USMNT Roster Announced - No Landon Donovan
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
Do people really believe we're not even capable of tying these teams? Yes, Ghana's good, but they're not world beaters. And no I don't think we're cursed against them. We play Germany last and they might already be guaranteed a spot by then. Wasn't there an even bigger talent gap when the US beat Portugal in 2002? I don't expect the US to advance either, but I also don't expect being run off the field in every match. Then again, I don't know shit about soccer :)
The group is not ideal but if you take Ronaldo off Portugal they are not frightening. Ghana is basically "bad to play" because they have our number and is a pretty good squad but overall it is Germany.... and then a step down to any of the next 3. Potugal is just a small country - if it was the size of Spain or heck Poland it would be far more a threat. If Nani is on form (injured most of the year) will help Portugal but they are sort of a donut hole team - strong in attackers and some very good defenders but the midfield is a question. I don't think they have a single traditional midfielder who plays in any of the big 3 leagues. They also tend to lose their temper a lot. ;) They whiffed in South Africa - basically dominated a sad North Korean team and did little else.
What really sucks is the draw Mexico got and the fact they are even in this tournament - the U.S. gifted it to them. But anyhow, Mexico and Portugal play a friendly in early June so we'll see how they stack up as much as you can in a friendly.
Donovan not going is a joke.
The whole "Let's grab everyone we can whose got one German, one American parent!" schtick is getting really old. Like you're ever going to get to Germany's level with the players Germany didn't want.
Getting to Germany's level would take 30 years and multiple great WC runs. You may not like going after the German-Americans, but we need more competition for our national team. I don't see a problem with it. We got Johansson who is from Iceland. He could be a big contributor down the line. Gotta improve the youth development in this country and the current competition level. JK is doing both so far.
Um, no. By "level" I mean being able to compete with them on the field as near equals. The U.S. doesn't have to equal them in all-time achievement to do this.
My problem isn't with the fact they are from Germany, its that there isn't a whole lot that sets them a part from the players who were cut. Jones and Johnson (especially), sure, I can see it. Good players. Chandler, Brooks and Green? Come on.
Johannson appears to be a special talent, there's real reason for him to be there.
Chandler, Brooks and Green are as/close to as good as most of the guys left off. And they're younger. Not that hard of a decision. And the US isn't going to be close to Germany's talent level with or without the German-Americans. But they're better with them than without them IMO. Competition and depth are still important things for a national team. I really don't get what you're complaining about. If they're good enough, they'll play. If not, oh well. It doesn't hurt anything.
L. Messi
C. Ronaldo
R, Van Persie
L. Donovan
Of these four players, ONE of them has the same total of World Cup career goals (5) as the other three combined. Guess which one that is? It's in this thread for a reason.
We're not getting out of this group anyway, I think at least putting Donovan on the squad would be the right thing to do as a career capper before we move onto the 2016 Copa America. Now he's created all this hostility -- sort of reminds me of Harkes being left off the team years ago, which created a cloud of hostility that hovered over an aweful performance (although in fairness, that was for sleeping with a teammate's wife, so now we all understand why it was done).
Klinsmann picking Julian Green over Landycakes is a big risk. Green has one senior club appearance in his (young) career and one cap (a month ago) and is 18. Donovan was going to be a sub anyway, but isn't he a better option down a goal late in a game?
The only other mild surprise was Wondo over Boyd. Boyd had a good season in Austria (15 goals/29 appearances) and Wondo only seems to ever show up against CONCACAF opponents like Belize and in friendlies. I don't think it's that big of deal but I was a bit surprised at this.
For those interested, JK's press conference will be live on Sportscenter at 12pm and also on ESPN3.
Hopefully this turns out to be a smart move.
Here is a good analysis of him being cut that I found on the internet. These guys usually write about the NBA but this perticular writer tracks soccer stats for his job. I think it has a little more meat, and less fluff, than you might find on ESPN or other comparable sites.
http://www.noregardforsoccer.blogspot.com/2014/05/making-sense-of-nonsensical.html