The B Team - Missing Copa América

So back in March, for kicks we put together a U.S. roster comprised of players that were not on the World Cup Qualifying Roster or the Olympic Qualifying Roster to see what kind of team we could throw together. Now with Copa América looming and the U.S.'s 40-man preliminary roster in place, I thought it might be fun to do it again. Our roster's going to look a little bit different this time with some players getting called up (Nick Rimando, Eric Lichaj, Danny Williams, Graham Zusi, Tim Ream and Perry Kitchen) and others hampered by injuries (Quincy Amarikwa), but I still think this is a halfway decent - if MLS-biased - roster. Here's what I came up with:

STARTERS

Goalkeeper - Luis Robles - New York Red Bulls - The reigning MLS goalkeeper of the year who hasn't missed a start since 2012 has had a rough start to 2016, but much of that can be attributed to the porous defense in front of him. CAPS: 2

Left Back - Jorge Villafaña - Santos Laguna - For whatever reason, despite the lack of left backs in the system, Villafaña still isn't getting a look with the USMNT. Well, he's a staple at left back for our B Team. CAPS: 0

Center Back - Nat Borchers - Portland Timbers - The Wyndham Rewards Wizard is still plugging away at Age 35. He's not a long term solution, but he brings toughness and savvy to the table without being a high risk for cards (just one yellow in his last 41 regular season matches. CAPS: 3

Center Back - Chad Marshall - Seattle Sounders - The 6'4" Marshall is exceptional in the air and already has a pair of goals for the Sounders this season. Paired with Borchers, Marshall would make the U.S. tough on set pieces on both ends of the field. CAPS: 11

Right Back - Robbie Rogers - LA Galaxy - Rogers is better on the left than on the right, but he's shown this year after Ashley Cole took the left back spot that he can play on either side of the field. With his attacking background, Rogers is always dangerous moving forward and would give the U.S. an effective attack out of the back. CAPS: 18

Defensive Midfield - Wil Trapp - Columbus Crew - One of many young players looking to be the heir apparent to Kyle Beckerman, Trapp helped the Crew reach the MLS Cup in 2015, and has started every game for them in 2016. CAPS: 2

Defensive Midfield - Dax McCarty - New York Red Bulls - Full disclosure, I would have liked to put Matt Polster in this spot alongside Trapp, but Polster's banged up, so instead we'll go with the veteran. McCarty was a huge reason for the Red Bulls' success in 2015, and after a slow start he's playing better of late. CAPS: 5

Left Wing - Brek Shea - Orlando City SC - He's been playing more left back than left wing, but he's got the athleticism and the attacking skillset to allow him to slot in here without a huge drop in play. CAPS: 34

Attacking Midfield - Benny Feilhaber - Sporting Kansas City - Klinsmann may not like Feilhaber, but I do. He's a playmaker, and has a great engine, and while he may not be Michael Bradley, he could certainly run this offense. CAPS: 41

Right Wing - Mike Grella - New York Red Bulls - An exciting winger, Grella burst onto the scene in 2015 after spending 2014 in the NASL and delivered 9 goals and 7 assists for the Supporters Shield Winners. And to show it wasn't a fluke, Grella is off to a fast start in 2016 with three goals already. CAPS: 0

Striker - C.J. Sapong - Philadelphia Union - One of the more notable snubs, Sapong is really coming into his own with the Union and is a big reason they've turned their fortunes around. CAPS: 2.


BENCH

Goalkeeper - Clint Irwin - Toronto FC - CAPS: 0
Goalkeeper - Tim Melia - Sporting Kansas City - CAPS: 0
Left Back - Jonathan Bornstein - Querétaro FC - CAPS: 38
Center Back - Michael Parkhurst - Columbus Crew - CAPS: 25
Center Back - Marvell Wynne - San Jose Earthquakes - CAPS: 5
Right Back - Jonathan Spector - Birmingham City - CAPS: 36
Defensive Midfield - Scott Caldwell - New England Revolution - CAPS: 0
Attack Midfield - Sacha Kljestan - New York Red Bulls - CAPS: 46
Left Wing - Chris Rolfe - DC United - CAPS: 10
Right Wing - Chris Pontius - Philadelphia Union - CAPS: 0
Striker - Juan Agudelo - New England Revolution - CAPS: 20
Striker - Jack McInerney - Portland Timbers - CAPS: 0

Americans in the CCL Semis - Part 2

Tigres UANL defeated Querétaro 2-0 and Club América knocked off Santos Laguna 1-0 in added time as the 2015-2016 CONCACAF Champions League semifinals drew to a close. After scoreless draws in each of the first leg matches, none of the four teams were quick to score in the second legs with Tigres finally breaking the ice in the 84th minute of their match, while América needed 102 minutes to find the net in theirs. América, the tournament's reigning champions, will now take on Tigres in the two-leg final with matches on April 20th and 27th. Here's a look at how the four Americans left in the tournament fared:

Ventura Alvarado - América - Sub vs Santos - Entered match in 120th minute
Jonathan Bornstein - Querétaro - Started vs Tigres - 90 mins
José Francisco Torres - Tigres UANL - Sub vs Querétaro - Entered match in 90th minute
Jorge Villafaña - Santos Laguna - Started vs América - 120 mins

Equal Pay

So I just have a few quick thoughts on this issue, and I'll keep them brief because I don't have most of the details:


1) I wasn't aware that the players on the men's and women's national teams actually got paid at all. I mean, I assumed they got per diem and travel expenses covered and what not, but beyond that I was always under the assumption that the honor of playing for the National Team was compensation enough. That said, since apparently that's not the case, I agree that members of the men's and women's national teams should absolutely be paid the same.


