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USMNT Daily Update: Who should Klinsmann call into the January camp?

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Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By IVES GALARCEP

We are now just a month away from the first U.S. Men’s National Team training camp, meaning Jurgen Klinsmann has to start thinking about the players he plans on calling in to the camp leading into the crucial Feb. 6 Hex opener against Honduras.

Klinsmann pointed out that there should be a strong contingent of young players called into the camp, though he will also plan on bringing in players who are expected to play key roles in the Honduras qualifier. The squad will be MLS heavy, with a sprinkling of Scandinavian-based players.

So which players will get the call? Here is a projection of the 23 players we could see being called in for the January USMNT camp:

PROJECTED USMNT CAMP ROSTER

GOALKEEPER– Nick Rimando, Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid

DEFENDERS– Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Austin Berry, Amobi Okugo, Steve Beitashour, Kofi Sarkodie, Justin Morrow, Seth Sinovic

MIDFIELDERS– Graham Zusi, Mix Diskerud, Josh Gatt, Chris Pontius, Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya, Kyle Beckerman, Ricardo Clark

FORWARDS– Terrence Boyd, Eddie Johnson,  Juan Agudelo, Chris Wondolowski

——

Some thoughts:

There is no guarantee Jermaine Jones is part of the camp. He is suspended for Schalke’s matches in January, but with the club having fired manager Huub Stevens, and with Jones having recently welcomed the birth of a daughter, he might not wind up making the trip. It is a safe bet Klinsmann will want him in camp though, not only to serve as a leader of the group, but to prepare him for the Honduras qualifier.

Michael Parkhurst is on the verge of a transfer move so he isn’t likely to be available, but if things were to drag on in terms of his move, he could wind up being a part of this camp.

The same can be said for Bedoya, but we will project him anyway. Bedoya told SBI’s Franco Panizo that he has been contacted by Jurgen Klinsmann so a call-up is a strong possibility.

Klinsmann told media a few weeks ago that he was interested in calling in Boyd for the camp, and he is available so it’s a safe bet he makes the trip. If he doesn’t, we could see Will Bruin getting a call.

There are plenty of fullback options for Klinsmann to choose from. Sporting KC’s Chance Myers is another player we could see getting the nod, though Kofi Sarkodie’s strong finish to the MLS season just might have been enough to catch Klinsmann’s eye.

Of this group, Jones, Zusi and Johnson are the ones most likely to play key roles in the Honduras qualifier, Gonzalez and Besler could be auditioning for consideration in the centerback race.

Please keep in mind that this roster is just a suggestion of the group Klinsmann could call in. Some of the selections might seem like wild cards, but Klinsmann is known for throwing in a few surprises each camp so we shall do the same.

——-

What do you think of this roster? What players would you like to see called in? Who made our projection that you are happy to see included?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  2. I read somewhere that Aron Johannsson was considering coming to camp but that he is injured. Would’ve been interesting and it shows he still is keeping his options open, for now.

    Reply

    • I read the same thing from either his FB page or one that someone has created on his behalf. I think we will see him in a USMNT uniform. I am not spreading a rumor that he has committed to the USMNT or anything, its just a hunch that I have about where this is headed.

      Happy Holidays everyone!

      Reply

  3. I’d like to see Connor O’Brian invited to camp as well. But like Parkhurst, he’s rumored to move from his club in Denmark and might want to avoid this camp.

    Reply

  4. I think this is a good prediction, although the defenders I have are a little different, I have goodson, John and demerit as well as gonzo as CBS. Also my obs I have loyd, beitashour, farfan and delagarza. I like gatt and Pontius as mfs but I would like to see o brien or adu instead

    Reply

  5. Ricardo Clarke? Are you serious! The same Clarke who ruined our World Cup…no thank you. Freddy Adu, and Feilhaber should at least get a call to camp. Adu has been training in Turkey, and the last time he played/trained there, he did very well at the Gold Cup.

