Where do we go from here? It's almost impossible to predict what will happen in four years, but that's never stopped us before.
Strikers
No doubt Jozy will return. He'll be 24 and entering his prime. For the past three years, Altidore steadily improved his touch and passing ability. The only lingering question is where he'll play his club ball. He's still under contract to Villareal, though they show little signs of actually wanting him for the senior side. My guess is he'll be loaned again to an EPL side that loses a striker in training.
Poor Buddle will be 33 and likely out of the mix. His great run of form, though, may keep him around for the infrequent friendly matches prior to qualifying. If he does well, his age won't matter. Just stay hot, and you'll stick around. As for Findley, he's currently 25, but I've frankly not seen much to get excited about. If he's still in the player pool in 2014, the US is in trouble. Then there's Herc. He's had an up-and-down career. I loved his tenacity on the field and nose-for-goal. He was a great option to bring off the bench for a late charge. I wouldn't be surprised if, at age 32, Herc remains a viable striker candidate. Yet, like Buddle, he'd have to remain scorching hot.
That's not terribly encouraging that only one striker is a safe bet to be around in four years. Charlie Davies is the wild card. He'd be a shoe-in if not for the dreadful car accident. Nobody knows how he'll perform once he steps on the field. My guess is that, with today's medical technology, Charlie's superb fitness level, and his drive to succeed, he'll eventually return to form. He'll be in the mix come 2014.
(2014 Roster: Altidore, Davies. Alternate: Gomez)
Midfielders
Dempsey and Donovan will be 31 and 32, respectively. Barring injury, both will remain the mainstays of the US offense. They can play all over the midfield and at striker, where the team is obviously weak. 2014 will be Donovan's fourth World Cup, an impressive feat for any player. Dempsey's club situation is somewhat settled at Fulham, but Donovan may move from MLS. He's currently fielding an offer from Man City, but my hope is he finds a way to return to Everton. He found a niche there, and, for an American, that's a rare, precious commodity.
Another player who impressed this tournament was Michael Bradley. At age 22, he's still improving. Bradley will be the cornerstone around which the midfield is built for the next eight years. Bradley currently plays for middling Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach. He's fared somewhat well there, but my guess is he'll eventually move to either Italy or England.
Benny Feilhaber and Stuart Holden will be in their late 20s in 2014. Both possess that rare bit of skill so lacking in American players. Holden didn't get much run this time around, but I'm positive he'll be a player during the next cycle. He recently signed with Bolton. Feilhaber, meanwhile, made quite a splash as a sub. Whenever he entered the field, the US attack seemed to spring to life. He may be the first choice center midfielder (with Bradley) in 2014, but only if he settles at a club. He's bounced around more than the Gummi Bears. Right now, he's in Denmark and faring quite well. If he sticks at the Danish club, great. My guess, though, is that he'll try to move somewhere more prominent. Just don't screw it up, kid, and end up losing an entire season like you did at Derby County.
(To be continued...)
First of all, fantastic link to the Gummi Bears. Actually burst out laughing after the theme song started balring out of my work computer. Well done. Second, I can't believe the emotional response I had to the opening clip. I'm not saying what my reaction was, but suffice it to say that I was surprised how emotional watching that clip made me. I think we may be building a larger mass of US footie fans - or, maybe due to the proliferance of social media, we're just more aware of each other. Regardless, the scenes in the bars were fantastic - but the solo shots of "some dude in Arkansas," etc. was like looking in mirror.
ReplyDeleteOk, on to the players real quick - two of the players mentioned are my standouts for the US team. Clubs across the world watch for World Cup performances to pluck players they think will pan out - many times the success on the WC stage doesn't necessarily get matched in club soccer, but that doesn't stop clubs from grabbing the hot players.
I thought that Jozy proved he has qualities that can translate into a strong holding striker. His touch and distribution have definitely improved, and after announcing publicly that Bradley wanted him turning and taking on defenders more one v one, that's exactly what he did. His success in that role was limited, but it showed his ability to modify his style of play. Not certain where he'll end up, but he should come out of South Africa with a big confidence boost.
Michael Bradley, however, was a complete eye opener. Incredibly polished on the ball, in defense, and in front of goal, I think he should/will be snapped up by an English team very quickly. I think that his defensive skills will serve him very well in England, and his distribution should improve. That said, I think the most important thing for both players is to find consistent playing time.
Totally agree on the web clip. I was too embarrassed to mention I got choked up!
ReplyDeleteAlso totally agree re: consistent playing time. When I was thinking earlier today about Damarcus Beasley, his career stalled after the '02 Cup due to inconsistent PT. He's had brilliant stretches, but, whether it's injury or just lack of form, the dude rarely sees the pitch. At one point, he was on par with Donovan. He still made the WC roster, but he's now a fringe player with barely the skills to keep up.