GOALKEEPERS (6): Joe Bendik (Orlando City SC), Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Sean Johnson (New York City FC) DEFENDERS (12): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Jonathan Spector (Orlando City SC), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) MIDFIELDERS (15): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Tommy McNamara (New York City FC), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Kenny Saief (Gent/BEL), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) FORWARDS (7): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), C.J. Sapong (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Apparently, I haven't been paying attention. Do we have a lot of injuries right now? There are several names I really expected to see on this roster.
Most of the European based regulars are being left at home. A lot of the MLB- based regulars (guys like Bradley, Jozy, Howard) probably won't be on the initial roster but will get swapped in for the knockout rounds
The Roster: U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals) GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 54/0), Bill Hamid (D.C. United; 2/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 5/0) DEFENDERS (8): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 39/1), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 39/1), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 2/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 11/0), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 2/0), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna, MEX; 6/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 47/5) MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 8/0), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX; 5/2), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 60/2), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX; 17/2), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 6/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution; 0/0), Kenny Saief (Gent/BEL; 0/0), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 31/7) FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 23/3), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 15/2)
Cap-tie opportunities: Bill Hamid (D.C. United; 2/0) Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 6/0) Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0) Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution; 0/0) Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0) Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 2/0) I realize several aren't likely dual citizens, it's always good to list them out anyway. And, no Saief doesn't need to play to be cap-tied. His one-time switch means he is tied to the US from here on out.
Even though he doesn't deserve to be on the team based on his form and that Ramirez is better, I can see why Morris is in there as we're going with three strikers and leaving Clint at home. But how the hell did Zardes get into the roster? I mean, he's done absolutely nada for LA this year and his form is some of the worst of his career. If an attacker with lead feet who's got 0 goals/ 1 assist in 964 mins can make the final 23 for this roster, we've got issues. Sad. As for the rest, Miazga has no business on this roster and should be overseas figuring out where he plays this season. The three players I'm most interested in are Saief, Dwyer and Acosta, in that order. I'd like to see if Agudelo can actually do something as the talent's always been there but the fire burns cold. Also been impressed with Roldan who's Seattle's best player. But man, Zardes on this roster makes me throw up in my mouth a little. I question if he'd be on it if not for Bruce being his coach in LA.
I think Zardes has kind of become a scapegoat for LA's problems. He basically has had to play in a different lineup every game and the only way they can get the ball in the attacking third consistently is Boateng burning past defenders. There have been a lot of games where Zardes looked like one of only 2-3 players who could even complete a pass. There probably are more deserving players of a roster spot but he hasn't been as bad as his stats or people are making it out, imo
Zardes is not an international level type of player. He is ok in concacaf. Def will like to see somebody else. I don't know why Bruce is so obsessed with Zusi. Similar to the obsession of Klinsmann with Wondo. Morrow? Lichaj? Are these young players? Don't see the point of bringing Bedoya back, he is pretty much done.
Perhaps you're forgetting the Copa America against Argentina where Zardes was arguably our best player on the pitch.
Don't know how Ruben Rivas feels, but forgetting that game is something I had been trying very hard to do.
This roster does not even attempt to find someone to fix our most glaring weakness. I guess we are preparing to play in a WC with absolutely no one in the central midfield. Unf@$kingreal. Another 4 year cycle completely wasted.
I agree Zardes form doesn't warrant him being called up, but if anyone can get the most out of him, it's Bruce. Would rather see Ramirez than Morris, at least it isn't wondo.
Look in a perfect world we'd have Hyndman but he's recovering from an injury and really needs to make an impression in pre-season for his Premier league team. Williams would also be an upgrade but the same is true of him as well. Other than that you really can't say the Bruce is ignoring anyone for those CM spots. We are what we are.
Bruce Arena names his Gold Cup roster. GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 54/0), Bill Hamid (D.C. United; 2/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 5/0) DEFENDERS (8): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 39/1), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 39/1), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 2/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 11/0), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 2/0), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna, MEX; 6/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 47/5) MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 8/0), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX; 5/2), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 60/2), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX; 17/2), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 6/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution; 0/0), Kenny Saief (Gent/BEL; 0/0), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 31/7) FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 23/3), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 15/2) Yay: Dwyer, Arriola, Roldan, Saief; no Wondo or Bradley!
Just to give a sense of who might get major minutes in this tournament, here are the players on this roster who have featured for Bruce this year already: GK: Guzan - started our last qualifier DF: Zusi - 6 caps, 3 of them starts, 1 in WCQ DF: Gonzalez - 4 caps, 3 of them starts in WCQ DF: Hedges - 1 cap as a sub in a friendly DF: Villafana - 6 caps, 5 of them starts, 3 in WCQ DF: Besler - 0 caps, but on both WCQ camp rosters so far MF: Bedoya - 5 caps, 1 a start in a friendly, 3 of them substitute appearances in WCQ MF: Acosta - 4 caps, 1 a start in WCQ, 2 others were substitute appearances in WCQ MF: McCarty - 1 cap, which was a start in a friendly MF: Arriola - 2 caps, both in WCQ's, 1 of which was a start FW: Morris - 3 caps, all in friendlies, 1 of which was a start FW: Agudelo - 2 caps, both in friendlies, 1 of which was a start As far as I can tell, nobody else on the roster has made a NT appearance this year or featured in a WCQ roster.