2) And let's be clear, they should be paid the same regardless of how good either team is. The fact that the women are World Cup Champions and the men just failed to qualify for the Olympics should have no bearing on pay. And playing for the National Team should never be about the money, it should be about representing your country.


3) I'm a little surprised that the Men's National Team hasn't aligned themselves with the Women's National Team in this suit. I would assume that conversations were had between the two groups, wouldn't you? And I'll be honest, I think the women's case would get even more national attention if the Clint Dempseys and the Tim Howards and the Michael Bradleys were to come out and say, 'you're right, this isn't fair, we need to fix this.' You would think that would really put the pressure on U.S. Soccer to make a change. Maybe that's coming, we'll see.


4) I'll be honest, I'm disappointed that this situation has become national news. Don't get me wrong, the women's team has every right to make it national news, but why couldn't this get resolved at the lowest level? If the numbers are what the women's team claims they are, then what's the argument for U.S. Soccer not fixing the problem? And if they numbers aren't what the women's team claims, why not clarify that so the issue could be put to bed?

USMNT World Cup Qualifying Stats

Overall Stats

Goals/Assists

Jozy Altidore - 3 goals, 1 assist
Geoff Cameron - 2 goals
Gyasi Zardes - 1 goal, 2 assists
Clint Dempsey - 1 goal, 1 assist
Bobby Wood - 1 goal, 1 assist
Fabian Johnson - 1 goal
Graham Zusi - 1 goal
Michael Bradley - 1 assist
Jermaine Jones - 1 assist
DeAndre Yedlin - 1 assist


Goalkeeping

Brad Guzan - 2 starts (2-0-0), 180 mins, 3 saves, 1 goal allowed, 1 shutout
Tim Howard - 2 starts (0-1-1), 180 mins, 4 saves, 2 goals allowed, 1 shutout


Discipline

Michael Bradley - 2 yellow cards
Jermaine Jones - 1 yellow card
DeAndre Yedlin - 1 yellow card


Appearances (26 total)

Michael Bradley - 4 starts
Geoff Cameron - 4 starts
DeAndre Yedlin - 4 starts
Bobby Wood - 3 starts, 1 sub
Gyasi Zardes - 3 starts, 1 sub
Jozy Altidore - 2 starts, 2 sub
Matt Besler - 2 starts
Edgar Castillo - 2 starts
Clint Dempsey - 2 starts
Brad Guzan - 2 starts
Tim Howard - 2 starts
Fabian Johnson - 2 starts
Jermaine Jones - 2 starts
Michael Orozco - 2 starts
Tim Ream - 2 starts
Kyle Beckerman - 1 start
Alejandro Bedoya - 1 start
Steve Birnbaum - 1 start
Mix Diskerud - 1 start
Omar Gonzalez - 1 start
Graham Zusi - 1 start
Darlington Nagbe - 3 sub
Ethan Finlay - 1 sub
Matt Miazga - 1 sub
Jordan Morris - 1 sub
Christian Pulisic - 1 sub


Here's a quick rundown of how the current USMNT MLS contingent has fared through four World Cup Qualifiers:


vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W 6-1

CB - Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) - 90 mins, 2 shots
CM - Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids) - 90 mins, 2 shots, 1 assist
CM - Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) - 90 mins, 3 shots
RM - Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) - 90 mins, 4 shots, 1 goal
LFWD - Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) - 90 mins, 2 shots, 2 goals, 1 assist
SUB - Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) - 26 mins, 1 shot
SUB - Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) - 22 mins


at Trinidad and Tobago, D 0-0

GK - Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) - 90 mins, 3 saves
CB - Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) - 90 mins, 1 shot
CM - Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids) - 90 mins, 1 shot, yellow card
CM - Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) - 90 mins, 1 shot
LFWD - Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) - 90 mins, 1 shot
RFWD - Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) - 75 mins, 3 shots
SUB - Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) - 22 mins, 1 shot


at Guatemala, L 2-0

GK - Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) - 90 mins, 1 save, 2 goals allowed
CM - Mix Diskerud (New York City FC) - 45 mins
CM - Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) - 90 mins, 2 shots, yellow card
RFWD - Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) - 90 mins, 4 shots
SUB - Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) - 45 mins
SUB - Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) - 31 mins
SUB - Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) - 24 mins, 1 shot


vs Guatemala, W 4-0

CB - Steve Birnbaum (DC United) - 90 mins
DCM - Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) - 90 mins
ACM - Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) - 81 mins, 2 shots, 1 goal
ACM - Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) - 90 mins, 2 shots, 1 assist, yellow card
RW - Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) - 71 mins, 2 assists
CFWD - Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) - 90 mins, 3 shots, 1 goal, 1 assist
SUB - Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) - 24 mins, 1 shot, 1 goal
SUB - Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew) - 19 mins

U.S. - Guatemala, Part 2 Reaction

Where was this on Friday? I couldn't help but watch this match, which was NEVER in doubt, and wonder how in the world did we lose to this team just days ago? And not just lose, but lose BADLY. For all the criticism that Jurgen Klinsmann has received about inconsistent/questionable lineups and formations, he deserves the credit for getting this one right in a must-win contest. Opting to go with an attack-minded lineup put the pressure on Guatemala early and often, and resulted in a resounding blowout win. The question now is where does the U.S. go from here? Do we continue to play attack-minded soccer (the thing Klinsmann promised us when he took the U.S. job) or will the master tinkerer shift tactics yet again? Here's the changes/"improvements" I'd make going forward:

Left Back - I thought Edgar Castillo was passable against the Guatemalans, but I still like Jorge Villafaña and I think he deserves a shot. If nothing else, I'd at least like to see Villafaña get an invite to camp so we have more than one left back on the roster. I think that putting ourselves in a position where Fabian Johnson is our left back - or even our backup left back - is doing ourselves a disservice.

