Columbus Crew defender Frankie Hejduk has been called into U.S. national team training camp. Hejduk replaces injured midfielder Clint Dempsey, who is out with a shoulder injury.
Hejduk will join the team on Tuesday afternoon and is expected to train on Wednesday with the rest of the 22-player group as it prepares for upcoming World Cup qualifiers at Honduras (Saturday) and vs. Costa Rica (Oct. 14).
Hejduk's call-up doesn't mean Dempsey will not play vs. Costa Rica. Dempsey's availability for the Costa Rica qualifier has yet to be determined.
What do you think of Hejduk's call-up? Glad to see him back in the mix? Think he's the type of veteran the team needs in Honduras?
Share your thoughts below.
hejduk is great addition .. i hope he’s still got enough in the tank to make the wc roster .. i think he makes the rest of the team better
Hey, Darius…if you would write your post a little less pompously you might have more than one person agree with you.
@brian
“Dont take that previous poster’s comment out of context. He meant to say that we need to stop slobbering over players like Ching and Heydude who are all hustle and heart yet have no skill and instead look into players who have a much higher upside…”
Then we’d be France.
Don’t know if that’s good or bad in your book.
Castillo is now a victim of discrimination or moronic decision-making from Boob Bradley.
Hedjuk can still play and is worthy of the occasional bitch slap from Mexican coaches for his energy, but we need to look towards the future NOW.
Heydude! he’ll match the intensity of anybody in the country that day, and all you noobies wanting to throw castillo in the lion’s den should listen to Ives when he says never been in a game situation like that. oh btw, we’ve got 5 away goals this round i think? Hejduk scored one in Salvador you’ll recall…
hejduk has just been brought in for leadership in training camp
P.S….this is off topic but Fulham is looking at up to a 3.12 Million dollar bid for Brek Shea….did not impress much in world cup but whatever this is a true rumor at the moment
Finally someone with energy and eggs on the team!!!
[I have to smile. For all of those constantly ranting on Dempsey’s lack of hustle, decisions, etc… May I present you with the Anti-Dempsey, Frankie Hedjuk.
I actually think Frankie is probably the most undervalued national team member of all-time. If you want hustle, heart, and the ultimate team player, then look no further.]
Exactly… that’s why Frankie – not GBS – is the Crew’s captain.
bitch…. complain…. bitch a little more…
ok now i’m exhausted
The US needed Hejduk down in Mexico. I think he’s a guy you have to put on the team.
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Agreed.
The US needed Hejduk down in Mexico. I think he’s a guy you have to put on the team.
I doubt frankie is going to play. but i have no problem with the callup. Bob’s job is to win now. Let someone else worry about how we are developing players for five years from now.
i was just thinking that this was missing some key elements–heart, fire, desire, and (my favorite) hustle. Our prayers have been answered!
Seriously, do people think that the other guys on the team don’t care about the game? Just because Frankie shows it in a different, more animated, and more annoying fashion, doesn’t mean that he cares more about the the team. He has to run that much to catch up with the opponents that blow by him.
…and even if he does have some superhuman caring ability, it doesn’t make up for his lack of talent. I’m sure he’s a nice dude, but he doesn’t belong here.
hejduk + national team jersey= maicon
(ok maybe not but he does elevate his game for the NT)
Hejduk has been solid for the Nats ever since he missed the plane years ago. I’ll take his pace and willingness to attack. He’s better than Bornstein!
Ching and Hejduk are on the team, because they are damn good players, and are the best the US has. It’s quite telling how many of you are complaining that we need players with more skill and upside, but fail to come up with any examples.
The US is not a serious WC contender. No team in this region is. Players like Ching and Hejduk will help us qualify and hopefully advance out of the group stage at the World Cup. Any higher expectations than that is fantasyland.
