By IVES GALARCEP
Juan Agudelo, Brek Shea, Oguchi Onyewu, and Tim Ream have all been called in by Jurgen Klinsmann for the March 5 friendly against Ukraine.
For Agudelo, Onyewu and Ream, the call-ups signal the end of lengthy spells away from the national team set-up. They are joined by the likes of Danny Williams and Sacha Kljestan.
Young central defender Will Packwood earns his first senior national team call-up, while Julian Green has been called in and will take part in two days of training with the team, though he will not play in the friendly.
The squad has only two MLS players on it, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley. Dempsey is joining the team directly from England, where he is wrapping up his loan with Fulham, while Bradley was brought in because of the fact Toronto FC has a bye on the opening week of the MLS season. The 2014 season kicks off on March 8th.
Here is the full squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Cody Cropper (Southampton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS: John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Oguchi Onyewu (Sheffield Wednesday), Will Packwood (Birmingham City), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers)
MIDFIELDERS: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Barnsley), Danny Williams (Reading)
FORWARDS: Juan Agudelo (Utrecht), Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar)
————
What do you think of the squad? Who are you happy to see make the team? Who are you shocked to see included?
Share your thoughts below.
No Alan Gordon?
There was a time Klinsmann was all about Gordon.
No Landon Donovan?
By the time March 5 rolls around, there may be two Ukraine teams.
I was kind of hoping for josh gatt =/
This is by far the best squad klinsman has selected and this should be the team to go to brazil of course with Donovan added to the squad
As long as johannson starts I’ll be happy.
Aside from the defence I’m alright with this roster.
I know he has Fabian listed as a midfielder but JK needs to play him at LB. He certainly should be a starting fullback for us at the WC
This game is prep for the World Cup, but more importantly, it is being used to make final assessments for World Cup squad! So for at least one half, I’d like to see the players that I never get to see! I want to see this line-up:
Agudelo————Boyd————Johannsson
Sacha K——-D. Williams——-Mix Disk
Ream—-Brooks—Onyewu—-Morales
———————-Guzan————————-
Would be very interesting.
I like it. In the past Klinsmann’s 4-3-3 didn’t work because it was too defensive and never had the right balance. For a 4-3-3 to work you need someone who can create and some one who can get in the box. If you wanted to draw parallels (to a much better verison) you can look at the different type of midfielders Roma use.
Spot on… I totally agree. And if it was resurrected it wouldn’t be with the same personnel JK used when he tried it almost two years ago. You’ve got MB pulling the strings and very familiar with the formation… and you have JJ and others who have also….
I personally think MB operates better without a partner, he has the best vision and spacing and has said himself he prefers coming into the attack late
Very real possibility it’s the best way to get the best 11 on the field together
——————-Jozy
Aron——–Dempsey——–Bedoya
———-Bradley——–Jones
F. Johnson——————–Cameron
————–Ream–Brooks
—————–Howard
Your welcome, Coach K.
His welcome what?
I get kinda scared when a LB who said we was not a good defender is called in from Mexico over two fullbacks who live in Europe. I am hoping Lichaj and Spector were just not fit and that it wasnt Klinsmann actually preferring Castillo. Also what about Beasley…? Both Castillo and Beasley are in Mexico. I’d rather Beasley than Castillo.
Lichaj is injured, Spector has been outside the Nats picture, injured until quite recently and playing DM recently as far as I know, so not that farfetched.
Spector played fullback in his last game according to game reports (except Ives). Lichaj dressed but maybe he is not 100%. We know what Castillo can do, we do not know what Spector can do.
This is a great call-up.
I am most excited about Juan, that Packwood guy (only because many of you say good things about him), Tim Ream and Brek.
Let’s see how Bradley plays. Hopefully Jozy will score and get the service and sense of “we are here to help EACH OTHER, not shot at goal from 40 yards out” from the US players. Sunderland, you suck…
I don’t care about that Green character. Hopefully he realizes Germany will be calling. Whatever…
All in all, I like the call-up. Now, can JK actually do well with this group.
Konoplyanka vs Cameron? This is going to get ugly.