    GOALKEEPER- Nick Rimando, Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid

    DEFENDERS- Omar Gonzalez, Edgar Castillo, Matt Besler, Amobi Okugo, Kofi Sarkodie, George John, Ike Opara, Michael Orozco Fiscal

    MIDFIELDERS- Graham Zusi, Mix Diskerud, Josh Gatt, Chris Pontius, Alejandro Bedoya, Joe Corona, Freddy Adu, Benny Feilhaber

    FORWARDS- Terrence Boyd, Eddie Johnson, Juan Agudelo, CJ, Sapong

    Reply

  6. Juan Agudelo had 3 goals this year. He’s not even in the top 20 MLS scorers who qualify for US and the fewer than Kyle Beckerman. I saw him play several times this year. He’s lazy, dribbles too much and isn’t clinical when he gets his chances. He needs a lot of work and needs to start producing before getting another call-up. A few tricks and a cool haircut aren’t enough for International call-ups

    Reply

    • People used to say Dempsey dribbled too much and was too flash. The fact that he has produced for youth teams and the senior side when called in suggests that if you tone down the flash, up the work rate, and still have the skill, you have a player on your hands.

      Also, he can hit a serious cross. Like maybe Landon and Holden could hit it type cross.

      So, he’s an immature player. I don’t think that is disqualifying at his skill level. But……I would say he has not shown well in a target forward position, so he needs to be used otherwise. I think he’s more of a winger but then he needs to get more of a Dempsey work rate. Same could be said of Shea, who has talent but work rate issues, and is out with his foot I think.

      Reply

      • Umm … the way he played on his debut in S. Africa and his recent “knock down” header that set up the wing say otherwise about his “target” Forward play.

  7. Ives, please stop bogarding and pass the pipe . . . and it isn’t cool not to share. RC, you are kidding right? no thanks . . . he is out of control and not reliable at the international level.

    Reply

  8. Dax McCarty. And why call in all of those mediocre defenders? Would rather have more forwards like C.J. Sapong and Will Bruin get looks.

    Reply

  9. Way too much hate on Wondo here. The guy has scored more goals in MLS than any other player over the last 3 seasons. No one, has so consistently led the league. Every forward in MLS has been second best (or worse) compared to his production. He scored goals when SJ was leading the league and when they were in almost dead last place. Herc couldn’t do that, EJ couldn’t do that, Agudelo and Altidore couldn’t to that, even Brian McBride and Donavon didn’t do that. You have to respect what he has accomplished over the last 3 years.

    Certainly he has not done as well with the half-games he he has seen for the Nats. But,
    for the USMNT, in 2012, he played only 94 minutes and in 2011 204 minutes, so in the roughly 3 1/4 full games he has played for the Nats, people are faulting him for not scoring a goal. In 2012, Gomez, Shea, Donavon, Boyd, Bunbury and Altidore played a combined total of about 2250 minutes and scored 7 goals, less than 1 goal every 300 minutes played. (Of course, Demspey who scored 6 in just under 800 minutes did better).

    For whatever reason, Klinsmann and Bradley did not give Wondo a lot of time on the field, it is small wonder he has not scored a goals for them.

    Reply

    • wondo finishes consistently–head or either foot–with calm and class inside the 18, has a high work rate, and excellent positioning. that said, athletically he probably can’t match demps, jozy, boyd, or johnson, and none of those dudes are slouches.

      Reply

    • Results bid-ness. I think his hustle game is ill suited for international play where everyone hustles. He is not particularly tall or amazingly fast. He is Taylor Twellman, who was almost as good in MLS and marginally better for the US.

      The one thing Wondo offers that he could capitalize on is finishing ability. But they aren’t going to leave him as open for as long, and he’s not been scoring for the US.

      Reply

      • If the coach only puts a player on the field for 30 minute stretches(that is what Wondo has averaged for the nats), it is hard for him to get much going with teammates. As for speed, he did run a 4:15 mile in high school, so while he may not be a great sprinter, he is not overly slow.

