"U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has summoned Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark to Costa Rica. Clark has collected 18 caps for the full team, including four appearances in World Cup qualifying. The 26-year-old will board a flight from Houston at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. Clark becomes the seventh player on the U.S. roster who was part of the team's last visit to Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in 2005." Posted on the US Soccer MNT blog.
I thought we had enough CMs where we didn't need to call in another should one get hurt. I don't have anything against Clark and I think he's a good player but I would have rather have had Orozco or Rogers because they address current weaknesses (CB and LM respectively). Edu is going from Glasgow to London tomorrow for evaluation. We will know more tomorrow but that doesn't sound good for his chances of getting playing time against Honduras. Hopefully he is okay for the Confederations Cup but I have my doubts.
As a Fire fan, I wholly agree with Rico being called up. Matter of fact, I hope he plays 90 minutes and can't make it to the Friday night game against the Fire.
I think its because Benny is late from Denmark, Edu is injured, and Torres had an overtime game Sunday. I bet he leaves the squad after this match. Also, Sacha isn't really a defensive sub, so with Edu out, Rico can go in for defensive purposes if we are up at the end.
This doesn't really weaken your point, but Torres didn't enter Sunday's game until the 72nd minute .... played 50 or so minutes. His getting a start is still unlikely IMO, but certainly more possible than if he had gone 90 or 120.
Remember Spector has played as a defensive midfielder for West Ham a few times this season. Even if we start Spector at RB, we could always move him up to midfield and then sub Wynne into the game at RB. Or if we start Wynne, we could always sub Spector directly into a defensive mid position.
Pablo and Bradley will both be starting in CR. Edu is out for CR and might be for Honduras. Bradley is on a yellow and could also miss Honduras. All the other CM's aren't destroyer types: Torres, Feilhaber, Kljestan? If MB or Pablo get a knock, we don't have a comparable replacement for Saprissa with Edu out. BB needed another guy who can disrupt offense and protect a lead if we have one. Out best guy in the pool is Clark. He'll make the bench in CR for certain.
I would agree, but others have pointed out that Torres only played 50 minutes (But it would be a good idea to rest him vs. CR), but I think it's more of the fact that Edu isn't 90 minutes right now, and Sacha's poor defensive form means Clark is a good option. I can see a 4-5-1, with a mid of (Facing left to right): Dempsey--------Bradley-----------Donovan ---------Clark-----------Mastroeni--------- I would imagine that the US weathers the storm--The attacks will come from overlaps from Dempsey/Bornstein and Donovan/Wynne, Ching being lone striker, but mostly this formation is defensive as the Ticos will be flying hard in the opening. Once the field settles down, the US can start playing her game. But we beat CR down the flanks, and with set pieces. By minute 65 we can think about Altidore for Mastro, and maybe sub Torres or Feilhaber in if we need more midfield cover.
Spector is BigSoccer's favorite denial. Its as if he doesnt exist, which is unfortunate. One of only two field players in the EPL who has proven he can play many of these positions in a pinch. He can do it, he has done it, but Bob wont put him there though. Thank god we brought Ricardo in though, we were sorely lacking in the defensive midfielder department in the roster looool. Bob seems to forget Rico and Jr dont make very good medicine. Good player, but he's behind Jr, Edu, and Mastro in the depth chart at a bare minimum. The irony of it all is, this probably means he's going to play v Costa Rica
Clark's been playing well, so this is a good move. We have the depth in this position, which is an added plus. If guys are struggling for fitness (like Edu) then you might as well use bring in a replacement. I wouldn't assume Torres and Benny are being brought in to play the middle. We've seen Torres on the left and Benny on the right. And we know Kljestan can also play on the wing.
What's the weakness at CB? Rico over Rogers, because 36 hours from kickoff, Rico has had more time in the past with Bradley & the other players to step in without any practice.
Benny Feilhaber on the wing is what made BS as a collective whole decided Benny Feilhaber sucked. From Sweden on, he sucked. From Sweden on, he played right mid. There is a parallel here unfortunately. And that is Benny Feilhaber sucks at right mid. Benny however flourishes in the middle with Jr. Im not so quick to forget the awesomeness that occurred with our central midfield against Ecuador. I want to revive that form again, but if we can remains to be seen.
Rico, in the form he is in right now, he totally deserves his spot on the U.S. National Team and yet with Bradley in charge this call up is just cover. I'm just glad Bradley didn't call in a LAC d-mid like Jesse Marsh. And yes, Chicago supporters should be delighted.
You don't see a weakness at CB. Sure Boca and Gooch have played well, but if one of them is hurt or suspended, then what? Do you have confidence is Califf or Demerit? I don't. I still think that over the next year we have to find more depth at CB. Orozco is certainly one option. I thought Rogers would be an option because we are VERY thin on the left. Over the long term, it would be beneficial to start to groom a player who naturally plays on the left to get him ready for the first team. I don't think Rogers is ready yet, but he's a project worth working on.
Clark is going to likely be an "energy" sub in the last 5-10 minutes if we're trying to nail down a result.
I thought that was Torres. I really see Bradley and Pablo in the middle with Torres coming on as a sub. I would be a little surprised if Rico gets in the game.
I think Califf is useless and am not really sold on Demerit either. But I am not Bob Bradley. As far as he is concerned, he has his players for the next two games. I wasn't sure if there was an injury or something that required immediate attention. Rogers is still just a flash player. Needs to be more consistent for his club team before justifying making him a player to be called in (especially at the last moment).
Torres played the full 90 for Pachuca at Pumas on Friday, where he was brutally tackled by Palacio in the 81st minute. That's why he came in as a sub in the return leg on Sunday at Pachuca in the 75th minute, since he is carrying a knock. He may not be able to go the full 90 in Saprissa, which is a shame, since his possession skills would help and he is used to playing in hostile Central American stadiums (although Saprissa with its worn artificial turf and close-proximity bleachers is in an intimidation level all its own)
I don't think Torres was going to start in saprissa even if he was 100%. I guess feilhaber doesn't seem like a bad inclusion now
torres for honduras in chicago... beasley, a more defensive minded left side player, who does more a counter game fits in saprissa... 15-20 minutes for torres in saprissa is possible, monitor his warm-up to see if his knock is ok...
Ugh, I hope the walking red card doesn't make the game squad. Clark is just not one of my favorite players. I don't know why either, I just don't like the way he plays. I'd rather have Sacha in there over him. Hopefully he's just a backup backup plan.
bradley with mastroeni should start... either is also card problesm.. braldey's next yellow means he misses the next match.. so clark is the guy for honrduras, IF MB gets said yellow.. clark physical style is more needed to match-up versus honduras... especially if gooch gets a yellow and missed the saturday match too