Center Back - If John Brooks is playing as well as everyone says he is, then he should probably supplant Steve Birnbaum in the Starting XI. I don't have any issues with Birnbaum's performance, and I love what he brings on set pieces, but we need to find a way to get our best players on the field. One thing that came up during the broadcast, and that I actually agree with is that we should probably consider moving Geoff Cameron into the role currently filled by Kyle Beckerman. Beckerman isn't going to be around forever, and with no clear replacement in the pipeline, it's probably worth giving Cameron, a player who can play and has played that position, a look. This way you could also potentially start Brooks and Birnbaum together with Cameron in front of them.

Right Wing - Gyasi Zardes got his name on the scoresheet last night, but he's likely the odd man out in this formation with the return of Jozy Altidore and Fabian Johnson. The question becomes whether Dempsey, who played an inspired match last night, gets the nod over Bobby Wood moving forward. Personally, I don't see Dempsey sticking around for another World Cup, so I think there's value in starting Altidore up top with Wood on the right wing and Fabian Johnson over on the left, just to see if the group has good chemistry together. As so many analysts and soccer pundits have said in recent days, it's all about building effective partnerships.

Attacking Midfielder - Graham Zusi was terrific in the attacking midfield role alongside Michael Bradley, so I think you have to figure he's in the mix moving forward. The question is, who would you start alongside him with Bradley suspended for the next qualifier due to yellow card accumulation? Fortunately the U.S. has options in Darlington Nagbe, Mix Diskerud and Lee Nguyen, so I'd expect Klinsmann to ride the hot hand.

Some quick final thoughts:

1) It was nice to see Christian Pulisic make his USMNT at the age of 17. Still, I think he's got some room to grow physically before becoming a regular member of the squad. It's not to say that he looked out of place, but he wasn't winning any physical challenges, something he'd be expected to do in the tough CONCACAF region.

2) I'm a little surprised that we opted to bring on Jozy Altidore in a 3-0 game when his fitness is questionable. Yes, he scored which was great, but I don't know what the benefit of making that move was in a blowout, especially when we had other options. Bringing on Ethan Finlay made sense because the game was at his home stadium. Bringing on the aforementioned Pulisic made sense because it CAP-ties him to the U.S. But why Altidore instead of, say, Darlington Nagbe? Or Lee Nguyen? Or Mix Diskerud? It just seemed like a risky move to me.

3) Poor Ethan Finlay. He scores his first international goal in front of his home crowd and has it called back (wrongfully) due to an offsides call. On a positive note, Finlay, once again appears well suited to that substitute sparkplug role on the wing. This is two matches in a row for him where he's had an immediate impact.

4) Brad Guzan should be the U.S. keeper moving forward. Tim Howard has had a legendary career, but until he starts coming up big in MLS with the Rapids this summer, he isn't earning his spot on the field in the world of what have you done for me lately.

5) Pretty solid effort by the U.S.'s MLS contingent despite not being in midseason form. Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC), and Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) combined for 3 goals and all 4 assists. And really Ethan Finlay (Columbus) would have added another goal on an assist from Altidore had the officiating been a little cleaner. Nice job, boys! Way to represent!

Questions Following USA vs Guatemala

I'll be honest, despite the U.S.'s poor play against CONCACAF opponents as of late, I was optimistic heading into Friday night's qualifier against Guatemala. Maybe we wouldn't win, but there was no way we were coming away with less than a draw, right? This is the same Guatemala that we beat 4-0 last July after all. And now here we are, literally backs to the wall, essentially needing to win out just to make it to the hexagonal stage. Yes, this isn't that far from where we were four years ago when we drew in Guatemala and lost in Jamaica at this same stage, but this feels more dire, doesn't it? Anyhow, I really wanted to blame Klinsmann, and solely Klinsmann, immediately following the loss. But while the coach is ultimately responsible, the players bear a significant piece of the burden. After all, some better finishing by Clint Dempsey, Alejandro Bedoya and others, and this isn't a 2-0 game. Some better defense on a corner (Mix Diskerud) and some better communication along the back line (everybody) and we don't concede two goals. Still, I have questions:

1) Is Clint Dempsey still deserving a spot in the USMNT Starting XI? The active leading scorer for the U.S. has struggled out of the gates in 2016. Yes, he notched a Champions League brace against Santos Laguna, but in three MLS appearances (all losses), he's put just one shot on target out of 12, and has no goals, and no assists, despite playing alongside Paraguayan International Nelson Valdez, and one of the U.S.'s top striking prospects in Jordan Morris. I know it's a small sample size, but coupled with his poor showing against Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup last fall, you have to wonder if he's not on the decline. Don't get me wrong, I think Dempsey should have been on the team, but maybe given his recent struggles, and lack of fitness (he was gassed by the end), would it not have served the team better to start someone else and be able to bring Deuce in off the bench for a late spark?

2) Speaking of that someone else, if Jozy Altidore was healthy enough to play, shouldn't he have gotten the start? Even if Jozy only went the opening 45 minutes, don't you want your best striker on the field in a big game like this? Plus, if you lose him to injury or whatever, don't you want that to happen when you have players in reserve, and not after you use him as your last substitute?

3) Why not start Yedlin in the back? DeAndre Yedlin brings blazing speed to the table, but his offensive game (speed aside) is lacking. I get that he's exciting and adds a spark, but his contributions on the attack aren't flashes of brilliance so much as they are a testament to his natural athleticism. I just feel like we had better attacking options in the midfield (Lee Nguyen, Darlington Nagbe, Gyasi Zardes) that would have brought more offense to the table while Yedlin could've been better utilized at the back.

4) Why not start Geoff Cameron in the middle? Cameron started both of the two previous World Cup Qualifiers in the center alongside Matt Besler and we allowed one goal. I understand Besler was hurt in training, but why not start Cameron alongside Gonzalez with Orozco on the right? This is how we lined up Cameron and Orozco against Trinidad and Tobago and we pitched a road shutout. This tinkering with a lineup that was already working seemed unnecessary.

