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Projecting the USMNT World Cup training camp roster

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By IVES GALARCEP

Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to bring his entire 30-man preliminary World Cup roster to the U.S. Men’s National Team training camp at Stanford later this month didn’t come as a big surprise, but it did signal the time to start thinking about just which players will fill out that 30-player list.

You might think that Klinsmann shouldn’t have much difficult selecting his top 30 players, but the reality is that this is the deepest player pool the U.S. team has ever had, and while in past World Cup cycles it would have been a real project to fill out a 30-player list, this time around there will be some quality players who don’t even get invited to the training camp.

With the exception of goalkeeper, where the top three options are set in stone and most likely to be the only three goalkeepers in the training camp, all the other positions have multiple options for the training camp, as well as fierce competition for the final World Cup roster spots.

So who will make the 30-player preliminary USMNT World Cup roster? Here is SBI’s projection for the squad:

PROJECTED  USMNT PRELIMINARY WORLD CUP ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS– Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

DEFENDERS– Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, Timmy Chandler, Clarence Goodson, John Brooks, DaMarcus Beasley, Brad Evans, Michael Parkhurst, Tim Ream.

MIDFIELDERS– Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi, Alejandro Bedoya, Kyle Beckerman, Maurice Edu, Mix Diskerud, Julian Green, Joe Corona.

FORWARDS– Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski, Terrence Boyd, Eddie Johnson.

MISSED THE CUT (The Next 30)

GOALKEEPERS– Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, Tally Hall

DEFENDERS– Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Orozco, Edgar Castillo, Will Packwood, Tony Beltran, DeAndre Yedlin, Matt Hedges, Eric Lichaj, Greg Garza, Jonathan Spector, Chris Schuler

MIDFIELDERS– Danny Williams, Brad Davis, Jose Torres, Luis Gil, Brek Shea, Benny Feilhaber, Sacha Kljestan, Alfredo Morales, Eric Alexander, Dillon Powers, Joe Gyau

FORWARDS– Juan Agudelo, Herculez Gomez, Mike Magee, Will Bruin, Paul Arriola

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What do you think of the 30-man roster we projected? Who are you happy to see make the cut? Who are you disappointed to see missing from the list? What do you see being the biggest position battle in the USMNT training camp?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Definitely what I expect to see in announcement Monday…

    …almost…

    I am still perplex with the obession with Julien Green. Aside from his enlightening cameo against Mexico and Youtube videos of his performances with Bayern Munich’s youth reserve squad, but with little to no first team action, one cap with the U.S.–not to mention his injury keeping him off the field since–I can’t see a reason why or how he’s earned an immediate ticket to Brazil. Should be listed as an alternative at best.

    Instead should be a player in form playing first team, top league football (i.e. not a reserve or lower division side). Since Green’s a wide player, it should be a wide player, and from the list of “missing the cut”, Brad Davis would fit the role best, with Brek Shea following closely behind despite limited playing time in England. One can even argue the case for Edgar Castillo, who’s proven better in the offensive have than his left back position.

    Tim Ream is also an interesting case. I haven’t seen any of Bolton’s games this season, meaning I haven’t seen him play at all, but I remember being excited when he was recruited to the EPL–when Bolton got relegated. I’m not saying I don’t like him, but are there no other top flight options? I’m thinking about unbeaten Real Salt Lake’s towering center d-men: Nat Borchers and Billy Schuler. Borchers has the international experience, while Schuler has the physicality needed to face the Germans if Besler or Gonzo were to go down.

    Aside from that, everything seems in place for this list. Wouldn’t mind seeing Yedlin there, too, though.

    Reply
  2. Predicting the 23 who advance from camp:

    1. Tim Howard
    2. Brad Guzan
    3. Nick Rimando
    4. Geoff Cameron
    5. Matt Besler
    6. Clarence Goodson
    7. Tim Ream
    8. DeMarcus Beasley
    9. Michael Parkhurst
    10. Maurice Edu
    11. Fabian Johnson
    12. Landon Donovan
    13. Michael Bradley
    14. Kyle Beckerman
    15. Jermaine Jones
    16. Graham Zusi
    17. Clint Dempsey
    18. Mix Diskerud
    19. Alejandro Bedoya
    20. Brad Davis
    21. Chris Wondolowski
    22. Eddie Johnson
    23. Aron Johannsson

    Not expecting Altidore and Gonzalez, while heavy hitters, to increase their reliability during camp. Accordingly, there is good reason to believe that their spots may go to players who are currently playing well, have more confidence, and are more consistent.

    Reply
    • I see a lot of great comments and insight here.

      At this time this would be my 30 something?.

      legend value key: C1. means, has ability to cover one position,
      C2. can cover at least two positions.
      C3. can cover three or more positions.

      positional flexibility is an intangible, yet a tangible value that may or may not give one player an edge and advantage over another?.
      If not listed player X, just missed the 30?.
      If there is a Question mark(?), next to them that indicates they are a redundant player and they will be battling it out with another questionable player.
      If no Question mark next to their name I consider them a lock to make the 23 man roster barring things unforeseen.

