Quite a shocker. The CW was that Ching would partner Jozy Altidore. Every pundit in the land predicted that the Houston Dynamo forward would make the final 23.
Ching suffered a hamstring injury on April 1 in the Dynamo’s opener but he had recovered by the time he was called to training camp.
In his place Bradley picked Robbie Findley, who has not scored a goal in 4 national appearances.
In fact between Buddle, Findley, and Gomez the trio have managed 9 caps and 1 goal. Compare that to Ching’s 45 caps and 11 goals.
Adding Altidore’s contribution, the duo have 69 caps and 19 goals.
Bradley’s selection of forwards show a thin resume in relation to their World Cup opposition. All other teams in Group C have far more experience.
Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch lead the way with 95 caps and 45 goals. Algeria’s Rafik Saifi and Rafik Djebbour have combined for 72 appearances and 21 goals. Slovenia’s Milivoje Novakovič and Zlatan Ljubijankič add 53 caps and 18 goals. Altidore and Ching’s record is quite comparable to the Algerian and Slovenian forwards.
However it is not just Ching’s experience, it is the way he plays the game. Clearly his strength is with his back to the goal. He is like Mark Viduka in that respect. Holds the ball well, good on the turn, and a nice finisher of crosses. You know where Ching is on the field. He is a tireless worker.
Findley’s speed makes him better suited for a wide game as a winger on the right. But he also tends to disappear in matches. Which is a bit worrying because we also have Donovan and Dempsey who share that trait. Too many X factors on attack is not good for the mind and soul of US fans.
Bradley’s explanation for Ching’s exclusion:
” Brian has been such an important player but it’s tough when you have an injury at an inopportune time.”
“It was extremely hard with the respect that we all have for Brian. As a person, for the way he plays on the field, his commitment to the team–it’s always hard whenever you make these types of decisions, but it’s particularly difficult when it’s a player that has contributed so much to the national team over the years.”
Bradley’s thinking is Ching’s hamstring injury took him out of the running and it worked to the advantage of Buddle and Gomez. But it does not explain Findley who has remained healthy and done very little in the MLS season. One goal and one assist so far.
Here he is on Findley:
“What he’s shown is that his movement along the front line is good, his speed, his ability to try to get behind the defense. Now in those situations he needs the ability to make those count a little bit more. Part of that is confidence, and now when he gives himself a little advantage, he needs to be the type of player that defenders worry about and who can ultimately take his chances and start to make a little more happen in those moments.”
The World Cup really should not be a place for such experiments. I can see Buddle make his case, he is a player brimming with confidence right now with his MLS exploits. Gomez just finished a great season with Puebla and gave a great boost of the bench against the Czech Republic.
Ching is really a hard luck story because he made it to the last World Cup but Bruce Arena never played him. This World Cup, he was completely overlooked and the mystery is why.
Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (2010), Marcus Hahnemann (2006, 2010), Tim Howard (2006, 2010)
Defenders (7): Carlos Bocanegra (2006, 2010), Jonathan Bornstein (2010), Steve Cherundolo (2002, 2006, 2010), Jay DeMerit (2010), Clarence Goodson (2010), Oguchi Onyewu (2006, 2010), Jonathan Spector (2010)
Midfielders (9): DaMarcus Beasley (2002, 2006, 2010), Michael Bradley (2010), Ricardo Clark (2010), Clint Dempsey (2006, 2010), Landon Donovan (2002, 2006, 2010), Maurice Edu (2010), Benny Feilhaber (2010), Stuart Holden (2010), José Torres (2010)
Forwards (4): Jozy Altidore (2010), Edson Buddle (2010), Robbie Findley (2010), Herculez Gomez (2010)