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Gonzalez, John, Cameron make Klinsmann’s roster for U.S. January camp

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Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

Jurgen Klinsmann has called in 20 players for the U.S. men's national team's January camp, and the neglected ones from the past few months will finally get their chance to perform in front of the U.S. coach.

Centerbacks Omar Gonzalez, George John and Geoff Cameron and attacking midfielder Benny Feilhaber are all part of the crew that will train in Phoenix and at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., prior to friendlies against Venezuela in Phoenix on Jan. 21 and against Panama in Panama City on Jan. 25. Camp begins on Jan. 3.

Other notable names on the roster include Sporting Kansas City forward C.J. Sapong and midfielder Graham Zusi, who earned their first call-ups after stellar MLS campaigns and will join teammate Teal Bunbury on the roster. 

In terms of non-MLS players, FC Nordsjaelland's Michael Parkhurst and Eintracht Frankfurt's Ricardo Clark both got the call. Parkhurst has enjoyed a strong season in Denmark, while Clark has struggled for playing time and has been rumored to be a loan candidate come the winter transfer window.

Here is the full roster for the camp:

USMNT JANUARY CAMP ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) 

DEFENDERS: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), George John (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA) 

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revolution), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) 

FORWARDS: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Klinsmann addressed the call-ups to players like Gonzalez, John and Cameron in an interview on U.S. Soccer's website, saying:

"We have an internal ranking of players in each position based on how we want to play, and many of these players are next in line. The European-based players and the Mexican-based players aren't available, so this is their shot. Their goal has to be to move ahead of the guy in front of him in their position, and the only way they can do that is to show how good they are. This is a big opportunity for them, and at the end we will give them a straight forward answer as to where they stand."

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What do you think of the roster? Surprised only 20 players got called in? Relieved that the likes of Gonzalez, John and Cameron will get their shot? Is there anybody that you think got snubbed?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. There have been quite a few players in their early to mid thirties who have done well in the World Cup many of them nowhere near as accomplished as JK.

    I mentioned JK because besides his own accomplishments he has played with and against many of them.

    He may not use Wondo or Herculez but if so I doubt it will be because he thinks they are too old.

    Reply
  2. No one hates you but the Davies omission was predictable at least as far as I was concerned.

    Possible explanations:

    1. He may be lining up a new club so JK probably will let him focus on that.

    2. Since the accident he seems to have become something of a clubhouse lawyer and maybe JK doesn’t need that. Neither did Olsen.

    3. I saw a fair number of his games and thought he had improved his skill level but I’m not convinced his body was back to where it needed to be. That usually is expressed in inconsistency and I thought he was quite inconsistent this year.

    The man went through hell and I think he could use another year or two to get back to his best.

    Reply
  3. You don’t have to be sure about Guzan.

    If he continues to make similar mistakes he won’t play for Villa and then JK won’t pick him. The EPL is like that.

    Problem solved for you.

    I won’t worry about it. He’s still shaking off the rust and I think Villa went on either win or tie that game.

    Regardless, he remains the US’ best option after Howard. He is the only guy who can realistically challenge Howard, something the USMNT really needs.

    Reply
  4. First of all I’m pretty sure it’s Nick not Nate LaBrocca with capital B, 2nd of all like others said learn about the game buddy.

    Whitbread will be playing in EPL who get no break in winter, Gomez is in Mexico who start season in 2 weeks and the only sensible guy you brought up was Dunivant who is the best Left Back in MLS, but I can see why not call him and focus on say Lloyd, but not sure why focus on Pearce who was awful there and despite decent MLS seasons at CB I still think is whatever….

    Lloyd is good not sure who aside from Dunivant or even Franklin you could call ahead of him for this MLS and Scandinavian ONLY camp…

    Rico like Feilhaber is thre because these guys hardly have experience, so those 2 and Beckerman will be the “veterans” and wouldn’t sutprise me to see 1 of them be the captain in training and for the 2 friendlies.

    Reply
  5. “I am still waiting for Klinsman to do something positive that Bradley would not have,”

    How would anyone know what Bradley would not have done? No one thought BB would call in Adu for the Gold Cup, for example.

    It’s the old cliche about not being able to

    prove a negative.

    It is also an apples to oranges comparison because it’s clear that JK has a lot more power with the USSF than BB ever did.

    Reply
  6. From what I remember he didn’t, Nat Borchers ended up getting a cap in that game, but even if he did, it doesn’t cap tie him as he is eligible for Greece now and back then and it was only a friendly not an official “A” Team match meaning a competitive tournament or qualifier like Gold Cup, Copa America, WC Qualifier, Confederations Cup etc etc

    Reply
  7. He did fine with Berhalter and this year in the 1st few months did great with Leonardo until he got hurt.

    I didn’t watch the 1st half of the Brazil game in which Omar got his first cap, but care to elaborate on how Omar disappointed against Pato, Neymar, Ganso, Robinho etc etc…. Or are you thinking of the January camp cupcake game earlier this year vs Chile’s B team? That was Omar and Ream in Omar’s 2nd and last cap, and he did fine and pretty much his game there, if it’s the Brazil game put it in perspective 1st game off the WC and his 1st cap as a 2nd year MLS guy….

    Sidenote: LOL @ Brazil having 2 different type of lake/pond type of birds as nicknames for their up and coming players lol.

    Reply
  8. I had the pleasure of meeting CJ at Ive’s SBI MLS CUP Bash in November, and let me the kid is real and grounded, we’ll know how for real he is soon with Bravo gone he’ll get more minutes even if Bunbury, Kamara and actually know he will be the other 3rd forward so yeah he might explode to double or who knows close to triple his rookie season scoring tally unless SKC sing another forward to start ahead of him.

    Anyway the guy himself would tell you he is not at the USMNT Senior Full team level yet, hell Bunbury is ahead of him, how would you put him ahead of Buddle. Buddle I don’t know why people don’t like him, he’s hardly got many chances especially ones with the full team where he played more than a half, and he has scored both in the Slovenia game and vs Australia pre WC….

    Did wonders in MLS his last season and in 08 just took him a while…

    Reply
  9. No It was I that wasted time reading your excuses for being a hater.
    Your synopsis of George John’s transfer saga the red flag. You don’t know what your talking about and stacking paragraph after paragraph of BS will never hide that but did highlight it.

    Speaking of highlights…you ever see Ream do this type of stuff?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U7zbYiJaus

    Of course you haven’t; your not alone.

    Reply
  10. I believe that I made the point that a lot of people can’t fathom the idea that Ream gets called up and the other 3 don’t and claim that the coaches must be incompetent. I find that kind of thinking odd to say the least. I also offered the conclusion that , with all of the professionals showing interest in Ream, and not the others, he probably is the best. See, I assume that they are better at judging talent than me. I also notice that the other national teams (Mexico and Greece) are not chasing after Gonzo or John. So, not to “hate” or “be a Deb(b)ie Downer” but the other 3 are currently not “valued” like Ream. By the way, John never made the transfer. Weak excuses were offered, however, better defenders were signed in his place. No interest since… By the way. I don’t “hate” any player. It is a sport and “hating” a player is a waste of time.

    Reply
  11. Agreed. McMath is exactly where he needs to be right now, apprenticing under a seasoned veteran who knows how to manage the game before the shot is taken.

    Reply
  12. Can’t really complain about this roster, I like the fact of young new keepers (Johnson & Hamid), only problem is Wondo (could be his last chance), instead, we could call new younger forward…Maybe, we get to see Aguedolo & Bunbury combo start!!!

    Reply

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