Robbie Findley, Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez have been chosen to try and solve the U.S. team need at forward after all three were named to the USA 23-man World Cup roster.
Veteran striker Brian Ching did not make the squad in the most surprising omission, while wing options Alejandro Bedoya and Robbie Rogers also missed the cut.
Here is the full squad:
USA World Cup Team
Goalkeepers– Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan
Defenders– Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Bornstein
Midfielders– Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, DaMarcus Beasley, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Francisco Torres
Forwards– Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley
What do you think of the selections? Which snub was the most surprising? Which selection did you not see coming?
Share your thoughts below.
Maybe that’s just it. Findley’s upside is definitely better than Ching’s, especially taking into account their age. Maybe Bradley is wanting to give Findley the experience of a World Cup knowing that Ching won’t be in the player pool for much longer. I don’t think Ching’s omission loses us a game or even necessarily a goal. If Findley grows into a better player because of this experience, then to me it is worth it.
I disagree, Demps is up top
Edu is the 8th defender if needed.
He’ll get more practice time and avoid bone-headed moves like when he let the guy waltz in on Guzan.
What’s up with the comment section? Is it just me, or is nobody elses comments loading?
If he does I will be really upset.
Is Jozy Altidore’s spot in the starting XI a certainty? Seems to me like he’s a forward who never scores a goal.
This is the XI I’d like to see.
Howard
Spector Gooch DeMerit Boc
Feilhaber Edu Bradley Holden
Donovan Dempsey
What gives with making the guys wear their Nike warmup JACKETS zipped up during the entire announcement ceremony … while it was 90F and sunny?
A couple guys dared to unzip the jackets and apparently were told to zip ’em back up, because they were all zipped up when the camera panned back for final whole team shot. I hope USSF got some HUGE coin from Nike for putting the guys through that (made me want to run right out and buy my very own … NOT!). Reminded me of USSF’s decision to host the ’86 semi-final qualifier against Costa Rica in LA. A tie would’ve got the US through to finals. But, USSF wanted a big crowd. It worked, CR won 1-0 and moved on over the US in front a very friendly crowd … IN THE USA!
Wow. I’m really surprised Ching didn’t make the cut. I thought he was a lock. All I’ve been reading leading up to this point was that he’s had a good camp. Also, his performance last night was solid. I would rather have Eddie J. than Findley, I hope he proves me wrong. No Bedoya either! I’m a little upset now.
Have you ever seen our midfield play? Our midfield is good at bunkering down and that is about it. They are not good at keeping possession and providing our forwards with consistent service. Ching would have been good to have bc he can hold the ball up while our mids get forward and then distribute. With Ching gone I have a feeling our only offense against England will be hopeful long balls over the top.
Definetly can live with this lineup, shocked about Ching, but thank God no Klejstan! Bornstein not great, but he needs a left backup, hopefully it will be Bocanegra that starts.
tried too hard/was too stressed; he made it impossible to keep him though with his sloppy play – even sloppier than JB
because aside from Clint they’re all by world cup standards mediocre, so the more the merrier?
So BB increases his odds that one of them has a couple good games and we get out of group stage?
Any injures to the backline and we’ll suffer. Forward pool is very weak.
I was really rooting for Pearce last night, mostly because I’m not a fan of Bornstein. He was to blame for 2 goals though. He definitely looked crushed. You could see it in his face after that missed slide tackle
+1
Davies isn’t even as fit as Onyewu, according to medical experts, his team, and USMNT.
+1
Wow. Major props to the guy in the game day post yesterday that said Findley didn’t play because he was a lock.
With forwards understandably dominating this discussion, I’d like to introduce two equally and perhaps more important topics:
PLAYMAKING CENTER-MIDI: This is arguably the most important position on the field, and while I love MB’s tenacity and presence, he’s much better in a defensive center-midi roll, crunching tackles and winning possession. Which begs the question who he should be paired with. Clark is a solid all arounder, but mediocre playmaker. I like Feilharber. But on pure talent, I’d love to see Torres get a chance.
