In my opinion, the Mexico game should be used to experiment some while the Jamaica games are dead serious. More, i believe there should be a number of players that should NOT be included in the Mexico game. For instance, Bradley, Cameron (if he moves), Dempsey (if he moves), Bocanegra, Edu, Guzan, etc... That said here is who is looking to make the roster: (3) IN GOAL locks: #1 Tim Howard, #2 Brad Guzan the battle for #3: Nick Rimando v Ryan Meara v Dan Kennedy v Andy Gruenebaum v Sean Johnson v Caleb Patterson-Sewell v Bill Hamid. Notes: Rimando is the current incumbent but he has been receiving stiff competition from MLS competitors, Kennedy and Gruenebaum, who are having excellent seasons. There are also the young guns in Meara (who also is having an outstanding season and IMO, has the most potential), Hamid, and Johnson. Also, there is the newcomer Patterson-Sewell that is hyped to force is way into the picture sooner than later. My current picks: Howard, Guzan, Meara (4) AT CENTER BACK Lock: #1 Carlos Bocanegra (captain) the battles for #2-4: Geoff Cameron v Tim Ream v Zak Whitbread v Seb Hines v Clarence Goodson v George John v Omar Gonzalez v Oguchi Onyewu Notes: This is by far our current sore spot. For starters, our only "lock" will be adjusting to a new club and is older than dirt. In fact, he's only a lock because he's the captain. Then we have Goodson and Onyewu who are also getting older; And let's not dismiss how horrible Gooch was in the past USMNT games. The bright spot is that we do have an emerging center back in Geoff Cameron but he is in a very delicate club situation which should leave him off the Mexico game roster. Then you have Ream who had a decent season in the EPL and begins his journey in the Championship this season with Bolton, but it should be noted that Klinsmann dropped him like a hot potato after a slew of poor performances with the nats. After these guys, we have Hines, Whitbread, Gonzalez, and John who have yet to receive any minutes under JK. And it should be noted that Whitbread who is more fragile than JOB and does not even have a club at the moment and Gonzo is just now returning from a major injury. In short, a lot may change between now and September. my current picks: Bocanegra, Cameron, Ream, Goodson (4) AT FULLBACK: Locks: Fabian Johnson #1LB, Steve Cherundolo #1RB Battles for #2 RB & #2 LB: Eric Lichaj (R/L) v Jonathan Spector (R/L) v Edgar Castillo (L) v Tim Chandler (R/L) v Michael Parkhurst (R) v Alfredo Morales* (R) v Daniel Williams* (R/L) v Chance Myers (R) v Steve Beitashour (R) v Zach Loyd (R/L) v Heath Pearce (L) v Sheannon Williams (R) v Kevin Alston (R) v Tony Beltran (R) v Justin Morrow (L) v Adam Henley** (R/L) v Gotoku Sakai** (L) Notes: *Morales and Williams i consider more CDM's but they may be needed for fullback duty. Spector may be slotted as a MF too, but it's not likely. **Sakai and Henley are unlikely to play for the USMNT, but not only are they still eligible but they would be huge upgrades to our team. Johnson is the clear cut LB favorite. Cherundolo is a shoe-in at RB for this game given the Chandler debacle but he is getting old. After these guys, it's not so clear. Lichaj should be on the roster but Klinsmann chose to ignore him for the past call-ups. Chandler would be on the roster too but he needs to figure out what he's going to do and quit playing games. After those two, Castillo is a talented attacking option down the left side but is very susceptible for bonehead plays, Parkhurst is solid and has excellent distribution but does not necessarily possess the raw materials to translate his game to the international level, Spector is inconsistent and often injured, and then you have to take a stab in the dark at one of the MLS defenders. My current picks: Johnson, Cherundolo, Chandler, Lichaj (6) IN THE MIDFIELD Locks: #1 Michael Bradley, #2 Jermaine Jones, #3 Jose Torres Battles: Kyle Beckerman v Sacha Kljestan v Stuart Holden v Maurice Edu v Daniel Williams* v Alfredo Morales* v Jonathan Spector* vMikkel Diskerud v Graham Zusi* v Joe Corona* v Benny Feilhaber* v Lee Nguyen* v Osvaldo Alonso** v Hirofumi Moriyasu** Notes: *Morales and Williams may be needed more at fullback; Zusi, Corona, Feilhaber, and Nguyen may be needed more as winger options. To me, Spector isn't going to get his chance in the MF unless it's an emergency situation. **Alonso would really be competitive to make the roster if he was somehow eligible; in fact, i'd let him take Edu's spot if he was. Moriyasu is a complete unknown to me. As of now, we are waiting to see how Holden returns from injury. Last reports indicate a September/October return which should knock him out of contention for this game. After him, our most competitive options for the last 3 spots are Beckerman, Kljestan, Edu, and Williams. Personally, i see Beckerman as the odd man out. Also, Morales could sneak in there if he cements his spot with Hertha this season. After these guys, Mix, Corona, Zusi, Feilhaber, Nguyen, and all