USMNT: Nominations for Forward (Esky?)

With Brian McBride’s retirement and Eddie Johnson slipping away from his potential, who is out there, particularly in MLS, to run up top for the U.S. men’s team?

Just to throw a candidate out there: I’d like the see DC United’s Alecko “Esky” Eskandarian get some serious grooming. I’m a fan of “little/big-man” forward tandems (e.g. the Big-Man forward knocks balls down to “little,” while, of course, serving as a traditional target player) and think Eskandarian possesses a useful skill-set for that little-man role: he’s quick, plays alertly, has decent close control, and, most important, he’s got a powerful left peg.

The “grooming” would really amount to seeing what he can do at that level - and that’s vital, especially with the 2010 World Cup cycle not yet started. Ample evidence shows that scoring in MLS isn’t the same as scoring at the international level - see, Twellman, Taylor; Ching, Brian. But Esky has enough, and has shown enough, that he ought to get a look as long as Twellman’s at the very least.

There’s a second question, of course: if Esky, or anyone else for that matter, works out, with whom should he be paired?

There’s Ching, of course, as well as Eddie Johnson, assuming the latter ever returns to his potential. But who else is out there? What about Edson Buddle? (Answer: Not a traditional "Big Man.") Or Kenny Cooper? (No answer.) For long-shots, would Nate Jaqua be out of the question? (Answer: Hasn't shown enough just yet.) If we went away from Little/Big-Man, an argument could be made - and not a bad one either - for Jeff Cunningham, given his current MVP-caliber form. (Answer: Too old for a serious look?)

Anyone else out there? Just throwing this out there to see what sticks.

(#######)