photo by Douglas Zimmerman/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
If the U.S. men's national team are going to pick up six points en route to improving their chances of qualifiying for the 2014 World Cup, they will have to do so without a couple of their top players and with two others fighting to get back in form.
Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley were left off a 25-man roster called in by U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann for a pair of upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica due to injury, but Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra were included despite having just recently resolved their problematic club situations.
Other players selected on the team that was announced on Sunday were Tim Howard, Jozy Altidore, Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Joshua Gatt. Gatt, however, will not join the team as he suffered a hamstring injury in Molde FK's game on Sunday afternoon.
The U.S. team has begun gathering in Miami, where they will train for the next two days before departing for Jamaica on Wednesday. The Americans will take on the Reggae Boyz on Friday at Independence Park in Kingston before heading to Columbus Crew Stadium on July 11 for the two teams' second Group A match against one another.
Here is the full roster:
GOALKEEPERS (4) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (9) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4 ): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos)
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What do you think of this roster? Surprised by anyone's inclusion/omission? Think this team will be able to pick up two wins against Jamaica?
Share your thoughts below.
(+1) Lichaj & Johnson
That’s what Spector, Parkhurst and Cameron are for. All three can play wide if need be.
It’s not ideal but that is why those guys are backup plans and the other guys are starters.
You make up a roster expecting your starters to start and your backups to be good enough to cover in the unlikely event they are needed.
Lichaj just started today for Aston Villa’s 1st team…He is working to impress and show that he can be counted on next match too as a 1st team regukar. The US MNT is best served by helping Lichaj’s chance. When it is clear that he is either: A) Establish starter, or B)1st team back-up, then we can start messing with his schedule by bringing him in across the globe for a few days.
How many minutes did Spector play in the World Cup?
How many minutes did he play in the Gold Cup?
I’d go further. Guzan can be and most likely will be better than Howard before too long.
Wow, you have missed quite a few of his games.
In addition to the Costa Rica game, Torres was very good against Mexico last year.
Against Belgium last year he was good.
He had probably his best game against Turkey in 2010.
He was one of the best players on the field against Scotland in June.
Torres has shown plenty of skill in other games as well. He has vision and a touch that no one else on the US has other than maybe Dempsey. If you are too blind to see that, I don’t know what to tell you. Klinsmann has tried playing him in several different positions but never really the one he plays for Pachuca. Did you see his game last weekend for Pachuca against a strong Santos team? The annoucers were saying they thought he was man of the match. He has certainly been inconsistent at times for the US but he is still too young to take out of the National Team picture.
Cameron also saved our a$$ 2 or 3 times… A well deserved call up again..
Lichaj can play anywhere along the back line and anywhere in midfield.
Lichaj has the edge physically at the moment in that he is faster and quicker, but Spector, who is equally versatile, has far greater experience.
You know that USSoc has a sense of humor. Saw the news that Gatt was taken out w/ hamstring injury in today’s game as they were getting ready to release the roster…so they go back and put his name on it just to mess with us.
Gatt’s injury is such a bummer … I just hope Klinsmann doesn’t deploy Torres as a #10 the way he did against Mexico. Not his game at all. With Dempsey on the squad, perhaps that won’t happen … but how much can we expect out of Clint when he hasn’t played a competitive match in a while
I’ve been waiting to see GATT get called in. I figured it wouldn’t be until the next extended “camp” the US nats have (January?). Pleasantly surprised he got the call.
p.s. Hamstrings suck.
Spector can play both midfield and fullback. Much more versatile than Lijac. EJ will get his time. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. Especially, if he keeps logging 90 min games.
So you found 30 good minutes? Congratulations. It’s a stretch, to say the least. He’s had FAR more bad moments than good ones in the USMNT. He certainly isn’t good enough to be an automatic selection. He’s no better than a sub; and pretty much meaningless when not playing well. Which is pretty much never.
