Predicting the 30-man camp, my final 23-man roster starting XI

My predictions for 30 names headed to the final USMNT camp before Brazil, the 23 players I would take to Brazil with explanations, and my starting lineup/formation against Ghana on June 16th. 

We are now less than one month away from the last day that national teams can announce the official 23-man roster that they will be taking to Brazil (June 2^nd). Additionally, we are just a week away from the announcement of the 30-player camp that will start on May 14^th and include two of the three “Send-Off Series” games. We’ve been asking the same question for the past three years; who is it going to be?

Posibilities:

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

RB: Brad Evans, Michael Parkhurst, Timothy Chandler, DeAndre Yedlin

CB: Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron, Clarence Goodson, John Brooks, Tim Ream, Oguchi Onyewu

LB: Fabian Johnson, DaMarcus Beasley, Edgar Castillo

Midfield: Michael Bradley, Graham Zusi, Landon Donovan, Jermaine Jones, Kyle Beckerman, Mix Diskerud, Alejandro Bedoya, Joe Corona, Brad Davis, Maurice Edu, Danny Williams, Sacha Kljestan, Luis Gil

Forward: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson, Terrance Boyd, Eddie Johnson, Julian Green, Chris Wondolowski

30-Man Roster: This is my prediction on the 30-man camp, not who I think should be there.

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

RB: Brad Evans, Michael Parkhurst, Timothy Chandler

CB: Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron, Clarence Goodson, John Brooks

LB: Fabian Johnson, DaMarcus Beasley,

Midfield: Michael Bradley, Graham Zusi, Landon Donovan, Jermaine Jones, Kyle Beckerman, Mix Diskerud, Alejandro Bedoya, Maurice Edu, Brad Davis, Joe Corona

Forward: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson, Terrance Boyd, Julian Green, Eddie Johnson, Chris Wondolowski

The 23-man roster part is going to be my thoughts, rather than a prediction, so here are the 23 guys I would take to Brazil, with explanations below.

23-Man Roster:

GK: Howard, Guzan, Rimando

RB: Chandler, Parkhurst

CB: Besler, Gonzalez, Goodson

LB: F. Johnson, Beasley

Midfield: Bradley, Cameron, Zusi, Donovan, Jones, Beckerman, Diskerud, Bedoya

Forward: Dempsey, Altidore, Johannsson, Boyd

(Yes, I realize that that is 22 names, I’ll explain why later in the post)

Goalies:

Tim Howard has been phenomenal this season for Everton in England, and is the clear cut #1 keeper. Brad Guzan is one year removed from being named Aston Villa’s player of the year and the US will be comfortable with him in net in the event of an injury to Howard. As for Nick Rimando, he is the best goalie in MLS and probably the best 3^rd goalie in the world. The US has incredible goaltending depth and these are the top three. There is no youngster knocking on the door just yet, and Guzan will be the key keeper for the next cycle, so there is no reason to leave Rimando’s experience and great personality at home.

Right Back:

Tim Chandler: Chandler has had a very rocky few years with the USMNT, as there have always been questions about his passion for the team. It looked like it was finally resolved and the future was bright until he badly struggled in World Cup Qualifying against Honduras and hasn’t been back in a United States uniform since (over a year). However, if Geoff Cameron is played centrally as I believe he should be, Chandler remains the most talented RB in the US pool. The biggest question for me at this point is his health and match-fitness, as he is just coming back from a knee injury that kept him out for a few months. But if he can prove his health in camp, he is on my final roster. He plays the style that Klinsmann likes in fullbacks and is the only player at the position who has the speed to somewhat keep up with Cristiano Ronaldo (not that any fullback in the world has a chance to shut him down though) and Ghana’s wingers.

Michael Parkhurst: Parkhurst is on my final roster for one major reason—versatility. In a pinch, he can play any spot on the backline. It came down to him vs. Brad Evans and Parkhurst is just simply the better defender. Evans played a big role in qualifying and was the first choice RB for much of the past year, but he is coming off an injury and more importantly, is a midfielder.

Center Back:

Matt Besler: Besler has been the #1 option at CB for a while now. He has very good speed, reads the game very well, provides great leadership (captain for the reigning MLS Cup winners), and is well liked in the locker room. Simply put, there really aren’t any downsides to him and he will be starting all three group stage games barring an injury.

