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Who should Klinsmann call up for the October friendlies?

JuergenKlinsmann1 (ISIPhotos.com)

The U.S. men's national team's roster for October's friendlies is expected to be released this afternoon, and while we will find out soon enough just who Jurgen Klinsmann plans on taking a look at in the upcoming matches vs. Honduras and Ecuador.

There have been several players who have stepped up in the week's following the last U.S. national team matches in early September, the losses to Costa Rica and Belgium, so we should get a new mix of players coming in for the next camp in South Florida.

For one thing, midfielder Jose Torres is sidelined by a broken foot. Secondly, the disappointing performances of the likes of Edgar Castillo and Michael Orozco in the last go round make it tough to see Klinsmann calling them up yet again. Then again, you can't be too sure with Klinsmann.

Even if Klinsmann is without all three Mexican League-based players for the October friendlies, there are some other players plying their trade in Mexico who should get a look in the upcoming camp.

So who should be getting called up for the October friendlies? Here's a 21-man squad we could see getting the call from Klinsmann:

PROJECTED USMNT ROSTER FOR OCTOBER FRIENDLIES

GK – Tim Howard, Bill Hamid

D- Carlos Bocanegra, Timmy Chandler, Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Clarence Goodson, Omar Gonzalez, Jonathan Spector, Zach Loyd

M- Clint Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Brek Shea, Kyle Beckerman, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya

F- Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Juan Agudelo

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Some thoughts.

Gomez and Beasley make the list after enjoying strong starts to the Mexican Primera season. Klinsmann loves the Mexican League, so that makes sense right? It's tough to argue with Beasley's form, and Gomez's ability to score goals coming off the bench has to appeal to Klinsmann.

Oguchi Onyewu is back and it's tough not to see him starting. He is looking like pre-knee injury Onyewu these days playing for Sporting Lisbon, and there's just nobody else better right now to pair with Bocanegra than his old central defense partner.

Does Klinsmann considering giving some players in the thick of the MLS playoff race a rest? Guys like Donovan, Beckerman and Shea? It's something to consider.

There are also a bunch of young Americans on the radar that you can't help but wonder if one or two of them might get a look. Players like Mikkel Diskerud, Josh Gatt or MLS-based players like Freddy Adu and Teal Bunbury.

Omar Gonzalez gets the nod here. He's arguably the most in-form American centerback in MLS and deserves a look considering how well he's playing and how much Tim Ream is struggling. George John is also an option, though he hasn't been in as good a form since the whole Blackburn transfer fiasco.

One player who didn't make the list but was definitely worth thinking about is Robbie Findley. He's starting to get some regular playing time with Nottingham Forest, and by all accounts he's in good form. I know some USMNT fans still hold the whole 2010 World Cup fiasco against him, but when he's on he's a pretty good speed option.

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What do you think of the group selected above? Who didn't make that list that you would like to see get a call-up? Who are you hoping is NOT called up for the October friendlies?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Gonzo is a great option, but no way in hell close to being co
    Pared to the Gooch. I hope you watched the Lisbon vs Lazio game early today….. I’ll stick with the Gooch facing Lazio than Gonzo facing Morelia!lol

    All kidding aside, I wish Gonzo would have gotten the call up over Fiacal.

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  2. You are aware that ADU was involved in all three goals in the last two games of the goal cup, right?! I hope you are Not serious about the Adu hating. Facts don’t lie, son…. Also ADU is not Palemalu, so save the defense bashing aside.

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  3. Yeah sorry meant WC2014 – i keep getting the olympics and world cup mixed up.

    And yes 30+ is the downside of a soccer players career. You want guys that are peaking coming into the world cup, not digressing. Its gonna be a scorcher, dont forget.

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  4. But what makes you think his form will hold? He’s been nothing but inconsistent his entire career. Thats my whole point. The whole “who’s hot right now” is a jab at inconsistent players. Identify the talent early and make something of it. US has been an inconsistent soccer country for some time now and thats the reason why. No system, no chemistry.

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  5. Why is everyone calling for Bedoya? He cant even get consistent playing time at rangers and I think Shea is a far superior player. Let Bedoya settle in at rangers before making him a starter for usmnt.

