Photo by ISI Photos
Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey were among the 18 players chosen for the U.S. national team’s upcoming friendly against Poland in Krakow on Wednesday (3:30pm, Fox Soccer Channel).
U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley named a European-based roster with just three MLS-based players among the 18 (Donovan, Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching).
Among the more intriguing selections are Cory Gibbs, back after a long injury layoff, and Benny Feilhaber, who did not make the U.S. Under-23 national team roster for Olympic Qualifying just two weeks ago.
If you’re wondering where players such as Jozy Altidore, Freddy Adu, Maurice Edu and Stuart Holden are, all three are being given a break after going though Olympic Qualifying.
Here is the roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Eddie Lewis (Derby County)
FORWARDS: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (1860 Munich)
What do you think of the roster? Share your thoughts below.
——————————–Howard———————–
Cherundolo——–Bocanegra—-Onyewu—————Spector
Donovan——————-Bradley——————————Lewis
—————————–Dempsey——————————–
——————Johnson ———Wolff——————————–
I would like to see Demerit get his chance in place of Boca, i think he deserves it, on the other hand, like the old saying goes “if it aint broken, don’t fix it” that is why i got Boca in there.
Donovan on the right, because 1.) he needs to be on the field, 2.) so does bradley and demsey, 3.) we need 2 fowards up front, enuff w donovan and dempsey playing up front, they are not true fowards. Its good that we have that option, but We need them providing service up top.
That is a HUGE reason for our lack of goals. Just take a look at Ives piece last week on US lack of goals. Yes i know we did’nt much of an option before, but hey i think it is time EJ top step it up, give him the nod and for Wolf to show what he got, hes been playing in Germany pretty consistant. Lets see what he got. Its a friendly, so lets see what EJ and Wolf can do together with the service they can get from a midfield like what i have listed.
And lastly, Lewis on the left, aside fromt the fact that he is a true left footer, also because of his service, he’s playing week in week out in the EPL. Its not like we have another choice, we dont have much options with DMB and Convey unavailable.
Agreed dano, but White also starts in Europe albeit in the Danish top flight for AGF Aarhus. Maybe Bradley felt he got a decent enough look at White in the early spring games?
– One things to the screamers:
Adu has not met his new manager at Benfica. He probably would like to do this before their next match day.
I agree on Josh Wolfe Yank, but I think that this summer, with MLS in season, we’re going to have to use our Euro based guys extensively. I think Bob probably just brought him in to have a look and compare him to EJ. One of them needs to play the speedy forward role.
Hopefully our guys play well in Europe.
There is more than considerable irony in the statement “wankers abroad.”
This roster is missing four attacking players and a central midfielder due to U-23 qualifying and injury. Freddy Adu just dragged the U.S. into the Olympics, and Jose Altidore was around for the ride. Adu has earned a rest, and a chance to break into the Benfica first team for the run in.
DaMarcus Beasley is recovering from a knee injury and Bobby Convey has played well for the Reading reserves in the last three weeks, but has yet to see any first team action since the knee injection he took after the Mexico match. Obviously, the versatile Maurice Edu also played with the U-23s.
In addition to those five, Frank Simek is still recovering at Sheffield Wednesday, but should be available to compete for a spot on the bench in the summer.
Few of the MLS players are fit, and that explains only three call ups there. That and a lack of quality players, (outside of those who are currently playing for U-23s). Frankly, the entire U-23 team was shocking yesterday, MLS and non-MLS alike. From MLS Guzan and Bornstein would really be in the frame outside of those already on the Olympic team if they were fit. (And Taylor Twellman)
Just seeing Cory Gibbs on the roster is fantastic, and he has completed a full 90 minutes in three reserve matches for Charlton recently. I still remember the hammer blow I felt when he experienced the second major injury prior to the 2006 WC.
I have no problem with the Lewis selection, but Josh Wolff has been poor for TSV 1860 this year. Jeremiah White would have made a bit more sense. Perhaps Neven Subotic would have warranted a call? He’s played extremely well for Mainz, but they’re are plenty of CBs on the roster.