Ugly for who? Cameron has gone up against a lot of talented wingers in the EPL and in most cases has come out on top.
JK’s comments referred to Howard, Bradley, Jones, Dempsey, and Altidore as the “spine” that defines the team. Is this a signal that, barring unforeseen circumstances, they have pretty much sewn up starting spots? And if so, what do you think?
Gotta say, I am very happy to see Edgar Castillo called in for this camp, which means he is now a high odds candidate for a ticket to Brazil. I hope one of the sports reporters asks Klinsmann for a direct comment on Castillo’s inclusion. I have a feeling that Castillo’s stock in Klinsmann’s eyes has risen now that Fabian is starting at right back for Hoffenheim, meaning Fabian, even if he does start on the left, might now be the USMNT Number 2 right back behind Geoff Cameron and called into RB should Cameron not be able to play. This is exciting stuff.
Castillo said himself that he sucks at defense
Never hurts to be self aware regarding the areas that need improving in your game. Whether its simply a natural progression, him realizing he needed work there, Klinsman telling him he needs to if he wants to make Brazil or all on his his club… in the time since that comment, there has been a marked, very noticeable improvement in Castillos defensive game for Xolos. Now lets all hope it translates to the International game because we could use the depth and his offensive spark.
Agreed.
4-2-3-1
GK: I’d like to see Howard and Guzan each get 45.
D: Cameron, Onyewu, Brooks, and Castillo (whom I doubt is coming from Mexico to not start). Probably see Ream get some time at LB, or Johnson dropping back if Shea comes in.
CF: Jones and Bradley. Williams should see time.
AMF: Johnson, Dempsey, and Bedoya. I would expect Shea to come on, and maybe Mix.
F: Altidore. Johannson to come on later, and perhaps Boyd or Agudelo (if there is an in-game switch to a 4-3-3).
I’d like to see:
———-Altidore—–Johannson———
Johnson–Diskerud—Bradley–Bedoya
Castillo–Brooks–Packwood–Cameron
—————-Howard———————
Subs- Ream for Castillo, Guzan for Howard, Shea for Johnson, Agudelo for Altidore, Williams for Diskerud, Dempsey for Johannson.
What we will see:
—————–Altidore—————–
Johnson——Dempsey——Bedoya
————Jones—Bradley————
Castillo–Brooks–Onyewu–Cameron
—————-Howard——————
Subs- Ream for Castillo, Morales for Cameron, Kljestan for Jones, Shea for Johnson, Johannson for Altidore, Williams for Bedoya (I pray not)
Almost exactly my thoughts, although in my preferred XI, I’d switch FJ and Castillo….
that intense competition at Toronto should help Bradley be in top form for this game……..
The pressure of being the $6mm man may force him to focus just as much.
p.s. not saying I like his move there, but from psychological standpoint it has its challenges.
If you want to project a lineup for jk, just pick the most boring 1
Right? The guy NEVER* does anything unusual with his lineups.
*left bradley out of his starting XI in 5 of his first 6 games
*started JFT as a left back in a WCQ
*unceremoniously benched then captain bocanegra in favor of omar for a WCQ
*gave matt besler his first WCQ cap at azteca
*turned beasley and evans into starting fullbacks
So predictable.
“*left bradley out of his starting XI in 5 of his first 6 games”
While saying that Jones and Edu were his best central midfielders.
That should tell people all they need to know about what a genius Klinsmann is. He has the most talented and deepest US pool ever, so he’s managed to do well recently after screwing up for the first 18 months. It took the dude over a year to figure out that playing 3-4 defensive midfielders was not ideal. Tactical genius, that man. Right up there with Mourinho.
He played friendlys and experimented in them. He experimented with multiple dms because at least four of our best 11 players at the time along with some of our best young talent played dm. He wanted to see who could play somewhere else and how things needed to be built around those players. Mo Edus fallen off since Rangers blew up, and Bradleys absolutely taken off in the last few years, but there wasn’t a whole lot separating them at the time. Jargon needed to find out who his best players were, that required some unsuccesfuk experiments. The only games that have mattered have been largely successful
Perhaps you could grace us with your very most scintillating lineup.
Where is Chandler.
