Chalk this up to MLS’ unconscionable decision to continue play right through FIFA international blackout dates. Bob Bradley today named the squad for next Wednesday’s match at Wembley Stadium in London (A match I will be attending) and the team is missing several standards of the US setup including Pablo Mastroeni, Maurice Edu, Frankie Hedjuk and Jozy Altidore. Each of the aforementioned players was named to Bradley’s provisional 33 man squad last week but was dropped this week presumably because of the MLS schedule. While I am pleased that Jozy Altidore, due to this scheduling conflict will miss the match and we will see some other forward options (including the often forgotten Josh Wolff) we will not see a the team that will feature in qualifying playing together, using these friendlies to gel as a unit.

Thus the US team, already vastly inferior in talent and skill when compared to their English counterparts is entering the match shorthanded. Part of the US’ strength through the past few season has been the familiarity each player has with one another due to the January training camp, even when facing superior sides. However, only five players who participated in the January 2008 Home Depot Center training camp is on this squad. Only three MLS based players have been included on the US squad: Landon Donovan, Rico Clark and Brad Guzan.

Here is the US Squad:

GOALKEEPERS - Dominic Cervi (Out of Contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

DEFENDERS - Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS - Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Eddie Lewis (Derby County)

FORWARDS - Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Nate Jaqua (Out of Contract), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (1860 Munich)

So it appears in the United States club has won out over country. Complicating matters further for MLS is the league’s new found love for artificial turf as evidenced by the situations in Toronto and Seattle. With turf once again proving to be unsuitable for the game and the problems of laying a new natural grass surface in short order in Moscow, MLS has a potential image and credibility problem emerging. It’s best MLS solve both its scheduling issues and it’s continued promotion of artificial surfaces in the near future. I will have much more on the debate about fake grass in the near future.

1-New England

Steve Nicol’s team is perhaps the only side that can be counted on game and game out to give a credible effort even when fighting injury.2-Toronto FC Two points dropped at home, but a credible performance in which Columbus was clearly outclassed and using negative tactics.3-Columbus A completely lackluster effort against TFC at BMO Field demonstrates that Columbus is not at the mountain top just yet.4- Chicago Losing it late at home regardless of weather and opponent is not a recipe for a championship club.5-New York Despite having arguably the worst squad on paper, this team continues to impress. Danleigh Borman has been quite a find down the left flank. Jozy Altidore however has not been impressive.6- Houston Here come the champions. Rico Clark and DeRo have shown the last two weeks why they are the best offensive/defensive central midfield combination in MLS.7-Colorado A lackluster first half in the Rocky Mountain Cup match gave way to an inspired second half. Omar Cummings is really turning into an exciting and dangerous player.8-Kansas City The Wizards have fizzled out after a hot start and look decidedly uninspiring at the moment.9-LA Galaxy Edson Buddle hat trick and, no Beckham or Donovan goals? Boy those things could never happen here?10-Real Salt Lake No club is doing less with more than Real Salt Lake. Jason Kreis is still learning how to be a manager and some parts like Kenny Deucher are underwhelming11-Chivas USA Preki’s tactical change placing Atiba Harris out wide to the right side in a 4-3-3 was a stroke of brilliance.12- FC Dallas This team is turning in one disgraceful effort after another following a hot start. The points the Hoops left on the table in their first two matches are a strong indicator of how little character this side has. Sacking Steve Morrow won’t solve anything for this rag tag bunch.13-San Jose When you build from the back and you still cannot stop anyone other than the inept Hoops, you have problems.14- DC United Everything Kevin Payne has tried the last ten months has failed: Miserably. The MLS signature club at the bottom of the rankings. Perhaps Club America and DC United should have a face off?

Steve Morrow/From MLSNET.com

Another sign of Major League Soccer’s evolution is the development of a tradition reporters and pundits have in the motherland, the UK. That is the sack race. American soccer reporting and writing is generally not as negative or cynical as our British counterparts. This is largely because we have neither the history, the football infrastructure nor sharp critical historical lens they have en mass. But as MLS gets more attention albeit from non-mainstream sources, coaches face more pressures than in MLS first decade of existence.

