USMNT Call-Ups Should Only Affect One MLS Game

by Dave Clark on Aug 25, 2011 2:52 PM PDT in US National Team, World Cup and Other International Soccer

Landon Donovan was called up to the USMNT again. Is this an opportunity for Seattle to advance on the Galaxy?

With today's announcement of call-ups to the United States National Team, particularly with 11 from MLS, one could quickly think that this could affect the hunt for the MLS Cup Playoffs. It won't. MLS is taking a pretty light weekend over with the international date, and only two games will be played that could be affected.

Real Salt Lake will not be effected in their match against the Philadelphia Union, as Kyle Beckerman has permission to join the US team late. But there is good news for Seattle Sounders fans, as the Los Angeles Galaxy will be heading to Sporting Kansas City without Landon Donovan. Yes, Sporting will be without Teal Bunbury, but one of those losses is a big deal. As the Sounders need help if they are to catch the Galaxy in the hunt for the Supporters Shield, that one game could make a difference. Already on the road at a tough stadium, losing their best player could be an issue.

As Jurgen Klinsman continues to look at new talent, fans of MLS should be happy that so many players from MLS are getting a look. His full roster does have a few surprises.

US ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Edgar Castillo (Club América), Timmy Chandler (FC Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (Brøndby), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael
Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), José Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

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Keane playing for country same weekend

I might be remembering wrong, but I believe Robbie Keane will be playing for his country that weekend as well.

by MicahRowe18 on Aug 25, 2011 2:57 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

yep and its euro qualifiers so im guessing the team will get him when they want him.

by Sandra_R on Aug 25, 2011 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, according to LAG Confidential

He’ll miss the Kansas City match on September 5 and possibly the Colorado match on September 9.

Link

by quacker27 on Aug 25, 2011 3:36 PM PDT reply actions

SKC-LAG game.

LAG will be without Keane, Donovan, and Chris Birchall.

SKC will be without Bunbury, F Kei Kamara who’s called up for Sierra Leone, and reserve defender Shavar Thomas for Jamaica. Fortunately for Sporting they’ll still have D/M Roger Espinosa. I expect rookie F Soony Saad to see some playing time with Omar Bravo and rookie CJ Sapong against the Galaxy.

Bloggin' at JoePasDoghouse.com

by J.Schnauzer on Aug 26, 2011 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions

How likely is it that Donovan will be available for 90

in LA’s game vs Colorado on the 9th? The Belgium game is at 11:30 AM PST on Wednesday, and he likely won’t arrive back from Belgium until sometime Thursday. Landing back in LA 30 hours or less before the cRapids game doesn’t give him a lot of time to recover.
Missing Donovan and Keane for what are likely to be their toughest 2 games remaining (@SKC, vs a hot COL) could be a great opportunity for the Sounders to make up some ground!

by MicahRowe18 on Aug 25, 2011 4:17 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

The way I look at it is

Kansas City is 6-4-1 at home. LAG is 6-4-3 on the road. Put them together and you get 7-8-9 for Galaxy – a loss is the predominant result. Leaving out two of their top players increases the chance for a loss.

Likewise, Sunday’s Galaxy match at NYRB works out to 8-9-8 for LA — a predominant draw, even though LA is a much, much better team overall.

Of course, if that happens, then the result for SKC changes too, and if SKC can beat Dallas (a poor away club), the calculation becomes 7-9-10.

Every loss or draw for those bastards gives us a little more oxygen. Go Red Bulls! Go Sporting!

Micah, I think CLB away and HOU away are much tougher games for Galaxy than Colorado. Colorado’s hot, but they’re not great on the road, and Galaxy are absolutely brutal at home. I like D-L-W-W-L for Galaxy’s next five (@NY, @KC, COL, VAN, @CLB). That’s only seven points, a below-mediocre result for them.

by Fnarf on Aug 25, 2011 4:19 PM PDT reply actions