By IVES GALARCEP
The U.S. Men’s National Team’s next pair of friendlies are fast approaching, and it is time to start thinking about just what the team will look like that takes the field against Ecuador and Honduras.
Jurgen Klinsmann recently stated that he plans on bringing a full-strength team for these friendlies, but with the MLS playoff races in full swing, Klinsmann could have a tough time pulling certain players away from their teams.
I broke down what the U.S. roster could look like that Klinsmann brings in for a recent Goal.com column, and based on the schedule and games players could miss if called in, surmised that it will be extremely difficult for Klinsmann to call in a full-strength team without ruffling some feathers, and potentially upsetting some players.
The reality is that Klinsmann’s comments were likely nothing more than posturing, and the more likely scenario is having Klinsmann call in a large enough group to allow some players to play in just one match, which could give him the flexibility to use certain players without costing them key matches for their clubs.
Here are some quick thoughts on the make-up of the October USMNT squad:
With the Chicago Fire falling out of the playoff picture, Klinsmann could be tempted to have a closer look at rookie midfielder Harrison Shipp, who should earn a call-up sooner than later.
There is plenty of clamoring for Lee Nguyen to get a call, and deservedly so, but New England has a game the day after the Ecuador friendly, and two days after the Honduras friendly. A January calls seems more likely.
Gyasi Zardes is another player with growing buzz, but with Landon Donovan already set to take part in the Ecuador friendly, and Omar Gonzalez a possibility to be called in as well, Klinsmann seems more likely to wait a while longer to give Zardes his first call-up.
We should expect a team similar to the one that beat the Czech Republic earlier this month, one that will have young European-based faces, and a handful of World Cup veterans, like Matt Besler and Clint Dempsey.
————
Give my Goal.com column on the roster a read and let us know which players you would like to see called in.
Still hoping Nguyen, Zardes or Shipp get called in? Think Klinsmann might call in some veterans like Jose Torres and Herculez Gomez? Who are you most excited to see play in the October friendlies?
Share your thoughts below.
Klismann needs to call Thompson of SJ Earthquake ASAP and mix him with players such as Gyau, Green, Johansonn, Nyugen, Zardes, Brooks, Gonzales, MBradley, Johnson,Yeldin and Mix. This is the future team for the nat right there.
Bacon is injured. He has been since the Ghana game.
For me Thompson is the boy that really needs to get into the mix Nobody has his talents in MLS, would give Nyugen and Zardes a look.
MLS coaches will pressure him enough that he won’t bring lots of players from any given MLS team (if that team is fighting for the playoffs). Or he might let some players play in just one game depending on the MLS schedule.
Bedoya is a good effort for the team
How about a practical reason for why Nguyen will not be called for THIS camp. New England are gonna depend on him heavily around that time and to call him up would be a big middle finger. An enormous one if jones is also called up. I honestly think everybody needs to chill on Nguyen if he can maintain his current level of play he’ll get a chance. I just think people are being unrealistic about his role in the USMNT.
Then do you call in only European and LigaMX players?
I’m not saying don’t call MLS players. I’m saying don’t call players that MLS teams desperately need.
ITA. The Revs, along with several other teams, are battling for a spot just to make the playoffs. A few teams are battling for the Supporter’s Shield too.
Klinsi said he would be fielding the strongest team POSSIBLE. I took that to mean he would probably not pick too many or any players from teams in NE’s situation or from Seattle NYRB etc. Which means that Shipp and Sean Johnson might make it and also McInernery who has already been in camp (2013 Gold Cup). Cody Cropper is another player who might get some action. He doesn’t play for Southampton.
But given NE’s position PLUS the fact that the schedule works against it, Nguyen will probably have to wait until January. IMO, the Jan. camp is better because it gives him much more time to be seen one on one by the MNT staff rather than one or two practices before these friendlies.