    • Thank you. I’ve said repeatedly that Wondo has not been given a realistic chance to prove himself with the USMNT. He keeps getting written off by people as if he has gone goalless in 25 caps or something. He’s really had barely a sniff. He missed one easily makeable goal (on a night when Dempsey missed an even easier chance) and that’s the only thing people want to remember about him… In the little playing time he’s had I thought he looked ok. He deserves exactly what Hercules Gomez is finally getting, some significant playing time.

      Reply

  11. What About Dax McCarty… he had a great season with ny. Also I think that Orzco Fiscal should get another call up. Lastly, I think bruin should get a call up after a terrific 2nd season.

    Reply

  13. I don’t mind the if he play a strong crops of MLS players as long the are young and please no one over the age of 29 and over. It is time to give new players a chance, Sorry but NO!! Kyle Beckerman, Ricardo Clark ummm I still in doubt of Wondo. But please Klismann bring young blood to this USNMT.

    Reply

  15. Who I want to see starting: going along with the 4-1-3-2
    Boyd- Eddie Johnson
    Graham Zusi- Mix- Gatt
    Jermaine Jones (c)
    Sinovic-Besler- Gonzalez- Steve Beitashour
    Nick Rimando

    Reply

  17. How about this:

    GK-Rimando, Johnson, MacMath
    D- Orozco Fiscal, Sinovic, Beitashour, Sarkodie, Gonzalez, Besler, Berry, John
    M- Beckerman, Clark, Jones, Pontius, Zusi, Diskerud, Deleon, Gatt, Adu
    F- E. Johnson, Wondolowski, Agudelo, Boyd

    Reply

  18. I do not believe Klinsmann would call Clark or Wondo. Clark brings nothing to the table and he’s seen Wondo numerous times. Not sure he’d even call Pontius. He doesn’t seem to have any interest in him. I’d throw Benny’s name out there. If not now then that’s a never. New team, new attitude…maybe

    I think Parkhurst has a good shot since his league is off

    Reply

    • I agree about Wondo but Clark is at least as good as Beckerman, no, better. He’s actually won some games with his shot for the USA. So I don’t know how a DM who can score is nothing to the table. Probably should not start, Ghana is a lesson, but Beckerman is blah, Alonso may not be able to play for us, Williams stunk in Russia, I’d not be just blowing off experienced players who can play DM.

      Reply

  19. Glaring omission, or just overlooked? : No Mexican League Players? They are not in league play in January. Castillo and Corona had a standout season.

    Reply

  21. I’ll throw in a homer vote for Nick DeLeon. A reward for Rookie of the Year nomination, finished the season strong, might as well see if he can bring it to a USMNT camp. And if it helps him with his pre-season fitness just another plus in my book 😉

    Reply

    • That’s an interesting dark horse idea. I liked how he looked in the playoffs, that kind of pressure play is more like international intensity.

      Reply

  22. Replace Ricardo Clark with Conor O’Brien please.

    Ricardo Clark?? Is there really any reason to take another look at him? For what, our 7th spot in the defensive midfielder depth chart? And if so, why not at least look to someone younger like Dax McCarty or Perry Kitchen? When is Clark going to figure in the national team? Calling him in for this makes about as much sense as calling in Conor Casey or Brian Ching.

    Reply

  24. What about Steve Clark (voted best gk playing in Norway) and Conor O’Brien? Both should be available as they play in Scandinavian leagues.

    Reply

  26. Talking about Adu and Feilhaber is really premature as neither are even locks to start on their MLS teams. Adu almost got dropped by Philly and NE did drop Benny, so while both have shown promise in the past, their current form does NOT warrant inclusion. Hopefully, one day they can both get back to the form that had folks excited about their play, but we need to see it before they get a MNT callup.

