The CONCACAF Gold Cup is less than four months away now and the clock is ticking on American players hoping to do enough to earn a place on the Gold Cup roster.
There hasn't been much shake-up in the squad we're projecting in February from the roster we named in January, with just two new names on the squad. With MLS still in its off-season, the time is now for European and Mexican-based players to work their way past their MLS brethren.
We also have the inclusion of some new names to the mix, including German-born defender/midfielder Timothy Chandler. The Nuremberg player has yet to play for the United States, but has expressed interest in playing for the USA.
So who is on this month's version of the squad? Here is February's projected U.S. Gold Cup Roster:
PROJECTED 2011 Gold Cup Roster
GOALKEEPERS– Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Sean Johnson
DEFENDERS– Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Spector, Eric Lichaj, Tim Ream, Zach Loyd
MIDFIELDERS– Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Alejandro Bedoya
FORWARDS– Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Juan Agudelo, Teal Bunbury
——-
Here are some thoughts on the picks:
GOALKEEPER- Wondering why Brad Guzan isn't on the squad? Sources tell SBI Guzan will skip the Gold Cup because he's getting married. That leaves Bob Bradley with a serious issue because he'll need a reliable and experienced back-up to Tim Howard. Whether Hahnemann would accept an invite remains to be seen, and if he wouldn't, Bradley could turn to Luis Robles, who is playing regularly in Germany and played in the 2009 Gold Cup. Nick Rimando is another option, though Bradley might be inclined to look for a foreign-based No. 2 goalkeeper rather than pulling a starter off an MLS team.
DEFENDERS– So why is Zach Loyd on the list over Jonathan Bornstein. Aside from an impressive performance against Chile, Loyd will be a regular starter for FC Dallas at right back after the club traded away Heath Pearce. If he continues to develop he should be in the mix.
Jonathan Bornstein's inconsistent playing time, and lack of action at fullback, makes his position tenuous. Pearce is a player who could work his way back into the mix now that he will be playing left back for Chivas USA.
Bobby Convey can't be ignored as a left back either, particularly if he plays as well in 2011 for San Jose as he did in 2010.
Jonathan Spector has enjoyed success at a variety of positions for West Ham and wouldn't be a surprise as a roster inclusion, though the growth of the likes of Eric Lichaj and Timothy Chandler could hurt his chances.
At centerback, Omar Gonzalez is on the fringes, but would miss out behind the aforementioned group. Ike Opara remains an interesting prospect who could definitely play his way onto the radar. George John also merits mentioning.
MIDFIELDERS- Ricardo Clark is replaced by Sacha Kljestan. The injured Clark had been impressing as a centerback for Eintracht, but being sidelined by a fractured cheekbone costs him a bit while Kljestan gives the squad more of an attacking option in midfield.
Timothy Chandler has to be taken seriously as a candidate, and if he does commit to playing. Originally a forward, Chandler has enjoyed success as an attacking right back/midfielder. Benny Feilhaber is someone who can't be forgotten either, and once he's back in action next month he could definitely play his way into the squad.
Mikkel Diskerud is an exciting prospect, but should probably be considered a longshot.
FORWARDS- Danny Mwanga is a player who could move past a Bunbury or Agudelo if he is able to secure American citizenship between now and this summer (and you can't help but wonder if Bob Bradley would rather leave Agudelo behind rather than giving him two tournaments to play this summer). Chandler has played more as a right-sided player for Nuremberg lately, but given the need for forwards you have to think he could get a look from Bradley up top.
Chris Wondolowski should merit another look, but there are several young and exciting prospects who look more likely to establish roles with the national team. Herculez Gomez is starting to see more playing time for Pachuca, and while the goals haven't come yet, he's someone to keep an eye on.
————-
What do you think of the squad? Which players do you think should be on the squad? Which players do you NOT want to see make the team?
Share your thoughts below.
Bradley Junior is ahead of Holden and Jones remember who the coach is young grasshopper. 😉
So Bedoya will do something against Mexico ? He has done nothing for the nats in the SA game nothing, Chile game nothing, Brazil game nothing. He is bad. He cannot even cross to assist someone.
(SBI-Chile game nothing? You mean besides working the give-and-go that set up Agudelo’s run that led to the PK? And I happen to think he did well against South Africa. There’s no denying he struggled against Brazil, but the way you keep killing him is overboard.)
Do some of these people even watch jozy play because I’m pretty sure last week he showed he had burst and some flare. And I agree with majormajormajormajor people over hyped him now they are underrating him. He may never be world class or maybe not even great as long as he is good enough then USA should be fine until someone great or world class comes along. No Teal and Juan aren’t even close jozy at there age looked like he had more potential then both of them, that’s why villareal were willing to fork up 10mil for him and at this point probably still have more potential then both its not like he’s 30+ years old and at the end of his career.
