USMNT October WC 2014 Qualifiers

jumpkutz · Oct 7, 2012

No Landycakes, prolly. Supposed to announce squad Monday morning.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-landon-donovan-status-20121007,0,1750002.story

LaxAttack · Oct 7, 2012

The twitter rumors from the weekend:

IN - Eddie Johnson, Kyle Beckerman

OUT - Brek Shea

TBD because of injuries - Landon Donovan, Jermaine Jones

HatterDon · Oct 7, 2012

I'd like to see EJ get some minutes, but I can't believe we're still capping Beckerman. He is woeful. I don't think we should be fielding anyone who is not nor will be good enough to go to Brazil for the finals.

BarryWhite · Oct 7, 2012

Dropping Shea and keeping Beckerman just doesn't sound right at all since we know Danny Williams can play the defensive mid and Bradley is likely to be back and one of the first two names on the sheet anyway. If Bradley is healthy and not named without a REALLY good reason I will rant against Klinnsman myself.

LaxAttack · Oct 8, 2012

I think Shea might also be hurt (he didn't play for Dallas today in a do or die playoff spot game).

dcheather · Oct 8, 2012

Sigh...why does it seem like our players always get injured just before qualifiers? :angry-banghead:

jumpkutz · Oct 8, 2012

LaxAttack said:

I think Shea might also be hurt (he didn't play for Dallas today in a do or die playoff spot game).
Click to expand...

Pre-match report says he was questionable with an abdominal strain. Didn't see whether or not he got any minutes, but it appears not. The kid's definitely better for USMNT than his club team, that's for sure. Hope he can make it this round, and at least we'll have Deuce.

LaxAttack · Oct 8, 2012

Who needs Jozy Altidore or Terrence Boyd when you have Eddie Johnson and Alan Gordon:

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)

MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)

nevzter · Oct 8, 2012

LaxAttack said:

Who needs Jozy Altidore or Terrence Boyd when you have Eddie Johnson and Alan Gordon:

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)

MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)
Click to expand...

:shock:

If you're going to take somebody from San Jose, please let it be Wondo or Beitashour...what the hell is with Castillo as well? No Torres is a surprise, but not as big as Boyd and Altidore's omissions. What is up with that? Otherwise, not really worried b/c I can look at this squad (assuming all are fit) and see something like this:
Howard
Dolo Boca Cameron Johnson
Zusi Bradley Jones Donovan
Dempsey
Gomez

jumpkutz · Oct 8, 2012

Beckerman, AAARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! Wasted pick, from now on.

Clevelandmo · Oct 8, 2012

I'm not holding back. I'm not beating around the bush and dont get why others dont see it. No Jozy? You cant be serious. Klinsmann is fucking asshole. He is ruining our chances for WC qualifying.

I love Alan gordan getting a call, but you cant be serious with that one either. Wondo is the MLS leader in goals by a long shot.

LaxAttack · Oct 8, 2012

It looks like he is holding a grudge against Jozy. People are speculating this at least. I guess he criticized Jozy in that ESPN interview last week and Jozy had a tweet commenting/referencing that which was deleted shortly after. If this is true, they are are both acting like little girls, but it seems to be something behind the scenes where both don't see eye to eye.

That all said, I wish they could put that BS to the side as both of these games as basically must win games.

HatterDon · Oct 8, 2012

Jozy needs to take German classes. How can he not pick the guy who is leading his EUROPEAN league in goals? Insane. Whatever problems Jozy may have that we don't know about, he's shown plenty of effort for us in the "last 14 months." I'm glad to see Shea and EJ, but sorry that Beckerman continues to get picked. And where in the world is Boyd?

If it's enough to get Ms Maureen to fling about the "F" word, you know it's bad. I'm with ya, Mo. He's driving me crazy.

SoCalJoe · Oct 8, 2012

:angry-banghead: What is Klinnsmann doing in Manhattan Beach? going to the pier and :banana-stoner: Mo, there isn't one USMNT fan that can understand this. I would love for the AZ coach to come out and call JK an idiot. Glad to see that we will be going with our full allotment of defensive mids against Antigua :shock: Just have to keep our fingers crossed that we can advance to the last 6, because there is no way JK will keep the gig if this isn't straightened out. Already picking Sigi to come to the rescue next year.

