From the "I did not see that coming file" is news that U.S. boss Bob Bradley added his allotted seven Gold Cup reinforcements strictly from the Confederations Cup roster.
I get Altidore, Benny and Guzan, and Chivas USA is off this weekend, so I suppose Bornstein and Kljestan will be available for Saturday's opener against Grenada. However, Houston (Clark's MLS team) starts three games in eight days on Independance Day and Colorado (Casey) play each approaching weekend.
I also can't imagine what we'd find out against Grenada or Haiti that we didn't learn against Italy, Brazil and Spain. Things that make you go "hmmmm" indeed...
UPDATE: I have a few tasty quote passages from today's Gold Cup press conference, on topics of particular recent interest to you guys and gals (judging from your emails).
Sunil Gulati on Edgar Castillo
“Everything is open, I don’t think Bob is ready to say he is coming into the team or not coming into the team, but we’ve had some preliminary discussions.”
Gulati on Jermaine Jones
"We've had pretty regular communication with Jermaine's representatives and his advisers. He has both publicly and privately indicated that he would like to file for an eligibility switch. I think the paperwork has now been submitted to FIFA. The earliest he would be eligible to move is the 1st of August."
Bob Bradley on Jones
"I certainly have had a lot of opportunities to see him play, I would just like to wait until everything is taken care of on the paperwork side and we have a chance to bring him in before we get too much into detail, but he has been an important part and player at Schalke and he played in a lot of big games, and a player like that can be very helpful."
Bradley on Jose Francisco Torres not being selected for the Gold Cup
"Jose has had a very busy schedule with his club team and in discussions we felt that it was important that he have a little bit of a break before things start up again. When we look at all the different factors, certainly the idea that next summer players will be coming right from their clubs into the training camp that leads into the World Cup, you have to make very difficult decisions about if players can go a couple years without a break or if a player needs a little bit of a break right now."
UPDATE: The full presser on podcast (mp3 link).
- Greg Seltzer
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8 comments:
Well, if Bob can't alter the roster later on, they he may need some of the 7 players for the quarters, semis, and finals.
Bob - Creativity fail!
Greg-
You think there's any truth to the rumours that Baby Bradley might see a suspension as a result of the alleged altercation with Larriondo? What about the Everton rumours? Think that would be a good move?
@ Sanjit: Hmmm...
@ Adam: Maybe, maybe not. More likely partial fail/partial succeed.
@ Tim: I'll tell ya, between being sick this weekend and getting ready to move in with The Distracter and Confederations Cup and transfer story chases, I just hadn't had time to chase that story unfortunately. It's really hard to guess not knowing the facts.
As for Everton being a good move, it kinda depends on who leaves there and what set David Moyes goes with. From just a club style and personality standpoint, it seems a great fit.
As for the rumours... well... I didn't want to say anything yet, but... I have learned there is at least one Prem team currently looking into his availability. I don't know for sure if it's one or more, and I don't know for sure who is prowling him. Due to the clubs involved, I think trying to get info out of them is futile unless one manages to corner Moysie.
My first educated guess would actually be Aston Villa, but I have also heard whispers about Fulham. On Everton, I could easily see it going either way.
I'm a bit bemused at why Conor Casey and Sacha Kljestan need more looks against inferior competition?
Neither of these guys can cut it at the international level, so why not look elsewhere?
Also, I would like to have seen Feilhaber and Altidore get more time on the field by being with this squad full time.
Bham, Altidore has to get established at his club. He also is a lock for 2010, so why risk his club situation for a competition that's virtually meaningless this time around?
As for Kljestan, he hasn't had a good year for the national team other than the Sweden game, but that doesn't mean we should just kiss him off just yet. He's still got talent and he's still young. Maybe this would be a good learning experience for him.
Hooray Bradley for being FORCED to play Davies, DeMerit and Spector, and thus actually having an 11 capable of clamping down on Spain, and hanging tough with Brazil.
Unfortunately, you're still an absolute idiot based on these 7 - no need to look at anyone new right? Especially since you had problems with depth just LAST WEEK.
Jeesh - and of course in this country, this tool gets a pass.
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