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Orozco-Fiscal added to USMNT roster for Mexico qualifier

MichaelOrozco (Getty)

by IVES GALARCEP

MEXICO CITY– Jurgen Klinsmann has called in some defensive depth to help replace the loss of injured U.S. Men’s National team midfielder Jermaine Jones on Monday, bringing in defender Michael Orozco-Fiscal to join the team ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier vs. Mexico.

Orozco-Fiscal currently plays for Mexican side Puebla, and most recently took part in a friendly on Saturday. A regular starter for his club team, Orozco-Fiscal scored the game-winning goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team in last August’s 1-0 exhibition victory against Mexico at Estadio Azteca.

Orozco-Fiscal has actually featured in both U.S. meetings with Mexico during Klinsmann’s tenure. He also started in the team’s 1-1 draw in August of 2011, which was Klinsmann’s debut.

Orozco-Fiscal’s inclusion means the U.S. team is back to 24 players, which means one player won’t dress for the match. Brad Davis didn’t dress for the U.S. team’s qualifying win vs. Costa Rica last Friday.

 

Comments

  1. Nice easy add and he plays at 7000 ft, so he does need to get acclimated like they would if they tried to bring in someone else.

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  2. This is good news, but the call up is befuddling on so many levels.

    If Orozco-Fiscal has been playing well at RB all season for Puebla, why was he not called in originally over or in addition to Beltran?

    Now he’s had 1 fewer day of rest (since he played a friendly) and many fewer hours of practice with the team.

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    • questions, silly questions….these fans keep asking why this player, why that player, why now-little do they know, it’s all part of Klinsmann’s plan to get these players ready for anything-playing new positions, being left off while in form, called in when out of form, not knowing who starts until USSF releases the line-up…if the USMNT players can succeed without knowing who their teammates will be and what the game plan is, they’ll be ready to take on anyone!

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  3. @ Colin in MT…..”I think Orozco slots in at the right back and Cameron slides over to CB for Goodson.”

    I like this move too….I remember when Klinsi first started with this team. He really liked this guy and gave him an extended trial. I remember Bradley liked him too until the Olympics red card. This makes perfect sense to kind of go for it. Last game DMB was a “flyer”( the guy coming in the last minute to fill a void)….this time it is Fiscal. Cameron can slide to the middle for Goodson for a bit more speed. Edu in for Jones…ankle injury and athleticism and now put Corona in for Zusi for…well, just a playing better.

    There is only one problem…I hear all the guys who play in the Liga Mx hang out together and don’t socialize with the rest of the team.

    Screw it Viva Estados Unidos!!!!!!

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  4. when playing Mexico bring in your Mexican League players that are use to their system, especially since most of their players on the team are home grown/based players…..nice

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  5. Is it just me, or does anyone else think DMB should be getting a look on the wing instead of LB? I dont pretend to be an expert on the current crop’s readiness behind the scenes, but I know enought that our midfield play has just been poor- Yes, I love MB, and JJ has the heart of a lion, but as a “collective”, our midfield has yet to gel once as a unit, and when that happens the pressure on your back 4 increases significantly… I never thought I’d be glad to see DMB back in the fold, but I’ve seen a few of his games in Mexico and the guy still has the wheels (hopefully he doesnt fall down as much).. I just dont see us hanging with El Tri without some speed in the midfield, out wide, and someone who can play 2 ways for 90 minutes…..

    just a thought.. and who knows what JK is thinking… one thing is for sure.. none of us on here will nail his starting 11- theres always a surprise in there somewhere

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    • Without anyone to play LB, we have no choice but to play him there. The US needs their defense to be more stout than their midfield.

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    • I agree but feel odd that we are rediscovering a much needed wing option in the form of a 30 year old recycled player who has been left for dead by recent usmnt regimes. I like Beasley as a player but I feel this renaissance is more a result of lack of available options than player performance.

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    • I agree–I like Beasley on the wing too, but who are you going to use to replace Beasley in the left back position?

      One thing is for sure. If the USA in a position where they must score a goal, it is the wingers that can create the havoc. At least one of the substitutions must be saved to replace the winger. Whoever starts as winger just has to give everything possible–hold nothing back–with the expectation that he will be replaced as early as the 60th minute.

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      • KJ,

        The US does not have to score a goal.

        A 0-0 draw leaves Mexico with three points and the US with 4 after three games.

        That is a good result.

      • Oh I would +1+1+1 that all day. but I guess my point is that I dont think we can do enough in the midfield with the lineup I “think” were gonna see to hold off the barage long enough to get a scoreless draw, hence looking to see if DMB would break things up on the wing..

  6. What about Kaiser Bradley playing as a sweeper in a 5-4-1? Bradley between Gonzo and Goodson?

    Fiscal Gonzo Goodson Cameron
    ——————-Bradley

    ——————Guzan

    Think of Beckenbauer. Think of Lothar Mathaus. Kaiser Bradley. If anybody would play sweeper it would be Bradley. This may be extreme, but could pay off. Have not seen a sweeper in years. Probably not ideal, but an idea.

