SoccerAmerica - Agudelo gets call-up, no Shea or Cooper 05/20/2012

[USA MEN] U.S. national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has added 11 additional players to the initial squad of 16 that is training at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Juan Agudelo was included, while Kenny Cooper of the New York Red Bulls, who just traded Agudelo to Chivas USA, was not called in. Brek Shea, who had played every game for Klinsmann, probably paid the price for this current three-game suspension as he was not called in.

Only five MLS players were among the late call-ups: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) and Agudelo, who started for Chivas USA Saturday in his debut against the Los Angeles Galaxy but tired in the second half.

Said Klinsmann, “We have Juan Agudelo coming in after a difficult first part of the season for him, not qualifying for the Olympics, struggling with an injury, and now with the trade to Chivas USA that we hope gives him a lift because he couldn’t pass by Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper at the Red Bulls. He has an opportunity now, and we want him to grab it and make clear to everyone that he deserves to be a starter no matter where he plays.”

Agudelo's call-up for training camp in Florida means he won't return to Red Bull Arena to face the Red Bulls when Chivas USA comes to town on Wednesday.

On some of the other MLS players, Klinsmann said, “Graham Zusi left a very strong impression in the January camp. Geoff Cameron is a guy that is really knocking at the door, with a very strong January camp but also very strong performances for Houston. You have Chris Wondolowski who is scoring and scoring. This is what he loves to do and his attitude and his spirit is just great for a team to have.”

Shea was suspended for kicking a ball at an assistant referee and has not duplicated his success he had last season with FC Dallas.

“We have watched Brek during the last few months," said Klinsmann, "and given his performances and some of the other issues we felt he should be on the standby list. He’s still a young player with a lot of talent, and also a lot to learn.”

UPDATED U.S. ROSTER:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), *Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), *Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), *Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), *Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), *Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (7): *Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), *Jozy Altidore (AZ), *Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), *Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), *Herculez Gomez (Santos), *Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
*Sunday callups.

11 comments

Douglas Wood

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 9:39 a.m.

Does anybody have any ideas as to why Jay DeMerit has yet to receive a call since Klinsmann took over?

Kerry Ogden

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 9:40 a.m.

I'm shocked that E.Lichaj & Tim Reams aren't in this line-up, what's up with this. I have watched most USMNT games and one defender who make's mistakes constantly and is still playing is Bocanegra, he was good when he was much younger but now he is slow, always out of position on the pitch which has allowed alot of the goals against the USMNT. Time for a change, and Klinsmann needs to get the ball rolling again!!!!!

Dave Brett

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 11:08 a.m.

I think Jay DeMerit is getting left out because of his age. But Edgar Castillo looked lousy the last time he played for the National Team. I don't see how he deserves a call back. Dave www.DaveBrett.com

Dave Brett

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 11:23 a.m.

I am wondering: how many goals does Kenny Cooper have to score to get a call up? If he scored 15 goals would he have been called ahead of Agudelo or Boyd? I guess so. But maybe not. www.DaveBrett.com

Chris Connelly

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 11:49 a.m.

The thing i had hoped most for in replacing Bob Bradley with Klinsmann is a shift in the approach to midfield from defending to attacking ... yet there still is consistently four spots dedicated to midfielders more known for defending than creating. Shea's red card blocks his call-up, but Jones makes the team? I'd love to see a line-up with just one of either Edu, Beckerman, or Bradley ... with my preference going to the latter.

Roger Sokol

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 12:07 p.m.

There's no doubt that Lichaj and Ream will get there chance eventually. Meanwhile, it looks to me like Klinsi has picked a fairly balanced team representing all spectrums of the potential USMNT player pool. Cooper has done well in MLS, but has been unable to impress in Europe. So he may be that player who is on the margin of being good enough for international play. In this case, it looks like Klinsmann has opted to bring in the youngsters Aguedelo and Boyd for more seasoning as international players.

Walt Pericciuoli

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 12:22 p.m.

Lichaj and Ream should be in camp NOW! Bocanegro is fading, but we still need his leadership on the field and who better to learn the ropes from for the young guys?Castillo deserves another look, but really J.Jones again???Cooper should also get another look.

David Huff

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 1:22 p.m.

Good to see that Agudelo has been included, it was nice seeing his debut for Chivas USA on Saturday night as they up-ended the hapless Galaxy 1-0 in which CUSA dominated possession % at around 60%.

George Hoyt

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 9:09 p.m.

Overall, this seems like a strong call up and a clear message about what Klinsi imagines our team could be. With the exception of Jones, who would just as well be left undiscovered in Germany, this team appears seasoned enough to provide grit and guile and in-predictable enough to surprise and delight. There are some notable absences, but we're not just talking about the quality of one or two players, but the overall potential of a team to perform at the highest level. That does not always mean most talented players get picked, but the ones that will play best together. This is another step forward in team Klinsi and hopefully a positive evolution to our "American" style of play.

R2 Dad

commented on: May 22, 2012 at 12:33 a.m.

I'm imagining Stuart Holden as the glue that will hold the midfield together, but I don't think he has ever been healthy AND available to play with Dempsey and Donovan in the last 2 years. Given that Bolton is going down, he's going to have to light up the Championship in the fall in order to convince Klinsmann. Jay DeMerit may be old but I would take him any day over Spec(ta)tor.

Kent James

commented on: May 23, 2012 at 2:57 p.m.

Walt, you got it right (as did many others, especially Chris Connelly). In my book, Jones brings nothing but thuggery. I'd prefer more ball skill in the midfield (Holden, & Feilhaber). If we have Edu and Bradley, we don't need Beckerman (he's solid, but I don't see him ever being more than a tenacious defensive midfielder; Edu is a slightly better defender and Bradley also has offensive potential). Ream and Cooper need more exposure at the international level to see if their potential can pan out.

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