Photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann must be feeling a bit of deja vu right now.
As was the case in the United States’ first World Cup qualifier against Antigua & Barbuda back in June, Klinsmann will be without both first-choice left backs, Fabian Johnson and Edgar Castillo, for the Americans visit to Antigua this coming Friday. Castillo has been sidelined by a foot injury and will miss both upcoming World Cup qualifiers while Johnson, who is suffering from a flu, is expected to join the team prior to their match against Guatemala next Tuesday.
“Obviously it’s a difficult situation losing Fabian for the Antigua game and Edgar being unavailable for both,” Klinsmann told ussoccer.com. “We were in a similar situation for the first match against Antigua & Barbuda in June, and we will be prepared.
“Fabian has been ill since the weekend, and we were waiting to see if he would be healthy enough to join us in Miami. At this point, it is in everyone’s best interest to allow him to fully recover from his illness and come into Kansas City ready to play against Guatemala.”
Johnson and Castillo’s absence now leaves Klinsmann without a natural left back for the match in Antigua and it also takes away two more of his wide options. Landon Donovan and Brek Shea were both ruled out on Tuesday with respective knocks.
As things stand now, the U.S. roster is down to 20 players. Klinsmann can summon replacements, but he will not do so for the Antigua & Barbuda match. How things stand after that in terms of injuries and suspensions will determine if he calls in any extra bodies for the Guatemala game.
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What do you think of this development? Who do you see playing left back on Friday? Think it would be a mistake for Klinsmann not to call in a replacement?
Share your thoughts below.
gatt has also played some rb for his club. not left side tho
That’s a great theory. One problem with it: Your expectations Chandler has the capability now during qualifying or in the future in crunch time/backs against the wall when you’re depending on him to say…..”I am committed.”
…and that’s entirely the point. This isn’t spiteful on JK’s part, this is reality. Some of you need to let it go and take a hint.
It’s not time to move on. In fact, it’s past that.
It was time to move on after the first call-up. At best, maybe even the second call-up denial.
This begging mentality is weak and I’m happy JK (and I imagine the US teammates showing up and giving a damn) don’t share it.
Well said. I gave up on Timmy awhile back.
I actually think we have more options than everyone else.
Boc has played LB and I remember seeing Sash hold down the LB spot. Also Edu and Parkhurst could survive Friday.
My concern is on the other end. Same ole problem there…….Not enough goals.
The joke would be on you if this whole thread actually did only consist of school girls posting. haha
Fair enough. I’d like to see Pontius as a Shea replacement myself (Adu…not so much).
And sorry, no suggestions. =p
u r not maybe just a little bit worried, Old School?
No, not five players. According to official Concacaf statistics, six USMNT players are carrying one yellow card and would be suspended for a game if they receive a second: Bradley, Edu, Fabian Johnson, Jones, Zusi and Goodson.
http://tinyurl.com/98gqbfw
your post makes me think you have.
the hyperbole of posters around here is getting more ridiculous by the day and I didn’t think that was possible.
everyone needs to take a deep breath. freaking out like a bunch of school girls.
You nailed it. There is no excuse to not call in replacements. The way the injuries have hit this team I would call in another dozen guys just to be safe.
I have been thinking about just this philosophical question, MLS_Soccer_Talker. And after a bit of pondering this is what I have concluded: This would be a perfect time for Timothy Chandler to win back the hearts of USMNT fans by coming to the rescue for a cap-tying must win game. But honestly, his form has been mostly horrible the past three weeks and teams have been scoring and beating Nurnberg. I would not trust him to do a good job. Would much rather see Lichaj or some of the MLS guys being mentioned on the board. Klinsmann better make a move for Lichaj or and MLS-er and it better be today.
This is getting ridiculous. With all of these injuries and 5 (I believe) on yellow card warning we could be in serious trouble for the Guatemala tie. Pride goeth before the fall, Klinsi. Call in reinforcements.
At what point in qualify did the Mexicans get nervous with Sven?
Now read that comment again, using Jon Stewart’s voice.
i can live with that–well, assuming that i am able to survive the tension of both those wins.
Question: IF (and a BIG “IF”) JK makes a call to Germany to call upon a guy named Timmy Chandler; do you hold it against him ?
Ha. I see what you did there. You made us think he was not qualified, when in fact, he is.
Preach, brother.
I hope 2013 will be a big year for qualification…got my fingers crossed
Let listen again to the words of wisdom:
Klinsmann: “Eric has always been on our list and the more he plays, the closer he gets. Right now it’s not the right time to bring in a bunch of new players. Every coach wants to see young players coming through the system, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing Eric for myself, with the group. 2013 will be a big year with qualification and also the Gold Cup. We’ll have to build two rosters. Hopefully there’s an opportunity for Eric coming up in the near future if he keeps starting at Aston Villa.”
