Team USA: State of the Union

Coach:

First off, Bob Bradley’s future. Bob Bradley is very much a guy who has the support of his players, but unfortunately his shortcomings were evident in the Ghana match. You must at least credit him for at least recognizing them immediately and righting the wrong, we still lost with what you can argue is our top team out there in extra time.

I don’t think it’s good for any national team to have the same coach for more than 4 years, it just never seems to work out well, even if that coach did exceptional. Therefore, I think it is the right decision for BB to move on and take on another challenge as he has more than proven himself as an excellent coach. The challenge for him though is that American coaches don’t get international chances, for an American it seems the top post is the national team job.

While the World Cup is in the past, we have a good opportunity to try some new things out very quickly with a friendly against probable world-champions Brazil in August. We also have the Gold Cup coming up next summer – remember this is the Gold Cup that is important for the winner qualifies for the Confed Cup.

Just think how crucial the Confed Cup last June was to the development of our current squad. BB surely made the right decision in putting in a first-team for the less sexy Gold Cup and playing a youth side in the Copa America.

Keeper:

Yahoo is reporting that Tim Howard is considering international retirement, which quite simply would be a nightmare for US fans. Howard is 31 years old, which might sound old, but really isn’t for a goalkeeper. Look at how good Friedel and Van der Sar look and they’re pushing 40. Would be a huge blow for Tim to retire right now as we need his steady performance for Brazil 2014, or at the very least next year’s Gold Cup.

While I don’t like Arsenal, I would love to see him move there if they come calling. He’s very loyal to Moyes though so I don’t see it happening.

Defense:

For the backline, we have probably seen the last of them at the World Cup. Boca should still have a few more years left, but it’s time for the captain’s armband to finally be handed to Landon. It remains to be seen how Gooch can bounce back from this injury, but hopefully he will come back stronger than ever. Jay DeMerit’s performance at this World Cup should allow him to play one more year abroad as I just don’t understand how he cannot find a better team than Watford.

Cherundolo will be too old next World Cup and looks to have possibly one or two more good years left with Hannover 96, if he resigns there. Bornstein has been rumored to be heading to Mexico, which would be a good fit for him as it plays to his strengths.

We have Spector in the wings, but I can’t really see where the next future of defenders is going to come from. Our backups certainly aren’t young and while someone like Goodson is a good player, I don’t see him being able to replace Boca.

Midfield:

Landon has to move abroad and he must know this deep down. His value will never be higher and if he doesn’t move this summer, the chance will not come again. While his value to MLS will always be higher than his value to a European club, he must go. With Manchester City and Everton interested, Landon should command the value that MLS will want of around $10 million. I would like to see him go back to the Toffees and finally be given the armband for the Nats.

Michael Bradley had a strong World Cup and his stock should be rising. I think he’s somewhat settled at Gladbach after a tumultuous first year and I’d like to see him put in another year there, or if he moves to stay in Germany. I think Germany suits him well, even if an EPL club are interested.

Dempsey had a pretty average World Cup by his standards, nothing exceptional. I would expect him to stay put at Fulham, though change could be in the air if Hodgson leaves and a new coach decides to shake things up. Fulham suits him well though.
Mo Edu is a player who when healthy should be a starter at Rangers next year and this should be good for his growth. I don’t like the Scottish league since it’s a joke, but it’s not the worst place for him right now. In two years he should be primed for a jump down the isle to the EPL. He should be paired with MB from now on in the midfield.

Rico Clark seems settled with Frankfurt after signing with them last spring and I’d like to see him crack the lineup there.

Paco Torres seems happy at Pachuca and should stay there. He’s a player that is still young, but will be invaluable moving forward if he can pickup a little more defensive grit.

Benny Feilhaber is an interesting case. He had a very strong World Cup as a sub, but seems certain to move from AGF Aarhus since they got relegated and he’s a major wage earner. I’d like to see him given another shot with either a bigger Danish club or smaller English club. He seems set for the role of “super sub” moving forward.

Stuart Holden is a player that I can’t understand why he didn’t play more in the tournament, but considering he and Benny play the same position, and Benny was strong, it’s understandable. I see Holden as a player who is ready to take off and I think he will be a key player in 2014. Bolton is a good spot for him now as he can grow there, though they don’t always play super sexy football.

Forwards:

Jozy Altidore showed his talents at this World Cup and I think he’s only going to get better. I’d love to see Villareal give him a shot to stick with the team this season and for him to shine. If he’s going to move, I’d like him to find a better situation than a team like Hull, somewhere like Everton could make sense.

I liked Gomez as a super sub this tournament and he’s signed with Pachuca, will be interesting to see if he can continue his form there.

Buddle is a player that if he’s going to move, now is the time. I don’t see it happening and don’t see him featuring too much for the US squad in the future.
I’d love to see what would happen with Robbie Findley under a new coach, I don’t see him having too much of a future with this team.

It would be great to see CD9 back on the field for that friendly against Brazil in August. We have certainly missed him and he should be the partner with Jozy moving forward in the Gold Cup.

X-factor:

Will Jermaine Jones be healthy for the Gold Cup? I’d be great to see him so I hope so. That would definitely solve the problem in the middle for us.

Can we win the Gold Cup? Absolutely. We need to bounce back from this World Cup and re-focus in another 6 months for that tournament as winning it will be crucial in keeping the momentum going.