These call ups just further prove that Klinsmann is full of shit when he says that club form is an important factor in earning a call up to the national team. Edu isn't even making the 18 man game roster, and he continues to be included. What a joke. I can't fathom how Juan Agudelo gets called in for this match and Chris Wondolowski doesn't. Apparently being young is more important than being good. As far as Timmy is concerned, this is a friendly, so Timmy isn't committing to the US. He's not committed until he plays in a qualifier or a Gold Cup game. What our starting lineup should be 4-4-2: -----------------------Gomez------Altidore------------------------ ----------------------------Bradley---------------------------------- ------------Kljestan----------------------------------Gatt----------- ------------------------------Jones----------------------------------- Johnson------------Boca---------Cameron--------------Chandler What we'll probably see 4-5-1: -----------------------------------Gomez------------------------------ Kljestan-------------------------Bradley-------------------Williams ------------------------Edu-------------------Jones------------------- Johnson-------------Boca----------------Cameron--------Chandler
I don't think either deserves a call up for the national team. But its pretty clear that JK is even more defensive minded than Bob ever was (especially in the midfield). Adu could be lighting MLS on fire (which he wasn't) and he still wouldn't get a call up from JK.
Landon Donovan has been listed as a striker pretty much every match for the past 4 years and has pretty much never started there. Just sayin. Edu is a defensive midfielder. Whether he's listed as a striker, as a goalie, or as a defender doesn't change what he is.
I want to see Gatt start just to see him play for once. I have heard so much about him but never seen him. Im happy to have chandler back and hopefully he is finally committed. Altidore deserves to be in there as well. Should be a interesting game to watch.
Small roster makes sense in a 1-off friendly with very limited training time. Dissappointed that Howard was called in and Guzan wasn't. I would have done the opposite. Guzan has earned a match and Howard, who is still #1, has earned a break. Also dissappointed in the lack of any new CB options. JK's over-reliance on aging CBs might really hurt this team at some point. Boca deserved a break, too. The Edu callup given the guys lack of match time is odd. I'm indifferent to Dempsey's absence, since this is only a friendly. I'm glad Cherundolo is being given a break. I'm surprised Parkurst wasn't included. I'm dissappointed that Zusi wasn't called in. This would be an ideal time to see if his good play vs CONCACAF could translate to a top team like Russia. Plus, I don't really see the point in calling up Agudelo. I'm very glad to see Chandler back and the young wingers, Gatt and Gyau, brought in for a look. Offensive width has been an ongoing issue for the US. Glad to see Altidore back. I sure hope he gets to play the striker role he is best suited for, rather than the winger role JK has seemed to try and shoe-horn Jozy into recently. Will be most interested to see how Gomez and Jozy are deployed. This is what I expect JK to start the game with (4-3-3): ---Altidore----------Gomez-----------Gatt --------------Bradley------Jones----------- --------------------Williams---------------- Johnson--------------------------Chandler ---------------Boca---Cameron------------ ------------------Howard------------------- I usually prefer 4-4-2, but I don't see a logical left mid for a 4-4-2, so I would try the 4-3-3 (4-5-1) like this, including my long time pet experiment at CB: --------------------Altidore------------------- -Gomez--------------------------------Gatt- -------------Bradley----Kljestan------------ -------------------Williams------------------ Johnson---------------------------Chandler ---------------Cameron--Jones------------- -------------------Howard-------------------
Glad to see Gatt, Gyau, and Diskerud all on the roster. A lot of potential for those 3 from what I can tell.
I suspect that Gatt is left-footed since he's usually listed at LM. Gomez is right-footed. So, I'd change your 4-3-3 accordingly. Kljestan won't start anyhow. Jones won'y play CB.
---------------Altidore------------- Gyau----------Bradley---------Gatt ----------Williams---Jones--------- Johnson-------------------Chandler ------------Boca---Cameron-------- ----------------Howard-------------
I agree, O'brien is beast. I would of taken him over gyau or diskerud; even though I am happy both of them are getting a call up.
If LA had lost last night.........Gonzo would have been on this squad. In fact, that might be why they were waiting until today to make the squad announcement.
well, very strong rooster- we really have now the luxury of having a good team in usa and a good team in europe. we really went far. defense very strong, with our best lateral options, with cameron and goodson in central defense...good. boca does not have anymore the lavel to be a lock in our team- midfield. with willaims, bradley, klaejestain, jones...very strong but we needeed a good playmaker, like zusi or dempsey- but they deserve a break. attack very strong, with boyd, altidore, gomez hope to see gyau and josh gatt and as chandler is about 23 he cannot change his mind, i think. good player. and i forgive him not to be in the first round of concacaf as long he cames to the second round, off course
That's almost certainly the reason why the late roster release, but then the Sporting guys should be been available, and they're not here so...
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/tottenham/id/176?cc=5901 this is why Dempsey is falling away. As a spurs fan I will tell you guys it is looking ugly.
Well, Jones hasn't played defensive mid since last May, so I wouldn't include him in that group. Jones' main competition is Bradley at this point. I really only see two defensive mids on this roster.
FWIW, I would hazard that Jurgen does want to try too many new players at once against a tough foreign opponent, so I guess the young attackers headline this match and the January camp *hopefully* features new defenders. That doesn't make the situation any better for me mind you, but that could be the reasoning.