At Home:
Howard
Dolo, Cameron, Boca, Johnson
Beckerman, Jones
Gomez, Dempsey
Boyd, Altidore
One the Road
Dolo, Cameron, Boca, Johnson
Williams, Beckerman, Jones
Gomez, Altidore, Shea
Everybody was saying the same thing about Gomez at on point. Lichaj will get his chance if he continues to Play for his club team.
Jozy is so much better in the year. I think he should start but one can never tell what goes on JK’s head.
no way Dempsey starts. he hasn’t played and the away game is in Jamaica where is hot and humid, I don’t think 2 days of training in Miami will get him in shape in time. he will be our supersub for the Jamaica game but only if we ar tie or loosing. if we are wining, I don’t think we will see him in that game.
if he is getting this type of injuries when he is 21, imagine him at 30. The kid is good it’s just his “shelf life” is a bit shorter than most players.
Retirement is possible. Brad Friedel retired before his supposed time.
we are already know what we can do without our top guys against a strong mexico side, true, they where all over us but our defense bended but never broke. Against Jamaica with a better players in all three groups (def. mids. forwards) we should be able to handle them, is not going to be easy but definitly we can win both games.
Howard
Dolo, Cameron, Bocanegra, Johnson
Jones, Beckerman, Corona
Gomez, Jozy, Dempsey
Given Dempseys situation, Shea could easily start. And obviously Williams or Torres could get the start over Corona. But personally, I think the above lineup would be solid. Maybe a little slow given we are playing Jamaica though.
+1
it’s a good lineup but would think we see Beckerman destroy below Jones/Torres and Williams wide right instead of Gomez
playing coach, I would switch only Benny for Paco player wise from your choices, and somone else right flank with Gomez off the bench
good group of players tho
Thanks.
Cheers!
Good point. Cameron would have been a better example for me to raise…especially for the game against Mexico last month. That precedent really shoots to death a lot of the theories about Lichaj’s lack of a call-up.
3 shots that should have scored….all three courtesy of Cameron. just sayin
+1
he’s been with this team in this role and Coach appears to like him for it
what if either Dolo or Johnson picks up a knock, or a red in game 1? whoever the backup is is just a play away from the field
Klinnsman likes the players he’s called in whether it’s Lichay or not for that scenario, and if he’d wanted Lichay he would have called him. He likes what he has instead, so no callup
and Lichay’s scene at Villa plays a part, but bit it seems to me to the big picture that Klinnsman doesn’t want him right now nor has he wanted him…of course he should stay at club and improve both himself and his situation there
which is fine
I honestly think LD will be sold to Everton at the end of the season. Won’t he be in the last year of his contract with the Galaxy? He has hinted at retirement as an option, but I feel he will be loaned and then sold to Everton. The Galaxy have a unique standing in the MLS as a team many of European stars would not mind playing for if the price is right. Consider Drogba disenchanted with China and RM offering up KAKA to man U, both players have expressed interest in playing in the MLS.
Probably not gonna happen…but I can dream!
Also Gatt out injured with a hamstring, I think JK should bring in MIX as he is playing well right now,
There is one important difference with Guzan’s call up. Tim Howard is the undisputed starter at Guzan’s position and barring an injury to the starter, Guzan is expected to play 0 minutes. However, Guzan is a regular back up at his club. Every week he is on the game day roster, ready to step up at moments notice, if the starter goes down. He played this role well with his club and can do the same with his national team. Field players are a different story. A field player needs to be match fit and regular playing time with the club is critical. Speed, strength, endurance that you get in training does not compare with the speed, strength, endurance that a player gets by playing in games every week. Goalkeeper’s craft requires less in terms of endurance or pace, but but more of a mental readiness. Being a regular starter for the club is a big plus for a goalkeeper, but a good backup for a club can be a good back up for the national team. Guzan did well with both Villa and the USMNT when given opportunities.
