Expected Big Stories in MLS and American Soccer in 2013

Posted on December 26, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

American soccer is likely at its high point of popularity in the United States due to a new generation of adults who grew up playing the sport as children, an increase in foreign matches being shown on television, an improvement in the National Teams (especially the Olympic Champion Women), and an influx of foreign stars coming to play soccer in the MLS. However, 2013 will be an important year for American soccer as countless big stories are set to emerge, and the nation will have to adapt to the changing global nature of the sport itself. Here are some of the big stories ahead for American soccer in 2013:

The Face of the MLS After David Beckham departs – The arrival of David Beckham was a monumental achievement for the MLS in 2007, showing the world that American soccer could compete for star players. Winning two MLS Cup Championships in his time here, the Englishman paved the way for a whole host of other foreigners to come to the MLS, including Freddie Ljungberg, Thierry Henry, Torsten Frings, Tim Cahill, and Robbie Keane. The global landscape now sees the MLS as a viable option for mature superstars, and has greatly improved awareness and popularity in the league. So where does the MLS head in 2013?

Rumors suggest that Frank Lampard of Chelsea or Kaka of Real Madrid could be among the next soccer players to come to the MLS. Now that America is at least a legitimate option for these types of players, the MLS should continue to harbor increased popularity.

I also would expect that more focus be placed upon the New York Red Bull with Henry and Cahill as team leaders. The Red Bulls suffered a tragic end to the season in the playoffs as D.C. United benefitted from a recalled PK to snatch a win in the quarterfinals of the MLS Playoffs. Since this was Cahill’s first MLS go and he just arrived in the summer, I would expect the pair to play better next season and lead the Red Bulls to glory.

Will the United States Men’s National Team Qualify for the 2014 World Cup? – The USA National team has largely struggled to impress under renowned manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Although they won the last group of qualification, the matches were nervous, and qualification was only secured on the final day with a victory over Guatemala. The United States had lost in Jamaica and drawn with Guatemala earlier in the group stage.

The qualification for Brazil will take on a tougher feeling now as America must qualify 3^rd to enter the World Cup directly, and finish 4^th in the North American group to enter a playoff match with a team from Oceania, likely to be Australia. Facing teams like Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, and Panama, the United States will need to improve their game to qualify directly. How the team performs in Brazil will be anyone’s guess, but just to get there looks like it will be a challenge.

America will need to get its best out of key men like Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard. Additionally, the team will be looking for several of its youngsters to step up to the next level. Guys like Jozy Altidore, Brek Shea, and Michael Bradley need to become dependable players for the USA to qualify with ease. The team has a friendly against Canada at the end of January before the important games begin with Honduras on February 6^th. The ten matches through October will surely test the country’s resolve and strength. Let’s hope for a successful 2013 qualification and an even better 2014 when the World Cup takes place.

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Memorable 2012 Provided Many Exciting Moments for American Soccer

Posted on December 21, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

Looking back upon American soccer in 2012 provides for many exciting moments and stories. Although there were as many frustrating occurrences for the nation, the sport of soccer is a glorious one, and a fair amount of glorious occasions marked 2012. Here are five of the more memorable events that occurred in American soccer in 2012:

1. High Point – American Women win Gold Medal at 2012 Olympics – Avenging a dramatic loss to Japan in the 2011 Women’s World Cup in penalty kicks, the Americans claimed the Olympic Gold Medal by winning 2-1 at Wembley Stadium. Carli Lloyd provided both the American goals and it made for a spectacular scene. Goalie Hope Solo also provided a stunning save near the end of the match that preserved the win and put the America women back on top, where they belong!

2. Low Point – American Men fail to qualify for 2012 Olympics – While the women were graced with their Gold Medals, the American men didn’t even manage to qualify for the tournament. Although this was a youth tournament, meaning the best Americans weren’t on the pitch, it does still provide an unsettling feeling about the Men’s National Team’s future when they cannot qualify by beating the likes of Canada and El Salvador. The crushing blow came in stoppage time against El Salvador when a mistake by goalie Sean Johnson resulted in a game-tying goal that prevented America from progressing. Better luck next time!

3. Best Goal – Patrick Ianni of the Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City – Patrick Ianni made a name for himself with this stunning volley off of a free kick during an MLS game, winning the MLS Goal of the Year Award. Reminiscent of this fabulous goal by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the EURO 2012 tournament, Ianni incredibly guided the ball past the keeper and into the net. Although he has yet to represent the senior American National Team, if he continues to score goals like that, his moment will surely come.

