Arguing for Boyd, we have ... http://www.nysun.com/sports/as-focus-shifts-to-size-demand-for-dribbling-wanes/44214/ Discussed (though not with particular intelligence or wit) here ... https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/klinsmanns-clarion-call-all-tall-small-fall.443067/ {Note the date = November 2006}
So judging by the fact that you ignored it, I'm guessing you don't want to revist the claim re: the last six months? Jozy has been doing the dirty work for a bad Sunderland team all year. Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of that experience? Someone on the front line is going to have to absorb that pressure. Might as well try to take lemons and make some caipirinhas or whatever the hell they drink down there. I'll be at the SF match in person, and I'm very curious to see what the plan is in the last preparations before the cup kickoff.
Boyd was ahead of Wondo all throughout qualifying. What changed? Two games that Boyd wasn't available for?
I mean it's not a given that Wondo is ahead of Boyd, given that we don't have a clear apples to apples comparison, but I'd think it's pretty obvious. Since qualifying ended, Wondo has really made a case for himself whereas Boyd has yet to make his case at all, even during qualifying. Wondo won a Gold Boot at the Gold Cup, then scored three goals in two matches leading into the camp. Boyd has yet to net his first goal for the US. Also, notice that Wondo has moved in front of EJ among US based players. EJ was already in front of Boyd during qualifying. Honestly, it really is more of a question of whether Klinsmann sees Wondo ahead of Aron Johannsson. Johannsson is clearly ahead of Boyd as of the last European friendlies, yet we can't be sure where he rates next to Wondolowski at this point.
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl · 13h Not just MLS players but virtually all non-MLS players expected for start of US pre-WC camp on May 14 at Stanford. 26 to 28 players likely. Hmm. I was hoping Klinsmann would call in a full 30. There seems to be lots of competition, and there's always potential for injuries in camp.
I don't get why he doesn't do replacements or gives himself some breathing room. Just call them and send them home later. It's the World Cup, not a friendly with Jamaica.
Gotta agree, he should call the full compliment of players. On the other hand, JK has never been one lacking in confidence, nor conviction in his beliefs. If he only needs 26-28, then I have to give him the benefit of the doubt that the other 2-4 players aren't anywhere near the final 23 barring 3-4+ injuries and that it would be a waste of time to have them take some focus away from the other 26-28 players who are REALLY in the mix. Calling this few players shows how difficult the decisions are at the bottom, imo..and those decisions will call for JK's full attention during pre-camp.
I think he has this one wrong.... I can think of a 30-man roster that would be useful in weeding out useless players. He's doing himself and the USMNT a disservice. IMHO, the most important positions JK needs to weed out for are the FW's and the entire backline.
I don't totally understand what Wahl is saying here. Is he just saying that virtually all of the non-MLS players that will be on the 26-28 man roster will be available at the start of the camp?
Yeah I better hope this is true for the sake of his sanity. Because Klinsmann has never been one lacking in confidence nor conviction in his own beliefs, you have faith in Klinsmann's belief that the other 2-4 players aren't anywhere near the final 23? Hahaha.
He is saying that Klinsmann wants (virtually) everybody to be in camp at the start of the camp. No extra days off for anyone, regardless of location/league schedule.
I think you see Aron going to Brazil because we need at least one forward who can dribble down the touch line in the attacking end. The term "better than" is a little vague. Better at what? Boyd and EJ have a similar player profile. I think one goes, not both, because we have enough central attackers and not enough wide playng forwards.
Klnsmann has spoken before about the ideal number in terms of training for a particular match which I think is 23. It is likely that he adds supernumeraries, 3 - 5 more say, based on injury/fitness reports.
As in, he feels there is such a gap between, say, the 28th (or 26th, or 27th) player and those behind that player that he doesn't feel the need to call them in. I thought this was pretty clear in my post but apparently not. I'm not necessarily saying I agree with that, but I imagine this is how he sees it if he isn't even going to call in 30 players to camp.
