Eddie Johnson was, in all probability, not going to play a humongous role at this summer's World Cup. If he'd been in great form, if he'd been a model teammate, if he'd been a "no doubt about it" pick for the roster, he was still going to be Jozy Altidore's back-up.
But saying EJ wasn't going to play a big role is not the same thing as saying EJ wasn't going to play any role. He was - and I think still is - the best US option as an off-the-bench, throw-everything-at-them target forward.
And let's face it: there's a good chance the US is going to find itself in a desperate situation like that, one in which we're skipping the midfield, playing to heads instead of feet, and bending in as many desperation crosses as we can conjure up. EJ, with his size, strength and athleticism, gives us a fighting chance to make something happen even against World Cup-caliber defenders; nobody else in the mix as a target forward has shown the ability to do the same.
So I posed this scenario to some folks in the US soccer-sphere: the US is down a goal with 10 minutes to go in the third group stage game. Germany is gumming up our midfield and just inviting us to hit long balls.
What do you do?
Matt Tomaszewicz, founder of TheShinguardian.com and pundit on March to the Match
MT: Background: EJ is valuable because he can give you the hold-up guy or the run-off guy. No other player really offers that. So he saves a sub.
This is a hard question, because for [USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann] this cycle it's typically been one of two people: Brek Shea or Eddie Johnson. I think it has to be Aron Johannson more than anyone else, he's a better hold-up player than people give him credit for.
That said, it probably means Jozy is still on or [Terrence Boyd] has to enter at some point. Your other option could be Jozy knocking it down for [Chris Wondolowski]. But it still requires Jozy.
I think your bigger question here is not having that speed guy wide that was used to great effect during qualifying. Shea had key late goals against Mexico and in the Gold Cup. EJ had key late goals against Antigua & Barbuda (embarrassingly I just wrote that) and Panama. Who plays that role?
MD: Are you ok with EJ being left off the roster?
MT: Right now, no.
Taylor Twellman, ESPN analyst and former USMNT forward
TT: Ask me after the final round rosters are made, and the reason I say that is because I think Boyd vs. Wondo is an interesting battle this world cup. Both forwards in good form - even though it's amazing how many people say Boyd is a shoe-in even though he's never scored for the United States.
So Klinsmann goes to two forwards - Wondo can't play that position like Jozy does, but he's very productive with two forwards. You push Clint Dempsey up, and you bring Johannsson on to play and float.
I don't think that's a huge dilemma, and I think I'll have a much better answer on june 2.
MD: Who do you play if Jozy can't go for some reason?
TT: I think you have a dilemma. Your dilemma there - Clint deosn't look right in that spot, which we saw against Costa Rica in qualifying.
And maybe that's why we saw a 4-4-2 against Mexico. When you think about it, if Jozy goes down, to me, I don't see how you're not playing two strikers.
MD: So you're ok with leaving EJ off the roster?
TT: Am I surprised EJ's not on the World Cup team? No, and mainly because Klinsmann's No. 1 assistant from qualifying and from his Bayern Munich days, Martin Vasquez, is not part of the equation. So it doesn't matter if you're Eddie Johnson or Landon Donovan or anyone else, if Klinsmann thinks you're not right for the team, then he has to make that call.
Does EJ have every right to be mad? Of course he does - he was a big part of qualifying. But Klinsmann has to make the decisions that are right for the team, who his starters are, who his guys are coming off the bench, who's on the 23-man roster.
Devin Pleuler, Opta analyst and author of the Central Winger column
DP: The scenario of Germany gumming up the midfield and the United States' only viable attacking option being a Route 1 knockoff isn't as much of a hypothetical as it is an expected reality.
With Boyd likely on the bench (if not starting in anticipation) for this precise scenario, the question becomes "would you have rather had Eddie Johnson?"
Boyd's extra two inches over Johnson might look helpful against Germany's heaping center backs, but that's war of attrition that no striker in the world looks forward to. Instead, planting EJ on a fullback's shoulder and targeting this physical mismatch along the wing is the US's best chance of finding an inch of coveted space and a proven outlet for relieving pressure.
While EJ may lead MLS in ineffectual step-overs along the wing, he's a step ahead of Boyd in creating from the wing.
We don't want to play Route 1. EJ provides a slight alternative - Route 1A
MD: Are you ok with leaving EJ off the roster?
DP: [Expletive deleted] no.
Alexi Lalas, ESPN analyst and former USMNT defender
AL: My thought on Eddie is only in the context of the Jozy position. he's the only one that can approximate what Jozy does. Wondo, Boyd and Aron are different types of players.
Maybe Klinsmann doesn't care. But yes, hsi aerial ability in a potential time of desperation is a weapon that is now lost.
But I don't think it makes or breaks the team.
MD: So you're ok with leaving EJ off the roster?
AL: Yes. But it's more indifference.