Right now the sack race has two coaches squarely competiting to be the first sent packing. One is Tom Soehn whose DC United club is not only under achieving, but look absolutely lifeless away from RFK Stadium. The other Steve Morrow whose stewardship of a perennial underachieving FC Dallas club hasn’t brought any change in fortunes for the Texas club. One coach who isn’t featuring in the sack race but in my opinion is doing less with more is Jason Kreis of Real Salt Lake. RSL’s current standing in a subpar Western Conference is completely unacceptable given the amount of talent and depth the club has developed. Now much of that depth has been developed thanks to the work of Kreis and GM Garth Lagerway, but the team simply isn’t performing the way need as punctuated by the lackluster showing in the Rocky Mountain Cup match Thursday night.

Soehn for his part seems to have taken a team that was aging, beset by injuries and which was meddled with too much by Kevin Payne this past offseason and not made any significant strides. Several factors have contributed to the collapse of DC United much as similar factors played a part in 2000, when after four years of ravaging the league DC suddenly collapsed into MLS’ worst side. DC United’s 2000 team featured AJ Wood at forward, Judah Cooks in the midfield, and Carey Talley in defense. The losses of Roy Lassiter, John Harkes and Raul Diaz Arce to the salary cap as well as Tony Sanneh to the Bundesliga killed the team. This time around, the fall has been self inflicted. Trading Facundo Erpen and Bobby Boswell for inferior players, dealing Christian Gomez, letting go of Brian Carrol, losing Troy Perkins to Europe and the bad luck of losing Josh Gros to a career ending injury but then not adequately replacing him this past closed season. The players DC United have brought in are simply not good enough. Zach Wells proved this past Saturday why despite a high level of talent, Houston wasn’t prepared to keep him around as an heir apparent to Pat Onstad. To add insult to injury Bobby Boswell scored the Dynamo’s winning goal at Toyota Park. DC United’s defense is in general fragile and the attempt by the club to essentially scapegoat three different players for the club’s defensive woes was not only irresponsible, but it was simply unfair. The addition of Gonzalo Perlata has if anything made United’s back line worse, and the failure to adequately line up a replacement for aging Jaime Moreno can only be blamed on sentiment.

DC United’s problems are unexpected, but the problems of FC Dallas are not. It seems like every year we go through this with the Hoops. You see the talent on the pitch and feel like this could be the season something special happens. Then reality comes, and FCD comes crashing down to earth. Following today’s pathetic performance, FC Dallas can boast that they have now conceded eight first half goals in their last two competitive matches against the LA Galaxy. As we have discussed on this blog and on the American Soccer show previously, FC Dallas has a losing mentality as a club and until that changes they can change coaches play with personnel, do anything but little will change. Thus I firmly believe sacking Steve Morrow will accomplish little, but he may prove a convenient scapegoat for the clubs on the field troubles.

Other thoughts:

• Toronto FC’s defense did a number of Columbus’ attack, the first team to effectively shut down the Crew and limit their chances all season. John Carver is a savvy manager and TFC has an excellent shot with the talent upgrade and experience they have acquired to win MLS Cup.
• The 0-0 draw was flaterring to Columbus who were totally outclassed at BMO Field and may have been exposed in this match for an over reliance on counter attacking.
• The number of scoring chances created by the Red Bulls was not only impressive: it was further proof of how much more tactically savvy Juan Carlos Osorio is than your average MLS manager. Even more impressive was Danleigh Borman the revelation of the MLS season thus far scoring another great goal this time playing on the left side. Wide play is critical in MLS, and imagine how good New York is going to be when they get on their own regulation size grass pitch with Borman and Dane Richards on the flanks. That will be a scary sight for the rest of MLS.
• Throw in Dave Van Den Bergh attacking down the left side from a defensive position and you have class and quality something sorely lacking in many MLS sides.
• For all the pre-season love and hype Kansas City is simply not good enough to compete in the Eastern Conference.
• Is anybody calling for Fernando Clavijo to be sacked now? The Rapids have gelled amazingly well and players from the clubs reserve side continue to make a weekly impact for the senior club. Omar Cummings is an impressive player and is a great poster child for the success of the MLS Reserve League.
• The Dynamo are back. It doesn’t look pretty or efficient but the club is once again grinding through games and getting results. As always the San Jose/Houston franchise is likely to peak when it matters the most.
• New England continues to be for me the most likely team to win MLS Cup. Other teams that as of this writing have a good shot are Toronto FC, Columbus, Chicago, Houston and the Red Bulls.
• Edson Buddle where have you been? Seriously, what is it about FC Dallas that brings out the best is maligned Galaxy strikers? Oh yeah we discussed that above.
• The Galaxy are creating so many chances that when Carlos Ruiz returns one of two things could happen: 1- The team will explode and win the Western Conference. 2- Chemistry issues will develop culminating with Ruiz blowing up and the team imploding. Things are going too well for the Galaxy right now, a team I thought quite frankly would be where DC is currently, for them to risk the integration of Ruiz into the team. I would honestly see if he can be loaned to a Guatemalan club for the duration of the season. Much like Amado Guevara he could come back to MLS next year with another club but it would serve the Galaxy to dump his salary thus freeing up cap space and to head off any potential problems before they kick off.