LaxAttack · Oct 8, 2012

I do think we can get the six points with the roster nevzter said above, but now is not the time to make a point to one of your core players (and someone who is on form in a quality league and has a skill [scoring goals] which has been lacking under your tenure).

BarryWhite · Oct 9, 2012

I get and support the EJ pick. Dude has earned a lifeline and the way he has been getting on the end of headers fits well with the way the US team has been throwing in crosses. We'll see if he can thrive or not but I like the call up.

Now that I am done with the rosy side of the world I have two questions:

1. Like everyone else, what's up with Jozy? I don't get this drop at all.
2. Has the US officially run out of midfielders that we have to keep calling up Beckerman and recalling Kljestan? In all fairness, perhaps Kljestan has been lighting it up at Anderlect but isn't there some more fresh blood like Zusi somewhere?

jumpkutz · Oct 9, 2012

Bottom line....nothing short of total domination of these two sides will do this time around. If we have trouble scoring, or Beckerman screws up again, it'll be time to seriously rethink Klinsmann's fitness for this job.

Clevelandmo · Oct 9, 2012

Grant Wahl's story on Altidore's omission

Altidore's absence from World Cup qualifiers roster simply shocking

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann left forward Jozy Altidore off his squad for the U.S.'s two important upcoming World Cup qualifiers, a decision that may well be the most surprising of Klinsmann's 14-month tenure.
It's true that Altidore has not had a standout year for the U.S., providing no goals and one assist in two starts and four substitute appearances. With Hérculez Gómez and Clint Dempsey expected to start up top in Friday's qualifier at Antigua and Barbuda, it would not have been surprising to see Altidore come off the bench as a second-half sub. But for Altidore to be omitted entirely from the 24-man squad is a shock. (Pure forwards Gómez, Eddie Johnson and Alan Gordon are on the roster instead.)
After all, Altidore, 22, is tied for the Dutch league lead in goals with eight for AZ Alkmaar, including a terrific slaloming strike Sept. 30. The World Cup 2010 veteran has also played in a team-leading 17 straight World Cup qualifiers for the U.S. and brings big-game experience to the table. Under Klinsmann, the U.S. has scored more than one goal just three times in the coach's 18 games, which makes you wonder why he would leave the U.S.' most prolific European-based goal-scorer at the moment off the squad.
These are big games. The U.S., Guatemala and Jamaica all have seven points in Group A of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying heading into the final two games of the semifinal round. Only the top two teams will advance to next year's final 10-game round. A win at last-place Antigua and Barbuda on Friday would mean the U.S. would only need a tie at home against Guatemala on Oct. 16 to advance from the group.
Altidore's omission is purely a coach's decision: He is not injured, and Klinsmann's decision has nothing to do with the two yellow cards Altidore picked up for AZ on Sunday. Nor was the move a result of any continued friction between U.S. Soccer and AZ, which would have had to release Altidore for national-team duty per FIFA rules since this is a FIFA international date.
"I communicated with Jozy that I was not happy about his latest performances with us, maybe over the last 14 months," Klinsmann said Monday. "Jozy can do much, much better. The reason why he's not coming in is mainly about his performances at Jamaica and at home [last month], also in training. Also certain things that went on through the May-June camp. So we decided to bring in Eddie Johnson and Alan Gordon and give them a chance to show they've improved. They're both doing really well in MLS now."
What's more, Klinsmann reiterated last Thursday that club performance would matter in his roster selection. "It is really crucial when it gets down to World Cup Qualifiers when you put your roster together that you look at their individual schedule: who is in full swing, who is struggling getting games in, who is spending too much time on the bench," he told the U.S. Soccer website. "Going into these two decisive games we need to make sure they are all at 100 percent."
Yet club form doesn't really appear to matter much when it comes to Klinsmann's picks at forward. You may think Gómez deserves to start his eighth straight U.S. game up top on Friday -- and I do, based on his play with the national team -- but his club form has been spotty of late with just one start in Santos Laguna's last seven league games (on Saturday, when Gómez picked up a goal).