LEFT BACK: With Beasley showing increasing form, BB could make a bold move and start Beasley. With Donovan in front of him, they’d be one of the fastest flanks in the WC.
It seems to me that the last few spots on the roster are less who is the best player and more who is more likely to help in a desperate situation. The only time any of the bench forwards will see the field are if we are down a goal late. in that case I think bradley thought that speed from findley and gomez would be more valuable than size from ching. Even though Ching may be a better player, the skills he brings are more likely to be used by dempsey or altidore, therefore he is expendable unlike someone like findley who has speed that can not be duplicated by many other players in the pool
I would have liked to have seen Bedoya as well but since the late sub sparkplug role is going to be filled by Gomez and Findley there is no room for him.
Since you think Bob is stupid and Klinsmann is great read this:
_____________
Klinsmann broke off US talks partly over MLS
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
May 25, 6:06 pm EDT
Buzz up! 9 PrintBRISTOL, Connecticut (AP)—Juergen Klinsmann broke off talks to become coach of the U.S. football team in 2006 because he wasn’t guaranteed top players the following summer for two preparation tournaments ahead of World Cup qualifying.
The former German national team coach, who will be an ESPN analyst for this year’s tournaments, visited the network’s campus for the first time Tuesday and spoke in some detail about his decision to end talks with the U.S. Soccer Federation in December 2006.
Klinsmann and USSF president Sunil Gulati discussed player availability for the 2007 Copa America and CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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“There were different opinions, you know, what players could get the permissions in MLS, what role it plays,” he said. “And I thought here, it’s not going the right directions in that specific moment. … So I said, ‘You know, it’s OK, move on.”‘
Gulati then hired Bob Bradley, who is preparing to coach the U.S. in the World Cup next month.
Klinsmann, who moved back to California with his family in December, wouldn’t say whether he would be interested in coaching the U.S. one day.
“I don’t know what happens, you know, over the next couple weeks, you know, or even in a year from now,” he said. “But I think it’s not correct if you discuss something that involves somebody that is actually in charge. And I hope he will stay in charge for a long, long time.”
He went on to praise Bradley as “a great choice.”
“He’s a very knowledgeable and hardworking coach, you know, and I have the highest respect for him,” Klinsmann said.
Klinsmann was a member of Germany’s World Cup team in 1990, 1994 and 1998, and he coached Die Mannschaft to a third-place finish as host in 2006. He agreed in January 2008 to become coach of Bayern Munich the following summer, but was fired in April 2009 with the club in third place in the Bundesliga following its quarterfinal elimination from the Champions League.
As Bayern’s coach, Klinsmann brought over Landon Donovan in early 2009 on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy. Donovan appeared in five Bundesliga games and one German Cup match, failing to score.
“It was absolutely not a disappointment, it was Landon taking a big risk coming in for three months, knowing ahead of him is Luca Toni, Miro Klose and Lukas Podolski,” Klinsmann said. “He made a lot out of it. You know, I was not agreeing with the board that he was sent back home, and was not agreeing with a lot of things.”
Klinsmann said the stars of Bayern Munich, a group that included Franck Ribery, Lucio, Martin Demichelis, Daniel Van Buyten and Mark van Bommel, didn’t make it easy on Donovan.
“They don’t tell you, you know, ‘Good to have you here, you know. We give you the starting spot.’ They tell you the opposite,” Klinsmann said. “But he experienced that and he worked his way through.”
Donovan had a far better experience this year on loan to Everton. He had 11 starts and scored two goals in 13 matches, helping the Toffees beat Chelsea and Manchester United, and tie against Arsenal. Donovan was voted the team’s player of the month for January.
Klinsmann said he had told Bayern officials to “give him more time and he will break through.”
“They didn’t want to give him the time,” he said. “And it made me sad in a certain way, but made him I think even stronger. Now it’s his momentum this World Cup.”