Injured. Or, Germany; if you’re into the whole literal thing.
+111
Well JK continues to break his own rules. How is Dempsey “In form” when he can’t make the bench.
If Altadore has any brains at all, it’s time for him to read the writing on the JK’s wall. Tons of forwards still being called in… he’s still looking. And if you look at that group…. Im not sure Jozy is really anywhere near the top of this group. I am excited to see Adudelo in the mix, That kid has a lot of skill and hope he gets minutes in this game. I think he and Aron could be special.
I hope JK starts anybody but the regulars that are on this list. Is there really anything more to learn from seeing Dempsey, Bradley, Jones, Sacha, Shea and Jozy at this point? Take a look at some of the little called players and see what they bring PLEASE
this wall you speak of is all in your head. you should read the Q&A with Klinsmann that supplemented the roster announcement.
“The core group of the team is Tim Howard and then Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones in midfield, Clint Dempsey in front of them and then Jozy Altidore up front. These five players build our spine.”
Jozy is clearly, no doubt about it, absolutely the #1 striker in JK’s eyes.
While Jozy is most likely #1 in JKs eyes, maybe a friendly or two of low production will force him to forget his biases and to start to look at players that are actually producing. It has been a long time since Altadore has produced anything, anywhere. I really hope he didnt bring all these guys into camp to watch Jozy’s goal less, holdup play.
Dempsey also concerns me for basically the same thing I said about Altadore. Dempsey didnt do much last year in MLS, and his return to Fulham has been a flop for what ever the reason reason.
Jones – isnt he playing on a ripped up knee? This cycles Pablo M
well Jozy hasn’t had any issues scoring for the US in awhile, so i’m sure they’ll be fine with it. but you said you weren’t even sure if he was anywhere near the top of the group. that is what i responded to. he is clearly the #1 striker.
we can debate about if we agree with JK, that’s entirely different. but it still wouldn’t change the fact Jozy is the starting US striker right now.
“It has been a long time since Altadore has produced anything, anywhere”
wow really? 2013: he scored a goal in each game in June. JK didn’t use him in the Gold Cup to give other players the chance to gain experience vs weaker opponents. then Jozy’s next game back he scored a hat trick (and assist) to rally a 4-3 W vs Bosnia (talented young squad), then scored again in october. 8 goals in 6 consecutive games he played in….
his club form is another story but he has shown his value and chemistry with the NT. if i were a betting man, I’d bet on Jozy scoring vs Ukraine
Earlier today JK included Jozy as part of the spine of the team. Altidore has brains and he’ll be using them when he starts against Ghana.
Actually, the thing to gain by play Jozy (others too) is confidence. He may not be getting in done in the EPL, but WE need him to perform. It would be a big boost if he were to play and score. That would help him realize that his problems at Sunderland have more to do with the team than him (let’s hope).
Howard
Cameron – Onyewu – Brooks – Castillo
Bedoya – Williams – Bradley – F. Johnson
Dempsey
Altidore
thats what i would expect
This is going to be an interesting backline.
+1 agreed. Where do Ream and Cameron will placed, & who gets the RB nod
A little something to play around with.
greater value added to overall versatility.
My locks listed below, barring injury and things unforeseen.
Howard, Guzan, Rimando
Gonzalez, Besler, Cameron, Beasley,
Bradley, Jones, Donovan, Dempsey, F.Johnson, Zusi, Mix
Altidore, Johannson.
7 spots between X amount of players, but probably 7 places between 15 real contenders?.
RB CB LB
Chandler Goodsen Castillo
Yedlin Brooks Parkhurst
Parkhurst OnyewuMD? Chandler
B.Evans Edu M Orozco
MOrozco Ream Packwood
Cherondolo MD? Packwood Morales
Morales
Packwood
Ream
Lichaj
Spector
RM DM LM
Bedoya Beckerman J.Green
Davis Edu B.Shea
Feilhaber Klejstan Castillo
J.B.Corona Castillo
Arriola DWilliams
L.Gil Packwood
D.Williams
Torres AM/CM
J.Green
Klejstan
Bedoya
D.Williams
B.Shea
B. Davis
Feilhaber
Arriola
L.Gil
J.B. Corona
Torres
RF CF LF
Boyd E.Johnson E.Johnson
Agudelo Boyd J.Green
Arriola Wondolowski Agudelo
Gomez Agudelo B.Shea
Gomez
Very little to no separation between many outlying players
Woops, sorry, everything got crunched up, anyway if one can dissect it, spread it out maybe? because it already looks like roadkill.
