USMNT Roster Announced - No Landon Donovan

Submitted by Lionsfan on

Team Roster for the World Cup was just announced for the US.

In case the picture is too small: Jozy Altidore, Damarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Brad Davis, Clint Dempsey, Mix Diskerud, Omar Gonzalez, Julian Green, Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Aron Johannsson, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Nick Rimando, Chris Wondolowski, Deandre Yedlin

FreddieMercuryHayes

May 22nd, 2014 at 6:13 PM ^

Ok, I don't follow the soccer scene very closely, but what's the reason for no Donovan? I mean he's old, but he showed well last year when he came back. And I would think his crazy amount of experience would be a benefit. And this is older, but no Eddie Johnson? He was definitely a contributor during qualification; more so than Wondo despite his streak of a lot if goals against terrible competition.

Fhshockey112002

May 22nd, 2014 at 6:13 PM ^

Should be interesting if he actually sees the field. Wonder if this was a reward for picking USNT over German National Team, or if Jurgen really thinks he's a better option and Donovan.

Mr. Yost

May 22nd, 2014 at 8:19 PM ^

If both are your 23rd man...and neither would play. You may as well pick the younger guy who you think can help the team for 12-16 years over the guy who's on his last leg.

Picking Donovan would've been a nice story...but neither of them would've gotten serious (if any) minutes. So go with Green, give him the experience and maybe he's a star for your team in 4 years.

WineAndSpirits

May 22nd, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^

Interesting read over at grantland about the usmnt.



http://grantland.com/features/usmnt-world-cup-2014-landon-donovan-clint…



Talked about the 3 phases of our soccer history, grouped in 8 year chunks, defined by the players and coaches that dominated the era of history. We are at the end of the third (Dempsey,Donovan, Bradley, Howard) and the future, as defined by Klinsmann, will likely diverge away from 8 year chunks. Or at least we can hope...

MGoBender

May 22nd, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^

Anyone watching the ESPN documentary series on the USMNT leading up to the Cup? It's great.  The first episode also ery much hinted at Donovan being on the outside looking in.  

End of an era, but excited for a new one to begin.

Also, watching that doc series made me really appreciate Michael Bradley.  Guy is a beast.

alum96

May 22nd, 2014 at 9:01 PM ^

first one was an hour, will the rest be 30 minutes?  Just curious since the clip is 30 minutes (well 23 minutes + commercials) thx

As for Donovan I thought he showed very well last summer but I have no idea what form he is now.  I am surprised Green got in but as someone else said as the 23rd man I don't expect him to play.  I am surprised a bit by Donovan - we don't have many players with serious pace - he is one.

superstringer

May 22nd, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^

Lots of Germans / ties to Bundesliga.  Brooks and Chandler, they haven't even figured on the USMNT for the last few years.  The 18yo wunderkid who, last (only) time we saw him, wasn't close to being ready.  You wonder if the fact Germany is in our group played into this at all?  Or, just that, our coach knows what he likes, and he's German.

My immediate concern -- lots of less-experienced guys (all mentioned in first paragraph) or one-trick ponies (Brad Davis) makes me concerned about the all-around depth of this team.

Any chance we can trade Guzan to Brazil for one of their field players?  Brazil would take that straight-up I'm sure.

NJblue2

May 22nd, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^

I don't really watch soccer, but why didn't Eddie Johnson make it? He seemed like one of the better players in the couple games I watched.

Yeoman

May 22nd, 2014 at 7:00 PM ^

There probably aren't more than half a dozen teams that don't face that possibility (Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina...anyone else?). In 2010 and 2002 the defending champions finished last in their group.