the other prospects will have to wait their turn and try and break through the team at another time. My picks: Bradley, Jones, Torres, Edu, Williams, Kljestan (6) AT FORWARD & ON THE WINGS Locks: #1 Clint Dempsey, #2 Landon Donovan, #3 Herculez Gomez, #4 Jozy Altidore Battles: Chris Pontius v Joshua Gatt v Chris Wondolowski v Freddy Adu v Kenny Cooper v Terrence Boyd v Juan Agudelo v CJ Sapong v Eddie Johnson v Teal Bunbury v Charlie Davies v Andrew Wooten v Will Bruin v DaMarcus Beasley v Joe Gyau v Brek Shea v Robbie Rogers v Graham Zusi* v Benny Feilhaber* v Joe Corona* v Lee Nguyen* Notes: Given how interchangeable these positions are with most of these players, i've decided to just lump them all in one category. That said, Dempsey, Donovan, Gomez, and Altidore are locks to be there in camp come September. That leaves two slots open for players to break into the team. Right now, we've got Wondo who is on a tear in MLS but it should be noted that he has performed poorly every opportunity in a US shirt, and we have Pontius and Gatt who are very promising but who are also uncapped. After them, a lot will be determined over the next two months between the other players. For instance, will Wooten, Gyau, Davies, and Boyd break into the starting line-up or at least be part of the roster rotation at their clubs? if so, that would make them very hard to ignore. While Beasley is older, he does bring a wealth of experience and has been in excellent form lately. And Corona was given a chance in the last camp, but the fact that he couldn't even make a last minute cameo appearance when we needed an attacking midfielder on the pitch may speak volumes to how highly Klinsy rated the player. Also, Zusi, Cooper, and Bruin are in excellent form in MLS; they could sneak in there. Adu has all the talent in the world and has always performed well at the international level which makes him an option too, but he needs to prove it with Philly. Agudelo, Shea, and Feilhaber are a similar case but i've not been impressed with them this season. In addition, Klinsy likes Stonewall Rogers; even if he does have the touch of a stonewall. Furthermore, Johnson, Sapong, Nguyen, and Bunbury could technically sneak on the roster if they start tearing the score sheets up between here and now, but i'm waiting for Camp Cupcake at the earliest for these guys. In short, one of Pontius and Gatt should be there, and we will need one extra CF who is yet to be decided. My picks: Donovan, Dempsey, Pontius, Altidore, Gomez, Boyd So, my 23 (as of 7/18): GK: Howard, Guzan, Meara FB: Chandler, Cherundolo, Lichaj, Johnson CB: Bocanegra, Cameron, Ream, Goodson MF: Bradley, Torres, Jones, Edu, Williams, Kljestan FW: Altidore, Gomez, Boyd, Dempsey, Donovan, Pontius Alternates: Rimando, John, Spector, Morales, Beckerman, Gatt, Wondolowski Starting XI: ----------------------Altidore---------------------- ---------Dempsey--------------Donovan---------- --------------Torres---------Bradley--------------- -----------------------Jones------------------------ Johnson-----------------------------------Chandler --------------Bocanegra---Cameron--------------- -----------------------Howard----------------------
My changes in bold: --------------------Altidore----------------- --------Dempsey----------------Donovan-- ---------------Jones----------Bradley------ ------------------------Edu----------------- -----Johnson---------------------------Dolo-- -------------------Boca------Goodson------- Jones doesn't want to play DM in 433. Not sure what JK is doing about left/right placement. Edu keeps the score down. Dolo has the desire to play; Chandler is a time bomb. The production we got out of Johnson at LB when Chandler declined to show up should be a lesson to all who get too comfortable with penciling a guy in automatically to a spot on the roster. Cameron may or may not play well at CB; Goodson is a sure thing. When the above line up gets 6 points from Jamaica we can start dealing with age issues in the remaining quali's for 2012, i.e., Guat at home and Antigua away in October. E.g., I wouldn't mind seeing Zusi for Jones, Lichaj for Dolo, and whomever we see as heir apparent to Dono playing wide right/left fwd. OTOH, if the lineup doesn't deliver the 6 points, it is back to the drawing board.
33 years old isn't "old as dirt" for a central defender. And he only turned 33 a month or two ago. People act like Carlos Bocanegra is 38 or something. We may need to replace him before WQ14, but right now he is indeed a lock no matter how we analyze it. One could argue that based on performances over the past year for the USMNT..........he's our best, most consistent central defender anyway. It's hard to argue otherwise.
Really, lets see. Kljestan did not make the last extended 29 man roster, Williams was hurt. Neither will have much competetive matches to improve their selection until Jamaica. Beckerman just made another MLS all star team and has 4 goals and 4 assists to go with his stellar defensive work at RSL.