I wanna scream
Lol. Well I would imagine that the Attack will be dreadfully right skewed now. And if Antigua figures that out then the USMNT offense will sputter again.
I will say the USMNT gets a 1-0 result in both of these games, and barely skids into the HEX.
ha-ha. i mean, really.
but we don’t know whether injuries will be on hold…we need to be prepared
sorry to disappoint you, Benjamin C., but that makes too much sense for Klinsmann–we will probably see Tim Howard at left back and Guzan at left wing and Rimando as goalkeeper. tinker, tinker tinker tinker–I am seriously wondering whether the guy has lost his mind.
Wait- check that. He plays in the best league in the world, can play the position, and did great in the Gold Cup.
It wasn’t meant just for these two specific individuals… It was including replacements for Donovan and Shea as well. I haven’t smoked anything today tho. Any suggestions Eric?
FOr the record, I want it known that I do not blame JK for either Castillo’s foot or Johnson’s flu.
Kust wnat to make it clear that I can be reasonable
Lichaj doesn’t have enough MNT or club experience, plays in too low of a league, for too low of a team, and can’t play left back.
I mean… I guess anyways..
Morrow and Beitashour both deserve good looks at the outside back positions.
I don’t think JK will start Sacha, but you’re right, that’s a reasonable starting XI in its own right.
We all know that there are enough elements to play on Friday but we need alternates in case of injury during the game.
Perfect opportunity to make a Skype call to Nurnberg. JK can settle any doubt with Timothy Chandler as to whether he may or may not ever get a call from Klinnsman as long as he is in charge. Perfect opportunity for Chandler to say “I am committed” and step up for the USMNT.
So now we know the truth of the matter. Klinsmann has known since at least Monday that Fabian Johnson was sick and would not make the Antigua match Friday and yet he did not call in Lichaj or another left back just in case anything happened to Castillo and now something has happened to Castillo and we are without a player who plays left back at the club level and Klinsmann is now too stubborn to back down and admit he screwed up and call in someone at this late hour and he in fact is playing with our chance to qualify for WC 2014 and I am beginning to think Klinsmann is a total fool and I am so fricking pi$$ed off right now I cannot believe it.
All that said, I do think we kick bu++ Friday in Antigua but just worried as heck something is going to go wrong…
If we’re going to bring in a MLS-based player to shore up our defense, IMO it should be a natural left back like Morrow or Sinvoic.
Heck, call in anyone you want. We should really be dressing a full complement for every game since we have the opportunity. If only to give guys the experience if nothing else. I’ve been giving JK the benefit of the doubt. If he really loses 4 guys and doesn’t call anyone else in, that’s just stupid.
Call in Morrow.
As long as all injuries are hold, and we don’t bring anyone else in, we can still field a decent line up.
howard
cher-cameron-boca-parkhurst
williams
zusi bradley kleijstan
dempsey
gomez
How’s Beitashour’s form out in San Jose? Him or Lichaj seem like options.
Pontius, Gatt, and Adu are all forwards, and we’re talking about left back here. What are you smokin’?
He won’t!!!!!
Call in Justin Morrow!
Best guess, given JK’s reluctance to play Boca out wide or (much less justifiably) to avoid Eric Lichaj like the plague, is that we’ll see Michael Parkhurst line up at LB against Antigua, and JK will keep his fingers crossed that Johnson is ready to go against Guatemala.
Parkhurst put in a halfway decent shift filling in for Dolo against Jamaica, and even though he’ll be out of position at LB, Antigua doesn’t present the same offensive threat with pace that Jamaica does. I could live with that scenario, even though I’d still rather see Lichaj brought in.
But if Johnson can’t play against Guatemala, I’m sure we will all be on pins and needles the whole time.
I am curious and may come off as ignorant, but I believe there are alternates to every roster, at least in the mind of the manager. Why not announce a replacement the moment you announce that a particular player is out due to injury? Certainly there are already contingency plans in place, and alternates are notified to be on standby in case something drastic happens.
Suppress your man feelings for Lichaj..you will feel better about yourself LOL
Thanks for confirming what we all already know Klinsmann! How about the next time, you make a statement about something we don’t know… Like maybe who you’re calling in to replace these guy’s! Maybe Pontius? Gatt? Adu? Lichaj? Bornstein? Haha jk about Bornstein!
Klinsman must be call Altidore and Lichaj is necessary.
Well, this maybe a blessing in disguise that will force JK’s hand to summon other players…maybe.
Lichaj seems the most logical choice, but predicting Klinsmann’s decision making process is almost impossible.
hahahahaha………..oh man thats all you can do is laugh at this point
so we’re down to 17 field players if I understand correctly for Friday
Wow that is brutal! Call in some reinforcements.
call in bornstein! …that was a joke
WHAT THE HELL?!
o_0