Good move. Is Hejduk the long term answer at RB for the US? No. But in the short term, given injuries, YC peril, and the need for strong leadership in a hostile environment…Hedjudk’s inclusion is much needed…
GOOD POINT DARIUS! Now that is knowing your soccer!
The team with the better skilled players actually does not win always. It’s usually the team that knows how to PLAY AS A TEAM. As much as I don’t like Italy, look at there success. They don’t play pretty but they play as a disciplined team. I’m not saying Hejduk is world class, but he is someone who knows how to play well with others and brings an intensity that is through the roof for the entire 90 minutes. It doesn’t have to be pretty if it works. I hope he makes it to one more World Cup. We all know he will not start, but that is good quality on the bench for the objective of winning now which is the whole point right now.
At least Hejduk has world class fitness. The other options have neither world class fitness nor world class technique.
I like this move. Hejduk is a veteran who has been there before. Even if he doesn’t play, I feel comfortable knowing he’s ready if there is an injury. And World Cup Qualifying is not about looking to the future. It’s about winning now. Looking to the future is what happens right after World Cup qualifying and the Cup itself. Hejduk plays with more energy and passion then most of the younger players so who cares about age. I say if you still got it, you still got it no matter how old you are.
Hejdul certainly has technical limitations. But he is in world class fitness. He is one of the critical players for the USMNT. I knew we were completely lost without Hejduk and Friedal at WC 2006. An excellent and obvious choice. Bradley should beg and plead for Friedel to return to the squad.
well Heydude does deserve it after saving our skin with a valuable point (and some blemishes) in EL Salvador not too long ago
By now I really believe that BB has some serious trouble with mexican american players, he calls Torres and Boca because of their fame maybe time playing for the Nats, I just dont get it, calling a dino over Castillo or Orozco, dumb
(SBI-Castillo has a hamstring injury and has never been with the team. Orozco has never played in a national team match of any significance. Those two should get their chances soon enough, but for right now, and the current situation, it’s not really a tough decision if choosing betwee Hejduk and Orozco. Seriously, if the player isn’t likely to dress, or play, which guy would you rather have with the team? The grizzled veteran who can get the team pumped up and speak from experience, or the kid who’s never played in a major qualifier and will most likely be a quiet observer rather than leader? Castillo and Orozco have great futures, but you’re missing the point if you’re upset about them being “passed over” by this call-up)
There is certainly something to be said about bringing a player who unquestionably will give all of his effort to win. While there may be more talented players available, his experience and effort will hopefully enhance the team’s chemistry. A good team is not necessarily made up of the best player at every position, but rather the 11 players that can play a as group the most effectively.
I agree with many of you here, one guy said it best about Ching and Hedjuk, passion and energy don’t make up for skills or talent. I could not have said it best. These guys are nice players but not for a squad that wants to be serious about WC Aspirations.
ball played into space….hejduk burns his marker because of all that speed and desire….plenty of time and space to serve up a cross….oh and it ends up 20 rows deep….what a shocker.
Posted by: Katatonia | October 06, 2009 at 03:31 PM
See El Salvador game….ohh and Jozy’s dome
Should have been on the team already. We need his tenacity and bite!
ball played into space….hejduk burns his marker because of all that speed and desire….plenty of time and space to serve up a cross….oh and it ends up 20 rows deep….what a shocker.
EA
Dont take that previous poster’s comment out of context. He meant to say that we need to stop slobbering over players like Ching and Heydude who are all hustle and heart yet have no skill and instead look into players who have a much higher upside…
“Vet. Leader. Fine by me. Although at some point you’d think the squad would need a young, fiery leader instead of an old one as the years go by. Michael Bradley is not the answer in this regard.”
?! Um, Omar….
Michael Bradley is 22 years old. Is it possible that your expectations are a teeny bit out of whack at this point?
Frankie is welcome. We need a result right now – not “for the future”
The US Team needs less heart and passion.
Brilliant.
yes frankie got beat on the header in El salvador…if it wern’t for him though, we would be in a lot worse situation.