      Keeping the house together, Hulk Howard, The Wild Guzan, & Ramshack Rimando.
      (has there been a more set in stone trio than these guys?).

      Defense:
      Besler c2 , Cameron c3, Parkhurstc2?, Ream c3?, Beaslely c3
      Edu c3, Gooch c1?, (Brooks c2?, would be interested to know if he could play outside back?), Goodson c1?, Chandler c2?, Yedlinc2?. Gonzo c1?. Schuler c2?.

      Midfield:
      Bradley c3, JJ c2, Edu c3, Beckerman c1,c2?, Williams c2?, Deuce c2, Donovan c2,
      Mix c2?, Bedoya c3, Zusi c2, FJohnson c3, Green c2, Corona c2?.

      Forwards:
      EJ c2?, Altidore c1, Iceman c2, Agudelo c2?, WonderWow c1?, Boyd c1?.

      Side note: Shea?, has always been an intriguing player, however has not been able to put it all together consistently.
      Ironically I see him much in the way I see Freddy Adu, enigmatic in there play albeit Shea, has had far many more looks and opportunities to show..
      As I stated months ago Green, is a more advanced, skilful, and potentially more impacting combination of the two.

      Reply
  3. 1. Tim Howard
    2. Brad Guzan
    3. Nick Rimando
    4. Geoff Cameron
    5. Matt Besler
    6. Clarence Goodson
    7. Omar Gonzalez
    8. Brad Evans
    9. Tim Ream
    10. DeMarcus Beasley
    11. Michael Parkhurst
    12. Maurice Edu
    13. Fabian Johnson
    14. Danny Williams
    15. Landon Donovan
    16. Michael Bradley
    17. Kyle Beckerman
    18. Jermaine Jones
    19. Graham Zusi
    20. Clint Dempsey
    21. Mix Diskerud
    22. Alejandro Bedoya
    23. Brad Davis
    24. Jozy Altidore
    25. Chris Wondolowski
    26. Eddie Johnson
    27. Aron Johannsson
    28. Terrence Boyd
    29. Julian Green
    30. Michael Orozco Fiscal

    Reply
  4. On the unproven Zelalem (remember Adu?):

    Americans will pay an alien to play for the MNT. What an embarrassment. All other countries, no exception, grooms their players from the early ages and develops them with pride. America is morally empty.

    Reply
  5. Watching Galaxy games and paying a lot of attention to Omar, its shocking how bad he really is. I wish I had the time or the ability to put together a highlight piece on “OMG, what was Omar thinking or doing on this play”
    Watch the 1st Colorado goal vs the Galaxy and look for Omar running away from the back post chip/shot…where was he going?

    Reply
  6. BREK SHEA NEEDS TO BE ON THE USMNT WORLD CUP TEAM!

    REMEMBER ALL OF THE POSITIVE IMPACTS HE MADE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS?

    Reply
  7. this is perfect. if brooks and ream start (i’d like to see it), with chandler and johnson, cameron could finally be the real holding midfielder that bradley needs to explode offensively.

    Reply
  8. This is a USMNT without a left wing starter. Not Dempsey, Donovan, Fabian, Davis, Bedoya, Corona, Beasley, Shea or Torres could handle the job against our WC opponents or even,
    I suspect the warm-ups vs Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Turkey.
    Big problem.

    Reply
  9. Most of the picks seem right, but I think Klinsi will crave the “X-factor” player who can change a game late when needed. His favorite go to guy in the past has been Shea (regardless of form). Others who can come in and change a game late with strong runs against a tired defense?
    Possibly a Green or Mix..
    My mind goes to Castillo. I hate him as a defender, but as a last 20 minutes of the game menace I would pick him. I think Klinsi will include someone like that who can come in and bring some serious crazy when needed.

    Reply
    • Yes, it is a new day for soccer in the USA folks, It is a new train coming into the station, either get on it or stay where you are.

      1. we have our very first, the first one ever, world-class striker.
      2. we have a new coaching crew
      3. we have an Americas tournament beginning in 2016, in which I might add, the USA and Mexico will have to play against Brazil, Argentina, et al. In my opinion, I don’t believe we can win the first one, the 2016 one, but we, and Mexico too, will have a chance.
      4. the big teams and leagues want to get into the American market, you know, make some money.
      5. Well, isn’t that really good for us,

      Now, what does all of that mean for soccer in the U.S. and to you commenters at SBI or Ives yourself, you tell me.

      Reply
    • Americans will pay an alien to play for the MNT. What an embarrassment. All other countries, no exception, grooms their players from the early ages and develops them with pride. America is morally empty. The MNT should be renamed to reflect United States FC. Oh well the whole world is going in that direction. You have Turks and Africans now playing for Germany. So, in all fairness Germany should also be Germany FC. And, France should be renamed to French African FC.

      Reply

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