Men’s National Team coach Bob Bradley has announced the provisional squad for the three upcoming friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina. Here is the list:

ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (5): Dominic Cervi (Out of Contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
FORWARDS (9): Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC),
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Nate Jaqua (Out of Contract), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Josh
Wolff (1860 Munich)

• Don’t expect to see Michael Orozco until at least the Spain match and perhaps the Argentina match. San Luis is very much alive in the Mexican playoffs. If they lose to Toluca this weekend, Orozco could make the trip to Wembley
• Dominic Cervi and Chris Seitz are with the U-23s in France and will serve as training GKs. Expect Troy Perkins to backup Tim Howard for both European matches.
• I would be surprised if many MLSers beyond the essential Landon Donovan, Pablo Mastreoni and Frankie Hedjuk make the trip to Europe for those two matches.  Rico Clark and Houston have a game the very same day as US-England thanks to MLS’ poor scheduling practices. Maurice Edu  thanks to TFC’s schedule, may also not have the opportunity to come to Europe which is a shame for such a good young player blossoming into a linchpin for the national team.
• Surprised to see Nate Jaqua instead of Jeriamiah White. Both have been scoring goals, but White is in a better league and is younger. Perhaps his stint with the national team in January didn’t go well? I’m also disappointed neither Chris Rolfe nor John Thorrignton is being given a look at this time.

Guevara has accomplished more than just about any current MLS player in this league

Inspired by our buddy Martin Rogers list of the top players overall in MLS, we’ve come up with a list of the top eight non US or Canadian players in MLS.

1- Amado Guevara, Toronto FC

Guevara has been one of the best players in CONCACAF over the past eight years for Honduras and also when not fighting with his coaches and team mates the best player in MLS. As I said a year ago when Preki dumped him, not a single player in MLS would I take over him, and that applies again this season.

2- Shalrie Joseph, New England

This is a pick with an asterisk because Joseph is in many ways more American than many guys who have played for our national team. But Joseph plays for Greneda so he makes this least. Fierce in organizing the midfield, a tenacious ball winner and dangerous going forward, Joseph is one of the biggest reasons the Revs have been so good for so long.

3- Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus

The Boca Juniors legend is writing a new page in his footballing history in Columbus. Schelotto has a talent few others have to make those around him that much better.

4- Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago

Such a hate-able player for Mexico and Club America has become the sporting face of MLS. Besides his game isn’t that bad either. Blanco makes all his team mates better and for that he comes in near the top of this list.

5- Christian Gomez, Colorado

For a player without a national team call up, Gomez found his niche early in MLS. This league is unique to any other league in the world and it is tough to understand for some why national team stars flop here while uncapped players excel. Gomez fits this league like a glove.

6- Carlos Ruiz, LA Galaxy

He’s done nothing but score goals in MLS. Quick to the ground and quick to whine he like Blanco is tough to like. But his game speaks for itself and he’ll give the Galaxy a huge boost when he returns.

7- David Beckham, LA Galaxy

Despite the hullabaloo about the “Beckham effect,” it has been a mostly off the field phenomena. Beckham needs good players around him to excel and in MLS no team has enough good players for Beckham to have the impact he did with Man United or Real Madrid. (Especially the LA Galaxy who have less serviceable players than any team in either the Mexican top flight or MLS) He can turn in a moment of brilliance and if this league was of a better quality he’d be #1 on this list because nobody on the planet can do what he can, but in MLS his talent is largely wasted.

8- Juan Pablo Angel, NY Red Bulls

Angel’s international career with Columbia was a bust but his performances on the club level have been fairly respectable. Still Angel needs a striker to play off of as was the case at Aston Villa. Jozy Altidore despite the hype, isn’t that player just yet. He will be soon enough but one assumes by the time he’s there he’ll be plying his trade in Europe.

