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Ellensburg, Washington
I'm just an avid sports fan who also happens to like math and statistics. I don't have any anticipation for this blog to become anything more than it is right now, a fun hobby for me. I hope you enjoy, there may be some opinions and thoughts posted occasionally on here. Feel free to email me, I'll gladly answer any questions you have or just chat with ya about your team. [tenorman85@gmail.com]

Friday, March 14, 2014

Predicting the 23-Man US National Team (March 14th edition)

It has been over a week since the United States Men’s National Team lost 2-0 to Ukraine in their last friendly on a FIFA Matchday. The match was in doubt for most the time leading up to kickoff due to the violence in Ukraine and a weird story about a Cypriot referee’s car being blown up. It was a very important fixture for Jurgen Klinsmann though as it would be his last opportunity to take a look at his European-based players before the deadline to name his 30-man provisional roster in May.

The United States still has one more friendly scheduled before the provisional squad deadline in a friendly with Mexico in early April at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. This friendly will likely be filled with North American-based players from Major League Soccer and Liga MX as clubs will not be required to release players for this match.

Here is what I think the 23 man squad to Brazil looks like as of today, also including the seven players that I think will make the provisional squad.

Goalkeepers (3):
Starter
Tim Howard
Everton
Backups
Brad Guzan
Aston Villa
Nick Rimando
Real Salt Lake

This position grouping is set in my eyes as Howard will not be demoted at this point; he is one of the best American goalkeepers of all-time and this is certainly his final World Cup at age 36 when the tournament kicks off.

Guzan has been the back-up for a number of years now and will likely be the favorite to take over for Howard when the next cycle of World Cup qualifying starts.

Rimando will turn 35 during the World Cup but he has proven that he still has the abilities that he possessed in his youth. He had an amazing match against the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend making nine saves including a last-minute penalty save. He will probably not see the field but he should be rewarded with the World Cup experience.

Defenders (7):
Starters
RB
Brad Evans
Seattle Sounders FC
CB
Omar Gonzalez
Los Angeles Galaxy
CB
Matt Besler
Sporting Kansas City
LB
DaMarcus Beasley
Puebla
Backups

Geoff Cameron
Stoke Ctiy

Clarence Goodson
San Jose Earthquakes

Michael Parkhurst
Columbus Crew

Three of the starting spots are locks in my opinion with Gonzalez, Besler and Beasley occupying those spots. The right back has been a question for a long time now with Brad Evans currently leading the pack in the race for that role.  One of the biggest complaints about Evans is that he is not a natural right back, so why is he starting over somebody who plays right back full-time for his club in Geoff Cameron?
It would be unfair to judge Cameron based on his play in the Ukraine friendly as the center-backs were caught out of position on multiple occasions leaving Cameron is vulnerable spots. Evans is better than Cameron when it comes to pressing forward into the attack which could end up being the reason why he starts in Brazil.
There is no doubt in my mind that Cameron will make the roster whether he is starting or not. Cameron is a very versatile player who can play right and center back as well as in the defensive midfield. Cameron is the third center mid behind Bradley and Jones in my opinion ahead of Kyle Beckerman.

Midfielders (9):
Starters
CM
Michael Bradley
Toronto FC
CM
Jermaine Jones
Besiktas
LM
Landon Donovan
Los Angeles Galaxy
AM
Clint Dempsey
Seattle Sounders FC
RM
Graham Zusi
Sporting Kansas City
Backups

Kyle Beckerman
Real Salt Lake

Fabian Johnson
TSG Hoffenheim

Eddie Johnson
DC United

Mix Diskerud
Rosenborg

This starting midfield is a lock barring injury. The interesting battles here will be for the backup positions. I like Fabian Johnson because of his ability to play winged midfield and defense.

Forwards (4):
Starters
CF
Jozy Altidore
Sunderland
Backups

Aron Johannsson
AZ Alkmaar

Terrence Boyd
Rapid Vienna

Will Bruin
Houston Dynamo

Klinsmann has stated the Altidore is a player that he’d like to build the team around but with Altidore’s recent struggles to get onto the pitch, keep an eye on Johannsson who could be creeping up the depth chart.
I put Will Bruin on this list because I think that he could have a huge next few weeks in MLS which could vault him over Magee and Wondolowski on the depth chart for USMNT; Bruin has two caps.

Provisional Cuts

Juan Agudelo
FC Utrecht

Chris Wondolowski
San Jose Earthquakes

Sacha Kljestan
Anderlecht

Alejandro Bedoya
Nantes

Eric Lichaj
Nottingham Forest

John Brooks
Hertha Berlin

Tim Ream
Bolton Wanderers

Matches involving these 30 players this weekend (All Times Pacific)
15-Mar
TSG Hoffenheim
Mainz
7:30 AM
F. Johnson

Hertha Berlin
Hannover 96

Brooks

Everton
Cardiff City
8:00 AM
Howard

Stoke City
West Ham United

Cameron

Sunderland
Crystal Palace

Altidore

Bolton Wanderers
Brighton & Hove Albion

Ream

Nottingham Forest
Doncaster Rovers

Lichaj

Lille
Nantes
8:30 AM
Bedoya

Caykur Rizespor
Besiktas
10:00 AM
Jones

Aston Villa
Cheslea
10:30 AM
Guzan

Rapid Vienna
SV Josko Ried
11:00 AM
Boyd

Seattle Sounders FC
Toronto FC
1:30 PM
Evans, Dempsey, Bradley

Houston Dynamo
Montreal Impact
5:30 PM
Bruin

Sporting Kansas City
FC Dallas

Besler, Zusi

San Jose Earthquakes
Real Salt Lake
7:30 PM
Rimando, Beckerman, Goodson, Wondolowski





16-Mar
Twente Enschede
AZ Alkmaar
4:30 AM
Johannsson

NEC Nijmegen
FC Utrecht
6:30 AM
Agudelo

Anderlecht
KV Oostende
10:00 AM
Kljestan

Puebla
U.A.N.L
11:00 AM
Beasley

Los Angeles Galaxy
Bye
Columbus Crew
Bye
DC United
Bye
Rosenborg
Season Starts on 3/29


Check back again next Friday and every Friday from now until the World Cup to see how my 23-man and provisional cut lists change.