When I asked Klinsmann about his club form comment and how it relates to Altidore and Gómez, he said: "I think [club form] is absolutely important. Now it looks a little bit different in Jozy's case because he's doing well with Alkmaar, and he's scoring goals. But he hasn't done well with us in the last couple of camps. That's why I have more trust for these upcoming two games in Eddie Johnson and Alan Gordon."
Altidore could not be reached for comment in the wake of Klinsmann's decision, but I did speak with Altidore a few days ago, and what he said revealed a player who is hoping to translate his club success to the national team.
***
"First off, I just hope people will actually realize that I don't try to go to the national team and not play well," Altidore told me last Tuesday by phone from the Netherlands. "I've represented the country in so many games on the biggest stages. Of course, my intention is to do all I can to help the team win. It's a challenge. It's a different role and not an every-day environment, so the challenge is adjusting to that and still finding a way to be effective. Good players do that, and I want to become that.
"I think that is the next step in anyone's career," Altidore continued. "When you experience a little bit of success at club level, the whole challenge is to transfer that to the national team and become a complete player. Guys like Clint [Dempsey] have done it. I want to try and do that, but it takes time. It takes a real maturity and understanding of that with the national team. With the national team it's just a different animal, and I've got to adjust to that."
It certainly didn't help Altidore with the national team when AZ refused to release him before the start of the FIFA international window in May and early June, even though AZ's season was finished. As a result, Altidore missed the start of the U.S. camp in Florida and lost his starting spot to Gómez, who has run with it.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat anything, I think that hurt me," Altidore said. "It made me go backward in terms of the national team. I sat a couple games and didn't even dress for the Brazil game. I was thrown behind the eight-ball, and ever since I've been playing catch-up. It is what it is. All I can do is move forward and try to show the manager I deserve to be in the team."
When I came right out and asked Altidore -- are you and Klinsmann on the same page? -- he answered straight up. "I'm the student here," Altidore said. "I'm the player and I'm learning always. It doesn't matter if I don't understand. I have to get on the same page as the boss and all the senior players, not the other way around. I'm not a guy who can walk into the team and say, 'Guys, adjust to me.' That's not my mindset. I'm trying to get on the same page as them, and until I do that I'm sure I won't be playing. I want to try and do that as quickly as possible. I want to score great goals for the national team and be dominant for them. But unfortunately it's not so easy sometimes when the styles of play are much different."
Altidore said he has no issue with Gómez earning the last seven straight starts. "He's got to be one of the most underrated guys," Altidore said. "I watch him closely in training. I think it's well-deserved for him."
But he also explained that there are significant differences in the playing styles favored by AZ under Gertjan Verbeek and the U.S. under Klinsmann. The U.S. doesn't play with wingers and a true No. 10, he said, and his role has changed mightily with AZ from what he was doing earlier in his career.
"At the beginning I was a guy who loved to get the ball and run at people, but there was no real tactical area in my game," he said. "It was just get on the field and make things happen. Now it's a bit different. There's a way [Verbeek] wants me to play, and from there you try to bring your qualities. I'm playing more with my back to goal now, hold the ball up and get other people into the game. I'm just maturing as a player in that regard."
The result has been impressive for Altidore so far this season with AZ. "I feel like I'm coming into my own," he said. There's no reason that can't continue, of course. Altidore has nine goals in all competitions so far, one of the highest goal-scoring totals in any European country. But success with Klinsmann's national team may be farther away. After Klinsmann's omission Monday, in fact, it's a more distant prospect than anyone would have expected.
Click to expand...

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... z28nulnCBj

HatterDon · Oct 9, 2012

Great article; thanks. It makes me wonder where all this "bad attitude in training" thing is coming from.

Smells like team Nevin Subotic.

SoCalJoe · Oct 9, 2012

Steve Nichol and Shaka Hislop weigh in. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... er?cc=5901

Thanks HD, mentioning Subotic is the preverbal cherry on the angst sundae :confusion-helpsos:

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