Honorable Mention:  Laurent Robert, Toronto FC, Juan Toja, FC Dallas, Dave Van Den Bergh, Red Bulls, Gonzalo Martinez, DC United, Carl Robinson, Toronto FC, Gonzalo Segaras, Chicago, Kenny Deuchar, Real Salt Lake.

MLS has now for years struggled to bring passion to is stadiums. American pro sports are known the world over for having casual, somewhat disinterested supporters based on European or Latin American standards. For MLS’ first decade of existence, these types of fans seemed to be the majority in MLS stadiums, and thus the league was seen as an ugly stepchild of football by true fans of the game. The quality of play while poor by any objective standard wasn’t as poor as many of the European oriented fans claimed: in fact by 2000, MLS having adopted international timing rules resembled a non low tier European league with some bright stars. Yet those ethnic fans and others of the European ilk who enjoy football still wouldn’t give MLS a fair opportunity.

Thus the league continued with a few bright spots like RFK Stadium, here and there scattered among a wide swath of passionless football, two words that in the international vocabulary do not belong in the same sentence. What’s worse is after 2001 the quality of play in MLS dipped substantially. During these dark ages the league actually cemented its long term presence on the American sporting scene by cutting costs and maintaining the loyalty of enough fans that the casual crowds we saw during the 1996-2001 time period became more vocal and passionate despite the inferiority of the league’s quality between 2002 and 2006.

That passion allowed the league to begin to take chances as it did when it adopted the designated player rule in late 2006 and began signing high the type of high profile international players MLS had been missing since 2001. The change in league rules put a firm spotlight on MLS both in the American sports scene and by the foreign press. It also made MLS more acceptable as a sporting choice both for mainstream American fans indifferent to the sport and for European football fans who looked down upon MLS.

With this change of landscape, new challenges have emerged which MLS to this point seems to have ignored. No question exists that MLS is sweaty about attendance numbers and the type of fan that may have seemed undesirable in the league’s early years now are being targeted. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing: but it is a potentially dangerous thing if not done within reason.

Dougie Brimson, a noted author, screenwriter and expert on Hooliganism spoke to me late last week and mentioned several factors which led him to meet with MLS officials last year. His meeting with MLS officials went well enough but a lack of follow up by the league has led to a host of recent episodes after the situation was “kicked off” by Toronto FC in the first match this season when they had several thousand fans travel to Columbus. Columbus police lieutenant Kevin Conley said numerous incidents took place with TFC supporters in Columbus.

“Any game is disappointing when you have a crowd that’s not acting well or, let’s say, sociable,” Conley said. “We don’t mind a little bit of drinking, or a little bit of fans cheering and rowdiness. But at the same time, if we come in and ask you to quiet it down and stop the behavior, we kind of expect a little bit of co-operation.” Conley also said Toronto fans had been urinating on a chain link fence that bordered the field, even though it looked onto a church across the street. The churchgoers called police, and one man was arrested.

“”They’re pissing all over the damn place, and as you can see, they’ve littered it up considerably,” Conley said. “And then they decided that they were going to surround one of our cars like they were the Indians and the car was Custer.”

That same day, several TFC fans stormed the Crew Stadium pitch during the match and tried to tackle Columbus GK Will Hesmer. Clearly the effort was not organized and the fans were ejected but still the incident was worrying.

“”You know what? Part of the sporting spirit is being antagonistic,” said Andrew Gorsky, a 22-year-old Toronto fan. “You can’t deny it.”

This is part of the problem. When Toronto FC joined MLS they had a number of fans, not a majority by any stretch of but enough were outspoken enough in saying that Americans fan lacked passion at football matches and they were going to show Americans how to support the sport and their club. This I find ironic considering less than ten years ago when the U.S. played Canada in a World Cup qualifier the match was held at a small high school stadium. Perhaps that experience awakened the Canadians to their own faults as football fans and now they are determined to “show the Americans.” (The US clinched a World Cup birth that day and the whole experience seemed surreal because instead of being in a big stadium or either cheering or hostile fans the crowd was a smallish high school like crowd made up largely of American fans who had crossed the border for the match.)

When New York visited Toronto several marauding groups of drunken fans tore apart several GO commuter rail cars. Here are some video and photo links thanks to MLS Rumors.

