By Jared Launius...because, well, there's not much else going on and, well, everyone else is doing it.
U.S. Soccer tweeted this morning that Klinsmann will be announcing his roster for next week's friendly against Italy in Genoa tomorrow. Seems a little late on, no? The players, of course, already know, so it's not like they'll be getting there late. But, if memory serves, hasn't Klinsmann usually released his rosters earlier than six days before the friendly?
Anyway, this doesn't matter. We will have a roster to over-scrutinize tomorrow, and I need to guess the names we will over-scrutinize. It's important, you know?
Goalkeepers
Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
Klinsmann got a nice long look at Nick Rimando in January, so my hunch is that Guzan, who has – bares mentioning – played a club game more recently than has Rimando, will get his first Klinsmann camp run out. Howard, of course, will man the box for the full 90 against Italy.
Defenders
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Tim Chandler (Nurnberg), Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Clarence Goodson (Brønby), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham), Zak Whitbread (Norwich), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Edgar Castillo (Tijuana)
Oguchi Onyewu, I think, was probably in this team before the unlucky central back tore some knee ligaments last weekend. My guess is, with Goodson, Whitbread and Orozco Fiscal all in tow, no replacement will be named. Tim Ream, I think, deserves some time to settle in at Bolton, with whom he has yet to appear in a league game.
Yes, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Edgar Castillo. Both have been playing fairly regularly in Mexico and I think Klinsmann will be keeping his hands – for the most part – off MLS players this go round, as they are just settling into preseason with their clubs.
Zak Whitbread, who has been a regular in Norwich's surprising run to eighth in the Premier League table, deserves a runout for the first time with the full national team, I think. I recall Bob Bradley calling the British-American in last year and Whitbread declining. It will be interesting to see if there was anything to that.
Alfredo Morales is also a possibility here, I think.
Midfielders
Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla)
No big surprises from this group, I don't think. Jones seems a near lock to get a run out – as he did in January – to keep him fresh as he serves out the rest of his eight-game Bundesliga suspension. It helps that Schalke is a few-hour flight from Genoa.
Brek Shea is away with the U.S. U-23s for the first time (quick side note – why isn't Tim Chandler in U-23 camp? Thoughts, anyone?), leaving Damarcus Beasley as the likely fill-in on the left wing if Klinsmann deploys a 4-3-3.
Michael Bradley, I think, deserves a start against the national team from his club country. Bradley has fully regained MB90 status at Chievo, who are a mildly surprising 10th in the league table.
It will be incredibly silly if Sacha Kljestan is kept out of this group again. That's that.
Forwards
Landon Donovan (Galaxy), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Edson Buddle (Galaxy)
Klinsmann has listed Donovan as a forward in every camp he's held so far, so I expect that to continue. I'd be shocked if both Donovan and Buddle weren't strongly encouraged by manager Bruce Arena to stay with Galaxy as they gear up for their March 7 CONCACAF Champion's League tie. I certainly couldn't blame him, as Donovan is just now coming back from his Everton loan and Buddle has only been with Galaxy for a few weeks after a long, strange search for a Euro-based team in January.
Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury are also away at U-23 camp, so it would be interesting to see what would happen if Buddle and/or Donovan aren't available.
U.S. Soccer tweeted this morning that Klinsmann will be announcing his roster for next week's friendly against Italy in Genoa tomorrow. Seems a little late on, no? The players, of course, already know, so it's not like they'll be getting there late. But, if memory serves, hasn't Klinsmann usually released his rosters earlier than six days before the friendly?
Anyway, this doesn't matter. We will have a roster to over-scrutinize tomorrow, and I need to guess the names we will over-scrutinize. It's important, you know?
Goalkeepers
Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
Klinsmann got a nice long look at Nick Rimando in January, so my hunch is that Guzan, who has – bares mentioning – played a club game more recently than has Rimando, will get his first Klinsmann camp run out. Howard, of course, will man the box for the full 90 against Italy.
Defenders
Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Tim Chandler (Nurnberg), Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Clarence Goodson (Brønby), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham), Zak Whitbread (Norwich), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Edgar Castillo (Tijuana)
Oguchi Onyewu, I think, was probably in this team before the unlucky central back tore some knee ligaments last weekend. My guess is, with Goodson, Whitbread and Orozco Fiscal all in tow, no replacement will be named. Tim Ream, I think, deserves some time to settle in at Bolton, with whom he has yet to appear in a league game.
Yes, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Edgar Castillo. Both have been playing fairly regularly in Mexico and I think Klinsmann will be keeping his hands – for the most part – off MLS players this go round, as they are just settling into preseason with their clubs.
Zak Whitbread, who has been a regular in Norwich's surprising run to eighth in the Premier League table, deserves a runout for the first time with the full national team, I think. I recall Bob Bradley calling the British-American in last year and Whitbread declining. It will be interesting to see if there was anything to that.
Alfredo Morales is also a possibility here, I think.
Midfielders
Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla)
No big surprises from this group, I don't think. Jones seems a near lock to get a run out – as he did in January – to keep him fresh as he serves out the rest of his eight-game Bundesliga suspension. It helps that Schalke is a few-hour flight from Genoa.
Brek Shea is away with the U.S. U-23s for the first time (quick side note – why isn't Tim Chandler in U-23 camp? Thoughts, anyone?), leaving Damarcus Beasley as the likely fill-in on the left wing if Klinsmann deploys a 4-3-3.
Michael Bradley, I think, deserves a start against the national team from his club country. Bradley has fully regained MB90 status at Chievo, who are a mildly surprising 10th in the league table.
It will be incredibly silly if Sacha Kljestan is kept out of this group again. That's that.
Forwards
Landon Donovan (Galaxy), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Edson Buddle (Galaxy)
Klinsmann has listed Donovan as a forward in every camp he's held so far, so I expect that to continue. I'd be shocked if both Donovan and Buddle weren't strongly encouraged by manager Bruce Arena to stay with Galaxy as they gear up for their March 7 CONCACAF Champion's League tie. I certainly couldn't blame him, as Donovan is just now coming back from his Everton loan and Buddle has only been with Galaxy for a few weeks after a long, strange search for a Euro-based team in January.
Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury are also away at U-23 camp, so it would be interesting to see what would happen if Buddle and/or Donovan aren't available.
