Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark has been called in to the U.S. national team camp ahead of its World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Wednesday. Clark replaces Maurice Edu, who suffered a leg injury last week that could keep him out an extended period of time.
Set to join the U.S. team in Costa Rica on Tuesday, Clark is fresh from having helped Houston rout Toronto FC, 3-0, on Saturday and he will look to battle for a spot on the match-day roster. With Michael Bradley and Pablo Mastroeni projected to start vs. Costa Rica, Clark could wind up battling Jose Francisco Torres and Sacha Kljestan for the role of first midfielder off the bench.
What do you think of Clark joining the squad? Hoping he gets into the Costa Rica match? Disappointed that Edu couldn't make it? Were you hoping for some other player to get the late call?
Share your thoughts below.
Rico Clark is an excellent holding midfielder. One of our best! I agree that Holden is better as an attacking mid than Sacha K who is obviously a favorite of BB. However, Holden cannot play defensive mid like Rico. It is a mystery to me why he Heath Pearce & Sacha K continually start for the MNT regardless of how badly they play. At least Preki knows when to sit SK down.
I don’t think Clark’s role is “first off the bench”. I think it is “back up Mastro at the defensive mid position”.
To me, Michael Bradley is better as a more offensive-minded, all-around central midfielder, playing in a 4-4-2 with a holding/defensive mid behind him. Mastro plays the holding/defensive mid role very well (and I hope Edu will grow into that role as Mastro’s replacement). Clark can play that holding/defensive mid role well also, which is why he is there to backup Mastro in case Mastro comes down with a last minute injury.
Bradley just wants Clark to miss the Houston-Chicago game so that the Dynamo dont man rape his favorite MLS team. It’s so obvious.
Clark can play. The Dynamo continually have one of the best defenses in MLS and Clark is one of the main reasons. He takes care of the middle of the field.
His passing is fine and he usually makes the smart choice for the Dynamo. He doesn’t force things often, which is what I like in a d central mid.
His fitness is fantastic also. Good choice.
I would like to see Holden get a call up.. I like him better than Klijsten. I think he’s a much better passer and smarter player.
Ditto Quakeland
I would have started Pablo in front of Edu for this game anyway and flip it on Saturday.
Clark is a downgrade from Edu. I was really looking forward to seeing Edu get some first team time after his season in the SPL. At least BB called Edu first and then only after he was injured did he think to bring Clark in at the last minute. I hope Clark doesn’t have to see the field at all!
He better not get the call in an easier home match against El Salvador or T&T Away… Bob trusts him due to Copa America (also why he still has Benny around). I sure hope a few other guys get a run-out b4 Confed. Cup play.
Clark is a great choice as a replacement. That dude covers a lot ground breaking up attacks. He’s played in some big US Nat’s games already (even earning a start in a friendly against MX I think). A good choice and another sign that BB thinks this is gonna be a really tough match, and might be playing for the draw.
While I like watching Edu and prefer his play to Clark’s, I don’t think this is a downgrade at all. Clark is physical and smart with the ball.
Tony’s lucid comments give me hope that there are a few people who understand why Clark is a good choice to replace Edu on the roster.
Oh No!
Clark???? Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!! Couldn’t they get Jeff Agoos to come out of retirement?
Barksdale: Absolutely right.
FOr people saying Torres is better than Clark, I ask – at what? Yes, Torres is unquestionably the better player, but Clark is there for a specific reason – to provide muscle and bite if needed late in the game. And Mastro’s there for it early in the game. In this game, against this team in this stadium, having Mastroeni (with Clark in reserve) means Bradley can pick his spots to go forward and attack.
I’d rather have Edu, who in a few years time may become our best field player (yes, I said that), and I’m not Clarks biggest fan (me makes Matroeni look like Gandhi in comparison) but he makes sens for this situation.
Would rather have seen Colin CLARK!
We’re filling up with MLS players faster than we can count them. This should be fun.
I have concerns about Clark’s ability to quickly release the ball and maintain possession. In the past, things have looked ugly when he pairs with Bradley. I’d greatly prefer Torres or Mastro as the #2 central mid and would probably start Mastro along Bradley. While Mastro has his issues, he seems to mesh well on the field.
If we’re up or tied at the 70 min mark then we’ll see Clark come on. If we’re down, the choice will be Torres.
Clark is a hard nosed tackler and is amazing at winning back possession of the ball. He works both sides of the field perfectly (offense/defense) and can kick long range bombers to the net when given a chance…..this would make perfect sense to add him as a sub….though i would have liked him to be with us in chicago when we put out the CHICAGO FIRE.