That same night ESPN cameras picked up a number of incidents including that of a TFC fan storming the pitch and behaving inappropriately. The next day on the popular ESPN program PTI where Soccer is only mentioned during the World Cup, Mike Wilbon who has been far more supportive of MLS than his other snobbish colleagues hit out at the Toronto fans for ruining the sporting atmosphere. This is part of the risk that those soccer fans in the U.S. and Canada who live in a vacuum fail to understand or appreciate. Part of the sporting media’s resentment of international football as a sport derives from what they perceive as a violent culture around the game. Whether this is right or wrong (I happen to think it is wrong)does not really matter. If given the opening, these powerful sports writers have the bully pulpit to bury the perception of MLS before it gets anywhere near attaining the level of penetration in the North American sporting market that is possible.

The incidents have not been limited to Toronto FC supporters. As Dougie Brimson noted in my interview with him, he believes a copy cat culture feeds Hooliganism worldwide and that since TFC “kicked off” the MLS Hooligan culture it will take an extensive effort to reign it in elsewhere in MLS. What has become obvious is that Brimson’s dire predictions have come to pass.
In Houston minutes after a draw with Chivas USA two Saturday’s ago, a member of the El Battalion supporters group stabbed a Chivas supporter in the middle of a large fight between fans of the two teams. I have spoken to a number of Houston supporters including a few in the Texian Army, the largest supporters group of the Dynamo and they are concerned about the situation. The Dynamo however I am assured are serious about containing this problem and the following home match against Colorado contained no incidents.

Chivas USA according to Luis Bueno one of the top soccer writers in the country, and a frequent American Soccer Show guest has had to take steps to ban a supporters group. This is Luis’ report from Sideline Views:

If you watched the Chivas USA-New England match, you may have noticed the large number of empty seats at the match. While this is nothing new - empty seats commonly outnumber filled ones at Chivas home games - what was different from this particular match was the absence of a certain fan group.

Legion 1908 was not present at the match, and no the Mexican Chivas did not have a reserve-laden match within driving distance on Sunday.

Apparently, a member of Legion and a member of the new Chivas USA supporters group Union Ultras were involved in some sort of altercation. A Chivas staffer told us that one member of each group committed an “act of violence” at the last Chivas USA match at HDC, on April 26 against the Galaxy. Apparently, there was one altercation inside the stadium and a retaliatory one outside.

So this brings us to another key point of my conversation with Dougie Brimson. The possibility for violence between supporters groups of the same club. I have received a few reports from other MLS cities that tensions have arisen between more “mainstream” groups and “fringe” groups supporting the same club before and after matches but this is the first reported incident of the nature.

Brimson also fears the amount of European football available on television in the US now that was not available in MLS’ early days is also contributing to a growing Hooligan culture. Much of this he fears is due to a dropout element in society that use football to organize what is essentially gang like behavior. Most of these individuals are between the ages of 17 and 24, are Caucasian and are looking for a release from the difficult side of life, according to Brimson. This feeds Hooliganism in Europe and the accessibility of information about European football now feeds this culture in North America.

It doesn’t have to be this way to bring passion to the matches. DC United has for years had an incredible atmosphere at RFK Stadium with a mix of ethnic groups and socio economic groups as well. The accessibility of RFK to Metro Orange and Blue lines has given the Red and Black a cosmopolitan feel at games, and an incredible atmosphere to boot, an atmosphere contrary to the writings of some, I believe is far superior to anything the Toronto supporters have produced. The LA Galaxy has averaged over 20,000 fans for most the league’s existence in a very saturated sports market and has had very little trouble with violence or hooligan like behavior. DC United and the LA Galaxy have given MLS a good name and in no small irony have also been the league’s two most successful franchises on the field and at the gate.

As Brimson suggests, fans have to be the ones as they were in England to take charge of this situation and put a stop to it. The leadership of mainstream supporters groups need to continue to work with the clubs and league officials to stamp out this growing culture before it goes much further. But avoiding the issue or sticking our heads in the sand as some seem to be doing isn’t going to solve the problem. Nor is assuming hooliganism and passion are synonymous. They most certainly are not. Understanding that, and acknowledging that a problem exists are the first step in curing it. The rest from that point could be comparatively simple.