4. Best Game – 2012 Olympic Semifinals – USA vs. Canada – Back to the impressive Olympic display by the American women, their 4-3 overtime victory over border rivals Canada in the semifinal match was an instant classic. Canadian striker Christine Sinclair had an impressive hat trick, but every time she scored the Americans came back. Megan Rapinoe had two remarkable goals including one sent in directly off of a corner kick. The match brimmed with controversy in the 80^th minute when a questionable handball in the Canadian box led to a match tying penalty kick by Abby Wambach. Both nations had close chances in extra time, but it was Alex Morgan with a header right at the death to send America into the final and left Canada to scrape for the Bronze Medal. It was a truly magnificent game, full of twists and turns, which seems to be the norm for the American women these days.

5. Best Player – Alex Morgan – Although Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard have been playing wonderfully in the English Premier League, the efforts of Alex Morgan have been simply astonishing. Just age 23, Morgan scored a sensational 28 goals and provided 21 assists this year, becoming the focal point of the American women’s attack. Incredibly, she wasn’t even the starter at the beginning of the year, but she has developed into one of America’s best players. At such a young age she has the potential to become the best American woman to ever play soccer, and has even been tipped by team mate Abby Wambach to break the goal-scoring record in American women’s soccer some day, a feat that Wambach is soon to eclipse herself.

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Chris Wondolowski the Best MLS Player of 2012. Where Does His Future Lie?

Posted on December 14, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

Although the Los Angeles Galaxy earned the MLS Cup Championship this year after defeating the San Jose Earthquakes in the Playoffs, the player of the year award rightly was given to Chris Wondolowski, who scored an incredible 27 goals on the season, tying him with Roy Lassiter, who managed the feat over a decade ago. Wondolowski’s hard work brought a Supporters Shield to the San Jose Earthquakes, who led the MLS with 66 points on the season.

Chris Wondolowski’s impressive 2012 should not really come as much of a surprise to American soccer fans. In both 2010 and 2011, Wondolowski nearly put up 20 goals, and he has found the best form of his life in his late 20’s. Currently at age 29, one must presume that the striker is playing at or near his peak abilities. What surprises me about this player, however, is the rare opportunities he has been given to represent America with the national team.

Chris Wondolowski has been overlooked and un-favored to other Americans like Jozy Altidore and Hercules Gomez. Considering how hard goals have been to come by for the American team, one would presume that Chris Wondolowski would be given a chance, especially given these recent performances for his club, where he has scored at a rate of nearly a goal per match.

He has received several call-ups by American head coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, but he has only received one substitute appearance in a friendly against Canada. Incredibly he hasn’t been given much of an opportunity to impress for the country. He did play in the MLS All Star game against Chelsea of the English Premier League, where he scored a goal against a world-class defense that featured former England captain, John Terry.

Terry actually complimented Wondolowski after the match, stating that it was a nightmare trying to defend against the talented soccer player. When someone of that stature expresses his difficulties in playing against the player, why would he not have attracted more attention from the national team?

One option that I think would be a huge benefit for Chris Wondolowski would be for him to perhaps make a transfer move to Europe, possibly to an English Premier League club. At age 29, it would be a difficult time to move to such a prestigious league, but if he could secure a move and impress abroad, perhaps he could earn himself a trip to the 2014 World Cup with America. Surely, he must have such dreams and is probably in a quandary as to why he cannot seem to get a real chance at the international level.

The rest of the San Jose Earthquakes let Chris Wondolowski down in this off-season when they let a Galaxy team come in and outclass them. I think that the player should try and push for such a move and that it could really propel him to the next level. Although the Earthquakes would be very sorry to see him leave their team, it is a move that would be in the best interest of American soccer as a whole and for Wondolowski to prove himself at the top level of the sport.

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The Top 5 Soccer Stars Who Could Move to America and the MLS

Posted on December 7, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

With the MLS bidding adieu to English soccer legend and celebrity, David Beckham, focus must return to how America can improve its professional league of soccer. Clearly, Beckham’s arrival helped spur other international stars to move here like Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, and Tim Cahill; all heroes abroad in their respective homelands of France, Ireland, and Australia. So with the MLS focused on adding more veteran international star-power to their ranks, who is the next big name to make the trans-Atlantic journey to America? Here are my top 5 players that would be likely to come here in the near future:

1. Kaka – The Brazilian superstar has fallen hard since he won the 2007 Ballon d’Or, given to the best player in European soccer. Winning the UEFA Champions League that year, Kaka soon moved to Real Madrid in 2009 but injuries slowed down his career. Playing under legendary manager Jose Mourinho, Kaka has been relegated to a bit-part player in the side behind others like Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel De Maria, and Mesut Ozil. Kaka’s agent has mentioned the MLS as a “dream” for the player and he may soon be headed to the Galaxy to replace the departing Englishman.

