On Thursday, Nov. 3, U.S. Soccer released the national team's 22-man roster for this month's friendlies against France and Slovenia. Here are my thoughts on head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's selections:
Omar Gonzalez still doesn't have a call up
I have a serious problem with Klinsmann's decision not to add Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez to the roster. Klinsmann has seemingly given everyone else and their brother a chance to play on the national team back line except for Gonzalez, and I'm not sure why. He's been one of MLS's best defenders for the past three years now, and Gonzalez is also a scoring threat on set pieces. These are both areas in which the U.S. needs. What does he have to do to earn a chance to play for the national team? Gonzalez is eligible to play for Mexico, and if he's not going to get a call-up from the U.S., I can't say I'd blame him for going elsewhere.
Choosing Michael Orozco Fiscal is a poor decision
While Klinsmann continues to dismiss Gonzalez, Michael Orozco Fiscal continues receive playing time on the American roster. I don't understand Klinsmann's obsession with Orozco Fiscal, but the young defender has been awful almost every time he's set foot on the pitch in a U.S. uniform. Why put him on the roster now when there are other young defenders out there that should get a look before World Cup qualifying begins next year? How many chances is Klinsmann going to give this guy?
Where's Freddie Adu?
Apparently, Klinsmann has forgotten how Freddie Adu performed for the United States during the Gold Cup. It's the only reason I can think of why he'd leave Adu off the roster. I don't understand how he can ignore Adu, yet call up perennial disappointment Robbie Rogers. Adu offers much more to a team both off-and-on the ball than Rogers does. It just doesn't make much sense to leave him off the roster.
I was one of Adu's detractors prior to the Gold Cup, but Adu proved that not only did he belong on the U.S. national team, but that he could be a playmaker and centerpiece for the Americans. I don't understand Klinsmann's reasoning for leaving Adu off the roster.
Finally
The rest of the team is made up of players most American fans should already be familiar except for Alfredo Morales and Fabian Johnson. I'm looking forward to getting a look at them in the upcoming friendlies against France and Slovenia. Hopefully, both players will establish themselves on the roster. The U.S. team needs as much young blood as it can get.
Derek Ciapala has been a fan of international soccer since the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994. His favorite moment in international football is Landon Donovan's last minute goal against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.
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