First off I realize the continued desire of MLS to play right through international breaks means many of the players I mention below will not be available especially if Coach Bradley wants to use certain guys in qualifying. Thus MLS is largely responsible for the US National Team’s inability to field a fully competitive squad for friendlies against top nations who will have all of their players available. Understanding this situation, Coach Bradley much like Copa America last season needs to experiment with in-form MLS players who may not be part of the qualifying setup while leaving veterans who will be needed like Frankie Hedjuk, Taylor Twellman, Brian Ching, Pablo Mastroeni and Steve Ralston behind. In both 20020 and 2004 we had to rely on certain veteran players who were not going to be around for the next world cup to qualify. In fact in 2000 in a desperate situation, Bruce Arena talked Tab Ramos out of international retirement for one match which we had to win against Barbados otherwise we were going to be eliminated from the first group stage. Considering the team in 2000 had more proven parts (as would be evident in the 2002 World Cup) than the current US side, nothing can be left to chance, and players like Hedjuk and Mastroeni MUST be considered for qualifying. Also Michael Orozco should get a look but could possibly be unavailable until the Argentina match depending on San Luis progress in the Mexican playoffs.

Let’s face it: given the restrictions placed on Bob Bradley by MLS having matches in some cases on the same exact days as the US friendlies, chances of winning any of these matches is slim. Fabio Capello has already called in his squad for England and it is full strength to say the least.
I know the below lineup looks somewhat laughable. But the reality is that friendlies are when you experiment and find out if guys can hack it when internationals matter like World Cup qualifying. England will have their best XI which is just as well. They haven’t deepened their pool when guys get hurt because they are too sweaty about results in friendlies, and thus miss out on big tournaments like the Euros. On the other we have an opportunity which we missed at last year’s Copa America to deepen out pool to a point where any number of injuries or conflicts with clubs will not stop us from qualifying for the next World Cup. That has to be the focus of these upcoming friendlies and the ultimate goal of the matches.

The most important experimenting I would like to see is with some possible tinkering on the left side of both midfield and defense. Eddie Lewis can play left back and crazy as it may sound I want to see if he can possibly hold down that job for qualifying despite being 34. I would also like to see if Ramiro Corralles can play in a holding left sided role for the national team as he does for San Jose. Also I would like to start the matches with three holding midfielders but allow one to dictate play ala a traditional #10. This player would push into the attack up the middle and have the freedom to go forward. Michael Bradley can start in this role but I would also like to see Kyle Beckerman and Sacha Klejstan get the opportunity as I believe the role of an advanced central midfielder speciallizing in stimulating counter attacks suits both of their games.

Ideal Starting XI:

(4-3-2-1)
———————————Tim Howard—————————————-
——————–Oguchi Onyweu————-CarlosBocanegra——————–
Steve Cherdundolo—————————————-Eddie Lewis————–
————–Maurice Edu———–Michael Bradley———————Rico Clark
Landon Donovan————————————————Clint Demspey——
—————————John Thorrington—————————————–

Reserves

GK: Kasey Keller

D: Heath Pearce, Jonathan Spector, Michael Orozco, Kamani Hill, Jay DeMerit

M DaMarcus Beasley, Chris Rolfe, Ramiro Corrales, Kyle Beckerman, Robbie Rogers, Sacha Klejstan, Eddie Gaven

F Kenny Cooper, Alan Gordon

(You can pick up to 26 players for friendlies and then send them home. Again this is an ideal lineup but knowing MLS clubs and looking at the league schedule I understand half these players probably will not be available and that’s a real pity. )

Here are my justifications for controversial picks:

John Thorrington:He has lots of experience in Europe, even if the most recent was at League 2 Grimsby Town. He played for Man U and Bayern Leverkusen so he knows tough training and without a cap in 7 years let’s see if he is worthy of more looks. Give him a start against England and a run out again Spain. If he doesn’t cut it drop hi, but the bottom line is the US has zero proven attacking options (unless Josh Wolff works his way back into the team) so experimenting up front now while painful is essential.
Alan Gordon: When healthy he’s been impressive for the Galaxy. Always thought he could be a national team prospect, ala Brian Ching a late bloomer. Again the lack of striking options and the horrible performance of out young attackers

Chris Rolfe: Was a national teamer before injuries struck. Playing with Blanco has given him confidence.

Who is missing: Jozy Altitdore and Freddy Adu:

Both have hit a wall in their development and don’t need to waste time with the national team right now. We have guys ready to contribute who deserve a look. Altidore and Adu can prepare for the Olympics and try and impress there. As far as MLS reportedly wanting in excess of $8 million for Altidore (according to Steve Goff of the Washington Post) that figure is laughable and any European club that pays that is simply throwing money at a long term project. Altidore is quite honestly only slightly better than Eddie Johnson was at this age and we know how that turned out. Like in Johnson’s case, MLS is asking an extravagant transfer fee for an unproven player while letting proven players leave the league on free transfers every January.

