By IVES GALARCEP
With just one more game to go in the MLS season, and January fast approaching, it is time for U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to decide what he wants to do with the January national team camp, and whether he wants to hold one. And if he does decide to hold the camp, Klinsmann has to settle on the players he wants to bring in.
If he decides to hold the traditional January camp, and call in a majority of players who are coming off strong MLS seasons, Klinsmann will have several players to choose from at a variety of positions.
Here is a look at our projected squad:
PROJECTED JANUARY USMNT CAMP ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS– Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, Dan Kennedy, Tally Hall
DEFENDERS– Steven Beitashour, Chance Myers, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, A.J. Soares, Matt Hedges, Austin Berry, Justin Morrow, Kevin Alston.
MIDFIELDERS– Graham Zusi, Mix Diskerud, Nick DeLeon, Dax McCarty, Perry Kitchen, Ricardo Clark, Josh Gatt, Eddie Gaven.
FORWARDS– Eddie Johnson, Juan Agudelo, Chris Pontius, Will Bruin, C.J. Sapong
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Some thoughts:
I didn’t have Eddie Johnson on the original list because of the fact he is coming off his busiest year in a long time, and because of the likelihood he is a part of the national team set-up for the February qualifier against Honduras. But if he doesn’t need the rest, or if Klinsmann wants to take an extended look at him, then Johnson would clearly be a part of a January camp.
Young Philadelphia Union standouts Amobi Okugo and Jack McInerney are coming off impressive finishes to their seasons, and were considered, but with other centerbacks and forwards ahead of them they just missed the cut.
You will notice that all the players included are relatively young. Ricardo Clark and Dan Kennedy are the oldest of the bunch, and this camp is a clearly a look toward the future.
Along those lines, veterans like Kyle Beckerman and Chris Wondolowski get a pass. Not because Klinsmann doesn’t rate them, but because of the need to look at young faces. Now Klinsmann could decide he needs a veteran presence in the camp, much like Jermaine Jones offered a year ago.
We all know about the U.S. team’s need for centerbacks, so it’s no surprise there are five on this list. George John is set for a move away from MLS, and should be spending January looking for and joining a new club so it seems unlikely he would be a part of this camp.
Another area of need for the national team is natural wingers. That is why Lee Nguyen gets the nod here (well, he originally got the nod, but readers helped remind me that he is sidelined after major shoulder surgery so he’s out). The U.S. has been playing mostly a 4-3-3, but the lack of wings in the pool makes it tougher for Klinsmann to consider also having a 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2 in the arsenal of options. This camp can allow him to look at some potential wing options.
We have mostly MLS players listed, but Klinsmann can certainly look at players from Scandinavian leagues, which are out of season like Sweden and Norway (like Mix Diskerud and Josh Gatt). Alejandro Bedoya might seem like a clear choice in that case, but he is poised for a winter transfer move so that’s why he’s not on this list.
Some players who we could also see getting a nod in a national team camp geared toward young players include: Andy Gruenebaum, Steve Clark, Stephen McCarthy, Amobi Okugo, Jalil Anibaba, Connor Lade, Luis Silva, Sal Zizzo, Jack McInerney.
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What do you think of the list? Who is missing that you think should be?
Share your thoughts below.
Adu, no way. Sorry. I love our guy Freddy. But he needs to be at national team level with his club. Before getting a call up.
Sure, he has some flash and some good moments. But I just don’t see it.
What, exactly, is “national team level” with the club? Hedges, Myers, Alson(?), Kitchen, Agudelo(?) were closer to this made up level than Freddy Adu? Let’s look at this another way–how many guys on this list have actually proven themselves worthy of national team level by PLAYING with the Nats? Shouldn’t that be part of the criteria?
Only Zusi, Clark, and Eddie Johnson can really claim to have proven themselves to be “national team level”. The rest are totally or mostly unproven. Freddy has as many quality national team appearances as the above three, and actually played regularly this season. Call him in please.
Scandinavia is underrepresented here with just Mix and Gatt…
24 year old Conor O’Brien instead of one of the midfielders
26 year old Steve Clark instead of one of the goalkeepers
Carlos Bocanegra is old and stinks now
Considering the fullback troubles the USMNT has had in the recent past, I think Tony Beltran’s performance, especially in the latter half of the MLS season, merits him a chance at the national team. He was the most consistent defender through the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, and provides insane recovery speed with good attacking runs up the flank. I think he would be an ideal right back for the US
*the most consistent defender for RSL
Would like to see Amobi at CB. I know he isn’t going to be starting anytime soon with the A team but would like to see him get work at the faster pace. Think he has a ton of potential.
Isn’t that kid Brooks in Germany supposed to be a good prospect at CB. Is he near being called up you think?
He’s a good prospect, but is still a bit raw for the international level. I know some rate him much higher than I do at this point in time, but I’d say he’s still got some time before he’s a serious senior team candidate.
For comparison
2012 Jan camp:
Hamid, Johnson, Rimando /
Cameron, DeLaGarza, Loyd, Parke, Parkhurst, Pearce, (Gonzo, John) /
Beckerman, Clark, Evans, Feilhaber, Jones, Larentowicz, Shea, Zusi /
Agudelo, Bunbury, Pontius, Sapong, Wondo /
2011 Jan camp:
Cervi, Johnson, Pickens, Rimando /
DeLaGarza, Franklin, Gonzalez, Ihemelu, Lichaj, Loyd, Miller, Ream, Wallace, Wynne, (Opara) /
Alexander, Bedoya, Cronin, Diskerud, Larentowicz, McCarty, Shea /
Agudelo, Braun, Bunbury, Starikov, Wondo /
Ives- any chance of Luis Robles getting a call? He was great for RBNY this year.
Way too small a sample size.
Gold Cup 2009, Haiti, ahem…..I mean, worse than Yelldell…..
