Photo by Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
Following his two-goal display for D.C. United this past weekend, Perry Kitchen is bound for San Antonio with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
U.S. Soccer announced Monday that Kitchen has been called in to the team’s roster for Wednesday’s friendly with Mexico. The D.C. United midfielder replaces Michael Orozco, who didn’t travel with the team after discussions with his club, Puebla.
Kitchen will be in pursuit of his second cap, as the 23-year-old midfielder made his senior national team debut in the USMNT’s Feb. 8 friendly against Panama.
On the club level, Kitchen has started and played 90 minutes in each of D.C. United’s five games this season. Most recently, Kitchen scored both D.C. United goals as the club settled for a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls.
The USMNT is set to take on Mexico on Wednesday at the Alamodome.
What do you think of the Kitchen call-up? What do you expect from the USMNT against Mexico?
Share your thoughts below.
This should probably go in the USA call-up for Mexico article, but that article is already buried. For the life of me I can’t understand some of these call-ups. Enough had already been said about the Ibarra, Evans, and Wondo call-ups. Bad call-ups, Jurgen being Jergen, enough said.
This Jordan Morris thing is ridiculous. I know the Klinsmann fan-boys will say something like “he’s an U-23 player getting ready for the Olympics”, whatever! That’s just the fan-boys reaching for something to defend Klinsmann with. Olympic qualifying isn’t even until October. This is a senior team selection. Throw Morris to some U-23 camp if there is one. Let’s look at some numbers, and since I am a Bruin, I will compare Morris to a Bruin:
Leo Stolz (midfielder):
2014: MAC Hermann winner (best player in the nation). Soccer-America player of the year. First-team all-america and pac-12. (24 points, 9 goals, 6 assists).
2013: Hermann MAC finalist, First-team All-America and Pac 12. (30 points, 11 goals, 8 assists).
Jordan Morris (forward):
2014: First-team All-America and Pac-12. (14 points, 4 goals, 6 assists).
2013: Pac-12 first team. (19 points, 6 goals, 7 assists)
I am flattering Jordan Morris by even comparing him to Leo Stolz. I used the comparison because they both played in the Pac-12, against the same competition, at the same time. Point is that Morris isn’t even close to being one of the best college players in the nation. Not only was Stolz better, but anyone that follows college soccer knows that there are a lot of players out there that are/were better than Morris. Look at his goals as a forward and compare them to Stolz’ as a midfielder. It is a joke that Klinsmann keeps calling him in to the senior national team, all because the USMNT had pre-world cup training at Stanford and Klinsmann developed one of his man-crushes that he is so famous for now.
UBG,
The Stolz – Morris comparison in interesting but does not add up.
1.) Stolz is 24.
Morris is 20.
Four years is a very, very big difference.
2.) Stolz is a midfielder and Morris is a forward. Two different positions with different criteria used when evaluating them.
3.) College stats. I haven’t seen either player in college. But I have spent years watching NFL, NBA and MLB teams draft college players and followed those players in the pros.
And what that has learned me is that those stats you cite for Leo, if they tell me anything, they tell me Leo is a superior college player to Morris.
That does NOT mean he will be a superior pro player.
You may have seen already seen the best of Leo while it is possible that they have only begun to scratch the surface with Morris. This is something you see in other sports every season.
Why is the Heisman trophy winner almost always a huge bust in the pros? Why were Christian Laettner and about a thousand other guys monsters in college hoops and journeymen or outright busts in the NBA?
The reason is there is a big difference between the pro and the college game and because not everyone develops at the same rate.
Maybe you’ve seen more of Morris than I have but I do know he trained with the US before the World Cup and impressed them then and seems to be continuing to do so.
He’s only 20.
Didier Drogba had a complicated family life and only became a full time pro at 21 years old. McBride was about 22 when he signed for Wolfsburg and Clint was 21 when he signed with the Revs. If Morris becomes a pro in a year or two and comes anywhere near any of those guys all this BS will be worth it.
JK has a good record with developing younger players for this team. He took Yedlin, Brooks and Green to the World Cup and they all produced and likely will be part of the pool for years to come. He spotted Hamid. He stuck with Shea and Mix who now seem to be developing into possible regulars for the team.
Why y’all are getting your panties in twist over Morris is nuts. Obviously, the kid has something.
