Photo by ISIphotos.com
Add Fabian Johnson to the list of players who could be sidelined for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Johnson is currently suffering from a flu infection and is expected to miss out on Friday’s trip to Antigua & Barbuda, according to German outlet Kicker. Johnson’s status for next Tuesday’s home game at Livestrong Sporting Park against Guatemala is also in question because of the flu.
The report makes it seem as if Johnson is not currently training with the U.S. in Miami, stating that he could join them this weekend if he recovers from the flu. U.S. Soccer did not respond to the validity of that in an immediate inquiry.
If Johnson is out, he would join Landon Donovan and Brek Shea as players called into this camp that will be unavailable for the final two games of this round of qualifying. It would also leave head coach Jurgen Klinsmann with one less option to deploy out wide, which might force him to call in some replacements.
Jermaine Jones has also arrived in camp carrying an injury.
What do you make of this development? Is it time for Klinsmann to summon some replacements? Who would you like to see Klinsmann turn to if Johnson can’t play?
Share your thoughts below.
No, no. The guy sitting in the photo he’s talking about at the USMNT camp is Cameron.
No worries, Cameron is still healthy.
GEOFF CAMERON NEVER MADE IT TO MIAMI?!
That doesnt explain why he calls in players like Edu who hasn’t done much lately for club or country. By Klinsmann’s logic Jones shouldn’t be called up either since he has been very inconsistent for that Nats.
lichaj, gatt, pontius.
worry. yep, seems to be spreading like wildfire…
i was just having fun. I liked your reply yesterday, Mr. Ben.
If you are talking about the person sitting on the right with red and blue cleats talking to Deuce, that is in fact cameron
With Beckerman out there the only boom will be the sound of Antigua and Guatemala’s shots hitting the back of the net.
That is Geoff Cameron. Johnson has a full sleeve of tats on his left arm.
This isn’t basketball. Soccer matches are twice as long with no real breaks excepting half-time (can’t believe I have to explain this). If he’s sick enough that he didn’t fly with the team, he’s in no condition to put in a 90 minute shift.
I hope that Eddie Johnson has stayed away from the nerve tonic!
yeah Freddy Adu, Lichaj, Gatt, Gyau, Lleget, Chandler this a hint from from above for Klissman to start bring young blood to the USMNT, Klissman Stop listening to Vazquez and get a real assistant Coach to help you.
Man, lately, the reactions to any form of adversity and/or challenge is something to behold (you should read these posts). I am fascinated by it, it is clearly something worth studying. What does it say about us?
To me it’s like the energy from success (wins in impossible places and great finds) and potential just fizzles out as it cannot sustain itself. But hysteria, wild speculation, “no-can do”, all is gloom and doom – man, a nuclear reaction does not hold a candlestick to that energy.
Our backs are towards the wall and we are up against it and with all the things that come with that, yes – but there is something to be said about our reactions.
Not putting anyone down, juts making an observation.
My point? Yes it sucks and we’ve not gone through something like this before. We’re in a rough patch. But to think that even an MLS side cannoy get us points agains A&B? To think that this selected team cannot win on against Guatemala on HOME SOIL? Why because of our firts EVER road loss to Jamaica (on 2 set pieces)? Where’s the faith, fans?
I believe in our guys. They go up against it every day professionally – fighting for places in countries where they are not rated as highly as they should be. Wearing the shirt and fighting for the shirt. This is thier WC too. It’s sucks and it looks grim but I refuse to discount this team’s ability to win even during this rough patch.
———–Gomez (or EJ)——–
–Dempsey—————–Zusi–
——-Kljestan—–Bradley—–
————Williams———–
Boca—Cameron—-Goodson—Dolo
————Howard————–
Chris Pontius and Todd Dunivant.
Davis also uses the Kicker article as his source.
Good work, though I’d prefer Gatt over Adu, just to take a closer look.
They must be skating around in Hell right now because the day has come where we’re all hoping Castillo is fit and able to play.
A little off topic but I also read that Mix Diskerud is open to a call up from Norway. It said that he isn’t expecting one but that he would listen if they came calling. Not saying he deserves a call up at this very moment but dammit Klinsmann! Make a call! Make a few calls! Get some replacements!
JK needs to just eat some crow here. Out of the group (of 24) he’s “confident” in…
2 are too injured to play (LD, Shea)
1 is too sick to play (F. Johnson)
1 is carrying a significant knock (Jones)
1 was injured in training (Castillo)
When you have >20% attrition, it’s time to supplement the roster!
I don’t get why everyone is calling JK a hypocrite on the club form thing. It’s simple. Club form will get you recognized and into camp (Johnson/Gordon). Once you’re in camp it’s your form in training and games that will keep you with the Nats (Altidore/Torres). What’s so hard to understand about that?
