Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones, Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj and FC Dallas winger Brek Shea were among 20 players called by U.S. men's national team head coach Bob Bradley for upcoming friendlies against Poland (Oct. 9th in Chicago) and Colombia (Oct. 12 in Chester, Pa.).
Shea and Heath Pearce were the only MLS players to be called in, with the league playing a full schedule around the time of the friendlies. Shea and Pearce will join the national team after playing in Dallas' match against Colorado on Oct. 9th. National team star Landon Donovan appears set to miss both friendlies.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to gather many of our players based in Europe and continue to build on the foundation we established during the last four years," said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. "We believe we have a strong nucleus of talented players, many of whom we are going to challenge to assume greater leadership roles during the next four-year cycle.
"We certainly have ideas on how we want to move forward, and these games will be the start of that process."
Some old familiar faces are back in the mix, with Eddie Johnson and Michael Parkhurst earning call-ups.
Here is the full roster:
USMNT Roster for Poland/Colombia friendlies
GOALKEEPERS- Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS-Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Étienne), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS– Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS-Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)
What do you think of the group? Excited to finally see Jermaine Jones play for the USA? Hoping Jozy Altidore can find his goal-scoring touch? Who else would you like to have seen called in?
Share your thoughts below.
Exactlly. He’s trying to win a Supporters Shield and an MVP.
They’re both having really good years. It’s a chance for BB to look at them. He hasn’t given up on Pearce, and he wants to see Shea.
I don’t think he was referring to Obi-Mikel. I think he was comparing Holder to Mikkel Diskerud.
Maybe, he gets a look-see in the South Africa game…
As you say, if he plays, it makes sense. The best thing that can happen to Gooch is that he gets loaned out or sold in the winter break. That’s not going to happen unless he gets in some games and shows he’s healthy. Since it won’t happen at Milan, it’s up to BB>
Pearce and Bornstein are what we have at LB, not counting the handsomest 31 year-old man with a 5.6 40″ this side of me. Any of those 3 could have done admirably sitting with AV’s reserves this season.
Pearce is all of TWO years older than Spetor. If you–or anyone–can explain how Spector is so much brighter a prospect than Pearce I would love to hear it. I assume the reason has to do with playing with Man U as a kid and MLS self-loathing.
Signed,
Pres. of Heath Pearce Fan Club
We should easily be Poland and Colombia if we lose to these teams then I don’t know what’s wrong with this team. I’m cofident that USA will win both of these teams now that I have seen the roster
I like this list with exception of Pearce who has no clue whatsoever in the national team but overall like it especially the new players coming in
since bobby Z went down, and especially now tht dembele went down, dempsey’s been playing forward for fulham for a couple weeks. If we see a 2 forward formation, he’ll be up there with Jozy I’d imagine. I really want to see holden in the middle of the field, but with donovan out it looks more like we’ll see him out on the wing with bedoya on the other side.
thank you for being compenant, unlike the guy above your comment
Cam Weaver is 27 years old, 6’4 inches, plays for Houston and has scored 5 goasls in 18 games for them. He played 9 games for the Quakes and scored 1 goal for them and spent a few years in Norway, the 25th ranked league in Europe. He played for Haugesund and scored 21 goals in 51 games, a respectable total.
He seems to have journeyman written all over him. While you never know, it seems like a real stretch to consider him for the USMNT.
Interested to see if Bedoya can rebound from his last performance.
I like how you said you wouldnt call in Spector and then you have him as a starter.
I also like how you included Juan Agudelo, whos never played a minute in the league.
so dumb.
Hey, That’s my favorite Clint Eastwood movie.
Sure. Charlie does. Just tweet him.
“Holden is a better passer and set piece taker than Mikel,”
Where is your valid data?
Mikel has played 30 games for Nigeria and 166 games for Chelsea since 2006.
Holden has played 15 games for the US and 8 games for Bolton.
Holden is a fine player but I wouldn’t consider that enough of a sample size to make a valid comparison. You might want to wait a while before elevating Holden to godhood.
Odu? Is that some kind of joke off of Edu and Adu?
What’s wrong with Gomez?
“And it protects our least talked about weakness – the defense.”
Obviously you haven’t been listening to all the talk about Bornstein; and Gooch and Spector doing badly with their clubs. And you probably didn’t see the World Cup where the USMNT was roundly criticised for one big thing, giving up early goals. My guess is the defense had a lot to do with that.
Other than that you’re right no one ever mentions that the USMNT has a crap defense.
Right around there.
Was very hot and heavy (under 5 minutes, consistently) before the WC roster was announced this spring.
