: useless, futile, slow, and daft. Most U.S. fans don’t like Ching because he is not a game changer. He offers little going forward, but Bob Bradley appreciates the work Ching does in holding up the ball and his veteran experience. For those reasons, despite the fans' frustrations, Bob Bradley will take him to South Africa.
17. Steve Cherundolo—2008-2009 was a season to forget for Cherundolo, and this Mexico match was no different. Hopefully now that he is healthy and has started playing for Hannover again, he can regain his form.
18. Chad Marshall—Chad has jumped up into the squad with his dominating Gold Cup performances barring the final 35 minutes of the final. He’s as of now, the fourth central defender on the squad, and that is good enough for a ticket.
19. Conor Casey—I don’t think I would have Conor Casey this high if I was judging based upon performances with the national team. Casey hasn’t looked very dangerous internationally, but Bob Bradley continues to call him in, so Casey will likely make the squad.
20. Jonathan Bornstein—Carlos Bocanegra wasn’t great in Mexico, but he’s still better than Bornstein. The Chivas USA man is a shaky defender, and solid going forward, but the U.S. is shallow at left back, so he will likely travel to South Africa ready to back up the more capable Carlos Bocanegra.
21. Jose Francisco Torres—Everybody was very impressed after the El Salvador match, and he got a deserved start against Costa Rica, but was unceremoniously pulled at half time. He didn’t feature again this summer, but Bradley called him in for the Mexico match, so it looks as if Torres is still in Bradley’s plans. He’s also technical and can play on the left, which doesn’t hurt his chances.
22. Troy Perkins—Perkins is a capable third keeper: not at the level of Guzan or Howard, but a sturdy number three. He will certainly face competition from Marcus Hahnemann who looks set to compete for a spot with Premier League newcomers Wolves.
23. Heath Pearce—The left back spot was his to lose, and he lost it. If he can find a club, and some regular playing time though, he will make the 2010 squad.
On the Outside Looking in…
24. Freddy Adu—A wasted two years in Europe has pushed him out of the picture, but if he can find playing time, he could find a way to South Africa.
25. Damarcus Beasley—After being a staple on the U.S. squad for almost two full World Cup cycles, Beasley has had trouble finding playing time, and his form for the national team has suffered. He’s got the skill, so if he can find his form, he’s got a great shot of making the team.
26. Marcus Hahnemann—If he can find playing time with Wolves in the EPL, Bob Bradley might be inclined to bring him along.
27. Sacha Kljestan— He is one of Bradley’s favorites from his Chivas days, but some horrendous form since a move to Celtic broke down has found him out of the picture.
28. Frankie Hejduk—The dude was a great option at right back, but since his injury, both Spector and Cherundolo have shown they are equally, if not more, capable of filling that same role. His age isn’t helping him either.
29. Danny Califf—Califf looked like a solid option as the fourth center back, but some suspect international performances and the emergence of Chad Marshall have seen his stock drop.
30. Kenny Cooper—He never really impressed me when playing for the national team, but in the Gold Cup, he found a way to put them in the back of the net. His move to Europe will do a world of good for him, and some success there could help his chances immensely.
31. Kyle Beckerman—He had a fairly good Gold Cup, but is still too turnover prone. At this point, Beckerman is looking like a long shot.
Max Zeger will update Bradley's Bunch on a monthly basis
For more on the U.S. National Team visit Goal.com's U.S. National Team page.
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