My thinking is that Klinsmann feels he has seen enough over the course of the cycle where the weeding has generally been done..at least down to 26-28 players if that is all he calls in. Why would he call in players that he wouldn't feel ok with naming to the 23-man roster? Edit: The point about 3rd and 4th keeper that Mr Martin just mentioned is something to consider. He is saying that not only will all MLS players be there (as expected since it is in the U.S.), but also all non-MLS players (perhaps unexpected because of the important time in the season for some of them?)
For the camp I could easily see JK bringing in only the top 2 keepers -- Howard and Guzan. Why bring in Rimando, even if he is the 23d player on the Cup squad. Rimando's form would be better playing real matches with his club until right before the Cup. Same goes for any possible 4th keeper like Sean Johnson, assuming JK lists a 4th keeper on the required 30. So, right there I could see why only 28 players come to camp out of the 30-man pool. But who to leave off to take the camp number down to 26 is harder.
Well, given JK's posturing on the roster, he has pretty much made up his mind, so I'm sure he won't deviate from this 23 man roster...... Goalkeepers(Sub - S. Johnson) ----------------------------- Howard Guzan Rimando Defenders(Subs - Beasley, B. Evans) ----------------------- Yedlin Chandler* Cameron Gonzalez Besler Goodson F.Johnson Parkhurst Midfielders(Subs - Edu, Williams) ---------------------------------------- Bradley Jones Beckerman Bedoya Zusi Diskerud Donovan Dempsey Forwards(Subs - Agudelo, Boyd) ----------------------------------------- Altidore Johannsson Wondolowski E. Johnson I guess this would be an ok roster. I wouldn't be too thrilled about it. Edu could be useful in an already suspect defense. JK was looking like he was ready to book Shea even though he plays in the Championship.... I would like to see Danny Williams get a look since he's on form. It wouldn't hurt to give Boyd and Agudelo another look either. Make the "lock" out-of-form forwards earn their ticket.
So you think he's already picked the final 23? I highly doubt that. For instance, Green is still surely in the mix and isn't even listed in your substitutes. You may also see a guy like Orozco-Fiscal, Castillo or Torres sneak into the 28 and make a case for themselves. He may not be calling in 30 players but there are still some spots up for grabs.
He's close enough... Like you said.. He's not using all of his 30 for camp so he has a pretty good idea of who he wants. Castillo isn't going to make the 30 because in most of his caps(if not all of them) he has been subbed off due to poor performance. Defensively, he's tactically inept. Torres's name hasn't been called in almost a year so I doubt he gets a call now despite his regained form. Orozco has an outside shot, that's if he gets the call for camp. There's really not much of a difference between Orozco & Goodson. Both have flaws. This is why JK needs to use his entire 30. "Leave no stone unturned."
This is kinda what he is doing... there will be 30 guys on the list, but only 26 - 28 guys from the list that will be in camp.
God bless Nike: http://soccer.si.com/2014/04/25/nike-soccer-commercial-tim-howard-neymar-ronaldo-zlatan-pirlo/ Very little to do with the thread other than number 1 on everyone's list. Timmaaaaaay!
This is the sort of thing about Klinsmann that simply drives me crazy. I temper that by remembering that most of it has worked out fine in the end, but... C'mon, Klinsi...
7 days (between player club WC releases and 23 man roster is due) is not enough time to bring in 30 and evaluate all. I have no problem with him bringing in less than the allowed 30.
Well, according to that Grant Wahl tweet, Klinsmann wants guys in camp by May 14th. The final 23 man roster is due June 2nd, so that would give a solid two weeks of evaluation. Though as we saw from Altidore last year, just because he wants a guy in early for training doesn't mean that he will be able to secure their release. Still, even if he could only get the MLS guys in early, it would give a chance to evaluate plenty of fringe roster guys. Also, while Wahl tweeted that he expected 26 to 28 players, it is worth noting that Klinsmann did say this the other day: "If it was tomorrow, I'd give you the 30 names," Klinsmann said. "But, obviously, we want to see a couple of more things over the next couple weeks. But we are close, very close to have a really clear idea about those 30 guys." So, maybe he will call in 30. Or perhaps the last few guys will be alternates on call but not actually brought in. I dunno.