    Also, I agree with the Imperative Voice, lets bring in some extra possibilities at center back and wing, not areas we already have good depth at. Of course, if you bring in too many the challenge is then getting them enough real practice time to evaluate them.

    Reply

    • Benny was (is?) on another planet from Adu as of 2010. He made the 23, well really the 18, and was a routine South Africa sub like Holden. He had that 07 Gold Cup winner. I think whatever happened to his form he was taken seriously enough for so long that SKC would take him and a big salary off NE’s hands, in the hopes he bounces back to his former level. So maybe he doesn’t make this camp but on form he’s at least the level of the people who are getting these looks.

      But Adu is a mythical beast who has rarely shown anything of US quality above U23. He got cut from the same 2010 team Feilhaber made, and if there’s reason Philly “kept” Freddy it’s because at his salary and level of production, he’s the cap fruitcake that his teams want to get rid of.

      So I’d lump them in separate piles.

      Reply

      • Sorry but when it comes to National Team performance it should be what have you done for me lately, and Adu did very well at the Gold Cup and deserves a look, but so does Benny.

      • Did well at the Gold Cup? I understand he was so unfit they sat him the first 4 games, only to use him at the end of the tournament, when he was magically fresher than everyone else.

        FWIW, the World Cup where Benny played and Adu watched it on TV, was just a year before the Gold Cup in 2011. I mean, did Benny not have the pass that set up the PK that tied the Ghana game, only for us to run out of gas and lose late? He’s done it on a bigger stage for a longer time.

        Adu has never gotten together an all-around senior game. Benny is off the boil but I think he’s as good as Zusi or several others — in a senior way — when he has his stuff together. So I lump him in with Holden and a couple others who you hope recover.

  27. Here is my 24 man roster

    GK: Clark, Sean John, Rimando
    Defense: Sarkodie, Beita, Morrow, Gonzo, Besler, Berry, Hedges
    Cm’s: Diskerud, Kitchen, Mccarty, Beckerman
    Am’s: Adu, Zusi, Pontius, Gatt, Deleon
    FWDS: EJ, Agudelo, Boyd, Wondo, Bruin

    Reply

  28. Forget Clark and Beckerman. Let’s take a look at Dax McCarty and Adu or Feilhaber since we could use some good play makers in the middle, we have plenty of defensive mids.

    Reply

    • Mix and Zusi do that job very well. Clark could have something left. Beckerman is a major fail. He has no place on the USMNT, nor does Wondo.

      Reply

      • i do not see why people keep complaining about rico or beckerman if these two are selected their job is to win the ball and play it to someone more skillful. If you have to label it it would be the destroyers breaking up the play to win possession and keep it. With Jermaine being questionable for the camp they will have to be the ball winners people stop crying and get on with your lives.

  30. Did they ever schedule a game? Do they plan on it? I still think this has some value to bridge on-break players to the qualifier camp, but if you really want to know what you’re dealing with a game helps. After all, history shows that the hustling fan favorite Wondo is close to worthless in actual US games (a la Twellman before him) while the sloppy and frustrating EJ can be productive (actually more than Jozy by the average numbers).

    I’d bring in someone besides Wondo at forward because I don’t think his qualities and production level add to the 23. We should be looking at someone tall or fast, some unique quality that would make them valuable to the bench. I don’t see much value in Wondo just running around in circles and his productivity in league play has not yet translated.

    My initial reaction was to suggest Gyau over Bedoya. But Bedoya has apparently been playing quite well. At which point I think maybe you leave Beckerman off because let’s be real, once you’re down to him you are way down the DM depth chart, and what we need is better play from the attacking mids. In which case if this is a camp supplemental of players like Bradley and Williams we all know will get called, then perhaps err in favor of need positions? I mean, if you already had a team in your head, and you were conducting tryouts, wouldn’t you maybe bring in more people at need areas and fewer at the spots you know are filled in depth?

