The U.S. men's national team returns to action in ten days with a pair of international friendlies, meaning Jurgen Klinsmann will soon be calling his first full camp since taking over as national team manager.
Klinsmann stated after the recent 1-1 draw with Mexico that he would call in the best squad possible, all hands on deck, meaning no healthy top players left behind and no MLS standouts left with their clubs. In other words, the team that converges on Carson, California for a one-week training camp before friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium will be as good a group as the United States can put together.
A look at the pool reveals that Klinsmann will have some tough decisions to make on who to call in, even if he goes with a larger than normal group. While forward remains an area where there are few established options, the defensive call-ups could bring some new names to the mix. The midfield is where Klinsmann is going to have to do some serious trimming as he boasts a plethora of options, both with veterans and a host of young prospects.
Here is a projected 26-man roster that we think could resemble the group Klinsmann calls in for next week's camp:
Projected USMNT Camp Roster for September Friendlies
GK– Tim Howard, David Yelldell, Brad Guzan
D– Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, Steve Cherundolo, Timmy Chandler, Eric Lichaj, Michael Orozco, Edgar Castillo, Zak Whitbread, George John
M- Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Jose Torres, Alejandro Bedoya, Brek Shea, Kyle Beckerman, DaMarcus Beasley, Robbie Rogers
F- Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Juan Agudelo
———
This was one of the tougher rosters to put together that I can remember. The list of players who could have made this squad but didn't is a long one. Here are just some of the missing names to consider:
Marcus Hahnemann, Sean Johnson, Oguchi Onyewu, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Heath Pearce, Drew Moor, Sean Franklin, Fabian Johnson, Josh Gatt, Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber, Brad Davis, Chris Pontius, Joe Corona, Freddy Adu, Mikkel Diskerud, Edson Buddle, Teal Bunbury.
—-
Klinsmann can go in any number of directions. He could choose to leave Jones and Bradley in Germany as they sort out their club situations. He could choose to wait on calling George John as his completes his Blackburn move. He could choose to call in Diskerud, Fabian Johnson and Corona to start the process of getting them cap tied (which the September friendlies can't do). Then there is a promising young talent like Josh Gatt, who is enjoying a stellar run in Europe, or MLS rookie of the year frontrunner C.J. Sapong, who could bring some youthful energy and strength to the forward pool, but who may still be a January camp option.
One of the big issues with trying to read which direction Klinsmann might go is that he's so positive when talking about all his players, even ones who looked to have struggled. Edgar Castillo struggled badly vs. Mexico but Klinsmann praised him. Edson Buddle wasn't particularly effective but Klinsmann raved about his effort.
We'll find out for sure just who Klinsmann really liked against Mexico, and who else he truly has his eye on when he announces his September friendlies squad.
What do you think of the squad? Who is missing that you would like to see added to the list? Who is on the squad that you are surprised to see included?
Share your thoughts below.
+1
Yes, I realize that. I also realize that these two upcoming friendly have nothing to do with CONCACAF qualifying.
I feel that introducing some of the most talented youngsters from the u-teams would benefit them tremendously. However, whether they dress or play is a different scenario. It would be nice to see 1 or 2 of them dress maybe even get 5-10 minutes.
With that said, a full-strength squad at work under Klinsi in Belgium would be great. I wouldn’t be mad if a couple names like Mix, Whitbread, Doyle, Wood, Gyau, Lletget, Alfredo Morales, Storikav, Gatt or Daniel Williams made the trip.
Sorry, forgot to include Spector. Defense or Midfield. For now, I’d keep him on the alternate list, but he is playing for Birmingham in the Championship, so he may be better fit to join the 26-man roster straight up. Depends on injuries as well as current level of the other players.
Brad is a solid player however, it’s going to be really difficult to get a cross into the box if you can’t beat your mark to the ball…otherwise he will be crossing into the box from the half.
+100000
The first part of your comment is fine with me…
Folks are disillusioned. Just because these kidsey are on the USMNT doesnt mean that they must be the best players in our pool. However, I am of the opinion that Gyau would crack any starting line-up in MLS as a winger or Central attacking Midfielder. Just because his club chooses to bring him along slowly does not mean he would be inefective on the international stage…besides we don’t need a shot of youthfullness/attack-minded footballers with a touch of High foot-ball I Q considering all the youth players we have on our team lighting up the opposition’s nets.
Feilhaber? He’s in the MLS now, right? How is he playing?
