USMNT Roster Analysis for Friendlies Against Costa Rica and Belgium

Jurgen Klinsmann announced his first full-camp squad today.  Convening over the two September friendlies, the roster is full of interesting names.  The following players comprise Klinsmann's roster: 

Goalkeepers:  Tim Howard, Bill Hamid

Defenders:  Carlos Bocanegra, Edgar Castillo, Timothy Chandler, Steve Cherundolo, Clarence Goodson, Zach Loyd, Michael Orozco-Fiscal, Heath Pearce, Tim Ream

Midfielders:  Kyle Beckerman, Clint Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Fabian Johnson, Sacha Kljestan, Jeff Larentowicz, Robbie Rogers, Brek Shea, Jose Francisco Torres

Forwards:  Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, Teal Bunbury, Landon Donovan

A fairly strong but intriguing roster to say the least.  We'll begin the analysis with a look at the omissions...

(Writer's note: please visit msp.theamericanoutlaws.com for more analysis of everything United States Soccer)

The Notable Omissions

Obviously this is a very interesting and, perhaps, even somewhat strange roster. 

First, let's take a look at some of the more interesting omissions. 

Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Freddy Adu, Eric Lichaj and Mixx Diskerud are the most noticeable absences from Klinsmann's roster. 

In the cases of Bradley and Jones, potential moves away from their clubs before the end of the transfer window are to blame, as are lack of recent playing time.  Michael Bradley is decidedly not in Borussia Monchengladbach's plans for the upcoming season, and a move away from the Bundesliga outfit is all but assured.  Jones finds himself in a similar position, having been left off of Schalke 04's roster in three of the club's last four matches. 

Freddy Adu's absence is a little more difficult to source.  It may be due to his recent move to the MLS, with his club in the thick of a playoff push.  Or, Adu might have rubbed Klinsmann the wrong way in the abbreviated Mexico camp. 

In all likelihood, however, he did not get a call due to his recent club switch.  Simply put, it's difficult getting to know a new club and move your life from Europe to the US, especially with the MLS in midseason.  Adu is probably getting things organized in Philadelphia and will reappear for the Yanks in upcoming friendlies. 

The absences of Lichaj and Diskerud are much tougher to understand. 

Lichaj demonstrated during the Gold Cup that he could be a quality left back as he and the Yanks develop ahead of the 2014 World Cup.  Diskerud has continued to demonstrate obvious skill on the ball with his club, and this friendly addition would have seemed an excellent opportunity for Klinsmann to size up one of his more promising youth players.

Next, some of the stranger inclusions...

The Strange Inclusions

Now to the folks who were included who were perhaps questionable. 

Robbie Rogers and Jeff Larentowicz are a pair who would seem to have not done enough to beat out their competitors. 

Rogers scored a memorable goal to help the Yanks to a draw against El Tri early in August, but his play on the field that night in general was really subpar.  While he managed to find the back of the net once, he had at least three shots taken horribly.  Rogers does offer pace on the wing, but with the exclusion of players like Diskerud and even Josh Gatt, this is a head scratcher. 

Larentowicz is also a puzzling inclusion. 

Having only received one cap in his career, the 28-year-old now finds himself with a ticket to LA and Belgium.  Larentowicz has played fairly well for the Colorado Rapids, but again, with the omissions of Diskerud, Gatt, and others, it's difficult to see why Klinsmann brought in the midfielder. 

Also consider that by the time the World Cup rolls around, Larentowicz will be 31—no spring hen for a midfielder.  Bringing him into camp this late in his career seems like a fruitless endeavor. His presence may have been explained to some extent, however, by a Real Salt Lake tweet.  

The MLS club announced that midfielder Kyle Beckerman (included in Klinsmann's roster) would only be available to the Yanks for the match against Belgium.  Some are speculating that Larentowicz's inclusion is only to bolster the squad's depth against Costa Rica when Beckerman is absent.

The other head scratcher from this roster is the number of defenders brought into camp. Nine defenders got calls for this camp, and it is highly unlikely that all of them will see the pitch. 