    Same spirit, I’d call in more CBs than wingbacks. I don’t think Sarkodie is worth a hoot on defense, and besides we already have Dolo, Chandler, Johnson, and perhaps Lichaj waiting in line. What we need are CBs and again I think an unbalanced camp roster would promote less entitltement and more effort out of the CB candidates.

    I’d also like to see Tally Hall or one of the other GKs in between Howard’s age and the U23 team get a look. I understand the U23 keepers had a sort of stamp or approval upon them but their actual play in qualifying should give pause. Beyond the reputations I don’t see how they are in practice any better than a handful of more matured MLS options.

    Reply

    • One thing I’ve have noticed under Klinsmann is that most of our middle players are defensive. Bradley, Jones, Kljestan, Williams, and Beckerman; his approach I guess is to have technically gifted and smart DMs and your classic No. 6 (Due to lack of No. 10s). I would love to see this kind of midfield in a 4-3-3:

      Bradley-Zusi
      —Jones—

      Reply

      • Kljestan isn’t really a defensive minded player at all. And I think Klinsmann’s approach is to put the best CM’s in the center of the park. It just so happens that our best CM’s happen to be Jones, Bradley, and Williams. Also, I don’t understand why people keep labeling MB90 as a “defensive” player, considering literally every period of play where we have looked really dangerous over the past 24 months, it’s been Bradley who has been running the show. He is a box to box central midfielder. At times in the past for country with the USMNT, and at times for club even now with Roma, he’s been given a more restricted defensive role and he’s done it very well. This does not make him a d-mid, so let’s please stop calling him one.

        PS: sorry if that comes off strong, not trying to be a dick, just think calling MB a d-mid is inaccurate and, as in all sports culture, once someone gets a label it is just repeated until kingdom come regardless of its correctness.

      • Lol, Jones and Kljestan usually play in the double pivot for their clubs. Michael Bradley has played d-mid, and can also play in double pivot (but you are right he is a No. 8). Williams and Beckerman are also d-mids. So I guess that is how I got to my conclusion.

      • yeah that was more of a pent up response after so many people bitching about our midfield, reading it over I don’t think what I said even has much to do with your point. I should take a breath every once in a while I guess haha

      • yeah that was more of a pent up response after so many people bitching about our midfield, reading it over I don’t think what I said even has much to do with your point. I should take a breath every once in a while I guess haha

    • I believe the thinking is that you need to mix in the new/fringe players with a group of veteran players in order to properly acclimate the newer less experienced ones and then be able to get an accurate assessment of them. Thats probably why you would see Wondo, Beckerman, etc. because they are familiar with the system.

      That said, I agree with the thought that more centerback and wing options should be brought in.

      Reply

  31. also, Feilhaber definately needs to be there in place of beckerman, bedoya, or Clark. I’d put him ahead of McCarty as well (though they bring different qualities).

    Reply

      • I’m not sure Feilhaber is gonna get called for this one. I would rather see Feilhaber instead of Clark though. And Beckerman is gonna stay whether we like it or not. Although I am a fan of Beckerman (his touches on the ball have improved under JK; except the one in Jamaica lol).

      • I think the Dreaded One will be a guaranteed call up, but I don’t mind it so much now that Jurgen seems to know he has better players for that role in the games that really matter. During the long stretch of friendlies where he kept up as one of the 1st names on the teamsheet, I admit that I was worried like the rest of us. But I agree with you, he has improved and altho he’s limited, I’ve grown to appreciate him to a degree. It’s good to have steady guys like him when an influx of new guys get called, it allows us to evaluate them because Beckerman is basically a constant in terms of his performance rather than another variable. He seems to know his role and work his butt off too, so I say cheers to the Dreaded One, so long as he’s not on the field in the real high stakes games.

      • I agree with you brother. He is one of many hard-working players on our team. I like that Klinsmann looks for American traits (ambition, hard-working, proactiveness, diversity) from the players to try implement a style.