Omar Gonzalez: Quite possibly the most talented CB we have, and easily the most frustrating. Gonzalez seems to play great for 85 minutes of the 90, but against the talent we will be playing, those 5-minute lapses could be incredibly costly. He is also the best aerial defender we have (sorry Clarence Goodson). Gonzo will absolutely be in Brazil, but is definitely fighting to keep his starting spot.

Clarence Goodson: The San Jose Earthquakes man will be a backup in Brazil. He has always been a solid player for the USMNT and has had a very good fall and spring since arriving in MLS. However, he is the 4^th choice behind Besler, Gonzo, and Cameron. Great in the air but lacks in his distribution. He also brings experience to the backline, having been on the 2010 US World Cup roster.

Left Back:

Fabian Johnson: Johnson has spent more time for the USMNT at wing than fullback in the past year, but I just can’t see us advancing without him in our back 4—especially if Chandler doesn’t start at right back (no other RB besides Yedlin can provide anywhere near the offensive width that Johnson and Chandler give). Johnson has been starting week in and week out at defense for Hoffenheim and has been going up against plenty of talent.

DaMarcus Beasley: This will be Beasley’s 4^th World Cup, so he will be BY FAR the most experienced defender on the roster (with the other seven combining for just one previous World Cup) which will be heavily relied upon in the locker room. I personally don't think he has the talent to start against strong international competition, but he is certainly a capable backup and his experience will be a huge plus in training and game preparation.

Holding Midfield:

Geoff Cameron: Quite simply, Cameron is way too talented to be left on the bench, but at the same time nobody really knows where he slots or who he takes out of the lineup. He could be the starting RB, CB, or holding midfield. He has had a fantastic season for Stoke City at right back, but both he and Jurgen think he is better centrally. I’ve made the case plenty of times before that he should be partnered with Bradley and that’s what I’m going to stick with for now.

Kyle Beckerman: Beckerman is quite possibly the most underrated player in the US pool. Every time he is in the starting lineup he does his job. He had a fantastic performance against Mexico in April when partnered next to Bradley and locked up his plane ticket that night in my opinion. Solely a defensive midfielder, he does a great job with distribution out the back which is probably his most underrated quality. His link up play between the defense and the more offensive midfielders against Mexico was hugely important, as our central defenders definitely lack with the ball at their feet. Beckerman certainly lacks the physical traits and speed of Jermaine Jones, but if Cameron goes to CB I would be extremely comfortable with Beckerman in a starting position,

Outside Midfielder:

Graham Zusi: Zusi provides a better cross than anybody on the US roster and does a great job tracking back. His commitment to being defensively aware will be HUGE, especially against Portugal when he and the RB will have to lock down Ronaldo’s side.

Landon Donovan: This will almost certainly be the most decorated male US national team player’s last World Cup. He has certainly slowed down with age, but he is one of the only players on the roster who possesses enough raw talent to change a game in a moments notice. His goal against Algeria in stoppage time during the 2010 World Cup made the nation erupt and advanced the USMNT to the knockout stage. Nobody can counter attack like him on the US roster and that could be a very important trait against the talented teams we will be playing. It is still up in the air if he will start or be a “supersub,” but the 32-year-old will be a key player for the Americans in Brazil.

Alejandro Bedoya: Bedoya had a wonderful summer with the USMNT in 2013 and a very solid season with Nantes in France. He is extremely flexible and can play any midfield position or right back. He will be a very good option off the bench, and will probably start if Jurgen decides Donovan is best suited in a substitute role. Bedoya provides a lot more defensively than Donovan, which should help his cause.

Central Midfield:

Michael Bradley: Bradley is the most important player to the success of the USMNT. The team is completely different when he steps onto the field. He is incredibly smart and will always cover for a run forward. He will never let the team be put into a bad spot, even if it means sitting back when he is the better player going forward. Having a holding midfielder in the lineup should free him up to be the center of our attack. He won’t score many goals, if any, but will be looked upon to spark our attack.

Jermaine Jones: I’ve never been a fan of Jones, but he is one of the more talented and physically intimidating players in the US pool. However, I don’t trust him to play second fiddle behind Bradley, which puts him on the bench for my team. You can’t limit your best player, and in my mind Jones limits Bradley.
Mix Diskerud: Diskerud is a very creative player who has greatly improved his defensive game in the past year. He was a key player in 2013 for the USMNT and the team’s record is 12-1-1 when he is used in a game in the last 12 months. For whatever reason (either his hair or talent) he seems to be the USMNT’s good luck charm.

