Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Gold Cup Snubs in MLS

Here's five MLS-based players who didn't make Jürgen Klinsmann's provisional Gold Cup roster that have a right to feel snubbed:

1) Benny Feilhaber - Feilhaber is in the midst of his best MLS season with 5 goals and a league-leading 7 assists while starting every game for Sporting Kansas City. Feilhaber has been more or less a non-factor since the 2010 World Cup Cycle appearing in just 3 matches for the U.S. since 2010. Replaces: Brad Davis.

2) Ethan Finlay - Like Feilhaber, Finlay also has seven assists this season tying his career high set in 2014. Finlay has either scored or assisted on 45% of Columbus's goals this season. Despite an 11-goal season in 2014, Finlay has yet to appear in a match for the United States. Replaces: DaMarcus Beasley.

3) Will Bruin - Bruin's been one of the hottest players in MLS lately. The only American with more goals in MLS this season is Chris Wondolowski, but unlike Wondo, Bruin hasn't been doing his damage at the penalty spot. In fact, Bruin leads all Americans in goals from the run of play with 7. That's more than Clint Dempsey and more than Jozy Altidore if you're keeping track. Replaces: Chris Wondolowski.

4) Charlie Davies - This one might be a bit of a reach, but I really like what Charlie Davies brings to the table. He's not the player he was before the accident, but hasn't his play in last year's postseason and in the early part of this season earned him something? Replaces: Alan Gordon.

5) Clint Irwin - Irwin is tied for the lead in shutouts among American keepers in MLS with Nick Rimando and he has a better goals against average than the U.S.'s #2 keeper does. Irwin's save percentage trails only Stefan Frei and Bill Hamid among keepers with at least ten starts this season. Replaces: William Yarbrough.

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