    • I think John is hopeless for this cycle because of his EPL and Greece ambitions. He’d nearly drummed up a US call then kneecapped it with all his England trials and Greece training. He had his window and spent it with West Ham, then flirted with Greece. All the crap people give Chandler, he wasn’t playing everyone off each other as openly as this. And since West Ham didn’t take him and Greece didn’t cap him it’s arguably eyes bigger than his stomach. Sometimes the best approach is more like Cameron…..tick off the boxes one by one and you get where you want to go eventually. The US gig gets you the work permit gets you Stoke.

      Reply

      • All that typing and you didnt “say” anything. I suggest changing your title (and M.O) from ‘imperative voice’ to ‘inside voice’
        Here’s the FACTS

        John was invited but couldn’t attend 2010 camp because of off season surgery,
        John also declined 2011 camp (after consultation with JK) for the West Ham loan,
        & John won”t attend this camp because he is recovering from off season surgery

        The man has just been unlucky and the USMNT defense is worse for it whether YOU know it or not

      • I annually watch the Houston-FCD game in person and he’s never impressed me. So I’m not talking out of my hat. If he doesn’t impress me in a league derby how am I supposed to expect him to shine in a US uni?

        All due respect to the “consultations,” but a lot of the players who put club over country aspirations recently are magically still trying to work their way back in, Gonzo, John. Meanwhile Cameron can claim incumbency because he focused on the US last spring, THEN made his Stoke move. Ironically, he is the one back of the three who is in the driver’s seat in both country and club terms. So you can criticize my thought process all you want and hold up Klinsi as a shield, but his choices have resulted in him being outside looking in.

        Also, you are neglecting that he did train with Greece and if he’d had his immigration sorted at the time, who knows? To me this is more like a Najar or like situation where I can’t even rely on his loyalty. He is what the Chandler critics despise, only he’s actually openly played around with the switch.

      • I would agree with adding o brien and adu and dropping clark and beckerman. I really don’t follow connor o brien that much but i have heard many goods things about him and even though freddy doesn’t have the best club situation, if you watch usa highlights, you can see that he has done rather well. Clark is good but i think his time is up, same with beckerman. It frustrates me a lot to see beckerman keep getting called into klinsman’s camps all the time. A good mls player? Absolutely, but good club performance does not always turn into good international performance. he is almost the opposite of adu when you think about it.

  35. -Boyd——Johnson—–Gatt——
    ————–Zusi——————–
    ——Jones——Diskerud———-
    Morrow—————–Beitashour-
    ——–Besler-Gonzalez————
    ————-Johnson—————-
    subs: Agudelo, Pontius, Bedoya, Wondoloski, Okugo, Sarkodie

    that might be the best January Camp line up ever.

    Reply

  36. Camp Cupcake XI (4-3-3):

    Parkhurst-Gonzalez-Goodson-Castillo
    —————Beckerman—————-
    ————-Diskerud-Jones————-
    Zusi——————————-Pontius
    —————–Boyd———————-

    Reply

      • Castillo just won the Liga MX championship with the Xolos (Tijuana), and he was their consistent starter at left wingback. From what I heard their defense was pretty good too. I don’t know if he is available for the January camp, (not sure when the Liga MX starts) but I think he definitely deserves to be called up when available. Would be interested to hear other comments.

      • I expect Gomez and Corona to get a call for the qualifier (Castillo is more iffy in a Johnson plus Chandler era), but the camp is for people with time on their hands, and Mex. is in-season by the end of January.

        It’s actually a compliment, he’s being lumped with the big boys.

  37. Why don’t they call up Brad Davis?? He’s aged gracefully at 31. He would give a huge upgrade at the left winger position. His left foot and knack for creating plays would be huge for the USMNT.