Aron Johannsson and Conor O’Brien should be given invites since the Superliga will be on break.
O’Brien consistently starts and goes the full 90 for his club, and has 2 seasons of pro experience. He’s worth at least a look in camp. Johannsson’s goalscoring record speaks for itself, but of course calling him depends on his willingness to commit to the US.
It would be nice to look at J.A. Brooks, but it’s hard to imagine that he’s in camp. You would think he would have been in Russia (a la Gyau) if he were on JKs radar. Even if he is interested in playing for the US, Hertha wouldn’t release their starting CB for non-FIFA dates.
Would also like to see Bedoya, but his club transfer will probably take precendence, even if it’s sorted out quickly.
Aron cannot play for the US until he has filed a one time switch. He’s previously capped by Iceland’s U-21s in Euro U-21 Qualification. Switches take roughly two months to be approved and unless he’s done it quitely, under the radar, it’s near impossible for him to be at this camp. But most importantly there has been no further news of Aron switching. I highly doubt it will happen. But there’s always a chance especially if he keeps getting snubbed by Iceland.
I believe he can attend camp, just can’t play in an actual game if I remember the FIFA rules correctly since he’s not tied to the senior national team in Iceland
Pretty sure he can come to the camp without a switch, but he couldn’t play in a match for the US. He hasn’t been snubbed by Iceland… he has done the snubbing.
He pulled out of their squad for their latest WCQs with an injury, but I believe he played for his club the next weekend. The snub was likely due to pressure from his club rather than a desire to play for the US, though.
Along the lines of “I know he’s not young, but…”
What about Brad Davis? Yes, he’s 31, but he’s a natural left wing and is the best corner kick and set piece taker (particularly set piece service) in America, IMO. Even at 33 in 2014, I think his skill set and ability with the ball at his feet would mesh well with the rest of the squad. He lacks for pace, but I think if you team him with Fabian Johnson on the left side, that is somewhat mitigated. It’s a shame Davis never seems to be on the USMNT radar.
GK: S.Johnson
LB: I dont know
CB: Besler (MLS best defender)
CB: Gonzalez
RB: S.Beitashour
LM: E.Johnson
CM: Zusi
CM: MIx (Very Important game for him)
RM: J.Gatt
ST: Sapong
ST: Agudelo (Maybe Bruin)
I know he’s not really young (he’s 28), but is Heath Pearce on JK’s radar screen? Should he be? He was in the final 30 for WC 2010 before getting cut.
I bet jurgen takes less than 26 players: depends on how manygames they schedule i can see him calling 20-23 but the core is set:
——johnson———agudelo———–pontius
—————-zusi——-mix——–gatt———
Morrow——————————-beitashour
——————besler———gonzalez——–
————————-gk?————————
I think it will be a small camp of maybe 20-22 players. It’s just a hunch, though.
Two players: GK Steve Clark (Honesfoss) and MF Conor O’Brien (SønderjyskE ) are guys I’d like to see get a look. Many pundits in Norway have named Clark in the Best XI for the Tippeligaen. He basically kept Honefoss from relegation. He was beyond outstanding. O’Brien has been a #10 or a #6 for SønderjyskE . He seriously reminds me of another O’Brien that once patrolled the middle of the field for the USMNT. Both these guys will probably explore new clubs in the winter so that could work against a callup.
I can confirm what MMV says about Clark. (Yes, some people follow Norwegian soccer.) He had a fantastic year.
I’m gonna sound like a broken record, but Adu and Feilhaber need time more than Ricardo Clark does (unless it’s a CB candidate). We don’t need another DM on the depth chart, but we do need answers on the creative end and since I don’t believe a match is tied to this camp, there really isn’t a need to have a balanced lineup.
I also think that if club availability and health permits, we’ll see a few folks from the ill-fated Olympic team, chief among them Corona, Gyau and Shea.
But we do need defensive mids for the Gold Cup, which Freddy and Benny are not.
yes but do you honestly think that Rico Clark is going show anything in camp that will change the current depth chart?
If there is one known entity on the team other than who the #1 keeper is, it’s that we have plenty of guys that can acquit themselves at defensive mid.
January should be about vetting center backs, adding depth to the flanks, finding creativity in the attack, and exposing young players to the NATS setup. Heck let JK scrimmage at D-mid… and use that roster spot to call up another prospect.
There’s no limit on spots in camp. As long as he’s not calling up 50 guys (which could get pricey in terms of accommodations), I doubt the USSF cares whether Klinsmann calls up 20 or 30 players. Calling in 0 DMids so they don’t “take away spots” is silly.
The fact is, the US has two major FIFA-sanctioned competitions this year, and the first team can’t be spared for a Gold Cup that doesn’t lead to qualification for the Confederations Cup.
People like to list Bradley and Jones as DMs because they like to mindlessly repeat what they read, but the reality is that they will not be played in such a role for the senior team until there are better attack-minded players to take those spots. That leaves Danny Williams and Edu to fill that role for the senior team, unless JK is still hung up on Beckerman.
Right now, Rico’s stock is higher than Beckerman’s. He’s been performing well for the Dynamo, is slightly younger and more athletic than Beckerman, and had solid showings for the USMNT earlier this year. Aside from a stellar game against Mexico, Beckerman’s had some stinkers recently.
Now, JK’s rosters have been known to defy expectations, but Perry Kitchen seems far and away the best young DMid prospect in the USMNT pool. Rico could EASILY be called upon for the veteran presence to complement Kitchen in camp or during the GC.
Your starting defensive mid for the Gold Cup….Beckerman, Kyle. JK has that written in stone
Luis Gil please for Dax McCarty. I love Dax, but he’s too small and slow for international play and his skills are decent, but certainly not good enough to overcome his lack of tools.
