photo by Hunter Dorton/ISIphotos.com
Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra and Tim Howard headline the U.S. men's national team roster for the upcoming friendlies in Europe against France and Slovenia.
There's one new face in camp, with Hertha Berlin defender Alfred Morales among the 22 players selected by Klinsmann. Born in Germany, Morales won't be the only German-American in camp, as Danny Williams and Fabian Johnson have been called back into the squad.
Here's the roster:
Goalkeepers (2): Tim Howard, Bill Hamid
Defenders (7): Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Timmy Chandler, Clarence Goodson, Michael Orozco Fiscal, Alfredo Morales
Midfielders (9): Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Clint Dempsey, Brek Shea, Danny Williams, Fabian Johnson, Kyle Beckerman, Jermaine Jones, Robbie Rogers
Forwards (4): Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle
Jermaine Jones and Robbie Rogers are two players who also return to the U.S. team after missing out in the October friendlies.
The upcoming camp will be the first time Donovan and Dempsey are together under Klinsmann. Donovan, who missed last month's matches due to injury, is one of five MLS players in camp.
Donovan and Kyle Beckerman are the two lone MLS-based guys who could be involved in the MLS Cup final, which takes place five days after the friendly against Slovenia. Klinsmann addressed the scheduling conflict for potential MLS Cup participants to ussoccer.com.
"We have a very positive line of communication with MLS," said Klinsmann. "We agreed that whoever will be involved in the final will be released after the game against France, which gives them more than a week to prepare."
A couple of notable omissions from recent camps are forwards Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury, though Klinsmann explained the reasoning for their absences.
“Both right now are in a challenging position with the full team because of players ahead of them," said Klinsmann. "Our thought is that if they are not in the starting lineup for us, this is a great opportunity to get an introduction with the Under-23 team and to play two full games. It’s better for them than sitting on the bench, and they experience another development path by playing with the U-23s."
The United States takes on France on Nov. 11 before playing Slovenia in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup group game four days later.
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What do you think of the roster? Any one you would have like to seen included/left off? Think this team can get results against France and Slovenia? Surprised Klinsmann called in Donovan and Beckerman with MLS Cup looming?
Share your thoughts below.
Kenny Cooper, I’d call others before him honestly, like U-20 players. He needs to dominate a little more, and still doesn’t use his height and overall body.
CJ I’m willing to give him a look, I thought about him, but he is a rookie??
Parkhurst??? Not sure I think his time might of passed? But who knows maybe? I wish I could catch some of his games in Denmark
I didn’t name Gatt because I wasn’t sure what his injury situation is, but sure as hell hope he is good to go in a few weeks and joins the U-20/U-23 camp and later on the January Camp Cupcake.
Besler I’m a bit hesitant, I think it would be too much to ask of Klinsmann within his own previously stated tendencies to bring in new players, and within a reasonable camp to have 3 completely new CBs to the system, at least to Klinsmann’s system. John hasn’t had a cap despite being in camp a few times and Omar has 2 caps 1 with full squad mostly vs Brazil right after SA WC, and last January in camp cupcake. Same with Cameron except he got all of 5 or 6 minutes garbage time vs El Salvador last year in Feb, after the camp cupcake game. He did have a near goal shot.
He had him working on the left wing in a drill of wingers sending in crosses to attackers and mids split in 2 teams when they opened up the practice to the public here in LA.
Plus like I said he can play there, and he has according to some of the reports on him when he first came on the scene of potential USMNT pool member
I know Klinsy likes Beckerman, but I sincerely hope he leaves Beckerman off the 18 man roster or on the bench if he’s a sub.
I’d rather see Edu who’s been starting in a more natural role, you’re right Johnson might thrive between Donovan & Shea and behind Dempsey who would be the withdrawn forwards behind Jozy
Gonzalez and Moralez don’t play the same position, Gonzalez is probably 3rd deep behind Gooch and Goodson. Moralez, is a fast crafty outside back or mid. He can play U23, I wonder if this is why he is getting a shot at the senior team…If he pans out, he will be a great addition to our outside back, if he doesn’t, he can always play for the U23. Good move by Klinsi, at least we get a chance to keep him instead to see him play with Peru.
Howard
Dolo, Gooch, Boca, Johnson
Williams, Bradley
Chandler, Donovan, Shea
Dempsey
Either 4-4-2 (LD up top with CD) or 4-2-3-1.