Outside of Wolff for White this roster was just about the best available under the circumstances.
The real question is if Michael Bradley will get to play an attacking midfield role in this match.
what is this message that Bradley should be sending Feilhaber? it is a little strange that Benny would get a call-up to the senior team after getting snubbed by the u-23s, but the u23 games counted and Nowak wanted guys who were playing regularly.
if Benny is simply getting the shaft at Derby, it doesn’t make sense to punish him even further by “sending messages”…maybe he does well in the friendly and it gets teams interested in securing him via a loan or transfer…either way, it’s a FRIENDLY so it’s harmless to call him up and the options were limited anyway…i’d only have a problem with this if another deserving, young player wasn’t called up, at Benny’s expense.
not sure how Feilhaber makes this lineup still if he can’t even make the U23 one. Novak sent Benny a message, Bob needs to as well. Interesting to see Gibbs on there after only reserve action. Last Demerit better get the nod over Boca in the center, I think I’d rather have a guy who actually plays for his club team starting…….
Happy to finally see the line up, no surprises really.
IMO, Gibbs is coming back from injury and got called in to give Bob a look at him — he won’t start or play. Benny hasn’t done jack since last summer.
What I’d like to see with this lineup (not what will happen)
Howard
Dolo Gooch Spector Pearce
Donovan Bradley Clark Lewis
Dempsey
Johnson
The idea of Landon on the wing is growing on me. He’s got the pace for sure, and his passing is easily sufficient.
I think Dempseys one of the most motivated players for the US. He doesn’t get rattled in big games like some other “leaders” on the team. When the pressures on he’ll come to play.
I’m soooooooooo sick of Dempsey and EJ. They havent done crap for the US Nats except for statistically lead each game in step overs, making Hejduk step overs look rare. Also, both of their work rates are that of a new born sheep.
Has anyone noticed that Dempsey has come off the bench for garbage minutes the past couple of games for Fulham? When he’s on the pitch he seems uninterested. This comment was made (I think by Ives) during the last international match he played. I see the same thing while playing for Fulham. Maybe it’s the coach, maybe it’s the system or maybe it’s just that he doesn’t really like playing soccer. Either way, he doesn’t ever seem mentally ready to play.
I think Spector deserves a start. He is starting in a mid table PL team, and the only other defender playing at that level right now is Cherundolo. Boca should be a sub.
Not sure of purpose of Lewis and Wolff boy. They are OUT for WC sud africa. Pearce and Gibbs — yeah? Gonna get these guys some playing time — a little “practice” during a Poland friendly? UMMMMM well….so much about picking players in form
How about calling up some more MLSers> The wankers abroad will hate, but oh well.
Has everyone who is yammering about how poorly Eddie Johnson is doing at Fulham considered that it might not be his ability but his style of play that isn’t a fit for that league?
Fulham plays the most mind-numbingly boring soccer I’ve ever seen. I watch their matches because I almost feel it’s my patriotic duty to do so.
The same goes for Feilhaber. It’s laughable that he’s being judged as incompetent because he doesn’t play at Derby. I think you could make a decent case that NOBODY plays soccer at Derby.
I think they’d both be better served by going to more technical teams in Holland or Spain. They’re both far too subtle in their play to be stuck in the ping-pong, mindlessly frenzied running ‘style’ of the lower EPL.
I don’t know if it’s strictly manager’s preference, but something strange has to be going on with Bocanegra if he can’t break into the starting defense at Fulham. I thought I read somewhere that he wants to go to Coventry in the summer, which if true, could be read as a sign that he’s given up on the season and his career at Fulham. (Obviously, I’m not saying that’s the case. I’m not the biggest Boca fan, but I would never say he’s soft, or a quitter.) But, seeing as how he has had virtually no minutes lately, when you have other options that have been playing I think you have to take a look at them, don’t you? Demerit being the poster boy for this group, although he’s just coming back from injury now, and has been playing right-back for Watford. I’m just not happy with the defensive partnership of Onyewu and Bocanegra, if we start them against Spain, what’s the over-under on goals for Torres? 2? I might take the over. Lewis is the best option for now at LW, but what about this lineup? Obviously, it won’t happen, because Bradley plays the same people.