It’s too bad Opara and Trapp are injured. Trapp is a far superior midfielder to Kitchen, and Opara is a far superior CB.
Pulling for Agudelo, we need his talent. With dempsey he’s the most skilled player with the ball in the pool.
Also with a ball in a pool, probably, but I don’t know that for sure.
_________________________Nick Rimando (sub Hamid)_____________________________
____________________Besler_____________Omar________________________________
____Yedlin_______________________________________________Shea___________
__________________________Beckerman (Sub Kitchen)_________________________
____Zardes_______________________________________________Mix____________
__________________________MB90_________________________________________
_______________________Wondo_________________________________________
_______________________________Aguedelo_________________________________
I’m fine with all players except Wondo. He never should have been called into this match. He is extreamly bad at the international level and has no value to the team in the future.
While there are reasons why you might call up others, I don’t think 9 goals in 27 appearances qualifies as “extremely bad”…
dont trip dude. we all hate wondo
Wondo may be a bit out of his depth at the international level – but overall he has the “kavorka” the unteachable poacher’s instinct for goal.
On his best days he is like a hybrid of Pipo Inzaghi (former AC Milan striker) and Chicharito, with a little McBride salsa.
Maybe he is about to turn the corner with his sports psychology and he will deliver a man of the match performance v. Mexico.
Overall – probably guys like Boyd, Agudelo, Johannson, Nagbe, and Zardes, et al – will soon eclipse him. For now, he can be utile.
I don’t know what makes me sadder.. that Wondo is mentioned in the same sentence as Inzaghi or that I’m so old that there are fans reading this site who have never heard of Pippo.
Rimando
Yedlin-Besler-Omar-Shea
Beckerman-Mix (sub Kitchen for either)
Bradley
Zardes-Wondo-Agudelo
with Yedlin and Shea in there, I don’t see a 4-4-2. A big part of both of their upsides is their ability to get forawrd and provide width out of a 4-3-3. Agree we see Bradley advanced, although I’d prefer Bradley/Kitchen sitting under either Mix or Nguyen. Mix wide in a 4-4-2 hasn’t really yeilded results.
Well if they play a diamond in midfield, like it is stylized above, the fullbacks are actually encouraged to get forward and provide the width.
A fair enough callup, but not exactly like-for-like. What is that crafty coach’s plan? Totally impenetrable.
There isn’t one but I do agree with this callup despite being a RBNY fan.
There isn’t one…
Your complaint about the JK-defenders is amusing when you’re anything but objective.
Clearly JK plans on using Kitchen as a fullback. Or possibly a goalie.
or worse…question his fitness.
Of course I’m not objective. I’m a fan. I don’t have any duty to maintain objectivity.
Do as I say, not as I do. Got it.
Your comment makes no sense. I criticize comments I disagree with and others do likewise when they disagree with me. That’s the point of the comments portion of this site no? For people to discuss and debate?
Also, the “JK defenders” you reference were doing the same thing you are doing. Someone else criticized some of his selections and rather than saying they disagreed and they thought the selections were good because of x,y,z, instead they said essentially “who are you to disagree with JK, he knows the players better than you.”
If everyone played by those rules, this would be a pretty dull site.
Hey, more power to you if stating “He doesn’t have a plan” is the basis of worthwhile discussions and debates. It’s essentially, “I know you are, but what am I?” with no relevant content to respond to.
I just find it all amusing. Please proceed however you see fit.
Again, your comment makes no sense. If you disagree and think he has a plan, tell us why. We might even have an interesting discussion.
Instead you attack me for even suggesting he doesn’t have a plan. Seems pointless.
I fully admit that Klinsmann has a plan — I just think it’s been horrible…
Here it is as I understand it:
1. build up humongous expectations for oneself
2. alienate top players
3. recruit and hand over spots to dual internationals
4. hardly get to the final round of world cup qualifying
5. rack up a decent list of first accomplishments
6. go to the world cup with hardly any intention of actually playing the game
7. create excuse after excuse for poor performances
None of these points would necessarily be a big deal on their own, but come on.
don lamb,
1. build up humongous expectations for oneself
Those are the long term expectations of the USSF. It’s why they hired him.
2. alienate top players
In other countries you have guys like Vela who could still contribute but won’t play for their country for one reason or another. Name one relevant top player like that for the US. .
