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The SBI Show: Episode 126 (Talking the USMNT roster, Previewing MLS Week 4, and more)

Landon Donovan

By IVES GALARCEP

The U.S. Men’s National Team roster for next week’s friendly against Mexico dropped earlier this week, offering a glimpse of what we could see against ‘El Tri’, and raising questions about some of the players left out.

In Episode 126 of The SBI Show, we discuss the squad, including the young players brought in, and the players who missed the cut.

Co-host Garrett Cleverly and I also discuss MLS Week Four, including intriguing match-ups between Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC, and Seattle vs. Columbus to name a few. We also discuss Americans Abroad, including Jozy Altidore’s continued struggles at Sunderland.

Give Episode 126 of The SBI Show a listen after the jump:

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What did you think of Episode 126 of The SBI Show? Agree with our take on the players who missed the USMNT cut? Which matches are you most looking forward to in MLS Week Four?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. “[D]eath chart”? Is that a prediction or just a typo? In any event, I’d include Donovan among the forwards. Indeed, I think Klinsmann should at least experiment with AJ and Donovan up front in a 4-4-2.

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    • I generally reject the 3-5-2, but with the player pool we have right now I’m tempted to look at a lineup with three CB types like Besler, Gonzales, Cameron, and then to add two way outside mids/wingbacks like FJ and Zusi (bedoya and beasley as subs) keep the standard three up the middle (Jones Bradley Dempsey) and then do a combination of two forwards, like Jozy and Donovan or Jozy and Green, or whoever wins those spots. Maybe it’s just a reaction to our lack of potential/mobility of our back line, but I feel we will need to get up and down the flanks more effectively if we are to do well in June.

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  2. WIDE midfielder depth chart assuming F. Johnson and E. Johnson are primarily used at left back and forward, respectively:

    Donovan – Bedoya – Zusi – GREEN – Shea – Davis – Corona

    Reply
  3. DEFENSIVE midfielder depth chart assuming Cameron is primarily used as a center back or right back:

    Bradley – Jones – Williams – Beckerman – Edu

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    • Godfrey, the man banks about $86K a week.
      Hair is probably not as important to him as it seems to be to you !!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. In this friendly against Mexico, if the rivalry is so great that the USA will/must play to win the match, then in my opinion, Julian Green will play more than 30 minutes.

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  5. Great show guys. The last 15 minutes was hilarious! Y’all should do a personal Q & A like that more often. Not every show, but maybe 2 – 3 times a month…

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  6. dempsey’s last 2400+ mins (june) in all comp (US, SSFC, FFC)
    – 2 goals from open play
    – 3 assists

    # of “sucky” sunderland players with more league goals than jozy altidore this season:
    – 8

    panic? really? questioning these guys places in starting 11 is simply a difference of opinion at this point. some feel the US has enough depth to actually start guys who are currently performing at a decent level while some feel that it makes no difference how several high profile US players are performing during the year leading up to WC

    hopefully both are about to turn the corner BUT… regarding this matter you really have NO respect for an opinion other than your own and feel the need to go so far as labeling such as a hysterically extreme emotional outburst (panic)? who, specifically, is “panicking”?

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    • he scored 31 for club last year and 8 for the nats, and and you want bench him at age 24? Sure, that makes sense. Have you watched a Sunderland game– even without Altidore in the lineup? Heres a hint — Hull City 3-0 loss.

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  7. Garrett you are not alone. I have known multiple people who have had walking dead dreams. Including my girlfriend who doesn’t even watch the show but has only been in the room while I watch it. So you are not alone… but you are a huge nerd. Welcome to the club.

    Also, I agree Green shouldn’t start or get 45. He is not proven at high levels and this is Mexico. If it was some throw away closed door scrimmage then sure throw him the deep end and see how he swims, but showing well in this game matters. On the other hand, to be seriously considered for a spot he needs some time. I just hope it isn’t like Agudelo getting 5 minutes at the end of the Ukraine game.

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    • He should and probably will get 45 minutes as a second half sub. If not that he will get in the game around the 60th minute.

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  8. Good show but I’d like to comment on the upcoming US-Mex game…

    Lately, I’ve been following Mexican national team friendly games on tv. I’ve noticed Mexican fans break out into singing exactly at minute 30′ in each half. They did this in their game against Nigeria in Atlanta, Georgia. Every Mexican fan in the stands is able to follow probably because they sing a popular folk song that every Mexican has heard since the age of five.

    I can hear trumpets, drums, it could be a record that plays via the intercom. I do not know if the DJ in the booth kicks it off but if this is the case, US fans should bring it to the facility coordinator’s attention and stop it. mexicans shouldn’t be allowed to do this when the US is the “home” team.

    Furthermore, US fans need to do something similar to give US players a shot of energy or perhaps when a call for urgency is needed. Why not sing a popular US song at 30′ minute in each half and make it a perpetual habit? I can’t think of any but we can even borrow from baseball the famous “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” song and tweak it a bit, it would be soccer’s “7th inning stretch”.

    Reply
    • Normally Cielito Lindo was sang near the end of the game when Mexico is winning, but now Coca-cola an American company has started this trend in the US, this would never happen in Mexico. I think you’re going to have to take it up with Coca-cola.

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    • Yeah its those Pancho Villa Army Scum. Who play that Cielito Lindo song every match. Ball Game umm no, make up something original this isn’t baseball, It’s FOOTBALL (soccer).

      Reply
      • Yeah, it’s too bad that Nigeria, already took “The Super Eagles”.
        What would be a good nickname?…

      • Pacho Villa Army growth in the US needs to be stopped….

        I think this is where the USSF and Gulati don’t get it…. pencil in a game in AZ against mexico on a weekday… might as well play the game in Tijuana…. Gulati’s reign seems to be “anything for a buck….”

        If by any chance there is a future Mexican-American kid destined to be a soccer superstar who sees the mexican national team play on US soil… that might be enough to make him pick Mexico.

        F*** the PV Army…. ban Mexico completely from scheduling friendly games in US soil.

  9. How cruel to have Benny Feilhaber in the photo lead-in to the story!! 🙂 I feel like he’s done enough to be in the camp, though…

    Reply
  10. Man I love this show. I use to have my own podcast, but i could never find people who are really committed to doing it. But at the moment i am working on my journalism skill, and i hope to writing for you by next year.

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  11. Homework wasn’t done very well on Sporting. Interested to see how they bounce back from being eliminated in the CCl… they have already won a game since being eliminated.
    Also mentioned being them not being in form and having a hangover from the CCL.. come on they were playing every 3 days for a while and now they have had an entire week off. Everyone is perfectly rested and eager and itll be the first time they can throw out their full strength squad.

    Reply
    • Yes, oversight on my part, it happens. Last week’s MLS action was a blur, so a bit easy to forget in my mind. KC should be ready to rock this weekend, no excuses.

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