Idk Revs look pretty safe, I’d say that NY, Phi, Clb, Vw and Portland are the only teams left “battling for a playoff spot”
If you avoid those teams you don’t loose too much; Edu, Trapp,
Loosing players in the SS hunt; LA, Seattle, RSL, KC, NE, DC, would really hurt.. So now the SS means a lot to everyone?
always has to me, and it comes with a CCL spot too, right?
Ventura Alvarado – Club America
Left Back
Dempsey, Evans, Yedlin, Bradley & Lloyd should all be called in.
beto,
If those games are not on a FIFA date then the clubs can do what they want. If the games are on a FIFA date then that is another story. But to expect JK to not negotiate with the MLS clubs over this and just f==k up their playoffs plans is unrealistic.
It’s not about the 23 best American players. It’s about the 23 who make up the best team. The two groups are not always made up of the same players.
I concur, GW — there really is no such thing as the “best 23 players” unless you play too much EA Sports FIFA. It’s about the team and that will always have a discretionary element.
But I would also suggest that during this part of the calendar, it isn’t really even about the 23 that make up the best team. I’m sure you’d agree evaluating new talent at the expense of the absolute “best XI/squad” is an acceptable practice, and commonplace amongst even the top international sides during this phase of the cycle.
As a supplemental and somewhat tangential observation, I think it’s great that JK seems to have made a conscious effort throughout his tenure to put a side out there who is capable of winning and offers some element of continuity, so that none of us has had to relive the Gold Cup final from 2009 or the 2007 Copa America. Sven Goran Eriksson more or less set the world standard for “how to waste friendlies” by throwing 11 untested guys out for the second half every time, and I think we are all relieved that our coaches have never taken it that far (thankfully they can’t anymore).
wrote something similar to your first paragraph elsewhere, totally agree.
If MLS clubs have a problem with it they should take it up with the league. The best MLS player should be apart of this camp.
I didnt see anything out of Hyndman, Rubin, Morales or Wood to say they are better than say Trapp, Nguyen, Schuler or Hedges, Zardes, etc. The European based squad will get another oppertunity in November at the Republic of Ireland.
I hope to see a at the moment best 23 (+Mr. Donovan) american soccer players team with an eye on the 2015 Gold Cup
Gk: guzan, rimando, hamid
Lb: chandler, garza
Lcb: besler, brooks
Rcb: gonzalez, schuler or hedges (cam if healthy)
Rb: johnson, yedlin
Lhm: jones, beckerman
Rcm: bradley, trapp
Cam; dempsey, mix
Lm; bedoya, nguyen
Rm; donovan, green gyau or zusi
Cf; jozy, zardes
If Lee Nguyen doesn’t get the call up, we should just give up on Klinsmann. He calls up Joe Corona and Grandma Zusi and no Nguyen? Nguyen is 100x better than both. Wake up JK
Who would win in a fight…100 Nguyen sized ducks, or 1 horse sized Grandma (supes clever broham) Zusi?
Im a huge Lee fan and will go even further. Not only is he better than Corona and Zusi as Jon says, he’s better that Dempsey in the position Dempsey plays for the nats and he plays defense too … box to box… you’ll never see Dempsey doing that
He deserves a call and even if he only played 1/2 the first game, he could still make his club game the next night in Montreal.
My biggest question is if JK would call Lee and JJ? That would be hugely unpopular with the Revs
dude dempsey is the best Nat atm. you must not have watch any seattle games recently
Well I must ask Shawn, have you seen any New England games recently? Because Lee is THAT good.
Well I must ask Shawn, have you seen any New England games recently? Because Nguyen is THAT good.
100% agreed Duke. Lee is one of the best players in the pool. He needs to be called up. I cannot fathom that he hasn’t been called up yet.
Jon,
I haven’t seen Lee play in a while.
But it seems you and Duke think:
“he’s better that Dempsey in the position Dempsey plays for the nats and he plays defense too … box to box… you’ll never see Dempsey doing that”
That’s a pretty high level of expectation.
Lee has been doing his stuff vs MLS guys.
