Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa began for the United States Men's National Team recently, and head coach Bob Bradley's makeshift band of outlaws, no-names, and underachievers has many scratching their heads, wondering what the squad will look like in two years. More importantly, will they be competitive.
Long time fans of the beautiful game need to realize this, though: no longer is the U.S. Soccer Federation leaning heavily on MLS to feed players up to the US squad. It's widely known that the quality of play at the MLS level isn't that strong, and the world's best footballers play in the European leagues.
Now more than ever the US Men's National Team is very well represented in Europe, as Coach Bradley has filled his current roster with a record number of Americans who play abroad.
Of the 32 players included in the current pool, half are playing in the MLS while the other half are under contract to play on European club teams. That percentage will change for the better, though, as the World Cup approaches.
It is estimated that once a 22-man roster is in place in 2010, as few as 7 MLS players will be left—a list that will include B. Ching, R. Clark, B. Davis, M. Edu, L. Donovan and E. Robinson—and nearly all will be reserves except for Donovan.
The other 15 (including 10 starters) are players with current contracts in Europe. This can only mean the U.S. is getting better...right?
Not so fast, my friends. We do know this: the three tune-up games the US team endured vs. England, Spain, and Argentina showed us many things about our home team; the good (vs. ARG), the bad (vs. ESP), and the ugly (vs. ENG).
The U.S. defense has trouble defending the set play. We saw this against England and Spain. We also saw it a bit in the second leg against over-matched Barbados.
No matter what lineup Bradley employs on the pitch, the U.S. attack can't seem to get the ball in the net. Other than the eight balls that touched the old onion bag against Barbados (a riff-raff squad made up mostly of amateurs), the Americans have scored seven goals in six previous matches (all in the first three games this year vs. Sweden, Mexico, and Poland, and none in it's final three matches).
Only one goal was scored by a forward, while four came from defenders, mostly on corner kicks and other set pieces.
There is also a massive log-jam at the midfield positions, where there is an abundance of inexperience.
FORWARDS
Up top, it's been all fluids and no solids. Whether you're in the restroom or on the playing field, this can't be good. Bradley has employed seven different starting combinations in the team's last seven matches.
One thing is for certain, though: the coaching staff has given famed MLS striker Eddie Johnson plenty of opportunities to prove himself (four starts in'08), and time and time again, he comes up short. He may be the odd man out.
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