This is what I would like to see. Subs (7):
Beasley, Jozy, Morales, Jones, Edu, Goodson, Buddle
It would only make our squad that much stronger, if you ask me with Lichaj at LB, Johnson backing him up or battling him for the starting spot until an actual naturally left footed Left back with the similar qualities to Chandler comes up with speed, strength, great defensive skill set to handle the world class speed and the best wingers of the world and also has great offensive qualities the way Chandler brings, I think Chandler would and should eventually bench Cherundolo, and then others can push to take away the back spot on the roster from Dolo. Not sure who besides the MLS kids Lloyd & Franklin could do this? Maybe future U-20 kids?
Klestjan should be there over Gonzalez and John.
Start watching games with your eyes and your minds. I could careless what nation these guys were born in, as long as they take pride in being American. Americans with talent…that’s it.
This whole Orozco bickering is getting old, yes he plays for his club and is adored in Mexico, but on our pitch with our team…he sucks. Anybody arguing that is an idiot. I can see JK not calling in young guys because we already have a system where they can develop and mature. If our youths were so awesome that they deserved to start with the senior team then it’s fair to think that they should dominate at the U23,20,19 levels (here’s a hint…they don’t). We are a growing team who needs talent. American talent.
JK has let Brek Shea prove exactly what American talent is on an international stage. Brek is on his way to developing as a true superstar! Who’s next? Let’s keep searching.
I hope Morales chooses Peru. People here are always fascinated by the thing they know nothing about. You don’t know about him and he doesn’t play regularly for a REASON. The reason is that he just isn’t that good.
Tell me why we want to sway him to the U.S. Right now, he is an absolute nobody. 70 minutes this season.
* YAWN *
Well other players in the playoffs WERE called so your very premise is faulty.
Good to know that our pool of fullbacks isn’t as shallow as 3 months ago. I still hope Eric Lichaj gets back into form by next summer though.
Gonzalez wasn’t going to get a call-up during the playoffs. I fully expect LD to be dropped or coddled if the Galaxy are still playing.
So we now have 5 German born and raised players in Johnson, Williams, Jones, Chandler and Morales…. Well we will soon by the German-American Service Mens’ sons national team.. Looking at those names though, they do sound very American.
No Sascha and no Gomez is kinda a joke.
Also, is Benny really done w/ the nats?
Get off your high horse for once. if you knew anything about soccer you would have a job running a team.
I do agree that some players shouldnt get called back to the team. But saying that a professional coach has no clue and hinting that you do is irrational.
The day JK gets rid of Orozco, Beckerman, and Rogers will be when pigs fly. I’m just surprise we’re not see Castillo as well.
I wish we could replace Orozco for John, Beckerman for Gonzalez, and Rogers for Gomez
GK: Howard, Hamid
DEF: Chandler, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Cherundolo, Goodson, John, Gonzalez, Morales
MID: Bradley, Edu, Jones, Johnson, Williams, Shea, Donovan, Dempsey, Beasley
FWR: Altidore, Buddle, Gomez
This was the team I was expecting to see, I was a little unsure about Gonzalez and Donovan since they’re both still in the playoffs so in place of them two I had Spector in place of Gonzalez and Klestjan in place of Gonzalez.
me know english proper sentences at least lol
This team looks about 34th best in the world.
The point is Rogers has proven himself repeatedly.
My money is on abc, if Beckerman even shows up.
Six friggen, DM’s.
Like Bornstein?
There are many MLS sides where Rogers would not play.
Hard to disagree with that, but only because sacha is playing SO well, and is younger. I’m just saying that the level between how beckerman has performed and whatever the hell rogers is doing is not comprable.
I agree with all your comments. His excuse of building a core means little if the core is rotten. Even if he likes Orozco’s and Rogers’ skills why is he afraid to let them compete?
lol @ spelling fails…
Haven’t heard much complaining about Kyle Beckermann who has proved every time he’s gotten an international call up that he will always just be a glorified MLS player and never succeed at the international level. If he starts over Bradley or Jones I may just start calling for Klinsi’s head!
Here’s one explanation:
This camp is aiming to integrate our new german overlords with our existing core talent. As such, JK doesn’t care to swap one set of fringe players out for another.
So sorry omar, john, and dozens of other fringe players that usmnt fans desperately want to be called in like so many interchangeable parts, you’ll have to wait until after the U20/U23 camp and the january mls camp.
Now let’s all just relax and enjoy deuce, lando and shea on the field at the same time.
If Ribery plays, I’m almost positive he will play on the left.
