U.S. Men’s National Team boss Bruce Arena confirmed in a Facebook Live chat on Friday the first six players who will  join the annual January camp in California.
MLS veterans Dax McCarty and Chris Pontius, both of whom had solid 2016 campaigns for the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union, respectively, headline the list of veterans returning to the fold as Arena adds experience to the squad. Â The FC Dallas center back duo of Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman will also be off to January camp, per Arena.
Vancouver Whitecaps winger Kekuta Manneh was also announced as a participant in the camp for domestic-based players. The Gambia-born player isn’t eligible to play for the Yanks just yet, but he will take part in the opening camp of 2017
Due to the continuing issues at left back, DaMarcus Beasley will once again be welcomed back into the fold, according to Arena. Beasley retired from the USMNT at the end of 2014, but then returned for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Also reporting to the January camp will be Gyasi Zardes, Benny Feilhaber, Darlington Nagbe, Jordan Morris, Keegan Rosenberry, Juan Agudelo and potentially Clint Dempsey, per the Washington Post.Â
The USMNT will open their 2017 slate against Serbia on January 29 in San Diego, California.
He also said that only 10 to 20 were in the pool from outside the MLS. That seems like a low number especially 10, maybe he hasn’t had enough time to fully scout or he just doesn’t rate them highly.
Arriola, Green, gooch, Brooks, Wood, Johnson, johanson, Chandler, CP22, yedlin, Williams, Cameron, horvath, Perez, Hyndman, kitchen, miazga, Rubin, ccv, Wooten, maars, stanko, Morales.
When you look at Perez, Hyndman, Miazga, Rubin, CCV, Stanko, not really accomplishing a lot at the top level yet and Arriola is a 10 to 15 minute a game sub for Tijuana, that estimate of 10-20 seems probably about right. Not sure of Wooten’s interest I think he only came to one camp and Johnsen hasn’t committed to US or Norway, although I am confused why neither side has at least called him (according to his interview this month).
What about Villafana (El Sueno) at left back?
Santos will be in season in January and Villafana hasn’t cracked their line up since September, only making the bench twice in that time.
I still think Matt Polster needs a look also.
Watching the Hamburger and Mainz game and Wood just scored a awesome goal.
Also, Bjorg Johnsen-Maars scored today.
Not too concerned about who he calls in, but two caveats. Beasley? Certainly we can find someone better that DMB who is close to retirement. And no Sebastian Lletget? Bruce made him his playmaker the last half of the season and I thought he showed a lot of potential. He should be given a look see.
These are just the names that came up in the Facebook Live Chat not the full roster. If Bruce wasn’t asked a question about Lletget he wouldn’t need to bring him up. I haven’t seen the whole talk, but there is probably a link on the US Soccer homepage, facebook, and/or twitter.
Even if Beasley is invited it does not mean he will accept?
I doubt Bruce brings him up if he hasn’t already talked to him.
#BillHamid
Manneh is going to be a great addition on the wing
While do think its important to have a veteran presence in camps. I’ll have some concerns when/if players like Beasley, Pontius, McCarty, etc…are given minutes when the games are played.
Jones & Dempsey still have something to give to the team, but neither should see significant minutes anymore. IMO they’re best used as super-subs at this point. At their age and with their health concerns over the past year it would be stupid to count on them going forward.
We need to stop relying on 33+ yr old players. No more Beckerman, Wondo, Gordon types. We need to get younger, and add speed to the team.
I’ve got no problems with guys like Zimmerman, Hedges, Agudelo, Manneh, Rosenberry, Morris, Zardes, Nagbe, or even Fielhaber getting called. Most of these guys are just entering their prime age as players and need the experience.
Benny’s a good player…but I worry about his possible attitude. I’d say this is his last chance before he’s left out in the cold.
Zusi, Bedoya, Besler, Gonzalez, and the like are fairly safe under Bruce….at least for the near future.
Not really worried about the European players fitting into things under Arena. Fabian, Cameron, Brooks, Pulisic, Wood, and the rest (as long as they stay healthy) will be fine. They have shown that they are our at the top of our talent pool. Bruce isn’t going to snub any of these guys.
Young/untested European talent may have reason to be a bit more concerned. Guys like Gooch, Green, Miazga, CCV, ets…. These are the guys that aren’t likely to get shots with the team/Bruce until we earn enough points to qualify for 2018.
YES ANREA IS IS PICKING MLS VETERNS OF COURSE
Arena’s gonna bring in a lot of guys that aren’t necessarily in his plans for March or September. Just like any coach would. If nothing else, you want enough guys so you can go 11 v 11!
Still, it’s nice to see a lot of guys that were in the Klinsmann doghouse get their release, like Feilhaber and McCarty.
It will be much more interesting to see which Germericans stay in the picture when the March camp callups take place. I’m guessing Jones, Brooks, and Fabian Johnson are safe. Doubt we’ll see Chandler and Danny Williams again – neither produced nearly enough to merit a continued presence in the red white and blue. As for the rest, who knows?
Ummm the GermanAmericans will not be available for the January camp since they play in one of the best leagues in the world and a majority of the January call ups never got a sniff from outside the country code +1
Umm that may be why he said ‘the march camp.’ You know. The one not in january.