5) Why not start Kyle Beckerman? Beckman's there for his toughness and prowess as a defensive midfielder, right? Two things that make sense to have when playing in Central America. Mix Diskerud is not a defensive midfielder. I love the guy, but his strengths are in going forward. Look how high up the field he's been playing for his club team and it's been working great. If Klinsmann is insistent on playing Bradley and Diskerud together, why not flip them and let Diskerud play up high and Bradley as more of a holding midfielder? Speaking of Bradley...

6) Why don't we play Bradley in the position he plays for his club team? Bradley seems far more comfortable playing deep with Toronto, but for whatever reason, Klinsmann insists on putting him as the attacking central midfielder. This would make sense if we didn't have anyone else, but we have Darlington Nagbe. We have Lee Nguyen. It's just frustrating seeing players consistently played out of position (Yedlin, Johnson, Bradley, Diskerud, Cameron, etc). There's a saying about putting square pegs in round holes that would seem to apply here...

7) Why no Villafaña? I'm still bitter about Jorge Villafaña's omission from the squad. Not that Edgar Castillo had a bad game, but I think Villafaña would have had a better one.

8) Why Tim Howard? I don't want to put this loss on the Secretary of Defense, but Howard's not the keeper he was four years ago when he single handedly (perhaps more accurately he used both hands and feet) kept us in our final World Cup match against Belgium. Since then, he's lost his job with Everton and has committed to a return to MLS with the Colorado Rapids. Bottom line, he hasn't been playing. Brad Guzan has. Tim Howard isn't going to be our keeper in the next World Cup (if we even make it), so why continue to play games about Guzan vs Howard? If it's not Guzan, let's figure out who it is, and get them in net.

9) How short is Klinsmann's leash? Reports I've read suggest Klinsmann has top cover, but for how long? Should we fail to beat Guatemala or fail to reach the hexagonal, shouldn't that be condemning criteria? Is it possible that Klinsmann's grasp of the game fits in Europe (wins over Italy, Germany, Netherlands, etc), but not in CONCACAF (see Gold Cup 2015)? Do the players get up for games for Klinsmann? We've seen a string of uninspired performances, and while that should also fall on the players, doesn't a good coach figure out ways to motivate? Maybe Klinsmann's true talent isn't coaching, but rather to identify talent. He's brought players like Miguel Ibarra, Brandon Vincent, Jordan Morris, Bobby Wood and others into the fold, that most U.S. coaches would surely miss. But he isn't winning, which ultimately coaches are going to be judged on, especially when the talent is there.

10) How much trouble are we in? We'll find out Tuesday, but another uninspired performance against the Guatemalans could make this a disappointing World Cup cycle for fans of the red, white and blue.

USMNT Roster Thoughts

So, rather than comment on the USMNT rosters for the Guatemala World Cup Qualifiers and the U-23 showdown with Colombia, I thought it would be interesting to see if I could put together a roster of players not selected for either group that could, on paper, give Guatemala a run for their money. I didn't consider injured/suspended players (Benny Feilhaber, Brad Evans, Bill Hamid, Jermaine Jones, etc), but here's what I came up with:


For the purpose of argument, we'll line up in a traditional 4-4-2, but I think our roster offers enough flexibility to be able to run a 4-3-3/4-5-1 as well if need be:


Goalkeeper - Nick Rimando - Real Salt Lake - The veteran netminder was a part of the U.S.'s World Cup roster in 2014, and he's been an MLS All-Star each of the last three seasons. CAPS: 21


Left Back - Jorge Villafaña - Santos Laguna - Villafaña is fresh off an MLS Cup win with the Portland Timbers, and has started all three of Santos's CONCACAF Champions League knockout round matches where they have yet to concede a single goal. A member of the ill-fated U-23s in 2012, Villafaña hasn't received any attention for Jurgen Klinsmann, and with left back such a question mark, you'd think the 26 year Villafaña would at least be due a look. CAPS: 0


Center Back - Nat Borchers - Portland Timbers - Borchers has been a key contributor on multiple MLS Cup winning sides and the 6'2" mountain man would bring a toughness that the U.S. teams often lack when visiting Central America. Borchers is 34, and his best days are probably behind him, but I think you could get two matches out of him. CAPS: 3


Center Back - Chad Marshall - Seattle Sounders - A three-time MLS Defender of the Year, most recently in 2014, the 6'3" Marshall would be big (figuratively) on set pieces. Always a threat to score on corners, Marshall's head could be the difference in a close game. CAPS: 11


Right Back - Eric Lichaj - Nottingham Forest - Lichaj's been a regular in the English League Championship for Nottingham Forest and at 27, is at that right age for a breakout. Lichaj hasn't appeared for the U.S. since 2013, but he's really seen his playing time increase overseas since we last saw him in the red, white and blue. CAPS: 10

Americans in the CCL Semis

The first leg matches of the CCL semifinals both ended in scoreless draws as none of the four remaining Liga MX teams could find the back of the net this week. The second leg matches will be held on April 5th with Tigres hosting Querétaro and América hosting Santos. Three Americans featured in the Leg 1 tilts, here's a look at how they did:

Ventura Alvarado - América - Dressed but did not play vs Santos
Jonathan Bornstein - Querétaro - Started vs Tigres - 90 mins
José Francisco Torres - Tigres UANL - Sub vs Querétaro - Entered match in 61st minute
Jorge Villafaña - Santos Laguna - Started vs América - 90 mins

8 Thoughts on New York City FC vs Toronto FC

Better late than never...