2. Frank Lampard – The former creative genius at Chelsea has now been usurped by the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, and Oscar, three creative forces that are still improving while Lampard at 34 wastes away on the bench. He needs to move to a new club to find playing time, and although he could probably play for a lesser Premier League club and make an impact, he could earn far more money through the MLS and America. With the January transfer window opening next month, he could be in America very soon.

3. Didier Drogba – The Ivory Coast soccer sensation reportedly rejected a record $10 million dollar deal with the MLS last summer and chose to join the Chinese league with the club Shanghai Shenhua. However, there were all sorts of boardroom issues with club and he was reported to go on strike during the season. Although he aims to return next season, the MLS could swoop in and make a strong argument for the player. Bringing star power and prestige from his dominating style and impressive displays in leading Chelsea to the Champions League trophy last season, Drogba would be the ideal candidate for American soccer to pursue.

4. Wesley Sneijder – The Dutch maestro has built a solid career at clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Additionally, he scored five goals in the 2010 World Cup, helping the Netherlands reach the final where they lost to Spain in extra time. Sneijder has come under fire in Italy for refusing to take a significant pay cut and has been rumored in a move to Manchester United for years. At 28, he still has a long career ahead of him. His wife is an actress though, and the possibility of him moving to Los Angeles has been discussed. This move may be several years down the road, but is certainly a possibility.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – The physically imposing Swedish striker is at the peak of his powers. Recently signed to Paris Saint-Germaine, the next big-spending super club, he has been scoring incredible goals at an impressive rate. He has played for a whole host of big clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. Additionally, he has mentioned a possibility of ending his career in the MLS, and he would be a fantastic addition for the league. However, since he has just joined PSG and is still playing at such a high level, this move may be put off for some time.

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2012 MLS Cup Preview: Beckham and the LA Galaxy take on Brad Davis and the Houston Dynamo

Posted on November 28, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The MLS Cup occurs on Saturday and will be dominated by the news that it is likely to be David Beckham’s final match for the LA Galaxy. You may have even noticed that I wrote an article about that very matter in last week’s post, but besides the fact that this could be Beckham’s last game and all, there is a serious match on the field for the other 21 players on the same field too. The game will decide the MLS Champions of 2012, and brings especial intensity due to the fact that it is a rematch of last season’s final that the LA Galaxy won 1-0 due to a Landon Donovan goal.

The Galaxy is the heavy favorite for this game. They boast all the big name players including Beckham, Donovan, and Robbie Keane. Also, the match is being played at the Galaxy’s home stadium, the Home Depot Center. Therefore, the Houston Dynamo will have seemingly everything against them in this match, though I personally believe that they will rally around that exact point.

Both teams were lowly seeded in the MLS Playoff tournament, and had to play tricky wildcard matches in the first round. Defeating the likes of Sporting Kansas City, the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, and DC United, both teams proved that they were the strongest of their conferences and have earned the right to play in this MLS Cup.

Houston has developed a very powerful team that won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Their final appearance last season was evidence of their more recent success, but they had to play that match without the injured Brad Davis. The playmaker earned 12 assists and 8 goals this year and should be a factor if the Dynamo earns the win. The team has a veteran striker in Brian Ching as well.

However, I think the defensive side of this team will be the difference in the game, specifically the goalkeeping of Tally Hall. The keeper is very solid and will be able to stop the likes of Beckham’s spicy shots on the goal.

Many fans will be hoping to witness a final David Beckham “special” free kick that swerves into the net and allows the soccer star to depart the MLS as a MLS Cup winning hero. But, I think it will not happen this time. The Galaxy won the trophy last season, so Beckham has nothing left to prove. Similarly, another of the team’s star players also has a serious off-field concern in Landon Donovan’s voicing of retirement thoughts before the playoffs began. Although that interview did little to prevent the team from pushing through the MLS Playoffs, I do think this game may be a bit too highly anticipated for the team because of reasons other than soccer.