Very hard to read but, based on my reading, you’re undervaluing two guys in particular on your depth chart: Orozco and Williams. I think they are both near the top of the list of contenders for their respective positions.
Also, I’m not ready to call Zusi/Mix locks.
Zusi’s a lock to me. We don’t have the wingers. It’s Bedoya and Zusi for one spot I guess, but Graham seems the favorite. Mix much less so because there are so many other options and no clear starting opportunity. The only nonregular starter that I’d call a lock is Cameron. Even off the bench he can play five positions with minimal downgrade.
While I love the Beas (preferably as a midfielder, but he doesn’t compete there anymore for USMNT), I am not sure he was not just the guy that got us through WC Quals at LB and is now on the outside looking in. I certainly don’t think he is a lock, especially if FJ or LIchaj or ? (Ream) really turn it on the rest of the season running up to the cup and through the pre-Cup camp. He may prove himself the best remaining option, or a backup and get to go, but I’m really hoping some of the younger guys will step it up.
Alright German-Americans, time to go to work on Julian Green.
Jah! Jah! Jah! Bitte.
And, here is how I think JK will line them up:
—————— Altidore —————————
F. Johnson——- Dempsey ——— Bedoya
—————- Bradley — Jones ————
Ream — Brooks – Gooch – Cameron
—————— Howard ——————–
Sub Ream for Castillo and that’s the starting XI
You are probably right, although I feel much more comfortable with Castillo playing in front of FJ, as opposed to the opposite.
But, I won’t question JK…
Should be fun
you beat we to it. Agree.
48 responses and no line-ups from the peeps. Okay, I’ll go first with my preferred lineup (assuming a 4-2-3-1), not necessarily who JK will play:
—————— Altidore —————————
Castillo ————- Aron ————- Bedoya
—————- Bradley — Williams ————
F. Johnson — Brooks – Ream – Cameron
—————— Guzan ——————–
I can see Klinsmann wanting to where Bradley is at in camp but I wouldn’t start him. He hasn’t played an actual match in months.
Klinsi sees FJ as a left winger and has said so many times.
——–Jozy———-
FJ—–Aron—-Bedoya
—–MB–Jones—–
Ream-Brooks-Packwood-Cameron
Understood and I agree that’s what JK will do.
I was just spouting my lineup…. good thing I’m not the coach.
Based on the fact JK listed FJ as a Middie and not a defender, my guess for the starting lineup will be:
————-Altidore————–
FJ——–Dempsey———Bedoya
——-Bradley——Jones (if healthy)/Williams
Castillo–Brooks–Gooch–Cameron
———–Howard—————-
My lineup would be to start would be:
———-Altidore—–AJ———-
Castillo–Dempsey–Bradley–Bedoya
FJ—Brooks–Packwood–Cameron
This only works though if MB dusts off the Bradley plays pretty conservatively and Dempsey covers a lot of ground. Clint may only last a half in this setup, but it’s the best way I can see to get him on the field.
I need to proofread better. 😐
I don’t think we are best with Dempsey on the field….
I like your second lineup (although I don’t know much about Packwood), except switch Dempsey for Mix (if we are attacking) or Williams (if we are defending).
Great lineup, glad to see Michael and Clint travel across the pond for this fixture.
Excited to see Packwood given a look, but figure that JAB will more likely feature in Cyprus. Where Cameron is placed will certainly be interesting knowing how Klinnsman rates him so highly at CB, or will he be deployed at RB for a real test. The midfield options are plentiful and I wonder how the inclusion of CD and MB might now hinder the minutes given to Kljestan, Williams, & Mix.
Clint is still at Fulham
Will be interesting to see if he plays Cameron in the middle or on the right. Most of us have Cameron penciled in at RB, would be good to get him some reps there with the Nats.
