United States friendlies vs Scotland and Österreich

[Garrick]

USA USA USA

The liberty-dispensing squad has been named for the next scheduled freedom bombing runs in Scotland and Austria. Personally, I wish we would have picked some stiffer opposition, as we should roll both of these puny European sides grace and ease, but of course facing the world's best will have to wait until we're drawn into the 2014 Group of Death next month.

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)
DEFENDERS (7) : DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Michael Orozco (Puebla)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Roma), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Stoke City)
FORWARDS (6) : Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Landy cakes, Guzan, Castillo, and Goodson are out on injury.

Some observations:

1. The real most important and bestest player in US Soccer, Michael Bradley, is BACK BABY. We're going all the way and winning our first World Cup. Obviously.

2. Two international-heavy MLS teams (Galaxy and Seattle) did a fine job of getting booted out of the MLS Cup so there wouldn't be any major scheduling conflicts. Thanks for taking one for the team, mates!

3. The only glaring MLS omissions left out for the Cup are Real Salt Lake's Beckerman and Rimando and Sporting KC's (Saint) Zusi and Besler. Brad Davis of Houston gets an honorable mention, for the sake of TX_Bill.

4. This is Brek Shea's first senior team call up outside of the 2013 Gold Cup B team continental domination campaign. I wasn't a big fan of the man's work, hopefully he can do better this time around.

5. John Brooks inches closer to joining us officially. Yeeeeeessss... Gooooooood...

6. 'Dolo is back in action with Hannover, but no call up here. I thought for sure Klinsmann would try to work him back in, because defense is definitely the weakness of this squad. Yeah, he's old, but this is 'Murrika. It's never stopped us before.

Thoughts?

(Note: any references to how the US is a gobsh*te footie country will be greeted with jokes about how you'd all be speaking German if it wasn't for us and other overplayed World War 2 jokes. You have been warned.)

 

[bluejock]

USMNTNTNTNMTMTNEMINEMNT

 

[SerenityNigh]

Looking forward to seeing the full squad together again. When will that be--February? Klinsi needs to figure out the FBs, but otherwise I like how these guys are shaping up.

 

[pfim]

Eric Lichaj looks like he's in line to get some run in one of the matches.

If Altidore doesn't start figuring out the premier league, Johannsson will start to gain some minutes.

I still love a 4-3-3 with this squad, but I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[BlueLlama]

You have a good chance of bumming Scotland as long as Altdore doesnt play. Not sure what goes on against Osterrich?

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Loved this

 

[Garrick]

USMNTNTNTNMTMTNEMINEMNT

That's the spirit!

You have a good chance of bumming Scotland as long as Altdore doesnt play. Not sure what goes on against Osterrich?

The (by Elo ratings) 12th ranked team should easily knock off the 44th and 50th, one would hope and think, regardless of Altidore's current gobsh*te form.

Our own rating is probably inflated due to the Gold Cup this summer, which was staffed pretty much entirely by CONCACAF B teams, but I think we've reached the point in the Klinsmann era where we can start expecting to beat teams of a certain caliber.

It's been a long time coming, but I'm hoping this next World Cup will prove that the US is a serious side that can play actual footie, and not just the Bradley era park-the-bus-and-counter team that (deservedly) never got a lot of credit.

Now watch me be proven wrong as Naismith drops a hat trick on us.

Loved this

Thanks mate!

 

[pfim]

We should bum Scotland regardless of who plays (just like last time). That doesn't mean it will happen though.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Our own rating is probably inflated due to the Gold Cup this summer, which was staffed pretty much entirely by CONCACAF B teams, but I think we've reached the point in the Klinsmann era where we can start expecting to beat teams of a certain caliber.

Going 15-0-1 after the Belgium loss helps to. Nevermind that it was the Germany "B" team, winning against Germany and at Bosnia aren't shabby. I'm not disappointed with the ranking, but I suppose I'm a bit of a homer.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I like the goal distribution, but again am looking forward to settling down on a starting XI:

2013:

8: Altidore, Donovan
6: Dempsey, Wondolowski
5: Johnson
2: Corona, Goodson, Orozco, Shea, Zusi
1: Bedoya, Cameron, Diskerud, Evans, Gomez, Holden, Johansson

 

[Hellerad]

I say we start Brek Shea and Aron Johannsson against Austria. The blonde hair and blue eyes will lull them into a state of submission. If we can't bum them, we'll just annex them.

I got this bro...

Althought Kljestan may literally bum them...

 

[Garrick]

Although Kljestan may literally bum them...

I think the recent addition Kljestan brings the US team exactly what it was missing.

A porno 'stache.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Naismith will score.

 

[Hellerad]

Ibra hated Kljestan's moustache. Kljestan hated Ibra's nose:

http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/n...-kljestans-mustache-and-kljestan-doesnt-ibras

 

[Fensta]

Looking forward to seeing you's get smashed to pieces in the World Cup. Enjoy the small victories while you can