I would love to see Luis Gil play for the USMNT, and i think he definitely will in the future, but he needs that breakout season (hopefully 2013) to explode into a permanent starting fixture and prove his 90 minute ability, goal scoring, and link-up play, all of which he has been good with, but needs to prove still. Hopefully he will come into the scene by the 2014 World Cup and be a fixture for the USMNT for years to come
Prove schmove. This is camp cupcake.
True, it is only a January camp. And past U-20 experiences have helped Gil’s game a lot. I’m not saying I wouldn’t love to see him in the camp, I just dont think its gonna happen until Jurgen sees something more during the season, hopefully in 2013
But look at Dax and Gaven. Do you really think these guys have something to offer USMNT? I just don’t see it. They are poor man’s versions of guys who are already, at best, bench players. Look at the bench for USMNT. Can Gaven be better than Sacha? No. Can Dax be better than Beckerman? I’d have to say no, again. I can’t see any scenario other than a mass plague of simultaneous catastrophic injuries where these guys would be in a position to help in a meaningful game. Gil, on the other hand, might break out next year and be a viable sub who can offer offense off the bench down a goal.
I’m a huge Gil fan, I would love to see him in the USMNT. But he’s a fixyure for the U21’s now, and has his eyes on this summer’s world cup. THEN I want him on the USMNT
You will most likely see those players that did not start vs Russia. In addition, you will see a healthy mix of central defenders to ramp up the competition sprinkled in with a couple of veterans to set the tone in camp.
Who I would like to see more of is Gyau, Gatt, Mix, Gonzo, Gale Boss, Corona, Garza and maybe a call up for Ventura ( Liga MX)….and yes, J… J from the USA
I want team January camp to scrimmage team February camp and the winner travels to Honduras!
Isn’t Nguyen recovering from major shoulder surgery?I thought I read where he won’t be back fulltime training at least until Feb.
Good catch, will remove him from the list.
With no Shea or Nguyen, why not call in the natural, left-sided winger, Tony Cascio? He’s tall, pretty fast, aggressive with his shots, his stats stack up with Nguyen & Shea’s (down year).
This might be your break, kid!
Tony is a legit baller never thought he would be ready already but the US might be ready for him now. Excellant player to have in a 433
“The US might be ready for him now,” LOL. Nobody’s ready for Tony Cascio!
I see we are still kicking the Dax and Ricardo rocks down the road again….
Rico can bring a veteran presence to the camp as well as the Gold Cup, even if he never again plays a part in “meaningful” USMNT games. I’d take his athelticism over Beckerman any day. Plus,I doubt JK will spare Edu or Williams for the Gold Cup.
“I’d take his athelticism over Beckerman any day.”
That type of thinking is a major reason why we don’t advance as a footballing nation.
The rest of the world would say…”give me Beckerman’s decision making abilities and technical skill over someone who is a great athlete”
Not your fault though…it is what it is.
Does anyone else think this could be a competitive Gold Cup team? Wouldn’t win but second place would be possible.
Excited to see Pontius, Nguyen, and esp. Besler and Omar. I just don’t get the absence of Freddy Adu, either on Ives’ list or Klinsmann’s. No Donovan and no Shea suggests need for someone on left, and Freddy always performs for the Nats. AND, Freddy had a decent season at Philly, certainly better than a lot of guys mentioned here. Talk about a victim of expectations.
BTW, will Nguyen be ready after recent surgery? And I would take Alonso in a second as a d-mid over anyone on the roster not named Bradley. That guy is the definition of a ball-winner, and his passing has improved
Cairo, I agree with you that Adu has done it for the national team in the past, but Klinsmann doesn’t seem to rate him at all so until the day comes that Klinsmann calls him in I think it’s best to not project Adu on any roster Klinsmann might call in.
But you know jurgen is watching adu with a close eye. Over in turkey too. Freddy did well with the u23s and had a good but unproductive year with philly. I would bring him in and see how far he has grown.. He will always be the wild card that the US has up their selves
Thank you Cairo….
Freddy Adu and Lee Nguyen(if he is health after surgery), two Dynamic players with the skill set that can make a difference in the midfield for the USMNT……We need more players with an attacking mindset (no more DM’s)…..Shea, Pontius, Bedoya, Feilhaber, Diskerud, Torres, Corona etc ….but like Ives said its up to Klinsmann….
I like this list. I say replace the February camp with this one and we’ll sweep through the hex!
Players to add (who can help us during the Hex, not 3 years from now):
Freddy Adu
Heath Pearce
Chad Marshall
Jay Demerit
Benny Feilhaber
Kenny Cooper
Players to Cut:
Ricardo Clark
Perry Kitchen (we don’t need any more DM’s!)
Freddy Adu – Yes
Heath Pearce – Maybe
Chad Marshall – No. Older version of Gonzo imo.
Jay Demerit – No. Solid, but way too old.
Benny Feilhaber – Why not?
Kenny Cooper – Nah. He’s benefiting from Thierry, and I’d rather see Sapong/Bruin/Pontius.
Players to Cut:
Ricardo Clark – I’m a Dynamo fan so I want to see, but outside of that we don’t need him.
Perry Kitchen – Disagree. He’s the possible future at DM. Bradley’s box-to-box, JJ is 31, and D-Will isn’t cemented in the spot yet proved by the Russia game.
+1
Agree with all of your corrections.
Adu always steps it up for the Nats irrespective of his club form.
Kitchen is a must for this camp.
Would like to see Rico, but don’t have to.
Absolutely spot on. Agree with almost everything you wrote.
But I would like DeMerit as an option in the camp to A. help our young CBs understand international soccer and the national team and B. to ensure he’s trained under Klinsi’s system because he is still a top backup in times of need.
