The preliminary 30-man roster for the U.S. national team's Gold Cup squad has been revealed and, as expected, most of the team's top players, aren't on it.
Jozy Altidore, Freddy Adu, Jose Francisco Torres and Brad Guzan headline the group, which will be reduced to 23 when the team begins Gold Cup play on July 4th vs. Grenada.
Here is the squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Luis Robles, Troy Perkins
DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein, Dan Califf, Steve Cherundolo, Jay Demerit, Clarence Goodson, Eric Lichaj, Chad Marhsall, Michael Orozco, Heath Pearce, Michael Parkhurst, Marvell Wynne.
MIDFIELDERS: Freddy Adu, Davy Arnaud, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Eddie Gaven, Stuart Holden, Pablo Mastroeni, Robbie Rogers, John Thorrington, Jose Francisco Torres,
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore, Conor Casey, Kenny Cooper, Charlie Davies, Jeremiah White
So what kind of starting lineup could we expect to see from this group? Here is one possibility:
Projected USA Gold Cup lineup
————Altidore———Cooper————
——Torres———————–Adu———-
—————-Clark—-Feilhaber—————
Bornstein–DeMerit—Parkhurst—Cherundolo
——————Guzan—————————
So who is mising from the preliminary roster? Surprisingly enough I would say Houston's Geoff Cameron and Brad Davis are probably leading the list of snubs, though I wonder if having Holden and Clark already on the team led to that decision. Not sure if that's the case though since the Columbus Crew has three players on this list. D.C. United rookie Chris Pontius is another glaring absence. Colorado's Colin Clark is another player I thought might make the list.
Conor Casey's inclusion is surprising because he's on the Confederations Cup squad and I can't imagine the Rapids being happy about missing their leading scorer for two months. Casey's inclusion, as well as that of Bornstein, could mean that this is an old list. Don't be surprised to see some changes before the 23-man roster is announced.
What do you think of this group? Who is missing that you think should be on the team? Who is on the list that you don't think belongs? What starting lineup would you like to see in the opening Gold Cup match?
Share your thoughts below.
Cap Arturo Alvarez! The reason he wants to play for El Salvador cuz he is tearing up MLS with some nice goals recently but aparently its never enough for Bob Bradley. Talk about frustration when you have Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers on there who hasnt done s!@# this season. But of course current form means nothing to Bob Bradley. Here are the changes i suggest:
Out: Gaven
In: Alvarez
Out:THorrington
IN: Clarke
Out: Mastroeni
IN: Davis
i agree with this save alvarez.
alvarez sucks
mls only.
bornstein sucks, he is too small and weak to play defense.
I’d like to see orozco get some starting minutes instead of bornstein. maybe orozco could move in front of heath pearce in the pecking order.
Also, if their are any true left and right wingers in that group (i’m not sure though maybe thorington) I’d definitely like to see those people get starts in their positions to evaluate and see if they are better than stuffing a center midfielder out there like feilhaber. Of course I want torres to start as well. Indifferent about adu.
Obviously it’s important for Adu to get some time, and I’m sure he will. After that, I’d really like to see Robbie Rogers get some chances at left wing and see him succeed. That is an area of major weakness for the USMNT. Also, it will be nice to see what Charlie Davies can do, and whether he merits more time with the main squad.
one person whom i would have liked to see is dc united midfielder santino quaranta make a return to the national team…he would be good on the wing and has really regained form in his career
I’ll field that one Fire Bob. Davis is not the answer on the left. Per my earlier post, he’s not an international calibre player. The opposing teams right back would beat him like a drum up and down the flank. Davis has a great left foot and would be a big improvement in terms of set piece delivery, but his lack of mobility, poor fitness and his ineptitude on defense would not bode well. In his few chances with the Nats he’s done nothing.
Torres, for all his ability on the ball, is not a left wing either. Nor is Feilhabre. Adu can play there, but he can’t play defense either.
It’s frightening how one dimensional a lot of our up and coming players are. They’ll hopefully help generate offense, but the US will leak goals with too many of these guys on the field at once.
Szetela?
Geoff Cameron?
Beckerman?
Zizzo?
Davis?
I mean, does anyone here NOT think Brad Davis is a much better option than Beasley? His service is certainly better than anyone on the current squad, save maybe, Freddy Adu.