———–Howard———–
Dolo–Spector—Demerit–Pearce
—Donovan-Bradley–Lewis—
———-Dempsey———–
—-Johnson—–Ching——-
Flip Onyewu for Spector if you wanted to have more versatility on the bench, maybe flip Donovan and Dempsey, but this gets the best players on the field. Of course, based on previous lineup choices, I’m not sure getting the best players on the field is Bob Bradley’s goal, but there’s always hope.
I don’t see why all of you are hating on Benny. I would put him in my starting XI every time and the reason he didn’t make the u23 squad was because he thought he was doing well working his way into the Derby line up and wanted to stay in England. The kid is good at possessing the ball and he plays some great balls into space but since we don’t any strikers that like to run at people/actually run (cough cough thats you EJ cough cough)then most of the time it goes unnoticed. To say we shouldn’t call him in because he gets no PT at Derby is insane. They have 10 points on the season; clearly the managing is terrible. Mark my words, Benny will be on the 2010 and 2014 WC rosters and be one of teams strengths.
Dempsey – Ching
Lewis – Bradley – Feilhaber – Donovan
Pearce – Bocanegra – DeMerit – Cherundolo
Howard
Spector for Cherundolo
Johnson for Dempsey
Clark for Bradley/Feilhaber
woo, josh wolff back in favor? lets see
Copy/pasting what I posted at another forum.
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of lineup we will see.
Heres what would make sense
————–Howard————–
Cherundolo-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Pearce
Donovan–Bradley–*Insert*—Lewis
————-Dempsey————–
————-Johnson————–
I’d say this serves up a couple questions here. I think the first is the obvious: Who do you start next to Bradley? You’d think it’d be either feilhaber or clark. But, with feilhaber not even making the olympic team, is this even realistic? I mean he may have just wanted to go back because he thought he had a chance at PT at derby, but maybe he was beat out for a spot. So thats easy, plug clark there. But wait, anybody remember the USA-Mexico game? Yeah, the whole clark/bradley tandem thing didn’t work out too well. So who’s left? Well, you could always plug donovan or maybe even dempsey there. out of the two id say leave donovan out on the wing and play dempsey there, simply because Donovan has had more time there recently and he has a bit more pace than dempsey. However, You could also play Boca there. I believe boca has seen time at defensive mid for fulham frequently, and was seen there recently against everton. Then that would slide either Spector or DeMerit into the CB role, with spector also being an option at Center mid. Don’t know how BB is going to do this, I guess it just depends on if he plans on being offensive-minded or defensive minded. I’ve already written too much on this haha, but here are some of those formations in a nutshell.
————-Howard————-
Cherundolo-Onyewu-Spector-Pearce
————-Bocanegra———-
Donovan——Bradley—–Lewis–
——-Dempsey——————
——————Johnson——-
with Spector/Boca being interchangeable
or
————–Howard————–
Cherundolo-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Pearce
————–Bradley————-
Donovan——-Dempsey——–Lewis
——–Ching——–Johnson——
and this happens to be my favorite
————–Howard————–
Cherundolo-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Pearce
Donovan——-Bradley——–Lewis
——Dempsey———Johnson—–
————–Ching—————
And then of course the second is: Do you pair up Johnson and Dempsey to see if they learned something new at fulham? Maybe a nice game for the 2 up top might say something to Mr. Hodgson about his lineup picking and why he keeps playing danny murphy (who is shite lately) over dempsey. I personally like the 3rd option because ching has always been known for decent holdup play, I’d like to see some chem between EJ/Demps, and I’ve always liked attacking formations.
P.S. Eddie lewis is our best option at Left mid right now whether people like it or not. Convey is still trying to get back in form from the mexico injury, Beasley is rehabbing, and id much rather have a 33 year old experienced vet that gets PT in one of the worlds best leagues over brad davis and justin mapp who both play in an inferior league (yes I said it) that is out of season. People complain way too much.