Can you even IMAGINE what would happen if JK called in Bornstein as a replacement? There would be riots.
+1
That could be an option for Klinsmann. He did a good job vs Chelsea in the MLS all-star game
could be Bogus…that is Johnson on the right in a photo posted by US Soccer 6 hours ago.
http://twitter.yfrog.com/obxmaaaoj
the point everyone is missing, is that the game is approx 48hours away…with departure to A&B tomorrow. If he hasn’t called in any replacements by now, he will just not call in anyone, especially from Europe.(At least not for the first game anyway) Jet Lag is a huge issue by now.
That’s actually a very good option because it allows Boca to still help organize the back line.
Wow… mounting injuries. Good thing this isn’t the hex!
The answer seems simple:
Bring in the Lichaj and Beitashour to evaluate at LB and see who looks more likely to perform well under pressure. Lichaj’s played for the team before, and Beitashour was in the last camp. I realize Beitashour isn’t a left footer, but neither is Lichaj.
Bring in Pontius for Donovan/Shea. He would have a much shorter flight than Gatt (the only other player who’s as deserving at that position). Plus, he’s been in a USMNT camp before (albeit as a sub).
Worst case scenario, Bocanegra goes out left and Cameron/Edu or Cameron/Goodson partner at CB.
Come on…the flu? How many athletes have had some of their most legendary performances while sick, specifically with the flu? He can play, and will play.
+1
haha. I wonder if he’ll slot Edu next to Cameron and have Boca switch to leftback. Not ideal, but besides Lichaj, I’m not sure if anyone (who’s in good form) has had to play LB for the usmnt in a meaningful game before.
I kind of feel like any of the better MLS defenders should be able to handle Antigua Barbuda. Not ideal for your first cap, but would someone like Morrow really be that terrible? Even just on the bench for depth?
Will we see Boca there?
Someone call Eric Wynalda, Cobi Jones, and Alexi Lalas and ask them to suit up!
ha-ha. definitely one of the best SBI posts ever…ha-ha
According to jk anyone can play left back
This is great for AB, insert Jones for Dred against Guatelama.
BUT I’m very concerned about the lack of wheels we’ll have with Boca on the flank. He’s at his best at the center of the defense… might even try Parkhurst at LB if we’re not calling anyone else in.
Here is a link to it. real nice piece.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2012-10-09/world-cup-qualifying-us-united-states-landon-donovan-jurgen-klinsmann
Freddy Adu + Eric Lichaj + Chris Pontius
In the story I noted above, the writer said that under Bradely we averaged 1.68 goals per game and under Klinsmann thus far we are at 1.17 goals.
ha-ha. that was an lol, BB. Good one.
LOL, we’ll call it the superbucket
yeah after Donovan and Shea, now with Castillo and Johnson, I’m worried. The point is that the midfield I’m ok with, but the leftside defenders, not so much. Did you want him to call in replacements for the midfield or the leftbacks? Because they are two different positions, biffy boy.
Call in Justin Morrow! This is a perfect match to get his chance with the nats. He will probably never be the 1st choice LB but could be a decent 2nd or 3rd option.
Howard
Dolo Cameron Boca
Zusi Edu Bradley Williams Jones Beckerman
Dempsey
aaaaand BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE
If we play enough center mids, there will be no space for outside mids, thus no need for them.
Seriously though, why is this a big deal? Just call in Lichaj and problem solved.
Mexico could have their entire team stranded in Aruba for these next two games and it wouldn’t matter…Wish we would have scored more than .66 goals per game in our last 3 games….66.
This looks like a job for Johnny Bornstein.
I think his hand is being forced here. He’s going to have to call some replacements in.
Then again, he’s in love with defensive midfielders, and outside of Jones, he has them all available.
So he can start his superbucket formation and then blame the forwards if they don’t score any goals.
Then who do you put in? You can critique a players game all day long, but without a solution your words are nothing.
Thanks for that.
Hmmm….I don’t see how we are not going to get at least one random starter in these matches….
————–Gomez————-
–Dempsey—————–Zusi–
——-Bradley—–Williams—–
————Beckerman———–
Boca—Cameron—-Goodson—Dolo
————Howard————–
This.
If club form doesn’t matter that much (as the Jozy thing seems to have proved) then why not remember how well Lichaj played the last time he was with the nats at the Gold Cup-he shouldn’t be a starter, but a dude who can play both LB and RB, has a long throw in that is dangerous, and looked great the lat time he was with the nats should make the 24. Period.
Howard
Dolo Cameron Goodson Boca
Zusi Jones Bradley Dempsey
Gomez Johnson