US Roster, Reconfigured

Little over two weeks ago, I gave you a 20-man roster for the upcoming friendlies.  Since then, a lot has changed, with injuries and club duties taking some of the guys out of the picture temporarily.  I'm going to revise and give you a 23 man roster of roster worthy yanks.

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, David Yelldell (confirmed)

DF: Steve Cherundolo, Eric Lichaj, Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Parkhurst, Zak Whitbred, Gale Agbossoumonde, Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein

MD: Landon Donovan, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Jonathan Spector, Sacha Kljestan

FW: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson

For Arsenal, It's One Step at a Time

Arsenal are so close to breaking through to that elite of elite tier that it hurts.  Two weeks ago, a famous 2-1 victory over Barcalona in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg at the Emirates had the club and its worldwide fan base in a frenzy.  But back down to earth we crashed back down after an away draw in the FA Cup against lower league side Leyton Orient, after a late, soft goal was conceded by Manuel Almunia, and then when an opportunity to grab the clubs first trophy in some five seasons came around, a defensive blunder between first year gunner Laurent Koscielny and 19 year old keeper Wojciech Szczesny allowed Birmingham City to grab a late winner in the Carling Cup Final. 

As it would turn out, the fact that Leyton Orient forced a replay at the Emirates may have in fact aided in the recovery.  A 5-0 trouncing at the Emirates seemingly helped steady the ship and took a bit of the sting out of the Carling Cup final loss.

Three days later, following Chelsea's defeat of league leaders Manchester United gave the Gunners a chance to close within 1 point of the Red Devils.  A home match against Sunderland seemed a perfect opportunity to put real pressure on United.  But a 0-0 draw meant that the Gunners would only close within 3 points.

Fast forward to today.

Tomorrow, Arsenal will take on Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg.  A win or draw will see Arsenal through to the quarterfinals and cement them as odds on favorites to make the finals.  Should Arsenal manage a result vs Barcelona, the highs of that competition will have to be held in check, as four days after Barca match, Arsenal go to Old Trafford for a FA Cup quarterfinal match-up against Manchester United. 

Talk about a statement week, potentially beating arguably the best team in the world in Barcelona, and then potentially beating EPL league leaders Manchester United, both away from the relative safety of the Emirates.

A riding high Gunner squad then faces a trap game in the Premiership, as seven days after that FA Cup match at Man U, Arsenal face a West Bromwich Albion squad which has already beaten the Gunners in a 3-2 travesty at home.  With a game now in hand on Manchester United, following United's 3-1 loss against a resurgent Liverpool squad yesterday, the Gunners, within the next eight days can:  toss Barca out of the Champions League and march into the quarterfinals, oust Manchester United from the FA Cup and move on to the semi-finals, and defeat WBA to draw even with Manchester United in the EPL.

Eight days will make or break Arsenal, how Arsene Wenger's squad responds to the pressure will likely mean the difference between another trophy-less season and a season of potential glory.

The State of Union: Predicting the Roster for the Upcoming Friendlies

One month from tomorrow the United States will be taking on Argentina at the New Meadowlands Stadium.  With all the shuffling in and out of yanks abroad, who makes the roster for the two-match international fixture dates (the US plays Paraguay three days later in Nashville).  With an eye looking towards the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, here is a likely 20-man roster for the matches:

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan

DF: Steve Cherundolo, Eric Lichaj, Oguchi Onyewu, Clarence Goodson, Tim Ream, Carlos Bocanegra, Zach Loyd

MD: Landon Donovan, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan

FW: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Juan Agudelo

At this point, this is a very primitive roster, as I'm not really used to having to leave off guys who I think deserve a fair shake in these friendlies.

At goalkeeper, its the usual suspects Howard and Guzan, who've both nailed down starting jobs at their respective clubs.  The pair will likely split the fixtures, with Howard likely to take on Argentina, and Guzan to step up against Paraguay

For the defender positions, this will be the opportunity for young guys like Lichaj, Ream, and Loyd to prove that they belong with the seniors.  Look for Cherundolo-Onyewu-Goodson-Bocanegra to start off against Argentina, then work in the other three.

In midfield, its the continuing conundrum of who to start, as the US will have four highly capable starters, for my money, I'd like to see a Holden-Edu pairing at least once, however, that's a bit unlikely because all four could/should be consistent starters for their clubs by then and then it becomes anyone's guess.

Up top, It could be Dempsey, who is having his best EPL season yet, or it could be Jozy, who has finally found a starting job at Bursaspor.  Buddle and Agudelo get the back up roles. 

What do you guys think?  Ninety Plus will be in Nashville to watch the US take on Paraguay and we're very excited.  Coming a bit later, we take a look at the major players for the US' march to the Gold Cup finals. 

Charlie Davies: Waiting on the word...

Charlie Davies, as I'm sure everyone knows, has been on an extended training stint with MLS club DC United.  With his continued struggles to find time with the FC Sochaux reserves, who currently play in the French third division, Davies needs consistent field time in a top flight league to attempt to regain the form that he showed in 2009.  DC United manager Ben Olsen said he's been impressed with Davies' recovery from nearly dying some 15 months ago in a car accident on the outskirts of (ironically) Washington D.C. 

Will Davies regain his form in MLS?  Will he ever play for the US again?  These questions answers all depend on if DC United agree to take Davies on a full season loan and if he can find a starting job. 

For the sake of the national team, we really need him to. 

USA- Egypt CANCELED; Stupid Revolution

Call it the right choice all you want, but this really makes me mad.  Not at the fact that we're not going to play in Egypt, which would be suicide for our players, but because this disrupts our carefully laid plans for the 2011 Gold Cup.  It also wastes a crucial game against a solid opponent.  Just pissed off.  That is all.  There will be no replacement and the next US game is now 54 days away against Argentina on March 26, as opposed to 10 days away against Egypt.