U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann has introduced his 23-man roster for Friday’s worldwide pleasant towards Scotland and the Austria match 4 days later. Here is one man’s tackle the staff.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
November 11, 2013
1:58 PM
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IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN Jurgen Klinsmann’s full roster for the 2 upcoming friendlies, click on right here. It is a good staff. It options youth, expertise, grit, and loads of potential. I will be watching, and so will you. Listed here are just a few preliminary ideas on the roster.
1. It is about frickin’ time
When you’re studying this column, you then most likely understand how we really feel about Eric Lichaj. We like him. Loads.
The USA nationwide staff at the moment has two midfielders—Brad Evans and DaMarcus Beasley—slated to begin at fullback within the 2014 World Cup. And despite the fact that each gents carried out admirably within the Hexagonal, neither is an optimum resolution at a place that has plagued the U.S. for years. It’s nice to see Lichaj get a name, his first since Klinsmann took over in 2011, for these two friendlies. Will Lichaj benefit from the chance? Will he see the pitch in both match? It will likely be enjoyable to observe.
2. Donde esta Landon Donovan?
Significantly. The place is he? Los Angeles received bounced from the playoffs and LD’s subsequent membership match is not for one more 4-5 months. Coach’s choice? Participant’s choice? Is that this concerning the ankle? Or is there extra to it? Fascinating.
3. No Guzan? No Want
Barring damage or an act of the Soccer Gods, Tim Howard will begin all three group stage matches in Brazil. Jurgen Klinsmann has just about confirmed this, and that is his proper to take action. On condition that, it is smart to let Guzan take a breather in the course of the worldwide break. He has nothing left to show to his coach, his nation, or anyone else. Invoice Hamid and Sean Johnson, nonetheless, can use all of the expertise they will get, and it is nice to see them getting an opportunity to impress in coaching.
4. Constructing Up Brek
Brek Shea’s transfer to Stoke Metropolis is approaching full-blown calamity standing. He cannot get any significant motion with the primary staff, and his inventory has plummeted. Klinsmann, who often presses his gamers to maneuver to greater, more durable leagues, was by no means an enormous proponent of Shea’s transfer to England. However the coach is doing his lanky winger a critical favor by together with him on this squad. Shea has not earned the fitting to be with the staff however he might use it a springboard, or maybe even as a showcase for a mortgage to an English Championship staff.
5. Wondo because the Sixth Striker?
The primary 5 names on Klinsmann’s (alphabetical) listing of strikers are past reproach: Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Clint Dempsey, Aron Johannsson, and Eddie Johnson make for a compelling quintet. However is Chris Wondolowski actually the following in line after them? Herculez Gomez is again from damage, and will use these friendlies to get reacquainted with the nationwide staff. Juan Agudelo had an ideal run with the New England Revolution and appears worthy of consideration. Mike Magee is magic. However Wondo received the decision. Curious, however maybe not solely stunning.
6. Taking part in Favorites at Ahead
Talking of strikers…. Dempsey hasn’t precisely lit up the Pacific Northwest throughout his time with Seattle. Altidore is scoreless in 10 Premier League appearances with Sunderland this season. Boyd has carried out properly for Fast Vienna, however succes within the mediocre Austrian league doesn’t essentially recommend worldwide success. Eddie Johnson is…Eddie Johnson. And Wondolowski has received to be thought-about a security internet/sub with this squad. So: Is Aron Johannsson the first-choice striker? Primarily based on present type, you might actually argue he’s one of the best of the lot. I in some way doubt he’ll get the nod. However I might like to see it occur.
7. No Timothy Chandler
Apparently the Nurnberg proper again has extra work to do earlier than he will get one other shot. I can not say that I am sorry to see Lichaj get a name as a substitute, however Chandler deserves a ton of credit score for preventing his manner again into the Nurnberg lineup. Hopefully he’ll proceed to push laborious and create extra competitors on the fullback place with the U.S. nationwide staff.
8. Midfield Logjam—Once more
Let’s assume that Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, and Fabian Johnson comprise three-fourths of the U.S. nationwide staff’s optimum midfield. Who do you play on the fitting? Three professional candidates—Alejandro Bedoya, Combine Diskerud, and Sacha Kljestan—made this 23-man roster, and it will likely be telling to see how Klinsmann divvies up the taking part in time. Will these matches give us a way of who Klinsmann initiatives as his starters in Brazil? (Value noting: Three different candidates to play on the fitting wing—Joe Corona, Landon Donovan, and Graham Zusi—won’t be with the staff in Scotland or Austria.)
9. Throw Brooks Out There
Klinsmann is satisfied that John Brooks is solidly aligned with the USA nationwide staff regardless of not being cap-tied. Let’s hope so, as a result of he’s a possible game-changer for the Yanks. Ideally, Brooks begins each matches and begins to really feel extra indoctrinated with the staff. In an ideal world, Brooks and Omar Gonzalez can be paired up in central protection for each friendlies. If these twin towers (Gonzalez is six-foot-five and Brooks is six-foot-four) develop some chemistry forward of Brazil, they may pose large issues to opponents subsequent summer season.
10. The place Do You Play Cameron?
Geoff Cameron is a rock-solid proper again with Stoke Metropolis, however he’s a person with out a place for the USA. Do you set him at middle again? Proper again? Midfielder? I’ve no clue. Hopefully Klinsmann has a plan, and hopefully he implements it in these two matches.
OK, these are my ideas on the roster—now share yours. You need to use the Feedback part beneath and/or create your very personal U.S. — Scotland Beginning XI. Even higher—everyone who creates, and shares, a Beginning XI for the Scotland match is mechanically entered right into a random drawing for a free ASN T-Shirt.
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.