The national team better have this camp especially considering how little time Klinsmann has had to look at Pontius, Gonzalez, and Besler. Not to mention half the other players on the list who could definitely have a future with the nats. This camp would be the perfect chance for Klinsmann to finally see the young pool players.
@ives Funny you included Nguyen. I’ve seen plenty I times on here and on your Q and A’s that he wouldn’t get another look. Don’t get me wrong, I like him a lot. He’s a good shifty winger with usmnt pedigree. I’m not sure with our stacked midfield, if he’ll make a run at 2014 but he’s worthy of a call up for the “Cake”
Of course Eddie Johnson is “coming off his busiest year”. The only thing he was doing before was dodging his wife’s phone calls and slaps.
Eddie: next year will be a whole lot more busy!!!
What about Osvaldo Alonso? I understand he is now a citizen but has he filed and/or received a One Time Switch?
Umm… FIFA Rule:
“If a Player who has been fielded by his Association in an international match in accordance with art. 5 par. 2 permanently loses the nationality of that country without his consent or against his will due to a decision by a government authority, he may request permission to play for another Association whose nationality he already has or has acquired.”
I’m not FIFA, but I’m not sure this would apply to him. He defected, but did he lose his Cuban nationality at the time? I have no idea, but I’d guess not. If he has lost it, my guess is that happened when he voluntarily applied for or when he obtained US citizenship. I don’t believe there has been a ruling, and I wonder if he’s even applied for the switch.
He can’t file a one time switch as he’s played an offical FIFA event with another country and was not a citizen of this country at the time of the event. The only way he would be able to play for the US is if FIFA makes an exception since he’s not eligble to play for Cuba becuase of their government’s stance on defection.
I see what you’re saying. I haven’t found the specific rule re One Time Switches yet but the press discussion of the rule seems to suggest both the potential tripwires you lay out: (a) he played for Cuba in at least U23 Olympic qualifying, Gold Cup, and Carribean Nations Cup, and (b) he was not a dual citizen when he did so.
In fact, if you really think about it, this would bar any Cuban defectors here for Gold Cup-type senior events when they jump ship. The trip here is what gives 99% of the soccer defectors the opportunity to defect. So if they play the proverbial one Gold Cup game to show the merchandise, they might sell their pro abilities but have then blocked this path to soccer nationality? Because that seems to be the pattern, many of the players play at least once in the tournament before disappearing. FWIW, they may not have abandoning Cuba per se in their minds anyway so much as fleeing the regime.
That being said, there is a rule “If a Player who has been fielded by his Association in an international match in accordance with art. 5 par. 2 permanently loses the nationality of that country without his consent or against his will due to a decision by a government authority, he may request permission to play for another Association whose nationality he already has or has acquired.” Has Cuba expatriated him for legal or soccer purposes? Conversely, did the US make him give up his dual citizenship to become American? I understand that can get fuzzy and revocable (come back later say you didn’t mean it) but I think we make people at least nominally give up other nationalities to take on US citizenship.
I read somewhere that i cant quite remember, and while i could be wrong, it has something to due with his defection to the US. The Cuban federation hasnt released him, so he cant file his switch? Not sure though,m would appreciate some clarification if anyone has any?
He maybe able to now that he is a citizen, I know FIFA has a clause about filing a switch if youve defected. Would like to see him come in though.
It doesn’t merit discussion if FIFA has to set a precedent to allow him to play.
That’s only true when they send him a letter denying the switch. You know, Jones came in of a generation of one-time switchers that were unprecedented at his time. So we can’t talk about Alonso because he’d be a novelty? I understand that, say, wanting Rossi or Subotic back is perseverating but this is within the realm of possibility.
Kitchen will impress. IMO he is already DC United’s best player – smart, quick, tidy, tenacious. He’s going to be a fixture in the national team for years.
Yes, but he plays DM which is a crowded position for the Nats. He does remind me of a young MB though.
+1
He’s had a great season (when uninjured), and I still insist the U23s would have advanced from the group stage if he had been played at DMid instead of Jeffries and Okugo.
Ozzie Alonso?
Until there’s definitive word of his USMNT eligibility there’s really no point mentioning him.
Steve Clark deserves a shot. Dude makes some incredible saves
Does Freddy get a look? Or is his limbo club status hold him out?
If you want to look at it in terms of style of play, Johnson, Sapong and Bruin are the same, big hold up guys who can attract the attention of CBs. Bringing in someone like Jack who would thrive running of these players and finding space would be worth it just to see how that 1-2 striker combination works.
+1 Wisdom. Though i think Sapong has better potential than EJ I think hes EJ like in the sense of not just a target player has good movement and vision.
Feilhaber and Davis got called in last January, wonder if they’ll get called in again.
While I wish Benny gets another look, I don’t see it happening. He has not had enough minutes this year to warrant inclusion. Hope I’m wrong.
Feilhaber has the historical experience and cap-chops but a lot of the press I read about the Cisse and Dorman signings was critical of Feilhaber and other mids under contract. If he’s odd man out on a pretty bad MLS team — on turf mind you, but still — that doesn’t sell a NT call.
What about Brian Edwards at GK?! he is better than the others.
if we’re talking connor lade (which i don’t really agree with), might as well mention chris korb. he’s 25, so not that young, but he’s intelligent, quick, and can play winger as well as fullback.
Seriously? Connor Lade and Chris Korb? Anyone who thinks these guys have USMNT potential are off their rockers.
At best they are below average fullbacks in MLS, and I say this as a DCU fan who likes Korb.
i think it’s unwise to write off players, especially when talking about their ‘potential’. if you’re talking about whether they could compete for the 18 for the senior usmnt squad, then sure, I don’t think 75% of these guys ‘have USMNT potential’.
this camp sounds like we’re just calling in young(ish) players who might catch klinsmann’s eye to bolster a weak position; and, like i said, if lade is mentioned, i don’t see why korb wouldn’t be.