Forward:
Clint Dempsey: After a very tough late summer, fall and winter in 2013-14, Dempsey is now fully on fire for the Seattle Sounders. The current USMNT captain is hitting a great run of form at the perfect time. No matter the formation he will be placed just behind Jozy Altidore and will be needed to score goals and get assists.

Jozy Altidore: Altidore has had probably the toughest year of his career for Sunderland this season. He has just two goals in 27 appearances for the English club after the best goal scoring year of his life in 2012/13 for both AZ Alkmaar and the USMNT. However, Sunderland’s style and players just do not fit Jozy’s skill set and his work rate and hold up play are both much improved since 2010. Forwards will be judged based on the number of goals scored, so this year is a failure for Jozy, but he can salvage it with a goal or two in Brazil and good overall play. He will be hugely key in possession, drawing free kicks, and creating space for others.

Aron Johannsson: Johannsson is going to provide the US with something that they have never truly had before—a spark off the bench. Johannsson has had a fantastic year scoring goals and will be very valuable in the final 20-25 minutes of games as a sub for Altidore or Dempsey against tired defenders.

Terrance Boyd: I have the US playing a 4-1-3-2 formation, which means 4 forwards are needed. Boyd makes it for two reasons. 1-he is the most on form out of all the potential 4^th strikers with 5 goals in his past 3 games. And 2-He is the most similar forward to Jozy Altidore, which would allow the US to not change a game plan if Jozy goes down with an injury.

23^rd Spot: (I still haven’t made up my mind about this one. For these four it all comes down to the 30 man camp, which I sadly won’t be attending. Whoever it is, slot them in the outside midfield category)

Julian Green: This is who I think Jurgen will pick, but I’m far from convinced. He very possibly has the brightest future of any American, but he really lacks in first team minutes for club or country. 

Joe Corona: If he were slightly more comfortable on the wing he would be there for me. Simple as that. If he can prove that in camp he has a very good shot at a plane ticket. 

Brad Davis: Would provide a great left footed option (something the US does not have) but his overall game just isn’t up to the international level. However, as the 23^rd man you only need to do one thing really well to be strongly considered.

Eddie Johnson: His ability to play out wide made me really consider him over Boyd, but Eddie just has not been good enough this MLS season. If he impresses in camp I might bring him over Boyd, so two of these four could make it.

  

Starting XI and reasoning:

Chandler-Besler-Gonzalez-Johnson

Cameron

Zusi-Bradley-Donovan

Dempsey-Altidore

This will play most similar to a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield, but Bradley won’t be playing as far forward as the typical CAM does in that formation.

With Chandler and Johnson at the two fullback spots, it give the US a much more potent offense and would allow the team to play the way that Jurgen has always wanted. Chandler’s speed is what gives him the starting spot over Parkhurst, as the first two games we have are against very dangerous and fast left flanks. At CB I have Besler and Gonzalez over Besler and Cameron for two reasons. The first is that I think Gonzo’s ability on set pieces and in the air would be hugely missed. The second is that Besler and Gonzo have been working on their chemistry for over a year, while Cameron and Besler have only ever started one game paired together.

At holding midfield, Cameron will provide a lot of defensive coverage for the lapses I talked about with Gonzo, and will also free up Bradley to truly play box-to-box and impact the game as much as possible. Jermaine Jones turns the ball over and bursts forward leaving Bradley sitting back too often to warrant a starting spot. Zusi at right midfield will allow Chandler to overlap and get further forward without worrying about having defensive coverage and will also provide great set piece delivery. Donovan is in there over Bedoya because I can’t see anybody having a bigger impact off the bench than Aron Johannsson, so there’s no point in leaving Donovan for the end of games. But I also don’t expect him to give more than 75 minutes, which should allow him to go all out until he has nothing left to give.

Dempsey is best in a forward role. He will be free to drift back and link up with the midfield, but I think both he and Altidore work much better with a partner up top. As for Jozy, he is really the only player who can effectively play with his back to goal and relieve pressure if we need to clear the ball. So even with his very tough year, he is in my starting XI.