The Houston Dynamo, on the other hand, resembles a real team with hunger for revenge and I would be surprised to see them back down from the challenge. Therefore, I am predicting a tough 1-0 victory for the Dynamo with a David Beckham free kick clanging off the crossbar in stoppage time, preventing him from leaving a last mark on American soccer.

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David Beckham To Depart from LA Galaxy after MLS Cup Final: What is Next for the Superstar and Club?

Posted on November 24, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The David Beckham experience is nearly over. The legendary British midfielder announced that he would be taking his trade elsewhere after the MLS Cup Final match on December 1^st, which will be his last game for the club. Beckham has enjoyed a reasonably successful stint with the LA Galaxy, scoring 18 goals and notching 40 assists. Also, he helped the team to an MLS Cup trophy last season and could very possibly help earn another next weekend. But the question now becomes, where does Beckham move on to now, and how will the Galaxy fare without their most prestigious player?

For Beckham, he seems to want one last notch on the old belt before his inevitable retirement. At age 37, his best years are now long gone, and although his deft right foot is still capable of wreaking havoc for defenders and goalkeepers, his legs are otherwise aged and weary. He was a decent player for the Galaxy, but I would argue that he was never the superstar figure that MLS officials envisioned when they brought him to LA in 2007.

One option that seems to be up for Beckham is to join the free-spending French team, Paris Saint-Germaine. The club has bought a host of stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezeguiel Lavezzi, and Javier Pastore in recent years and may wish to add another star like Beckham to increase their worldwide popularity. I for one see this as a weird choice considering their UEFA Champions League aspirations. David Beckham is not going to bring much to a squad that wants to be among the world’s best, and they would do better to invest in younger talent with greater potential. Beckham’s arrival would shift focus onto the star and would shake up the squad that needs to improve.

Another option is for David Beckham to move to the Australian soccer league, with the city of Melbourne recently offering him the key to the city if a move could be arranged. This would be a similar situation that Beckham was already in with the MLS so I would be rather surprised to see the move transpire. What I think is more likely is a return to the English Premier League with a rather less prestigious club like Fulham or Aston Villa. However, Beckham has always played for winning clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the LA Galaxy, so he may not want to join a weak EPL club and could opt for dominating a lower league such as the one in Australia.

For the LA Galaxy, although their team is poised to lift another MLS Cup fans should be very concerned. With Beckham’s impending departure and Landon Donovan’s hints at a retirement after next season, the club could be without both of their crucial star players in a short period. Although striker Robbie Keane is still at the club, he could potentially leave with the Galaxy losing much of their star prestige. The club will need to work quickly this offseason to recruit a new foreign hero to keep the club up to their proud standing. I presume that they will make a strong push for Frank Lampard, a wonderful midfielder who is losing his place at the English club, Chelsea. The team will go on without Beckham though, but it is definitely a blow for the MLS who had hoped for so much from his arrival.

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United States Struggles to Draw Against Russia Without Donovan, Dempsey, and Cherundolo

Posted on November 14, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The United States Men’s National team is surely one that is dependent upon their best players for success. In their friendly match against Russia today, manager Jurgen Klinsmann decided to play a vastly inexperienced side without several key players. Although the USA battled out to a 2-2 draw with the ninth ranked team in the world, they were largely outplayed and only managed to draw because of two fortunate long-range efforts.

The Russians were at it all game long. The United States defense was again exposed, and without quality right back Steve Cherundolo, they gave up chance after chance. It was only a matter of minutes before sloppy defending led to a Russian goal by Fyodor Smolov. Klinsmann may be changing tactics with this team, but he really needs to focus on the defensive side of the ball. Careless play will not lead to any international achievement, especially at the back.

Fortunately, America has one of the world’s best goalies in Tim Howard, and he was a delight in the game, making countless saves. An average goalie could have easily given up four goals in this game. His talents help the team avoid embarrassments stemming from the defenders.

Offensively, the team produced little, though it was nice to see Jozy Altidore return to the side. He did well to hold up the ball for our midfielders, but he didn’t have the proper service to find many goal-scoring chances. He looked to be working hard which is a very god sign, especially after Klinsmann dropped him from the team for the most recent 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Altidore will need to improve and start scoring more goals, however. He is playing very well for his club AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, so hopefully he will discover a similar form at the national level.

