Major League Soccer

Anyone know the all star squad?

 

The starting 11, as voted by the fans:

GK: Jimmy Nielsen (Den) - Sporting KC
RB: Steven Beitashour (USA) - San Jose
CB: Aurelien Collin (Fra) - Sporting KC
CB: Jay DeMerit (USA) - Vancouver
RM: David Beckham (Eng) - LA Galaxy
CM: Dwayne de Rosario (Can) - DC United
CM: Graham Zusi (USA) - Sporting KC
LM: Landon Donovan (USA) - LA Galaxy
ST: Thierry Henry (Fra) - New York
ST: Chris Wondolowski (USA) - San Jose

It's more of a fair lineup than is usual, with only Donovan and Beckham failing to live up to last year's standards, but they were probably the top two vote-getters. The squad should be fleshed out soon, I think by the coach (Ben Olsen of DC).

 

Only 10 there.

 

Left back is Heath Pearce from New York.

 

I've heard a few people say good things about Wondolowski; what's your thoughts on him?

 

He's a player that the US doesn't typically produce (intelligence and instinct are his strongsuits)- Hooperesque but I think a bit better than him if I'm being honest, or is at least more consistent than him. Makes very intelligent runs, finishes consistently, but it took people a while to really notice him because he was a later bloomer, even now he's 29 or 30 or something. He's played a few games for the national team but he doesn't really fit that well because we usually play either very physical strikers who are very involved in play such as Altidore or McBride, or clever second strikers like Dempsey or Donovan when we pull them in the middle. Also even though he's not super athletic, he's still 6' or 6'1 or something and doesn't really get bullied. Just a really solid player.

 

Interesting that.

I thought he was Polish, didn't know he was naturally American.

 

He has a Polish passport (through his paternal grandfather, hence the name) but he's born and raised American. He actually has more of a claim of being an "original" American than most since he's half Blackfoot or something. But yeah he's a Californian (yet another, what would the US national team do without us? :icon_mrgreen from the Bay so he gets to play for his hometown team which isn't to common in the US.

 

Not bad, can you see him getting a call up anytime soon?

 

He's in and out, and he'll definitely get callups for some of the easier games for WC qualifying (to prevent our main players from having to fly from Europe) but I think that Klinsmann would rather try to develop Boyd or some of our other strikers than rely on a guy who doesn't really fit his system and who will be 31 or so by the next WC. I imagine he'll be in with a shout of making the roster, but he appears to be kind of down the depth chart behind Altidore, Gomez (striker for Santos Laguna), Boyd, and even in certain situations the sometimes-striker Dempsey. There are also some decent young strikers in MLS nipping at the heels who might jump past him based on the age factor, which would be unfortunate.

 

Awel, I've been keeping my eye on the US national team since Klinsmann took over. He's shown himself to be a very clever coach, the current German National Team is the fruits of his labour.

It will be interesting to see what he can do with the US.

I really like the look of Boyd as well, seems to be a complete all rounder.

 

Beckham getting picked on nothing more than selling jerseys again!

Carlos Bocanegra is after a move to my hometown team of the New England Revs. Hope to * this isn't true.

 

Well it's the fans voting, but yeah he's going primarily because of his name. Even still though, he's had a decent year and last season he was easily one of the best players on what was one of the best sides ever in MLS.

Why? Boca's always been a classy guy and hasn't seemed to be infected by Rangers. In any case he's still fairly good (still the captain of the national team obviously) and would be a great locker-room addition.

 

He's a dirty hun...

 

"Sometimes, I don't understand. The people in the league, they want to punish [Rangers] for wrongdoing, but then they are just hurting themselves."

The Scottish Football League will meet next Friday to decide on which league newco Rangers will feature in next season.

On the topic of the meeting, Bocanegra added: "Hopefully, they don’t put them down there [to the Third Division] because I think that is going to set Scottish football back so far.

"Rangers is such a big institution, such a big club. I love going to work there every day. It is seriously the coolest club that I have ever been a part of."

Sounds infected to me....

 

I mean infected as far as his personality. He's a loyal guy so he's going to say that, but I was more talking about becoming the McCulloch variety or something.

 

Yeah I know what ya mean. Still, not sure about the coolest place he's ever played, lol.

 

Don't want ex huns at my local club. Plus I just don't rate him. Sure we can do a little better. Just a little mind, we're a very badly run club out of all the sides in the MLS.

 

* myself when I read that this morning. What a moron.

 

I mean surely Rennes and Fulham are cooler, unless he meant temperately cooler.