Assess the USA soccer situation here

pablo is 29. cherundolo is 27.

 

so it's feasible both could return, although pablo would have to probably slide back to defense.

fortunately, 2010 is a long ways off. but other than adu, is there a name in the pipeline to pump up interest?

 

I don't know about anyone pumping any interest. Although I'll be interested to see the further development of guys like Convey, Dempsey, Johnson and Gooch.

While thinking about the younger guys in the pipeline...How's Lee Nguyen doing at PSV Eindhoven? I got a chance to see him play his freshman year at Indiana before he moved over to the Netherlands.

 

O'Brien made his mark at Ajax.

 

Our players already have a tennis-like residence, in Bradenton, Florida. In addition, certain MLS clubs are attempting to beef up their youth-development presence, with Chicago leading the way and Chivas USA not far behind.

This is why it's way too early to start thinking about 2010's players. And why it's not really necessary to worry about the ages of Mastroeni, et. al. I hope a John O'Brien is healthy enough at 31 to make a good contribution in the next one, with Beasley and Donovan hopefully having developed their games (yes, in Europe) to really be stars at 28. But there are players out there who have yet to emerge from these youth teams, from Bradenton, who will help us in 2010.

The one thing we cannot expect is for the next US star to be someone who comes through the college ranks and then MLS. As much as I enjoy the college game (and I do), overcoaching can create a group of players who dump off the ball instead of shooting it from distance.

No matter what players improve or don't improve in the next four years, it is imperative that US soccer nails the next coaching hire. If Arena stays, I have no problem with that. He has gone way beyond earning the right to go out on his terms. I would think he'll resign with full dignity and the honors he deserves for the strides we have made on and off the field during his tenure.

If I were to make a list of American coaches who have shown an ability to win at every level, and to coach professionals, it starts with Bob Bradley and ends with Sigi Schmid. And includes no other names. Both won in college, both win in MLS, both have been assistants on national/Olympic teams, both understand the US' strange way of doing things as far as MLS and NCAA eligibility rules. If US soccer wishes to hire an American coach to continue Arena's work, those two gentlemen should be at the top of the list. No need to get cute and try for some retread type.

Now, if US soccer feels the need to make a "sexy" hire, I've said Klinsmann should be the guy. He brings a US sensibility no other foreign coach has, and has the World Cup pedigree both as player (and now, getting there as coach) for most fans and media to get on board with him.

Players will come, players will develop (Let's quit waiting for Freddy Adu, please. He has a long way to go), and players will get better. But the coach is something US soccer can control. I hope they make the right decision, which I think any of these three gentlemen would be.

 

Yes. Adu would have definitely done worse. He would have done FAR worse. He would have been on his back for 90-minutes. You saw the elbow that broke McBride's nose? That would have broken Adu's skull open if Freddy could have been able to even jump that high.

Adu cannot play at the MLS level and you seem to think he can play at the World Cup level. The would be like saying some kid that is the first option off the bench to be a pinch runner in a College game is good enough to start for the Red Sox or Yankees and perform better than whatever they have.



I also need to point out. The US, for project 2010, has been at the "develop them young" game for some time now. That is why 16-year old Freddy Adu had a High School diploma when he was 15. That is why 16-year old Josmer Altidore is receiving his High School diploma this summer and will then join the MLS team that drafted him.

MLS provides a place for players to play and develop. McBride, Beasley, Howard, Convey, Bradley, etc. Do they even get a sniff in Europe by the teams they are on if they don't demonstrate their skill elsewhere?

And as the players develop, the league develops.


In terms of 2010... Michael Bradley, Convey, Marvell Wynne, Tim Howard, Beasley, Gooch, Dunivant, Johnson
Those are 8 names there that I'm sure will be in contention. Adu could be involved. The problem will be his height. Twellman didn't go with this national team for exactly that reason.

 

Just to point out... Red Bull NY is at the top. They wanted to bring up one of their youth players for their full squad, Johnny Exantus, except his name would have been inserted into a dispersal draft and the team would have likely lost him. Because of this, MLS has changed its rules.

 

What I understood about Red Bull NY's youth situation is they were holding back, not making a full commitment to youth teams at all levels until MLS assured them that any players they developed would belong to NY, not get put in the draft.

If MLS has officially changed the rule to allow teams to keep the players they develop, that's good news, and news to me. Either way, Chicago and Chivas each have multiple teams in mutiple age groups. Not sure if New York does.

 

Since I sparked the Freddy Adu debate ....

On PTI Thursday, he told Kornheiser and Wilbon he's still eligible in both countries. Though he saw the field against Canada in April for the US, he said it was an exhibition and he was not officially capped. Thus, he's still available to both nations.

As I stated before, I don't think he should've played, but being in the atmosphere might've fostered some growth for 2010. I'd be happy to eat those words if he's a bust. But if you believe the hype, he's going to be playing internationally by then. In fact, on PTI, he gave off the impression that he was looking to go overseas this summer. By no stretch of the imagination is Adu close to dominating MLS now, but he is still just 17. Bobby Convey turned pro at 16 (I think) and it took him a good four or fives years to get an invite to camp and earn his way onto the national team.

Also, I think Michael_Gee stated that the U.S.'s lack of shots on goal was one of the most telling statistics of the whole debacle. That's a great point. All three games, I kept wondering why the U.S. was so gunshy from 30 yards out. That ball was dancing all over the place and making goalkeepers look foolish throughout the tournament. But the U.S. seemed content to try and beat all 10 defenders and pull the goalkeeper off his line for an open look at the net. The midfield-to-forward service was terrible from all over the field. So what did anyone have to lose by letting it fly?

 

Is Marvell Wynne the former Pirates outfielder?

 

One generation away, LJB. His son.

 

I find it interesting that nobody is mentioning what the team will look like in 2008 at the Olympics. I know the World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the soccer world, but I think it's fair to say that what happens in the Olympics is far from inconsequential.

And I think the Olympics are going to be huge for U.S. soccer because we need another good showing (like 2002) in an international event to keep the interest up here.