Korb played his heart out and rarely made mistakes. He probably wouldn’t make it on the itnernational level but I have no problem with him getting a shot.
Hopefully, all those DC players are called. They’ve played like champions.
It’s gonna be a long year for them…..
anyone have any thoughts on dilly duka?
no
Before this MLS season I would have expected him to make this January camp, but he missed most of it with injury and then when he was finally healthy, he left the Crew for personal reasons? Does anyone know what the story was behind that?
interesting, no Eddie Johnson on here. He had a good showing, but IMO, theres no way Klinsmann can know one way or the other what he’s about after only a week or so with him.
Fair enough. We’ll add him to the list.
Agreed. Klinsmann will call in guys he’s already vetted, like EJ, Zusi, in order to see how the new callups compare against them, and not just each other, and to give EJ, Zusi, Donovan(?) some fitness training before the Feb. qualifier. And, also, to make the guys that have been called up before continue competing for their spots.
This is what makes this website great.
Man, talk about a group of guys I have little interest in watching..surely he calls in more of the normal faces with qualifying so close right?
What about me??? Jk ha
Ugh. We already know that guys like Zusi, Gatt and Agudelo are on the radar and capable of helping in the right circumstances. None of the other guys are ready enough to help in the hex except maybe Besler. I would have said Gonzalez too but watching him against Seattle the other night painted a pretty ugly picture of how he would handle the speed of the international game.
Cancel the camp. Spend that money on growing the game among underprivileged youth.
I think they need it to audition center backs and give peripheral attackers their shot at pushing aside iffy preferences like Kljestan.
Kljestan’s been solid in every USMNT appearance dating back to the 2011 Gold Cup except for the Italy match.
When we have a pile of attacking talent sitting around, Shea, Agudelo, Donovan, Dempsey, Mixx, Gatt, Gyau, Corona, Torres, Zusi, Feilhaber, and on and on……is anonymously “solid” good enough? Zusi can do the same methodical, technical thing better, and he’s actually dangerous sometimes. Other players offer speed or breakaway quickness or crossing I don’t see from Kljestan. And if his job description would be get it and pass it on, other players are better at that, some with more defensive ability.
I’m at a loss for what he adds tactically to the team.
Mr. I Voice,
It seems to me Sacha’s recent run with the USMNT is based on the unavailability of that wealth of US attacking talent you speak of.
And it seems to me the team has played acceptably well with Sacha on the field. In the end that is the main criteria.
Everyone seems to assume Donovan and all the rest of our attacking talent will get healthy and motivated and come back to lead us to victory in the Hex and the World Cup.
It is JK’s job to ask the obvious and reasonable question, “What if they don’t?”
• What if Donovan doesn’t come back, for whatever reason?
• What if Dempsey never does get going at Spurs and winds up being a little used sub who eventually gets sold off to QPR?
• What if Zusi, Shea, Corona, Gonzo, Besler and all these other young golden prospects turn to mud as soon as the teams get much tougher than Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Guatemala?
The recent USMNT pool has very few if any proven high level players besides Donovan, Dempsey, Dolo, Boca, Howard, Fabian, Sacha, Edu, Jones, Jozy and Mikey . With the exception of Fabian, Jozy and Mikey they have probably all peaked.
And the term “proven high level” is used a little loosely with Sacha, Edu, and Jozy.
JK may want to see how the available veteran pool is doing just in case. So if he wants to look at Rico, Sacha, Gomez, EJ or even Gooch, I have no issue with that.
He would be doing his job.
Rico is far worse than Danny Williams……. Bundesliga far better…
did you see him in the first game vs. Seattle on grass in LA? He kicked everyone’s butt. But yes, on one play EJ got by him in Seattle. That matchup will never be a good one for Gonzo, and once he switched off EJ he played very well, especially considering that LA was under siege the entire match and he had to deliver play after play after play back there, which he did
He played well in the first game but EJ was not on the field and Zakuani only came in as a late substitute, plus Seattle played with only one striker (a guy who has never scored in 10 playoff games). He never had a chance to look bad.
In Seattle, he in fact he got scored on twice by EJ, but one was wrongly called back, and there were at least two other times just in the first half where EJ scorched him, one resulting in an open look from 18 yards that EJ didn’t stay on top of and rocketed over, but many international strikers would have buried.
No less disconcerting was that he was losing out on headers to Freddy Montero. He even had to get bailed out by the ref a couple times. But how does a center back let himself get tipped over by a guy as small as Freddy Montero?
Not to mention a number of flubbed clearances that resulted in dangerous chances.
I am as big a fan of Gonzalez as anyone and I’ve called for giving him a shot over Goodson. But for me that Seattle game was sobering.
“EJ didn’t stay on top of and rocketed over, but many international strikers would have buried. “
I’ve seen many international strikers do the exactly same thing EJ did.
“No less disconcerting was that he was losing out on headers to Freddy Montero. He even had to get bailed out by the ref a couple times. But how does a center back let himself get tipped over by a guy as small as Freddy Montero?”
Heading the ball is not just about your size but instead about timing, vision, skill, athleticism and a certain amount of guts. It may be that Montero is better in the air than Gonzo. Wayne Rooney is not as big as Gonzo and is not much bigger than Montero but is very good in the air.
You don’t win every aerial challenge by out jumping your marker. If you get to the right spot BEFORE he does that can trump a height advantage.
Right, so Gonzalez is too slow to mark EJ and not good enough in the air to keep Montero off the ball. That’s pretty much a recipe for disaster at the international level.
“that matchup will never be a good one for Gonzo”? So what do we if he is on the USMNT? He is likely to face 2 forwards better than EJ in many games. Where do we switch him then?