*For the second week in a row, the Sunday MLS game of the week did not disappoint. The Toronto FC - New York City FC match-up featured star power (Villa, Bradley, Giovinco, Diskerud, Pirlo), goals (4), and just general excitement. Bravo, MLS. Solid start to the 2016 campaign.

*I've mentioned before how I felt that 2016 was going to be a pivotal year in MLS for Mix Diskerud. After a disappointing 2015 that saw him deliver just three goals and one assist while falling out of favor with the U.S., Diskerud has been active on the attack in City's first two 2016 matches. Playing high on the right side against Toronto, Diskerud was active early delivering the pass that set up Villa's penalty kick, assisting on Villa's handball goal, putting a header on frame that forced a diving save from Clint Irwin, and slotting a teasing ball across the goalmouth that nearly went in for an own goal if not for an unlucky deflection. All told, on the scoresheet it amounted to just one assist, but that gives him a goal and two assists already this season. If I have a complaint about Mix's performance on Sunday it's that he disappeared in the second half when Toronto got themselves back into the match, but overall, I was happy to see him aggressive and having an impact on offense.

*We already talked about the star power on both of these rosters and it's crazy to think that we didn't see either of these teams at full strength. World Cup veterans Joey Altidore (Toronto) and Frank Lampard (New York City), both missed the match due to injuries. It will be interesting to see how Jozy fairs alongside Giovinco in year two, as his return should take some pressure of the Italian star who has been involved in every Toronto goal this season. Lampard's return will be a little more interesting as it's unclear where he'll fit into their lineup and who he's going to bump for playing time.

*Sebastian Giovinco is REALLY good. Seems obvious enough to say that given he was the league's MVP last year, but for two straight games this season, he's carried Toronto's attack accounting for all four of their goals (2 goals, 2 assists). Both his assist and his goal against City were pure class, and if not for Quincy Amarikwa's ridiculous chip against Portland, he'd probably be in the conversation for Goal of the Week. Anyhow, Taylor Twellman was spot on during the broadcast when he said Giovinco's performance during this summer's Euros will be huge for MLS. If he can deliver a goal or two as a representative of the league it could truly change the climate for European imports moving forward.

*Michael Bradley has really taken to the role of defensive midfielder with Toronto, and it seems like it's a natural fit for him at this stage in his career. He's not the type to take players on 1v1, but his brilliant vision allows him to sit back and play balls through to attacking targets with ease. This is much easier in a withdrawn role as it expands his field of vision and gives him more targets. People have been calling for the U.S. to deploy Bradley in this role for some time as he doesn't appear to be a natural #10, the question is, now that Bradley has starting filling this role for club, will Klinsmann give him the opportunity to do so for his country?

*I was a little disappointed with Toronto rookie Tsubasa Endoh. The 9th overall pick in the draft was pulled after 59 minutes on the right wing, and had a largely forgettable night that included a bungled trap when he had acres of space on the right flank. He hit a couple nice balls into the box, and drew a comparison to Graham Zusi for being an under-the-radar pick with a great motor, but suffice it today this wasn't the type of performance that got him drafted in the top ten.

*Holy cow, Steven Mendoza is fast. New York City's newest acquisition, acquired on loan from Corinthians in Brazil, is a burner for sure. A second half substitute for Tony Taylor, Mendoza wasn't given a ton of chances, but he had one run where he just absolutely blew by everybody showing what City surely hopes is a glimpse of what's to come. The 23 year old Colombian spent last season on loan in India (who knew they even had a Premier League?) where he led the league in scoring with 13 goals and scored the game winner in the 2015 Indian Super League Final.

*Mikey Lopez should have absolutely scored his first MLS goal and helped City come away with three points, but his free header from the six went wide late in the second half. While Lopez is more of a defensive minded player, you still can't miss from there if you're a professional.

Proposed USMNT Lineup vs Guatemala

Still a couple weeks to go, but here's the Starting XI I'd like to see us go with against Guatemala:


GK - Brad Guzan - I know there were talks about alternating between Guzan and Tim Howard, but with Howard riding the bench at Everton and Guzan having regained his starting job at Aston Villa, I think Guzan gets the edge here.


Left Back - Jorge Villafaña - After winning a championship with the Portland Timbers, Villafaña has won a starting job in Mexico and recently contributed to Santos Laguna's back-to-back shutouts of the LA Galaxy while advancing to the CCL Semifinals. While Villafaña doesn't have a CAP with the USMNT, his high level of play should be rewarded, plus it allows Fabian Johnson to push into the attack.


Center Back - Matt Besler - Apologies to John Brooks, but the edge goes to the veteran Besler here even if he's not in midseason form. Plus, it makes sense for Brooks to head to Colombia to try and help the U-23s qualify for the Olympics.


Center Back - Omar Gonzalez - Gonzalez has done well since heading south of the border already becoming a valuable contributor with Pachuca. While the U.S. has lots of options at central defense, I feel like Gonzalez deserves the nod here.


Right Back - Geoff Cameron - The versatile Cameron has played well for the U.S. lately and by playing out right, instead of centrally, allows DeAndre Yedlin to join the U-23s in Colombia.


Left Midfield - Fabian Johnson - Arguably playing as good as any American in the world right now, I feel like Johnson is far more valuable in the attack than he is on defense. At a time when the U.S. has struggled to score goals, we need his attacking skills now more than ever.


Defensive Midfield - Michael Bradley - This probably is a reach since it dramatically changes the structure of the U.S. team, but Bradley played deeper in Toronto's opener against the Red Bulls and it worked out just fine. Plus, the U.S. has creative attackers that can fill that #10 role (Nguyen, Nagbe, etc) which allows the U.S. to put a more offensive-minded team on the field.


Attacking Midfield - Lee Nguyen - I love Darlington Nagbe, but Nguyen has been better for the U.S. lately, and his experience probably gets him the nod here. No doubt Nagbe makes the team, but the high-energy Nguyen should get the start.