If Cameron starts at RB who do you start at CB? Brooks and Packwood? Brooks and Gooch?
i think Gooch for sure. toss up between Packwood and JAB.
the only surprise is that Castillo was included. i guess Lichaj and Spector aren’t back from the injuries enough to take part.
either way, Cameron needs to play RB. yes, a CB tandem of Gooch/Packwood/JAB is risky, but we absolutely need to see Cameron at RB…at least for a half.
I like Cameron at RB as well…especially in the WC. He’s our only defender playing against world class players weekly.
Should make for some interesting lineup debates in the upcoming days.
A back line completely up in the air
A midfield with some talent that all play a similar role-
except for three lefties…..
And forwards that should all get field time to make their case…
I’m guessing the two variables as far as this game that will bring the most discussion will be where do you play Fabian and Cam???
A retro-70s US high school 3-3-4
(at least that’s what I played then)
Awesome… throw in the mandatory toe poke, 3 football players across the backline, a bouncy plastic ball, an old dirt field with converted football posts, and cleats that weighed four pounds…. yes!
Don’t forget the Richard Simmons style shorts!
C team defense but ok otherwise.
Hope to see Green on the field and see what he can do!
See my response to totter above….
He can’t play, he would have to file a one time switch. Only going for a few days to train and meet the team.
Oh. These roster lineups can get confusing then. I always think that whoever’s on that sheet will be playing. Thanks for the clarification!
Hello Julian Green, lets get him capped for the US and to Brazil
Two questions: (1) where have you been and (2) can you read. He will be training, only. Not eligible to play for the USMNT until he files his one-time switch.
Castillos call up is surprising. In my mind, his odds of going to Brazil are pretty high after seeing this.
I was thinking the same thing. It says something when you call up a guy playing in Mexico to fly to this game. I’m not sure Castillo will go to Brazil, but JK is giving him every opportunity to make a case for inclusion.
Here is to Jozy getting service and hitting a brace!
Photo: Agudelo looks like he’s in a musical and Sergei Ignashevich looks like he’s in a slasher film.
O/T but I see Germany and Argentina making it to the final of the world cup with Belgium and Colombia making it to the semi-finals. I predict USA making it to the quarterfinals with Jozy scoring a hat trick against GHANA
So you have both Brazil and Spain not even making semi-finals? Highly unlikely.
Can’t see Brazil blowing it in Brazil. Only South American teams have won World Cups in South America FWIW
It is a small sample of WC’s played in South America, mostly occurring a very long time ago. Still, I think it has some merit. Very few European players, etc. will have ever played a competitive match in South America previously, so if there is a clear impact related to climate, conditions or local externalitiies it stands to reason they might have a more difficult time making the required adjustments. However, given the ticket prices and the fact that stadia are basically, new or newly rebuilt first-class soccer facilities, I don’t think they will face the more prounounced regionalized challenges that a CONCACAF club would if they were invited to the Libertadores, etc.
Brazil obviously stands to gain the biggest advantage and the Confed Cup showed that opponents who want to beat them in Brazil may have to hope Brazil has a bad day and they have a flawless one.
Surprised JK didn’t call up Lichaj, I guess he’s completely out of JK’s plans. Unless he’s injured.
Where is Lichaj? Guess he’s out of the running for Brazil.
Should be there unless he is hurt. No idea what Klinsmans beef with him
Pretty sure Lichaj is still injured. Chandler may be as well? Could use clarification, but I think they are both unfortunately injured, which is really bad timing.
Lichaj is barely back from injury while Chandler is out until April.
Chandler is out for a couple more months still, Lichaj was nearly back to fitness
I hope castillo gets decent time on the wings. He always looks good in the attack
That’s not really his problem. The whole question is if he can keep up defensively.
I think its pretty clear that he cant keep up defensively. Hes always had mistakes when playing LB, but when he goes up or klinsmann useszhim on the wing, hes played pretty well
If we can assemble a decent back four, this will be an interesting game.
