LD even in his current form is the third best player in the national pool. Last night was a good showing and gives JK the space needed to bring him back for the next round of qualifiers. That said, despite the two goals it wasn't all rosy for LD.
First half, he struggled playing the wing in the 4-2-3-1, it wasn't until they switched to the 4-4-2 that he took off. Partly explained by the lack of quality in the rest of the squad and their lack of play down his side, but his touch and pace and defense looked off early. It will be something to watch going forward. Both his goals came from positions that he won't be in come WC time. He'll be on the wing because the Dempsey/Altidore partnership up top is too important. LD needs to play the LAM (bumping Fabian Johnson and creating a smallish defensive partnership with Beasley) or RAM (bumping Zusi and pairing with the most unsettled position on the squad, Right Back). He'll need to show he can perform out there.
I have few doubts that he wiil and I always felt he was going to make the WC roster if healthy, but their are some things he needs to work on before then. #1 is his attitude. His comments pregame about taking it day-by-day are not what the team wants to hear. The team is being built on aggressive and tougher play. This rec soccer, participation trophy DNA that has gripped US Soccer for decades isn't going to work.
The big winner from last night and potentially the gold cup is Holden. Bradley and (for the moment, Jones) hold the central midfield spots. Cameron is making inroads as Jones backup, but so far no one has emerged to backup Bradley. Since both are subject to card accumulation, this is a good sign. None of the other from the Pupu platter of suck deserves to make the WC. (Kljestan, Torres, Corona, Castillo, Beckerman, Bedoya, Edu), maybe Torres as the last man but, I wouldn't pick him. Gooch looked really good in the air and stepping in front of attackers to break up passes, but his ball control and lack of speed don't bode well for a spot in JK's build from the back system. He has been inactive for a long time, so he's not completely out of the picture. Goodson to me is still challenging for a starting spot in central defense (to me it's still a weak back 4 and completely wide open, though Beasley seems to have locked down the LB spot at the moment.) Gomez will find his way onto the roster, Shea will not except as a developmental end of the bench spot, he lacks quality on the ball and with LD, Gomez, and Fabian available for LAM, he's the odd man out.
So a year out from Brazil, here are the spots that are locked up for the 23 man roster. I only have 5 locks to start.
GK: Howard (Guzan) -TBD....(best guess at the 2018 backup to Guzan)
LD: Beasley - TBD...... Best remaining options (T. Chandler, Parkhurst, Lichaj)
CD: (Gonzalez) - TBD - TBD...... Best remaining options (Cameron, Onyewu, Bocanegra)
CD: (Besler) (Goodson)
RD: TBD - TBD - (Cameron) ...... Best remaining options (Cheruldolo, Parkhurst, Spector, Chandler) Oy, what a mess!
HM: (Jones)(Cameron)
M: Bradley - TBD.....Best remaining options (Holden, Williams)
LAM: (F. Johnson)(Donovan)
CAM: Dempsey
RAM: (Donovon)(Zusi)
ST: Altidore (Gomez) - TBD.....(I expect Eddie Johnson but would rather see Boyd in this spot to ride the bench)
likely 8 spots still up for grabs (6 that might see the field). Best guess for those 8 are:
Parkhurst (I don't see Chandler committing to the US)
Bocanegra (yes, due to lack of options and Onyewu's lack of speed, the Capt. get the player/coach seat on the bench)
Cherundolo (another oldie, zero at RB now and no depth in the back four (Evans, Demerit, Pearce, Castillo, yeesh!)
Spector (loses his spot if Chandler commits, but I think he's the best of rest)
Holden
Williams (Torres could steal this spot or one of the D, but I have him just out)
E. Johnson (as utility attacking mid/striker)
(3rd GK, it doesn't matter)