IVES and others,
Please stop adding Jozy to every predicted squad. HE IS TERRIBLE! How many freaking horrifying performances does he have to have to lose you guys? The kid is not what you want him to be and he never will be.
+1
I’d pair him with JJones and MB in the middle.
His parents? His mom is from El Salvador, and has stated she would like for him to represent La Selecta. Some of you people should just leave you anti-immigrant issue out of soccer, you end up looking like idiot like Howard.
Age-eligible = born in 1989 or later. Some who fit include:
GK: B. Hamid, S. Johnson, Z. MacMath
D: T. Chandler, G. Agbossoumonde, I. Opara, D. Williams, S. Williams, M.A. Ponce, E. White, G. Garza, Z. Valentin, K. Sarkodie, P. Kitchen
M: F. Adu, B. Shea, M. Diskerud, J. Corona, B. Gavin, J. Flores, M. Stephens, A. Okugo, D. Cruz, J. Gyau, L. Gil, F. Hurlezer
F: J. Altidore, J. Agudelo, T. Bunbury, D. Mwanga, O. Salgado, B. Wood
C.J Sapong youthful energy to the forward pool?? This guys older than Teal Bunbury, Altidore, Agudelo and Adu….And While people hype up Agudelo who has 5 goals in 22 games so much, I cant help but wonder if they’ve forgotten about Jack Mac. The kid has 4 goals in 31 games
(SBI-If the four you mentioned, two are on the roster, one is NOT a forward and the fourth is Teal Bunbury, who’s starting spot Sapong took. No, he’s not McInerney young, but he’s already shown more this year than McInerney has. He’s ahead of him in terms of current ability. Let McInerney show something substantial as a regular club contributor before even thinking of mentioning him for the senior team.)
Am I the only one who doesn’t totally understand how Sean Johnson keeps getting talked about on these threads? He might be really good someday, but for the Fire he seems to have a lot of mistakes, albeit mixed with some good saves.
Is this the part where we grossly oversimplify a complicated personal decision?
BB made his share of mistakes at the WC, but I don’t think it is fair to blame him for not using Gomez as a sub. At the world cup, Gomez played 3 games (1 start and 2 games as a sub). In each game, he was ineffective. Perhaps his struggles could be attributed to lack of service from midfield. Gomez is a good player, but he has limited upside and will be on the wrong side of 30 by 2014. I think Klinsmann will try to bring in younger, more talented players, like he did with Germany.
i think you guys misunderstood the point of my comment. i didn’t say choose beas over them, but why would we just throw him out? he can still be a great option off the bench for any of those younger guys. i just think it’s crazy to not include beasley just because he is going to be 33 in 2014.
I wonder if Klinsman’s desire to have more technical ability on the field might give a guy like Brad Davis a shot. His lack of pace hurts him…but I don’t think there is a better crosser of the ball in the US pool.
definitly want to see cherundolo and chandler. feilhaber has been doing well in MLS and with the recent poor form of Jones, I’d rather see benny. also freddy adu looks exciting all of a sudden again. I trust klinsmann will make the right decision.
The bigger question for Klinsi is if/when he is going to develop a system or instead utilize the best players available and choose a formation from there. We all saw that Donovan’s best roll at this point in his career is playing underneath the striker. If you play Donovan/Dempsey out wide than you MUST play a 4-4-2 because of their tendancies to pinch in, and crowd the middle; then work out from there. This allows for more creative middies such as Benny, Holdon(when healty), Paco to be utilized with bangers such as Jones/Edu/Bradley behind them. This necessitates speedy wingers with positional discipline. In my opinion these are the positions that are up for audition, and friendlies are a perfect opportunity for that.
I think it is hard to predict because Klins is such a positive coach. He praised everyone after the game and made sure not to talk negatively about anyone. He is trying to lift spirits. I would like to see him bring in some of the younger talent that is starting to make some noise at home and abroad. Just to show that their is no such thing as the normal team. It is who is playing the best at the time.
Saw that. Sucks if he accepts — although if he got called by us, he would play a game with our FULL team.
Hope he sees the light… Plus, a trip to Bruges maybe, ya?
he hasn’t decided, it was his parents that wanted him to play for Mexico. Seems fair to me, they come to the USA, get all their opportunities here, make a better life for there son here and then send him to play for another nation….
I’m amazed that Parkhurst still doesn’t get any respect.
Yeah, it’s sad to think that his timing may be off (age wise)considering how well he is playing…@ 29. I still think he would be fine for 2014.
