Photo by ISIphotos.net
Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Oguchi Onyewu were among the European-based veterans called in to the U.S. national team's 20-man roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Wednesday (7pm, ESPN2 HD/ESPN2/Univision). The roster was revealed on Sunday afternoon.
Here is the 20-man roster (18 will be in uniform for Wednesday's match):
GOALKEEPERS: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan
DEFENDERS: Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Frankie Hejduk, Heath Pearce, Dan Califf, Jonathan Bornstein, Marvell Wynne
MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Jose Francisco Torres, Ricardo Clark, Robbie Rogers
FORWARDS: Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Brian Ching, Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies
Missing from the list were Kenny Cooper and Freddy Adu to name two. Steve Cherundolo is out with an injury while Pablo Mastroeni is suspended for the match.
Most of the European-based members of the squad arrive in Columbus on Sunday ahead of Wednesday's match. Most of the Mexican team arrived on Saturday night.
What do you think of this group? Do you like the U.S. team's chances of continue its streak of dominance against Mexico on American soil? Disappointed that Cooper and/or Adu didn't get the call? Can't wait for the match to kick off on Wednesday?
Share your thoughts below.
Good to see Davies and Rogers get the call up. Robbie was spark for the Crew last year and has a creative streak (and pace) the US needs. Adu will get plenty of pt with the U-20’s amd maybe this will provide an opportunity for the youngsters to move to a club (any club at this point) where he can actually play.
US will win 2-0.
Adu is one of our best attack-minded players, his eclusion is inexcusable.
This is a sorry group of players save a few.
I don’t see us rolling Mexico……it was nice while it lasted.
The only good that can come of this is if we lose BB gets fired.
Hey, whoever is gonna be in Columbus: give Mexico a taste of their own medicine. If someone finds out where they’re staying (someone on bigsoccer said it was downtown at the Westin maybe) we can disrupt their sleep
more like this…
——–Ching———-Donovan———-
—Beasley—Kljestan—Bradley—Dempsey–
—Pearce—Bocanegra–Onyewu—Heydude—
—————-Howard————–
I would put money on it
Blustar,
Are you really saying that Freddy Adu without playing time would play better than a guy who has played in two world cups, won two gold cups, and has almost 7 times as many caps as he does? If you think that Adu, while a skilled player, is a better player than Damarcus Beasley you are SADLY mistaken.
“In Bob we trust”…WE???
Speak for yourself, PCFC
hey blustar calm down. One ives is a great journalist and provides great insight. Two, Beasley just played in a friendly and is more experienced than adu. You saw what happened against T&T when we played the young inexperienced guys. For such an important game you cant just throw adu out there because he can play great at times. As for the inclusion of dos santos, I think that show the dire situation mexico is in having to rely on a kid who hasnt played in 6 months. I think Bob will bring in adu for el salvador. That is a better match to play a guy like him.
Freddy Adu deserved the call-up, regardless of his playing time in France. He is the most dynamic attacking player that we have. He would have made a great 70th minute sub if we weren’t ahead yet. We call up guys like Davies, Clark, and Rogers but don’t call up Freddy? Crazy Bob.
Mexico Wins 2-1
BB line up
——————Ching————-
—————–Dempsey
Beasle—Kljestan—-Bradley——-Donovan
Pearce—-Onyewu—Bocanegra—Hejduk
——————Howard——————-
very strong squad technically. we have to say that from a technique point of view, this is one of the better US teams in recent memory. a passing style can be employed that is calm, and incisive, could be fun to watch. very exciting.
Blustar, just because your fanboy brain can’t understand why Adu didn’t make it doesn’t mean it’s the tragedy you think it is.
He’s just not as good on the senior level as he was on the youth level. Get over it.
ipc- I LIKE your line up.. my choice as well!
bradley wasnt an attacking midfielder for herenveen… he was a CM who was given freedom to get into the box when the opportunity arose. the majority of his goals were late runs into the box where he had easy finishes. attack mid makes it sound like he plays the same position as adu and donovan.
as for the roster all the guys we are complaining about not being called in(adu,edu,demerit,spector ect.) should all get their chance soon. no glaring ommissions from the squad and i think they take mexico 1-0.
Joe, you could say the exact same thing about Califf, except that he has never played at as high of a professional level as DeMerit has. That said I do think some people tend to overrate him.
In August, who would have thought Adu and Edu wouldn’t figure in this team…
Please calm the criticisms. Bob has done nothing but good things for the USMNT. Good roster. Good reasons to leave out Adu and Edu. Playing time is more important the prestige of club.
In Bob we trust.
Jay, it’s pretty simple. Ching and Jozy are the two big forward, Davies gives Bob another speed forward. Hell, Cooper can’t even play the big forward role well.
Ives,
If you are a soccer journalist worth something can you please find out why Adu didn’t make it? I mean an official reason. That means you might have to ask questions Bob might not want to answer but that’s your job right?
I think it’s a travesty that we have players like Davies, Rogers, makinghte cut yet Freddy, without Freddy our youth teams would’ve been nothing special, can’t make the roster.
tcan’t be playing time or why is Beasley, Pearce on the team? Or if you think about last year, Dempsey, Bocanegra, basically rode pine all year.
Is he trying to send a message or ruin this kids confidence for good?
On the other hand count on Dos Santos getting playing time although not playing in over 6 months. At least the Mexicans show some loyalty to their youth stars
In my opinion, this is the best starting lineup w/ these players. I am really curious to see the likes of Torres, Kljestan and Wynne against top competition. I have faith in all of them to succeed, especially Torres.