Each full size turf field costs about .75 – 1M; if USSF can fund the smaller fields like Futsal sized but with artificial surfaces, and put lights on there. People will be using them 24/7. Believe it. Put them in the poor neighborhoods and in 10 – 15 yrs, we will have our home
grown Messis and Neymars.
What makes you think that Messi and Neymar grew up playing on artificial turf?
He’s not saying that artificial turf produced Neymar and Messi. He’s saying the introduction of more (turf) fields in poor neighborhoods will create an environment where our own Messi/Neymars can emerge.
If someone put turf fields in the poor neighborhoods around where I’m from I do think they’d be full up all the time with players.
That is not consistent with the narrative.
The narrative is that the great ball handlers came from poor neighborhoods where they had to make the ball out of rags or some other suitable material and then learned how to master it by dribbling on crappy cobble stoned streets and alley ways or cow pastures and the like.
In other words, if you grow up learning how to dribble the ball on crappy surfaces, then by the time you get to the nice stuff, you should be able to do a great job.
Ozil of Germany and Real Madrid talks about how leaning to juggle small objects like fruit and tennis balls made the real thing that much easier to deal with.
You want another Messi ? Make it hard on them and give them rock strewn,pothole laden fields.
Yeah, that is nonsense. They may be juggling and playing pick up games in trash strewn alleyways but any kids with talent are also getting lots of games in on neighborhood fields (many of them artificial turf) and then on the pitches of junior club teams.
Lots of our poor youth are playing pick up games in dirt lots and have nothing else. That is how you never discover or develop good talent.
Judging Amy, poor neighborhoods in Brazil and Argentina don’t have turf fields and consistently produce top notch players. There are no turf fields in Villa Fiorito, where Maradona grew up. Messi did not have a turf field in his neighborhood in Rosario. Neymar grew up playing street soccer. If a kid has passion for the game, he does not need a turf field to play with the ball. Turf does not produce greatness. Other ingredients are more important.
You have no idea what you are talking about. Just have a look on Google maps at Villa Fiorito. It’s basically a slum and there are turf fields every few blocks. And the same is true of pretty much any neighborhood or small town anywhere you travel in Central or South America. Small, lit turf fields with kids playing on them from early in the morning until after midnight.
The point is not that turf itself makes better players but that these small, lit turf fields are the most economical way to provide playing spaces for poor communities. Less than a million dollars and you have a field that requires little maintenance for a decade or more.
As someone who has traveled around Colombia over eight seperate trips, I can tell you that the vast majority of their fields are not fake grass/turf. The kind of fields you are talking about are generall cement with goal frames (no nets) and surrounded by a chain link fence. They’re in every neighborhood (which are usually gated communities) though within the city, you’ll find a couple.
Unfortunately, we do have these fields but they are used for basketball. I know when I was growing up, I would have spent hours at a set-up like the one I described above. Unfortunately, I was stuck in my front yard with a couple of friends.
These caged fields are great for attracting different kinds of players and the street-styled play encourages individual skills.
I have a Hondurian uncle who talks about the days when he was young, playing on those cement fields. They would all toss in a few dollars and the winner got the money. That’s how the kids made (and lost) money. It also encrouaged them to play harder since they were poor to begin with.
Josh, you are right, they are definitely not the 750K turf fields Helium is describing. But often they do usually start out with a cheap carpet/turf on top of the cement. When this wears out they just play on the cement, which still makes for a pretty decent dribbling and passing surface.
AZ,
Oh that’s neat. I really never saw any with turf. In my travels around Europe, I also don’t recall seeing too many with turf. But your reasoning makes sense.
There used to be a nonprofit that focused on building these urban cages for soccer, but I don’t recall their name or if they had success.
For over a decade now, most foreigners talk about the need for street soccer to take the game to the next level. We need a place where different players from different backrounds with different skills can come together at any time of the day and play for free.
Helium-3:
Exactly.
Not 100% sure if he is eligible, but we should get Raf Baca in camp to ensure he doesn’t go south.
Wasn’t sure about his status either, but if he’s eligible then he definitely merits a look.
Need to worry about Luis Silva going south before Baca. Silva is the real deal. You can immediately tell this guy is quality because his first pro games were against CCL opposition, and he was one of the best out there if you didn’t know he was just a rookie. I don’t know many rookies who can see the game the way he did against the CCL teams.
Took him a little while to adapt to MLS play because it is more physical, but Luis Silva is a big time player. A match winner.
+ 1
If we’re looking for wingers, what about a player like Dilly Duka? He’s been inconsistent at times for the Crew, but you could say the same thing for 75% of the guys listed here.
didn’t see your post before i commented about duka below. is he better on the wing or in the middle?
Duka has a good eye for seeing things develop quicker than the avg MLS player. He is USMNT quality for sure. He is also a 2 way player and is suitable on the wing. Reminds me of Harkes in his younger days.
I was really big on duka b4 his injury in the beginning of the season i dnt see him much after returning is he back playing well? If so id keep an eye on him
Im sorry, but Chance Myers is not of enough quality to be looked at for the national team, nor ever will be.
Kofie Sarkodie on the other hand though…
Sheannon Williams?
Yes +1 for Williams over a guy like Chance Myers. Nothing against Myers but there are better players deserving of a chance ahead of him.
Where is Justin Morrow?
I’d bring in the Farfans….both of them!
i wouldn’t
I would at least bring in Michael
Why the hate for Myers? He’s made incredible leaps forward in the last two years, and JK has shown a preference for attacking fullbacks in the past (ie, bizarre affinity for Edgar Castillo).
That being said, if I’m mining SKC’s fullback corps for national team prospects, I’d look at Seth Sinovic first given our perpetual lack of depth at LB.
Bizarre affinity? More like obvious necessity. Before Johnson settled in we were in dire need of a LB. And be fair to Castillo, he looked far better in his recent appearances than he did under BB. He’s grown as a player, and potentially could serve as a deputy for Johnson.
