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Road to 2014: The Brazil Board 3.0 July, 5, 2011 By Luke Cyphers and Doug McIntyre With seven games in 22 days last month, we have plenty to consider. Mostly, it's difficult questions. Like, is that midfield as deep as we thought? (Not without Stuart Holden in the mix.) Is there a forward who can find the net against top-level competition? (Umm...) Is Landon Donovan still going to be a full-time starter in 2014? (Yes. If for no other reason, see previous question.) Can defenders Carlos Bocanegra or Steve Cherundolo, both 35 by Brazil, stick as mentors to what should be a very young, revamped rearguard? (Probably not both.) Speaking of which, the back line is as good a place to start as any, because it now poses the most immediate questions for the next cycle. Our latest Left Back of the Month is little-known 18-year-old Sean Cunningham. He's as good a choice as anyone. Eric Lichaj showed speed, toughness -- and on the attack, why it's important to be left-footed at left back. Elsewhere among the starters, though, there are almost no new names. Clarence Goodson gets the benefit of the doubt after a serviceable Gold Cup, but there's still room for an Ike Opara or an Omar Gonzalez to rise up, or an Oguchi Onyewu to resurrect his career. At least fears that Timothy Chandler will ditch the U.S for Die Mannschaft have been alleviated. Looking ahead, there are still questions galore. Will Michael Bradley find a club in a top-four European League where he can play regularly? Can a newcomer like Premier League-bound center back Zak Whitbread earn himself a job over the next three years? Does Clint Dempsey get minutes at striker under new Fulham coach Martin Jol? And can Red Bulls youngsters Juan Agudelo and Tim Ream justify continued national team call-ups with their play in MLS? Even the competition to be Tim Howard's backup just got semi-interesting, with David Yelldell's move to Champions League participant Bayer Leverkusen. The point is, lots can and will happen over the next 35 months. Surprises are guaranteed (see: Freddy Adu). We wouldn't even be shocked if someone like midfield vet Ricardo Clark cracked the frighteningly thin backline (if he continues to get club minutes there) before the next World Cup. And the next two friendlies, Sept. 2 and 6 against Costa Rica and at Belgium, aren't likely to produce a bunch of answers. Just look at recent history: After more than a half-dozen matches in just over three weeks, there are more uncertainties than ever. TEAM USA: 2014 WORLD CUP ROSTER Roll over player names for scouting notes, analysis and a confidence ranking. All ages and experience are as of June 7. Agudelo Dempsey Donovan Chandler Bradley Holden Cunningham Lichaj Ream Goodsen Howard RESERVE POS. Brad Guzan GK Carlos Bocanegra D Ike Opara D Zak Whitbread D Jonathan Spector D Mikkel Diskerud M Maurice Edu M Alejandro Bedoya M Brek Shea M Jozy Altidore F Freddy Adu F
I do wonder if we should just go all youth with a few exceptions (Howard, Donovan and Dempsey) and try and win with a very young team, especially on defense. This may be a better strategy suited for the 2013 Gold Cup.
That team would be awful. Dempsey and Donovan will be , I have zero faith in that back line(especially CB's) and would prefer Chandler back their to be honest, and we still wont be able to score goals.
I can guarantee Bocanegra will not be on the 2014 WC roster, and that Dempsey won't be a starting FW, we'll have developed far better FW's by then. It's always a shot in the dark picking a roster 3 years ahead, especially with the USMNT because there's a long list of guys that come out of nowhere.
Also Yeldell going to Leverkusen didnt make anything interesting because not a chance in hell he beats out Rene Adler who is like 25
Yeah that's just bad reporting, he's definitely there to be a backup. It's like they formulated some of this roster based off of what some of these guys will do this season. Not sure what Dempsey getting minutes at FW this season has to do with 2014, and I imagine he'll stay in the same role he's been with Fulham.
We aren't going to come close to challenging in Brazil. I'd rather us blow it up and start really young for the next cycle.