Dempsey has done his stuff at the EPL and World Cup level. My guess would be that a reasonable person would assume the EPL and World Cup level is probably a higher level though you and Duke seem to think all three levels of competition MLS, EPL and World Cup are the same..
Why do you think that?
GW, it seems to me that you think Dempsey is STILL playing in the EPL. Last time I checked, they’re both in MLS and Nguyen is having by far the better season surrounded by much less talent. So how about instead of talking about the past, we talk about RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW, WHO IS HAVING THE BETTER YEAR?
I like Nguyen but he isn’t having a far better season. Dempsey has started 10 less matches and played 734 less minutes. In that time he still has more assists and goals from the run of play. While I would agree Dempsey does have more talent around him, to say Nguyen is having a “far” better year would be difficult. At best you could call it a draw.
Jon,
“So how about instead of talking about the past, we talk about RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW, WHO IS HAVING THE BETTER YEAR?. “
Because someone having a great 2014 season may or may not be relevant to a World Cup being held three years from now.
You seem to view the USMNT as some sort of popularity contest where everyone’s idea of their favorite great American soccer savior player ever gets to play.
It’s not that way. At this point it’s about building up a pool of about 40 or so players .
So you put Lee on the team and they blow out Ecuador and torch Honduras. Which proves what exactly especially four years away from Russia?
A good performance never hurts but Lee has never been tested long term at a higher level than MLS so to say that he has anything over Dempsey in terms of the international game is loosely grounded in any semblance of logic.
I can see him getting called up and I can also see him never getting to play for the USMNT again.
You don’t get called into the national team because you are having a great club season, you get called in because you show that maybe you have something to offer the USMNT better than the next guy, whoever that is..
Best 23 with and eye on the future:
K
Guzan
Raimondo
Hamid
CB
Gonzalez
Besler
Cameron
Brooks
FB
Johnson
Yedlin
Chandler
Garza
HM
Bradley
Jones
Diskeruud
Trapp
AM
Zusi
Bedoya
Green
Gil
Gyau
S
Altidore
Dempsey
Zardes
take out zusi
i feel zusi and bedoya are now going to be trimmed down to one position. one will stay relevant and one will play his way off the team more or less. as we gain better wing play, zusi’s crossing will be less rare and i can see him falling off and focusing on finishing his career at KC, etc. Bedoya will most likely be the winner of the two, but could also fall off the squad by WC18 despite being an important role player for the next 3 years. just mho
Drop the following:
Cameron, Zusi, Bedoya, Dempsey, & Jones. Dempsey & Jones are established (Old) and need the rest after the WC and to finish their season off strong. Cameron just had surgery. Give him time to recover. Zusi & Bedoya are bubble guys for 2018. Need to look at upgrading those spots…so try out some youth.
Called up instead:
Powers/Kitchen for Jones. Arriola & Lee for Zusi & Bedoya. Wooten/Bunbury for Dempsey. Hedges/Schule for Cameron.
I don’t understand how guys like Hyndman and Rubin (both on the bench this weekend) are now established into the team but you can’t bring in guys like Zardes, Kitchen and Trapp.
Also Corona was pretty much invisible in the last match. I’d give Nguyen or maybe even Rowe a shot over him.
Corona gets some benefit of the doubt, though, as he’s put in MotM performances for the USMNT before. One mediocre performance won’t kill his USMNT career.
Not saying it should kill his US career, but this is a good chance to see some other players. However I can’t recall to many MotM performances from him.
My instinctive curiosity makes me want to see Nguyen in a US shirt for at least a friendly or two. But….
When it comes to soon-to-be 28 year old like Nguyen (vs a guy like 24 year old Corona), the question really is: “How valuable will this player be for our competitive future?”….
Many of the arguments in his favor rightly recognize his excellent form this season (and last). But USMNT callups should not be a “reward” for good club form. That is what “MLS Player of the Week/Month” are for. (If you are a legend, you can perhaps have a send-off friendly).