Torres is clearly much better than Clarke. This kid should be put on the field. We have kids with upside, yes, but some of them are already better than Bob’s favorites.
While it’s fun to watch everyone clamor for this guy and that guy…
The reason Clark got called in is because he is damn near a carbon copy of Pablo Mastroeni (albeit with a more dangerous long distance shot.)
If Mastroeni gets hurt in the 10th minute, you plug Clark in and keep rolling, instead of shoe-horning Torres, Klejstan or Adu (hah!) into a more defensive role.
If the U.S. is able to take a lead 1-0 Clark might be the first guy off the bench to protect the lead, coming in for Pablo or Bradley if either one has a yellow. I think everyone agrees that Torres is more dynamic than Clark, but Clark is a DMF with bite.
Agree with Cam. Torres > > Clark.
Clark? This guy has been given so many chances that shows that the US are hurting for midfielders and forwards. He struggles to connect simple passes and you can see how frustrated the players get around him when he is in there.
It really didn’t matter who he called in b/c Jose Francisco Torres has to be considered the #3 option after Pablo and Maurice Edu. Ricardo probably won’t see any time on the field.
I kind of wanted to see John Thorrington get a look. Thorrington has a lot of bite, and a great work rate. I remember how well he combined with McBride to score that goal against the Galaxy last season away from home.
Google “empty bucket,” and you might find some interesting opinions about Bob Bradley’s conception of center mids. He insists that his center mids are two-way players that do get forward, but choosing to call in Rico is informative.
It’s clear to me that BB puts players into slots, and it takes a lot to force him to do any rearranging (like moving DMB from his left wing list to his left back list). BB has separate lists of defense-oriented center mids and attack-oriented center mids; when Edu goes down, he calls the next guy down the list, hence his choice of Rico and not Holden.
Frankly, I’d have liked to see him leave Rico at home — since he’s already got five other defensive center mids in camp — and call in Brad Davis as an option on the right.
Clark????????????
But I told Bob was ready!
Well, if Clark gets hurt, I’ll be ready to go. I’ll be sitting in row six. I’ll be the dude in the headband.
I’ve watched Edu play in Scotland several times.
He’s improved a lot. But he still looks lackadaisical in moving into his defensive positioning- at times jogging back. And he still holds onto the ball an extra second too long. But he’s gotten clocked a few times since he’s been here- so hopefully he’ll start moving and passing quicker.
His tackling has definitely improved. He quickly pounces on a vulnerable dribbler. And he looks like a beast out there against the Scottish lads.
If Clark comes in and starts or plays Wednesday after training with the team for one day I will send hate mail to Boss Bradley’s residence.
I was VERY excited to see Edu after this season in the SPL…DRAT!
Clark has experience with the MNT that is not doubt, his speed is favourable and his patience as well, but against a fast and intrepid team like CR it would of been great to see a tough big defender midfield defender like Edu. Since he’es out and there is a slight chance for a spot for Torres I’m glad, he has the midflied spark that is missing, I would love to see him pair up with Adu and work some good football in the midfield!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Alticooper, Thats what i kept saying to All US fans….drinking the kool Aid becuase of performences vs weak CONCACAF teams or Sweden “C” teams such as Kjlestan and Ching should not be done….it is much safer and wiser to do it for players who have massive performences vs superpowwer quality teams such as What Adu did and what Altidore,Dempsey, and Donovan can maybe/probally do.
Ives, any word on how long Edu might be out? Will he be available for the confederations cup? What exactly is this mysterious leg (or knee) injury?
man, i really wanted to see how much edu had improved.
BB wants some CM bite on the bench.
Bradley on a yellow and Edu in doubt. Clark could start vs. Honduras.
Still, I think we could see 3 CM’s start (Bradley/Mastroeni with Torres in front of them).
good pick
Downgrade
Good call by Bob Bradley, the right guy for the job.
It’s only a 4 hour flight for Clark from Houston to San Jose. Easy enough, why not.
Kljestan being on this roster is a joke. I made the mistake of drinking the cool aide with him against Sweden’s C team… Watching him since then with Chivas and the USNT has been painful. Just goes to show how poor the depth is for attacking central mids.
i like it! if we are getting man handled by Costa Rica and we are losing like hell than a tandem of Mastroeni and Clark will show them red card hell!!!!! bwahahah
not only that, but word will spread around CONCACAF to not mess with our top players. Remember, Clark and Mastroeni are replacable (soccer pun hella intended)
I feel like Holden should have been called into camp instead of Clark. Given that whoever was called in this late was going to be a sub at best, I’d rather have Holden. He’s in form and can provide better attacking ability off the bench. Besides, it’s not as though Holden is adverse to working defensively either.