A 23-Man Surprise!

On 5/22 at around 3 PM Pacific time United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) Manager Jürgen Klinsmann shocked just about everyone by naming his 23-man roster for the World Cup.  Beyond the seven players that were cut the timing of the announcement is what caught everyone off guard.  Jürgen had said from the start that he was waiting until after the match with Turkey on 6/1 to make his final cuts prior to the FIFA deadline on 6/2.  

So what prompted Klinsmann to make this move a full 12 days earlier than expected?  Well according to him “We coaches had, over the last few days, a pretty clear picture on everyone involved in this process.  We sensed that this is the right time now to also have those conversations with the seven players that will be on standby from now on.  This is the right time to start working on details toward Ghana.” 

On one hand I can see removing the internal competition between teammates to let the guys that are going know where they stand.  The hope being that this fosters better team chemistry on the road to Brazil.  On the other hand how much could he really have learned in less than 10 days of training?  I think the more likely scenario is that he already knew who he was taking on the plane and was just going through the formal process.  The seven players that were cut from the preliminary roster remain on the “standby list” and can be called back into the side at any point prior to the USMNT’s first match on 6/16.  However after the 6/2 23-man deadline a change can only be made due to an injury. 

Of course the other reason for the surprise announcement could have been to get the media circus that cutting Landon Donovan created out of the way.  As I said in my 30-man piece I’m not shocked that Donovan didn’t make the team.  In fact, if you were reading the tea leaves the writing had been on the wall for a while now.  Granted most people don’t follow the USMNT as closely as I do.  So I understand the uproar from the general public about cutting the USMNT’s all-time leader in goals (57) and assists (58).  Landon also tallied 6 goals against Mexico and is only 8 caps away from Cobi Jones’ USMNT record of 164.  Donovan appeared in three World Cups scoring 5 goals and playing in 12 matches (both USMNT records) including the most famous goal in USMNT history (2010 versus Algeria). 

I watched Landon play against the Timbers on 5/11 (the day before the 30-man was named) and he did not look good…at all.  In other words, he was not someone I wanted on the pitch against top-flight competition for 90 minutes.  When viewed through the lens of a late game substitute I really don’t have much of a problem with taking Brad Davis and his exceptional left foot over Donovan.  They are both capable of creating a moment of magic and if Jürgen prefers Davis I’m ok with it.  

Now many out there have pointed to 18-year old Julian Green making the squad over Landon as ridiculous, and on that front I can agree.  Green plays in the fourth division of German soccer and has no real experience at the top level of the international game.  As a late sub he’s got speed to burn but he’s just as likely to make a big mistake as he is a big play.  The same cannot be said of Donovan who knows his way around the pitch when the pressure is on. 

The biggest shock to me in the final 23, and it’s not even close, is Klinsmann taking John Brooks over Clarence Goodson.  Brooks is another young (21) German with practically no big time international experience.  Making matters worse is that John has made at least one mistake in each of his three caps that has led to a goal.  That is not a quality you want in a center back.  Compounding matters is that Omar Gonzalez is also prone to grave mental lapses, meaning that both of our likely backup central defenders are extremely shaky.  Whereas Goodson is steady as a rock and I’d feel much better about our depth if he were still around. 

After Goodson and Donovan in the milder surprise category were Timmy Chandler and DeAndre Yedlin being included in the side over Brad Evans and Michael Parkhurst.  Chandler is yet another young (24) German (sensing a theme yet?) and Yedlin is only 20 with 2 caps to his name.  When Chandler burst onto the USMNT scene in 2011 I thought he was a godsend at a position where we were lacking (right fullback).  After a great start to his national team career he went into a funk and basically disappeared.  In his stead Evans (a natural midfielder) stepped up and filled in admirably throughout all of qualifying.  Jürgen treated Brad the same way he did Eddie Johnson, which is to say thanks for all the good work during qualifying but don’t let the door hit you on the way off the plane to Brazil. 

The inclusion of Yedlin over Parkhurst is a bit more difficult to explain and accept.  DeAndre is a speedy left back but by all accounts he has been really bad for the Sounders this season, and I mean really bad.  As opposed to Parkhurst who is the perfect kind of reserve you want at a World Cup since he can play all four positions across the back line.  Michael has been playing really well since he returned from Europe before this MLS season.  He was even named captain of the Columbus Crew prior to their opener.  Granted he didn’t feature much during qualifying but then again neither did Yedlin. 

As for the other three cuts Kyle Beckerman beat out Maurice Edu, Chris Wondolowski beat out Terrence Boyd and Joe Corona had no business even being on the 30.  I guess Boyd not being included could be considered bucking a trend since he is 23 and from Germany (Wondo must have looked great in training). 

Many have said that with this roster Klinsmann is looking forward to Russia in 2018, and that the 4-year contract extension he signed on 12/12/13 gave him the power to do so.  As a diehard fan of the USMNT I have to say this bothers me quite a bit.  I understand that we are in the Group of Death but that doesn’t mean you throw away four years so some young kids (that you may or may not have promised a spot to) can gain experience.  

All seven guys that were cut were unlikely to start but I’ve been watching World Cups since 1994 and shit can and will happen.  An injury, a red card or an accumulation of yellows all can strike at any time.  What Jürgen did with these moves is severely weaken our depth, especially along the back line where we are the weakest to begin with.  If Brooks or Yedlin sees the pitch I have a feeling they will make a costly mistake that Goodson or Parkhurst wouldn’t have.  Overall you’d have a hard time convincing any follower of the USMNT that this group is actually our best 23 players. 

I’m really looking forward to the start of the Send-Off Series against Azerbaijan on 5/27 in San Francisco (7 PM Pacific on ESPN2).  There are rumors of Klinsy switching our formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2 with the middle four being in a diamond shape.  Fabian Johnson looks to be our new starting right back too which is fine by me.  With most of our starting 11 locked in I’ll be watching two positional battles over the next 3 weeks.  I’m praying that Geoff Cameron beats out Gonzalez at center back and something tells me that Beckerman has a chance to unseat Jermaine Jones too.  We shall see… 

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)