Injuries Ground US Stars

[Mosiah]

Injuries Ground US Stars
Published: Monday | September 3, 2012 1 Comment

Jamaica's Ryan Johnson (left) challenges for the ball in front of the United States' Carlos Bocanegra during last year's CONCACAF Gold Cup at RFK Stadium in Washington. The US plans to conduct physical and mental readiness tests on regular captain Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey ahead of Friday's CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match at the National Stadium. - File
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Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's chances of snapping an 18-game winless streak against the United States (US) looked brighter yesterday after the US announced a squad for two World Cup qualifiers (WCQ) against the Reggae Boyz - kicking off with Friday's clash in Kingston - minus a couple of America's biggest stars and doubts shadowing the match readiness of two others.

The US squad, which is assembling for a training camp in Miami, Florida, ahead of its departure for Jamaica on Wednesday, will be without dangerous midfielder/forward Landon Donovan and influential midfielder Michael Bradley, both ruled out with injuries.

Donovan is the all-time leading US scorer with 49 goals in 144 internationals. Bradley has 10 goals in 69 games.

In addition, the US plan to conduct physical and mental readiness tests on regular captain Carlos Bocanegra, a defender, and forward/midfielder Clint Dempsey, two other automatic national first team choices.

Bocanegra and Dempsey recently changed clubs in Europe and there is concern they have not been getting enough playing time recently to prepare for Friday's match and the return leg against Jamaica in Columbus, Ohio, on September 11.

Lengthy holdout

Dempsey, who has scored 27 goals in 87 games for the US, recently signed with Tottenham Hotspur after leaving Fulham. But he has not played a competitive match so far this season because of a lengthy holdout as he switched English Premier League clubs. However, US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann appears willing to feature Dempsey at 'The Office'.

"We are absolutely open to throwing him in the water right away in Jamaica," Klinsmann said during a teleconference with reporters yesterday.

Bocanegra, a veteran of 106 internationals, moved to Spanish club Racing Santander from the Scottish Premier League. He, too, will be evaluated at the US camp, but could start Friday. Klinsmann said Bocanegra had "played a couple games" and was "more in match rhythm," although "we will test him too".

The Americans also learned of another setback yesterday when Norway-based midfielder Josh Gatt pulled out of the squad after suffering a hamstring injury. Despite being an uncapped international, Klinsmann had hoped Gatt would "add a new element to our team".

That reduced the squad to 23 players. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who has family from Jamaica and was once invited to train with - but later cut from - a Jamaica Under-20 team, is in the US squad for Friday's game. However, he will return to his Major League Soccer club before the return match in Columbus.

Despite the missing stars, Klinsmann said the US team is confident of beating Jamaica in Kingston and extending the Boyz's losing streak at the senior international level, which started in 1988. The US have won 10 games and drawn eight against Jamaica.

"We want to get, if possible, maximum amount of points," the coach said. "So we are trying to really get the players focused on going into Jamaica ready for the Friday night game and hopefully pull off a victory on Jamaican soil."

The Americans have never beaten the Boyz in a WCQ in Jamaica.

Both teams are tied on top of Group A with four points in the CONCACAF semi-final qualifying round, each with a win and a draw. The US, however, have a better goal difference.

The top-two teams in the group, which also includes Guatemala and Antigua and Barbuda, will advance to the CONCACAF final round of six countries from which the first three go to World Cup 2014. The fourth-place country will be involved in a play-off for another spot in Brazil.

[Me]

They have lost two of their three most creative players (LD and Gatt). Jones will be a handful for Austin and Morrison. Altidore will give Mapps and Nosworthy some issues(better version of Peter Byers), but the small stadium field and bumps in the field will help to neutralize him.

Right now our biggest weakness is the wingback spot and Lovell will need help especially when Fabian Johnson (who is VERY good) joins the attack from left back.

Given that Luton, Ryan, Dane and Mattocks all playing ball in 85-90 degree temperatures while F. Johnson, Bocanegra, Edu, Cameron, Spector all coming from cool climates, they need to press them hard from the start. Who ever comes on as a sub will be playing against some tired legs.

[Mosiah]

This may be our best chance to duss out di yanks!

[Zeppo]

They have lost two of their three most creative players (LD and Gatt). Jones will be a handful for Austin and Morrison. Altidore will give Mapps and Nosworthy some issues(better version of Peter Byers), but the small stadium field and bumps in the field will help to neutralize him.

Right now our biggest weakness is the wingback spot and Lovell will need help especially when Fabian Johnson (who is VERY good) joins the attack from left back.

Given that Luton, Ryan, Dane and Mattocks all playing ball in 85-90 degree temperatures while F. Johnson, Bocanegra, Edu, Cameron, Spector all coming from cool climates, they need to press them hard from the start. Who ever comes on as a sub will be playing against some tired legs.

With so many of Jamaica's players arriving from MLS and Europe (only 4 NPL players in the entire squad) it's hard to imagine that the bumps in the field will work very much to their advantage.

Same thing goes for the temperatures (and also since the U.S. team will have a week of training in Miami under their belts by the time they arrive in Kingston).

[Assasin]

You know the going to start Luton so Mattocks more than likely will be a second half sub. Not bad still.

[Stonigut]

Matters not who is there or not there for the match from the US side, our team needs to go in there with the same intensity and fire regardless.

Us strength is playing to instruction, team focus and playing a full 90 minutes, so we will see the same team in terms of execution to order regardless of player name.

Our weakness is playing disciplined ball without mistakes for 90 minutes, our talent is good, our speed is excellent our consistent execution is our weakness and it is amplified when playing the US more than any other team in Concaf as they prey And feed upon weakness.

Our back line is shaping up as potentially the best we have ever had with Taylor, Mariappa and Nosworthy, not sure who is number 4 and with Austin and Morrison potentially in front of that With a good lb we may be looking at something incredible in the making.

[Lee]

they are still going to put a whup a$$ on this current Jamaican lineup....it's the same thing we said in the Gold Cup and they still whupped our a$ses

[Muadib]

When was the last time USA beat Jamaica in qualifying in Jamaica ??

In fact when was the last time USA give Jamaica a Whup Ass in qualifying ???

Relax yuhself..

[Jangle]

.....thank you Zeppo. With all our players playing in foreign leagues, the only advantage that Jamaica holds over any team is crowd support......when we are playing good. I remember when we were qualifying for the 1998 WC, they had this misconception that playing matches at 1 in the afternoon was an advantage to us. Me nearly get heat stroke a siddung inna bleachas from 11 o' clock a wait pon match fi start.