The competitions that “matter” for the current group are the CA 2016 (if it happens) and the WC 2018 and to some extent the 2016 Olympics. The Gold Cup next summer is certainly important but probably not a “win at all costs” affair and I doubt we’ll see a true “A team”. It will be an opportunity for guys competing in the 2016/2018 tournaments to show they can win and deserve first-team minutes with the USMNT
Do we think that Nguyen will still be a force in 2016 (serious question– I am not exposed to the Revs that much so I will defer to those who are). If not, what is the argument for introducing him as a primary playmaker? Or does he have another role that might make for an argument?
i’m taking your “Lee Nguyen Send-off Friendly” idea and i’m running with it!
It’s nice to hear reasoned arguments/questions on SBI, as opposed to slogging thru multiple comments from trolls with agendas (the one who calls himself “Jon”)
I have only seen Nguyen sparingly as well, but always felt more like he was “intriguing” than “dominant.” His technique and vision seems to stand out at the MLS level. I personally wouldn’t hold his age against him, as we had several “30ish” players in Brazil that played well. And we (USMNT) are really lacking in his position. It seems the MLS schedule is the thing that keeps him from being called in October. You would think he’s earned a call up in January.
in general, American developed players mature on the field at different rates than youngsters from other parts of the world imo, I think it is a function of the youth development systems. I’d be interested to hear others’ observations. also think it’s a mistake to look at a player like Nguyen and consider his age a detriment; he’s better all the time imo and he carries the elusive USMNT skillset, and early 30s is good times for some players interestingly…look at Beckerman for example. it all depends seems to me, and remember some will simply never get called or considered because of who knows why, a coach’s prerogative.
You make a good point, beachbum. USA players have a different curve and a small sample. It’s hard to know.
As long as the decision is being made with an eye toward future contribution rather than “reward” for club form, I’m happy with whatever is decided.
Ali Dia,
Beachbum’s point about American players has some merit but it is really just another stereotype.
The reality is that the final 23 players who make up a World Cup roster, for example, are always about the diversity of paths a player can take being an international, worthy of being on a World Cup squad
Jay Demerit, Gooch, John O Brien, Jeff Agoos, Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna, Tab Ramos, DMB, Pablo Mastroeni, Kasey Keller, Alexi Lalas, Marcus Hahnneman and Kyle Beckerman are just a few examples of players who all have very different career paths to their World Cup.
The next World Cup is four years away and the hardest thing for any manager or coach in any sport is to figure out just what a player will be like three years from now.
I like Lee but how many of you think he is worth building the next World Cup team around? What in his resume tells you he is anywhere near that kind of player or that he is fit to hold any part of Clint’s jock?
Lee may in fact be the next US soccer savior, after all who thought Beckerman would turn out to be what he was, but all this creaming in their pants heat over Nguyen is way premature.
Hyndman and Rubin are only 18 and they are with clubs in very good European leagues. If invited, Hyndman and Rubin will be invited because of their potential. Here’s what Fulham’s website says about Hyndman. Does this sound like a player that might be worth grooming for the USMT?
Biography
Fulham beat a number of Europe’s top clubs to Emerson Hyndman’s signature and the youngster has consistently turned heads as a result of his cultured play and sublime range of passing. Hyndman is a player that sees the game differently to most.
Despite his natural ability, the USA youth international has a great attitude and is always amongst the hardest working out on the pitch. In constantly keeping the ball moving, he has quickly become a chief midfield orchestrator.
On the back of a string of impressive performances, Hyndman was rewarded with his first professional contract at Fulham in April 2013 and signed an extension until 2016.
An ever-present in Fulham’s run to the FA Youth Cup Final in 2013/14, scoring three times. He also notched four goals in 16 league appearances.
he’s an exciting prospect, no doubt
Jozy, Rubin and Wood all yet to score a goal for there club this season.
It is a good opportunity to see what the Colorado hopefuls can do against the athletes from Ecuador and Honduras, I.e., Powers, Serna, O’Neill (O’Neill mite be too fresh off injury list) as well as Chicago hopefuls Shipp, Amarikwa. Heaps doesn’t need Mullins at NEngland and would be great to see. Tommy Thompson is pretty good and San Jose are not making playoffs.