    Reply

    • Because he doesn’t really stay in the wing and the speed and demand of the international game won’t really let his game shine the way he does in MLS or even with the few games of CCL he has excelled in…. Plus you got the whole thing about him having to come in now and trying acclimate himself to the team when he has few years left before he becomes prone to constant injury due to age

      Reply

    • His chance passed when Bob got the axe and Jurgen became boss. Brad would be ideal for playing aerial balls to a big man to knock down if we were trying to play a traditional 4-4-2, but I don’t think at this point he’s even on Klinsi’s radar.

      Reply

      • Never? He had that 2005 Gold Cup he only won with a PK…..

        The practical issue with Brad is he can hit a cross but is not a gifted athlete. For years he was a 70 minute guy routinely subbed out of games, fitness IMO. Now he seems fitter but still a shade slow and a defensive liability. Houston usually covers it up well, and in the glory years he lived off Barrett mopping up behind him, while he did his thing going forward. But in international terms you can’t hide a player out there with limited speed and fitness just because they can hit a cross. At least not as anything but a desperation supersub, like Preki, who struck me as similarly technically gifted but physically ho-hum.

      • he does more than hit a cross, that depiction of his game is too limited. Still think he could be a difference maker as a late sub when we needed a goal. Imagine the service our starved-for-service forwards would receive from him for, oh, let’s say 15 minutes a game.

  38. Wait – isn’t 2/6 a qualifier, not a friendly?! Isn’t it a FIFA date? Can’t we (and shouldn’t we) bring in our very best for a qualifier? Remind me again why we’re starting an MLS and Scandinavian team in a World Cup qualifier?!
    Or did I miss something here?

    Reply

      • different groups, the qualifier call ups will include everyone at the top; bradley, dempsey, howard, etc. This is just for the players that are currently in offseason and Jermaine Jones.

      • OK – Thanks, all, for talking me down off my ledge. I think the article could have been a little bit more clear on this point. “…Players he plans on calling in to the camp leading into the crucial Feb. 6 Hex opener against Honduras” is open to misinterpretation, in my opinion.

  40. The ability to score off passes that penetrate into the 6 yard box is not a huge need for the Nats. We have way to many good goal scoring prospects to be calling in Chris Wondolousy.

    Reply

    • You kidding. I am not sure he deserves a callup over any of the listed center halves except maybe Justin Morrow, and he might be depth at fullback. In which case I would call in Chance Myers

      Reply

    • Goodson is likely to be on the way to a new team home….top 5 league is possible. Don’t think JK would bother him for a camp if he is breaking in with a new team.

      Reply

  42. And why does Rimando continue to get call upd? Just let SJ and Hamid get in between the sticks. They can handle it. Theyre the only GKs to eventually give Guzan a run for his money at the 2018 WC

    Reply

    • I think it’s because he clearly has good habits/work ethic (you don’t become a good keeper at 5’9″ without it). JK probably thinks it will benefit them in the long run. Besides, the way Guzan looks right now, He would be a lock for 2018. He’ll be what, 32-34? Same age as Timmy right now.

      Reply

    • this one is simple: Rimando is better than both Johnson and Hamid AND he’s been in the camps as an unused GK for years now and knows the drill. If you don’t want Nick, how about Kennedy then? he’s better than both those young guys too.

      Reply

    • Because Rimando knows how to play the position of gk whereas Johnson and Hamid are just awful compared to any gk you will see in Brazil 2014.

      Reply

  44. I think we will see Joe Gyau, and not Ricardo Clark, as St. Pauli’s next game is not until February 3. I realize Gyau has not been playing regularly, but the call-up to Moscow indicates Klinsmann likes him. And Klinsmann does bring in players from time to time who are not playing regularly or not in top form simply to give them a lift. One deserving player he has not done that with, in my opinion, is Eric Lichaj. Weird.

