The U.S. men's national team's roster for October's friendlies is expected to be released this afternoon, and while we will find out soon enough just who Jurgen Klinsmann plans on taking a look at in the upcoming matches vs. Honduras and Ecuador.
There have been several players who have stepped up in the week's following the last U.S. national team matches in early September, the losses to Costa Rica and Belgium, so we should get a new mix of players coming in for the next camp in South Florida.
For one thing, midfielder Jose Torres is sidelined by a broken foot. Secondly, the disappointing performances of the likes of Edgar Castillo and Michael Orozco in the last go round make it tough to see Klinsmann calling them up yet again. Then again, you can't be too sure with Klinsmann.
Even if Klinsmann is without all three Mexican League-based players for the October friendlies, there are some other players plying their trade in Mexico who should get a look in the upcoming camp.
So who should be getting called up for the October friendlies? Here's a 21-man squad we could see getting the call from Klinsmann:
PROJECTED USMNT ROSTER FOR OCTOBER FRIENDLIES
GK – Tim Howard, Bill Hamid
D- Carlos Bocanegra, Timmy Chandler, Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Clarence Goodson, Omar Gonzalez, Jonathan Spector, Zach Loyd
M- Clint Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Brek Shea, Kyle Beckerman, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya
F- Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Juan Agudelo
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Some thoughts.
Gomez and Beasley make the list after enjoying strong starts to the Mexican Primera season. Klinsmann loves the Mexican League, so that makes sense right? It's tough to argue with Beasley's form, and Gomez's ability to score goals coming off the bench has to appeal to Klinsmann.
Oguchi Onyewu is back and it's tough not to see him starting. He is looking like pre-knee injury Onyewu these days playing for Sporting Lisbon, and there's just nobody else better right now to pair with Bocanegra than his old central defense partner.
Does Klinsmann considering giving some players in the thick of the MLS playoff race a rest? Guys like Donovan, Beckerman and Shea? It's something to consider.
There are also a bunch of young Americans on the radar that you can't help but wonder if one or two of them might get a look. Players like Mikkel Diskerud, Josh Gatt or MLS-based players like Freddy Adu and Teal Bunbury.
Omar Gonzalez gets the nod here. He's arguably the most in-form American centerback in MLS and deserves a look considering how well he's playing and how much Tim Ream is struggling. George John is also an option, though he hasn't been in as good a form since the whole Blackburn transfer fiasco.
One player who didn't make the list but was definitely worth thinking about is Robbie Findley. He's starting to get some regular playing time with Nottingham Forest, and by all accounts he's in good form. I know some USMNT fans still hold the whole 2010 World Cup fiasco against him, but when he's on he's a pretty good speed option.
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What do you think of the group selected above? Who didn't make that list that you would like to see get a call-up? Who are you hoping is NOT called up for the October friendlies?
Share your thoughts below.