Right Midfield - Alejandro Bedoya - Gyasi Zardes has been getting a lot of looks with the U.S., but Bedoya's in midseason form thanks to the European schedule so I think it's fair to say he's ahead of Zardes right now.


Striker - Jozy Altidore/Clint Dempsey/Chris Wondolowski - This one's tricky. Jozy is the clear cut starter when healthy, but he's not (hamstring again) and may not be ready when these games role around. Additionally, there are rumors that Dempsey is staying out of the National Team picture until this summer which means he might not be available either. If both of those two are out, I'll probably get flak for this, but I give the nod to Wondo. The veteran striker has a knack for scoring goals against weaker opponents (which Guatemala is) and he's already gotten on the board in MLS this season. We need goals, Wondo scores goals, so he's my third option.


Striker - Bobby Wood - Wood has been taking the 2.Bundesliga by storm ranking third in the league with 12 goals. Wood's red hot league play, coupled with his solid play for the U.S. gets him a start, no questions asked.


Subs - Tim Howard (GK), Mix Diskerud (MF), Gyasi Zardes (MID/FWD), Darlington Nagbe (MF), Jonathan Bornstein (DEF), Michael Orozco (DEF), Chris Wondolowski (FWD)*, Danny Williams (MID)**


*If Jozy or Dempsey Starts
**If Wondo Starts

Upcoming Important Soccer Dates

3/15/16-3/16/16 - 2015-16 CCL Champions League Semifinal, First Leg Matches
3/25/16 - USMNT at Guatemala - World Cup Qualifying
3/25/16 - USMNT U-23s at Colombia - Olympic Qualifying
3/25/16 - Start of 2016 USL Season
3/29/16 - Guatemala at USMNT - World Cup Qualifying
3/29/16 - Colombia at USMNT U-23s - Olympic Qualifying
4/02/16 - Start of 2016 NASL Spring Season
4/05/16 - 2015-16 CCL Champions League Semifinal, Second Leg Matches
4/20/16 - 2015-16 CCL Champions League Final, First Leg
4/27/16 - 2015-16 CCL Champions League Final, Second Leg
6/03/16 - Start of Copa América Centenario
7/28/16 - 2016 MLS All-Star Game

Crew-Timbers Five Thoughts

1. I thought this was a really fun game to kick off ESPN's Sunday slate for the 2016 season. It had a little bit of everything. Lots of attacking (39 shots between the two teams), pretty goals (Federico Higuaín's overhead kick may end up being the Goal of the Year), talented young USMNT contributors (Tchani, Nagbe, Trapp, Finlay), and solid performances (Diego Chara and Diego Valeri come to mind). If this is the level of play we're going to see in MLS all season long, I think we're in for a real treat.


2. Dairon Asprilla had SO MANY chances that he failed to take advantage of in this game. I always find these kind of situations frustrating because on the one hand, he must be doing something right to get so many chances, but on the other hand, ARRRGH. Asprilla had just one goal and two assists last year in his debut season with Portland, but if yesterday was any indication, he could put up some gaudy numbers in 2016. You know, IF he can start converting some of those opportunities.


3. Jermaine Taylor wasn't spectacular for Portland, but he was good enough to limit references to the departure of Jorge Villafaña. The Crew were limited to a spectacular goal by Higuaín, but otherwise the Portland defense, despite surrendering over 60% of possession, was up to the task. The one "concern" is that Taylor has never made more than 26 starts in a season, compared to Villafaña who started all but one game a year ago. So keeping that in mind, the Timbers will have to find someone else who can hold down left back for at least a portion of the season.


4. I thought Diego Valeri was terrific and you could really see what a difference he makes when he's healthy. I would expect to see him deliver numbers on par with his performance in 2013 and 2014 (combined 21 goals, 27 assists). What's really impressive to me is what Valeri's talent says about the level of skill in Argentina. Here's Diego Valeri, a 29 year old in the prime of his career putting up double-doubles in MLS, and yet he's managed a measly 3 CAPs in his international career. CRAZY.


5. Anyone else get nervous when Will Trapp went down holding his knee after that collision with teammate Gastón Sauro in the first half? Trapp missed several months of 2015 with a concussion, and he's an obvious difference maker for the Crew when he's on the field. Not to mention his contributions to the U.S. U-23s who have a huge series with Colombia coming up. So definitely glad to see he turned out to be all right.

CCL Update - Final MLS Thoughts

In a word, I'm disappointed. Four chances (eight if you count both legs) for an MLS club to beat a Liga MX side and we went winless with four draws and were shut out in four of eight matches. And so, once again, the CONCACAF Champions League title will be raised by a club from Liga MX and the MLS drought continues. Here are my final thoughts for each of the four clubs:

LA Galaxy - Failed to score in either leg against Santos Laguna despite a "star-studded" roster which turned in an unremarkable performance. We knew there would be chemistry issues in LA with all of the new faces, but I think we thought the tandem of Gio dos Santos and Robbie Keane would be more effective. Same can be said of the central midfield duo of Steven Gerrard and Nigel de Jong.

Seattle Sounders - Seattle actually led on aggregate goals three times in their series with América, but couldn't sustain a lead at all. When they took a 1-0 lead on the road in the second leg, they conceded the equalizer a minute later and the go ahead goal just moments after that. Their three goals scored were by far the most by any of the four MLS sides and Seattle also managed to be the only MLS team not to get shut out in the quarterfinals, but their inability to hold a lead/play well with a lead is what ultimately doomed them.

