I was thinking something a bit more midieval like catapults, because that's what his spot over on the right feels like.
The only one that strikes me as a bad call-up is Agudelo (and I'm willing to give Klinsmann the benefit of the doubt on that one). The rest is all pretty reasonable.
Williams is the ONE piece that makes the whole Klinnsie scheme work much better. He's essential, IMO. Good call. I'd have preferred no Boca, no Jones and no Gomez, to test the younger ones alone. But still I'm ok with the call. Russia has called several promising young players, like Cheryshev (21, Real Madrid B), Ozdoev (20, Lokomotiv), Grigoryev (22, Lokomotiv), Smolov (22, Anzhi), Dzyuba (24, Spartak) plus several regulars. So it's going to be interesting. ---------------------Howard------------------------ Chandler---Cameron---Bocanegra---Johnson --------------------Williams----------------------- -------------Jones-----------Bradley------------- Gomez------------Altidore--------------Agudelo
No, he is not. This is a friendly. Every match Chandler has played for us has been a friendly. If he is committed to the USA then he would have shown it by accepting a call up to the WC qualifying matches. Instead, he gave us a big "Yeah, right, you and what Sam's Army is gonna make me sully my happy feet on Caribbean cricket pitches and Guatemalan dirt?". As of now he is proven only to be committed to matches which do not commit him to the USA, but do keep him on that expansive list of Bundesliga Boyz that JK is ever a'flutterin' over.
Maybe, we will see this.... ---- Altidore --- - Klejstan - Mix - Gatt - -- Bradley - Williams -- Johnson - Boca - Cameron - Chandler -- Howard --
These threads are always funny. They always prove the maxim "You can't please everyone". JK and his staff can't just go down a list and force everyone they want to fly to Russia for the game. There are mitigating circumstances with every player. There's also a degree of politics between US Soccer and club management. It's a fluid situation that has to be finessed in many different ways. I'm glad to finally see Gatt with the senior side. Glad that Chandler is back, Diskerud gets a trip to Russia with the team, and that Gyau gets to see what life is like with the big boys. This is clearly a game where JK is integrating some of the youth in the squad to see how they do with the big boys. I'm glad that Bradley, Howard, Bocanegra, Gomez, Jones, and Edu are with this group because they are all examples of what a long professional career looks like. Several of those guys are established members of team culture, and can impart on the cubs what is expected in training and on the game field. It is highly unlikely that these young players will come into the game and light up the field. They will probably struggle if they see the field at all. But its good that they get to have a feel of what its like to get in that jersey alongside established veterans and go on a trip to a far-distant country for a good competitive game.
Where did he say it was the only factor? Where did he say it was determinative? If he did not say that, then it is a matter of your reading comprehension.
Go offensive against the Russians in their Russian winter, and you'll pay the price. Remember Napoleon and Hitler. JK must defend a lot at first. I expect them to start with their A-team. Good thing is, Krasnodar is no colder than Seattle.
Bet he's going to try a good showing, to increase his chances of being called to the Mannschaft, from 0.003% to 0.005%.
Translation: his club finally let him go to raise his price and they have bigger fish to fry. Or, he finally grew some balls against his club. Germany was never in the picture. This to me was all about his club. If he finally told them to stick it, happy for him, and happy to have him. Being that there is literally no other RB on this roster (no Dolo?), he'll be playing all 90.
This web site lists Gatt as right-footed, but able to play both right wing and left. http://www.football-lineups.com/footballer/55332/ In any case, I have no trouble swapping Gatt and Gomez. I'm more interested in seeing Altidore as the true striker, and let others play the wings (like Gomez). Seems to me that JK likes Gomez at striker, where he has done well for the US, and the last time Jozy played, he was put out on the wings, where he isn't as effective. I'd rather not see Josy on the wings again. Tip of the spear, like for AZ. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kljestan start, with both Dempsey and Donovan out. But I would not put money on it. I totally understand that JK won't start Jones at CB. That's my pet project, but JK has given zero indication of such a test.
I'm not really sure it was the smartest thing to call in Gomez for this game. Doesn't he have playoffs for his club team this weekend? Moreover, we've seen what he can do and know what he can do, for the most part. There's no reason to use him for this one, unless Juergen is planning on NOT using him, which then raises the question: Why make him jump across the pond and all the way through Europe just to not play, or get substitute minutes? I can understand giving Agudelo a look. As frustrating a season as he has had, he's still really talented and a very hard worker, which makes him quite perfect for Juergen. I hope he gets a look as a winger-forward at some point, because he's great at running at people from the flanks and making the diagonal movements into the channels that defenses have such a tough time coping with.
Are you suggesting that JK has never said that club form is a factor in determining call ups? He pretty much flat out said that was why he excluded Michael Bradley early on his his tenure when Bradley was struggling to find minutes at Villa. And in the case of Edu, the guy has played a grand total of 10 minutes of club soccer in the last 6 months. So if lack of club time was his excuse for Bradley, who is far more important to our team than Edu, why doesn't it apply to Edu? Especially when there are other options that could have been called up at CB, and the fact that he would be a redundant roster selection as a DM. It just goes to show that there is no rhyme or reason to how JK selects his roster. It seems that his roster selections are based on a whim, and he just uses club form as an excuse when its convenient.
--------------------Howard------------------------ -----Chandler Cameron Bocanegra Johnson---- -------------------Williams------------------------ --------Bradley----Kljestan---Jones-------------- -----------------Gomez---------------------------- ----------------------------Altidore---------------- Unfortunately, we may struggle to link the mids with the forwards without someone like Dempsey. Looks to be the most likely line-up here though...
Q: Eric Lichaj has started Aston Villa's last three Premier League games, and 12 of 15 dating to last season. But he hasn't been in camp with the U.S. since you've been the coach. How close is he to getting a call-up? Klinsmann: "Eric has always been on our list and the more he plays, the closer he gets. Right now it's not the right time to bring in a bunch of new players. Every coach wants to see young players coming through the system, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Eric for myself, with the group. 2013 will be a big year with qualification and also the Gold Cup. We'll have to build two rosters. Hopefully there's an opportunity for Eric coming up in the near future if he keeps starting at Aston Villa." http://insider.espn.go.com/sports/s...s-soccer-exclusive-interview-jurgen-klinsmann In that interview JK makes clear he only calls players who play consistently for their club. And if their club is in a good league. Lichaj was playing consistently in a top league club. He didn't get the call, though. Because "it's not the right time to bring in a bunch of new players." JK flip-flops so much, he reminds me of someone...
He was never at Villa when JK was manager. He was persona non grata with MGB before the transfer to Italy. He used Michael in the first match vs. Mexico, but left him off and then didn't start him early on with Cheivo. But, yes your point stands that he will play Edu despite the fact that he NEVER plays. Sort of the DMB of JK's tenure so far.