Best ‘LAM/LM’ options:
1. Donovan
2. Brad Davis
3. JF Torres
4. Feilhaber
5. Adu
Sorry SupSam he is not eligible yet.
Nice to see Cherundolo is apparently healthy again. Obviously he’s been sorely missed. It’s wierd how everyone, including Ives, has been saying Spector or Hejduk have locked down the right back spot. Dolo is BY FAR our best option at right back when healthy.
Movsisyan is starting to get back his attacking flair that made him stand out last season. Does anyone know if he is eligible to play for the US right now?
I’m just happy to see that they’re giving some other players a chance. I’m glad not to see the same Bob Bradley second team picks (i.e. Drew Moor). I don’t know a lot about Lichaj, but it’s good to see him get a chance as well as Jeremiah White.
I’m kinda wondering where Chris Rolfe is on this roster. He produces, full stop. He’s the second leading goal scorer all-time for Chicago.
Maybe his physical characteristics just aren’t quite what the MNT is looking for, or maybe he’s too old, but he’s definitely good enough to go abroad and perform, so why not?
Hope Bob Bradley reads all these comments and mine especially!
Cap Arturo Alvarez! The reason he wants to play for El Salvador cuz he is tearing up MLS with some nice goals recently but aparently its never enough for Bob Bradley. Talk about frustration when you have Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers on there who hasnt done s!@# this season. But of course current form means nothing to Bob Bradley. Here are the changes i suggest:
Out: Gaven
In: Alvarez
Out:THorrington
IN: Clarke
Out: Mastroeni
IN: Davis
Geoff Cameron,Danny Szetela,Marcus Tracey, Sal Sizzo Should be called up Cameron bcuz he can play almost every position exept goalie.
Sizzo becasue we dont have any real “wingers”.
Marcus Tracey becasue we cant score goals in the run of play.
Danny Szetela becasue he can play foward or holding mid very skillful player.
Pretty disapponted not to see Whitbread, Pontius, or Cameron…also discouraging to see some of the also rand included…
I’d rather see that line up playing in the confederations cup instead of the line up that we got now. At least they would play with some heart and play hard.
Does anybody else see that BB is just protecting the Worth of MLS. Because Jemal Johnson,Zak WhitBread, and Marcus Tracy should be on this roster. Mastroeini,Thorrington, and Gaven?? Thorrington ill pass……..Gaven over Jemal johnson???????????
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Luis Robles, Troy Perkins
DEFENDERS: Marco Vidal, Dan Califf, Steve Cherundolo, Jay Demerit, Clarence Goodson, Eric Lichaj, Chad Marhsall, Michael Orozco, Heath Pearce, Michael Parkhurst, Marvell Wynne.
MIDFIELDERS: Freddy Adu, Davy Arnaud, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Szetela, Stuart Holden, Sal Zizzo, Robbie Rogers, John Thorrington, Jose Francisco Torres,
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore, Marcus Tracy, Kenny Cooper, Charlie Davies, Jeremiah White
This is my projected USA Gold Cup lineup
———-Altidore——–Cooper———–
—–Torres——————-Adu———-
————-Clark—-Feilhaber————
Vidal—-Orozco—-DeMerit—-Cherundolo
—————-Guzan——————-
Houston’s Cameron would certainly be a nice addition, as would DC’s Pontius. Playing well should not be an automatic disqualifier but that seems to be the case.
Santino anyone?
I’m relieved Johnson is not on the list. He’s had too many chances already and done nothing, we desperately need to find more options at forward.
EDDIE JOHNSON , why nottttttttt
Where the heck is Jemahl Johnson?
From what I’ve seen, he’s the only winger we’ve got who looks like he can scare defenders.
Apparently some of you have not watched Colin Clark enough.
The guy is terribad, he is 25 years old and is not going to get better.
He has the worst field vision i have ever seen. He makes too many bad decisions. He cant dribble or shoot or hit a nice cross on a consistant basis.
He also is a prick, after speaking with him man times in person, the guy is just an a-hole.
Just 1 of many examples is his refusal to sign autographs for children when he is at a season ticket holder party.
I’m very happy that MLS players were not excluded at the expense of players in the English 3rd tier.