And this is what, EJ’s 3rd game at fulham? Let him play out the season before you guys get out the noose. I’ll admit he looked horrible on saturday, but against everton I thought he looked decent and he def can improve. I’d just rather let things unfold, for all we know he has a really good game next week. and if by the end of the season he isn’t going anywhere then we can release the dogs.
And im not ruling out a clark/bradley tandem in the middle, as that is what BB is probably going to use. But I can’t be too confident after seeing them play mexico..
US odds are around 2.75 right now, kind of like it, if we can play defensive and hold the fort then manage some pk for Lando
Nice to Brian Ching healthy enough for the USMNT.
As we move towards the WC qualifier in June, who will form the best strike tandem with Jozy? Brian, Clint, Freddy, EJ, Landon, Preston? Anyone getting ahead of them in the pecking order before South Africa next year?
FYI:Poland Squad
Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic), Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United), Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal).
Defenders: Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht), Pawel Golanski (Steaua Bukarest), Mariusz Jop (FC Moscow), Jacek Bak (Austria Vienna), Michal Zewlakow (Olympiakos), Grzegorz Bronowicki (Red Star Belgrade), Arkadiusz Radomski (Austria Vienna).
Midfielders: Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dariusz Dudka (Wisla Krakow), Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan), Michal Pazdan (Gornik Zabrze), Wojciech Lobodzinski (Wisla Krakow), Lukasz Gargula (GKS Belchatow), Jacek Krzynowek (VfL Wolfsburg).
Forwards: Maciej Zurawski (Larissa), Euzebiusz Smolarek (Racing Santander), Lukasz Piszczek (Hertha Berlin), Radoslaw Matusiak (Wisla Krakow), Pawel Brozek (Wisla Krakow).
Eddie Johnson should be given a rest, too. He is absolutely worthless on the pitch in the EPL… He shows no apparent interest in acclimating to the level of play; or, perhaps he just can’t cut the mustard.
Heath Pearce’s lack of quality play is getting tired, too. Surprised to not see Bornstein or Califf brought back into the mix.
Eddie Lewis??? Are you kidding me? Waste of a slot. Josh Wolff falls in this category, as well. Cherundolo is an iffy selection, at best.
Negativity aside (along with the mediocre players), some good picks here….Still would have liked to get another look at Edu, Califf, Bornstein, Adu….
LIMB PICK: Eskandarian. He deserves a shot.
Great to see Gibbs back with the nats. Excellent group of defenders, midfield is thin and forward is ok. I think Bradley might do what he did against Mexico in the gold cup and start Donovan and Ching up top with the possibility of Donovan and Dempsey switching. Here is the line-up I think Bradley will go with:
————Howard—————-
Dolo—–Boca—–Gooch—–Pearce
Dempsey—Bradley—Clark—-Lewis
——–Ching——Donovan——–
-The only change I would make is Feilhaber for Clark. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Donovan and Dempsey playing as the outside mids with Ching and Wolff up top, just to experiment while Beasley is still out.
where is the game being played? somewhere in Europe I take it?
Snooze. Is there anything new here? We’ve seen this roster countless times, the formation never changes, there is never a new idea with it and the results are lackluster. I don’t know what, if anything, we’re going to get out of this Poland match with this roster.
Since our last European matches, our guys for the most part have either been benched by their club teams or are in relegation battles. If any other country was facing this situation, they would likely choose a new group of players rather than trot out all the same guys.
With the very notable exception of Mike Bradley, who is having a great season. (not counting goalkeepers)
Here is the set up for the guys that deserve to play in this match (from this roster):
—–Ching——Dempsey—–
Lewis—————-Donovan
———-Bradley———–
———–Rico————-
Pearce——————Dolo
——-Gooch—DeMerit——
———-Howard————
I want to see Ching and Altidore. That would be amusing. EJ and Altidore could be cool also.
No 4-5-1 please. I actually like MZ’s lineup. But we should also remember how well Donovan and Ching play with each other. I’d strongly consider giving Donovan time up top with Ching if they’re not able to effectively connect with LD at right wing.
