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Misc: Landon Donovan left out of World Cup

I am going to show my ignorance, but why do we need 3 goalkeepers? I get that you can't live without one, but do really expect to have 2 come down with injury that precludes them from playing?

I am surprised, yet not surprised by LD not being included. Seems this is the way JK was leaning all along. Surprised to see Green and Yedlin included. But hey they pay him a lot of money to make those decisions, and he gets to be the one that lives or loses his job because of it. He has to pick who he is ultimately comfortable with.
 
I would not risk replacing the 3rd GK, one position you can't compensate for with another player playing out of position.
 
Julian Green must have really impressed. That's good news.
 
Seems like this move was made with an eye towards 2018. Not a big fan of this decision but I guess that's why I'm not the coach.
 
bpmdu said:
Seems like this move was made with an eye towards 2018. Not a big fan of this decision but I guess that's why I'm not the coach.
Click to expand...

My guess is this, as well. May have been a better idea to have him on with some of the younger kids, to help them along this time, then they can have the reins for 2018. Not sure who you'd bump to make that happen, though.
 
I'm torn here. Landon Donovan has proven to be a hero for the USA and arguably the best american soccer player ever. However, he has really lost a step or two recently, he doesn't seem to buy into the team concept as much and him and Jurgen don't see eye to eye. It's a tough call on this one decision.

As far as the 23 man roster goes, I think facing the group of death and the travel that the USA will face in Brazil, Jurgen made the right call by just going for it. Guys like Donovan, Edu, Goodson, Evans and Parkhurst may have been "safer" picks but there is not nearly the young/fresh legs and potential of the team that was ultimately selected. He went all in with the selection and that's something Bob Bradley would have never had the balls to do. Jurgen knew that you have to fit fire with fire, so facing such a tough group why not choose a squad with the most pace and potential.

Here's what I hope the starting XI looks like. No idea if it's what we will get.

---------------------- Howard ----------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
-----Chandler---Cameron-----Besler------Johson-----
-----------------------------------------------------
--------------Jones------------Bradley---------------
-----------------------------------------------------
-----Bedoya-----------------------------Zusi---------
---------------------Dempsey------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
---------------------Altidore-------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------

There would be some nice options off the bench as will with pace to put on and attack late (Green/Johannsson/Diskerud) or some more solid defensive options to put on like Beckerman or Davis
 
Decided to look at the ages of the guys on the roster to gauge how young this team really is they are some interesting numbers.

Average age: 27.3 years
Average age w/o goalkeepers: 26.5 years
Players age 30+: 8 (Howard, Rimando, Beasley, Beckerman, Davis, Jones, Dempsey, Wondolowski)
Players age 25-29: 8 (Guzan, Cameron, Besler, Bedoya, Zusi, Bradley, Johnson, Gonzalez)
Players age 24 and under: 7 (Altidore, Chander, Diskerud, Johannsson, Brooks, Yedlin, Green)

Just interesting to look at. I would say the only critical guys in the 30+ group who are probably in their last world cup are Dempsey and Howard. The rest you can argue are fairly easily replaceable. The 25-29 group has a number of key names who will certainly be around for at least 2018 world cup, in particular Bradley and Besler who are going to be huge cogs in the machine in Brazil. And lastly, the 24 and under has the one huge name of importance in Altidore and then the guys everyone wants to see what the can do for the future in Green, Johannsson, Brooks, etc. So it's a decent balance of the talent. I'm very excited to see how the USMNT performs!
 
bpmdu said:
Seems like this move was made with an eye towards 2018. Not a big fan of this decision but I guess that's why I'm not the coach.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Get some young guys on the field and experience the WC. I am indifferent on LD not making it. He is definitely getting up there in age and has lost a step, but he is the best American soccer player in our history. Its too bad we got the draw we did, as I imagine that plays into it.
 
boone7247 said:
I am going to show my ignorance, but why do we need 3 goalkeepers? I get that you can't live without one, but do really expect to have 2 come down with injury that precludes them from playing?

.
Click to expand...

It is mandated by FIFA.

IIRC (and I'm too lazy to research), no team ever lost 2 of their goalkeepers during the world cup. However, sometimes the first choice gets injured or set off, requiring the back up to play and the third goalkeeper to sit on the bench.
Argentina in 1990 lost Nery Pumpido, their veteran goalkeeper I 86 World Cup due to broken leg in their 2nd group game. But the replacement, Sergio Goycochea became a hero after saving penalties in 2 shoot outs (against Italy and Yugoslavia). In 1990 England also lost a goalkeeper, but David Seaman was their 3rd choice, requiring a replacement.
 
When I first saw the roster I thought, huh??.... I think JK thinks we have no chance so why not get all the young guys experience since that is going to be your future. It will be interesting the formations he comes up with. Glad Mix and Beckerman made it. How great would it be if Wondo just kept scoring goals.
 
If these decisions had ANYTHING to do with 2018, Jurgen is an idiot. This is the freaking WORLD CUP. You play for NOW.
 
I very much doubt Klinnsman is preparing for 2018. Most coaches don't make it through two world cup cycles and though we have a history of being cautious to get rid of coaches if he actually got rid of someone he thought could contribute this cup to prepare for 2018 I would want him fired immediately.

We do know that Klinnsman puts huge value in fitness though and Donovan himself has been going on and on about how he isn't so young anymore (side note: Beckerman is the same age) and he can't train as hard and all that, so it's possible that after the physical tests this past week Klinnsman knew he wasn't getting the speedster we are used to and couldn't imagine a spot for him. I thought he would make it for the experience in the locker room and possibility as a super sub (we know he is clutch), but I'm not upset about it. When Donovan tore up the Gold Cup I thought he might be back in Jurgen's good graces but between skipping important qualifiers for his sabbatical thing and lack-luster performances with Galaxy, it makes sense.
 
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Agreed. I don't think he made decisions looking towards 2018. Sure, he may have "promised" Green a spot to get him to commit to the USMNT, but I'm fine with giving away a spot or two. But Brad Davis or John Brooks over LD? I'm trying to trust Jurgen here, but it's not easy.
 
The thought line that I do somewhat understand is this: Jurgen doesn't think LD is a starter anymore (not that much of a stretch), & he believes that having Landon on the bench would possibly create unneeded problems/tension. This is how I prefer to look at it. Otherwise, it makes no sense to me.
 
It's a young man's game, I personally thought Landon played well in qualifying but I don't think anyone would disagree that he's past his prime. Even Landon admitted he can't train consistently like he used to, with limited space you can't risk a spot on someone who you know won't be fit. Definitely took some balls to make this call though.
 
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