PRELIMINARY ROSTER, so continue making suggestions but stop freaking out (or continue because in some cases it’s really funny).
I’d also like to see a player like Colin Clark or some other wingers and even Sal Zizzo, and Danny Szetela.
Though I’d rather see somebody else in his place you want a player like Pablo out there whether it’s in games or even just in training. You don’t want to throw a bunch of kids or anything out there without somebody that knows the ropes.
Based on the debacle in South Africa, its clear the US team is overrated. This “B” team to failed A team is very unlikely to win the Gold Cup. If this were not being played in the US there would be no chance.
I also don’t get why so many people have Adu as practically an automatic starter on this team. Freddy is has not been playing and is out of form. And even when he has been somewhat in form, he has had very little impact with the full national team.
Here’s my final 23
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Luis Robles, Troy Perkins
DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein, Dan Califf, Steve Cherundolo, Jay Demerit, Eric Lichaj, Chad Marhsall, Michael Orozco, Michael Parkhurst, Marvell Wynne.
MIDFIELDERS: Freddy Adu, Davy Arnaud, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Stuart Holden, Robbie Rogers, Jose Francisco Torres,
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore, Kenny Cooper, Charlie Davies, Jeremiah White
My starting lineup would then be:
……….Altidore…….Cooper
Torres………Feilhaber………..Holden
……………..Clark
Bornstein..Marshall.Parkhurst..Cherundolo
………………Guzan
This could be a good team but who knows. The A team I thought would do reasonably well just absoulteu
“I’d like for BB to take a look at szetela, zizzo, whitnread, jemal, etc”
Yeah Sushant, and I’d like for Bob Bradley to quit and take the entire coaching staff with him. What do you think the odds are on either of those things happening?
Forgive me if I sound harsh, I certainly am NOT disagreeing with you. In fact I think your proposal is better than anything the USSF and their coaching group has presented in a long time. Just bitter at their continuously poor decision making.
A chronic and severe lack of vision, quality, leadership and motivation has led to this. A no-nonsense manager would never have let this happen.
I think the US is in danger of falling into the relegation zone of World Football. If it hasn’t already…
Hope Cherundolo is really going to be on the roster. Getting he, Pearce and Orozco healthy and contributing can really go a long way toward figuring out who’s going to play where next summer.
Also, there’s no way that Bornstein, Casey and Clark will be away from their club teams for 6 weeks.
Why play torres and adu out of position? What does that tell us? That they can’t play wing? No kidding; they’re not wingers. But why the hell Bob, maybe you can play a 4-1-1-1-1-1-1. Your continuous formation changes are pathetic and I can’t believe no one is talking about the inconsistency of the formation you ask the team to play. Arena’s 442 got old, but at least the players knew what to do. Dammit! If you insist on sitting talented players and overlooking upstarts, you should at least be able to show they don’t fit your system, but you preach all kinds of bullcrap Bob; I feel badly for all US players and fans under your command. I don’t care about the ‘source’ that says the Fed won’t fire you; do the right thing and go away. Please.
Everybody needs to relax, this has to be an old list, USSoccer.com hasn’t said anything about the roster for the Gold Cup, so until it is officially announced I really doubt this list is accurate. I agree though, I really hope that no older players and no players that are currently starting get a call. Bring in people that need a look and experience for the future. AKA No Pablo
Oh, and the Gold Cup this year has ZERO practical consequences for the U.S. team. Why risk burning players out or injuries?
Jesus, Hahnneman is 37 y.o. ! Como the f*ck ?
i agree that he needs to call in many more european based guys for a run out also we NEED kenny cooper to get serious time in the tournament he could be a huge option for us if he is able to step up to the international game and he hasn’t really gotten the chances. Would like to see pearce play so he can use it as a tryout for a new club
It seems like USA fans are under an impression that were going to walk over these teams there are some quality teams in this tournament and in the last 2 yrs we have seen exactly what can happen to an unprepared or unfamiliar roster these tournament could end badly as well
What is the point…
As to your first question, those guys have had long, tough seasons. They need a vacation, particularly with Mexico coming up on August 12.
As to the second question, I would guess it is a) to fill roster spots and b) provide “leadership.” At least, that is my guess on Mastroeni.