DC United - For the second year in a row, Bill Hamid was unavailable to United in the knockout round of the CCL. Not to say he would've done any better than Andrew Dykstra, but from a confidence standpoint, DC United likely would have headed into the series on a higher note had he been there. If there's a bright spot for United, it was rookie Julian Buescher who scored a laser-beam long range strike in just his second professional match.

Real Salt Lake - Perhaps the most unlikely of MLS teams to succeed, RSL was a missed penalty kick away from overcoming a 2-0 deficit against Tigres. The addition of Yura Movsisyan looks to be a great one, and Juan Manuel Martinez and Joao Plata will provide additional support on offense for a team that lacked in that a year ago. Still, in big games you have to make big kicks and missing a penalty when down one is a back breaker no matter how you look at it, especially when it's missed by arguably one of the league's best on set pieces in Javier Morales.

Anyhow, despite the MLS's early exit, there is still reason for U.S. fans to follow the rest of the tournament. A pair of American left backs started both quarterfinal matches for their respective Mexican clubs and combined to pitch three shutouts in the quarterfinals with the one goal conceded being Julian Buescher's long range golazo for DC United. With left back a perennial question mark for the U.S., the 26 year old Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna) and 31 year old Jonathan Bornstein (Querétaro) could present some intriguing options for Jurgen Klinsmann moving forward. Villafaña has youth national team experience but has never been CAP'd with the senior team while Bornstein was CAP'd 38 teams between 2007 and 2011 and even scored a pair of goals including one during World Cup Qualifying back in 2009. Here's a look at how all of the American Exports performed in CCL action this week:

José Francisco Torres - Tigres UANL - Started vs RSL, 76 mins, 1 shot
Ventura Alvarado - América - Dressed but did not play vs Seattle
Jorge Villafaña - Santos Laguna - Started vs LA Galaxy - 90 mins
Jonathan Bornstein - Querétaro - Started vs DC United - 90 mins, 2 shots

The semifinals will kick off in two weeks with Santos Laguna taking on América and Tigres UANL taking on Querétaro. Regardless of what happens, an American will raise the CCL Trophy this April.

Advantage Mexico - CCL Update

It was a rough week in the CCL for MLS clubs as none of the league's four remaining teams managed to knock off their Mexican opponents in the first leg of the quarterfinals. In total, the four MLS teams managed just two goals (both by Clint Dempsey) en route to two 2-0 losses and two home draws. Now, with backs to the wall, all four teams essentially face must-win games this week if any MLS club is to reach the semifinals. Here's a quick look at each team's needs ahead of their second leg match:

LA Galaxy - Arguably in the best shape of any of the four MLS teams, the Galaxy did not concede an away goal in their 0-0 home draw with Santos Laguna which means they can advance with a 1-1 draw or better.

Seattle Sounders - Seattle blew a pair of leads against América at home and because they conceded two away goals, likely will need a win when they travel to Estadio Azteca. A high scoring draw (2-2 or better) could also be enough to send the Sounders through.

DC United - United held Querétaro scoreless for 70 minutes before conceding twice late in the match. United forced keeper Tiago Volpi into making nine saves, but couldn't get on the scoresheet, and now need a shutout win of 2-0 or better, or they need to win by at least three goals.

Real Salt Lake - Like DC United, RSL went nearly 70 minutes without conceding, and allowed an 86th minute insurance goal to put them in a 2-0 hole against Tigres as they head home. RSL will also need a shutout win of 2-0 or better, or they need to win by at least three goals.

USMNT vs Canada, Final Thoughts

1. Regardless of how it looked, the U.S. comes away from their January camp with a pair of victories, and as we approach the next set of World Cup Qualifiers, the confidence gained from those wins shouldn't be undervalued. Equally notable is the fact that Jozy Altidore scored in both matches, and getting him on a hot streak in 2016 would be huge given some of the other question marks surrounding the USMNT.

2. I thought Brandon Vincent looked excellent in his National Team debut at left back. It wasn't a perfect outing or anything, but he looked confident and comfortable. Canada failed to do anything of note down his side, and Vincent was effective at getting into the attack even forcing a tough save in an attempt on goal. With lots of question marks on defense, it was nice to see a newcomer really seize the opportunity given him in the January camp, and there's good reason to be excited if you're a Chicago Fire fan.

USA vs Iceland Thoughts

1. First and foremost, it was good to see the U.S. start 2016 with a win. After what can only be classified as a disappointing finish to 2015, it's important for the U.S. to turn the page and start fresh. The 3-2 win, during which we twice came from behind, was far from perfect, but a win just the same.

 

2. The U.S. certainly outplayed their European opponents dominating in virtually every statistical category (Corners 8-2, Shots 16-6, Possession 62-38), but despite not having the bulk of the chances, Iceland was still very dangerous. If not for some poor finishing, Iceland could have easily walked away with a 5-3 win. I'd like to point fingers at the defense for sloppy play, but I'll temper that noting that the defense also scored the tying and winning goals. Still, the first Iceland goal - while a result of a lucky deflection - was also a result of ball-watching. And the second goal came as a result of a heady play by Iceland in generating a quick re-start, but also showed a lack of communication and organization along the U.S. backline (it also involved a brilliant finish by Aron Sigurdson). Granted, this was a group that hasn't played together before and it's the January camp when not everyone's at their fittest, but I still didn't think it was great performance from a defensive standpoint.

Making Moves - Guardians of the Galaxy Edition

You think the LA Galaxy are satisfied with how 2015 went for them? No, Sir. An early playoff ouster and the prospect of no spot in the 2016-2017 Champions League has left the Galaxy obviously eager to atone for their lack of 2015 hardware despite the losses of Omar Gonzalez and Juninho. With Jeff Larentowicz and Dan Kennedy already signed for 2016, the Galaxy made more noise this past week with these three attack-minded moves:

Alan Gordon - Gordon's penchant for delivering in the clutch was enough to get him a National Team call-up for last year's Gold Cup. Despite making just 12 starts over the past two seasons with LA, Gordon has delivered 10 goals (including four game winners), and he's also added five goals in the 2015-16 Champions League to lead all Americans. There are few players in the league with the sustained ability to impact matches off the bench the way Gordon does, so bringing him back is a huge accomplishment.

