January Camp Roster Released...Finally (UPDATED)

The 2014 World Cup cycle is (un)officially underway.  Bob Bradley named a 24 man roster for the annual Camp Cupcake in Carson, California, which will culminate in the January 22 match against Chile at the Home Depot Center.  Here is the roster:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Matt Pickens (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (9): A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles Galaxy), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ugo Ihemelu (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Ryan Miller (Halmstads BK), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Anthony Wallace (Colorado Rapids), Marvell Wynne (Colorado Rapids)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Eric Alexander (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Sam Cronin (San Jose Earthquakes), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Dax McCarty (D.C. United), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Late night here, so here's some two cents from the mastermind(s) at Ninety Plus:

• All kinds of youth here, but really only a few of the 24 players called in should be expecting much of a future in with the full team.  The rest are potential stop gaps should there be an injury crisis.
• What a great collection of young forwards, something that we haven't seen at a Camp Cupcake in years.  Agudelo, Bunbery, and Braun are probably the three best American forwards in MLS under age 23.
• Wait...(sniffle)...I'm having a moment, this is the first January roster that does not feature any of the US' version of the three stooges (Robbie Findley, Ricardo Clark, Jonathan Bornstein).
• I'm really looking forward to this leftback battle; Anthony Wallace, Ryan Miller, and AJ DeLaGarza.  I see it coming down to Wallace and Miller, and the slight edge to Miller in this one.  Does Tim Ream maybe even get a trot out on the left?? Doubtful, but it is the season for experimentation
• To counter a Chile team which is sure to bring some young attacking flash to the table, will Bob Bradley counter with a strong defense, or will he counter speed with speed?  Considering his recent experimentation's, I would say that we see a bit of an energetic, attacking side.  But we'll need to see Chile's line-up to better guess this one.
• Here is my favored line-up:

------------------------Cervi

Franklin-----Gonzalez-----Ream-----Miller

--------Lawrentowicz------Cronin

Diskerud------------McCarty---------Bedoya

-----------------------Bunbery

I need some Yanks in my life. 

Holiday Haitus

Hey all, considered doing a piece on the failed 2022 US World Cup Bid, but in my healths best interest, I decided to let FIFA be FIFA. 

We'll return with the release of the January "Camp Cupcake" roster.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.  Who knows, maybe something big will turn up before then.  How 'bout them Timbers kits ehh?

USA Youth Shows Promise, Beat South Africa Late

It took 85 minutes and a 17 year old, but the United States found a way to stifle an experienced World Cup team, in their house.  The game, some 10,000 miles away from home, against a team with 11 of their 23 players from the World Cup, was a drag-it-out, punch/counter-punch match for 85 minutes, until debutantes Mikkel Diskerud and Juan Agudelo combined beautifully in the box, with the entry pass from Agudelo into the box for Diskerud who controlled and slipped a pass to an on-rushing Agudelo who controlled and finished past the 'keeper. 

I was one of the many USA fans who saw this as a bit of a throw-away match, one to get youngsters involved and acquainted with the system.  Very few thought this group would be able to stick with a South African team playing in front of 50,000+ of their home fans. 

Agudelo showed experience and poise beyond his years in a game where the "veterans" were easily the worst performers for the US. 

Here are the player ratings:

Brad Guzan (8): Solid performance from the US number two.  Controlled the air and stopped attempt after attempt with relative ease.  He needs to transfer out of Aston Villa though, Arsenal would be GREAT.

Eric Lichaj (6.5): In his first ever US start, Lichaj was matched up against Bafana Bafana fly man Siphiwe Tshabalala, and acquitted himself well.  The yellow card was a bit reckless but I feel like that was more of a statement tackle than anything else.

Clarence Goodson (7): Marshaled the US backline with efficiency and aerial prowess.

Tim Ream (6.5): Was undressed by good passing moves twice, but past those showed well in his debut.  At this point could make a argument for the top 6-8 centerbacks in the US pool.

Jonathan Bornstein (3): The most experienced player on the roster looked like 12 year old.  Was only better than Robbie Findley.

Alejandro Bedoya (6): Was active and dangerous throughout, but dropped off late.  Worthy of more looks.

Logan Pause/Brian Carroll (5.5): You really can't not group these two together.  They were strong defensively but they're collective distribution was lacking.

