Well folks, here's the list we have been waiting for. Let's discuss . . U.S. MNT Roster by Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals):GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough/ENG; 13/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 33/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0) DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 33/6), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER; 2/0), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 19/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 12/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 2/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; 0/0) MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 1/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 6/0, Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 31/5), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy; 16/0), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 15/1), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 3/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 5/2) FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 33/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 36/13), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 8/3)
I like the roster except the fullback options. Cameron/Brooks has been too good to break up otherwise I'd put Geoff on the right over Orozco. Orozco has been a starter for Tijuana at RB but he's never convinced me against speedy forwards/wingers who both Panama and Honduras have in spades. I know Yedlin is injured, but you'd have to think Timmy Chandler was an available (and I know he's suspended for the first game, but that didn't stop Jermaine from getting called up). At left back, Villafana lost his starting job at Santos to a teenager and Ream has never done particularly well there. Bruce seems committed to to playing Fabian in midfield so it seems like 'ol man Beasley is our best option there. I'm OK with Kljestan being left out as his form to start the season hasn't been good. My guess for the starting XI: Howard Orozco - Cameron - Brooks - Villafana Pulisic - Lletget - Bradley - Johnson Altidore - Wood What I'd like to see: Howard Acosta - Cameron - Brooks - Beasley McCarty - Bradley Nagbe - Pulisic - Johnson Wood Edit: Putting Acosta in at RB and McCarty at DM. Acosta is much better in the midfield, but I'd rather have him at RB than Orozco.
I think the GK and forward selections were pretty obvious, but some strange choices on defense and in the midfield. I would have picked Besler over Ream as back-up CB/LB. Orozco is kind of a surprise pick, but I don't think he's as bad as some make him out to be, and if Yedlin and Lichaj are out, I'd rather him than Zusi at RB. I also would have brought Feilhaber and Klestjan over Jones and Bedoya, or maybe Arriola over one of those two to give us another wide option in midfield. I think Jones can still play a role, but given that he's suspended for the first game and getting up there in age, I would have preferred someone else.
Would have liked to seen Emo instead of Bedoya. My guess ----------------Howard-------------- ---------Gonzo------Brooks------- ---Cameron--------------beaz----- -------------------Dax---------------- -------------Bradley---------------- ---Pulisic-----------------Nagbe--- -------------------------------------------- -----------Jozy------Wood----------- For Panama, add JJ for Dax
My list of questionable inclusions: 1. Bedoya (bad form and probably lost his position due to Pulisic) 2. Acosta (great form, but where is he going to play? we may have better options) 3. Orozco-Fiscal (I am not a fan) otherwise, I am good with the selections . . .
My hope is that Bedoya has now been relegated to the role that Zusi had previously occupied before his RB switch - basically, an outside midfielder who can come off the bench and put in a stout defensive performance when you need him. I'm okay with his inclusion as long as that is his role. If he starts, we've got problems. But with Nagbe, Johnson, and Pulisic available in the midfield, I don't think he will. I like Acosta getting more time with the full team, even if it's just in training. He doesn't seem that likely to play, but sometimes bringing a guy along for the ride pays dividends down the road. Acosta is a prime candidate for that sort of role since I think he is close to being ready to contributing to this team. Orozco...well, the cupboard is pretty bare at RB with Yedlin and Lichaj injured and Chandler suspended. No way, he's got a terrible touch. The tweet was deleted, but basically it was a report of Arena saying that Cameron is the likely starter at RB.
Arena, quoted from Steven Goff's article in the WaPo: “Obviously being suspended for the first game, I didn’t think it was worth having [Chandler] travel from Europe,” Arena said. “Jones is a different situation. He’s a domestic player, so I think that makes a little more sense.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-world-cup-qualifiers/?utm_term=.f9dfc461162e
Yes, agree with all of this . . And if we are going to jump on this, as the trugh, that would mean Zimmerman has the inside track at the other central defender position, opposite Brooks.
FYI Learn more about the #USMNT roster decisions. Bruce Arena is live right now answering your questions! 🇺🇸🙌Watch: https://t.co/HH0EV0RD5n pic.twitter.com/TxwEr04w9S— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 15, 2017
Here is Bruce Arena on the inclusion of Clint Dempsey on his 24-man #USMNT roster: pic.twitter.com/4i9dGcy3lO— Sounders Beat (@SoundersBeat) March 15, 2017