SoccerAmerica - Klinsmann names his first roster 08/04/2011

[U.S. SOCCER] New U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann has named a 22-player roster for the USA's friendly against Mexico in Philadelphia on Wednesday (9 pm ET, ESPN2/Univision).

The roster includes players from leagues in eight countries MLS (7), Germany (6), Mexico (4), England (1), France (1), Denmark (1), Scotland (1) and Portugal (1).

The only uncapped player is 20-year-old D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who will serve as understudy to veteran Tim Howard.

DaMarcus Beasley, who played in the last three World Cups and is trying to revive his career with Mexico's Puebla after spending last season on Hannover 96's bench, gets his first call-up since before the 2010 World Cup.

Among the players Klinsmann called up who seemed to have gone off predecessor Bob Bradley's radar are Mexican-Americans Jose Torres, Edgar Castillo and Michael Orozco. Torres had not been called in since playing 45 minutes at the 2010 World Cup. Castillo (as a second-half sub in 2009 vs. Denmark) and Orozco (90 minutes vs. Trinidad & Tobago in 2008) played one game under Bradley.

The six German-based players include Michael Bradley, the son of former U.S. coach Bob Bradley, and two German-raised players, Timmy Chandler and Jermaine Jones, who both made their U.S. debuts under Bob Bradley.

"One of the goals of the roster for this game and moving forward is to create competition at each position," said Klinsmann. "There are many players who are established as well as many players who will get opportunities, and we want there to be a healthy contest for spots on the roster. We will get a good look at where each player is as quickly as we can during the short time in camp, and we will finish with an exciting game against Mexico."

GOALKEEPERS
Bill Hamid (D.C. United) 0 caps/0 goals
Tim Howard (Everton/ENG) 65/0

DEFENDERS
Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne/FRA) 93/12
Edgar Castillo (Club America/MEX) 1/0
Timmy Chandler (FC Nuremberg/GER) 2/0
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/GER) 72/2
Clarence Goodson (Brondby/DEN) 24/3
Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis/MEX) 1/0
Heath Pearce (Chivas USA) 33/0
Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls) 6/0

MIDFIELDERS
Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) 12/1
Michael Bradley (Borussia M’gladbach/GER) 59/9
Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER) 31/2
Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers/SCO) 25/1
Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04/GER) 11/1
Brek Shea (FC Dallas) 2/0
Jose Torres (Pachuca/MEX) 11/0

FORWARDS
Freddy Adu (Benfica/POR) 17/2
Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls) 10/2
DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla/MEX) 93/17
Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt/GER) 6/2
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) 136/46

0 comments

raul estrada

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:11 p.m.

not bad!! I wish he will add Corona from San Diego that plays for Tijuana..

Theodore Eison

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:11 p.m.

Still no word on assistant coaches -- rumor is Vasquez and Ramos

Mike Gaynes

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:15 p.m.

Well, the new era begins slowly... happy to see Shea and Hamid... but bewildered by the inclusion of Clark and Pearce, the Abbott and Costello of US Soccer. Ah, well.

John Foust

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:18 p.m.

Sorry to not see Lichaj (for overlapping) nor any of the U20s, especially in lieu of Pearce. Rundelo and Boca are so well known that I'm assuming he's got them for mentoring some youngsters. And Beckerman still can't trap the ball, so he remains a curiosity. The only potential #10 midfielder is Torres, so it'll be interesting to see if he gets any - and if so, how much - playing time ... Donovan up front? No Clint? Fascinating!

Keith Wendel

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:18 p.m.

Is Dempsey injured?

Joe Kavlick

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:30 p.m.

Hoping Dempsey is busy/tired..etc and/or that Klinnsman just did not need to get a look at him at this point, and cut him a break by not having him play.

Eric Shinn

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:32 p.m.