I expect to see something along the lines of:
Dempsey—Altidore–Gomez–
———Torres————
—–Jones—Beckerman—–
Johnson-Boca-Cameron-‘Dolo-
———Howard————
If it were up to me, I’d switch Edu for Beckerman, Dempsey for Torres, and play Beasley up the left.
Lichaj, Kljstan, and Mix – what did they do to piss off JK?
In all honesty, Spector has just completed just 2 full 90 minute games for BCFC after 6 months of being injured. However, in the matches played, the club spokesman said he has been the strongest player (although they have looked horrible so probably more of a “queen of the pigs” situation ) and he has played right back, left back and midfield. Spector’s versatility likely gives him the edge over Lichaj and I have no issue with that until such time as Lichaj proves himself in the EPL.
Lichaj just got his first two starts for Aston Villa. Klinsmann is probably letting him win the starting job with the club, which is extremely important for Lichaj development.
I agree with you about Torres and Williams, though I’m not too upset since the roster is extra-large this time.
Beckerman, however, had a monumental performance against a Mexican mostly-A side a few weeks ago. I would say that merited his inclusion for the time being.
Estoy muy confundido
No recuerdo la marca del partido de los estados unidos contra México…
Gano México……?????
Oh no gano EEUU.
Usa frijoleros…..gano el mf’n USA
Toooooommmmaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
Usa usa usa
Lando and Bradley hurt…makes me nervous. Wish DMB was called in, we could use some pace off the bench against Jamaica. Glad Shea is called back in.
Orozco Fiscal back in the mix? I know he scored the goal at Azteca – but I’ve never been overly impressed with him.
Kljestan= Klinsmann
Bradley may have had his “favorites” and it’s becoming apparent that Kljestan does too. I’ll pay attention to his selections when be Beckerman, corona, Williams and/or Torres aren’t included
Edu is listed as a defender. I think we see the Edu as CB conversion continuing.
Against Mexico and Italy, sure that’s where JK wants him. I’m curious to see if he has other ideas about where he plays against a foe like Jamaica.
you know, every season has the MLS greatest keeper du jour hoo-hah. But Rimando still has them all beat in terms of experience, consistent excellence and organization/leadership. heck if Matt Reis were on a better club I’d put him up there, too for the very same reasons.
Not saying the other players aren’t top rate, but if you’re not an international, experience is gonna trump hot form.
“You only get so many chances to convince people you are starter material before they label you a utility, part time guy and/or expendable…”
Funny it seems like that is all Specter ever seems to be considered as, and yet he still gets called up.
never say never, man.
you and I were watching very different matches. When Tim Howard is the difference between a Win and a 2-1 defeat, you can’t say Mexico was toothless.
Love it that both Altidore and Boyd are scoring, and that Dempsey is getting a chance to work his way back into game fitness with this call up – and about Hercules Gomez, what’s not to love?
Solid striker core for the Jamaica qualifiers!
Pontius, or Diskerud. Why not Kljestan?
Not true – against Costa Rica, in our final WC qualifier for 2012, he came in as a sub, and basically sparked the rally that wound up with us tying the game in the last 30 seconds of injury time.
When he is on his game – he is a decent distributing midfielder / holding mid. He dribbles well. He has a good vision of the whole field, plays dead balls very well, and has a good “bender” on free kicks in range of goal.
He is a decent footballer – I think he just hasn’t quite found his role in the Klinsman system yet – but I think he will continue to improve and be a valuable addition to the USMNT.
Williams on the right MF and Johnson at LB give us sufficient speed to contend with Jamaica on the wings. Boyd, Altidore, and Dempsey, IMO give us enough firepower up front. Despite our play in Mexico, central midfield is what concerns me.
US Soccer reporting NO REPLACEMENT will be added in place of injured Gatt. Hope that’s just their Twitter intern talking out of his shorts…
https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/242398380247097344
Lichaj will probably be there in October if he is still starting for AV. Have Lichaj at LB and Johnson at LM(Which I think is his preferred position, I may be wrong).