    Reply

    • I hope you’re right, but doubt St Pauli will let him go, Lichaj I agree hasn’t been called both when he’s played & in form like last season towards the end when he started 7 straight games or now when he’s been in&out of the line up….having said that. Lichaj has been playing constantly for about 3 straight games & interestingly @ LM but they are playing a 3-5-2 according to ESPNFC which probably has him & the other outside guy overlapping

      But with or without Lichaj being a constant part of Aston Villa now, they won’t release him

      Reply

      • I see why you’re calling it LM, they are playing 3 CB’s but it’s definitely more of a defensive minded formation, basically a 5-3-2. Lichaj has played LWB/LM/LB, whatever you want to call it, but he really hasn’t gotten forward from that position much at all. I don’t mean this as a critique, his instructions from Lambert are clearly to be responsible defensively and protect Baker (the LCB) from being drawn into wide areas. Villa started using this because after Vlaar got hurt vs Arsenal, their only 2 healthy CB’s are both heavily left footed and young (Clark and Baker). To protect them, Lambert switched to this 5 man backline with Chris Herd, who normally plays d-mid and is right footed, helping Clark and Baker protect the middle. Neither Lowton at RWB or Lichaj at LWB really burst forward often but of the 2, Lowton seems like he has more license to get forward when the chance comes. So far, this new system has worked really well for Villa, it not only has made them more solid at the back, but it’s also freed up Weimann to play off of Benteke who is a beast right now and wins damn-near every ball in the air. But back to the point about Lichaj, as long as this system is getting results for Villa (D-W-D-D-W-W since they went to it) I think Lichaj has a solid place in the team. I think Vlaar will be healthy soon but, given the success they’ve had, I’d assume he’d just take Herd’s position at RCB and they’d continue using the 3 CB’s.

      • Thanks for the insight. I was just casually watching Villa’s game this weekend and was thinking something was off because Lichaj was not really playing left back in a traditional sense. But hearing what you had to say with their formation makes sense.

    • If we can get Gyau to camp, perhaps we can bring in John Anthony Brooks too. Hertha BSC is on winter break until 2/3 as well. It’s time USMNT steps it up and starts courting JAB more before he pulls a Chandler.

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    • I agree — I remember Freddy tooling him up for a goal when we played the Union. I don’t think he has the defensive chops.

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      • I could list others….I just thought a Union fan would catch on fast if I reminded them of Freddy breaking him off at the ankles.

        His supposed virtue is getting forward, but he only occasionally hits a decent cross and often just hands it over. To me he’s the right sided Ashe til he proves otherwise, and no one sane is promoting Ashe as a US LB.

    • I’d rather he play fill in to see what the other guys who are MUCH more likely to be a part of the Senior team going forward like Pontius, Diskerud, Zusi, Gatt and Bedoya….by having Clark play in his usual deep lying Defensive Mid role instead of the slower than molasses Beckerman….I know Clark is way behind the many other Holding mids we have but for Camp Cupcake I think he can serve a purpose….if Jones can play and stay the whole camp it won’t matter as both Clark AND Beckerman will just be back ups….

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    • I’m pretty sure tehy run on almost the same schedule as germany, but a few weeks earlier. So yea it’s very likely they have the same huge winter break.

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  48. Now is the time to mold 1 or 2 center backs to build character and compete for the starting spot in 2014. We cannot afford to have Goodson or Bocanegra in the team in Brazil. That is our most critical position of need.

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    • I don’t think Goodson should start, but he can still be reliable. Boca, Goodson, Cameron, and Gonzalez look like our centerbacks for WCQ.

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      • I’d like to see George John to see what he has left from his promising days, maybe next year partnering up with both Ugo Ihemelu and Andrew Wenger will allow him to get to his previous form

      • I’m really hoping that Seb Hines, JAB, Ream, Gonzalez, Besler and even Whitbread make a push to enter the centerback conversation over the next year and a half! I would like to include Edu in that picture bc i think he’d be fantastic at the position with his ability to mark, speed and passing out of the back but he has got to start getting games for someone soon!

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