3. recruit and hand over spots to dual internationals
Part of the job description of any USMNT manager. Name me one dual national who is playing when there is a better “real American” available.
4. hardly get to the final round of world cup qualifying
It’s not how you get there it is IF. Obviously you did not see the 2002 World Cup and the 2010 World Cup.
5. rack up a decent list of first accomplishments
That is down to timing
6. go to the world cup with hardly any intention of actually playing the game
??
7. create excuse after excuse for poor performances
That ‘s not how I read it.
1. he talked about playing a way seems to be completely foreign to him in reality
2. i am not talking about players refusing to play for him, i am simply talking about how he treated top players when he came in. he especially treated bradley like crap. he also treated donovan and altidore poorly.
3. while he was treating these proven and committed players poorly, he was courting players like danny williams and julian green. both of whom have several “real Americans” (your words) who should be ahead of them on the depth chart.
4. haha. lol. sure, the only games that matter ever are the 3 or 4 games that happen once every four years.
5. this one was actually a compliment
6. don’t really blame him for this, but i would have rather been bounced in the group stage if we had played with courage and skill, than going out the way we did
7. of course that’s not how you read it. you defend every single thing that klinsmann does…
don lamb,
You’ll have to show me the quotes where JK promises that they are going to play a certain way from day one.
He has a style of play he wants to implement and that is something the US aspires to but not something they always achieve. JK made it clear from day one this would take time. You were not listening.
Furthermore, he has always said when it comes to competitive games like WC qualifying or the World Cup, he would do whatever it took, no apologies. Coming from the guy who made diving fashionable again in England that should surprise no one.
As for JK’s mistakes, I’m sure he has made them but I haven’t seen any I thought were worth holding a national day of protest over.
For example, I don’t pay that much attention to lineups because most of these guys are de facto interchangeable.
You tend to focus on what they can’t do. Beckerman is slow, Shea is stupid, Morris has failed to sign a pro contract.
I like to think about what they can do, you know the postives? Beckerman is very sharp, he fouls better than anyone in MLS. Shea is dangerous, Morris is younger than Dempsey was when Clint first went pro so maybe he is special if he getting all this attention.
The moves JK has made, as far as I can tell have all been consistent with what he has said he would do and with what I assume is his general overall plan.
This isn’t the Arena or BB era anymore.
Have you seen Burnley play? They remind me of the alleged USMNT good old days pre-JK. Big, strong, run all day, hit everything that moves, score off the odd set piece or counter, real cohesive and disciplined because they play basically the same guys all the time. They are fit, tough and courageous and on their day, can beat anyone.
But score first on them and they struggle to get back into the game. Unless they get real lucky they will go down. And if they don’t evolve and get a lot better soon, they most assuredly will go down if not this season then next season.
And that is where the US was before JK. They needed to get better. To paraphrase what Arjen Robben said about BB’s team before the game where the Dutch broke Stu’s leg “ they are a hard team to play against but are not very talented.” Arjen wasn’t too worried about playing the US nor should he have been.
That is the team many of you long to go back to.
The team was on the decline mostly because everyone was aging out at the same time and the one man around whom the team was built was on his way out.
Whether they had kept BB ( who LD was no fan off at the end) or brought in Simeone, or Bielsa, or Hiddink or Kries or Porter or Steve Sampson or Eric Wynalda, this team was going to need to evolve because I don’t know what you see don lamb, but, unless Morris suddenly goes off and single handedly tears Mexico apart tomorrow, there ain’t no Donovans out there.
So as far as I’m concerned the USMNT under JK is moving in the right direction. That might just be more due to external events but it is irrelevant. The team is getting better bit by bit.
The other thing is the USMNT is a pretty odd bird of national team to manage.
So I give allowances to JK for those unique challenges. Just like I did for BB.
Those of you who like to wax nostalgic for the good old days before JK seem to forget
that you ran BB and Arena out of town with your torches and pitchforks pretty much like you want to do with JK. I thought the pitchfork and torch act was lamentable then and it still is now.
Same fans, different manager.
You don’t pay attention to lineups because you think all of the players are interchangeable? That is just silly. The team simply has not played the way he said that he aspired to play. period.
