Friendly games scheduled during international windows can be an annoyance and a distraction to players and clubs, but we happen to love them. For while the U.S. team's recent exhibition matches against Cuba and New Zealand were low-profile, anticlimactic affairs, they also told us quite a bit about where certain players stand under Jurgen Klinsmann's before the U.S. coach settles on his 23-man roster for next month's high pressure World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Costa Rica.
Those little insights become even more interesting when paired with how particular players are performing for their club teams. Based on what we now know, here's how 11 Americans are trending less than three weeks before Klinsmann selects his squad.
Warming Up
Jozy Altidore, F, Toronto FC (MLS)
Why he's here: Altidore's three-game U.S. scoring streak was snapped during this month's international window but he had goals for TFC on both sides of the break, including one in Sunday's 2-2 tie in Montreal.
What this means: The national team will lean heavily on its most in-form striker next month, especially with Bobby Wood's starting job in Germany now in doubt. (More on Wood below.)
Matt Besler, D, Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Why he's here: Besler was back in SKC's starting lineup Sunday for the first time in three games, helping his team keep a clean sheet and earn a crucial point at Real Salt Lake.
What this means: "You wonder why he's not playing right now in Kansas City," Klinsmann said after Besler strong performance against New Zealand. Asked what Besler could do to win his spot back, Sporting coach Peter Vermes said "I just need him to get back to who he is." Besler looked like his old self against RSL. He figures to keep his spot in the regular season finale against San Jose and, if all goes well again, when the MLS playoffs begin next week.
Timmy Chandler, D/M, Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
Why he's here: The 26-year-old picked up an assist and hit the post in Saturday's 2-2 tie against mighty Bayern Munich.
What this means: Chandler's recent form combined with DeAndre Yedlin's recent struggles could put the German-American in position to start over Yedlin against Mexico.
Tim Howard, G, Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Why he's here: The Rapids narrowly lost in Portland but the score would've been more lopsided had Howard not stoned Timbers striker Fanendo Adi on a first half penalty kick.
What this means: Howard's consistently strong play makes him the presumptive frontrunner to get the nod against El Tri and, depending how that games goes, in Costa Rica as well.
Matt Miazga, D, Vitesse (Eredivisie)
Why he's here: The Chelsea loanee made his first Dutch League start in Saturday's 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar.
What this means: It's a good start for Miazga but he's still a long shot to be on Klinsmann's roster next month. However, he'll likely get a look in the new year if he can carve out consistent minutes in the Netherlands.
Danny Williams, M, Reading (English Championship)
Why he's here: Williams acquitted himself well in substitute appearances against Cuba and the Kiwis, and he scored a well-taken goal on his return to Reading.
What this means: Williams has been out of favor with Klinsmann for the better part of a year despite being a fixture for the Royals in midfield. He appears to be working his way back into the mix now, though, with Perry Kitchen his chief competitor in a holding role while Jermaine Jones (knee) remains out.
Cooling Down
Aron Johannsson, F, Werder Bremen (Bundesliga)
Why he's here: The Icelandic-American started Bremen's first three Bundesliga games but hasn't played since coach Viktor Skrypnyk was fired last month.
What this means: Interim boss Alexander Nouri doesn't appear to have the faith in Johannsson that Skripnik did, which could make this season a long one for the 25-year-old forward.
Darlington Nagbe, M, Portland Timbers (MLS)
Why he's here: It's been a surprisingly tough season for Nagbe, who reportedly declined an invite to join the U.S. in order to spend time with his family.
What this means: We don't have all the details, to be sure. What we do know is that Klinsmann hasn't taken kindly to players passing on national team duty in the past-and that with was proven internationals like Howard and Landon Donovan.
Bobby Wood, F, Hamburg (Bundelsliga)
Why he's here: After starting HSV's first six games of the season (five under since-fired manager Bruno Labbadia), Wood came off the bench in Saturday's scoreless draw at Borussia Monchengladbach.
What this means: Simply put, Wood needs to score to earn his starting job back. After getting goals in each of his first two games, the Hawaiian has gone five matches without finding the net.
William Yarbrough, G, Leon (Liga MX)
Why he's here: After the New Zealand game, Klinsmann said he and his staff saw "a couple of things that we're not OK with." One of them was probably the performance of the Mexican-born backstop, who looked shaky in his first international start.
What this means: The big knock on the 27-year-old is that he doesn't catch balls cleanly, and that deficiency was on display in his 45 minutes of action against the All Whites.
DeAndre Yedlin, D/M, Newcastle (English Championship)
Why he's here: Klinsmann wasn't happy with Yedlin's showing, either. "In the last camp and this camp, he struggled," the coach said last week. Yedlin hasn't been starting regularly for new club Newcastle United- Klinsmann was not in favor of the move to England's second-tier - and he's been frequently used in the midfield rather than at right back.
What this means: Anything less than consistent minutes at right back over Newcastle's next five games could cost Yedlin his starting spot next month.