By Evan Ream
The Gold Cup is over and we lost. Though most of us aren’t over it yet, we have to accept it and move on. USA has three scheduled friendlies and is likely to add 2-4 more to the calendar year. With one eye on World Cup qualifying that begins next year as well as the development of the players we expect to be in the 23 man squad for Brazil 2014, a question came to my mind; who should the USMNT start in the near future?
Here are my preferred 11 players that I would like to see get the nod for whichever friendlies we bring our full squad to (assuming that everyone is healthy):
Jozy Altidore Freddy Adu
Clint Dempsey Michael Bradley Stuart Holden Landon Donovan
Eric Lichaj Tim Ream Clarence Goodson Timmy Chandler
Tim Howard
Up top, Altidore has shown that he is our most dangerous forward and Adu showed that he needs more chances. The midfield is pretty self explanatory; though I’m worried that Bob Bradley won’t want to use Holden in a central role even though he is our best option there and possibly our best player.
There are a lot of questions surrounding the back line but I honestly feel like this is the best possible combination going forward. The outside backs are young and promising while Tim Ream is the future of the USMNT centerbacks.
The only position in question is the other centerback position. I’d hope that Goodson wouldn’t be starting come 2014, but I honestly don’t see any other players who are better suited to play right now. A lot of people want Omar Gonzalez to get a look, but I don’t think he is an international quality player and I don’t think Bob Bradley does either.
Tim Howard is an easy choice in goal but I want to see Bill Hamid get a look very soon as there is no clear third string keeper in the pool right now and possibly not even a clear second stringer as Brad Guzan’s club career is in limbo.
Obviously this means that I don’t want to see some players right now, namely Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo and Juan Agudelo and here’s why:
Bocanegra and Cherundolo are simply too old. It’s sad because they are two of the best defenders we have ever had, but it’s time to phase them out, they won’t be able to contribute in 3 years. On the flip side, I still think Juan Agudelo is too young. Agudelo has been very inconsistent this year in both international play and MLS. For once in the history of the USMNT a player with promise should actually be brought along at a slow pace rather than be thrust into action much too early. Agudelo should stay with New York to get time and work in a consistent environment.
What do you guys think? Am I missing anyone or anything? Am I wrong about Agudelo, Bocanegra and Cherundolo? Who do you want to see? Let me know.
Evan Ream is a contributor to Yanks Abroad Video Highlights. He also writes a weekly column for The SACK Lunch Blog. Evan welcomes your comments and questions, he can be reached at reame@sou.edu. You can follow him on twitter @EvanReam
