USMNT Releases 23-Man Qualifying Squad, Novice Back Four Looks Frightening

All, Soccer, World Cup Ty Duffy March 18th. 2013, 2:00pm

U.S. Soccer released its 23-man squad for the late March qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico. The U.S. is currently at the bottom of the Hex, after losing 2-1 away at Honduras. Here are the selections followed by a couple thoughts.

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan [Aston Villa], Sean Johnson [Chicago Fire], Nick Rimando [Real Salt Lake]

Defenders: Tony Beltran [Real Salt Lake], Matt Besler [Sporting KC], Geoff Cameron [Stoke], Omar Gonzalez [LA Galaxy], Clarence Goodson [Brondby], Justin Morrow [SJ Earthquakes]

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley [Puebla], Kyle Beckerman [Real Salt Lake], Michael Bradley [Roma], Joe Corona [Club Tijuana], Maurice Edu [Bursaspor], Jermaine Jones [Schalke], Sacha Kljestan [Anderlecht], Brek Shea [Stoke City], Graham Zusi [Sporting KC]

Forwards: Jozy Altiodre [AZ Alkmaar], Terrence Boyd [Rapid Vienna], Clint Dempsey [Tottenham], Herculez Gomez [Santos], Eddie Johnson [Seattle Sounders]

The inexperience at the back is scary. Besler, Beltran, Gonzalez and Morrow have six caps combined. Only Clarence Goodson has experienced a full qualifying cycle. Timmy Chandler and Fabian Johnson are out with injuries. This may be the end of the line for captain Carlos Bocanegra, after 110 caps. Have to ask why now and not two years ago? Compound that with Guzan starting in place of Howard and the team’s general disorganization and…yikes.

Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Graham Zusi and Maurice Edu each face a suspension with another yellow card. Jermaine Jones has the potential to be Jermaine Jones. A stringent referee against Costa Rica could leave the squad very short-handed heading into the second match at Azteca. Landon Donovan remains on leave.

Two years in and this still feels like the trial and error method of squad selection.

[Photo via USA Today Sports]

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35 Responses to “USMNT Releases 23-Man Qualifying Squad, Novice Back Four Looks Frightening”

