FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Don't know much about him, but with Rooney, Tevez, Saha already at Man U, this guy couldn't start on the training team.

Sorry, bloke.

Of course he couldn't. That's not really the point. When he was over there before, he had a great experience and progressed tremendously. Some teams were intereted in him, and we were a bit surprised when he came back to Dallas. It says it's not a trial, and I'm sure it's not for Man U. But Kenny may be hoping to get spotted by someone else.

True. I kind of just shot my mouth off on the first post. If he can get an EPL team to bite, or at least a First Division club then by all means go for it.

He has played pretty well before he broke his leg, much better than Ruiz. It would be a big loss to FCD if he was snatched up by an english side.

He still is young if he can impress at Manu maybe he will stay across the pond

American (and now Canadian) MLS players do this routinely. Only it's usually with Coca-Cola League clubs.

To practice with such a high profile club typically means *someone* is interested, not necessarily the club itself. The practicing club may just want a bit of the action (like a "finder's fee").

It's kind of nice he gets to go back and train at least. He needs to get back into form after the broken leg. He has a shot at breaking into the USMNT if he gets back to that form.

I like Cooper. The guy is really solid and has the youth and size to make an impact. He was a bit unlucky with breaking his leg, but those are the breaks sometimes.

Good on him for training with ManU. I believe he was in their youth ranks for a bit, so its nice to have friends and the talent that he can do this sort of thing.

Sounds more like a rehab type of trip. Keep his legs fresh and get back into playing form.

I think if he really continues to develop that he could be that target man (6'3" tall and strong) the USMNT needs so desperately right now in their 4-5-1 formation.

However, he is probably a few years away (only 23 right now) and is likely to get eclipsed by Altidore, but I think Cooper is one of those players whos skills won't decline too much until he gets into his mid 30s. I think he could see some decent national team time, especially after Ching retires from the team.

he could make a good fourth striker...
would be best off moving because i dont think he has the quality to play at MAN U, but maybe in the future. Fergie will always have him in mind, kinda like what hes doin with giuseppe rossi

He has the mold of a typical english forward. I could see him going to a championship side and doing very well.

I hate to change the subject but X Country just made me think about something. With some of this new young blood coming into the USMNT and bringing some technique that we haven't had before, is the 4-5-1 really the formation for us? First of all, I just hate that formation anyway so I'm biased. But after watching so many teams use the 4-5-1 in the World Cup last summer, I was left empty and disappointed. They were all just too defensive for me, leaving goals on the bench for a more cautious approach. I know you CAN attack from that formation, but most teams I;ve seen using it simply want to clog up the midfield (necessary at times, but not ALL the time).

I have two questions for you all:

1) What alternative formations should we be testing out based on the talent coming through the system?

2) What team (pro or international) plays the 4-5-1 in a way that would keep me from hating it so much?

I could see the US playing a 4-4-2 in the future or even a 3-5-2 in the future if we have no promising players on the defensive flanks. This is what I would like to see at the 2010 World Cup.

E. Johnson--Jozy Altidore- Altidore playing off Johnson.
---------Freddy Adu-----------As an Attacking Midfielder a la Gerrard at Liverpool.
Damarcus Beasley--------------Landon Donovan as wide midfield players.
---Bradley-Edu--- Holding Midfielders quite defensive.
Bocanegra-Onyewu-Spector - at the back.

Eddie Johnson? No way, that guy is no good at the international level against a quality side. And no Dempsey? He might be our best player...

I think your lineup is too optimistic for the 2010 world cup. Very young, very inexperienced. I love to see this attacking 4-5-1 lineup:

F - Ching
AMF - Dempsey
SMFs - Beasley, Donovan
CMF - Feilhaber
DMF - Bradley
SBs - Demerit, Bornstein
CBs - Bocanegra, Onyewu

Looks like this:

SB SMF

CB
DMF CMF AMF CF
CB

SB SMF

damn formatting didn't work.... Lets try this:

---------SB------------------------SMF

CB--------------------CMF
-------------------------------------AMF-------CF
CB-----------DMF

---------SB------------------SMF

I think ideally the best two formations in the game are the 4-3-3 and the 4-4-2 (which i prefer a diamond midfield) for all purposes to play a balanced game. This is what I would like to see:

---------Altidore----Dempsey-------
-----------------Adu-------------------
Beasley--------------------Donovan
--------------Bradley-----------------
Pierce-----------------------Spector
--------DeMerit----Bocanegra------

Bench: Johnson, Feilhaber, Clark, Bornstien, Onyewu,Szetela

HE ISN"T GOING TO MANU! Like JHopper said, ManU are probably doing Cooper a favor because some other teams are interested and he need to rehab, he has a lot of connections there.

My formation

--------------Howard-------------------
---------Boca(C)---Parkhurst-------
Cherundolo------------------Bornstein/Pearce
--------Bradley----Feilhaber--------
Donovan-----------------------Beasley/Convey
----------------Adu-------------------------
----------------Dempsey-------------------


Bench: Spector/Simek/Pearce, Clark/Edu, Onyewu/DeMerit, Altidore, Szetela, Johnson, Beasley/Convey (based on how long Beasley is out)

I just don't think Altidore is ready to start, I'm sure by 2010 he will be though, especially if he moves abroad, not sure if Donovan is best placed out wide, just not sure where to put him with the rise of Dempsey and Adu, Parkhurst is our future at the back and should be bled in now, though Onyewu should be employed when playing against a team relying on a plodding targetman, other than that he is rubbish and a liability-how he got MoM against S.Africa I have no clue, Feilhaber is on the decline right now, but he has the talent and hopefully Paul Jewell actually plays him so he can get back on form, unlike that muppet Davies. The thing that strikes me here, is just how many options we have at most positions (besides striker). Its a nice problem to have and indicitive of our development as a footballing nation.

alright, heres the master

--------------------howard---------------------
---------onyewu--------bocanegra(C)----
Bornstein---------------------------Demerit
--------------------Feihlaber--------------------
Dempsey------------------------------Beasley
-----------------Donovan--------------------------
---------------------------------Adu--------------------
------------Altidore------------------------------------

Bench:Pearce,Spector,Convey,simek,clark,edu,parkhurst,szeleta,johnson

Cooper is the player FCD can least afford to lose. He was tearing up the league before getting hurt.