BY NOW YOU SHOULD KNOW the drill. United States national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann's statements below are official and verbatim. John Godfrey's interpretations are...not.

So let's hop to it, shall we?

On the roster choices for the Ecuador match

What Jurgen Klinsmann said: “Our approach to putting together the roster is mainly to see younger players coming into the senior national team environment and proving their point. We want to continue the energy that was created in Prague last month when we won against the Czech Republic and see how far these younger players can take it."

What ASN Heard: I excluded Eric Lichaj just to mess with you guys. I couldn't find Brek Shea. Have you seen him? Juan Agudelo's realtor told me he couldn't make it because he was closing on a three-bedroom split-level that is move-in ready and has water views.

On why there are so few MLS veterans

What Klinsmann said “We left quite a few of the experienced players out because we want to give the younger players a chance to break in. Guys like Kyle Beckerman, DaMarcus Beasley, Brad Davis, Chris Wondolowski and others are not in this roster, not because they aren’t part of the national team moving forward, simply because we want to see the youngsters make their point.”

What ASN heard: Ask Don Garber. He's the guy who scheduled two MLS games on Friday, five on Saturday, and two more on Sunday.

On roster changes for the 10/14 Honduras match

What Klinsmann said "For this first game we are mixing things up with MLS players and with players that are coming from overseas but they are not as established yet as we would like them to be, so maybe we let a few ones go after the Friday game back to Europe so they have a whole week of preparation for the next game, bring in some MLS players to fill in the blanks, and continue to grow this culture of competition and also of accountability."

What ASN Heard
I'd like to see Jozy get a start next weekend for Sunderland. I can't tell you how annoying it is to wake up before sunrise every Saturday, turn on the TV, and discover that Poyet has our top striker on the bench again.

On the busy schedule ahead

What Klinsmann said: "For us it’s exciting to start a new cycle with many big competitions coming up on the horizon. We have the Gold Cup next year, the Olympics in 2016 which we have a huge focus on, the Copa America in the United States in 2016, in 2017 the Confederations Cup if we do our job, and then the World Cup in 2018 in Russia.

What ASN heard: I'm sure American Soccer Now has a lot of exciting editorial plans in store for national team fans. I've bookmarked the site and check it every day. You should too.

On the mix of younger and older players

What Klinsmann said: "Now it’s our job to connect the different age groups and make the younger ones understand that time will fly by and you must take advantage of the opportunity and not waste it. For the experienced players, it’s a signal that the younger ones are breaking in and want to steal their spot. It’s about building a new hierarchy of the senior national team, because after every World Cup, it’s time to start fresh again."

What ASN heard: I still have nightmares about Wondo missing that sitter against Belgium. We're not there yet.

On players in Brazil instead of Connecticut

What Klinsmman said: “It’s a huge opportunity for our U-23 team to get invited by Brazil to have a game down there. We need to build already the chemistry of a new team, so every time they have a chance to get together at the age group, we have to take advantage of it. That’s why guys like Emerson Hyndman, Rubio Rubin, and Jordan Morris go; otherwise they would have been with us in Hartford."

What ASN heard: We're going to qualify for the 2016 Olympics even if I have to file for a one-time switch, lace up my boots, and line up at forward.

On the overlapping U.S. national teams

What Klinsmann said: "I think it’s becoming very clear to everyone involved that the senior team, the U-23s, and even the U-20 team that goes to the World Cup in 2015 are all connected. The coaches are connected, and the players are getting moved between the groups. A U-20 player now understands that if he does extremely well, there might be a chance to bypass people and show up in the senior team."

What ASN heard: A U-20 player now understands that if he does extremely well, there might be a chance to bypass people and show up in the senior team.

On Jordan Morris

What Klinsmann said: "We evaluate people based on their potential, based on talent and their willingness to learn. Sometimes people on the outside might think it’s coming a bit too early for a player like Jordan Morris who still plays in college, but we don’t think so because we see the potential."

What ASN heard: He has a chance to be special, but he's not going to get any better playing against Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Gonzaga. If he's serious about soccer he needs to put Stanford on hold and become a professional.

On calling up NASL attacker Miguel Ibarra

What Klinsmann said: "Miguel in his game is maybe a bit of a late bloomer coming now through the NASL system, but he has done tremendously well there the whole season. We watched him and a couple other players in the league, and they might go a different path than coming through MLS, Europe or Mexico, but he’s a good example that there are different ways to get all the way to the top. He knows he has to prove it now: he has tremendous skill, he has speed, he has an engine, he can take people on, and he keeps everyone on their toes."

What ASN Heard: Ask Don Garber. If I can't call in Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Gyasi Zardes...

On training camp this week

What Klinsmann said: “We are looking forward to young players that bring a lot of energy to the table and really enjoy what they are doing. They want to prove a point, but all in a team context. We want them to have a great team chemistry, to support each other and do everything as a team: going forward as a team, defending a team, expressing themselves and enjoying the two games on this stage."

What ASN heard: Can you imagine what a circus it would have been if Landon showed up on Monday with the rest of the guys? That's all anybody would be talking about. Kittens are weak and harmless, but they do have tiny little claws and sometimes you just don't feel like getting scratched.

On Landon Donovan

What Klinsmann said: "Obviously the first game is a special game against Ecuador because it’s Landon Donovan's testimonial. He comes in on Thursday and has a chance to really enjoy the atmosphere and the support of the fans."

What ASN Heard: [awkward silence]

On the challenge Ecuador poses

What Klinsmann said: "We also want the whole group to embrace the opportunity of playing Ecuador, a very, very good team that went to the World Cup in Brazil and did very well there. They just had two friendlies, barely losing to Brazil and then beating Bolivia 4-0 in the other. This is a very good side that will definitely put us on our toes. We want to see our players show us they understand the moment and bring all the energy and skills on the field and prove it. If mistakes happen, no problem. We want them to take risks, take people on and give them a real game. We want to beat them.”

What ASN heard: Expect Friday's post-game press conference to be extremely short. I know I have to answer a few more questions about Landon that night, and I will. But when I wake up Saturday morning I am going to pick up a few pastries at the bakery, hop in my helicopter, crank up the Scorpions, fly down to Florida, and we can all move on: Landon, me, Jonathan, Grant, Bruce, Mike Magee—everybody.

That's what we heard. What did you hear?

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