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  7. For those unaware, Orozco was been played almost exclusively as a RB since his move to Puebla. He’s played well and has been a bright spot for mediocre club. I’ve seen a couple of games and he’s gotten into the attack with success and has cleaned up some of his defensive issues —- mainly.tracking runners and communication. Ozrozco could be an option if Cameron slides inside.

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  8. This can change things in the back with Fiscal. Can Orozco-Fiscal play LB? This can put Beasley on LW to terrorize in midfield.

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    • Just what I was thinking as a possibility, Fiscal behind Beasley on the left side,
      both have familiarity with each other with Puebla and playing in Mexico at altitude.

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  9. At least from reports, it seems that Orozco-Fiscal is playing a lot more minutes than he used to, which implies that he has improved. Also, being based in Puebla, he has altitude acclimation. I think he is a better option than Besler or Morrow in case of a need for a sub due to injury.

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  10. Smart move by Klinsi, capable defender, but more importantly he’s playing mind games w/ Mexico by calling in the man who scored the GW v. Mexico,.

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  11. so, if the chatter is true about not changing all that much.

    ——Herc—Jozy—EJ———
    ———–Deuce—————–
    ———Edu—-Bradley———
    DMB–Omar–Goods–Cameron

    i would like to see this though

    ———Boyd—Jozy———–
    Herc———————-Deuce
    ———Edu—-Bradley———
    DMB–Omar–Goods–Cameron

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    • I agree with you about your lineups. Zusi will not start. I think Edu is the best choice for a replacement for Jermaine Jones. One aspect I like about Edu is that he keeps his head up and is willing to deliver attacking passes up the middle, but he also can provide defense.

      Whether Boyd or EJ starts, it’s a very good possibility the one who does not start may come on as a replacement late in the game. So the question would be the following: Which player, Boyd or EJ, can last 65 minutes and which can give you the greatest effort for 20 to 25 minutes at the end of the game?

      I am big proponent of having a Brek Shea or Boyd, both young players, on a team so they can give an all-out 20-minute blitz at the end of the game similar to what a young Beasley or Coby Jones used to provide. A speedy player entering the game late can cause plenty of problems for Mexico. Which player can enter a game at 7300 feet and give 20 minutes of all-out hussle?

      Having said that, I expect Boyd will be left as an option as a substitute for the last 20-25 minutes of the game.

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  12. Because of The Best Soccer Show, all I can think of is Michael Frickin’ Orozco-Fiscal.

    I have nothing meaningful to add.

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  13. Looks like Davis is going to be left off the game day roster again. Why did Klinsmann bring him in again? It could not have been to get him acclimated for the gold cup (which would be fine – I believe Davis deserves some USMNT exposure) because he called him in late. And now he is just being left off both the game day rosters (from the looks of it), after being called in late for apparently no reason (not for injury replacement, not to participate in the costa rica game even on the bench, not to get acclimated on the USMNT picture for the above reason). Seems like a waste of time for Davis and his club team.

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    • Just my opinion but I think its still good experience to have him training with the USMNT players, building comraderie, familiarity, etc so that when he does break into the lineup has just that much more acclimated. He is a great future option.

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      • But then you don’t call in the player late. If that is the purpose, you call him in with the rest of the team so that he is with the team for as much time as possible.

      • I’m a huge Dynamo fan, and love Davis, but he is not a “future” option. He’s 31 years old, which means if he’s not involved in this WCQ cycle, he’s missing out on the 2018 WC for sure.

    • Davis never should have been called in. He was is basically an insurance player at LM in the event Shea wasn’t up to being a 15 min cameo player and/or cover in the event Zusi got injured. Davis just isn’t up to playing with the USMNT “A” Team.

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    • Teams need additional players, and you never get a situation where everybody gets to play. That doesn’t equate to a waste of time, but even if you think it does, country trumps club. (shrug)

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      • 23 players for 2 games is in general enough (equates for at least 2 field teams + generally a third keeper). If the game day rosters were still at 18, i would not care about this because your argument would have credence (coach has an extra 5-6 players to choose from between games to change up the strategy). It is just the current situation ticks me off b/c the situation tends to towards it being a waste of time (there does not seem to be logical answer that I can see on why he brought Davis long).

      • Pretty sure Davis was called in as cover if either Bradley, Zusi or Jones picked up a yellow against CR. All of them were facing suspensions for this game had they been hit with a card.

      • exactly, except Davis was called in to back up Sasha, Edu, etc in the event they had to replace Bradley, Zusi, Jones for a yellow card.

        I am sure he is a great addition to the training squad and should see gold cup games. Also I can still see him being used as a spot kicker if we get a free kick with minutes to go.

    • go watch the replay of brad davis vs santos laguna “second leg”

      Davis should never be called onto the US national team EVER

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  14. Wouldn’t seeing him as a defensive midfielder for the game tomorrow. He’s not the best defender but definately has some good ball skills and experience in Azteca.

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      • The issue I think he was addressing was kind of a domino thing, if Edu slots in for Jones then maybe he gets nervous about his backs — Goodson makes me nervous — so he calls in a back so if the CBs stink he has depth behind them, doesn’t have to move Edu back and complicate everything.

        Could also be taken as comment on the CB pool.

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