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  6. You could try looking Gooch up and maybe watching some of his games or at least highlights instead of going by how he played six months, or a year or two ago.

    Sporting Lisbon are one of the traditional big three clubs in Portugal, the others being Porto and Benfica. Look them up if you don’t know what I am referring to.

    They are making a push to get honors this year. My point?

    They aren’t likely to let some donkey start for them.

    One reason they signed Gooch was a need to get better in the air particularly at set pieces. But just in case you didn’t know, soccer is not a game where you can get away with being a “specialist” especially at Sporting’s level. This isn’t the NFL where they can bring him in just for third down aerial coverage.

    If Gooch is starting it’s because he is the center half who gives them the best chance to win.

    And if you think this is unexpected then look at the calendar. It’s almost two years exactly since Gooch hurt his knee. Everyone is different but if you follow athletes with serious knee injuries usually it takes around two years to really get confidence back.

    In about a year’s time maybe we’ll see Holden back. Maybe.

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  7. I agree with you, we want Mix and Gatt, those are great players and John, a good prospect, I don`t know why he wasn`t considered, I´d call them up in a heart beat.

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  8. Boyd isn’t playing first team minutes.

    Gooch is looking pretty good from what I hear at Sporting. Aren’t call ups for in form players? Well Gooch is looking in form.

    And does anybody know the citizenship status of Sapong?

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  9. Not consistent enough to deserve a call up, needs to take that next step IMO to deserve a call up.. And I’m a skc fan… Of our American players, Chance Meyers is maybe an option considering the lack of depth in the pool at outside back.

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  10. For the 1,000,000th time – Ponce is no longer eligible to play for the USMNT. He played for Mexico in the Copa America this summer. Why would you try to invite him?

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  11. in the role we saw Torres in the last 3 games, see what Benny can do and what he can offer different in the final 3rd.

    who else does the board think should get the look at that role from the pool of healthy options?

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  12. Totally agree. Omar Gonzalez is a beast. That kid is the heart of the LA defense and deserves to get some serious minutes for the Nats.

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  13. Seriously that is the worst prediction!

    Onyewu has been good but he lacks what our new players have – ball possession skills.

    Id call up George John, Jeff Cameron, Gonzalez and at least try to invite Miguel Ponce of chivas

    Mids – Adu, Diskerud, Acuna, Donovan, Feilhaber and try to invite Joe Corona

    F – Agudelo, Sapong, bunbury and Terrance Boyd

    (Fabian Johnson and Stu Holen – get well soon)

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  14. I only remember the first 20 minutes of the Gold Cup Final, the rest is a blur of faded images of US defending players running towards their own goal. I also remember a dark-skinned lesbian-esque leprechaun in a Mexico jersey running and dancing around.

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  15. I totally agree! Jozy Altidore is lazy and plays with absolutely no heart. He never fights for 50/50 balls and never pressures the opponent’s defense.

    I’d much rather see Agudelo start up top with Dempsey.

    Heck, I’d rather see Edson Buddle on the team that Lazy Altidore.

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  16. To me the question is whom has a lock on their position from a fit/age is right question for the world cup:
    Howard
    Chandler
    Bocanegra

    Dempsey Donovan Holden Shea [question here is that there is can Holden play the 6 as 6 is the most important position in German football]

    No forwards are a lock.

    Once we have a sense for are permanent spots, then the audition process is more to whom can play the role of the unlocked spots – i.e. Torres will never beat out that four. The next question is can we play 442 without two reliable strikers.

    One of our many midfielders should decide he is a left back and work to become a devastating partner with Shea.

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  17. I think it’s time to take a serious look at Omar Gonzalez, I know he’s made some rosters, but he’s not been given the minutes that Ream has, and he’s been much better. Let’s see exactly what we have in him.

    Donovan, Dempsey, Oneywu, Cherundolo, Howard and Bocanegra need to just stay where they are. We know who they are, let’s try and preserve these, guys for one more cycle as best we can. It’s time to see what the next generation looks like, even if it’s just a peek.

    Reply

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