D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius and Birmingham City defender/midfielder Jonathan Spector have been called into the U.S. men's national team training camp as injury replacements for Heath Pearce and Zach Loyd, U.S. Soccer announced on Friday.
Pontius and Spector will take part in this week's U.S. training camp ahead of the team's upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica on Friday in Carson, Cal., and Belgium in Brussels on Wednesday, Sept. 6th.
Pontius is enjoy a stellar season for D.C. United as a goal-scoring left winger while Spector brings his usual versatility and skill to the U.S. squad.
Pearce suffered a hamstring injury in Chivas USA's loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday while Loyd has been carrying a knock for some time that he was unable to overcome.
In other USMNT camp developments, Clint Dempsey will join the U.S. team in Belgium for the second friendly and will not be joining the team in camp in California, thereby skipping the Costa Rica friendly.
What do you think of these developments? Share your thoughts below.
Noticed that they took down the Davies billboard on H St. NW the other day…. We’d been joking, ” now diving at RFK ” for a hot minute. I couldn’t help but state the obvious, ” well, I guess Charlie is NOT playing at RFK these days…”.
Still peepin’ the Dax-“the engine” buses rollin’ around… also the Bosko-the architect jawns… ahhhhh marketing.
Pontius could be a fwd but plays midfield. Spector could be a defender but plays midfield for his club. We have too many midfielders!
In other news, I’m disappointed that Fabian Johnson won’t play at all this next week bc he is filing the FIFA paperwork for the one time switch, per Jeff Carlisle on Twitter.
well if you’ve seen him play and he’s not that great I’ll submit to your judgment since I haven’t. And ya I guess I would hope that overall the MLS would be better than the Danish Superleague; I guess Parkhurst and Goodson are just over there then for the $$$. Still tho, MLS doesn’t have a very good track record in the past of valuing and showcasing possession oriented technical players, and college soccer is even worse for that matter, so maybe you didn’t see the best the kid has to offer either.
Anyways, I’ll stand by Gatt that guy is a beast and should definitely be called into the Olympic camp.
Pontius prefers to go by his alias Party Boy.
They better play techno when he goes on!
Really how do you justify starting Bunbyry over Shea? If you have to play a 4-4-2 then play LD withdrawn behind Jozy and Shea gets an outside midfield spot.
for minute I thought it was going to say Chandler….
George John ranks above Marshall and Geoff Cameron and not because he has dual citizenship, but because he’s actually very good and dangerous on set pieces with his height.
Seriously? Have you ever seen him play? I saw him while he was at Bucknell and he was NOTHING special. There is a reason he wasn’t drafted in the MLS. He isn’t that good, that’s why. You don’t test mettle in camps like that.
Props out to Pontius. He really merits a look, and he’s earned it with his hard work. He’s on the cusp of being something really special — just needs to get better with his shots…still seems to send his headers at the goalie and his shots either at the goalie or off-frame. If he can get a little more deft touch — and he is improving almost every week — he will be awesome.
Still, I don’t understand calling in two midfielders to replace two defenders.
Agreed about Zusi, but don’t know him well. What’s the +/- on him?
Yes, Pontius deserved this call up.
He started the season great, but his form has tailed off recently (whether due to injuries or otherwise). It is remarkable that he is able to play professional soccer after his accident. Things were very encouraging at the start of the season, but based on his recent dip in form, I think that Charlie is at least a year away from seriously contending for a spot in the national team. I think, if things fall just right, he may still be able to be a contributor down the road, perhaps he could first be used as a speedy option of the bench.
I would guess Bedoya was not called in so that he can get comfortable and compete for a spot at Rangers. Bocanegra has has a starting spot, is an old pro and captain of the US.
I’m guessing MB90 was not brought in because he will be moving and in a new fight for a spot in Italy.
I also wanna see Josh Gatt, and I’m curious about this 22 year old Conor O’Brian kid playing in the Danish Superliga, was in the 3rd division there just a year ago. He’s a possession oriented attacking mid type, and NOBODY picked him up in the MLS draft! I don’t get it! He even says in the interview that he “hopes he’ll catch the interest of an MLS team” haha my how things have changed if a young american prospect has to prove himself in a European first division to catch the attention of MLS! I’d like to see the kid called up for the olympic camps let him test his mettle.