Hmm...LIKES (Chandler, Shea, Castillo, Orozco, Torres, Freddy) and a few DISlikes (particularly Clark, Beckerman, and Pearce along with the exclusion of Dempsey, but I assume there is a reason for that one). All-in-all not bad, but I'd expect a wide range of "flyers" over the first few camps just to get actual eyeballs on the guys he isn't familiar with.

Lori Deckard

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:36 p.m.

Where is Dempsey? He is the most creative player we have and would be a great mentor to the new kids.

Glenn Maddock

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:48 p.m.

JK doesnt give a hoot about beating Mexico in a friendly. He's just testing & evaluating young players he doesnt know. You always have to have a few vets in there to mentor the newbies through the process. He should not even play Landon, just have him in the camp.

Jason Martinez

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:49 p.m.

Not surprised Altidore was left off. He needs to improve and be the player we all know he can be. Not seeing Dempsey on there does draw questions as to why. Glad to see Torres get another chance, hopefully he has a break out game.

David Huff

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:51 p.m.

Would have liked to see Hercules Gomez and TJ's Corona included, mystified as to why Redcardo Clark was included. Dempsey is a know quantity and so I'm sure he is just being given a rest for now so that others can get looked at for these upcoming friendlies. There are some significant changes here and more to come I'm sure with this 'work in progress', for the first time in a long time the US player pool is getting an honest review by its coach. I would also hope that Michael Bradley does not start, or if he does that he is subbed out later in the game (something that never happened under Bob Bradley), it would send the right message that noone should feel entitled to starting/playing time.

Julio Vargas

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:55 p.m.

I like it. We need to see new people. Glad to see many new names. It is a good starting.

Bruce Smith-grant

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 2:56 p.m.

COMPETITION amongst the Players is key to KLINSMANN'S STRATEGY ; Bob Bradley hung in there way too long with MEDIOCRE & frankly speaking -LAZY Players - just like Jozy Altidore...

ckg beautiful game

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 3:07 p.m.

I'm huge Dempsey fan but really his last several performances in mid field left us totally exposed. Same with Donovan. They are not two way players when it comes to USMNT. Prefer both up top or as withdrawn strikers. We need 10 possession players and Juan Aguedelo. The problem will be our center backs. I hope Ream gets more time & experience. Does anyone know if Le Tew from from Phil Union plays internationally? We could use Him and Danny Mawanga.

Jake Lammi

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 3:26 p.m.

Kyle Beckerman, Ricardo Clark, Michael Bradley, Clarence Goodson and Heath Pearce are all hot garbage! Terrible selections!

John Starks

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 3:39 p.m.

The Premier League starts on the 13th so there won't be many guys from England, like Dempsey, playing. Bradley is playing because he is not an important piece for Aston Villa and probably won't make the gameday roster.

Will Lozier

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 3:48 p.m.

Assuming Dempsey, Lichaj, Spector, etc. - all England-based players are being kept in preseason with there clubs? Dempsey could a rest situation although why not Donovan as well? Clark AND Beckerman? Love to see an Adu/Agudelo pairing up top with Freddy withdrawn. Puzzled about wide midfielders - Shea & Bradley with Jones sitting deep behind Torres in the middle?

Ric Fonseca

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 4:12 p.m.

I agree with JAKE LAMMI about the guys he names. Beckerman is out to lunch, Clark, Bradley, Goodson and Pearce? OK, I'll cut Clark, Goodson, and Pearce some slack, but COME now Klinsi, Bradley and Beckerman?!?!

Bret Newman

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 5:03 p.m.

You characters are never satisfied. I'm sure Klinsmann has his reasons why he picked these players. For his first game surely he wants his favorite Donovan in there. He also picked fast and creative players. A lot of Mexican and German league players. And he saw what I saw with Beckerman in that all-star game. He played like Carlos Valderrama, with his passing game. Clark is on a German club team, and I'm sure Klinsmann got a good report from his coach about him. And I'm sure he hasn't forgot about Dempsey, or Altidore. Expect them to be in the next camp. But they better hustle more, or they will be on the pine. Things will weed out, and the best players will come out of it.