In 2002 at the World Cup, Klinsmann said Donovan “was a nobody.”
“For 2006, for the entire group was a disappointment,” he said. “But now it’s time, it’s time to step up, and he can do that.”
Former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, also an ESPN World Cup analyst, predicted the U.S. could upset England in its opener on June 12.
“This is the easiest group the U.S. has ever been in. If they don’t get out of this group, not only will it be a disappointment, but it will be a failure,” he said. There are points to be had against England “and not just one point. There’s a possibility that they can certainly get three points. While it will go around the world as this incredible moment and this incredible upset, I look at it not as such a big surprise. I think that England isn’t as good as certainly they believe or that others believe. And I think the U.S. at times is a whole lot better than people give them credit for.”
Agree, Buddle is big enough to play a target man.
im happy beasley made the team, as well as gomez
+90 on that reply.
I think you’re right with Gomez coming on for Altidore in the 65-75 minute or so.
except that Jozy’s forgotten how to finish – so I could see the starters being Dempsey and Altidore,Buddle or Findley, whichever of the 3 looks hot and fits BB’s tactics for the game. With Heculez the 2nd half sub.
habbout ching?
True, however this is not the 100 or 200 meter sprint. Also speed will kill….. us, because of Findley lack of intelligence and touch.
can ching replace JB at left back?
Come on you yanks!!!
I am happy with Ching being left off the 23 man squad. His field awareness is bad, he’s not a good finisher and he can’t hold the ball. He played okay last night against the Czechs, but honestly, that could be attributed to the runs that Gomez was making and bringing the defense to him. Right now, Buddle is playing much better than Ching and both are similar players and you go with who is better at this point in time. Buddle is a better finisher and I think Buddle can hassle defenses enough to give Altidore some spacing.
I know most are concerned with our forward line. I am more concerned with our defense. Gooch is no where near the form he had last year before his injury. But he is a better option than Marshall. I wish we had better left backs. Bornstein is a joke. But Heath Pierce was even worse last night against a Czech “B” squad. I just pray Bornstein holds his own against England, Slovenia & Algeria, but somehow I doubt it. Demerit, Bocanegra, Goodson, Cherundulo and Gooch are going to have their hands full with playing their own position and making up for the deficiencies of Bornstein. May have to sit him and put Cherundulo or Bocanegra on the left side or drop Torres back. Heck, maybe you use Findley as a left back – use his speed, if he can play an ounce of defense. Still, I am somewhat happy with the overall selections of the 23 man roster. I think this is our best options.
tell em.
I actually think the striker pool (plus the form of Beasely and Holden) means we’re going to see a Dempsey Altidore pairing up top with Buddle and Gomez serving as 60 minute subs for Jozy.
The other think I took from yesterday’s match is that maybe Hanemann should be given a run out as #2. Guzan looked pretty rusty whereas marcus has faced nearly all of England’s starts in matched in the past three months with Wolves.
Still, really surprised that Ching didn’t get the call.
starting lineup against England (and hopefully on Saturday)
Howard
Spector Goodson DeMerit Bocanegra
Donovan Bradley Edu Beasely
Altidore Dempsey
subs: Holden and Buddle at +60
Bedoya and Ching…but ok 1’s too young and 2’s too old, so ok, we move on.
In BB we trust ; )
I am going to be very “original” — I am shocked that Findley is included. From what I’ve seen, he offers nothing beyong the ability to run fast. I would have taken Brian Ching, a veteran who does have some ability to hold the ball, finish in the air, etc. Hopefully, the coaching staff know what they are doing.
Beasley vs. Bedoya — tough call. Bedoya seems to be the future, but Beasley is a proven veteran and he looks to be coming back into form. He played decently last night and against the Netherlands.
Other than that, I think that’s the 23 I’d pick.