Michael Bradley played admirably in this game, and earned a lovely equalizing goal that brought the USA back into this game midway through the second half. He has a great work-rate and is always involved in impact plays and goals. He was probably the best player on the field for America besides Howard and should continue to be a dominant force in the midfield. His goal was a daring long-range strike that displayed a player in great current form.

However, this team is clearly not the same without Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. These are two veteran leaders in the side who are of supreme importance to the team in competitive games. Donovan hasn’t played for a while due to nagging injuries, but his current form for the LA Galaxy has been great, and he is a player who can simply take on defenders and create chances. Dempsey is also a key figure and has the talent and class to influence games. I feel that if these players had taken part in the game, regardless of final score, the game would have been much more balanced.

However, this was a friendly game and rightly allowed for Klinsmann to bring on several youngsters to see what they can bring into the side. Players like Josh Gatt, Mix Diskerud, Terrence Boyd, and Juan Agudelo brought lots of good things to the side and look like they have some potential for the future in the American national team. Although the play today wasn’t terribly impressive, Russia is a good side, and the fact that the team battled to an away draw with such questionable play shows that the team has some resilience, and for that their efforts must be commended.

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MLS Cup Playoffs Heat Up as Conference Finals All Set

Posted on November 9, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The opening rounds of the MLS Cup Playoffs have finished and there were surprises aplenty as both number one seeds and one number two seed was eliminated, leaving the MLS title completely open to any of the lower seeds who all orchestrated dramatic upsets in the conference semifinal rounds. And so now, with the playoffs truly up for grabs, which team looks destined for MLS glory?

Yesterday saw two late dramatic goals to secure victories as both the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake were knocked out of the tournament. The Red Bulls defeat was the most inexplicable of all. They had the vast majority of chances, and even made a mess of a series of late game opportunities. After opposing goalkeeper Bill Hamid was sent off for a penalty-awarding foul, for some reason Kenny Cooper stood up to take the shot. After the first take was called back, Cooper fired the ball weakly and it was saved. My main concern is why wasn’t Thierry Henry called upon to take the PK? Henry is the coolest striker on Earth, and they paid so much for him. Why didn’t the captain take the penalty? At the way end of the game the Red Bulls had a free kick from the type of range Henry could have curled right in. Take a look at the free kicks the Frenchman has made in his career. And yet, he again didn’t take the shot. And thus they are gone and D.C. United pulled out a fantastic result.

The L.A. Galaxy also had a wonderful result when they brutally disposed of Supporters’ Shield winners, the San Jose Earthquakes. Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane provided some brilliant assists and goals, and the Galaxy looked dominant. So much for Donovan’s dying love of the game.

The Houston Dynamo again showed poise and resiliency after holding off the defensively strong Sporting Kansas City. Their two goals scored in the first-leg match were enough to take out the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

Seattle Sounders found a great late strike from Mario Martinez to separate the sides after nearly two matches had been played without a single goal. They looked the better side throughout and deserved to progress.

And so now the Western Conference final will comprise of the L.A. Galaxy taking on the Seattle Sounders, while D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo tangle in the east. Predicting a winner is no simple task, especially with so many X-factors from each team. The Galaxy has all the superstar names now with Donovan, Keane, and David Beckham. The Sounders house the league’s best fans and one of the game’s hottest strikers in Eddie Johnson, who recently revitalized his international career with the United States National Team. Houston Dynamo has the history of winning the cup twice a few years ago, and were runner’s up last year. D.C. United is excited about the return of Dwayne de Rosario, one of the games most exciting players from Canada and are now the highest seed remaining in the tournament.

Each club will feel that they have a great chance of lifting the MLS Cup now that they have disposed of the top seeds, and since they have these weapons to produce. I feel like this is starting to turn into Seattle’s year and that their fans will lead them to victory, over D.C. United 2-1 in the MLS Cup final. Let’s see if this prediction can hold better than my last!

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MLS Playoffs Get Underway as Wildcard Games Commence

Posted on October 31, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs are set to begin with the ten fortunate teams that were able to survive the regular season and are now aiming for cup glory. The wonderful thing about end-of-season playoff games to decide the MLS champion is that every team is now basically on a level playing field and has a fair chance to prove themselves and win the cup, regardless of how many points separate the clubs. Another feast for the eyes is set to begin for MLS fans across the country.

