Euro Trip Gives US Men's Team a Chance to Fine-Tune the Squad

When there was only two rounds left in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying it seemed obvious who would be on the US roster. With a second-place showing at the Confederation's Cup, and wrapping up qualification in the continent early it seemed that all was set for the United States Soccer team. In a perfect world they would play there last two qualifiers and all would be gravy, bring on South Africa. Of course the world is not perfect, complications do arise. Now it is up to Bob Bradley to come up with some answers to these questions before heading to South Africa. A series of one injury after another, each from different scenarios, now forces Bob Bradley to reconfigure his side and deal with the complications. With these question needing to be answered before next summer, Bradley is fortunate in one regard to head to Europe for two friendlies to figure out how he is too deal with the 'complications' that arose over the past month or so.

The first concern for Bradley is the defense. The defensive line of the US has always had a question mark on it, but mostly because of the Left Back spot (which more or less was occupied by whoever seemed to have won a team-lottery). The other three spots were solid as Bocanegra, Onyewu were always marked as the for sure, with the like of DeMerit, Heaps, Bornstein, Cherundolo, Marshall, or somebody else Bradley saw fit to work the trenches. When Onyewu went down in the Costa Rica game, the task to find two defenders for a particular match, turned to three. However this time it is a Central Defender that went down and not somebody on the flank. Whenever the person who played either Left or Right Back struggled, Bocanegra or Onyewu could bail them out and all would be fine. However with Onyewu going down, that leaves a Central Defender going down....kinda hard to bailout a central defender they are the ones who are supposed to be running the show. Granted Bocanegra can still shift over and help out, but Bocanegra can not be everywhere at once. It would be a tough task to ask Bocanegra to help out a struggling Left Back, then shift over and take care of the mess in the box. So an important part of the trip for Bob Bradley is to find another stalwart for the defense, and maybe even figuring out the two defender on the flanks so the Central Defenders will not have to play mop up duty for 90 minutes.

Bradley know he has to fill the gaps in the defensive line, the question is who will fill them. Well in another case of the injury-bug Watford Defender Jay DeMerit got an eye infection from a freak contact lens sanitation accident. (Kids, make sure you keep stuff clean, especially things that so on or around the eyes). DeMerit would be a solid choice as a Left Back, that being his position at Watford, but with him out that leaves one less option. Other options at defense include Bornstein, Spector, Marshall or Hejduk. However these options only cover the problems on the flank. There still is that Central Defense role that is normal filled by Onyewu . . .talk about tough shoes to fill.

The Central Defender Question is a big one, I would like to start of by saying that NOBODY can replace Oguchi Onyewu, he is too much of this team. He is set to return by April, should be ready for the World Cup. Still there is the possibility that he will not be in form, leaving the spot open. It is always good to have a back-up plan. The two main names that keep popping up Danny Calif of the English Leagues, and you will never believe this but the return of out spoken Wizards leader Jimmy Conrad. No matter who Bradley goes with, they will not be up to the caliber of Onyewu, thus it is imperative that Onyewu is healed by the time of the World Cup, and solidify the already shaky American defense. Yea, Jimmy Conrad, you heard right...I am torn on this one. On one hand, playing for the Wizards is not the best World Cup experience, on the other Jimmy Conrad at the World Cup will offer some epic post-game quotes...maybe even start an international political squabble, which would be entertaining. I am kind of split on Jimmy at South Africa for 2010, I'll get back to this one latter.

Finally the last point of concern that needs to be addressed at the two friendlies against Slovakia and Denmark is the attacking option. Charlie Davies absence will be sorely missed. Davies is lucky (I know that 'lucky' is a not the best of words, but that is what he is.) Davies is lucky to still be able to play...another day. At the very earliest Davies can recover is in May, that is the earliest of all the estimates, so it is not likely. Even if he does recover in May, the odds of him being in form my June remain unlikely. Therefore, it is imperative for Bradley to find a replacement. In the meantime get well Charlie. The good news for the US side, they are a counter-attacking team, so playing with one forward (Altidore) and a couple of mid-fielders who like running into open spaces to connect passes (Donovan and Demspey) is all you really need to run a successful counter-attacking strategy. Problem. Not a good idea to rely on turnovers and mistakes for the other team in order to generate offence. It also means putting pressure on the defense for too much time. Therefore Bob Bradley needs to find another forward, one who at least can draw a defender and give Altidore something to work with.

The good part of this problem is that is that it is already solved. Put Houston's Brian Ching up top and hold the ball. Now this does create a problem, lack of speed. With Davies the Americans had a speedy forward who could slip into the wholes of an opponent's defense. However with Davies gone, that simply is not an option. Now the American have to go back to the two hold up fowards. Altidore has a great touch, but will not burn anybody anytime soon, and that is OK. With Ching the Americans will have a good target to hold the ball up top and wait for Donovan, Demspesy, and Altidore to make a run and help him out. This may not be attractive soccer, but as the US proved early it is efficient.

The good news for the American team is they have time. Bob Bradley still has time to figure things out, and tinker with his line-up. The two friendlies in Europe will not be about results, however I still plan on dissecting the matches as if they were the World Cup Final, it is just what I do. Instead the Euro trip will be about the US finding out once again who they are-not ideal six months before the World Cup, but that is the breaks. The upcoming matches against Slovakia and Denmark will be a win on two fronts for the US, regardless the results. First a chance to play teams of World Cup caliber, since both nations will be in South Africa as well. And a chance for the Yanks to begin play with out some key starters. Granted Bradley will not have the full US team that is available, as Donovan, and Howard are not on the team. But it will be the best opportunity for the players who are looking to impress Bradley before they head to South Africa. While the results won't matter in the Europe this upcoming week. The experience for the United States sure will.