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Report: Dempsey left out, Brooks called in to USMNT squad for friendly vs. Bosnia

Clint Dempsey

By DAN KARELL

Clint Dempsey has had a busy few weeks, which is likely why U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has reportedly decided to make it a little less busy.

According to a report from Sports Illustrated,  Klinsmann has left Dempsey off his squad ahead of the U.S. team’s friendly on Wednesday in Sarajevo against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report states that Dempsey’s new Sounders teammates, Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans, have been included on the roster.

It is entirely possible that Dempsey is missing the friendly match due to a lack of fitness, having recently commented that he is still working his way back and had only played parts of two club friendly matches this summer with Tottenham.

In addition to the news about the Sounders players, the report also stated that John Anthony Brooks has been called in for the Bosnia and Herzegovina match. A development that appeared likely after Brooks was left off a German U-21 National Team he was recently called up for.

What do you think of these developments? Surprised that Dempsey was left off the roster?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I wouldn’t assume that evans is being called in to play RB. He could be replacing D williams/Edu in the pool, not chandler/Lichaj etc.

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  2. Annoying that Jurgen would call in MLS players for a one off game in Europe that is only a friendly. Especially grabbing multiple people from the same team.

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  3. Unless there’s some personal beef with Lichaj (and why would there be), one has to assume that Klinsy and staff have watched the kid play and just were not impressed. No offense to the SBI readers, but I’m inclined to trust their talent evaluation a bit more than the folks here. If EJ is being called up, I wonder what it says for his place on the Sounders now that Clint is in Seattle. They have Oba, Clint, EJ, and Neagle all performing at a high level. Friendship with Clint aside, I’d probably keep Neagle at a low number next year before I re-signed EJ. Not saying Neagle is as good as EJ (he’s not), but he’s a good player, a local guy, and less likely to be disruptive (or expensive)…

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  4. JK would rather fly Brad Evans halfway around the world than call up Eric Lichaj. Why do I keep letting this surprise me?

    For what it’s worth, Lichaj has gotten great reviews from his Nottingham Forest performances so far.

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    • Calling up a player to play in his natural position? What a novel concept. I’ve enjoyed what Klinsmann has done this calendar year, but Brad Evans and Beasley are short term solutions that we can get away with playing CONCACAF competition. We not only need starters (Johnson and Chandler are probably it) but depth too. Lichaj definitely warrants a look.

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    • You are assuming that Timothy Chandler, who has played a grand total of, count ’em, two games for the USMNT in the past 22 months will be on the roster for Bosnia-Herzegovina. It is highly possible that Timothy will turn down yet another call-up citing club duties and fatigue or will again claim an injury that will magically disappear a day later. I think we see Eric Lichaj (and Brad Evans) against Bosnia-Herzegovina and not Timothy Chandler.

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    • You are @ssuming that Timothy Chandler, who has played a grand total of, count ‘em, two games for the USMNT in the past 22 months will be on the roster for Bosnia-Herzegovina. It is highly possible that Timothy will turn down yet another call-up citing club duties and fatigue or will again claim an injury that will magically disappear a day later. I think we see Eric Lichaj (and Brad Evans) against Bosnia-Herzegovina and not Timothy Chandler.

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    • So you know for certain that JK did not call up Lichaj?

      Plus even if he didn’t, JK has established before that he (and his staff) have a rating system and Lichaj probably is waaay down the pecking order. I’ve got no beef with that. Lichaj will get his chance, when he earns it of course (coach’s call as to when that is). Beas and Evans may not be everyone’s sexy choice but they stepped in when called and did the business (and better yet have done everything they can to hold onto their positions).

      I hear Lichaj has been doing the business in the Championship. JK said he’s watching him. Lichaj could be playing his way into a call up and once he gets his shot I hope he does everything he can to keep it – like Evans and Beas. Maybe JK calls him now, maybe he doesn’t. It’s a friendly and I don’t see the world ending if Lichaj does not get the call.

      Quite frankly I would like to see Evans go up against these types of teams. We know what he can do in CONCACAF so lets see how he holds up against the kind of teams we’ll be tangoing with next summer. It’s Evans’ chance now – he earned it and he’s doing what it takes to fight for it. Just because he’s in MLS does not make him an automatic seat warmer for the next Euro guy who all of a sudden decides to up their game.

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    • Actually, there are two other possibilities for a Timothy no-show: 1) Klinsmann will finally admit that Chandler’s club form has been bad and does not merit a call-up and 2) that Klinsmann will finally admit that Chandler now for a long time has displayed a lack of commitment to the USMNT, including turning down a call-up to the Gold Cup squad which would have been a perfect opportunity to show he truly cares about the shirt and not just his own selfish desire to play in a World Cup.