Oh god, the Castillo hatred…
90 minute first choice strater on arguably the best team in Mexico. What you can;t argue is that Tijuana has the stingiest defense in all of Mexico.
Welcome to 2012.
The problem with Castillo is he looks like a stick. Seriously. He’s got to be the skinniest guy ever in the U.S. pool. I’m afraid he’s going to break in half.
Typical yank expectation. How is it a problem for Castillo, Flaco Fernandez, Peter Crouch, etc… this is not gridiron, this is football.
Fernandez and Crouch rarely find themselves the last line of defense between an opposing striker and the goal.
Don’t get me wrong… I think Castillo still merits getting looks, as long as his club form stays how it has been.
myers has been good, but seriously not for the nats…
Last year Corona was in the camp between games. Why not do the same with the American trio in Tijuana. Castillo, Corona, and Garza could all get some nice practice in with this camp for JK. And not miss any league games.
Are you serious? Myers has been one of the better outside backs in MLS the past few seasons, especially going forward. He’s very involved in KC’s attacks and also has decent speed on top of it.
Sarkodie has some potential for the future but a few good games for Houston doesn’t make him better than Myers. Right now, Myers is rated ahead of him and Kofie is prone to at least one big mistake per game, about the same as Connor Lade.
Houston fan here. I’d take Myers over Sarkdoie until Kofi shows what he can do over a full season.
Sarkodie? Have you seen him play over time? He got burned by Freddy in a Philly loss, lost his man on a goal early in the playoffs…..looked awful with the U23s……everyone with that team on defense needs to be handled with a hazmat suit.
Please, no Ricardo Clark.
LeeNweezy should get a look. Only capable player on the field for major stretches last year for the Revs.
While I’ve never been Clark’s biggest fan, if you’re still judging him by his dreadful World Cup I don’t think that’s fair. He had suffered a thigh injury months before from which he clearly hadn’t recovered and wasn’t getting games at his new club. That he was taken to South Africa was a head-scratcher, that he started over the likes of Edu and Feilhaber is mind-boggling.
But he was always a serviceable player before that, and can be again. Besides, he’s pretty far down the pecking order – I don’t think he’s going to get a whiff of the first team any time soon.
The second he entered the pitch, I knew we were going to lose that game. Sure enough, he lost it for us in the first half. I was no coincidence that Edu and Bradley were there when we advanced first out of our group.
I agree completely, but I think it was more to do with him being well under 100% rather than him not being a passable player. And like I said, he’s nowhere near the first team, but there’s no harm in bringing him in for Camp Cupcake just to see where he is.
Yes there is…you waste analyzing and/or developing young talent by bringing in a guy that is on a downward trend. We have seen Clark at the club and international level. We know what he is and is not. Who would we drop to include Clark? No one is on my list.
“Sure enough, he lost it for us in the first half.”
Rico did not lose that game for the US. That is a lazy statement on your part. Watch a replay some time.
The first Ghana goal was not the winning goal
Rico lost the ball pretty much right in the center circle, nearly on the halfway line.
It was not like he gave the ball away in the penalty box like Lichaj did for Mexico’s second and tying goal in the 2011 Gold Cup final. Yet I never read about fans blaming LIchaj for that loss.
Jay Demerit had the whole play in front of him the entire time.
Both he and Howard had time to react to Rico’s mistake.
Jay failed to either close Boateng down or force him wide.
Boateng gets to the edge of the box and then takes a shot that beats Howard on the near post side.
It wasn’t the hardest shot I’ve ever seen and Howard, to be kind, was not well positioned for what should have been a routine save. You might argue that Jay screened Boateng just enough to throw off Howard but I’ve seen Timmy save those many times.
Yes, Rico gave the ball away but Jay and Howard had time to pick him up and failed to.
Don’t take my word for it watch a replay.
The issue with Clark’s inclusion has less to do with his WC blunder, but more with the fact that we have a glut of good defensive midfielders. It would make more sense either to bring an extra attacking central midfielder and/or extra wide midfielder or winger. Alternatively, if a defensive midfielder is a must, it makes sense to bring a younger player as a defensive midfielder to groom for the future.
I don’t want to see Rico again, good in MLS, yet poor compared to Williams, Jones, and Edu. Bradley has one of those spots locked down.
Rico would provide a veteran presence in camp and on the Gold Cup roster. JK’s not going to risk injury to Williams or Edu for a tournament of relatively low importance.
Plus, I’ll take a healthy Rico over Beckerman any day.
People focus on that Ghana game — and forget it was a very good team — and neglect he’s had winners against T&T, Venezuela, and is a player at least of Beckerman’s level. He is also getting PT which he was not getting at the time of South Africa because of his foolish German transfer.
Should he start for the US? No. But in a 23? Deserves as much of a chance as the other players in his tier. Not everyone on the team is Dempsey, Howard, or Chandler, you get to the end of the roster and you have more difficult choices to make.
Plus, the way Williams played I think the door is open for players like Alonso or Beckerman or Clark to show their relative wares.
+1 on rico.
Also Is the door really open for alanso? Legally?
I think the first part, citizenship, is done as I understand it. The issue I can think of is the second part, has he tried the nationality switch and has it been granted.
I believe he applied for the switch, but hasn’t heard back from FIFA yet.
+1
It was Bradley’s fault for bringing an out-of-form Rico to the Cup and letting him start.
Clark’s been in beast mode for the Dynamo lately. He is all over the pitch breaking up plays and making tackles.
He’s also getting up there in age, but he could provide a veteran presence in camp.
Ricardo Clark’s time has passed. There is no reason at all to bring him to a January camp. He’s been around for a long, long time and everybody knows his game. Nothing new to see at all. If he does come, might as well invite Gooch and Beasley too… for that matter, why not Bornstein?
