2016 Centennial Copa America

Not going to get into JK's provisional picks just yet (well, sort of). I found this online ad for kits somewhat amusing. So, in that vein, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

 

Players that have won a world cup on the shirts and pics of those that have not?????

 

Nope. Nice try, though, thanks for playing!

 

70% off would be $24.70 rather than $24.99

 

Two of the player choices under "HERO PRINTING" aren't even on the 40 man squad (to be cut to 23) for the Copa America, Brek Shea and Julian Green.

 

Oops. My bad. Apparently Julian Green IS on the 22 man roster for the Puerto Rico friendly Saturday night.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...r-transition-camp-and-friendly-vs-puerto-rico

 

On a more positive note, this guy is flying under the radar. But he's playing in Germany, so JK is onto him. Guess you gotta be in the right country to get on the squad these days (snicker, snicker). Still, an intriguing prospect. Will be interesting to see if he gets any pitch time.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article78445257.html

 

ROSTER (some interesting omissions and inclusions by der kommissar) (and it's odd to see "Colorado Rapids" next to Howard's name). What's the reason behind the selection of Orozco and with Wondo, although I love him, probably shouldn't have made it; but he is in good form for the Quakes and is a known commodity to JK. I thought Morris would've made the squad.

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), 12-Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), 22-Ethan Horvath (Molde IK)

DEFENDERS (8): 5-Matt Besler (Sporting KC), 3-Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), 6-John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), 20-Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), 21-Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), 23-Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), 14-Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), 2-DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur)

MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (12): 15-Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), 11-Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), 8-Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), 13-Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), 16-Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), 10-Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), 17-Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), 18-Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), 7-Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV), 20-Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), 19-Graham Zusi (Sporting KC)

 

Green is on the transition roster for the Puerto Rico friendly. This roster is completely different from the original 40 and now 23 man Copa roster (Hyndman is on the transitional as well). It doesn't include any MLS players.

I "like" how they lumped the forwards and midfielders together. Seriously though Wood and Wondo are the only true strikers there. I guess JK is hoping that a bunch of wingers/attacking mids are going to produce enough attack to scare the likes of Colombia.

The crazy thing is how concerned I am about the goal keeping. Never thought I'd look at Howard and Guzan and think oh boy.

With the European leagues done, I'm just glad that there's still more soccer to watch.

 

Strangely true - I don't know who the third keeper is - but the Quakes' Bingham is a future Nat keeper - he's solid.

 

Ethan Horvath is pretty good. Only 20 years old and became the starter for Molde FK in Norway. Got some Champions League and Europa League experience (Molde made it out of the group stage in Europa League this year).

 

HD, do you imply that a striker has been hidden in your basement for the past qualifying cycle?

 

@LaxAttack, @nevzter, @tim; Anyone going to the US v Columbia match in Santa Clara? I would of preferred going up there, but sucks it's that Friday and not Sat. Instead going to Phoenix for the Mexico v Uruguay on Sunday. Wasn't impressed with the matchups at the Rose Bowl.

EDIT: WTH???? Just saw that Luis Saurez hurt his hamstring in the last match of the season (Copa Del Rey Final) and now is likely out for the Mexico game. The guy is a lot of things (biter, cheater, and all around punk), but he's also one of the top 3-5 strikers in the entire world, and was one of the reasons I decided to drive 5 hours to Phoenix instead of 35 minutes to Pasadena.

 

I plan to go, but a work obligation may prevent it - damn capitalism. It's so close that I feel guilty if I won't be able to attend.

 

Would like to as well, but will be traveling abroad. Hoping I can find a feed somewhere to watch.

 

I'm going to US-Costa Rica in Chicago. I usually go to Chicago each summer to visit a bunch of different friends and lined up the week around that game this year.

 

Keep going til they stop you. I LIKE IT!

AND...spot on about Wondo, Don. Very, very good club player. Hasn't done squat internationally. Bobby's got that assassin's mentality toward the opposing keeper, just as you said. Should be in there before Chris, Julian Green, et.al.