What happens if we can’t because have you seen the squad?
does it feel like we have less EUROPEAN based players right now than this time last year or 2-3 years ago. I’m all for MLS advancing and becoming a better league but honestly first and foremost I wanna see Yanks playing in Europe. Getting $$$ and becoming much better players. we need to send boys to Italy and Spain. surely we have some players fit and technically able for it.
This is the part of the cycle where players err on the side of safety. You don’t want to get left off the team because you’re not playing, or pull muscles from disuse. After the Cup is when you cash in, both because you’re coming off a global performance platform, and the fact you are then at low ebb in terms of risk missing the team for the next Cup….which is then 4 years away.
GOOCH.
when is he going to drop his autobiography?
he’s had the most illustrious career of any YANK. Champion of Belgian football, joined the likes of AC milan. has played in tons of EUROPEAN games. dude has had it all.
even once had serious interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid
Yeah. I remember when I had my first beer.
LOL
You just want to get his side of the story from when he beat down the Zlatan.
Count me in for that, too. Although I think a Gooch/Zlatan tag team would be pretty formidable, as well if they can resolve their differences
Whats interesting about that; is Zlatan acknowledges he got beat up by Gooch. Not sure why anyone would pick a fight with Gooch( yes I know Zlatan is Black Belt). Gooch is a huge guy though. I would like to know more details of the Beat down; Gooch’s side of the story.
Salt to Gooch that Zlatan is Zlatan and Gooch is…well, Gooch.
Dempsey and Bradley should have never left EUROPE.
they chased the $$$$ like those Man City mercenaries,
they played for GLORY and left it for money. damn capitalists
So next time you contemplate a job change for a better salary, you should think twice.
+100
After seeing the post, why would you assume gotti is employed?
Oh snap!
CAPITALIST SWINE I CRUSH YOU
I’m kind of surprised to see Michael Bradley get called in. I guess he’s important enough to get the call even though he’s an MLS guy. If that’s the case, where’s Lando?
It’s dangerous to read, well, anything into JKs call-ups, but perhaps this indicates that LD is not as integral as Bradley. That’s how I would see it anyway. LD plays outside, so his presence or absence are not the “spine” (to use JKs words) of the team. It’s not so important in this friendly to see how fringe players (meaning, players who are on the fringes of making the WC squad) link up with other fringe players. For example, how Agudelo links up with Williams or how Kljestan links up with Castillo, because they are unlikely to take the field together. Let’s see how fringe players link up with players we know will be in the squad: Bradley, Jones, Cameron, Altidore, etc.
if you’d read the article you would know why guys like landon, gonzo, besler and zusi weren’t called in smh. It clearly reads that MB has a first week bye for the start of the MLS season, thus the call in and Dempsey is already in Europe with fulham so it makes sense for him to be there as well! I do agree about wanting to see other cm pairings because we already know the product we will get from MB/JJ. However, I don’t know how much of JJ we’ll actually see considering he hasn’t played a single minute since his transfer. He can’t be in the best of form because of the aforementioned but we know JK loves him some JJ though!
Klinsmann’s unwavering love for Jones might be the scariest thing to me going into the World Cup. If anyone else isn’t playing well i trust Klinsmann to bench them except for Jones.
Jones will be one of the best in Brazil. He will get stuck in to this World Cup.
My hope is that alf is right, but my fear is that John is.
Ronniet: sorry, my comment was unclear. I was trying to explain why Bradley was flown halfway around the world for an otherwise Euro-squad, not why LD was left out. Yes, Bradley has a bye, but that just makes bringing him in doable/acceptable, it does not make it easy (on him). But because he is the “spine” of the team, it’s worth it to bring him in.
I was also speculating that in a similar situation (i.e., if LD had a first-week bye) LD would be left home.
I agree with you about Jones. If JK could, he would sprinkle a little JJ on everything: cereal, eggs, nachos, ice cream….
Toronto have a first week bye, I think.
That’s a bingo!
Are there any other bingos? Any other bingos? Any other bingos?
Donovan was just in camp with Klinsmann for a month and Bradley was not.
More surprised by the Castillo inclusion than anybody else. I think that has more to do with a Lichaj injury and Morales playing the same role Lichaj.
doesn’t morales play as a DM?
he can play there or RB.