Emirates Cup, eurosnot
eurodouche
Mike Magee is God
I guess I’m obligated to jump into this conversation as well.
Haha. That’s exactly what we need.
Goalies: Howard, Guzan, Rimando
Defense: Lichaj, Bocanegra, Cherundolo, Gonzalez, Ream, Chandler, John, Whitbread, Goodson
Midfield: Mix, Adu, Donovan, Dempsey, Edu, Bedoya, Bradley, Jones, Shea, Fabian Johnson
Forwards: Bunbury, Agudelo, Altidore, Buddle
Alternates: Gatt, Feilhaber, Davies, Gomez, Torres, Beckerman, Klestjan
If we’re worried about depth on the wings start incorporating Shea, Chandler (while Dolo is still around), Gatt, and even Gyau. At least those guys are young.
Beasley is close to useless now and irrelevant for the future.
Anyone else read that Corona was called to an Mexico under 23-squad for a game vs Chile. Also, Miguel Ponce on that roster. Looks like we won’t get to see if Corona fits.
lol Jeff Parke… this is a joke right?
If i was the Klinsmeister id bring in some new blood so id deff take a look at Gatt, Fabian Johnson, Corona, and maybe even Daniel Williams Diego Chavarri, and Alfredo Morales.
This would not cap tie him. But it might convince him to play for the US over Mexico.
I thought Torres looked pretty good last game. A lot better than Michael Bradley….. what a joke that guy is.
+1
Sascha is looking like a First XI this season so far at Anderlicht. Seems foolish not to put him on the field for at least the Belgium game.
In fact, what makes most sense is, let the MLS guys play against Costa Rica, let the Euro guys play against Belgium.
My votes:
GK- Tim Howard, David Yelldell, Bill Hamid
D- Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, Steve Cherundolo, Timmy Chandler, Eric Lichaj, Michael Orozco, Jonathan Spector, Zak Whitbread, George John, Fabian Johnson
M- Landon Donovan, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Jose Torres, Alejandro Bedoya, Brek Shea, Robbie Rogers, Freddy Adu, Josh Gatt
F- Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Juan Agudelo, Clint Dempsey,
Castillo looked awful. Confused and overmatched. Not saying he shouldn’t get a second look, but it seemed Lichaj looked far stronger.
Me too… five years ago. Too old to help 2014.
I kind of want to see Geoff Cameron get a shot, mainly at Center Back but I guess we’ll see that in a late November or mid December friendly if they have 1 this year or in Camp Cupcake.
George John probably won’t be at that camp since he’ll be joining Blackburn soon.
But Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Geoff Cameron and if possible Orozco should be brought in. I could live with someone like Cameron teaming up with Goodsen or Omar, oh I guess Goodsen can play in January?
He just came back off of injury a day or two ago.
I think Tim Ream has to work on his game with Red Bulls, and they need to concentrate on making the playoffs.
Omar should be on that team before Ream right now. Whitbread? I’m not sold on him right now, isn’t he coming off an injury?
Where do you leave our captain, just because you have to have 18 players doesn’t mean they all have to get 1 thru 18 numbers.
Best defender in MLS
That’s because Bob kept using him in the completely wrong manner, Gomez was coming off an amazing campaign in Mexico in which he won a tied scoring title basically off of a super super sub role. He needed to be brought in the 2nd half of games, and it should have been Buddle starting next to Jozy and then Gomez would come in for who ever was tied.
I am not thrilled about Beckerman, we have 3 guys capable of being the starting holding mid. Jones, Edu and Bradley. And then we also have Torres and the one that to me was the best option, Holden when healthy. Hell even Spector seems like a better option for that center mid spot than Beckerman, when he played there Spector was great. I’d rather see Corona or Adu or Buddle instead of Kyle?
Only 18 players get to be called up for the actual game so here would be my 18 players I would call up against Costa Rica and Belgium:
1. Tim Howard 2. Timothy Chandler 3. Eric Lichaj 4.Michael Bradley 5. Tim Ream 6. Zak Whitbread 7. Maurice Edu 8. Clint Dempsey 9. Juan Agudelo 10. Landon Donovan 11. Herculez Gomez 12. Josh Gatt 13. Jermaine Jones 14. George John 15. Mikkel Diskerud 16. Fabian Johnson 17. Jozy Altidore 18. Brad Guzan
Play Beautiful.
Ya, cuz they’ve been destroying in qualifying huh haha get out of here man, they’re a side filled with a lot of individual talent, but they are not a great team.
love the aggressive style, who needs a goalie if you score enough goals