+ a whole lot. well said.
green card is not good enough, he needs a USA passport to be selected.
is Loyd a true lefty? he looked very confortable in the left side.
Donavan would in no way play over Rossi. I love Donavan and his game but Rossi is pure class and will probably move to Manchester United or some other big club this year.
Sebastian Le Toux has a green card and no ties to the French national team right? I wonder if he will ever be considered. For being on a team that finished 14th he was 4th overall in goals and assists. I am surprised we don’t see him given a chance.
……… love the catch 22 reference.
Bradley never explains to outsiders why he leaves people out ( except for Davies).
So how will you know he won’t consider Torres?
“Game in El Salvador doesn’t tell you he deserves to be there”
No. Not if you are referring to the 2009 game in Rio Tinto. He played for 5 minutes.
Torres is a fine player but you make it sound like Bradley is missing out on the next Iniesta and that’s just not true.
That’s not a half bad lineup for certain situations.
It seems Gooch has been playing regularly for Twente at LB. I’m not familiar with the rest of the Twente back four so I don’t know exactly how they deal with Gooch’s comparative lack of pace but if he can do that in Holland I see no reason why he can’t do it for the US.
Torres is indeed very composed on the ball. Maybe more so than most USMNT guys.
But that alone is not enough to justify a place. What else does he do?
Does he make dangerous passes in the final third? Does he beat opposing players two or three at a time in the penalty box causing havoc in their defense? Does he make defense splitting passes from midfield that guys like Landon can run onto and then slot into goal?
I’ve watched him a fair amount with Pachuca and I rarely see threateing offensive play from him. He seems to be more of a linkup player in midfield, more of a defensive midfielder, in the style of Claude Makalele. I love JFT but unless you can make a case for him sweeping up in front of the back four I see no role for him on the US team, as presently constituted. Maybe he should try left back.
You are wrong about Jozy being miles ahead of the wonder twins. Jaun has flare and Teal has burst, Jozy has neither.
Bornstein played well in the World Cup.
No world beater but he was far from deadwood.
I’d like to see what the US has in Bedoya and Mix (though I suspect he is ticketed more for the Olympic team than the Gold Cup team)in a serious competition like the Gold Cup.
However,I wouldn’t have a problem with Benny as long as he is playing regularly, even if it is second division Denmark. Their first division is ranked 12th in Europe ahead of Norway (25? or so) Belgium(14) and Scotland (15).
How that relates to the second division is unclear but if Benny is fit he should be good for his usual 30-40 minute spark plug job.
Convey was a fairly anonymous left back for the US. He usually played left midfield or wing, where he is far more comfortable and productive.
If Dempsey is moved up and Donovan slides over to the right, I can see a case being made for Convey on the left side of midfield, if he is doing really well for the Quakes.
I don’t seeing him playing left back for the US unless he plays there for the Quakes for an extended period and does well.
Almost: Gooch-Boca-Goodson-Dolo.
Just ask twente!
lol come on. Rooney has actually done some great things during his club career that Jozy can only dream of doing.
Nobody believes me – except Twente and their opponents – but Gooch is the new LB. get used to it! ; )
I think Ream is a little raw but what has Whitbread ever done to deserve a place on the USMNT, especially at this late date?
Amongst those 4 it’s Edu, then toss-up of Bedoya amd Torres (who was deer in headlights when last with USMNT); then Sacha hopefully surplus.
Holden is ahead of Bradley and Jones both in a 4-4-2 formation; pick one of those 2 to play alongside Holden.
Right now that’s Jones with MB off the bench about 70th minute when Jones is gassed.
In a different formation MB is on from start, but Holden assuming healthy has to be on field for 90.
Forgot about that.
I guess they’d look at where the US and the MLS teams are playing and who will be “most” available.
Could be anybody.
Perkins, Rimando, Johnson, Busch, even Thornton, if they go the MLS route.
Have you actually seen Chandler play or are you going off of internet articles?
Yeah because players like Bornstein and Findley were clearly so much better. And gooch was in prime form too.
OK they play different positions, but point is Bedoya could have made it on to suad and some deadwood left at home and we would have been better off. No offense to gooch but no way was he ready to go last summer…
+ 1 for Bedoya, -1 for Buddle.
you are on crack
I seem to remember Ream getting caught in space ALOT, against a poor Chile side.
And Gooch and Ream could never work as a tandem. The lack of pace would be our undoing.
Yes, Ream can connect with the mid-field, but will come up short against top end strikers.
I think Omar did a FAR better job against Brazil, than Ream did against Chile.
Landon Donovan, best player for a World Cup group-winning team, wouldn’t play over Rossi, who couldn’t make a team that couldn’t get out of its group in the World Cup? Look, I know American soccer sucks and Europe is the best and we are terrible and they are great, but…
DeMerit>Opara>Ream/Omar
So the U-17’s are playing okay, much better than Jamaica. The individual Jamaicans (especially Holness) players are pretty impressive athletically.
