Timbers Tid Bits: CONCACAF Gold Cup Edition
by Geoff Gibson on May 24, 2011 9:45 AM PDT
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PrintToday Bob Bradley released his roster for the upcoming 2011 Gold Cup that kicks off June 7th. It was apparent from the beginning the Bob Bradley was bringing out the big guns as marquee names like Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey were all called up (amongst others). This is an important tournament for the Nats.
There was also a few surprises, most notably in Freddy Adu, the once American prodigy turned European failure (no offense). Despite playing in the Turkish second division (and struggling even there) Bob Bradley decided to give him a spot, something which could obviously be taken as a slight to many more qualified MLS players.
Anyway, we'll be discussing the Gold Cup more as it gets closer. For now, let's enjoy the day's links:
Timbers specific news
Post-Match Thoughts: Timbers vs. Columbus | Timbers Insider
Fantastic analysis from Saturday's match.
Timbers Host Dutch Legends Ajax Amsterdam Wednesday
Don't know who Ajax is? DroppingTimber.com has a nice introductory piece on the club.
Game 10: Timbers 1 – Columbus 0 - The Offside
Portland Timbers remain unbeaten and untied at Jeld-Wen Field after Eric Brunner's headed goal pro
Expectations for Timbers fans this year: A fan's take
The inaugural MLS season for the Portland Timbers has a mix of fans.
Timbers, Red Cross Team Up For Tornado Victims
The Portland Timbers are teaming up with the American Red Cross to help raise money for the victims of a deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo.
Family of Portland's Jewsbury safe after Missouri tornados
Jack Jewsbury's home town got hit by a tornado. Luckily his family is safe.
Adelaide United’s Flores again linked with Portland Timbers
More rumors about Marcos Flores.
League news (after the jump)
MLS' most valuable players so far this season
Both Kenny Cooper and Jack Jewsbury make the list!
MLS's 10 most underpaid and most overpaid players
No Portland players make either list.
Major League Soccer Power Rankings - Week 9 - RSL Soapbox
Portland moves up two spots to #6. Seattle places in 8th.
HE’S BACK Freddy Adu gets surprise call from U.S.
This is especially surprising because Adu is playing in the Turkish second division. This is almost a slight against many qualified MLS players.
Big names and surprises define Bob Bradley's squad
The big names are there, but there are also a number of surprises in (and out) of Bob Bradleys U.S. mens Gold Cup squad.
MLS Power Rankings: Week 9 | MLSsoccer.com
Timbers move up to #9. Seattle moves up to #5 despite winning in stoppage time.
GOLD CUP: Locals on the U.S. roster
The L.A. area has been well-represented on U.S. national team rosters throughout the modern era.
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This was brought up in another thread but I really kinda feel bad for Freddy Adu
He got some very, very bad advice from people and it kinda ruined his career. I would love to see him back in MLS, he’d be a useful player in this league.
Even with that sympathy, it’s annoying that he actually got a callup, even for a tournament like the Gold Cup – he really isn’t playing well enough to justify it and if I were a decent US-born MLS midfielder I’d be kind of annoyed right now.
I would tend to agree
Despite the fact that he is still young he doesn’t deserve the call-up. He needed to stay in the USA until right about now and then go over to Europe.
Where is Bedoya?!?!?!
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
Bedoya is in midseason, so his team may not have let him go.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on May 24, 2011 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
If I had the time, I'd flesh this out into a full blog post, but I don't.
Instead, I’ll give the nuts-and-bolts reasons why Freddy Adu should be included in the national team:
Freddy Adu still has the same potential that made him the top overall pick in the SuperDraft at age 14. Given how crowded the U.S. midfield is, it’s not like he’s going to play (and it’s not like the other person one would instead include would play either). But this move gives Bob Bradley a good opportunity to watch Adu practice in a vacuum, away from all of the drama and turmoil that has been his stay in Europe. Given Adu’s playmaking ability and touch, he does provide something other players in the midfield pool do not (especially with the frequency Clint Dempsey finds himself as the Americans’ second striker). By all accounts, Adu has made an impact on the second-division Turkish team he’s been on, so what does Bradley have to lose here?
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on May 24, 2011 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I can see that
and it’s just the Gold Cup, so it’s not like there’s a ton of pressure or exposure on the tournament compared to a WC. I would be interested to know how the Turkish second division compares to MLS.
Where would Flores play?
Would he send Chara or Jewsbury to the bench? It doesn’t seem like it.
Mike Rice: "Camby nearly rejected that with his Armpit!"
Mike Barrett: "Now that would be a fragrant foul."
I think the Flores interest is probably drummed up
Now, if we can do something with Captain Jack and Flores is by all accounts better, do ya pull the trigger? Interesting query. Long term, maybe but currently I don’t think you can mess with the chemistry and the obvious calming influence he is to the younger guys.
Gold Cup, I have no problem putting Adu on the squad, why not? Give him some burn in qualifying rounds then let him build off of that.
by RipCityRhapsody83 on May 24, 2011 3:18 PM PDT reply actions
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