Even though his team has been subpar this season, Edgar has been looking great all season. In shape and in form.
Mr. Junky,
MBTFC now has the old Reyna role. As soon as the US gets the ball most of the time he is going to be the guy who gets things going. He is where the attack will be starting most of the time.
The potential new guys will need to get reacquainted with MBTFC’s rhythms. And Mikey has not played in some time, he could use the work.
Donovan is the guy at the other end of what Bradley will start. He’ll slot in seamlessly with anyone and does not need to be in Cyprus.
Only surprise for me is the inclusion of Bradley. Would like to see Kljestan, Mix or Williams get an extended look. Bradley/Jones combo is a know quantity by now isn’t it?
Wouldn’t mind seeing FJ get a look at RB either.
76 minutes vs. Austria validated what I saw in the majority of his previous appearances and answered all my questions about Kljestan as a US international.
Jones/Bradley have been starting together for over 3 years now. We know what we have in both players and with that combination. This is the last chance to get a game time look at Kljestan, Williams and Mix before the preliminary squad is announced.
I guess you were playing close attention because Kljestan only played 14 minutes against Austria
But you give Jones a pass on all of his poor performances?
He is solid. What is your problem with him?
v scotland and austria JK gave kljestan another 0 minutes at his natural CM position – played in advanced role above bradley/jones v scotland and on a wing v austria
if JK does not want to use him as a true CM not sure why he calls him in
I wonder if Bradley being included has more to do with the Williams inclusion to see those two play together. I would not be surprised to see Jones there for reps and training due to his injury, plus let USMNT doctors evaluate him, but Williams gets a half and Mix gets another.
Makes since. Bradley is playing every minute of every game in Brazil. But what happens if Jones is hurt or carded? Good to have as many players familiar with Bradley
Agreed. MB will not leave the field unless injured.
US Soccer published a Q&A with Klinsman today as well. He addresses the Clint and Michael inclusions, where he reiterates the “spine of the team” comment he made a few weeks back (namely Timmy, Michael, Jermaine, Clint, and Jozy) as reasons why those two were the only MLSers called in. That said, you can be pretty sure he’s starting his spine, and then maybe we’ll see others in the 2nd half.
Personally, I have to disagree, as I think it’s much more important to get Omar and Besler on the field together as much as possible at this point. Michael is the absolute last of our worries, no questions asked.
I’m surprised to see that we have two players named Juan Agudelo in our player pool. JK still listing Fabian as a midfielder is also interesting.
Bradley has a bye. Jones is his presumptive starting pair whether people like it or not.
The rest of the midfield is there to impress Klinsmann. Bunch of people who could easily be routine bench options if they are in form but could also get cut……Shea, Kljestan, Williams.
Didn’t realize Bradley had a bye. My only concern is we get 60 minutes of Bradley/Jones with only 30 mins of substitution riddled minutes of the rest. I would like to have one of the other 3 start alongside Bradley to see how they pair up. Like I said, we know what we have in Bradley and Jones. Last chance to see how Mix, Kljestan or Williams will step up. Lets see it.
I wonder what the back-line will look like.
Im thinkin morales-brooks-cameron-tim ream. Unless he tries cameron at right back, tim and brooks could be the CB pair and castillo at lb. That would be my guess.
Wait i forgot fabian johnson was on the squad, he might get that LB spot
The US sending out a release listing FJ as a midfielder for a quick camp and isolated friendly is a STRONG HINT otherwise.
if it is those four, then Morales would be at RB and Ream at LB. Ream has been playing LB and Morales, when playing fullback, is at RB.
I’d take:
Cameron–Packwood–Brooks–Ream
I’m a big believer in throwing young players overboard and finding out who can swim. Packwood and Brooks are fighting for that last CB spot. Let’s see how they react.
Ream needs to play at LB because that’s the only position that’ll get him on a plane. Castillo coming along would hint that he may start though.
Cameron at RB because at this point we have to face reality: he’s a RB now, regardless of where Klinsi wishes he played.
I agree with you, but I think Klinsmann starts Castillo over Ream just because he has favored him a lot in the past year.
