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personally, i think ochoa has a chance to be something special, the americas answer to casillas, cech, and buffon. But altidore is the future of the us strike force, the one department the us has never produced a player who has the caliber to play at a top club regulary. (no, fulham doesn't count) Bradely is great as well, but strikers will grab all the headlines and at 17, he has progressed at a rate of some of the best strikers in the world, with shevchencko coming to mind first

jeevs BS | 11/29/07, 05:58 PM

Omar Bravo, hands down. One of my favorite players to watch. Fast and flashy. Knack for finishing. I'd have to have him on my list.

Wallace can see for miles | 11/29/07, 06:08 PM

I'd like to see more soccer stuff on the Throwdowns page. Blogging and Throwdowns, thats so much more entertaining and fun. I got tired of the T&R pages, what with the daily "Soccer is a stupid sport who cares" posters who come in there.

Thugmeister | 11/29/07, 06:25 PM

I'd agree with your list Chaco, I think Bradley is the single most important player in the US lineup right now, he was the spunky D/M we have lacked for awhile. Pablo was good but his legs were done a long time ago. And little Edu may have played Benny out of our lineup. I can't say I watch to much Mexican Soccer, other then the national team but Guardado has looked very good and with the young guys( dos santos, vela) on the way. The rivalry will only get better!

Lazymike97 | 11/29/07, 06:37 PM

what if bravo and oswaldo sanchez and marquez , 3 mexican superstars, came to mls??? especially to chivas. so sick nastay they would be

jeevs BS | 11/29/07, 06:57 PM

Yeah, but one would have to take a paycut, and I don't see that happening. We'd be lucky if one of them ever came to America or Chivas. Plus, I feel the US' most important player is Clint Dempsey. If he is on, then the other side had better watch out. He can score on anybody, anytime, from almost anywhere on the pitch. He can even score when his team is playing absolutely. I also agree that Guillermo Ochoa is really special. He can be the greatest goalkeeper in Western Hemipshere if he can keep it up.

Keeper | 11/29/07, 07:10 PM

Yo Jeevs, I think Omar Bravo is more likely to come to Chivas USA. But he still has a few years. That missed penalty against Portugal cost him a contract in Europe. Oswaldo Sanchez vs. Landon Donovan in the LA Derby would be nuts

Big Chaco | 11/29/07, 08:20 PM

Jeevs, where did you have Bravo on your list?

Wallace can see for miles | 11/29/07, 10:11 PM

Going to say Michael Bradley. At first I thought he was nothing more than the coaches son, but he is really proving himself to be a player to build around.

J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 11/30/07, 08:46 AM

I think with prospects like Altidore, Zizzo, Bradley, Edu, and Feilhaber, we can look forward to maybe a quarterfinal finish in 2010. Props to Ochoa for the cover of FIFA 08. Europe's knocking this guys door down soon. Dempsey I would say is our Ace right now, but lets not sleep on the up and comers.

Little Evil (GUNNER) | 11/30/07, 10:36 AM

I just don't know who the best CONCACAF player is at the moment. Many good players have already been mentioned but, while there are bunch of good ones, no one in particular stands head and shoulder above the rest right now. I will adopt a 'wait and see' attitude and reserve judgement for now. (DC)

DCruiser | 11/30/07, 10:44 AM

okay, i want to start this with i am also not a fan of the MexNT, but i enjoy the rivalry and i respect their talent. everyone mentioned so far is great, but i think that the best player or maybe most interesting player to watch is Neri Castillo. he was brilliant in the Gold Cup and he also played extremely well in the Copa America. i think he has a great future and i look forward to watching him develop. i also think that the Dos Santos kid at Barca is a future BMF. as for the US i know he has been completely overhyped for the last 5 years, but i think the move to Benfica will help the development of Adu and i still believe he will have a big role in USMNT.

gpv4 | 11/30/07, 03:36 PM

I wanted to put Nery Castillo in there, but his move to Shaktar has been a disaster. He's either been on the bench or left out of the roster. I bet he regrets turning down the ManCity offer

Big Chaco | 11/30/07, 06:47 PM

I am going to have to say that Bradley and Dempsey have both had great years, but we are all forgetting a player who just went down and out for the season. Beasley he is a huge reason why the national team has been so strong down the left side that Bradley can put anyone out there and does b/c he knows Beasley will be there to back up whoever the LB might be.

On the Mexican side I would say Castillo, Guadardo as well as Ochoa have been Mexico's top players this year, but watch out b/c Vela has been called up and I have thought this kid is something special 2 years ago before Arsenal picked him up and next season he will be training with the gunners so look out world

arsenalfan4ever | 11/30/07, 06:50 PM

Bravo > Castillo, even though I love Neri too.

Wallace can see for miles | 11/30/07, 06:52 PM

The Bradley family is godsent. His dad is a great manager, and he is a future star. Little Evil-A US team much worse than the 2010 squad made it to the quarters. Not to mention Arena was the manager. This team will be underrated by the media, and the semis aren't out of the question.

Feilhaber, Edu, Adu, Dempsey, Feilhaber, Bradley, Beasley, Bornstein, Altidore, Spector, Oneywu, and Guzan will be an awesome lineup.

IrishR#1 | 11/30/07, 07:08 PM

Arsenal, the only problem I have with Beasley is that he's inconsistent. He plays well against teams that don't play physical. I think Vela has a lot of promise but it will take years. Personally, I don't think he's made for the English game. i wouldn't be surprised if Wenger sells him to a Spanish side after this season

Big Chaco | 11/30/07, 10:36 PM

So, is this the best player right now or the best player in 3 years? Because, like it or not, M??rquez is the best player in CONCACAF right now. Evidence? He's the only CONCACAF player I can think of that's starting for one of the 5 biggest clubs in the world.

In 3 years? The best player will probably be Guardado or Carlos Vela or Giovani dos Santos. Don't get me wrong: I like Bradley but I think Mexico has a generation coming through the ranks right now that nobody in CONCACAF has seen before. Seriously. I'm also not convinced Bradley will be world class. He'll be very, very good but will he ever play for Real or Manchester or Arse or Liverpool or Chelski or Bayern or someone in Italy? I don't think so. I can see Guardado and Vela and dos Santos playing, and playing well, for huge clubs.

Maybe I'll think about this and write more later...

naxself | 12/01/07, 12:02 AM

Apparently FanNation can't handle accents. That's racist! :-P

PS. It's supposed to say "Marquez".

naxself | 12/01/07, 12:04 AM

In all fairness, I think you're giving too much credence to "prospective" ability. Bradley and Altidore may be two of the greats in CONCACAF in years to come, but for right now I think there are plenty of players who are better (for right now) than they are.

Dwight Yorke, Oswaldo Sanchez, Jaime Correa, Adolfo Bautista, Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are all guys I'd pick over those two right now. Now, this doesn't mean that come 2 years from now, that Bradley and Altidore will be a couple of the greatest players from this region.

I just don't think you can make a top 5 based on potential as opposed to current accomplishments.

JHopper2 | 12/01/07, 10:17 AM