Mr. Adu is interesting. Reminds me of the Moneyball difference between him and, say, Jay Demerit, with FA playing BB and JD playing LD.
(Billy Beane and Lenny Dykstra for the youngsters)
I believe only two MLS players were called up because of the schedule. Go look it up.
“In the meanwhile their are other players to try.”
Such as?
The Norwegian league is ranked # 25 in Europe according to UEFA coefficients.
To give you an idea of what that means the EPL is #1, France is #5, Greece is #11, Denmark is # 12, Belgium is #14 and Scotland is #15. I use this coefficent because it’s pretty hard for the average to figure out how rate these lesser known European leagues.
Based on this it seems that while Norway may be a step up from MLS is it really that big a step? Remember, Mix is probably very much at home in Norway so he may not have to deal with the kind of culture shock EJ, for example, probably had to deal with when he went to Greece.
He seems like a good player but is he the next Kaka? He does looks to be well on his way to inheriting the JF Torres ” why the hell doesn’t Bradley play him” award. I guess you all need someone to bitch about.
Did you miss the 😉 from Oog?
you can’t just schedule friendlies whenever you damn well feel like it unless you plan on using ALL MLS players. There are specified international dates in which players must be released. You also can’t bring in a squad of 20 young, untested guys with no veterans to teach the way. Bradley will continue to bring in kids slowly. He has the january camp to work with the players you mentioned for an extended period of time in order to A) show them the system and B) evaluate them on the international level. The fact that Lichaj (young than ream and gonzales I believe) was called in as well as brek shea (even younger) means he’s doing exactly what you want him to do, just not with the players you want.
Lichaj is a natural right footed player he could be what Spector is at LB for all we know.
MLS guys will be playing games during the International Break. January camp will be the perfect time for MLS guys to make a mark.
the last one was 42, I believe. Correct?
I’m wondering if this roster listing Dempsey as a forward means we might actually see him as a forward which would allow another skillful player in the midfield such as Holden or Feilhaber.
Can’t wait to see Jones play with the USMNT!
Landon’s absence means Holden or possibly Feilhaber likely to take the free kicks. Both, IMO (esp. Holden) may be better than LD at that particular task.
Don’t know if Spector will get many more chances but we haven’t seen much of him in central defense and at 6’1″ with some pace and some skill it might not be such a bad fit.
Don’t mind seeing oldsters in defense in Oct. friendlies but after MLS season is over would be interested in seeing Gonzalez/Ream pairing, Omar to clean up in the air and Ream to play it out of the back rather than all long balls. That might also allow a holding midfielder such as Torres to use his skills to better advantage.
Can we wait until guys play some first team football before we talk about National Team call ups?
Really? Can Mix play left back?
“(Not Donovan though when he was with Bayern) ”
This is a load of BS.
When he was with Bayern it was his MLS off season. So as far as the USMNT was concerned he was coming to camp in better condition than he would have otherwise.
Pittman plays League 2 in England (is the quality even better than USL), Justin Braun is an average at best MLS forward, and Cam Weaver is a nobody.
Why did the USSF schedule these friendlies in the US if you are using predominately Euro players?
This is the time we need to seed for the growth of a new player pool. Instead we get a lot of retreads. Really Bob, we can’t win against a Polish side with MLS players.
Don’t give me this crap that they are still competing for the playoffs. many MLS teams are all but eliminated. But I guess this reasoning BB would bring back Bornstein from Chivas.
But why bring back pine-riding retreads. You need to find some central defenders and a good leftback. You need to start evaluating and giving caps to the Reams, Wondolowskis, the Gonzalez’es and the Stephens and Brauns. You only have so many friendlies that “don’t count” for anything, you will have the Gold Cup which is very important only because it allows a Confed Cup spot and then the qualifiers begin and you shouldn’t have to start evaluating players when you need to qualify.
If the US can’t pick MLS players for these because of date conflicts, then move them when there is not. I suspect (and hope)that Bradley will have many of these type of friendlies on the drawing board. If not then these friendlies need to do more than give some of the Euro players get some turf time.
Leave Jozy, Gooch. Spector in Europe and bring in some MLS players for a look see.
I cannot vote for someone who thinks that:
1. New players are the answer to all questions. Guess what? Teams that bring lots of young, inexperienced players to the WC routinely get killed. Experience at that level is critical.
2. Wants to bring players in who aren’t even eligible to play for the USMNT (Najar)
3. Wants to give a job to a COMPLETELY untested international player (Lichaj).
4. Is penciling in three backs with no international experience as starters in 2014.
Thank god no one other than you cares about your silly opinion.