I would prefer Brooks start and Packwood come on at halftime (or vice versa), next to a more experienced CB.
First USMNT callup for Packwood. It would surprising if he starts. I suspect it will be
Cameron, Brooks, Onyewu, Ream or Castillo.
Basically any or all of the others would see some action as subs.
Cameron Brooks Gooch Castillo
Ream will play perhaps half and is there to try out for the final camp but with how long he’s been off grid he won’t start in front of people who have been called more recently, unless someone just looks unfit and hopeless (Gooch?).
Morales and Packwood are there for development purposes.
Ukraine is game to you?
Ukraine is weak!
Classic reference
It’s kinda sad though, I’ve seen some Ukrainians get pretty upset over this in the past week. Russia must not allow syndication….
Ukraine is not weak!
You know what the Ukraine is, it’s a sitting duck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It’s feeble. It’s time to put the hurt on Ukraine. – C.K.
I know it’s primarily the Euro-based players but wished Besler and Gonzalez would have been called in. They need to play together as much as possible if they will be the starting CBs.
I agree about besler and omar, but i am excited that brooks might get the start
No one is buying that Green won’t play
He can’t play.
Unless this is sarcasm. In which case I don’t get it.
everyone is buying that, actually. they made it clear he won’t be filing his one time switch…
“Alllll by myyyyseeeeeeelllllfff…”
Rushing them half way around the world for three days right as the season starts is a good way to get them injured. They do need time together; luckily, we have three or four friendlies between now and the World Cup for them to solidify their partnership.
I can buy this argument…but why include Bradley???
Toronto does not play week 1
bye week.
I’d guess MB is so important to the team that JK needs to see how everyone gels with him. With so few matches before the WC, JK needs MB there, I suppose.
Yep, that’s my guess. Interesting set of defenders JK is looking over, and Bradley’s on field chemistry with other midfielders is only part of it. We’re still scrambling to find defenders.
He’s part of “the spine!!!”
But also the bye week.
Hasn’t Jones been out with an injury since he went to Greece? Is JK just bringing him in to ask him how he feels or what? Think he will play?
you meant turkey, yes?
This is the last game the national team will play before the 30 man prelim world cup roster has to be submitted. So he needs to bring in guys who are on the fringe and playing in Europe.
check on the week 1 bye that the people above mentioned. I didn’t know TFC had the bye so it makes sense that MB gets called in.
However, JK has recently mentioned the “spine” of the team. He did so in an interview a couple of weeks ago and again with the press release for this roster. However, whenever he talks about this “spine” the CBs are noticeably absent. That’s pretty telling…We really need to solidify this CB pair!
correction: USMNT plays mexico in April, roster submitted in May.
good call
Josh that is
Mr. dola,
“wished Besler and Gonzalez would have been called in. They need to play together as much as possible if they will be the starting CBs.”
Sounds logical.
But an objective neutral might say this selection tells you JK is not that happy with BeGonz.
Have you considered that maybe the CB situation is still murky not because Besler/ Gonzo have not played together enough but because they are not that good?
In 2013 Besler/Gonzo played together at least 7 times.
They were not called into the Gold Cup which means of the remaining 16 games in 2013 they paired up 44% of the time.
The last great center back pair we had was Gooch/ Demerit in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
Do you know how many games they played as a CB pair before the Confederations Cup?
It might have been one or two. The actual CB pair was Gooch/Boca but Boca kept moving to left back.
I don’t know if it’s Gonzo’s fault or Besler’s fault. I’ve seen both have their bad moments.
I think it is possible one or both don’t make the plane.
You sir, are wrong on many, many fronts. They weren’t called into the gold cup for the same reason many guys weren’t, they had just finished the qualifiers, and we sent a B+ team to the Gold Cup.
as stated, there are only 2 MLS players: Bradley (who has a bye) and Dempsey (who IS ALREADY IN EUROPE). Besler and Gonzalez have games, and it’s time to look at the 3rd 4th and 5th options (gooch, packwood, ream, brooks)
In my opinion it may be more important for them to train with their teams, get back in game shape/form. It’d be nice for them to get more tick together, but I’m not sure 1 game will make a huge difference.