      Timothy also could have used Gold Cup duty to improve his obvious bad chemistry with other USMNT players. Landon Donovan, the best USMNT player in the past decade who has bled for the shirt time and time again did not think he was too good to play on the B-Team. It could be, folks, that Timothy is no longer in discussion for the WC 2014. And then in the WC 2018 cycle he will have another chance to prove he is truly committed.

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    • “Roman Lewandowski says:
      JK would rather fly Brad Evans halfway around the world than call up Eric Lichaj. Why do I keep letting this surprise me?”

      You shouldn’t let it surprise you.

      What has Lichaj ever done for JK? Evans has done more for the USMNT and JK , more recently than Lichaj ever did.

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  5. It’s time for Michael Bradley to become captain of the full national team. He is more of a vocal leader and the players will respect him especially playing for big club in a top 4 league. Dempsey playing for Tottenham and testing himself for a top 4 EPL team was enough in the past for the young kids and grizzled Euro veterans to look up to. Klinsmann himself wants players to test themselves against the very best and was reportedly disappointed in ‘Deuce’ moving to Sounders FC. Sure it might have been the best thing for his family and to ensure guaranteed playing time, but seeing a player who seems to have three more years of top flight football in him it is disappointing for Jürgen. If a young promising player comes to him and Klinsmann needs to show an example of who he can become with a little hard work, Donovan who was a great embassador for MLS is not the guy. Dempsey, a guy who many viewed as an anti-Donovan is no longer that guy after he stopped fighting in what he believed in. So now Bradley is that guy who players will look at as an example, an ambitious player fighting to play for Champions League football. #InJürgenWeTrust

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    • There is more to life than futbol. Also, my guess is you have no idea what it is like living oversees with children. It blows. It is very difficult, even for the wealthy. There is no place like home.

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      • It blows? Why do you say that? I lived overseas as a child and it was awesome. Probably the best experience of my and my family’s life. And if its a culture thing, than Seattle could be just as shocking.

    • I would be very surprise if AJ’s paperwork is anywhere near complete. Very interesting, I’m sure if Dempsey was in Europe no matter how out of form, he would get the call, remember the call last year for the Jamaica game?

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    • While I don’t think that’s the case here, I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Klinsmann gives someone else the armband next WCQ. I can see him returning it to Howard or even deciding it’s Bradley’s time. I don’t think Klinsmann will shy away from showing his displeasure in the move and might look to send a message.

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      • Not a fan of handing the armband to a GK and I don’t see any reason Clint should lose the armband.

        Clint hasn’t dramatically changed, on any level, now that he’s playing in Seattle. Don’t buy that hype (or hysteria…..).

        Unless Dempsey and Jurgen had a falling out behind the scenes, even then, I don’t see how Jurgen would make that move. It’s Clint’s team to Brazil.

        After Brazil? Bradley seems the logical choice but not before then.

      • I’m not saying its what I would do, just that I wouldn’t be surprised if Klinsmann did. Personally I think the move to Seattle will be good for Clint. Now he is really going to have to be a leader for his club. Will Klinsmann see it the same way? Who knows.

    • well clearly Klinsi knows what he’s doing since Dempsey just doesn’t hustle enough like that Lazy Out the door guy-he’s just trying to motivate him. He’s 30, so clearly past his peak. Maybe if he plays for Seattle as well as Brad and EJ, he’ll get another shot. Besides, it’s been at least 12 games since he scored for USMNT. This gives him a chance to clear his head and earn his way back into Klinsi’s good graces

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  6. Super excited about having John Anthony Brooks on the team! I hope he stays with us. Also, holy cow is Seattle to Sarajevo a long journey for one game. My guess is that if Dempsey were still at Tottenham, EJ gets to stay home.

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  7. No surprise to see any player who recently transferred left off.

    I find it more surprising that two Sounders were called in. I kind of expected JK to avoid taking multiple players from one club.

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    • Oh, I know. Poor Sounders. I wonder if a team could have three starters missing for a month for national duty and still manage to stay on top of the league?

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      • Jerome and Joseph are rotation players at best though. I think JRP is referring to RSL losing 4 starters (Beltran, Beckerman, Rimando, Saborio), including their keeper and captain, and then having their second string keeper injured along with 3 centerbacks. Not saying one is worse than the other, but both are fairly comparable

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