U.S. Men's Soccer U-23: The Overage Players

After doing Caleb Porter's job picking his starting 11, I figured why not pick his overage players as well?

There are a couple different ways you can go with overage players—use a player in the twilight of his career, and give him one last shot to play for the stars and stripes. He'll be someone the younger players can look up to and learn from.

The second option is to use a player on the fringe of the national team who is hungry to be called up.

A third option pick a player in his prime who can really have an impact on the field

When selecting my possible overage players, I dabbled in a little of each to try to make it a well-rounded squad.

Omar Gonzalez

Barely overage, but overage nonetheless, Gonzalez is someone most fans have wanted Klinsmann to call up.

But he will have to settle for an overage slot.

The main weak link in the U-23 squad is a center back, and Gonzalez would settle the back line. The added bonus would be getting him involved in the U.S. setup in an effort to keep Mexico at bay.

Michael Parkhurst

As stated previously, center back is an issue for the U-23s and Parkhurst is someone who can step in and shore up the back line. 

Parkhurst definitively falls into the on-the-edge of the national team, as he has not suited up for Uncle Sam since the 2009 Gold Cup.

Only 27 years old, Parkhurst would still be in his prime for the 2014 World Cup, which would give him an opportunity to try his way into Klinsmann's national team squads. 

Michael Bradley

The center midfield is very attacking, and while Bradley is a box-to-box midfielder, his defensive play will help balance out the middle of the park.

After an uncertain end to his club season last year, Bradley has found consistent playing time at Italy and would give the midfield a calming defensive force.

He would also show Klinsmann he is an option other Beckerman or Edu.

Jermaine Jones

Another defensive-minded midfielder, Jones has found himself on the outside looking in at the national team since Klinsmann's appointment.

At the age of 30, it is unlikely he will play a part in World Cup 2014, so this would more than likely be his last major tournament for the U.S.

A solid player, Jones switched from Germany to the U.S. at an unfortunate time, as the Gold Cup is the only major tournament he has been played in.

This would almost also serve as a "thank you" for the switch and the impact it has had on other German-Americans coming through.

DaMarcus Beasley

While the prospects of our wingers are great, Porter could do worse then bringing in an experienced winger to man the flanks.

Beasley has recently found his way back into the national team setup but finds himself coming off the bench behind Brek Shea.

Once one of the first names on the team sheet, Beasley is now fighting to be one of the first men off the bench. While not in his youth at the age of 29, he would still be viable for World Cup 2014.

This inclusion would give Klinsmann a chance to see Beasley work a full shift and would provide the U-23 team with experience on the wings.  

Herculez Gomez

The only American to lead a foreign league in scoring, Gomez is a player a lot of fans have been calling for to get a full national team call up.

Klinsmann has left him off the squad for now.

Though he is not the most physically gifted or technical player, Gomez just scores goals. Every team needs goals. If he continues scoring, there is no reason not to take him.