With another round of international friendly games coming up, Juergen Klinsmann will once again survey the talent available and try to come with a team that will produce his first win. Honduras and Ecuador will be challenging opponents, playing a Latin style based on quick passing and good technical ability, something the USA would like to emulate.
DEFENDERS
Skipping the rather stable goalkeeping position and moving right into the defense, a new option has come to the fore. Suddenly, Oguchi Onyewu is making a case for a recall. It would appear that the giant central defender has recaptured at least some of the form that made him the USA’s most intimidating player. He has played four straight games for Sporting Lisbon and even put in a match-winning goal with a towering header against Rio Ave.
Carlos Bocanegra and Clarence Goodson won’t fear for their places in the squad either. Bocanegra has settled into Rangers defense quite well, scoring over the weekend on a trademark header. Goodson holds his place at Brondby. Right back will be interesting this time around. Normally reliable Steve Cherundolo has been sitting on the bench more often than usual at Hannover. However, Timmy Chandler continues to feature for Nuremburg. Chandler will certainly play at least one of the two matches in defense.
Left back continues to be a sore spot. Chandler might even end up there again as he did against Belgium. That could put him up against Manchester United wing Antonio Valencia in the Ecuador game. That would be a stern examination of his credentials. Jonathan Spector has shown his versatility and now that he is a regular at Birmingham City, it remains to be seen if Klinsmann will give him a shot at any position in the national team, left back being one possibility.
For now Edgar Castillo, Jonathan Bornstein, and Heath Pearce look like they are out of the equation. Eric Lichaj had a good chance to make a case, but suffered an injury that will keep him out until the new year. Klinsmann could also consider bringing in Omar Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Galaxy, George John of FC Dallas, and Tim Ream of the New York Red Bulls.
MIDFIELDERS
Now that Jose Torres will be out the rest of 2011, Klinsmann will have to tinker some more with his midfield. Torres had been the passing specialist in the group and the new manager seemed quite content with his work. Jermaine Jones will probably not get a recall to the team until he starts playing some games for Schalke. Stuart Holden won’t be ready for the October games either even though he has played one full game for Bolton in his comeback from a severe knee injury.
Absentees aside, there are still plenty of options in central midfield. Michael Bradley has now claimed a starting role at Chievo and participated in two straight wins. That should be enough for a recall. Maurice Edu still holds his place at Rangers. Kyle Beckerman has not dropped in form either for Real Salt Lake. That supplies adequate depth at the holding position.
If Klinsmann wants a playmaker, he might draft in Mikkel Diskerud from Stabaek in Norway. He would represent part of the Olympic contingent that has appeared in recent games. Sacha Kljestan continues to play well for Anderlecht and should be part of the pool. He looks more comfortable in a short passing game than in previous incarnations of the national team.
For wide players, Brek Shea jumps out as the first one on the list. However, DaMarcus Beasley continues to play well for Puebla in Mexico. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan will be considered of course. One interesting option Klinsmann has yet to try is to bring Donovan in off the bench. For the next few years, that might be his best role. His form at the international level has dropped, so perhaps coming on for a maximum of thirty minutes to ignite the team will produce better results. There is always the possibility that more German-Americans could join with Daniel Williams and Fabian Johnson among the options to add depth.
FORWARDS
This has been another thorny spot. Jozy Altidore has continued his solid start at AZ Alkmaar. Herculez Gomez has been providing some goals for Tecos in Mexico. Robbie Findley has even scored a couple for Nottingham Forest. Juan Agudelo remains a bit-part player in New York. Edson Buddle scores at the club level just when everybody believes they have heard the last of him. Altidore and Agudelo are near certain call-ups. After that it may be a crap shoot with Donovan and/or Dempsey also listed as a forward just to show some balance.
WHO I THINK WILL BE CALLED IN
Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Bill Hamid, maybe Sean Johnson for cover
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, Oguchi Onyewu, Timmy Chandler, George John, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, Michael Orozco Fiscal
Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Brek Shea, Clint Dempsey, Kyle Beckerman, Landon Donovan, Mikkel Diskerud, DaMarcus Beasley
Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Landon Donovan, Teal Bunbury
******Sources: www.ussoccer.com, www.mlssoccer.com, www.espn.com