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Sunday, July 24, 2011

Who Ever Said "Brain's Is Better Than Braun?"



I believe the USA have finally found an answer to their center forward woes! After the Altidore experiment has failed due to his lack of pace, touch and general prowess in front of goal, it is apparent there needs to be a new central striker to spearhead the attack, accompanying Juan Agudelo. A player who can hold the ball up, combined well with fellow attackers, and most importantly take his chances. Enter: Justin Braun, forward for Chivas USA and hottest American prospect in the MLS. This season he has supplied 7 goals for the Los Angeles outfit, including 2 hat trick's, including one tonight against Houston Dynamo. He played fantastic tonight, strong in his hold-up play,  continuously split Houston's  back-line with his runs, and finished his second with a  deft chip. 

As a US Men's National Team supporter I have been crying out for a forward who can first and formost score goals! Focusing on a forward who will be present for Brazil 2014, one that can grow into the system and develop.  Bob Bradley has tried everything from Robbie Findley, who has pace, but nothing else. To throwing Donovan and or Dempsey up top. Duce and Don don't make much of an impact, as their usual and most effective positions are on the wings or sitting behind the striker. Braun is that powerful center forward the US needs. He's 6 foot 3, and a powerful presence that Agudelo, (surly a player that will be in the mix come 2014) can play off of. Agudelo doesn't work best when he has to bear all the attacking responsibility on his young shoulders, so with the introduction of  Braun Agudelo's load will be lightened. Think of it as a Crouch,  Vander Vaart combination of big man-small man. Along with his talent, Braun is also young. He's 24 so come the World Cup he will be sitting pretty at 27. If he continues in his current vein of form, he should be a shoe-in, with our limited options. 

Braun was  invited to train in December of 2009 with the USMNT, instigating a call up for a match with Honduras, but didn't feature. He received a second call up, but was suffering from a achilles injury, not leaving him enough time to make his first international appearance. Braun could answer this question for the USMNT, and with the way he's playing at Chivas Bob Bradley would be hard pressed to find a more suiting candidate for his CF. 

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