Comments on: Early reactions from Monday’s U.S. World Cup roster announcement

By: wfjackson3

wfjackson3 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:28:18 +0000

I have been surprised by EJ’s play on the wing. Maybe they are bringing him in for tactical versatility? His desire to do what the coaching staff asks of him?

By: wfjackson3

wfjackson3 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:27:30 +0000

Gatt doesn’t know when to pass. He doesn’t EVER attack the end line, and for a winger, that is kind of a problem. He has some skills in his toolbox, but he isn’t really ready just yet and we all know it.

By: wfjackson3

wfjackson3 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:26:14 +0000

Oh Jamaica? You mean that team that is expected by many to finish last in this round?

How many games have you watched Zusi play? He cuts in well, he plays accurate crosses (especially early crosses along the ground) AND he has the ability to hit the through ball. Not sure what else you want out of a CM/RM/RW player, but that about covers it for me.

By: joeyt360

joeyt360 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:31:35 +0000

Klinsmann said a few weeks ago that Donovan wasn’t going to be here. It’s the only way that made sense, really–he hasn’t played a competitive game in months.

By: boscoesworld

boscoesworld — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:43:26 +0000

Gatt will have his time. He is like a young colt that needs to be broken at this point. He has unbridled energy but it needs to be harnessed. I like seeing that aggression and athleticism on the way up. Lichaj may have some residual injury problems.

By: crossmlk

crossmlk — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:53:58 +0000

bigdinla,
I assume you’re saying Zusi isn’t fast. And in that assesment you’d be wrong. He isn’t Eddie Johnson fast but he has plus speed.

I’m sensing MLS hatred here. You might not like the MLS overall (after all it is the fashionable thing these days), but there are good players in the league.

By: boscoesworld

boscoesworld — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:49:56 +0000

I just can’t get behind the Eddie Johnson inclusion. Never has someone so heralded contributed so little yet still has a job. He doesn’t run off the ball particularly well. He doesn’t hold the ball well. He is not a good shooter and he appears to take significant time off during games. Other than that he is a fine forward. Is he the best we have? Top four? Not in my book.

By: bigdinla

bigdinla — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:43:12 +0000

I have no idea why they are both not on this roster. JK does not like Lichaj for some reason, but he played very well in the GC until he was moved to RB. Gatt brings much needed speed. No reason for Davis or Evans over Gatt. Hell, I would take Gatt over slow and useless Torres.

By: camsoup91

camsoup91 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:22:42 +0000

Anyone have thoughts about Joshua Gatt or Eric Lichaj being left off? Or Lichaj’s lack of callups while starting for a team on the Premier League. Can’t be worse than Castillo.

By: bigdinla

bigdinla — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:52:23 +0000

Zusi is MLS quality. He is good at a lot of things, but not great at anything. Speed is very important if you lack technical ability. Speed is why a team like Jamaica is dangerous. USMNT is not good enough in the midfield to build slowly through the middle.

Jones is a hack. He is a more athletic version of Pablo Maestreoni. He is no Gattuso!

By: valiantdraws

valiantdraws — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:44:55 +0000

Jones is an enforcer. In fact, I think this subject may have been covered on here before. Anyway, Klins keeps him around to bruise guys up. All teams need a guy like this, and Jones is ours. Granted, I think he’s way overrated, and I’d like to see him left off the roster, but I understand the motivation to include him.

By: wfjackson3

wfjackson3 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:33:53 +0000

You don’t always necessarily need speed from your midfield. And please elaborate on Zusi. In what way is he overrated?

By: charliej11

charliej11 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:01:46 +0000

Ditto, but you add LD to Bradley and almost every combo is very good.

My hunch is there is something between him and JK. It just doesn’t add up the way it is going down.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:51:56 +0000

I knew that he was taking a break – I just didn’t expect that to extend into actual world cup qualifiers.

By: bigdinla

bigdinla — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:42:42 +0000

This is one of the weakest collection of midfielders the USMNT has ever fielded IMO. Only Bradley is a true world class player. Jones is overrated as is Zusi. Where is the speed?

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:14:53 +0000

Yes … updated. Missed that one on my first pass through the list.

By: digbysellers

digbysellers — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:01:11 +0000

You’re welcome

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:42:13 +0000

C’mon, Sam! You gotta keep up, man! (Seriously, Donovan is taking a break, not even back into LA Galaxy camp, although he says he’s coming back … the “when” remains unknown. We’ve all written a lot about it.

By: digbysellers

digbysellers — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:20:46 +0000

So just a quick question…you mention “others from the camp on today’s roster…Beckerman” but then he’s not below in the entire roster. I’m assuming he didn’t make it then?

By: whordy

whordy — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:17:36 +0000

Dude is having/had a mid life crisis at 30. Even if he has come back (he is training with LA as normal, right?), he has been out of it so far that you would need to call him up based on name alone. And as we’ve seen, JK is not someone who always does that.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:10:43 +0000

So…Donovan not being named to the team is not a surprise? Personally, I’m shocked.

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:08:15 +0000

My bad. That was a cut and paste from U.S. Soccer. The numbers are World Cup qualifier caps / goals. (In the case of GKs, it’s World Cup qualifier caps / shutouts)

By: dfstell

dfstell — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:03:11 +0000

What are those numbers after the names? Is that something like the total number of competitive games each player has played for the USMNT (i.e. exclusive of friendlies)?