Why not give those guys a look now when it is convenient.
Some people like McInerney and Duka a lot at Montreal who are not making playoffs either.
Yedlin should play to help with his work permit issues in England. Garza should take left back role.
My Stars and Stripes “bottom feeding” XI
———-Mullins—–Amarikwa (McInerney)
————–Shipp (Serna)
——–powers
———–Bradley—-Hyndman
Garza—Brooks–Hagglund—–Yedlin
—————-mcMath
Lmao worst team ever.
I agree, you are such a bastion of insight what would yours be?
Why not throw Wells Thompson or Andre Akpan in there? Hey are you available? would you like to make a 30 min appearce at the end?
Jozy should start both games, since It would be silly to see how other types of players work in JKs system.
I understand the sentiment, but who would you want there? Boyd and AJ are injured, I don’t think we’re going to build around Wondo, Zardes may or may not be there. Even if he is, I don’t think you could make an argument that he’s better equipped than Jozy. We’re just not that deep at forward
Also this might be a rare chance for Jozy to get more then 15 minutes this year.
and i’d imagine JK wants to try out different people WITH his main ST, like he did with czech. see who works best combining with Jozy
id be interested to see Gyau and Green get another start, and bring in some new mids,
MB off the bench in one of the games, starting the other.
Andrew Wooten deserves a look, he’s the only American scoring in Europe right now.
Certainly doing better then Rubin or Wood and Ives had them in the team.
I’m going to the Ecuador game, does anyone know who I can talk to with lineup suggestions?
i think Yedlin will absolutely be in this camp. given JK’s comments about wanting to go with youth, if he does cut Seattle a break, i actually think Dempsey will be left back. especially when it wasn’t too long ago that Dempsey was on the bench so he could finally rest a little bit.
i also have to wonder about Wooten since he seems to be the only one scoring in Europe. and while i doubt it happens, and idk who i would cut to include them, i wouldn’t be opposed to seeing Lichaj and/or Castillo.
no Zusi, just noticed that. interesting.
That is a good thing, Grandma Zusi is terrible.
Wooten will be 25 soon not too old but not a pup, for some reason he has been bypassed many times before. I would be shocked if he gets a call.
For those who don’t know who Wooten is, he is about the size of Boyd but with better wheels. Excellent in the air. Can play the wing, the 2 times that I saw him play RW I was impressed with his work rate, specially on defense, he is like Bedoya just way bigger.
With that said, he scored again today for the winner. that is 3 in a row.
What’s the deal on Yedlin’s WP? As ridiculous as it sounds for a WC roster player, he might need the added caps to increase his chances, assuming the Latvian passport doesn’t come through. Perhaps Hazard can testify on his behalf?
I really hope Juergen doesn’t go with the older, WC vets.
Yeah alot of our u-20 players seem ready for call ups
i want lee nguyen called in to see what all the ruckus is about. People calling him the best 10 in MLS. i watch him once and saw a good player but nothing special
He could have been a starter the last four years, but he messed around in Vietnam then struggled to find his rhythm here for a year.
He’s very talented, and technically speaking one of the best we have in a creative role but he stifled his potential and his age doesn’t do him favors at this point. He’ll see US playing time but outside of moving leagues to somewhere harder, I think his skills will simply be judged against MLS which is easy to dismiss.
He also has to keep his consistency up. He’s having a stellar year but one year doesn’t make you a US player. Just ask guys like Davis and Beckerman who spent years as top MLS players before getting a proper crack at the team.
Throw him in a midfield with Beckerman and Jones (Bradley needs a fire lit under him) with Dempsey and Zardes roaming up front, and Donovan and Zusi on the wings, you have a US MLS side capable of serious regional damage.
Dempsey or Zardes, not and. And I say one or the other because I’d like I see what Zardes can do away from the safety of LA’s attack.