Mike Magee - 2015 saw the Galaxy get an aged Edson Buddle into 12 regular season matches in which he did not score, or earn an assist. Magee is a clear upgrade even though he himself was held scoreless in 12 matches with the Fire following his return from a hip injury. Magee is just two years removed from a 2013 campaign when he split time between the Galaxy and Chicago Fire and combined to score 21 goals on his way to being named the league's MVP. While likely to see more time as a reserve in LA rather than being relied upon to be a go-to option in the attack, he's still a proven scorer, a clutch performer (8 postseason goals from 2009-2012) and he's shown he can handle playing in LA.

Emmanuel Boateng - Boateng will turn 22 in 2 days, but already has two-and-a-half years of experience with Swedish giants Helsingborgs IF. Boateng, a soccer and track star in high school, spent one season at UCSB before turning pro. He was the 2012 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year, and even graduated high school a year early. Boateng moved to the U.S. from Ghana in 2009. We saw how much the under-the-radar addition of another youngster, Sebastian Lletget, meant for the Galaxy last season, can they catch lightning in a bottle two seasons in a row?

Making Moves - Portland Timbers Addition

With the MLS Cup in their trophy case, the Timbers aren't sitting idly by this offseason making three more big moves this week. Here's a rundown of who they brought in:

Zarek Valentin - Valentin, a former US Youth National Team member, was the fourth overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. After parts of three seasons in MLS with Chivas USA and the Montreal Impact, Valentin moved overseas and spent three seasons with Bodø/Glimt of the Norwegian Tippeligaen. A versatile defender, Valentin provides additional depth along a back line that has already lost Jorge Villafaña, likely won't bring back Norberto Paparatto, and hasn't yet signed re-entry draft pick Jermaine Taylor. Valentin, who played for Timbers coach Caleb Porter at the University of Akron, may even be able to challenge Chris Klute for the starting left back spot.

Ned Grabavoy - A veteran of 12 MLS seasons, Grabavoy will help fill the void left by Will Johnson's departure, and brings a veteran presence to the Timbers midfield as well as their clubhouse. A two-time MLS Cup winner, Grabavoy joins Portland after spending 2015 with New York City FC. Grabavoy enjoyed his best statistical season with Real Salt Lake in 2013 when he had 5 goals and 5 assists in 32 appearances.

Jack McInerney - Despite scoring 38 regular season goals before his 24th birthday, Jack Mack can't seem to find a home. In less than two years he's gone from Philadelphia to Montreal to Columbus and now to the Timbers. A member of the U.S. Youth National Teams from 2008-2011, McInerney is the obvious replacement for the departed Maximiliano Urruti, and gives the Timbers another credible striking option to go alongside Fanendo Adi.

Haiti and Panama Earn Final Copa América Berths

Haiti and Panama each won their respective play-in games on Friday to clinch the final spots in the 16-team field for the 2016 Copa América Centenario. Haiti defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 while Panama upended Cuba 4-0. MLSers Kevan George (Columbus, Trinidad & Tobago), Joevin Jones (Chicago, Trinidad & Tobago) and Anibal Godoy (San Jose, Panama) all appeared for their respective teams while former FC Dallas Striker Blas Pérez scored his 38th international goal for Panama and former LA Galaxy keeper Jaime Penedo started in net for Panama and earned the shutout. Here's a look at all 16 teams that will be participating in this summer's tournament along with their rankings in the latest FIFA poll:

2. Argentina
5. Chile
6. Brazil
8. Colombia
11. Uruguay
13. Ecuador
23. Mexico
32. United States
37. Costa Rica
46. Paraguay
47. Peru
55. Jamaica
65. Panama
70. Bolivia
79. Haiti
83. Venezuela

Four Added to USMNT Camp

Following injuries to San Jose teammates Fatai Alashe and Marc Pelosi, the U.S. National Team added four more players to their January training camp roster: San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham, DC United defender Steve Birnbaum, Stanford's Brandon Vincent and former DC United midfielder Perry Kitchen (currently unattached).  Here's a quick rundown of what you need to know about all four:

Bingham: Bingham led all American keepers in MLS with 12 shutouts in 2015 (finishing third overall), and was one of just four keepers in MLS to start all 34 regular season matches. In four seasons with the Quakes prior to 2015, Bingham had made just five regular season appearances.

Birnbaum: Birnbaum was a finalist for the 2014 MLS Rookie of the Year Award, and followed up his rookie campaign with a solid second season with DC United. Birnbaum made his USMNT debut last January against Chile, his only CAP to date.

Kitchen: Perry Kitchen has been a workhorse for DC United starting at least 30 games in all five of his professional seasons. Kitchen also debuted with the National Team in 2015 earning his first CAP in a February friendly against Panama. Kitchen is currently not under contract with DC United and it remains to see where he'll suit up in 2016.

Vincent: Last, but not least, is Vincent, the least known of the four players added to Klinsmann's camp. Brandon Vincent was a part of Stanford's 2015 National Championship Squad that dismantled Clemson 4-0 in the College Cup Final. Accolades for the young defender include the 2015 College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award, 2015 NSCAA First Team All-American, 2015 NSCAA All-Far West Region First Team, 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, 2015 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, 2015 All-Pac-12 First Team, 2015 Top Drawer Soccer Best XI First Team and 2015 College Soccer News First Team All-American. Vincent appeared in 80 games in his four years with Stanford, scoring six goals in both his junior and senior seasons.