U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann has announced his 23-man roster for Friday's international friendly against Scotland and the Austria match four days later. Here's one man's take on the team.

BY John Godfrey Posted

November 11, 2013

1:58 PM SHARE THIS STORY



Jurgen Klinsmann's full roster for the two upcoming friendlies, click here. It's a good team. It features youth, experience, grit, and plenty of potential. I'll be watching, and so will you. Here are a few initial thoughts on the roster.

1. It's about frickin' time

If you're reading this column, then you probably know how we feel about Eric Lichaj . We like him. A lot The United States national team currently has two midfielders—Brad Evans and DaMarcus Beasley—slated to start at fullback in the 2014 World Cup. And even though both gentlemen performed admirably in the Hexagonal, neither is an optimal solution at a position that has plagued the U.S. for years. It is great to see Lichaj get a call, his first since Klinsmann took over in 2011, for these two friendlies. Will Lichaj take advantage of the opportunity? Will he see the pitch in either match? It will be fun to watch.

2. Donde esta Landon Donovan?

Seriously. Where is he? Los Angeles got bounced from the playoffs and LD's next club match isn't for another 4-5 months. Coach's decision? Player's decision? Is this about the ankle? Or is there more to it? Fascinating.

3. No Guzan? No Need

Barring injury or an act of the Soccer Gods, Tim Howard will start all three group stage matches in Brazil. Jurgen Klinsmann has pretty much confirmed this, and that's his right to do so. Given that, it makes sense to let Guzan take a breather during the international break. He has nothing left to prove to his coach, his country, or anybody else. Bill Hamid and Sean Johnson, however, can use all the experience they can get, and it's great to see them getting a chance to impress in training.

4. Building Up Brek

Brek Shea's move to Stoke City is approaching full-blown calamity status. He can't get any meaningful action with the first team, and his stock has plummeted. Klinsmann, who usually presses his players to move to bigger, tougher leagues, was never a huge proponent of Shea's move to England. But the coach is doing his lanky winger a serious favor by including him on this squad. Shea has not earned the right to be with the team but he could use it a springboard, or perhaps even as a showcase for a loan to an English Championship team.

5. Wondo as the Sixth Striker?

The first five names on Klinsmann's (alphabetical) list of strikers are beyond reproach: Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Clint Dempsey, Aron Johannsson, and Eddie Johnson make for a compelling quintet. But is Chris Wondolowski really the next in line after them? Herculez Gomez is back from injury, and could use these friendlies to get reacquainted with the national team. Juan Agudelo had a great run with the New England Revolution and seems worthy of consideration. Mike Magee is magic. But Wondo got the call. Curious, but perhaps not entirely surprising.

6. Playing Favorites at Forward

Speaking of strikers.... Dempsey hasn't exactly lit up the Pacific Northwest during his time with Seattle. Altidore is scoreless in 10 Premier League appearances with Sunderland this season. Boyd has performed well for Rapid Vienna, but succes in the mediocre Austrian league does not necessarily suggest international success. Eddie Johnson is...Eddie Johnson. And Wondolowski has got to be considered a safety net/sub with this squad. So: Is Aron Johannsson the first-choice striker? Based on current form, you could certainly argue he is the best of the lot. I somehow doubt he will get the nod. But I would love to see it happen.

7. No Timothy Chandler

Apparently the Nurnberg right back has more work to do before he gets another shot. I can't say that I'm sorry to see Lichaj get a call instead, but Chandler deserves a ton of credit for fighting his way back into the Nurnberg lineup. Hopefully he will continue to push hard and create more competition at the fullback position with the U.S. national team.

8. Midfield Logjam—Again

Let's assume that Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, and Fabian Johnson comprise three-fourths of the U.S. national team's optimal midfield. Who do you play on the right? Three legitimate candidates—Alejandro Bedoya, Mix Diskerud, and Sacha Kljestan—made this 23-man roster, and it will be telling to see how Klinsmann divvies up the playing time. Will these matches give us a sense of who Klinsmann projects as his starters in Brazil? (Worth noting: Three other candidates to play on the right wing—Joe Corona, Landon Donovan, and Graham Zusi—will not be with the team in Scotland or Austria.)

9. Throw Brooks Out There

Klinsmann is convinced that John Brooks is solidly aligned with the United States national team despite not being cap-tied. Let's hope so, because he is a potential game-changer for the Yanks. Ideally, Brooks starts both matches and starts to feel more indoctrinated with the team. In a perfect world, Brooks and Omar Gonzalez would be paired up in central defense for both friendlies. If these twin towers (Gonzalez is six-foot-five and Brooks is six-foot-four) develop some chemistry ahead of Brazil, they could pose big problems to opponents next summer.

10. Where Do You Play Cameron?

Geoff Cameron is a rock-solid right back with Stoke City, but he is a man without a position for the United States. Do you put him at center back? Right back? Midfielder? I have no clue. Hopefully Klinsmann has a plan, and hopefully he implements it in these two matches.

OK, these are my thoughts on the roster—now share yours. You can use the Comments section below and/or create your very own U.S. — Scotland Starting XI. Even better—everybody who creates, and shares, a Starting XI for the Scotland match is automatically entered into a random drawing for a free ASN T-Shirt.

John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.