US Under 23 Manager Peter Nowak named his 22 man squad for the Toulon Tournament beginning next week. Interestingly, Nowak is using the event to look at player largely on the fringe of the Olympic squad. Of the nineteen field players named to the squad only Kamani Hill played on the team that qualified for Olympics in March.

GOALKEEPERS - Dominic Cervi (no club), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake), Quentin Westburg (Troyes)

DEFENDERS - Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Eric Brunner (no club), Kyle Davies (Southampton), Michael Gavin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Jonathan Leathers (Kansas City Wizards), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Julian Valentin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Rob Valentino (New England Revolution), Blake Wagner (FC Dallas)

MIDFIELDERS - Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Greg Dalby (SC Charleroi), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Lee Nguyen (Randers FC)

FORWARDS - Gabe Ferrari (Sampdoria), Bryan Jordan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ellis McLoughlin (Hertha Berlin), Sammy Ochoa (Tecos)

I’m especially interested to keep an eye on Sammy Ochoa who has fought his way into the match squad at Tecos after being frozen out for more than a year. Also keep an eye on Lee Nguyen whose career at PSV never took off but now seems to have regained his confidence at Randers.

1- Columbus

A continued solid season thanks to some magic from Peter Nowak’s least favorite left sided midfielder, Robbie Rogers.

2- Chicago

Great to see the “almost” class of American talent: Rolfe, Barrett, Mapp and Thorrington excelling with the Fire. Oh and that Blanco guy, he is not that bad either!

3- Toronto FC

A week off to charge the batteries of an aging team that is as good as anyone in MLS right now.

4- New England

Now seriously, wouldn’t Preston be a waste of Taylor Twellman’s talent? I mean if Eddie Johnson can masquerade as a Premier League player I reckon Twellman shouldn’t be relegated to the Championship.

5- Red Bull NY

Osorio does it again, and Angel opens his 2008 account. Can you imagine what this team will be able to accomplish when they actually play on their own grass ground?

6- Kansas City

This team isn’t good enough without Davy Arnaud to compete in the top heavy east.

7- Colorado

This position is by default. Nice goal by Omar Cummings, another product of the Rapids Reserve side. (Memo to AEG and the Galaxy. Reserve sides are made of footballers not office employees)

8- Real Salt Lake

Still something doesn’t seem right with this team. On paper they should run away with the west given Houston and FC Dallas’ difficulties but even when they win I am left unconvinced. Perhaps my expectations were too high.

9- FC Dallas

Steve Morrow needs to dump the 3-5-2 or he maybe on the hot seat.

10- Houston

Still something doesn’t seem right with this team.

11- LA Galaxy

For all those people thinking this team had broken through, when was the last time a team with David Beckham on it dropped eight points at home in the first month and a half of the season?

12- San Jose

The Quakes are playing much better football than four points in six games would indicate.

13- DC United

Without Fred and Gallardo the Red and Black looked pathetic in the new VW kits.

14- Chivas USA

Now Jonathan Bornstien is out for several weeks. This team and franchise are sinking without a trace.

Keller/ from Getty Images McBride/from SI.com

Pundits around Britain will no doubt be discussing Fulham’s great escape in the upcoming weeks. Seemingly dead, the London side strung together some improbable results, particularly away from Craven Cottage to escape relegation on goal difference. Was it Jimmy Bullard’s return from injury, the timely striking of Dionmansy Kamara or even the managing of Roy Hodgson, a man left on the dust bin of British football but one of the few English managers of the last 15 years to really make it outside of the U.K? Truth is it was all of the above and something more: American Grit.

Fulham is after all the closet thing we have ever had or will ever have to an “American team” in Europe. The Cottagers have now for years been buying players from MLS, and for years have done enough with what they had to avoid relegation. It all started in 1999 when Fulham bought Marcus Hahnemann and Eddie Lewis from MLS in a push to move to the Premier League. The side had just been promoted to the old first division at the time. Lewis stayed with the team until they were finally promoted in 2001 to the Premier League, and that was the start of Fulham’s now eight year run in the top flight. Since then the club unlike many in Europe has not hesitated to scout and ultimately purchase American players from MLS clubs.

