It was a relatively slow news day in the soccer world on Monday, what with World Cup preliminary rosters set to be unveiled on Tuesday and the Europa League final headlining proceedings on Wednesday.
Here are some items to ponder as Monday winds down:
The U.S. 30-man preliminary World Cup roster will be unveiled on ESPN2 at 2pm. As it stands, we can figure that Edson Buddle and Brian Ching are among the selected (thanks to Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez and the Houston Dynamo PR department for (inadvertently) leaking that info to the masses).
Former England manager Steve McLaren has parlayed his success at Dutch champion FC Twente into a nice two-year deal to become the new manager at Wolfsburg. Will he bring along Costa Rican star Bryan Ruiz (since it's a safe bet Edin Dzeko is on his way to a bigger club)?
The Europa League Final looks set to go on as planned on Wednesday (ash cloud be damned). If you're wondering where you can watch it, DirecTV is showing the match, but that's about it as far as television options. SBI will be doing a live commentary on the match so you can always follow along here.
With the World Cup a month away, my colleagues at Fox Soccer have begun their World Cup previewing with a wide variety of info, including the first of their 32 team previews. They began the team previews today with North Korea.
I know some of you have asked me to name my own 28-man roster for next week's U.S. training camp. Here is the group I'd bring to Princeton:
SBI'S Proposed 28-man roster for USMNT Training Camp
Goalkeepers– Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan
Defenders– Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Bornstein, Heath Pearce, Chad Marshall
Midfielders– Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden, Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Francisco Torres, Alejandro Bedoya, DaMarcus Beasley
Forwards– Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Brian Ching, Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson, Herculez Gomez
A few caveats to consider. If Torres has club duty with Pachuca, and if Davies isn't healthy, that could free up a spot for Freddy Adu, Robbie Rogers or Sacha Kljestan.
Chad Marshall might seem surprising, but he played a full 90 minutes on Saturday and was entrenched as a top four centerback just a year ago. Frankie Hejduk probably played himself out of the picture in recent weeks, though it wouldn't shock me if he wound up on the squad.
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The SBI MLS Power Rankings will come out Tuesday morning for those of you wondering where it was today. I had to take care of some equipment upgrading today as I get ready for the World Cup, which is fast approaching. As you might expect, there's plenty of shaking up in this week's rankings.
Also look out for the MLS Team of the Week, MLS Best XI, and the return of the MLS Rookie of the Week feature.
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What do you think of any of the above items? Did you like my 28-man projected camp roster?
Share your thoughts below.
Why is it that the Davies detractors always feel the need to add an extra two or three months to his period of absence? Learn to count; October was 7 months ago.
Wait, that stopped?
I think it’s a little harsh to estimate Davies at 50%. I understand that Davies hasn’t played in a while, but in terms of physical work, he is doing everything his teammates are doing throughout the week in training. There have been plenty of American guys that have gone overseas and seen hardly any playing time with their clubs, essentially missing the same amount of time Davies has. You know Davies and Beasley have actually played around the same minutes for their respective clubs this year? Unless Bradley knows some really pessimsitic info. on Davies that nobody else does, I’d be shocked if he isn’t on this roster and doesn’t get a showing in the upcoming friendly.
Actually, it’s much worse: they lost to Tigres.
I don’t care if u were allowed to call a 40 man roster…klejstan, rogers, and adu do not deserve to be called up. Hell I would leave borstein at home to but unfortunately we don’t have much of a choice
Esto. I mean this.
ONE CHANCE IS NOT ENOUGH WHEN YOU CONSIDER ALL THE CHANCES SACHA GOT.
im not an adu fan but, he doesn’t have to live up to the potential to play for the US. His potential was world class, but you dont have to be world class to have a spot on the US team. I personally don’ want him on the team, nor do i think there is a place for him but it’s not because he didn’t live up to his potential
How can GolTv not be showing the Europa Cup Final? They’ve been showing games all year. I don’t get it!!! Damn!!!
Um he had, what 10 minutes in a game that we had already lost??? Yeesh, tough crowd… Agree with the original, deserved a better shot.
What?!? No Pablo Mastroeni???????????!??!?!
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner with a beautiful Killer Instinct reference.
You’re welcome.
I dunno. Senegal’s defense looked terrible, and Mexico blew a bunch of goal opportunities, like 4, that ranged from gimmes to good chance to finish.
I’m not a card-carrying Bradley basher, I tend to defend him, but if Herc Gomez isn’t called into the camp, I’ll be outraged.
I think Davies will go over Johnson.
thanks. never a bad time to catch a game
Meant to write could there…tired.