Say what you will about Eddie Lewis but at least he puts every shot he takes on frame.
EJ was terrible this weekend against Newcastle, why is he still getting called in to the national team? He’s got speed, but doesn’t do anything. And why is Feilhaber getting called in to camp? He’s not even playing with Derby County. So much for bringing in players that are playing well with their club teams.
Josh Wolff? Really?
When do you think we can expect the Poland roster?
Ives: Has Clint D officially made the move to forward? I know Fulham has been playing him there because of their lack of decent strikers, but I always remembered him in the midfield.
4-5-1 with Ching as an island striker, Donovan withdrawn behind Ching, and Dempsey playing in the midfield out wide on the right?
I really don’t have a problem with this roster. There are enough players here who could be important parts of the national team going forward but present questions, and hopefully this game can help provide answers. I won’t outline all of them, but I’ll just say that in the back, Cherundolo is the only player who is a lock to start for the next few years; in the middle, we can yell all we want about the inclusion of Lewis but the fact is we don’t have a better (healthy and in form) left winger right now; and up front, I too don’t think Wolff is going to be much of a factor going forward, but I can’t think of who else would be 4th on our European forward depth chart. Every other player is potentially important in the long run and I want to see what they do on Wednesday. This game won’t fully answer questions about them – no single game does, despite the knee-jerk reactions fans have to individual games – but their performances will add to our knowledge base for each of them, and that’s what friendlies are for.
Best group of defenders I’ve seen the mnt field in a loooooong time. Those are the guys I want on the field for the U.S.
No Problem Blustar, would have been good to have the full squad but I’m sure the full squad will be available for the England, Spain and Argentina matches.
can people please rid Ives’ posts before blasting out retarded questions.
Gibbs will become the 2010 team’s version on John O’Brien…Hopefully he can come back and give that backline a needed boost. I still remember Gibbs shutting down Van Nelsetelroy in Amsterdam. Healthy, I like him as a starter.
Gibbs? The guy is just coming back from a long injury rehab and hasn’t even played for his first team after signing with them almost 2 yrs ago. Maybe he should decline this call up since his last 2 injuries were picked up on national time duty.
Oops! my bad, sorry about that.
Read the post Blustar
Just want to repeat a question asked ealier Ives, WHY NO ADU!!!???
Danny, all I’ve heard is that the Adu-Feilhaber thing was fiction.
Line up and explanations:
they have a good chance to win this game and i hope they don’t blow it by going with josh wolff. He was non-existent in the brazil game and can’t hold up the ball.
My lineup:
————Howard—————-
Dolo—–Boca—–Gooch——-Pearce
Donovan—Bradley—Feilhaber—-Lewis
——–Ching——Dempsey——–
feilhaber looked good in his brief spell against mexico and Clark was to say it kindly, poor. Pearce plays LB for rostock, although he is able to move across the back line, similar to spector. Since cherundolo is on the right side and bocanegra and Gooch have the middle sown up. I see Pearce on the left, the same place he played against south africa. Spector could break in at LB if he has a good camp but he doesn’t play LB for West Ham, although he is capable of it. Look for Johnson, feilhaber, spector, demerit, and hanheman to get significant time as sub’s and gibbs and wolff little if any.
This would have been a great game to have seen Holden play in, just like the other guys I thought should have been there.
After watching Fulham play last weekend I have to say that our striker options make me sad.
I do like the rest of the roster. I would like to see Demerit get a start.
Why no Jozy or Adu, is it because they just played in the U-23’s?
Yeah, the Feilhaber thing is weird. Either Bradley is essentially saying that Nowak has no eye for talent/form or something mighty peculiar happened with Feilhaber at the U23 camp. Maybe both.
No Altidore or Adu? And Eddie Lewis give me a break that guy is way too old. Josh Wolff he is not up to par of the National Team. Good thing our defense is the only part that he called up that is not laughable at. Seriously half the forwards really aren’t even in the picture anymore. Midfielders aren’t bad except like I said Lewis and Benny didn’t deserve a call up.
No Adu?
Ives, any truth to a bust up btwn Feilhaber & Adu?