First up is the one-game wildcard matches between the clubs who just scraped into the tournament. Tonight features a match between the Chicago Fire and the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo was in the MLS Cup Final last year and has experience on their side. However, their recent form has been average. After leading the Easter Conference standings in August, the team slumped to a 5^th place finish, barely sneaking into the playoffs by a single point. The team is led by young striker, Will Bruin, who has scored 12 goals in only his second MLS season. Another dangerous player for the Dynamo is Brad Davis, an experienced winger who was an MVP finalist last season. He missed out on last year’s MLS Cup Final through injury and will be ever hungry to get another shot.

Chicago has better recent results, and actually defeated Houston 3-1 in September. They have an excellent young goalkeeper in Sean Johnson, who has already been called up to the United States Men’s National Team several times. Chris Rolfe will lead the attack, and Chicago will hold the home field advantage. However, as it is Halloween, I am picking the orange and black to succeed 2-1 and progress to the next stage.

The Western Conference Wildcard round features a match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Vancouver has several great young players in Brazilian Camilo and Jamaican Darren Mattocks, who led the team with 7 goals as a rookie. However, Mattocks hasn’t scored since July and the team has only won one of their last ten matches.

The Los Angeles Galaxy features more star power than any other MLS team with Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and David Beckham. Although these players are older, veteran experience is key in playoff games and the Galaxy is the reigning champion. Not only that but their recent run of games shows that they have only lost in one of their last ten matches. They will have the home support and are heavily favored in tomorrow’s match. The Vancouver Whitecaps do not look good at the moment and will surely fall 3-0.

The road will be long and hard for whoever wins in the wildcard round. Up ahead is a two-legged fixture against the top seeded teams in the conference, which are the San Jose Earthquake and Sporting Kansas City, two very formidable opponents. However, this is the reason that the playoff games take place, and every single team does have a fair shot at reaching the MLS Cup Final so nobody can be counted out just yet. The real games have now begun! Welcome to the MLS Playoffs!

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The 5 Most Important Soccer Players for USA Men’s National Team

Posted on October 25, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

With CONCACAF qualification going on hiatus for the next several months, the American National Soccer team will have some time to determine who will take part in the next set of important qualification matches for the 2014 World Cup. With a rather sketchy progression in the 3^rd round, the margins will be slimmer for the USA in the final round where America will need to play at their best to beat the likes of Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Here are in my opinion the five most important players for the team heading into these games ranked in order:

5. Eddie Johnson – It is a bit of an odd choice given that he has been largely absent from the squad the past few years, but when given a chance this month in the matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala, Johnson came through in amazing fashion scoring two goals and one assist in the games. His 90^th minute winner in the first match was simply clutch. This is the type of player that Jurgen Klinsmann will want in his side in Brazil, and I fully expect him to be in the squad for the remainder of qualification and could become one of the team’s best scoring threats.

4. Michael Bradley – The central midfield player provides physical stability in the middle of the park and dominates the opposition. He has excellent scoring capabilities as well, evidenced by his 10 goals for the USA team. Playing for Roma in Italy, Bradley now has an opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best midfield players like Daniele de Rossi and Miralem Pjanic. At just 25 years of age, the best is likely to come from Michael Bradley and he should become a key figure for the national team by 2014.

3. Tim Howard – The goalie is often the most important player on a team, especially for those considered underdogs when they play against the major soccer nations like Germany and Argentina. Tim Howard has the ability to keep America in games in which they struggle, and that is a vital weapon for the team going forward. Especially considering the defensive deficiencies of this team (Notice how not one defender made this list!), the Everton star goalkeeper is vital to American success, and at age 33 is the veteran leader that the nation needs at the back.

2. Landon Donovan – After having been the most exciting player in America for a full decade and featuring in three World Cups, its incredible to realize that Donovan is just 30 years old. His drive and quick work-rate make him one of the team’s most dangerous weapons, and I attribute much of the struggles that the USA has dealt with in recent qualification games to his absence from the team due to injury. Although he has been quoted to be contemplating retirement after next year, I think that those words come from frustrations of a player who has been injured for more than a few crucial games this season. Once he recovers, he will probably start loving life again and be a key ingredient in leading America to glory.

1. Clint Dempsey –Far and away the most vital player to this team, Dempsey has been the creative force and leader of the offense for America. One of the few players to enjoy sustained success in the English Premier League, Dempsey now plays for Tottenham where he recently scored a game-winning goal against Manchester United. Playing against the world’s best week in and week out should keep Dempsey producing for the American team, and he will be the vital player in American soccer in the final qualification round of CONCACAF.

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