Genzilla

May 22nd, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^

My Best 11

 





--------Johannsson --------- Altidore-------

Dempsey -------------------------------Zusi

------- Bradley -------------- Jones---------

Johnson - Besler - Cameron - Chandler

-----------------Howard-----------------------

I expect a 4-4-2 of sorts. This is not necessarily the lineup I expect Klinsmann to pick, just the one I would like most

ken725

May 22nd, 2014 at 7:48 PM ^

I think a 4 4 2, but more like this:

                             

 

 

                             Atlidore

                             Dempsey

 

Johnson                Bradley                 Zusi

                                Jones

 

Beasley         Besler          Gonzalez       Cameron     

 

I like Cameron playing RB, but I worry about Gonzalez because he was at fault for the two goals in the Mexico game. I'm tempted to put Beckerman over Jones because he has such good chemistry with Bradley. I expect Beckerman to get lots of time because Jones will most likely be in card trouble.

slimj091

May 22nd, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^

i realize that. that they play different positions. that "butterfeet" beasley is needed.... not so much.

i would rather see someone with better defensive skills in the backfield, and someone with more experience than an absolute rookie upfront.

hopefuly klinsmann knowns what he is doing, and his choices prove me wrong. but i'll be putting my money on an 0-3 showing in the group stage.

Fhshockey112002

May 22nd, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^

----------- Altidore ---------------  Dempsey ---------------

---- Jones ----- Bradley ---- Beckerman---- Zusi ------

-- Johnson ---- Gonzalez --- Cameron --- Chandler --

-----------------------  Howard -------------------------------



I would expect a diamond midfield with Beckerman allowing Bradley to push forward much like in the first half of the recent Mexico match.  I personally think Gonzalez will be healthy and return to form as a central defender. 

Helloheisman

May 22nd, 2014 at 8:46 PM ^

No one can dispute what kept him from being world class was being a one footed player. Anyone who wanted to shut him down just forced him to his left.

bronxblue

May 22nd, 2014 at 9:05 PM ^

Weird to not see him on the team, but makes sense. He's my age, and he's talked about wear and tear recently that is consistent with being an older guy in a young mans game.



Squad looks good, though. Front line looks strong.

I Bleed Maize N Blue

May 22nd, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^

We can see how they play in the upcoming tune-ups:

Tu 5/27 - vs Azebaijan @ 10PM ET on ESPN2 (Candlestick Park, SF)

Su 6/1 - vs Turkey on ESPN2 @ 2PM ET (Red Bull Arena, NJ)

Sa 6/7 - vs Nigeria on ESPN @ 6PM ET (EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL)

Genzilla

May 22nd, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^

He rejoined the US squad for the 2011 Gold Cup after a 2 year abscence and then he came back to the US and joined the Philadelphia Union from 2011-2013.  He did well in that Gold Cup and was solid in his time with the Union.  He left the Union and went to play for a team in Brazil that released him (Bahia) then he went to Blackpool in England and got cut from their team but continues to train with them.

He's still only 24, though some question whether or not his age is accurate, thinking he's older.  If he's really 2 or 3 years older than his listed age, it may have contributed to the phenom hype, a 17 year old that says he's 14 seems much better than he really is.

That said, if he's really only 24, he'd be the 6th youngest guy on this US World Cup squad.  He could still get his career back on track and be in his prime for the 2018 World Cup.

bacon1431

May 22nd, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^

The exclusions of Eddie Johnson, Clarence Goodson, Maurice Adu, Michael Parkhurst and Brad Evans help explain this quite a bit. A couple of those guys could have been included and nobody would have batted an eye. But JK is going with the youth movement. I think the floor for these guys' performance is higher than most of the players that made the squad at their positions, but their ceilings are much lower and none would have featured in Russia in 2018. I think alot of the cuts were toss ups and in that case, you usually go with potential.

Also, I think this ommission takes some pressure off the squad and puts it on Klinsmann, which I think he's fine with. If they perform poorly, most fans - rightly or wrongly - will pin it on JK's ommission of LD.

Love you LD, but I can't complain. Had a great career and were a good representative of US soccer as it transitioned into the 21st century. Good luck in MLS.

skwasha

May 23rd, 2014 at 1:03 AM ^

I see several commentors saying that somehow JK's selections will lead to a 0-3 early exit. My question to them would be this: Do you honestly believe there is ANY 23 man US roster that would make it out of the group? Barring small miracles (i.e., flukes having nothing to do with the US team), I don't see how the US gets out of this group under any circumstances. Given that, I'm fine with the US using this year's cup as a teaching moment to prepare for the future. Sucks for Landon, but ya gotta take the long view.