That’s why despite downplaying the significance of Fulham’s survival effort several months ago, I have felt the last few weeks Fulham had to escape relegation to keep going any positive momentum the US has created perception wise in Europe. Fulham’s failure could easily be pinned on its American contingent. Today Fulham’s success can just as easily be credited to the character of its American legion, led by none other than arguably the greatest and most important footballer our nation has ever produced, Goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Keller hasn’t played for the most glamorous clubs or for the most titles. In fact Keller has never once played in a Champions League match. However, he is as I have stated repeatedly before, perhaps the best keeper I have ever seen and if I had to pick a stopper for any odd one off match it would be him, even 38. He’s a keeper that has played at smaller clubs and excelled at those clubs. Four of the clubs Keller played keeper at are now in lower divisions than when he minded their nets. That’s how important he has always been to the teams he has played for. Keller is one of the great goalkeepers internationally of the last fifteen years. No greater star than Romario was so dazzled by Keller’s performance against Brazil in 1998 that he actually said “it was truly an honor to be on the field with him.”

Brian McBride also a gritty veteran, now going on 36 is equally significant to Fulham’s great escape. McBride was always to me a bit of a mystery. Why was a guy who was so critical and outstanding for the US National Team, also so average and injury prone at times in MLS? It seemed McBride’s injury problems hurt him in MLS but also seem to have ironically lengthened his career once he went back abroad. (McBride played in Germany for another American loving club, Wolfsburg before MLS began play in 1996.) McBride’s game changing ability has faded but his leadership and grit are as sharp as ever. McBride retired from the US National Team two years ago, but it deserves mentioning that he is still the second best active American field player (behind Landon Donovan). That is a credit to McBride and a damning indictment of the state of the US National Team’s current talent pool.

The rest of the American contingent at Fulham demonstrate why I firmly believe that the United States is in a dip on the international scene until the generation led by Jozy Altidore, Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley and Robbie Rogers takes charge of the national team. Clint Dempsey is a player whose spirit and story I love and is uniquely American. But Dempsey is a limited player who often times disappears for long stretches in matches. That was the case in MLS and has been the case at Fulham.

Carlos Bocanegra’s club career is clearly in a tailspin. Bocanegra who has the distinction of being the only American player ever to score two career goals against Brazil, was largely responsible for Fulham’s defensive problems last season and his poor play continued this year. The mere fact that he is a scoring threat on set pieces has earned him more love than he’s truly deserved for both club and country. Roy Hodgson rightfully has kept him on the bench late in the season.

Eddie Johnson is at best an average player in Major League Soccer, and in the English Premier League, probably one of the worst transfers in recent memory. Anyone who watches Johnson as regularly as I have in both MLS and for the national team realized he wasn’t good enough to play at the Premiership level: or at the level of any major European first division. Yet Johnson remains quite possibly the best US striking option. How’s that for scary?

Fulham both honors the great strides the United States has come as Soccer playing nation since the late 1980s in Kasey Keller and Brian McBride, and the current malaise on the national team with the other three players. Fulham honors our proud recent past and our uncertain future. Regardless of what any American soccer fan told you today, Fulham’s result was the most important and most emotionally gut wrenching for those of us that love soccer in our country. The Cottagers remind us why the US got the quarterfinals of World Cup 2002 and why we beat Brazil, Germany (twice) and Argentina in a fifteen month period not long ago. But Fulham also reminds us why the US is a Landon Donovan or Tim Howard injury away from potentially missing our first World Cup since 1986. (With the fifth place COMNEBOL finisher facing the fourth place CONCACAF qualifer, the margain for error that both the U.S. and Mexico have had been reduced and right now I have sense that neither will actually win the Hexaganol, leaving if my gut is correct no margin for error for either. Mexico though could go to South America and win a playoff match. The US cannot. )

What has happened the last few weeks is remarkable. For many of us who have been fans of the sport we have chosen country over club as MLS wasn’t until recently far enough evolved to encourage a loyal fan culture and European football while important was distant. I’ve followed Manchester City Football Club for almost two decades now and consider them my favorite international club, but have always consider the plight of the US National Team far more important than any club’s fortunes. But now, I have joined so many Americans who also pull for Fulham because it seems the gritty group from London are in so many ways a microcosm of American Soccer and have made us all proud in so many ways to be an American and to enjoy the world’s most beautiful game.