Wow the disgust over a preliminary roster is sickening me. A few players our omitted and they have four of thirty with some experience, shocking he might actually want some older guys in to help some of the people who haven’t been in camp get acclimated to the way they play. Everyone here is fools for wanting bradley fired for a prelim roster, and for not having a league one striker and defender (J.Johnson, Whitbread), a player not getting time in the second tier of spain (Szetela), a player who got hurt (Tracy), and a player not getting much time in Germany (Zizzo). I bet they would bring more to the table then players like Torres, Adu, Cooper, Marshall, and all the other players people have been clamoring for, you get them and still aren’t happy.
Ives, what is the point in not bringing in some of our best players that are in form like onyewu and michael bradley?
Ives, what is the point in bringing in washed up useless stars like Pablo mastroeni who will not be playing in the world cup?
Quaranta has been playing well for DCU the past two seasons since he was reacquired. He is one of the few US players who seems comfortable taking on opponents 1v1 and actually can often get by them. For a tournament like the Gold Cup, he seems like he would have been an ideal player to include on the roster.
I think the goal Is twofold:
– win the gold cup (no reason to let Mexico or Costa Rica win it
– develop some players for future inclusion to the USmnt
My main gripe is the lack of European players in the 2nd or 3rd tier leagues. I’d like for BB to take a look at szetela, zizzo, whitnread, jemal, etc
as for pontius, Tracy and zakuni, I’d wait till Jan. No reason to pull them from their clubs just yet
——jozy–ld——
torres———–adu
—–jj—bradley—-
boca-jayd–gooch–spector
——–howard———
world cup 2010
i opine:
They really need to mine the foreign leagues for americans abroad in the gold cup. Leave the MLSers in MLS during their season. Casey deserves MNT, but C.Rapids need him.
oh and where is the kid from England…Jemal Johnson>>>??? Injured?
I would personally like to see
—————–Altidore—-Davies——————
—Adu———-Torres——-Feilhaber——–White—
–Lichaj———DeMerit——Parkhurst—–Cherundolo
But I agree, Ives, we’ll probably see your line up. Mainly, I want to see how davies and jozy play in tandem, as well as torres and adu. i want to get a good look at white at lichaj as well, because few of us have actually seen them PLAY
I would like to see Beasley and Kljestan on the starting squad. Beasley got blasted by horns and Kljestan was surprised with a red card, certainly can’t blame these chaps.
Quarenta??
Cameron deserves a serious look. Perhaps the best young central back in the country playing for the best defense in the MLS. He’s aggressive and fearless, something the team could use more of.
If this is truely the roster than I say that we try to see if this group would work:
——–Jozy Altidore—-Charlie Davies
–Jose Torres—————– Freddy Adu
————Feilhaber——–Clark
–Orozco–Demerit–Parkhurst–Cherundolo—
—————Brad Guzan——–
This would be the team that gives us the best chance to win, and we get to see all the young guys preform. In this line-up we would see a glimpse of what will be coming in 2014. All of these guys have preformed at the Senior level and have played well. With this we can see who deserves a spot on the starting USMNT and who will be riding the bench for the next round of qualifiers. All of these guys have been the ones that we have been calling for Bradley to put on the big stage. As I said earlier, this will show us who steps up, and who doesn’t.
http://draftystat.weebly.com/
@Ryan
When players say they are retiring from the National Team, that means they don’t want to play anymore. Clint Mathis announced his retirement from the National Team three years ago. While you’re at it, why don’t you ask for Reyna and Tab Ramos to be on the roster. Makes as much sense.
alvarez getting away is going to be a sad day. but he has attitude and motivation issues and always has. i first saw him play when he was 14 and thought he was one of the best players i had seen in person of any age at that point. its too bad he hasn’t been developed into the US natty pool.
Brad Davis is not an international calibre player. He makes Freddy Adu look like Gattuso in midfield.
The roster is fine, though it’s likely old as Ives mentioned. Good to see Donovan, Bradley and Dempsey not being asked to play so some younger guys get experience. Hopefully we make it to the final if for no other reason than the young guys get more games. That and because it’ll chap the ass of the Bradley haters as I enjoy reading those ridiculous posts.
I would have really liked to see Santino Quaranta called up. He could be a real long-term option for the US.
On the other hand, I am not unhappy that DC United remains intact for Gold Cup.