As found on the Insider, the USSF released the names today for the preliminary Gold Cup roster.
And of course its just the same old names. Why would we expect anything more? It seems that Bradley automatically gives preference to anybody on a team in Europe, regardless of how good that player is, how good that team is, or if that player receives any playing time with that team. And the MLSers who do get called up to the national team are the same ones who always get called up to the national team, even if they've done nothing in MLS this season. The Gold Cup is a legitimate opportunity to get some new faces into the mix. There are plenty of fine young Americans who are having fantastic years by MLS standards, but they aren't even given a chance to compete.
I just don't understand how you could choose Eddie Gaven (2 goals, 0 assists) and Robbie Rogers (0 goals, 1 assist) ahead of Chris Pontius (4 goals, 2 assists), Arturo Alvarez (4 goals, 1 assist), Brad Davis (2 goals, 7 assists), and Colin Clark (2 goals, 5 assists).
The funniest one for me is Clarence Goodson. Playing for Dallas for 4 years, he was an above average defender, but not of high enough profile to receive any national team call ups. But the same month that he announces that he will not be returning to MLS and signs a contract in Norway, all of a sudden he gets his first call up! On the defensive side, I'm thinking Bryan Namoff, Aaron Hohlbein, Omar Gonzales, and Jeremy Hall are just as worthy.
Who else would you like to see get an opportunity?
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2 comments:
Alright so maybe I was a bit premature with my frustration yesterday at the "preliminary roster", since apparently Santino Quaranta has been added. This is a positive step. Let's see who else Bob has in mind...
I'm with you Colin Clark, but, much as I love him, I think Pontius should be in the January camp for the Annual Scandanavian Challenge. Davis probably gets screwed by having too many Houston teammates on call.
Also, unless Alvarez had a drastic change of heart, I see him going inverse-Jermaine Jones on us and using the new rules to switch allegiances to El Salvador. And Goodson apparently was one of the top defenders in the Norwegian First Division last year. I know, I know, Norwegian First Division, but none of the alternatives you mentioned seem compelling to me (Gonzales is in the same boat with Pontius in my mind).
My questions would be...(1) Mastroeni? That ship has sailed. (2) Thorrington? In God's name, why? (3) White? Might as well call up Brian West, remember him? (4) Casey? I've been impressed with his MLS play and thought the Confed Cup call-up would inspire him to up the effort-level, but it hasn't happened. (5) Gaven? Speaking of effort levels...
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