You say that I look at players for what they can’t do — completely untrue. I have been defending Jozy like crazy — unlike you. I have never lost faith in Shea and what his potential is. I don’t swing back and forth in my opinions like most fans because I form my own opinions based on what I see. Not numbers and not other people’s comments.
There is no “national day of protest” here. Just criticism. Criticism that I think is fair. I was a big fan of Klinsmann’s hiring, and I still have faith that he will get the team playing the way he says he will. When others were throwing him under the bus, I was saying that he needs at least until his first Gold Cup to make any judgements.
The way he treated his top players during this time seemed a little suspect, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. After time, I becomes disgusted with how he wanted to make some players “uncomfortable” while basically rolling out the red carpet for others. The ones he was treating like poop were the backbone of the team.
Like I said, I don’t really blame him for the way we played in the world cup. I just wish there were some signs of playing that way somewhere — there are several cases of the team playing that way with a certain player, but that player was cut.
Dude, you are flat out wrong about this Klinsmann team vs. Bradley/Arena team. That is not “what I long to go back to.” That is exactly why I was so excited about bringing Klinsy in — he was supposed to get us past that. But he hasn’t. He has played the exact same way, if not even more reactive. That was my first real observation about Klinsmann’s teams — about two years into his reign. It was the realization that he is not going to bring some new dynamic playing style to the team. He was simply going to play the same way. I did not fault him for this because, as Robben said, we are simply not that talented.
You are completely wrong about me. I am not “waxing nostalgic” with team. I want progress. Klinsmann is not showing that progress. Fitness is not going to bring this progress. We have always been fit. He needs to bring in the right players and TEACH them how he wants them to play. I have not seen this ability to teach the team a way to play. And the player who is most capable of playing that way, he tossed out. The player that could be helping him the most, he tossed out.
You are wrong about me. You were wrong about Green. I believe you are wrong in some of your defense of Klinsmann and your overall assessment of where the program is.
Kitchen is a good option at RB or CB as well as CDM. good pickup here.
So, Geoff Cameron.
Geoff Cameron, minus 6 years. Makes a difference.
Geoff Cameron, but not as good.
Or perhaps: Geoff Cameron, but not as good yet
That’s possible.
At Kitchen’s age, Geoff was faster.
If Kitchen had that speed then it would be really interesting. As it is Kitchen has a chance to become something special now that DC is no longer a cluster.
Tchani seems like a better player than both Trapp and Kitchen, imo
At this time I would agree
Let’s see… we have 2 days of practice to get ready for a match against Mexico, in an environment where there will be 50,000+ screaming Mexican fans and sh*t being thrown all over the field.
Yeah, let’s go ahead and call in Tony Tchani, who has never been part of a USMNT camp and see how he does.
Tchani has more composure and skill with the ball than any of them. Kitchen only has 1 cap so its not like he exploding with experience. The game is a friendly, its not as though world cup qualification is at stake.
I did not say he should start this game or even be in the squad for the game. Just said that I think he is a better player than these two who have been called in (previously) ahead of him. I think Vic’s take on their abilities is accurate. Then consider the type of style that the Crew plays in direct contrast to way United plays in addition to how much better Tcani looks than Trapp when they are playing side by side. I was not a fan of Tchani in his first couple of years in the league and even at UVA thought he processed things too slowly, but he has kicked it up about 10 notches, and I hope he gets a chance with the national team.
What is the basis for your conclusion that Tchani is a better soccer player than Perry Kitchen or Trapp? Kitchen’s overall career numbers are better and he is three years younger than Tchani. He just scored 2 goals against Red Bulls this weekend. He seems like a reasonable choice for a call up. I am not saying that Tchani does not deserve a look at some point, but why disrespect a young player who has earned his call up?
I am not trying to disrespect Kitchen. We are talking about guys who are at the top of their trade — they are both great players.
However, the basis for my conclusion about these guys is that Tchani is at a completely different level with the ball at his feet because his vision and ability passing the ball are better. His composure on the ball is impressive.
If you are looking for data to support my opinion (as you implied), I clearly stated above that Tchani is “about 10 notches” above where he was a few years ago.
Kitchen is a solid player and deserves the chances he is getting. Trapp seems a bit young. I think they each have a great future ahead of them, but a believe that Tchani is playing the best and showing at least as much potential.
Played a hell of a game on Saturday. Hopefully he gets some time vs MX.
well deserved!!
…and about time!