Davies has been poor for DC lately. Poor attitude, poor form, poor finishing, and poor effort. Many DC fans don’t even want him back next year, myself included, unless he really turns it around in the next two months. Maybe injuries have played a part, but they don’t make you unable to cheer for your teammates when they score. The guy doesn’t even pretend to give a crap about anyone but himself.
Yeah, i dont really care who starts but i would like to see both play
Ives, are you sure Zach Lloyd is injured? From what I understand, he (along with George John and Brek Shea) is(are) playing in the USOC semis for FC Dallas vs Seattle tomarrow.
Yeah, same reason Jozy wasn’t called in for Mexico. Let the players get in with the clubs so they can get on the pitch. Seems to have worked for Altidore…
yeeeeaaa my boy Pontius finally gets his chance! Gauchos represent! hahah
PARTY BOY!
Looks good. I would prefer Agudelo over Bunbury…he has a better first touch and can pass the ball well.
How long does Zusi need to dominate the league before he gets called up?
What about Parkhurst? Pontius is at a completely different position than Pearce/Loyd.
Who I would like to see start. Although I like the 4-5-1, I am going to go with a 4-2-2 because i dont feel like we have a strong CAM and I would like to see all 3 forwards get some time.
Howard
Cherundolo Boca Ream Chandler
Donovan Edu Torres F. Johnson
Altidore Bunbury
Was Clint left off, so he can seal a new deal before the transfer window? I read Sevilla and a couple of others are after him.
http://www.noshortcorners.com
No one seems to care that Bedoya was not called up. I am hoping that is just because of his transition to Rangers, but even then Bocanegra was called up and he is in the same situation.
Thoughts?
That’s fair, though I’m willing, given his improvement in form (albeit at other positions) to give him a few more runs there.
Geoff Cameron should be brought in pronto. Need his versatility and he was the only one who knew how to defend Man U during the All-Star game. I like George John but tired of calling in everyone who happens to have dual citizenship and therefore gets the opportunity to play in Europe. Chad Marshall is better than George John and so is Geoff Cameron.
Who is V-Nasty?
All those guys will be in a camp sooner or later, at least I hope. Also, Whitbread picked up an injury this weekend, so he certainly could not have been a replacement for the friendlies.
I’ve got to agree that we don’t want him as right back, unless it’s against weaker competition. I’d like to see more what he can do in midfield, but there is plenty of competition.
why? But i’d hive it to Kreayshawn.
Whitbread needs to get healthy, and mix is battling a very deep midfield.
Thanks, all. Makes sense. After his Gold Cup performance, I hope he earns a starting position at AV and gets some more call ups.
We also don’t know how many players declined the call up. It’s asking a lot for a player to fly out for 2 meaningless friendlies.
Wait until Oct/Nov…
I want all of their names to get called up so badly!!!!!!
There’s still a glimer of hope for him to play for AV, especially with his Carling Cup performance. Don’t want to take him away from that competition and let him lose his spot.
He’s not getting first team time with his club.
I would imagine with Makoun going out loan AV is pretty damn thin and could be a prime opp for him to break in. I am chalking last weekend’s no bench as a result of him playing 90 earlier in the week.
I’m fine with these two, but what do Omar Gonzalez, George John, Mix Diskerud, and Zak Whitbread have to do to get Klinsi’s attention?
Anyone have any insight on why Lichaj was not called up for this camp?
What’s been going on with Charlie? How’s he been doin for DC? Is he still injured?
Did Jonathan break your heart?
Spector is 25, played pretty well in all competitions for a while now! over him?
It’s nice to see Pontius, but I’m pretty over Spector. I’d prefer to look at George John, Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis, Josh Gatt and Mix Diskerud.
Free V-Nasty!!
Guess JK already knows who he wants to play in defense.
Dempsey also not coming for the Costa Rica game…will meet up in Belgium.