Bruce Moorhead

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 5:09 p.m.

Mike! Check your memory. I distinctly recall DaMarcus playing in South Africa. All in all, good selections. Guys like Corona and Gomez will get their chance. Only 22 can be named. Look for other selections for the Belgium game in Europe. Beckerman and Pearce are curious picks - might be their last chance.

Amos Annan

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 5:45 p.m.

Looks like most commenting here have a better understanding of the talent than Klinsmann does. I like Beckerman.

Bill Ford

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.

glad to see altidore was left off, not Shea fan at all. Would like to see Gomez at some point. A work in progress!

Alex g. Sicre

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 6:17 p.m.

Ditto Brett. This is a first time selection and only an experiment. there will be plenty more. Klinsi has to start somewhere. So be it.

Arthur Kring

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 6:43 p.m.

We will see what happens if we don't get a result!

Roger Sokol

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 6:52 p.m.

With the EPL off on August 13th, exclusion of the England based players is understandable. Fulham gave Dempsey and the Mexican Salcido a month off after the Gold Cup to get much needed rest. Both have recently returned to the team. So Clint needs to spend time there to establish himself with the new manager, Martin Jol. Michael Bradley was on loan at Aston Villa, but they decided not to purchase his contract and he is now back with Borussia Munchengladbach. Altidore has moved to AZ Alkmaar of the Dutch Eriedivisie and is probably better served by staying with his team to establish himself. The Bundesliga, I believe, is a couple of weeks away from starting so the call up of German based players is easy to make. Klinsi is basically saddled with the same overall player pool that Bradley had. He's elected to call in a few players who fell out of favor with Bradley, but overall there's not much change. This game, although for some bragging rights, is pretty much a throw away.

Paul Bryant

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 10:04 p.m.

Maybe JK can convince Beckerman to cut that tangle of weeds off his head. I'm sure Robbie Rogers is disappointed being left off the roster. What about Chris Wondoloski? The player Ridge Mahoney said reminds him of Miroslav Close (what a joke!). The regime change also spells the end for Onyewu. For me, the jury is still out on Tim Ream. I watched him play in the Arsenal Cup. He is an inadequate one-on-one defender. Goodson and Pearce will be playing for their USMNT lives. I'm sanguine about the remainder of he roster.

Chester Grant

commented on: August 4, 2011 at 10:36 p.m.

No Benny Feilhaber ???????? v Mexico ?????

Jared Bartlam

commented on: August 5, 2011 at 12:27 a.m.

I saw a couple of ppl asking about Corona, there has been a good bit of news out that Corona is leaning towards playing for El Tri. As for Dempsey, he hasn't really had much of a rest. Gold Cup and Fulham had Europa games including one today plus with the season starting in a week, it's pretty much a given that he wasn't going to be called in. Lichaj is coming off an injury so he isn't quite 100%. There also is a good chance that Chandler might not make the squad, his club Nurnberg released a statement today about him having a minor knee injury during training. As far as some of the guys yall are questioning, a new coach always will want to formulate his own opinion on players and see them first hand. The only person I expected to be called in was Gonzo but I expect him will be in the Costa Rica game Sept 2.

David Huff

commented on: August 5, 2011 at 12:58 p.m.

Perhaps Klinsmann can get Corona to change his mind, for the 1st time ever I can say that the US truly has a better coach than Mexico's.

Alberto Mora

commented on: August 6, 2011 at 2:08 p.m.

After reading some of the comments listed here by some of the "experts" in soccer matters I concluded that in their opinions exist lots of confusion about Coach Klinsmann choices, let me I tell you folks this Coach is german he knows what he is doing and why, so let him do his job in the midtime all you have to to is watch and learn.

charles davenport

commented on: August 6, 2011 at 10:57 p.m.

Alberto Mora, tu sabes.

John Roode

commented on: August 7, 2011 at 12:27 p.m.

I love Kyle Beckerman! This is awesome!

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