December 2001

 WHO SHOULD GO TO KOREA/JAPAN 2002?

           Remember the days when the National Team selection was a foregone conclusion!  Remember when it seemed as though they were an exclusive boys club… when the same guys were always selected year in and year out!  Each player, or starter at least, had a lock on his position. Well, those days are long gone.  There are no locks on any position, and Coach Arena is left with numerous possibilities to form the World Cup squad.  It makes Arena’s job very difficult, but it also makes the hope for success brighter.  Although choosing the squad may be difficult, the one certainty is that we do have the parts to assemble a successful World Cup team.  So like everyone else, we too, at Williams F.C., will play the armchair coach!  This is our call for the World Cup squad:  

 Goalkeeper   

        Each team can carry 3 goalkeepers and 20 field players.  So lets start with those in the net.  To some it is a foregone conclusion, but we believe this critical area is more up in the air than ever.  Kasey Keller has proven to be our best goalkeeper.  But he is not playing regularly with his club team. This does not bode well for being World Cup ready!

        Brad Friedel has kicked up a fuss about being the starter, but in our point of view he has been quite shaky during many of the qualifiers.  He may get the nod as first string, however, because he is seeing far more action with his club than Keller.

        Tony Meola is actually our choice as second string.  We believe he is a true competitor and has proven ready and worthy.  However, if Arena is going to use him as third string, it may be better off taking a younger keeper in order to prepare for the future.  That being the case, Zach Thornton should no doubt get the nod.  

Defense

        At times during the qualifying rounds we have had some very spotty defense.  If we can’t handle the likes of Onandi Lowe and Carlos Pavon, then how are we going to deal with Rivaldo, Michael Owen or any other top international striker?  The good thing is that we do have capable players.  The real problem is finding the right mix. Agoos, Pope, Llamosa, Sanneh, Regis, and Cherundulo should get the call.  The last spot should be determined in the series of friendlies between the following four players: Greg Berhalter, Greg Vanney, Danny Califf, and Pablo Mastroeni.  Williams F. C. has always pushed for the youth movement, therefore, we lean towards the latter two, who have both shown tremendous calm and fortitude.        

Midfield

        The midfield has generally performed well.  But like the defense, they have been very inconsistent.  Stewart, Reyna, Armas,  and Jones are a must.  Ben Olsen should definitely be included if he is back 100% from his injury.  He is our best attacker out of the midfield, and can provide the flank play that we so desperately need.  However, if he is not 100% healthy, than he should regretfully be made to wait for 2006.  The other remaining two spots should be fought out by Demarcus Beasley, John O’Brien, Pete Vagenas, and Bobby Convey.  Beasley provides a tremendous attacking option on the left, but is however, small and prone to injury.  He has the attacking ability of Olsen, but does not have the defensive grit that Olsen provides.  O’Brien is considered the number two behind Armas as defensive mid, however, he has proven quite inconsistent, and does not have the muscle of Armas. As quiet as it’s kept, Vagenas just may be the heir to Reyna’s offensive midfield throne.  But he will have to prove it!  Convey would be a sure pick for us had he not suffered a year full of injuries.  Like Olsen, if he is back to 100%, then he should get the call.  Convey has shown composure, class and talent beyond his years.

Strikers

Qualifying has shown us that we have a new breed of attackers - fast, cunning, and unafraid.  It is not surprising that our best results were with these young guns.  So we say go with the new breed.  Mathis, Wolff, and Donovan best epitomize the new American striker.  Landon Donovan plays more of a cerebral game than the other two, but Wolff and Mathis have a one track mind (to go for goal) that will give any defense a headache.  Razov and Moore should also get the nod.  The former has a lethal eye for the goal, and the latter has not only proven a handful offensively, but also gives opponents problems with his defensive pressure up front. Our final selection, some may say, is a leap of faith.  However, we have seen Jeff Cunningham dismantle defenses.  He will add to the speed and one-on-one skill of the others young guns.  

Some folk may be horrified that we have not included Brian McBride.  We cannot deny his tremendous contributions to the National Team.  However, we belive it is time to move beyond the archaic belief that we need a big man to win air balls.  During this past year of qualifying, we proved successful by getting behind defenses quickly and being able to beat players off the dribble.  Our National Team needs to go with what works!  That's the Williams F.C. call!!!  

 

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