For what it’s worth Mexico is looking pretty good
I hadn’t thought about that. That coach (and team) couldn’t seriously be killed if they don’t advance. When I think of them, I tend to laugh because I think they are one of the worst two teams in the tournament (with New Zealand) but I don’t think I’ll do that again. I hope by some miracle they advance.
A game like that would definitely be available online.
I wouldn’t hold your breathe about Gomez, Johnson, or even Davies being picked over Ching. Bradley clearly has a love affair with him. He will take the attitude that Ching is in the squad and the other three have to beat him out, not all four are in competition.
It should be four forwards: holding: Altidore and Buddle attacking: Gomez and Johnson/Davis
exactly. when ching scored against El Salvador, message boards were flooded with Ching for SA, even though that was his only goal for almost a year.
Mexico-Senegal is on Telemundo, for those looking for a soccer fix tonight. It’s being played at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Mostly, but I don’t know about Chad Marshall.
I agree, Adu could provide a spark.
i have to say sbi’s picks are pretty spot on in my opinion….
US Soccer says it’s on ESPNEWS, not ESPN2.
fyi
oh really? you think that Kljestan or Rogers are better options? listen, i know those two are going to be called up, so whats the harm in giving Adu a shot? he’s been playing decently against great opponents. He’s only 20.
chad marshall is finished. adu should get a look
This post reads like it is four years old. Did you see Beasley bomb at LB? No one should be allowed to mention Adu until after the World Cup.
I don’t think Castillo is worthy of a call up, but it’s because he’s not that impressive for his club. I think it’s ridiculous to judge him on the brief time he played at left mid in the friendly for the Nats.
Can we please put the Adu thing to rest? He’s not good enough to be a positive presence on the team. He hasn’t come anywhere near to living up to the potential people thought he had.
Will ATDHE have a stream?
Yeah, I agree, I think people underestimate Clint’s defensive abilities and I think he would help clog the middle of the field.
I am pissed that we cant see the europa final unless you have directv!!!
C-C-C Combo Breaker
Forget about lazy Jozy. Start Clint Dempsey up front with Edson Buddle! Then bring on Herculez in the second half to seal the deal!
I would love to see Ruiz at Sochaux with Davies that would be a thing of Beauty
but realistically he should just stay at Twente and play in the Champions League
I cant wait for all these great Central Americans to start making a two to three year pit stop in MLS before going to europe how great would have Ruiz been in MLS
A healthy and competitive Davies and far better than Johnson Ching Casey Findley Combined however… Charlie hasn’t played a game in a very long time. Even if he is physically ready… he lacks sharpness that weekly professional games provide. Lets face it, we are going to compete at a high level and training and scrimmage games won’t cut it.
Good Choices, but would you want Demps to play up top, or one of the other forwards? I would have Clint play with Jozy and then take an outside mid out and move Clint back to midfield and bring on Chuck D as a super sub.
I’m no Bornstein fan, but I’ll take a shot at why he could be on the 30 man invite list. We need to keep in mind that there are only 11 starters, so what is the primary purpose of the other 19? I say it’s to help prepare the first 11. Bornstein has played well on occasion and he is a defender who has some speed and can get forward. Thus, I could see him having some usefulness in a camp setting. Now, if Bornstein were to make it to SA, I could see him being useful in a situation, perhaps, where we’re down and we’re throwing numbers forward. He could push forward, but still make it back to defend a counter-attack. Again, I do not think Bornstein is ready for a WC start, but he may have some utility in a camp setting.
Davies has got to go even if he is only 50 %
thumbs down x infinity for being a debbie downer
Fifa has a date(May 17?) that clubs must release their players for WC preparation, but I’m pretty sure liguilla goes past that date, meaning Pachuca and USSF would have to come to some agreement for José to stay with Tuzos in the finals.
Still, you are right that JFT’s situation could get dicey if he’s in the 30.
I was hoping mclaren would stay at twente, especially considering he’d have champions league football. It was a feel good story, but who knows what he’ll accomplish with Wolfsburg. The English press was too hard on him.
Castillo? C’mon !!!
When he had the chance to shine with the national team he did absolutely nothing. Somehow he managed to disappear during the game (the friendly).
I am a Bornstein hater but if it comes to chose between both of them…. Castillo makes Bornstein look like Evra hands down.
It’s not just MLS. For most of the competition even Mexican sides don’t play with first team squads. Imagine the UEFA Champion’s league played with youth and 2nd division squads.
Back to Concacaf, look at the fields in the Central American monsoons and the cold weather that can occur in the US.
I do like the idea of moving Concachampions to a central location in (someone’s)offseason to get good fields, less travel and a chance of nearer to 1st team squads out there.
I say Altidore, Davies, Buddle, and gomez head to South Africa.
I second this. virtual tequila as well