Shea didn't show up this season, and the longer it goes on, the less likely I think he is to make it on the roster. Hopefully he turns things around, because I really think he has the potential for it. In the mean time, he's going to have to be happy with the U-23 squad. He did get the personal "here's why you're not playing Scotland" from JK, so we shall see.
Not according to one very angry FC Dallas fan that roams these halls from time to time. He swears it's Shea, 9 smurfs, and a goalie. Plus there was the whole turf toe thing which is a very serious injury despite it's silly name (or so I've been told by so many people).
Are you sure it isn't me? lol but seriously, no, he's had an unimpressive season... Turf toe can be extremely painful if you don't rest up, so possibly. Plus FCD in general has had a rough season, and that doesn't reflect well on even the top players (it's why the English team is full of Liverpool and Arsenal players instead of Wigan and Wolverhampton... No offense to those clubs)
I think this is the likely lineup for Jamaica, although I do see Cameron and Chandler in the back line more permanently by next spring. I also think Edu will be the odd man out once Holden returns, provided he comes back to the level he was before the injury issues.
Nobody has stepped up to claim the left wing spot in Shea's absence the way that Johnson claimed the left back spot from Chandler when Chandler was out.
There's hope yet! But he really needs to step it up before I would be willing to put him on the USMNT...
I don't see any major changes to project yet, they will probably develop as the European seasons begin. Howard, Guzan, Rimando Bocanegra, Cameron, Goodson, Onyewu Cherundolo, Johnson, Castillo, Spector Bradley, Jones, Edu, Torres, Beckerman, Williams Dempsey, Donovan Gomez, Altidore, Boyd, Wondolowski 1. Spector back in the squad, for Parkhurst. 2. Originally I dropped Wondo for the healthy Williams, but he's hot so Corona falls out instead. This is also how I see the Azteca squad, but we know there will be plenty of dropouts due to club request, transfer situations, injuries and "injuries".
Shea is playing on cable against Quakes tonight. I have to stay up late, you don't. Shea needs to learn better technique with his feet. In his last game he got on the end of a cross in front of the goal and put it over the bar when he was 2 yds away! They are playing him centrally now in Dallas so he cant run away from the play anymore. I think he will start scoring goals or help his teammates score with off the ball movement. Don't be surprised if he gets the call up for Guat home or A&B away in October. In a game where we are leading 2-0, say, with Dempsey-Altidore-Donovan up front, Shea's wide left side play and good defence would make him a good sub, in certain situations, for Jozy who tires around the 67' mark.
Williams would have made the 23 man roster but his club didn't let him because of his injured shoulder, he will more than likely get called up for Mexico game.
GK: Howard, Guzan, Rimando FB: Chandler, Cherundolo, Castillo, Johnson CB: Bocanegra, Cameron, Ream, Goodson MF: Bradley, Torres, Jones, Edu, Williams, Corona FW: Altidore, Gomez, Boyd, Dempsey, Donovan, Pontius I picked Castillo over Lichaj because that's what I see JK doing but I'm sure he will call up Lichaj for the September and October WCQs.
That's because Chandler was only a stopgap at LB and his future is pegged for the right side, for which he is much better. Chandler and Johnson on each side of the back line gives us the best L-RB duo the national team has had, certainly in terms of attacking.
Lichaj will get a callup only if he is playing in the EPL so maybe October camp. Wondo has 17 goals in 18 matches so any lineup without him is silly. Beckerman is playing too well and is also scoring and assisting so he will be called. I would replace Boyd and Pontius with Wondo and Beckerman. If Adu heats up he may replace Corona else expect to see Zusi get another call.
I expect Corona to get called up because of his experience in Mexico and I see either Pontius or Wonder getting called up.
I think he's getting groomed for a spot in the full team. I read an article where he stated he roomed with Landon Donovan during throughout the five-game series earlier this year. I don't think that was by chance, I think Klinsmann sees something in Corona. I hope he's right and Corona becomes an impact player for us in the near future.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the exact same squad out there. If any changes are made, it will be minimal, so yeah, +/-2.
i think cameron would be my only major change, 2 slow footed cbs is a recipe for disaster goodson and boca get exposed. boca experience is fine, but i want a quicker cb and for that reason chandler over dolo too, but experience versus footspeed we double back on 9/11 and can make a few changes as in the9/11 match JK can introduce a more attacking 11 and what's thge card situation who's in danger of a 2nd yellow meaning miss the 2nd match if you play safe sit that giu out 9/7
Chandler is not a good attacking fullback. You'll understand over time. His defence is adequate. He'll need help on the fastest internationals.
I'll "understand"? Sorry, but Chandler is an excellent attacker, which is something you won't have to see over time because he's already shown to be. Chandler is our RB for the next 8-10 years and will be a very good one over the next two cycles. He's, at least, better than anyone we have out there in the post-Cherundolo era.