Pre-match: Guatemala vs. USA, March 25, 2016

The Wondo selection is not a ridiculous one when you consider his form in MLS right now (3 goals in his first 3 games) and the fact that Altidore is injured. Keep in mind he's also scored three times against Guatemala in the past.

 

Ideally we could say screw the Olympics and promote some of the youngsters for the tough matches. I'm thinking along the lines of Trapp, Morris, Pulisic, etc..

Historically might not be the best indicator in this situation since Wondo and Beckerman are both 33. And neither have been know to be unbelievably athletic and neither have talent to carry them beyond this age without hitting a serious decline IMO. We'll have to see what players shake of injuries in Europe and how the U-23's do against Columbia. Otherwise, there could be a MLS foundation reshuffle coming very quick.

 

While I personally put an infinitely higher priority on WCQ than the Olympics--particularly given the hole our U23s find themselves in--it seems that USSF values the Olympics.

 

Good point. And being a poacher can keep you relevant like Pippo Inzaghi. I may be biased because I've felt Wondo is really underwhelming sometimes from my viewpoint.

 

If Jozy is still injured, we may see a Dempsey-Wondo pairing up top.

Last time they played together was in that friendly vs. Panama. Jozy left at the half, with the game 2-0, and Clint was subbed near the end.

For 35' they played together, and produced very little to be honest.

 

At this point the Copa feels more valuable for all potential USMNT players than the Olympics. We better be taking that more seriously since its early in summer and a great showcase for young players with talent. If we would have already qualified for the Olympics - like you said - then it would be a different story.

 

youll learn to love Bingham, took me some time too, he will be in the mix. The rest........this is why ive been boycotting the nats since the confed playoff

 

Bingham's a good keeper. One of the relative few good calls that Klinsmann has made in the past year has been in recognizing that the two best American keepers in MLS recently--apart from the injured Hamid, who IMO is clearly the best when healthy--are Bingham and Robles.

I do wish that he'd chased Jesse Gonzalez the same way that he'd chased a bunch of other dual nationals. We definitely got the lesser of the Mexican-American GK talents...

 

If us soccer did, Brooks and Yedlin would be going to Colombia. At best, they are trying to focus on both. Morris is really the only guy with the u23s who has any real senior minutes.

 

A bunch of uninspiring selections.

It will be interesting to see if Johnson is healthy enough to start. I think Klinsmann is skeptical of him and his club whenever they claim he is hurt.

My initial guess:

-----------------Wood-------------
Zardes-------Dempsey-----Bedoya
-------Bradley-----Cameron-------
Johnson--Brooks--Gonzo--Yedlin
------------------GK------------------

- If Johnson can't go, then I guess it will have to be Castillo at LB. Sigh. He can't defend well, but at least against Guatemala he shouldn't have to much.
- I hope Klinsmann plans on using Cameron in midfield next to Bradley, because the only other guys on the roster are Mix and Beckerman. I think Beckerman is past it, and I think Mix is good as a sub but shouldn't be starting for us.
- I fully expect Brooks to start, but no idea who will partner with him. Cameron if he isn't at another position. Could be Gonzo like I've listed. Could be Besler (yeah, they're both lefties, so what?). And of course on top of our 4 World Cup CBs, Klinsmann brought three more - Birnbaum, Orozco and Alvarado. I really don't see why. Orozco as FB depth, ok, but really, we don't need 7 CBs.
- Wide midfielders...I figure Bedoya definitely starts at RM. Johnson if he is healthy will start, but whether at LM or LB, I don't know. Not crazy about Zardes, but Klinsmann keeps giving him major minutes. I suppose he could put Nagbe or Nguyen out wide, but both are better centrally in my mind.
- Guzan and Howard aren't inspiring me, but it's gonna have to be one of them.

 

Really puzzling why, given a willingness to include too-old-for-2018 players for these WCQs -- a justifiable decision -- USSoccer would elect not to send Brooks and Yedlin with the U23s.

Also getting a weird contradictory vibe from the decision to bring a dedicated #6, suggesting that could be a tactical option, without bringing a back-up for the position in the event of injury. (Unless, as someone noted earlier, Cameron is the back-up CDM.)

 

IMO it's a mental issue with him. He's scored a ton of goals against better defenses than most he's seen in his international career, goals that are about 90% the product of his absolutely uncanny ability to find himself unmarked in the box against defenses of any caliber in the world (ie Belgium). On the big stage, he just seems to shrink.

At this point in his career, I don't think it's likely to matter for much longer anyhow. And it's time that some more of our #9s get their looks. Sapong, for instance, is a perfectly reasonable candidate for that last forward position on the side, the sort that you'd want available in games such as we've got this next week (and a better option for the same role that Klinsmann tends to call Alan Gordon in for) and he hasn't gotten any consideration at all.

 

Jurgen Klinsmann continues to destroy any enthusiasm I have left as a fan. Every time. There are some friendly matches where you get some weird call ups but also some pleasant surprises. However, and as always, when it's a meaningful game he goes back to his old vets and guys who aren't that good.

Frustrating as hell. This team is good enough to get 6 points. Still, I think I speak for some fans when it's tiresome seeing the likes of Orozco, Alvarado, and Wondo again. Castillo? Going to play a 3-5-2? Not likely.

Brooks and Yedlin should be with the U-23's.

Bang your head against the wall 50 times with the same approach and players.

 

Its more Yarbrough than Bingham that I am complaining about. I've read some of your reports on Bingham's progression, and I've seen some of it, but I still think there are one or two better options to pick. Thats what a website like this is for though, we get mad about who the third and fourth keepers are.

 

Great two poachers up top with Klinsmann's horrid diamond.

 

There are no words or bounds for Jurgen Klinsmann's level of incompetence, and Sunil Gulati by proxy. I'm just exasperated by this duo. They are making our country's football shameful again.

 

clubs aren't obligated to release players for U23 qualifiers, but are for WCQ

 

On the positive side, it's CONCACAF. We should be able to beat in a home/away series most of these teams with no coach at all.

 

How many CB's do we need? Castillo can't mark a traffic cone.

 

You know, I'm tempted to think that Klinsmann is once again considering the 352.

 

I guess Jurgens strategy of just plugging you in there when you're not good enough and just hoping one day you will be worked with Bobby Wood. Don't think it's a high percentage strategy going forward though. Good for Ventura I guess, been a rough few months for him.

 

Ah, right. I had forgotten.

 

And as we all know, the best time to dork around with seldom used personnel groupings is WCQ.

Friendlies are for winning.

 

I don't disagree. I simply say that in response to the roster selections made and his history of doing exactly that in exactly such situations.

 

I thought Pulosic was going to get a call unless FJ may not be as hurt as we were told. The kid I thought had a good chance to be call is Villafana, but that would be too much to expect from JK.