Keepers
Tally Hall (Houston, MLS)
Bill Hamid (DC United, MLS)
Sean Johnson (Chicago, MLS)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake, MLS)
Defenders
Matt Beslar (Sporting KC, MLS)
Brad Evans (Seattle, MLS)
Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles, MLS)
Clarence Goodson (San Jose, MLS)
Michael Harrington (Portland, MLS)
Chris Klute (Colorado, MLS)
Chance Myers (Sporting KC, MLS)
Shane O’Neill (Colorado, MLS)
Seth Sinovic (Sporting KC, MLS)
DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle, MLS)
Midfielders
Eric Alexander (New York, MLS)
Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake, MLS)
Brad Davis (Houston, MLS)
Mix Diskerud (Rosenberg, Norway)
Benny Feilhaber (Sporting KC, MLS)
Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake, MLS)
Dax McCarty (New York, MLS)
Graham Zusi (Sporting KC, MLS)
Strikers
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles, MLS)
Eddie Johnson (Seattle, MLS)
Mike Magee (Chicago, MLS)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose, MLS)
It can be safely assumed that 6-10 of these guys are probably gonna be in Brazil battling what has widely been described as the “Group of Death”, but it’s also nice to see Klinsmann looking ahead. Coach K is signed on through 2018 and in that time we are guaranteed 2 more Gold Cups and 1 more round of World Cup Qualifying, we also might have the 2017 Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup on the docket as well, so looking at players who can help us with all of that is great
This roster very much highlights the future potential of the US. Luis Gil, Shane O’Neill and DeAndre Yedlin were difference makers in the 2013 U-20 World Cup for Tab Ramos’ squad and they all have the potential for huge futures for the US National Team these guys may have impacts up to an even beyond 2022. Players like Chris Klute, Dax McCarty, and Chance Myers will be entering the prime of their careers over the next cycle.
Landon Donovan, Graham Zusi, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Beslar, Eddie Johnson and Nick Rimando are almost guaranteed spots in Brazil (the first 4 almost have spots in the starting XI locked down). Others like Clarence Goodson, Brad Davis, Brad Evans, Mix Diskerud, Kyle Beckerman and Chris Wondolowski are still in battles for positions right now but it would not be a surprise if many of them find themselves on the plane this summer. These guys have 174 appearances under Klinsmann between the 12 of them, 65 during World Cup Qualifiers. Coach K has seen a lot of these guys, but nothing is guaranteed to any of them.
10 players called up have yet to feature for the US: Alexander, Gil, Hall, Harrington, Klute, Magee, Myers, O’Neill, Sinovic, & Yedlin. Out of this bunch only Tally Hall has been called up by Klinsmann before. There is one other “new guy” and that is Dax McCarty. McCarty is a relative unknown to Klinsmann as well, he has appeared in January camps under Bob Bradley and has 5 caps, but he has not been called in 3 years. People have been clamouring for Dax’s inclusion in US rosters for a few years now, the feisty little firebrand who plays for New York Red Bulls has been one of the best #6 in MLS for the past few years and it will be interesting to see if he puts any pressure on Kyle Beckerman for a last spot on the World Cup roster.
My biggest question is “Can Benny Feilhaber prove that he is more than a January camp guy?” Benny played in every game in the 2010 World Cup for the US but he has fallen off big time for the US, but since Klinsmann was hired he has only appeared twice…in each of the last two January camps. Fans are hoping that Feilhaber retains the form he had at the end of Sporting Kansas City’s season which was nothing short of fantastic.
The biggest talking point will and should be Mike Magee. What a year for this young man, and he has the potential to do so much more. Jozy Altidore, Eddie Johnson, Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are almost surely going to Brazil…but there is room for a clutch player like Mike Magee. Anyone who watch the Los Angeles Galaxy’s deep runs in the playoffs the previous two years will know what I am talking about, this guy lives to score big goals in win-or-go-home situations…could that translate to the World Cup?
It is clear from this roster that Jurgen is going to take a long hard look at many different pairings along the back line (6 fullbacks and 4 centerbacks called). Also the #4, #5, and #6 keepers are gonna get a chance to show their stuff, but we shouldn’t expect much from them. I like the influx of creative CM’s as opposed to the defensive madness Coach K had early in his tenure. Gil, Diskerud, and Feilhaber all kinda fit the same mold.
Biggest Surprises
1. Eric Alexander – Don’t get me wrong, the Red Bulls had a great year, and Alexander is a very valuable role player. I would compare him to Brad Evans, not flashy, but a great locker room guy and all-in-all solid footballer…but does anyone see him earning a spot anywhere on the field? His inclusion is almost as puzzling as Connor Lade’s last year
2. The 3rd Left Back & The 3rd Right Back – Its always nice to have options but Klute, Sinovic and Harrington are all left backs and Yedlin, Myers and Evans are all right backs…the odds that all of them play are slim. Ok, I can see maybe having variety at LB, but Evans is a regular starter for the US at RB, does he really need 2 back-ups?
3. Landon Donovan & Chris Wondolowski – These guys clearly “deserve” to be on the roster…but I was under the impression that they are both really banged up. I know this is a World Cup year and all, but I remember loosing Chris Armas in 2002 and Charlie Davies in 2010 (ok not the best example because of the circumstances, but still) I would not be surprised to see one or both withdraw from camp in the coming weeks…or maybe I’m wrong and they have both recovered and are ready to go.
Biggest Snubs
1. Amobi Okugo – Maybe its just that the young man from Philadelphia just isn’t playing in a spot of great need (CB and DM), you’d think that maybe he’d get a look…especially over Shane O’Neill who plays the same spots, but is a few years his junior.
2. Jack McInerney – Philly snub part 2. Jack Mac definitely cooled off as the year went along, but he still scored a ton of goals (before this summer) and made the Gold Cup roster…yes he didn’t play, but he’s also very young and you’d think a call up would at least be a confidence booster for the young man, give him a chance to earn future consideration.
3. Carlos Bocanegra – With the announcement of this roster, Bocanegra’s international career is over.
In his interview that came out with the roster, Klinsmann has said that the team will travel to Sao Paolo, Brazil to train at their facilities before coming back to California for the South Korea game.
Early US Line-Up Projection for South Korea:
_________________Eddie Johnson_________________
Brad Davis_______Landon Donovan______Graham Zusi
______Kyle Beckerman_______Mix Diskerud_________
Chris Klute__Matt Beslar__Omar Gonzalez__Brad Evans
_________________Nick Rimando_________________
Subs
McCarty -> Beckerman
Gil -> Diskerud
Magee -> Donovan
Yedlin -> Evans
Feilhaber -> Zusi
Wondolowski -> Johnson
I know it’s boring, but I’m going for accuracy over craziness.
To wrap this thing up I want to just fire out a few random thoughts:
· I thought Jermaine Jones might get the call up due to his falling out with Schalke…but this says to me he is really serious about his transfer
· Juan Agudelo needs to resolve his club situation ASAP. January camp was really his only prayer at making it into the World Cup this year
· Darlington Nagbe can’t get eligible soon enough
Cheers
Andy Davis