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Pontius, Spector called into USMNT camp

ChrisPontius (ISIPhotos.com)

D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius and Birmingham City defender/midfielder Jonathan Spector have been called into the U.S. men's national team training camp as injury replacements for Heath Pearce and Zach Loyd, U.S. Soccer announced on Friday.

Pontius and Spector will take part in this week's U.S. training camp ahead of the team's upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica on Friday in Carson, Cal., and Belgium in Brussels on Wednesday, Sept. 6th.

Pontius is enjoy a stellar season for D.C. United as a goal-scoring left winger while Spector brings his usual versatility and skill to the U.S. squad.

Pearce suffered a hamstring injury in Chivas USA's loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday while Loyd has been carrying a knock for some time that he was unable to overcome.

In other USMNT camp developments, Clint Dempsey will join the U.S. team in Belgium for the second friendly and will not be joining the team in camp in California, thereby skipping the Costa Rica friendly.

What do you think of these developments? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Just conjecture on my part… maybe there was a behind the scenes agreement by Klinsmann and FC Dallas not to rob the team of 3 of its best players. Judging by past performance, Brek was chosen?

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  2. In league play, Marshall has 3 more goals (13) than Cameron (10) in 90+ more appearances in MLS.

    Marshall is also the only one of the 3 to make an appearance for the USMNT. Both John and Cameron have been called up but were injured before or during camp.

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  3. I know it kills me too.

    Hell, Bob could have moved Lichaj to RB, brought Tim Ream/Maurice Edu/Jonathan Spector in at CB and moved Boca to LB.

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  4. Wasn’t he available sub in the Gold Cup final? He could of just started him, which I believe was the OBVIOUS choice when Lichaj had been used to Left back the whole Gold Cup and excelled at it.

    Yup just checked the team 18 man game day roster for that day, could of used Spector at RB Bob! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

    (Bangs head against wall in PTSD after Gold Cup final memory =(…..)

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  5. Marshall has flamed out at the senior level, and you might want to check you facts buddy. Columbus has 30 goals against, minus the 6 =24.

    How many does the Galaxy have?

    George John IS the best American defender in MLS right now, I think Cameron can beat him if he were to go back to CB, after all he made Best XI in his 2nd season and 1st as starting Center back.

    But don’t take my word for it, or Neruda, go usa & kris for that matter or even Ives.

    Just read the piece he wrote about the All Star game and the selections the PLAYERS would choose as their MLS starting 11.

    Marshall was like the 5th one. Olave, John, Gonzalez and Ream I believe were higher. Think Ihemelu might of been switched for Ream?

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  6. I doubt that’s true, but I’m 100% sure you have no idea that’s true. And, it’s not even funny.

    Should we call you “Hedgehog” because yuor name is Jeremy?

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  7. Charlie Davies has been pretty honest about the fact that he is a selfish, extremely self centered person.

    Anyone who watched him try to turn the USMNT’s 2010 World Cup into the Charlie Davies redemption tour saw that. And his subsequent behavior at Sochaux was quite similar. Then again good strikers are often arrogant jerks like that.

    From what I’ve seen in DC, his body is letting him down. This is not entirely unexpected and as others have said, he is probably a year away from truly getting back to his best, if that ever happens.

    Gooch suffered for coming back too soon and I believe Davies is doing the same thing. My guess is if and when he ever gets back to his best, the US will have already found better alternatives.

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  8. Agreed and he is doing well and playing every game at Birmingham. If he gets through the rugged Championship schedule with consistent playing time at midfield, he may well be come a solid, albeit unspectacular, central midfield option.

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  9. I watched the game but had limited time so not with 100% attention. Columbus was flat. It’s tough to pin a team whooping on the center back. Marshall has been one of the steadiest defenders in the league his entire career. His team is in first place in the Eastern conference and had the lowest goals against record in the league until Saturday’s misstep. So yeah, he clearly sucks.

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  10. Charlie Davies is still only the fourth best forward on his own team… of course that somehow worked in Teal Bunbury’s favor!

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  11. I would actually like to Spector in the midfield. I think it would be interesting to see how he does. Give him a shot and see what happens. Waiting for Holden…

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  12. Mashall has scored as many goals as Cameron and John combined…

    I like all of these players but John and Cameron hardly rank “above” Marshall.

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  13. Loyd didn’t play Saturday nor was he an option off the bench. Considering that John wasn’t available as well it must mean something

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