I was just sitting here thinking that two-footed tackles is what we needed to get a win at Honduras.
YYYYYYYESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SO EXCITED
read the article on Sports Illustrated on the lack of leaders on the USMNT….this is who we need down there.
Who cares if he plays, we need his intensity
I have to smile. For all of those constantly ranting on Dempsey’s lack of hustle, decisions, etc… May I present you with the Anti-Dempsey, Frankie Hedjuk.
I actually think Frankie is probably the most undervalued national team member of all-time. If you want hustle, heart, and the ultimate team player, then look no further. Frankie somehow finds a way to make a positive impact, despite lacking the natural talent of a lot of the guys he competes against. I’ve never seen anyone play harder for the USMNT.
I would rather have seen Castillo just to get him in the mix and around the guys, and Hedjuk probably won’t see the pitch, but I’ve got to be happy for Frankie.
Congrat’s Frankie. You’ve earned it.
I like Frankie but why? We already have Dolo and Spector at right back. If anything Bob should of called in a left mid/left back (Castillo perhaps?) since Dempsey is injured and Bornstein is our only true (not very good though) left back on the roster.
as long as he doesn’t play (how could he?), I like it. Bob is just bringing him along for some locker room fire.
He’s been in these types of atmospheres plenty before and he always brings intensity. I can’t complain about that. We can always use some added intensity behind the scenes.
btw, my previous post was not intended to knock on Heydude. I mean i really like the guy personally. He’s an excellent MLS defender and is very professional, but i just dont see why he’s still getting looks from Bobo..
Castillo is hurt and has never played with this team before. This isn’t exactly the time to trot him out on the field.
No matter how old Frankie is, his energy always seems to give the US a boost.
I think this could be a very good sign for our chances on Saturday night…
Hey-Dude!! Energize the flanks!
Could Hejduk and Ching STOP participating in the squad??? PLEASE. “Energy” and “passion” don’t make up for “talent” and “skill.” We as a nation should be past those “scrappy” “fighter” types. That’s what losers say when they lose.
Dammit! Can we please call in Castillo already? Hold old is Hejduk?! Do we really think that he can hold his own in the World Cup against top tier teams? Maybe he can play against the T&T or the El Salvadors, but there is no way in hell that he can defend against a speedy winger from any top 25 team in the world…In which case, what the hell is the point in even calling this guy up anymore? We need to look into the future, not into the past.
(SBI-A. Hejduk is coming in as player 22, which I’d imagine means now the team can practice 11 v. 11. B. Edgar Castillo is injured right now and wouldn’t be available anyway. C. Hejduk has actually played in road qualifiers and done well, as recently as March in fact. D. The team doesn’t need to look at the future, it needs to look at the present, because it still hasn’t qualified for 2010.)
Vet. Leader. Fine by me. Although at some point you’d think the squad would need a young, fiery leader instead of an old one as the years go by. Michael Bradley is not the answer in this regard.
This makes sense given the lack of depth and YC peril for our outside fullbacks. We really only had Bronstein, Cherundolo (YC), and Spector on the outside because we need Bocanegra on the inside (and he is also in YC peril). Plus, Bradley likes to bring in a quick defender type for outside midfield late in the game when we’re trying to protect a lead. That has been Bornstein in the past, but if he starts it could be Hejduk with Donovan moving up top or moving to the right side.
I can’t wait until Frankie’s almost 36 year old behind (by next summer) comes in and whips everyone in the fitness portion of next year’s pre World Cup camp.
Those whippersnappers should be embarrassed.
I know Castillo has a minor injury now and wouldn’t be able to play vs. Honduras. My question, is the injury the reason he wasn’t picked for the squad or did the injury happen after?
And if its not the reason, wtf?
Just win baby. I don’t care who they bring in as long as the player can contribute and the team qualifies
Good for Hejduk. His energy and passion are always welcome and needed by the USMNT.
DUMB
……