Bobby Convey is not better than Bornstein in ANY universe.
When will we start hearing about Odu so the trifecta can be completed?
I need to be the new coach of the nats. Pay me 100k/year and I won’t bitch about “total control” of anything. Just let me decide who comes to camps.
Here’s what I’d do.
The following players would never return to the team: Findley, Bornstein, Buddle, Gomez, Pearce, Johnson
The following players would get a chance to play through the Gold Cup, but not beyond: Dolo, Boca, Demerit.
The following players would not be called up until they produce better results with their respective league teams: Gooch, Adu, Spector.
I would focus very heavily on developing younger players: Mix, Lichaj (our new LB), Ream, Gonzalez, Agudelo, Chinn, Shea, Braun, Najar, and many other young players.
I would play in a 4-2-3-1 formation at World Cup 2014:
………….Altidore………….
Dempsey….Holden……..Donovan
…….Jones…………Bradley
Lichaj…..Ream….Gonzalez….Spector
…………Howard…………..
Potential subs: Gooch, Najar, Agudelo, Edu, Shea, Braun, Convey, Guzan, Torres
Who votes for me as the new head coach?
Initially I didn’t like the M Bradley call up…dude needs a break! But, might be a nice opportunity to see how he works with Jones and if they can develop chemistry together.
Our problems at LB and striker make me want to weep. Assuming we count Demps and Donovan as midfielders, that leaves us with ZERO strikers who actually score goals. Plus, at LB, we don’t have a single competent player. Boca is a CB through and through. Pearce and Borsntein are not national team quality. Period. Maybe Lichaj can play on the left?
My thoughts:
Happy not to see Findley and Borstein. With some luck, they are gone for good.
Delighted to see Jones, Lichaj, Shea, and Bedoya.
Heath Pearce has never really impressed me at international level.
Gooch is a total shock to me. I know this is a sensitive issue, but I only think you can ride past national team success for so long. His lack of PT and fitness is a huge concern. I’d rather see Ream and Omar learning the ropes. Bring Gooch back to the team when he finds a new club. All the respectable international teams out there only invite players who are actually playing with their clubs. Why should we be any different.
I wanted to see Mix and Ream. Oh, well. Maybe later.
Finally, the problem of left back remains obvious. Can Lichaz play on that side? And why not Convey? I think he’s better than Bornstein.
So does Boca
Ives went all crazy on Twitter that Gooch was being disrespected. I’m not dissing Gooch at all. When healthy and in form, he’s easily one of our top 3. All I’m saying is that US Soccer has a delicate balance of developing and progressing. Having Gooch start when he’s not very active is slightly awkward.
Also, remember how Benny Feilhaber was given the excuse that only players getting regular minutes with their team are to be considered?(Not Donovan though when he was with Bayern) Granted this isn’t qualifying, but it just feels like an exercise to get Gooch some game competition. I’m ok with that. But if he’s on the bench, you’re like ‘why did he come?’ And if he starts you’re like ‘um, isn’t this a good opportunity to give someone else a chance?’
not necessarily on the wing, but i would like to see what Jones and Bradley could bring to the attack up the sidelines with Edu controling the middle
What about Franklin and Gonzalez from LA, and Bornstein from Chivas? Were they not considered due to the MLS season? Is the same true for Torres, Gomez, etc. down in Mexico? What this roster shows is that we have serious depth problems at forward.
Yep, Gooch doesn’t even make the bench but I see him in the practices, so I know he does play there. 😉 WTF ?
I understand giving Landy the rest but it would be nice to see him play with Jones and see how they work together, particularly since the Galaxy will already be on the East Coast
Would also like to see Jay DeM to showcase him but I understand why he might not want to play in these friendlies if he’s finalizing a deal in Europe
Excited to see Shea (hopefully he gets at least 45) and Lichaj, and hopefully Benny continues his good form
I’m really loving our midfield and keepers…everything else, not so much
True, these guys aren’t getting playing time with their clubs. However, we don’t have much else at the back at this point. Also, maybe BB is trying to throw them a bone for the upcoming transfer window.
Footnote: I’m not NECESSARILY a BB supporter, I just like to play devil’s advocate for people who may not have thought about things from other perspectives. You do make a valid point, as do Adam and Balkdsaf Ballasdflas.
What about for the Poland match? Remember no Pearce
I’m thinking more of a 4-2-3-1, with Jones and Bradley being the two CMs with Dempsey, Holden and Feilhaber being the attacking mids with Altidore above them. I think its a formation, while dull and defensive, takes advantage of our deepest position – center midfield. And it protects our least talked about weakness – the defense.