The Rankings take a look at the squad assembled by Jurgen Klinsmann for the five-match summer swing.
Jurgen Klinsmann's U.S. camp is finally set, and for once the complaints should be at a minimum.
There will, as always, be arguments about one or two players missing out, but the German has put together a roster that includes 23 players chosen because their form has been good at the club level, and four chosen because their upside is impressive.
This list of players is not overly impressive on paper.
Among the group, few can be counted as stars on teams outside of Major League Soccer. Some are nearing the end of their run while others have done little to prove that they're ready for the level of competition that a run to and in the 2014 World Cup will bring. The questions at the back are real and troubling, and the answers up front are largely unproven.
Still, the way this team has been put together gives a clear look at Klinsmann's intent moving forward.
By bringing in Chris Wondolowski and Herculez Gomez he's sent a message that production at the club level will get you a look. The inclusions of Terrence Boyd, Alfredo Morales and Juan Agudelo show that even without production, promising young talents will be brought in to be groomed as part of the team.
Klinsmann is also sticking to his guns.
When he first got the job he made a point to say that more players from the Mexican league would be included, and that they would help form the identity of his team. Jose Torres is back in the fold and with him come Club Tijuana's Edgar Castillo and Joe Corona, along with Gomez.
How much they'll factor in to the team this summer is still a huge question, but the broader point for aspiring players is that the Mexican league is now a viable stepping stone to the U.S. national team, much like smaller European leagues have been for years.
The core group hasn't changed, and it's not likely to any time soon. Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley should still form the heart of this team, and that's not a bad thing. Klinsmann's greatest challenge will be figuring out how to maximize their talents without limiting the differing styles of those around them.
While the signs are encouraging, the time for experimenting is short. The manager has three games to figure it out before the matches start to matter.
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Age: 29
Club: Fulham |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 1 |
Comment: Dempsey, and how he's used in a group that includes Landon Donovan, will be a big determining factor in how well the USA's summer matches go. |
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Age: 22
Club: AZ |
Position: Forward
Last Week: 2 |
Comments: Altidore should be the first option up front for Klinsmann, but having Gomez and Wondolowski in camp might shorten the leash. |
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Age: 33
Club: Everton |
Position: Goalkeeper
Last Week: 3 |
Comments: One thing that should help USA rest a bit easier about the defense is the fact that Howard has been in really good form lately.
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Age: 24
Club: Chievo |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 4
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Comments: How Bradley is used should also be very interesting. Will he be asked to get forward, or hold deep? |
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Age: 40
Club: Tottenham |
Position: Goalkeeper
Last Week: 5 |
Comments: Friedel had another good season and can now take the summer to rest. |
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Age: 30
Club: LA Galaxy |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 6 |
Comment: Donovan is actually something of a question based on his MLS form, but that's never been a solid indicator of how he would play in the USA shirt. |
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Age: 29
Club: Santos |
Position: Forward
Last Week: 7 |
Comments: The inclusion of Gomez in the USA squad should take some of the pressure off of Dempsey and Altidore in terms of finding goals. |
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Age: 24
Club: Hoffenheim |
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Last Week: 8 |
Comments: Johnson at left back. Expect to see a lot of that with Timmy Chandler out of the mix.
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Age: 26
Club: Rangers |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 9 |
Comments: Edu will have a battle on his hands for playing time with the USA, but he should at least get a shot in the friendlies to earn his place.
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Age: 24
Club: Pachuca |
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 10 |
Comments: Torres will likely get a chance to lock down the left midfield spot, but the competition is wide open at the moment. |
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