1
A.P. Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:01 PM
WE’RE NOT GOOD! WE’RE NOT GOOD!
2
MP Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Mexico 6 USA 1
3
A.P. Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Where’s Freddy Adu?
/2007
4
Der Kaiser Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:04 PM
US soccer fans get panicky for no reason. Relax, you guys will make it to the world cup and have a 25% chance of getting out of your group. Otherwise known as every US World Cup appearance since 1994.
5
Ty Duffy Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:07 PM
Where’s Freddy Adu?
/2007
/2011
6
Der Kaiser Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:11 PM
Where’s Freddy Adu?
/2007
Had a perfect opportunity to restart his career in MLS with Philadelphia Union. Yet, he has managed to mess that up too. Is he the biggest US soccer bust?
7
Cowboy Mike's Old Original Red Hot Ricochet Barbeque Sauce Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Joe Corona
What a name.
Where’s Freddy Adu?
/2007
/2011
Having a better club career than Landon Donovan.
8
Der Kaiser Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:16 PM
Thank god soccer isn’t a popular sport in this country. Skip Bayless would’ve tore LandyCakes a new one for pussying out of Europe.
9
A.P. Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:17 PM
Is this where I can mock Joe Hart for just standing still while the ball curved into the net? Everton made him look like shit.
10
scripty Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:19 PM
Maybe this will put them on the offensive knowing they are going to concede some goals.
Have to ask why now and not two years ago?
They’ve ran a shitload of guys through the back since the last WC. Nobody has stepped up. I dont think you can say they havent looked for defense. Nobody took the job. Not like there are US citizens playing class defense around the globe and we are leaving them off the roster b/c of personality or style clashes.
11
A.P. Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:21 PM
only Lindsay Lohan would show up almost an hour late for trial. What a trainwreck
12
Cowboy Mike's Old Original Red Hot Ricochet Barbeque Sauce Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:21 PM
Not like there are US citizens playing class defense around the globe and we are leaving them off the roster b/c of personality or style clashes.
Other than Neven Subotic.
13
Nada Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:23 PM
I would bitch about the USMNT, then I remember that the U.S. has actually made a World Cup semifinal, while Mexico has never made it past the quarterfinals.
14
oranjebleeder Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Where’s Freddy Adu?
/2007
/2011
Having a better club career than Landon Donovan.
Freddy had a Eurail pass for the last 5 years.
Benfica
Monaco
Beleneses
Rizepor
Aris
Not sure that’s a better club career. No Landon apologist here, but his short time at Everton trumps the pu-pu platter Freddy had backpacking Europe.
15
HuskerDawg Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Timmy Chandler and Fabian Johnson are out with injuries.
Oh fuck. I didn’t know this.
16
rambo.cts Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Should still be able to beat Costa Rica. depending who plays vs Mexico they can possibly get a draw if they go very defensive.
If they lose both games do you think Klinsman is out? I would have to think that he is
17
A.P. Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:27 PM
If they lose both games do you think Klinsman is out? I would have to think that he is
Fire him, bring someone else in to coach this average talent
18
Cowboy Mike's Old Original Red Hot Ricochet Barbeque Sauce Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:28 PM
I would bitch about the USMNT, then I remember that the U.S. has actually made a World Cup semifinal, while Mexico has never made it past the quarterfinals.
Hahaha 1930, when winning a three team group automatically put you into the semifinal.
Not sure that’s a better club career. No Landon apologist here, but his short time at Everton trumps the pu-pu platter Freddy had backpacking Europe.
Yeah I know just mocking those who have made that indefensible claim.
19
HuskerDawg Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Two years in and this still feels like the trial and error method of squad selection.
Couldn’t say it any better. Though if Chandler, Johnson and Howard were healthy, I wouldn’t be all that worried.
20
Der Kaiser Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Yeah I know just mocking those who have made that indefensible claim.
Someone said this? I only continue to take potshots at LandyCakes, but come on now.
21
HuskerDawg Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:30 PM
Mexico 6 USA 1
Not gonna lie…I could see this happening. More like 4-1 though.
22
Der Kaiser Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:31 PM
only=will
23
rambo.cts Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:33 PM
I just don’t think you could trust JK with the next round of games (3) if he has not shown he knows how to win in this region.
The Mexico game could get out of hand if they get a goal early, especially if they play Beltran or Morrow back there. I would have to think that Cameron and Beasley would get the call over them
24
HuskerDawg Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:33 PM
The U.S. has to win all home games save for Mexico. They can lose that one and be okay. It sucks knowing Mexico is in their golden generation while the U.S. has a serious lull in talent. As stated above, it’s not like we haven’t looked for defense. It seems we’ve called up anyone with a “DEF” next to their name on Fifa.
25
Nada Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Freddy had a Eurail pass for the last 5 years
Wasn’t he playing for some Turkish second-division club not long ago?
26
rambo.cts Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:35 PM
They definitely have to win all of their home games besides Vs Mexico. They can get points on the road too I think against Jamaica and Panama. They could even have a chance against Costa Rica if they play in in their new stadium. Still should be able to lock up 4th place and beat New Zealand in a playoff
27
Nada Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:36 PM
Bring in Rafa!
28
oranjebleeder Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:36 PM
Mexico 6 USA 1
We will probably lose, but Mexico had an even worse result than the US in the first game. A tie at home vs one of the weaker teams is no bueno.
29
pRohphet8 Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 4:02 PM
IMO, one of the main reasons we don’t have adequate defenders at this level is because US Soccer doesn’t develop them at the youth levels (read ODP, youth national teams.
Instead of developing defenders at these younger ages, they basically just call up a dozen strikers and a dozen center mids and square peg/round hole them into the team.
Defending requires a different skill set and mindset. These players are often passed over because they aren’t as fast or flashy with the ball, etc. You can just throw the reserve center mid back there and be successful in developing defenders long-term.
though I hate the term “defender”, as all 11 on the field are defenders if you don’t have the ball, the same way that I believe all players support the attack when in possession. I prefer to call them “backs”.
30
pRohphet8 Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 4:06 PM
the next big crisis down the road (4-8 years) is the gk position believe it or not. there isn’t jack in the pipeline coming up behind the current crop of internationals that are at the level that US has enjoyed at gk. People inside the US Soccer constantly bring this up at coaching schools.
31
schlom Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 4:23 PM
Ann Killion thinks that Donovan is done with the National Team, or at least with Klinsmann as coach:
https://twitter.com/annkillion/status/313739649036214273
32
pRohphet8 Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 4:27 PM
correction from comment 29 – you CAN”T just throw the reserve center mid back there and be successful in developing defenders long-term.
33
rambo.cts Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 4:47 PM
@prophet, I think there are a few good prospects out there coming through. Guzan can play in this cycle and 2018. Then you have Hamid, Johnson, Cropper still coming through. Not saying they are the greatest, but they have a lot of time to improve.
34
pRohphet8 Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 5:01 PM
@ Rambo….I honestly don’t watch enough MLS to speak inteligently on what is there….but the US Soccer GK coaches definatly emphasize this point.
I lean towards your thinking that the solution to the problem will present itself once the situation arises….
35
jagsfan1 Says:
March 18th, 2013 at 5:43 PM
Can someone send a memo asking them to please stop with anything soccer related? Please? anyone?