I disagree with the perception that Nguyen has been a one-year wonder. The Revs are better as a team and are giving him the midfield support to push forward and score goals this year, but I thought he was one of the most underrated midfielders in the league last year and the main reason that the Revs snuck into the playoffs.
BB don’t waste your time with Josh D. He is an eggball lover who is trying to look like a soccer fan by playing FIFA and hyping up Grandma Zusi. Just ignore him and love alone.
Josh D when will your love affair with Grandma Zusi end? He is trash. And to further prove the idiocy of your post, Lee has been this great for 3 years now. Just because you don’t watch a lot of soccer doesn’t mean you can act like you do. You are clueless and should probably stop posting.
Impressive! The real trick must be not falling over, though, since your hair’s all sticky-up in the hair and weighs 20 purple pounds.
Because you’re a troll, get it? tee hee
I have bashed Zusi in the past and last season I called for Nguyen to get in the January camp.
Zusi isn’t a great player but of the US players in MLS he’s one of the best.
Why January? Why not now? WHO IS BETTER???
Because January is when all MLS players are off and other than Scandinavian based players, most others are unavailable because the match (es) are not played on FIFA International release dates and their clubs are not required to release them then… the Scandinavian countries go on break at that time and are more likely to release a player if asked nicely… but again they can’t be forced to do so
Shawn I’m sorry but you’re an absolute dumbass. Lee is one of the best players in MLS. I heard eggball is looking for new morons. You should head over there. Soccer is too complicated for you to understand.
Eggball….what a tool. I thought Shawn expressed a nice opinion. Just because he doesn’t actively watch Revs games – and judging by the empty stadium, he’s not in the minority – doesn’t give you carte blanche to be so pretentious with stupid Eurotrash hand egg comments. And I live in Portland, I know way too much about stupid hipster Euro trash comments.
The name calling doesn’t some how make your point stronger. It just makes you sound like a 12 year old who doesn’t know how to actually form an argument. If you think Nguyen deserves a spot in the team then make that point.
That is exactly the point Jack. There should be no need for explanation. If you have watched him play, you would know how good he is. Clearly Shawn has never seen him play to make the statement he did.
That is exactly the point Jack. There should be no need for explanation. If you have watched him play, you would know how good he is. Clearly Sean has never seen him play to make the statement he did.
ADHD much?
nevermind your just autistic
Why no Yedlin?
Yedlin has to make it to get his visa one would imagine.
I really hope Klinsi ruffles MLS feathers. It’s about time Garber got off his high horse and respect FIFA dates like everyone else. The only way to do that is to piss of the coaches, players and owners enough to force his hand.
Do it Klinsi!
This happenens each and every year and it’s ridiculous, these dates are know well ahead of when MLS releases it’s schedual and so it never shouuld even be an issue, let alone one that is directly effected by MLS playoff runs
Don’t disagree… but what is the solution? As long as MLS has a summer calendar (which I wouldn’t advocate changing, but some would), then pretty much any dates FIFA selects for friendlies in this part of the year will cause a problem for MLS schedulers. Friendlies eat up more than one day of time… they can eat up as much as 7-10 depending on the time spent training and the # friendlies schedules… and the wear and tear on players in the midst of a stretch run is clearly a major concern regardless (not to mention injury risk).
I don’t have a great solution … but I don’t think it’s so simple as a minor adjustment for MLS schedulers. And I don’t blame MLS for standing its ground to some extent.
Thoughts?
very well said. Garber and Klinsi need to get together and deal with the realities of this situation as partners, not adversaries. Don’t know that they can however, we’ll see
agreed, MLS still acts like a joke in some respects and this is one of them
Have you seen weekday attendance numbers for MLS games? It’s quite bad…I’m guessing many tickets are “distributed” and not even sold. MLS can extend the length of the season if they want to observe international breaks, but they’d still have to cram in more weekday games, eventually.
Friendlies are not considered for UK work permit purposes, only competitive matches.