DYNAMO players Patrick Ianni and Stuart Holden are off to represent the United States at the Beijing, Olympic games. They will play their final game for the Dynamo this Tuesday against DC at RFK Stadium. What an honor to represent your country……….
Lets examine the overage player choices by PETER NOWAK the US Olympic under 23 coach. Veteran BRIAN MCBRIDE has been chosen to play up front after concluding his career at FULHAM and now heading back to MLS…….BRAD GUZAN recently sold to ASTON VILLA is also in the mix while defender MICHAEL PARKHURST rounds out the trio. Simply yes in most cases you want strength up the middle of the team and that is exactly what these players will bring. Experience and personality are a big part of these choices but remember also that many of the choices that NOWAK may have wanted to make became unavailable based on WORLD CUP qualifying. Would he have preferred LANDON DONOVAN, CARLOS BOCANEGRA and TIM HOWARD? Quite possibly but this is the problem with serving two masters with the WORLD CUP and OLYMPICS. We all know where the priority lies.
The U.S. group is a difficult one with JAPAN, NETHERLANDS and NIGERIA…..Thoughts?
Bocanegra would be my choice to lead the back line with his wealth of exp and muscle. I like the goalies and midfield….the strikers look like a very dangerous front hopefully they will score, but I would have picked up Kenny Cooper seeing how good he is playing now. Over all we look good just gotta put it together and make it work. Tough game against the Dutch team and maybe Nigeria(depends who they bring), but we should beat Japan no sweat again we will see how it comes together.
Comment by Bcoop — July 17, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
where is sal zizzo?
Comment by kori — July 17, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
I expected to see Donovan in the group, but maybe his omission gives Freddie Adu and others a chance to mature and shine as creators and leaders in the midfield. I did not expect McBride, but his leadership will be invaluable, both on and off the field. He may not be able to run 90 minutes with the youngsters, but I expect him to score and/or set up some goals. Tough group, with the game against Nigeria critical; with that in mind, I think the pre-Olympic matches against Cameroon and Ivory Coast are ideal to prepare the team.
A side comment about the full National Team and World Cup qualifying… Edson Buddle has to be brought in for some of the early qualifiers! He has been playing great and knows how to team up with Donovan. Eddie Johnson needs plenty of time to work on his form with Fulham, so I say pick Buddle over Johnson for the next games.
Comment by Martin Burke — July 18, 2008 @ 1:06 am
Guzan is certainly a quality GK, but do you think his choice over other, perhaps better, over-age choices (Keller? Reis?) is due to SUM wanting to give Guzan more international experience to help with his English work permit?
Perhaps Reis wasn’t chosen out of consideration for the Revs who are also losing Parkhurst (and without Reis, they wouldn’t be where they are this season). But Keller is unfettered, like McBride.
Comment by m@ — July 18, 2008 @ 9:32 am
Stuart Holden is much more that just a very talented soccer player. His years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears and hours of practice have paid off. But in Stuart’s case, I can tell you from personal experience with him, karma is also involved…..read this my friends and see if you don’t agree.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/buzz/Sports/5770505.html
AJs Dad
Help Cure Childhood Cancer
Comment by AJs Dad — July 18, 2008 @ 10:00 am
team looks strong, happy to see McGod in there to help out the pups. should put out some good results, weakness in my opinion is the defense would have been nice if spector could have been back there with parkhurst. look strong up top and the mid, but we shall see.
good luck boys, make us proud.
Comment by brent — July 18, 2008 @ 12:09 pm