(Editorial) – USMNT Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has announced his 23-man roster for the upcoming international period. The U.S. will travel through Europe, taking on Denmark on Wednesday, March 25 in Aarhus. They will then travel to Zurich to take on Switzerland on Tuesday, March 31.
Road To Gold Cup: USMNT Back Line Roster Break Down
With MLS less than a month into the season, this roster is in many ways the non-domestic first team. Only seven of the 23 are based in America, with Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), and Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC) being the only non-regulars of those seven.
With Klinsmann’s desire for competition at center back, concern about the defensive play, and the tactical experimentation, the defensive selections are of particular interest in this international camp.
USMNT fans have seen the Jermaine Jones experiment. Youngsters like Matt Hedges and Steve Birnbaum got time there back in January. Then there’s the old reliable pair from last cycle’s hexagonal in Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez. Then there’s the open competition at the outside back competitions with DeMarcus Beasley‘s retirement and Fabian Johnson‘s versatility.
What then does this group of European/Mexican-based defenders look like and what role could they play in the USMNT going forward?
Ventura Alvarado (Club America): The Arizona native joined the Liga MX giant as a teenager. While it took awhile for him to make the 18, he’s become a regular, appearing 10 times in the current Clausaura and starting several CCL matches. Like a few others called in by Klinsmann, Alvarado is probably getting the benefit of the doubt because of the league and club he plays for more than his playing time of the past few years. I’d equate this to several of the first-timers from this past January Camp. Get him some time on the field, see how he does, and go from there.
John Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin): The lone center back of Klinsmann’s German Conversions has worked his way back into the Hertha starting lineup and has been playing very well. He’s served in the past as a utility/depth defender for the USMNT. As a starter for a mid-table team in Bundesliga, he’s clearly growing into his own at the age of 22. Of all eight defenders in this group, he earned this call up the most. Furthermore, he deserves as much of a shot as anyone at a starting center back spot going forward. Only an injury or desire to have a full off season will keep him out of serios consideration for the Gold Cup roster.
Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt): The 24-year-old right back moved clubs in the off season and has played in 22 club matches this season, playing 1767 minutes. He only played 1594 minutes for FC Nurnberg in all of 2013-14. While he’s had an on-again off-again time with the U.S. and there’s been questions about his commitment in the past, he’s still a quality German-American talent. Perhaps the time off from national team play will reinvigorate him. With a new wave of youth getting a look, a solid performance could go a long way to regaining a good standing with the team. Remember, he was one of only two field players to not play in Brazil. He needs to show up in this camp.
Greg Garza (Club Tijuana): Garza has been in and out of Xolos lineup since joining the Mexican side in 2012, but has found himself in a very similar situation to Alvarado: appearing if not starting in league play, and starting regularly in CCL. He’s been decent in the five USMNT caps he’s gotten this past year. Garza fits into that second tier of outside/wing backs along with DeAndre Yedlin (Fabian Johnson is in the first tier all by himself). This camp should be the next level of evaluation and expectation, his equivalent of January Camp. He has competition with several others above him by seniority. He might even get a chance at wide midfield as part of Klinsmann’s experimentation.
Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla): Orozco has played almost every minute for the mid-table Mexican side. He hasn’t always taken his game to the next level in international play, but he’s a veteran and has been part of the core of his club team for several years. It’s a new cycle. He probably won’t be given the benefit of the doubt if he doesn’t play well or establish himself above the younger players in this group. Orozco needs to impress Klinsmann to get any consideration for the Gold Cup and beyond.
Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers): And the “About Time This Guy Got Called Up” award goes to . . . Seriously, Ream’s been as much of a regular for Bolton as anyone. He’s gotten more playing time each year he’s been with the Championship side in four years. Considering he’s 27-years-old, I’m shocked he’s only got 12 national team caps. With the ability to play both left and center back, he might have the best chance of any of the non-regular defenders at making the team in the future. If Ream is one of the best defenders in this camp, he’ll make it very hard for Klinsmann to keep him out of future plans.
Brek Shea (Orlando City SC): The recently converted fullback has been called up after getting time in January Camp. The Stokes City castaway had an assist against Chile but looked out of place in the 3-5-2. He was much improved against Panama in the 4-4-2, and has played every minute at left back for The Lions in MLS, contributing to the attack. He also has yet to have any noticeable mistakes defensively. If anything, he’s bailed out his team with good recovery speeds and timely tackles. This is a good time for a check up with Klinsmann to re-evaluate and give Shea more direction in preparation for the summer and beyond.
DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur): Yedlin is still in the middle of the “learning process” with Spurs. While his move to the EPL side may be a great opportunity in the long run, coming in mid-season after a full MLS season and a World Cup were not ideal. He’s gotten his fitness back, and did start in the Spurs most recent U21 match. Patience is the key. Yedlin still has lots of promise and will be given a chance come next EPL season for sure. U.S. fans know what he can do with the national team. This camp is a chance for him to get game minutes and act as a bench mark for the other full backs in camp. Anything but a poor performance, and he’s a lock for the Gold Cup roster.
Overall: This was a good selection by Klinsmann. Other than maybe Geoff Cameron and Edgar Castillo, there aren’t many snubs considering this is a non-MLS focused roster. Cameron and Stoke have been having a great season, so he isn’t a concern. The coaches know what he brings to the USMNT and he’s in good form. His absence gives one of the new kids a chance to be evaluated. Castillo has been starting regularly for Atlas, so his absence is a bit confusing.
Shea is the only MLS defender called in, and it’s very much the right move. Everyone else fits into one of two groups: 1) a recent regular with the first team or 2) an old fringe player/new face looking to break through. The first group hasn’t been called in much since the World Cup and it’s time for a check up ahead of the Gold Cup and the new World Cup cycle. The second group is part of Klinsmann’s theme of calling in new faces and giving new players a chance to prove themselves.
As head-scratching as some of Klinsmann’s roster decisions have been in the past year, this defensive group makes a lot of sense considering the circumstances and the role these two friendlies should serve. I like every individual called in as well as the group as a whole. It will be interesting to see who starts and what formation the team will play in. Come on you Yanks and let the discussion, analysis, and yelling resume.
