Earlier this week I did the goalkeepers, now I'm breaking down how our backline is going to look heading into our first game against Ghana. The backline is full of question marks, so there is plenty to discuss here! DaMarcus Beasley Club: Puebla (Liga MX) Age: 32 There was a lot of chatter amongst the fans during qualifying that Beasley should not be playing left back for us, but he got the job done. Now that we're heading into the tournament, there's definitely a fear that he will get shredded with our group being as difficult as it is but we're pretty light on options out here. The big question will be where Fabian Johnson plays. If he plays as a defender (where he's listed on the roster), then Beasley will have his work cut out for him to win a starting spot. Matt Besler Club: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) Age: 27 Besler has been a rock in the back for us since his surprise starter for the US friendly against Mexico at the Azteca. What a way to get your first cap huh? He hasn't given up his spot since that iconic win (even though it was a friendly) that snapped a 20 game losing streak at the Azteca. He's the cerebral half of our central defense and always seems to be in the right spot to break up the play. Omar Gonzalez Club: LA Galaxy (MLS) Age: 25 Omar has been the physical, aerial threat to Besler's calming presence on the back line. At 6'5 he is probably the best aerial threat on the team and really commands the box on set pieces on both ends of the field. He's been struggling as of late with some mental lapses and poor positioning, but the back 4 is a unit you need to be gelled and on the same page going into the World Cup. I think he still gets the start throughout the tournament just due to his experience partnering with Besler. Geoff Cameron is definitely knocking on the door though. Geoff Cameron Club: Stoke City (EPL) Age: 28 Cameron is probably one of our most versatile players, able to play any 4 of the spots along the back line and even some defensive midfield. He had a fantastic year for Stoke and has shown well for the Nats when he gets the chance. He's calm on the ball and can really get stuck in, I'm just not sure Klinsmann gives him the chance over Omar. Either way, his versatility will be extremely valuable to this team as the tournament progresses. Fabian Johnson Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga) Age: 26 Now, Fabian Johnson is listed as a defender on the roster but he has also played a lot of midfield under Klinsmann. It will be interesting to see where he slots in for us. He seems to be a sure starter, it's just a matter of whether it's in that left midfield role or at left back. He has shown fairly well for us in both positions, and left back seems to be the bigger need so I would like to see him there. He's also been playing a lot of right back in scrimmages the last couple of weeks, so maybe he slots in there as well. Fabian will definitely be one of the most interesting players to watch in these friendlies, just to see where he'll end up playing. Timmy Chandler Club: Nürnberg (Bundesliga) Age: 24 This is one of the picks that had a lot of people going crazy. Timmy Chandler hasn't played for the US National Team since February of 2013. Klinsmann has said multiple times with regards to World Cup selection that players must "earn their spots", but I'm not sure that applied to everybody. Chandler is obviously very talented, but the fact that he hasn't played with anybody on this back line in 15 months is a little disconcerting. It will be interesting to see if he gets the start, or if somebody like Geoff Cameron or Fabian Johnson plays out there. DeAndre Yedlin Club: Seattle Sounders (MLS) Age: 20 This was another controversial selection. Yedlin is a very talented attacking player from his right back role, and is probably one of the few players on our roster with the athleticism to keep up with Cristiano Ronaldo but is generally a defensive liability. You have to think he was selected to come on as a sub and push forward out of the back in a game that we're down a goal late. I wouldn't expect to see him get too many minutes otherwise. John Brooks Club: Hertha Berlin (Bundesliga) Age: 21 This is the selection that I disagree with more than any other out of the 23 (yes, even more than Landon Donovan). Brooks only has 3 caps with the senior national team, and has not looked very good in any of them. He has the size and aerial ability to be a direct Omar Gonzalez replacement if need be, but I have no faith in him to be able to help hold down the middle of the field. He just looked overwhelmed tactically and mentally in the games I've seen him play with us. Clarence Goodson is similar size and also very good in the air, and has been playing very well for both club and country. Just Missed the Cut Clarence Goodson Club: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) Age: 32 One of the biggest snubs on our roster in my opinion. Goodson has performed very well as of late, and has plenty of experience with 46 caps and was selected to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He also provides that big, physical presence for us in the back but gets caught out of position much less than what Gonzalez and Brooks do. I actually thought Goodson had a chance to win the starting job over Omar, so it was a complete shock when I saw him left off. Michael Parkhurst Club: Columbus Crew (MLS) Age: 30 As a Crew supporter there is probably a little bit of bias in this one, but I thought Parkhurst deserved to make the 23 man roster as well. He's versatile enough to play all 4 positions along the backline, and is a very similar player to Besler if he were to miss any games. He made 8 appearances for the Nats in 2013 in various positions, although right back seemed to be his best chance to make the cut. Brad Evans Club: Seattle Sounders (MLS) Age: 29 Evans played a crucial role in qualifying for the World Cup, filling in at right back despite playing most of his career as a midfielder. Evans played admirably, but you always got the feeling he was just a fill in until we could find a more suitable replacement. His goal against Jamaica in the 91st minute was a gamechanger in qualifying, and without that we might not have qualified quite as comfortably. Not that it was all that comfortable in the first place.
I love the Yeldin move, but obviously hate the Brooks move. Yeldin brings a unique dynamic to the table. We don't have many outside backs with the attacking mentality and ability of Yeldin.
I agree- having someone like Yedlin at least available could prove handy when we need to sell out late vs teams like Germany and Portugal. I would also really liked to have seen Goodson. I don't watch a lot of games (or as many as I would like to), but he is a name I recognize and know played well when I watched.
I think Timmy Chandler is a similar player, but fuck that guy. I agree that he could be dangerous in that type of role late in a game though. He'll be a fun one to watch grow up.
I don't get how Donovan's exclusion (had to bring it up hedache !) from the roster seems to be due to his lack of drive/motivation for the most part (and in part his fitness too), but Chandler's commitment to USMNT is even more questionable and he gets a spot a year after his last cap? Doesn't make sense, but I guess being able to speak German makes you a fav of JK. I think Fabian/Cameron/Besler are all starters somewhere in the back, and it's just a matter of figuring out who the fourth is and where those 3 line up best. Chandler/Omar/Beasley all have a realistic chance of starting, so I'm guessing it comes down to how those 3 look in friendlies. I'd feel most comfortable w/ Chandler in there, but obviously I'm not a fan of him either. Beasley would be overmatched and Omar would just be our next Ricardo Clark in the Ghana game. And I agree w/ Goodson- I think he's played much better than both Omar/Brooks in games and would have liked to see him either paired with Besler or as a first-choice backup if Cameron were to play CB... but assuming Besler/Omar/Cameron are all ahead of Goodson in Klinsmann's mind, then I'm not too upset with Brooks in there as basically the 4th CB (a position that usually doesn't see many minutes) over Goodson.