Not a bad roster for camp cupcake…. potential additions:
1. CJ Sapong
2. Matt Besler
3. Mike Parkhurst
4. Josh Gatt
5. Kenny Cooper
I like the Davies inclusion.
haha ok. i guess we’ll see!
Yea, I guess you’re right, TomG
Any roster that includes Charlie Davies is now considered an insta-fail. Replace him with Wondolowski or CJ Sapong if you want to be taken seriously.
Cannavaro is five foot nine!
It totally makes sense that Klinsmann is looking to find a center back pairing of big and physical paired with clever and nimble. So we end up with…
All our defenders fall into two categories:
Category 1: Gooch or Gooch-lite: Gooch (obviously), Boca,
Category 2: nimble, but sucky: Orozco Fiscal, Ream, Demerit
Goodson for me is right in between these categories. He’s not that much of a physical presence like the other two in Category 1, but his passing out of the back kind of sucks.
It seems apparent that Klinsmann thinks Gonzalez and John would just be surplus in category 1. I don’t agree completely, but I understand his thinking. Would Gonzalez or John really be better than Gooch or Boca against someone like David Silva or Messi? Probably not.
Obviously Klinsmann is hoping that guys like Orozco Fiscal and Ream will improve with time. But it’s certainly not a sure thing.
Pre-emptive “I told you so” for when Beckerman starts over Bradley and Jones.
I just hope to not see Rogers and Beckerman, wishing for Omar, John and maybe Cameron. Lloyd would be nice too, but I’m guessing they’ll all be part of the January camp.
What do you guys think of this roster for January?
GK: Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, Nick Rimando (3)
DF: Omar Gonzales, George John, Geoff Cameron, Tim Ream, Sean Franklin, AJ De La Garza, Zach Lloyd, Todd Dunivant, Gabriel Farfan (9)
MF: Brek Shea, Graham Zusi, Kyle Beckerman, Freddy Adu, Luis Gil, Benny Feilhaber, Landon Donovan (if he doesn’t seek a European loan or transfer), Mix Diskerud, Joe Corona of Tijuana, (9)
FW: Teal Bunbury, Juan Agudelo, Charlie Davies, I KNOW I KNOW it’s a stretch but not much to go on here, Chris Rolfe (4)
That’s 25 players, not exactly a huge roster, could see about 4 or 5 more players come in, maybe guys from the U-20 pool like Gale, Gyau, Doyle etc etc
I don’t know who else might warrant a call? Maybe Sheanon Williams even if it was instead of AJ or Sean from LA? Some will say Brad Davis but I say we have enough veterans, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt for camp purposes only. I just think Shea is our best option going forward at Left mid?
So we can’t QUESTION him for a year? Or he has a year to change things before we fire him for gross incompetence?
Reason doesn’t work in this forum. There always has to be a bad guy and right now it’s Klinsi, Orozco and Roger. When they either prove themselves or gets drop then its onto the next set of not good enough player, it’ll never stop.
We brought Klinsmann in to change how we develop players. Give him at least a year before you though him under the bus.
My read is that Klinsman will be trying to win these games with his full A-team, including Donovan and Dempsey together for the first time, rather than testing people, and that the obvious lesser players he called will not be seeing any time during meaningful play. It doesn’t make sense to bring over new (or new to Klinsman’s side) North American-based players to Euopre with little time foe evaluation or hope to play. Better to bring in the lesser players familiar with Klinsman’s system for practice purposes and leave the evaulations of different talent to the January camp. At least that’s how I’d rationalize it.
and you idiot do? lol!
Johnson at left back? Don’t think so. He is an excellent attacking midfielder, usually plays center position for Hoffenheim. Don’t see Klinsmann putting him in back trying to defend against Ribery, Benzema etc. Rather something like this:
——–Jozy—–
——-Dempsey—-
Shea—Johnson—Donovan
—–Beckerman——
Chandler-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
Well… How does she look?
Yup. That’s right.
SBI don’t need to do an article about him just head over to Bigsoccer. com and you’ll find a thread about him.
Fabian Johnson can play LB, in fact that’s where he started for Germany’s U-23 or U-21 team when they won the European U-23 or U-21 Championship, I forget which age group is it, I believe it was U-21 tho…
Orozco and Rogers. Unbelievable.
haha +1
THANK YOU!!!!!
The voice of reason!!!
I am a Galaxy supporter and Omar is just not international quality…with his feet. Great in the air, decent positioning, but SCARY when he is in tight spaces or tries to bring the ball down.
I have no idea about Morales, but I’m always interested to see a new face in the fold.