While Klinsmann will surely use these friendlies as an evaluation for his defensive prospects, the number seems just a bit extreme.  Perhaps if Klinsmann really does intend to use this series of matches as his chance to examine talent for himself, he could have left off known-quantities like Bocanegra and Cherundolo?

Had enough of the negatives?  Good, because there are a ton of positives, which we'll delve into next...

The Promising Inclusions

First, the inclusion of promising German-American defender/midfielder Fabian Johnson is a welcome sight for American fans.  In the last month or so, a slew of young German-American players have emerged as potential American players.  Johnson has played very well for his club, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, and is a very intriguing talent. 

Another chance to look at Edgar Castillo, who played decently against El Tri, will provide fans and USMNT staff alike with another opportunity to measure the player's worth as a solution at left back.  Timothy Chandler's return is yet another welcome sight for the Yanks.  Tim Ream will get his first chance to impress Klinsmann, and Michael Orozco-Fiscal appears to have done well enough to earn the admiration of the new German manager.  

Teal Bunbury's return to the fold is another bright spot—Bunbury put in a pair of promising performances in late 2010/early 2011 and represents a physical striker capable of holding possession.  Jozy Altidore will also come into this camp riding high after starting off his career in the Netherlands in sizzling form.  Five goals in as many games including a brace yesterday tends to have that effect.  

Finally, Bill Hamid's second call into the national side seems to confirm his status as the front-runner to be Howard's backup and one-day successor.  It will be interesting to see whether or not Hamid gets any playing time in these friendlies—his best chance being against Costa Rica.

Next, a lineup projection...

Top-Strength Lineup

Here is the lineup I project being the top choice (bearing in mind that Klinsmann may opt to use two very different lineups between the two matches):

Howard

Chandler—Bocanegra—Orozco-Fiscal—Castillo

Edu—Beckerman

Dempsey—Donovan—Shea

Altidore

Howard, as usual, will be the starter in goal.  Chandler will get the nod over Cherundolo (for at least one match) on the right in order for Klinsmann to assess whether or not the Nurnberg-based player should remain a defender or move to the right wing from here forward.  Orozco-Fiscal and Castillo get starts at some point in hopes that they will build off of at least adequate performances against El Tri.  Look for Tim Ream to get a start as well—he still appears to be the top young American centerback prospect.  

Maurice Edu has had an opportunity to make the midfield his own put in front of him on a golden platter in this match, so he may well get both starts in the midfield.  Reports indicate that Beckerman will only be available for the Belgium match, so look for Torres or potentially even Larentowicz to get a start against Costa Rica.  The attacking portion of the midfield—Dempsey, Donovan and Shea—appears fairly set.  Watch for Fabian Johnson to get time on the left, and Timothy Chandler may get time on the right, as well. 

Jozy Altidore may just have found his game again with AZ Alkmaar (as one of our bloggers predicted), and he will most certainly get the start up top.  Agudelo will get his chances, as will Bunbury.

Overall Predictions

Look for a much more attack-oriented United States squad after Klinsmann's first full camp working with his new charges.  In the second half alone against Mexico, the Yanks showed a marked tactical change from the Bob Bradley era.  

Klinsmann's seemingly preferred 4-5-1 formation (played essentially as a 4-2-3-1) requires a very good possession striker who is also capable of making his own shot.  Jozy Altidore may finally be maturing into that role, but of course the proof either positive or negative will appear in just over a week's time.

Klinsmann's major task will be to rebuild the American defense, and that effort begins in earnest against Costa Rica and Belgium.  Klinsmann has called in a defense-heavy squad for these two friendlies, and it is likely that most if not all of them will see minutes at some point.  Youth will also seemingly be served as we see the return of Timothy Chandler to the program and welcome new German-American Fabian Johnson to the squad.

In general, what can we expect from these friendlies?  A much clearer window into how Jurgen Klinsmann wants to play and a look at some new and intriguing talents.