Nobody likes a name dropper
Rico absolutely KILLED against Spain in the Confederation Cup. He was all over the field breaking things up, connecting passes, kicking shins, and occasionally a wayward pass.
How many years ago? I would add that Rico has moments that are great with large swaths of mediocrity. I think that we can pick 23 players over Clark, so why bring him in? He is not getting any younger and there are younger, doing better, in the MLS and other leagues.
How many young quality DMs do we have for the GC?
Kitchen and Clark would be the perfect tandem to split time… one up and comer, and one veteran.
You could make an argument for McCarty based on his season, but Rico’s bigger, stronger, faster, and is a WC vet.
I’d like to see Conor O’Brien make the Jan camp, he’s had a good season with Sondersyjke in Denmark.
That’s easy for you to say.
Conor O’Brien > Ricardo Clark
All day, every day.
Also, Steve Clark should get a GK spot. Don’t sleep of Johannsson. And if Bedoya doesnt move then he is a clear cut choice. Otherwise, solid list.
From this roster i am assuming denmark based players are not available..? I thought they took a winter break between nov-march
I was under the impression that they didn’t take a winter break. If Denmark weren’t in season there would surely be some players there to consider for a January camp.
Per Soccerway, it looks like the teams don’t have any league matches scheduled from the end of November until the beginning of March
Everything i have read is that. However goodson always got called, when he was in norway, but the past years in denmark doesnt do the jan camp. Idk
Have you actually watched him play a single minute?
I’d assume he’s worth a look based on the fact that he often starts and goes the full 90, but don’t go making sweeping claims unless you know what you’re talking about.
Connor Lade is good for at least one head-scratching moment per game. He is very quick, so maybe with time he’ll be better, but right now he’s not nat level.
Definitely some players we need to look at. Perhaps some of the fringe players that are also being looked at could be included, like Mixx Diskerud.
I think Ives’ spelling just confused you.
Haha!
I don’t think the article listed him when I wrote my comment, but maybe I just missed it. I remember it mentioning Bedoya though, so maybe not.
Ives spelled it correctly, it’s Mix not Mixx.
Very much like the inclusion of Tally Hall and Will Bruin, and my Orange-colored glasses give me a vision of Rico Clark resuming his USMNT-no-doubt form. (Though I might be wrong about that.)
I like Hall because I think Johnson is iffy at 3rd keeper and I think some established American keepers a few years older are actually better than the U23 pairing of Hamid and Johnson who contributed to failing to qualify for the Olympics AT HOME(!).
Rico might also be a dark horse although he’s at a popular position in the pool.
But Bruin I’m sorry is a target striker dependent on service and one of the problem areas with the US is wing play/ crossing.
Please Dear God NO:
Dax Mc Carthy
Chance Myers
What about George John ?????
And can we please invite Aron Johannsson ???
Not sure what you have against Dax. He’s awesome at his position and could be useful in the Gold Cup.
Ehh….we do have players like Jones, Williams, Bradley even Sacha as of late who can fill that void….even in current lack of USMNT form I’d take Torres over Dax any day.
Plus in that Gold Cup, 8 or 7 months away from now, we should look to give Holden some starts…..
Maybe I didn’t see enough of Myers but I wonder why dismiss him?
He explains the George John omission in the article. Looking for a move to Europe.
To this day and for many years to come, I will always scratch my head over the enamoured attachment to Bill Hamid. I can see he has potential and that is depending on many variables as followed:
1. He has a tendency to suffer from the butterfingers effect. During the playoffs against NY, he let one in.
2. His coming out of goal close down an opponent is 50-50 rather than 70-30 chance to stop the attack. Yes, he does stop the attack but at the cost of the penalty.
2a. refer to theNY playoff match. Review season matches where he has failed at stopping the goal.
3. He is not effective at all at stopping shots on goal from outside the box. I don’t remember seeing a keeper failing at this in a very longtime at a consistent manner.
3a. The striker takes the shot inflicted with a strong kick which either sends the ball at a high speed rate and/or it takes a bend during the trajectory. That is also another 50-50 stop. However at the international level, these are very common particularly during the world cup and Mexico City where the ball because of the altitude has a chance to take an unpredictable bend.
QUESTION: Is he far sighted? Which means he can spot the goal and go for it but through the trajectory, he loses it and makes the goal look spectacular.
3b. Compare Hamid and Rimando. Rimando does have a limit in stretch but makes up for it in timing. If you look at his rating on these stops, he is highly effective. To score against him, the striker has to go for a bend that goes high then low to net it. Side to side Rimando has a high ratio. Place Rimando in the same scenario, he has the reach but he loses the ball.
4. Defending the goal in corner kicks are also a constraint. He is ineffective at coming out to divert or catch the ball in the air. United has given up several goals on corner kicks.
5. The Freddy Adu effect. United has a tendency to elevate young players beyond their current capabilities. This is what happened to Adu who like Hamid had a serious ego problem. See below for more.
6. Attitude. Most if not all athletes have a strong attitude which in most cases enhance their performance and presence. Hamid has a very high attitude that crosses confidence and gets extremely defensive by not admitting mistakes. He finds a way to blame his defense and/or referees. It’s never his fault.
I think it’s great that he is committed to the team but this is not semi-pro or recreation. This is to win the game! The team should never depend on one player, they are all indispensable.
Therefore, when Klinsmann brings him on, I question it more so than going for Gordon over Wondolosky and Altidore. The US has a strong history of developing strong keepers. Howard’s legacy will be difficult to live up to and the Nats may experience an initial difficulty. However, Hamid is NOT a choice among the top 3 potentials.
CORRECTION ON:
Place Rimando in the same scenario, he has the reach but he loses the ball.
IT SHOULD BE
Place Hamid in the same scenario, he has the reach but loses the ball.