Speed kills. US strikers will not be successful playing with their back to goal against England. They might be with speed. Terry and Ferdinand are solid, but are not very fast.
kop,
I’m with you that the process is longer than one half, but I’m surprised that Findley was already a lock and that Ching really had no chance considering how well he played (my opinion).
USA!
Gooch is now a peg leg! I now understand why he was so gracious to give AC Milan a free year. It was painful to watch him limp around out there. I think we are going to need to start Goodson and Demerit in the center
Substantively, I most certainly did not.
conspiracy, us soccer put pressure on bradley to take more mls based players. it gives the league more exposure then
one of WAYNE rooneys biggest weakness is if he doesnt get involved in games or if denfence neutralize him he gets mad and doesnt play up to his potential but he kan come up with something out of nothing, crouch, rooney, lampard, and gerrard are theyre main guys to watch out for
Could Harkes have made any more excuses for how we played last night? The “Results don’t matter, its about evaluating players” excuse no longer applies. Now we need to win.
Quick question: are players allowed to wear compression sleeves or knee braces in soccer? If so, Gooch needs to put one on so he’ll have a little extra support and mental confidence to go up and win those 50/50s.
Simple question – who would you add at LB in Bornstein’s place?
I think it is fair to assume that Bocanegra is gonna be pushed out there as the starting LB. When you get past Spector and Cherundolo as the other locked in fullbacks, you have to figure we need a comfortable fourth just in case.
Beasley was tried at LB and simply can’t do the job at the international level. Someone had to be the fourth fullback. Bornstein may not be that good but he’s no worse than any other option we have.
+1
Obviously you don’t know much about Buddle’s past. 03-05 he scored 30 goals with columbus, 08 he scored 15 just two behind the leader Landon Donovan who won the golden boot. He has a knack for the goal but has been hampered by injuries. Lets also not forget he has scored 9 goals this season in 9 games. I would say he is known for his finishing ability.
I agree. Interestingly Onyewu was beat because he was out of position and wasn’t able to back-peddle quickly enough to get to the cross.
I don’t necessarily blame that on athleticism or physical fitness. Why was he 5 feet off his man in the first place? It looked to me more like a positional error than a physical one. In that respect I think a couple more friendlies under his belt can help him with that…..at least that is my hope. He maybe mostly fit, but he isn’t match ready.
Findley is the starter next to Jozy! Mark it down. Bob was so impressed with Findley that he didn’t need to see him play last night. Findley is the front runner right now for the spot next to Jozy.
I was very surprised that Ching was left off the plane, but it makes sense that Bradley wants a versatile squad and Ching’s skills are duplicated elsewhere. If you need hold up play then Dempsey can deliver. Or Buddle might be the guy. Even Altidore showed at Hull with his impressive assist total that he might provide some of what you need.
But Findley can deliver speed and 1v1 that Ching could not match. Imagine this scenario – 20 minutes to go against Algeria and the USA needs one goal to advance from the group. Who do you put in the game? A guy who can slow the game and hold up? Or a guy who can beat his defender against a bunkering Algeria?
For once, I agree with BB on almost everything. I would just switch Ching and Findley. Findley hasn’t shown much promise in games (maybe he looks brilliant in practice; I couldn’t say), but Ching did what he was supposed to last night, and the through ball to Gomez was sublime, it’s a shame Gomez was shooting at one of the world’s best keepers or else that hard shot may have squirted into the net.
Anyway, generally content with this list, but we could definitely use a veteran presence at striker. And I think we’d be better off with Dempsey at RW. Holden shows a lot of promise, but I have concerns about him. Granted, when Dempsey plays up top for us he scores in bunches, so I suppose I could live with that.
Too bad Bedoya didn’t make the cut, I thought he had some good movements and passes last night, but he did look a little out of sync compared to his competition. I was afraid that Robbie Rogers’ blast that was saved by Cech was going to net him a spot, but I’m glad to see Bradley look past it and take notice of his multiple inadequacies. I’m getting really excited; 16 days till the World CUp kicks off, 17 till USA-England!!!