———–Howard————
Wynne–Oneywu–Boca–Bornstein
Dempsey—-Torres—-Kljestan
———–Bradley————
—-Donovan——Altidore—–
Rogers, Wynne, Bornstein, and Davies are all surprising, but good surprises.
The only others that could really be disappointed are Cooper, Demerit, Edu, and Adu. Considering the club situations of the last three, their exclusion is understandable. But considering both Davies and Cooper looked out of funk against Sweden, can’t be sure as to why Bradley chose Davies over Cooper.
Demerit >* Califf
* = Wholly dominates.
This lineup is fine. We can probably all name the probable starting lineup.
Adu doesn’t need to take up a spot on the roster because he hasn’t played at all lately. The same point should apply to Beasley, but Bradley would never leave him out.
Whoa, my bad… geuss i didnt space it right.
What about this as a lineup:
——————Ching——————————-Donovan—–Bradley————-
Beasley———-Kljestan———–Dempsey
Pearce——————————-Hejduk
————-Onyewu—Bocanegra————
——————Howard——————-
Bradley played as an attacking midfielder for Herenveen so I think we should play him there so he can help Landon with the 50-50’s and possibly get a “clean-up duty” goal.
What is the love-fest for DeMerit about? Has the guy ever played a great game for the national team? He plays for Watford, is an okay player, but him not being there isn’t a big deal at all.
Posted by: Joe | February 08, 2009 at 02:01 PM
AMEN!!!
It’s not so much a love fest for DeMerit but a recognition that he has played consistently well, and at a higher level than Cahill, for some time now. Think of it as more “bleh, why Cahill?” reaction.
Torres, Clark or Kljestan, which one gets the start at central midfielder?
All is as expected. Lets go USA
Surprised Demerit not there and Robbie Rogers in midfield over Adu…you must be joking. Adu not playing is preferable. As someone mentioned above, Bradley has to get Spector back in. He is consistently making the bench (although not playing yet) for the Hammers which must mean he is fit and playing well again. They have a very deep team and for Spector to dress is a big accomplishment. I’m not impressed with Bradley and some of the players he consistently ignores.
What is the love-fest for DeMerit about? Has the guy ever played a great game for the national team? He plays for Watford, is an okay player, but him not being there isn’t a big deal at all.
—————-Ching——————
—————-Donovan—————
DMB————-Sacha————–Clint
—————–Bradley—————-
Pearce—-Onyewu—–Boca——–Frankie
—————-Howard—————-
ricardo Clark !! Ewww
For THIS game, I like this group. I would expect Cooper, Adu, Demeritt, Edu to be roatated in for other WCQ games.
I find it interesting Dempsey is still listed as a forward. I agree with Rogers and Davies getting dropped even though I would love to see Rogers make the squad.
I think Bornstein and Davies should be the two dropped players.
This is a complete and balanced roster, every pick makes perfect sense. There is balance at every position up and down and left to right…I’ve got news for anyone thinking Cooper or Adu should be on this roster, no way are they ready. Also Califf over Demerit is a little surprise but Califf has been in camp and adds a good veteran presence on the back line. Edu is not ready either, in a perfect world Mastroeni and Cherundolo would be here but for obvious reasons they are not. 2-0 USA
Wow, Clark over Adu? I know Freddy hasn’t been playing lately, but so does Clark. MLS is barely in pre-season mode.
I’d call Orozco over Califf for the same reason. Califf is in the off-season, while Orozco has been playing 90 minutes for San Luis; not to mention he’s familiarity with Mexico’s style of play.
Other than those 2, which probably won’t see the pitch anyway, the team looks pretty strong.
The players we’re debating are all guys that probably wouldn’t see the field regardless. Demerit, Edu, Cooper, and Adu…there isn’t any room for them if you consider that Jozy and Torres are probably locks to get in at some point. Which leaves one sub for a freak injury. I am pleased with this roster.
demerit should be there. midfield looks a little weak for some reason. who else would be available? freddy hasn’t been playing so i can see why bradley didn’t call him in.
overall, it looks pretty good.
0-0 snoozefest here we come. Yawn.
Wow, can’t believe no one has even mentioned Mo Edu. He needs more playing time.
I like it. Bob isn’t messing around. He’s called in players that have not only gotten playing time with their clubs but have performed well with the MNT as well. Robert, I second that call on Torres scoring the game winner. However, it was Mexico who chose not to call up Torres, which Torres didn’t like so he decided to screw patience and go with the U.S.. Although, suppose if he was really desperate he could have gone waited even longer.
No Freddy and no Kenny? Uh-oh, here comes the fanboy backlash.
Soooo… everyone calmed down now?
No DeMerit, biggest exclusion in my opinion.
I like the roster,I think wynne and rogers will be the 2 dropped for game day.
Very nice, this should be the team going forward… except Adu and Spector will be added when they are right, b/c they are two of the best players on the team
Very interesting. I’m not a big Ricardo Clark fan but everything else looks great. Adu isn’t playing much these days and Torres is a great counterpoint due to his experience in Mexico (how about a game winner from Torres against the nation he didn’t choose to play for!). Cooper didn’t impress enough. Plenty of games/tournaments left in the year.
Robbie Rogers baby. He’s gonna tear it up at Crew Stadium.
The two cut from the roster: Davies and Rogers. Doesn’t mean I like it but that’s my bet.
No Freddy, No Cooper. Thank you Bob.