DC United 2011 Cup champions! Guadalajara has 11 playoff cup titles DC can do it, hopefully before I die!
Jose Torres is back to starting, going 90, and playing well (from what I’ve read) for Pachuca. He should at least be considered.
Because he scores goals for the USMNT. End of story. Only guy who scores more often is Landon, and he does it better from a withdrawn and wide position.
What about Steve Zakuani? I read somewhere he was not happy when he played with his country of birth, and for some reason he could still choose to play for the USA?
I would love to hear why? And who is?
Game in El Salvador doesn’t tell you he deserves to be there?
He wasn’t playing back in January but he’s been starting for like 4 straight games now?
Torres over Sacha any day, Torres is a bit a rare commodity, yes he is a bit of a holding mid, but in actuality he’s more of a box to box mid but with a creative side guys like Edu & Bradley don’t have, I think Jones ironically have that. Holden is the closest thing to him, but in reality neither Bolton or Bob Bradley has actually used him in that way.
Torres can play on the wing, and he can keep up with the international speed in Concacaf and can show work rate like others, see the WCQ game vs Costa Rica in Oct 09, right before Bornstein’s goal, he ran the length of the field to save what would of been a sure game winner since it was 2-1 and that would of made it 3-1 with just stoppage left.
Benny I’m not sure why people are down on? He was crucial in the World Cup and was our perfect super sub, you could say Edu was too, but that was mostly Bob having to adapt to his bad choices of starting line up with Clark, thus wasting a sub for maybe Gomez or Buddle or even Holden & Torres.
Bedoya had a good game vs Honduras last year only guy who did really, then he had some okay games after that. He’s a winger starting in Sweeden, and he hasn’t really gotten time with all the starters other than vs Brazil I think. Sacha has had plenty of chances.
Altidore is a player who was overhyped for so long that now he is grossly underrated by American fans. He doesn’t underachieve, you only expect too much.
No, Jozy is not good enough to start for Villareal ahead of Rossi and Nilmar. Dempsey would not start at striker on a team with Rossi and Nilmar either. Nor would Donovan.
In fact, Jozy is not good enough to dominate in the Turkish league either. But quite frankly, he is the best striker we have right now, and is miles ahead of Bunbury and Agudelo. We don’t have the luxury of saying, “Oh, Fernando Torres can’t score? Lets put in David Villa.”
We have to face the fact that, despite vast improvements over the past decade, we are not at the point where we can expect our national team players to be stars overseas. Our fans need to get over their infatuation with the idea that a player will come along and be the “savior” for US Soccer, like Adu, then Altidore, next Agudelo.
I’m not the biggest Altidore fan, but I am tired of this attitude. If another player proves that he deserves to start, then by all means, Jozy should see the bench. But people need to get of the Jozy hating bandwagon and realize that we don’t have that luxury yet.
Basically, he is not a bad player. He does have some poor touches, but for a player of his size, his touch is deceptively smooth and and he has very quick feet. His decisions on the field may not be the best, but that can be improved over time. And for people who claim we should take a look at younger players… remember that Jozy is only 21.
I don’t know what the problem is with Feilhaber’s club situation, but he has been an important part of some of the biggest wins for the national team the last five years. I still believe in him.
Well, you are just wrong. The early part of the Gold Cup would be fine to bring ANYONE in. You realize we’re in CONCACAF, right? Aside from Mexico, what is the toughest team Chandler is going to face? He can handle Bundesliga but not Guadalupe?
Hahnemann hasn’t even been playing. Not having Guzan makes me nervous. It probably won’t matter, but I would like Guzan or Rimando to be on the roster.
Agree with Ives on Bedoya.
And: both Feilhaber and Sacha I think are past their USMNT e;xpiration date.
Face it, if you can’t get regular time in Belgium, and/or you’re playing 2nd divisin in Denmark – you really are not that good.
Let other newbies have a shot, like Bedoya who at least has upside potential still. Also Mix.
🙂
WHERE IS ADU????
i don’t think our next game is the gold cup already, I would like to see what chandler can do with the NATS in our next friendly, too early to tell. As for Lloyd, I’m very high on the kid, I think he can be our answer although one game is not enough to seal the deal. if chandler can be a starter at right mid. that will give us the ability to put Duce on top and move Landon at left.
I just can’t wait to see CD9 play, so all of us on here can stop speculating about how well he’s recovered.
So you put a championship guy and a utility EPL guy on a relegation fodder squad (Spector) over a Bundesliga player?
Based on current form: Dolo>Chandler; Spector = Lichaj =toss-up.
Yeah Chandler hasn’t suited up for USMNT yet; please get him into next friendly then.
sorry I meant:
Benny + Sacha = < 1
Benny + Sacha = > 1
Leave them both behind and blood new talent Mix or whomever.
Since neither Benny or Sacha is really USMNT caliber.