USMNT Training Camp: 30 to 23

I'm in agreement here, Ag, it's like you're reading my mind (do you have that ability?) - if of the 3 (Edu, Beckerman, Jones, who you know is going) I'd take Beckerman too - he's been in the squad for the last year or so and is familiar with the set up under JK. Yeah, he's a step slower than Edu but it's a bit of continuity that may make the difference.

As I attend Quake matches, I see Wondo's talent up close and personal. He's a great striker, but whether he can pull it off against Portugal, Ghana and Germany is a totally different question, but I guess we'll see. I believe he can provide a late spark...at the drop of a hat.

 

Nah, I think it's just that we're both brilliant. :lol:

Wondo reminds me a bit of Dempsey early on at Fulham. It's not any exceptional talent or obvious identifiable thing, he just gets on the end of stuff and scores. Regularly. Does it for the Quakes and has done it for the Nats. For me, that's worth giving him a shot. I realize Jozy will get the starts and I don't disagree with that. But if he's not scoring or we need a spark, I'd like a guy like Wondo available on the bench.

As for Beckerman, I think it's a bit like that piece posted about Nasri being left off of the France squad. The coach said he wasn't fielding a collection of the best players, rather trying to field the best team. Beckerman is a better "team" fit than Edu at the moment. You could even make the argument that he's the better "team" fit over Jones as well. Jones is the better player, but he's high risk/high reward too.

 

Sorry, I didn't see your question until now Barry. No I have not found a good way to follow the championship and my comment about Spector was kind of a joke about my irrational love for him and the fact that he seems to always be injured. I know he is injured a lot because I follow Ives Americans Abroad weekly posts on his website. If an American doesn't play due to injury he lists that.

 

Interesting comments by Onyewu on his WC omission. It reads like he thought he would be called into the 30 based on his Sheffield performances this year.

http://soccer.si.com/2014/05/15/oguchi- ... klinsmann/

 

No news coming out of the camp yet other than the Stanford kids got to scrimmage the team, but not allowed to talk about it.

http://blog.sfgate.com/stanfordsports/2 ... onal-team/

 

A couple of stories with quotes and tidbits from players over at ESPN FC.

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/_/name/unite ... 57?cc=5901
http://www.espnfc.com/blog/_/name/unite ... 61?cc=5901

 

Let's try this again. Here's the latest on our heroes that I could find on the world wide waste of time. Looks like they're making the cut list decisions tough on Coach K. That's good, right?

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_25809171/klinsmann-puts-off-decisions-world-cup-final-23

 

It was a painful decision but this is who I would cut.

Brooks, Chandler, Evans, Corona, Mix, Green, and I hate to say it but Davis.

 

Mo, I agree that the seven cuts are very difficult to predict and when I try slotting guys into positions it gets even more confusing. The first four cuts I would make would be Brooks, Corona, Edu and Parkhurst. Unless they have an outstanding camp I think there is little chance of these four making the final 23 due to positional congestion.

After the first four I find myself looking at positional battles. At right back I think one of Chandler or Evans will be cut. At forward I think one of Boyd, Wondolowski or Donovan will be cut. At left back/left wing one of Yedlin, Davis or Green will be cut. The left side cut will be influenced by Donovan's ability to play on the left wing at pace and whether Fabian Johnson will really be playing left back or if he will be slotting in on the wing.

Push comes to shove my seven cuts would be Brooks, Corona, Edu, Parkhurst, Chandler, Boyd and Davis but I do believe any of the last five on this list could have a positive impact in the World Cup.

Klinsmann has some difficult choices to make in my opinion. I keep looking at the list and telling myself there is no way Yedlin and Green can both make this team but I also keep looking at the list and thinking wow we are weak on the left.

 

**DUMB THOUGHT ALERT!!!**

I understand the thinking behind bringing 3 goalies, but wouldn't it be better to keep a guy that could make the positive impact Barry is referring to in his post? I can hear the 'if one guy gets a hurt or a red card, then you are in trouble' reasoning and it makes perfect sense, but if your 3rd string GK has to come in the team is probably doomed anyway. I wouldn't have a problem with cutting Nick RImando and keeping a Davis or someone else who has a better chance of playing. Perhaps if we were in an easier group I might feel different, but in order to get out of this group I'd rather roll the dice w/Howard and Guzan only and take along a guy who can sub in and possibly make the play that leads to a result.

 

Funny, I thought about posting the same thing. I think it might be worth the gamble, but if Howard got a red card do you think the next team we play would then target Guzan, knowing we had no more goalies? On second thought maybe it's not worth the gamble. Plus, I don't think we'd be doomed if Rimando had to play. Some teams might be with their 3 string GK but Rimando is solid.

 

Sounds like they should have given Mike Magee an invite. Didn't he pull on a goalie kit and don some gloves for Donovan Ricketts with the Galaxy a few seasons ago?

 

Official. Parkhurst, Evans, Goodson, Corona, Edu, Boyd & Donovan are the cuts. Yes, I said Donovan. Crazy.

 

FIFA requires three goal keepers on the 23 man roster.

Each association shall then be required to provide FIFA with a final list of 23 players (hereinafter: the fi nal list), three of whom shall be goalkeepers. This final list is limited to the players on the release list. The association must send this final list to FIFA by no later than 2 June 2014.

http://resources.fifa.com/mm/docume...regulationsfwcbrazil2014_update_e_neutral.pdf

 

Yeah, North Korea's women's team tried putting a non-goalkeeper in that spot during the last women's World Cup and was ineligible.

 

Also, no Donovan is beyond crazy. Trying to wrap my head around it.

 

Obviously I haven't been involved in the training camp, but I'm pretty surprised by some of the cuts... or non-cuts more specifically.

I guess it helps to have a German connection.

 

Wow my jaw is on the floor. Fuck you Klinsmann. Haven't liked you since the day you took over and absolutely hate you now. I literally could care less how the USA does. Chandler, are fucking kidding me after the number of times he spurned the US.

Donovan has scored as many goals in the World Cup as Messi, Van persie and Ronaldo COMBINED. KLINSMANN IS AN EPIC JERK.

Bye my beloved Fulham USA PEEPS. DONT KNOW WHEN I WILL RETURN. I'm headed for massive depression. Not just over Donovan but Edu and the fact that we have a coach that has a wardrobe guy. :sad-roulette:

 

I have been a Pro-Cameron at CB guy and it looks like he might be playing there by Klinsmann taking Chandler and Yedlin and not taking Goodson. I almost wonder if Omar's knee scared Klinsi a bit.