Friday, September 30, 2011

Klinsmann Names 22 man roster for Honduras and Ecuador Friendly

Jurgen Klinsmann named his latest roster for the upcoming international break.  For anyone who hasn't seen, here it is:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)
FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

THOUGHTS
Here goes:

Starting at keeper, am I the only person worried about the sudden lack of depth here??? Tim Howard won’t be around forever and Brad Guzan desperately needs a transfer away from Aston Villa. Rimando is far too small to really be a top keeper on the international level. Hamid looks a fantastic prospect, but he still hasn’t even played an international match at any level, and that’s as green as it gets.

So happy to see Gooch back in the fold. All he has done since battering in the door on Sportings starting line-up is win five consecutive games, and his headed goal was a display of physical authority. Bocanegra is self-explantory. Tim Ream and Michael Orozco Fiscal are obvious head-scratchers, they’ve both been massively underwhelming at the club level this season, despite consistent playing time. I’m not sure what Omar Gonzalez, George John, Geoff Cameron, Michael Parkhurst or AJ Soares have to do to earn callups. When Zak Whitbread returns from injury he deserves a look as well imo.

At outside back, Chandler looks set to be the left back for the next several friendlies, until the return from injury of Fabian Johnson/Eric Lichaj or until Edgar Castillo proves more at the club level. Cherundolo will likely retire from international play during this cycle (along with Bocanegra I might add) so we’re suddenly a bit skinny along the back line. Spector is the John O’Shea of the USMNT.

This midfield has two players who have no hope of making the 2014 World Cup. Why call in Beckerman and Larentowicz? Both are fine MLS caliber players, but lets be honest, if either make the WC2014 roster, something has gone horribly wrong. I could understand these callups if these games meant something as you want you’re best possible and mostly known quantities for competitive matches, but for friendlies, there is a need for experimentation. Why no Bedoya, Diskerud, or Feilhaber, who stand a shot at making the squad for the WC? Really excited to see Daniel Williams and what he can bring to the team. Let me add that if someone could please go to Jonny Evans’ house in Manchester and shoot him in the knee caps with a 12-gauge, I’d appreciate it. I was so looking forward to a Bradley-Holden midfield combo and now it wont be until next summer until we can potentially see it.

As far as the “forwards” go, Im ok with these selections. Glad to see Beasley back in the mix, he’s doing himself well in the Primera. Arguments could be made for Edson Buddle, Hurculez Gomez, Charlie Davies and even (dare I say) Robbie Findley. But I think this is the right group for the time being. Jozy is a one man Europa League nightmare.
OK done