Robbie Rogers (6): Was decent enough on the flank and created a couple good chances.  His low shot in the first half deserved a better finish.

Eddie Gaven (6): Workman-like effort from Gaven, on both offense and defense.

Robbie Findley (1): Absolutely terrible, pathetic, embarrassing, awful, and all other sorts of negative words.  Every time he touched the ball it either flew away about 20 yards, or he controlled and then ran to nowhere.  He sucks.

SUBS:

Jonathan Spector (5.5):  Clearly showing the rust associated with not playing for the worst team in the EPL.  Really needs a transfer for the Championship in January

Teal Bunbury (6.5): Worked hard and hustled.  Proved more useful than Findley just minutes into the second half when his low shot required a sharp save.

Juan Agudelo (8): Impressive from the 17 year old.  A controlled and smart finish.  I can't emphasize enough that we don't start heaping tons of pressure on this kid.  He'll get another look in January and we'll move forward from there.  Remember he has only played two games in MLS.

Mikkel Diskerud (7.5): Another youngster who showed well in his debut.  Probably gets another look in January and could break in to the first team come Gold Cup time in June.

Nat Borchers (6): The 29 year old from Real Salt Lake showed why he was a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year.  He was strong in the air and controlled the back line following Goodson's exit.

Gale Agbossoumonde (NA): One good header away late on, but really not enough to warrant a grade.  Made his debut, probably another who gets a look again in January. 

Who Starts Against South Africa?

Ever since the roster came out I've been debating amongst myself and others about the route that Bob Bradley would take moving forward.  Seeing as there are 18 men for this roster, it would seem a pretty safe bet that everyone will play, if healthy.  That being said, here is the starting lineup that I see Bob Bradley playing out of the gate:

------------------Guzan

Lichaj-----Spector-----Goodson-----Bornstein

------------Carroll-------Pause

Bedoya-------------------------------Rogers

------------Bunbury-----Agudelo

Brad Guzan is the easy pick to start in goal for this one, but look for Cervi to get a half at least for his first cap. 

With Eric Lichaj clearly being the more impressive between he and Jonathan Spector, I see a move for Spector inside, where he is comfortable, and has played there before with West Ham and at various youth levels.  Central defense has become surprisingly thin.  Added depth can never hurt.  Clarence Goodson takes up his position in the middle, and Jonathan Bornstein, the likely captain, fills in on the left.  Tim Ream has played left back in college, so it is very possible that we see him get some time there, with Gale Agbossoumonde and Nat Borchers each getting a fair shake as well

In midfield, I'm not sure why Bob Bradley called in Brian Carroll and Logan Pause, as it would seem neither have much of a future with the Nats.  Knowing Bobs typical cautious style, he likely starts with the holding mids to set the pace, then ups the temperature a bit by introducing the more attack minded Mikkel Diskerud at halftime.  Alejandro Bedoya and Robbie Rogers on the flanks round out the midfield, with Eddie Gaven the as the back up for both.

Up top, the two youth should get the call from the get go, might as well in my opinion.  Robbie Findley is a known quantity.   Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury offer some flash and youthful exuberance to a position in desperate need of it. 

So there it is. 

Bob Bradley Names Very Young Roster for South Africa

The United States will take on a very experienced South Africa team in seven days, and the team to battle the Bafana Bafana will be arguably the youngest roster that Bob Bradley has ever named.

United States U20 standouts Juan Agudelo (17) and Gale Agbossoumonde (18) are very surprising calls.  Other youth called in are Teal Bunbury (20) and Mikkel Diskerud (20).  Bunbury, an impressive forward from the Kansas City Wizards, was born in Canada, and once thought to be lost to our northern neighbors, it appears has changed his tune and will likely get his first cap for the US.  Diskerud's name has been coming up since the end of the World Cup as a youngster who has earned his right to be brought into the US fold.  His play in Norway has been a staple of consistency.

Agudelo and Agbossoumonde are the first two players to receive call ups to the full team after being developed at the United States Soccer Development Academy.  Agudelo could become the third youngest United States player to earn a cap, behind Bobby Convey and Freddy Adu, and will be the youngest ever under Bob Bradley.

Here is the full roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

DEFENDERS (7): Gale Agbossoumonde (Estoril Praia), Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake), Jonathan Bornstein (Tigres), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Kansas City Wizards), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)