Umm my bad
Every coach has their favorites. Arena will clearly pick his. That being said, even journalist and some players said the Benny did not impress the last couple times he was called into camp by Klinsman (which was in 2014). Dax is a limited player (but I thought that both Beckerman and Wondo were very limited). Like someone said earlier, Arena, like Klinsman, loves speed. These goes back to 2002.
Chandler is VERY talented, but he may not get a long leash under Bruce.
Pontius had a nice comeback story but kind of hit a wall about half way through the year. Like to see him put together back to back season before bringing him in.
To be fair, the Union hit a wall about half way through the year.
Regarding LB; Morrow, Besler, Tierney, Vincent, Acosta
Outside of Jan camp; Lichaj, Chandler, Johnson, Bor stein, Garza
There is no Felipe Luiz in our pool but we don’t need to keep bringing Beas out of retirement
Besler just had surgery and is likely out for January but certainly two of the others you named should be enough for a January camp. I’m hoping Acosta gets a chance in MF.
I’m going to remain optimistic and support Arena, but players like Dax McCarty are no different than Chris Wondolowski. Solid MLS player that probably have no business at the international level. Additionally, Chris Pontius would have been a nice name under Bob Bradley when he was younger/not injury plagued.
It is intriguing to see a dual-national like Kekuta Manneh get a call up. I suppose it’s like the presidency, it’s easy to talk about whats wrong with the current administration until you’re in the eye of the storm and behave in the exact same fashion, no matter the party.
Dax McCarty has the the potential to be this cycles Kyle beckerman. Maybe even better! What were your opinions on KB back in early 2014? My guess is they were not high on him, you or your opinions.
Dax McCarty has the the potential to be this cycles Kyle beckerman.
You make a fair effort in that comparison. However, your guess was wrong because I routinely defended Beckerman and liked his game for what he needed/required to do as a #6.
I don’t see McCarty having the same kind of impact at the international level as his distribution isn’t anywhere near Kyle’s. I’m open to being wrong and all for someone utilizing their chance by making the most of it. I watched a lot of McCarty’s game coming up through the youth system with the United States.
Old School, if you watched a lot of Dax coming up through the youth ranks, then you would know that it is only the last 3 or 4 years that he has been a defensive mid. He was a distributor and quite a good passer for all his career before that. He is a much better passer, IMO, than Beckerman.
Old School, if you watched a lot of Dax coming up through the youth ranks, then you would know that it is only the last 3 or 4 years that he has been a defensive mid. He was a distributor and quite a good passer for all his career before that. He is a much better passer, IMO, than Beckerman.
I simply disagree. He’s a blue collar player that has an incredibly work rate, but doesn’t look like his game transitions well to the international level. Luckily for him, we need victories over CONCACAF nations and aren’t facing anything of sincere worry. Just like Wondo, he’ll have the opportunity to shine if he makes the most of it, but also like Wondo, will have no business facing actual competition on the international stage.
I agree about Dax. His workrate is excellent and I like his attitude, but he has very limited ability going forward and turns the ball over far too often even at the MLS level, especially for someone operating in a defensive position. I’ve thought for years that his game limits the Red Bulls. He shouldn’t be in the conversation for the USMNT.
Manneh received citizenship on September 2016. I saw also he was eligible to apply in May of 2016.
Yup, Arena likes fast guys that can run onto balls played into space but often those guys don’t know what to do with the ball when they get there?
What is concerning does his staff have the contacts and availability to monitor the talent in Europe? I cannot emphasize being comprehensive and not redundant.
He may be now a USA citizenship but his FIFA paperwork is still in progress.
The more things change…. the more they stay the same. Progress is now… back to the future, or the future is going back.
Finally selections that make you eager to want to see the US team in action. “A breath of fresh air”
Gyasi Zardes, Benny Feilhaber, Darlington Nagbe, Jordan Morris, Keegan Rosenberry, Juan Agudelo
Dax McCarthy in the line-up
a Chris Pontius call up
Kekuta Manneh in a USMNT camp??? not ligible but still called up, hahahaha nice. Our forward pool is PACKED all of a sudden lol
Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman…..something totally different from the same old same old
Wow…
What about Lee Nguyen, he never really got a shot at CAM under JK and has been equal if not better than Benny in MLS the last few years? Also, does anyone have an update on Dom Dwyer’s status I thought he was working on his American eligibility as well.
Does anyone really think Pontius, DMB, Benny, and Dax are the answer? If the next two years become the show JK he was wrong about Player X tour we aren’t going to Russia. But I’m willing to give the Bruce the benefit of the doubt until we see the whole roster for January.
Every January camp has had guys like Dax and Pontius involved. Klinnsmann called in players we all knew weren’t difference makers too. Its just the nature of the January camp.
Went back and read the article more closely, thought it was some sort of official release which seemed odd to highlight those players. Since it probably came from direct facebook live fan questions I’m a little less nervous. Still have to believe there are a couple more MLS LBs that would warrant a call up before Bease.
I see Beasley as a guy who would be good to bring in as a veteran presence. Same with Dempsey if he were to get the go ahead from his doctors. I wouldn’t include either in future long term plans at this point but they can serve a purpose.
I’m a Chicago Bulls fan and something i’ve noticed about their horrendous bench is they have no veteran leadership on that unit. Just a bunch of young guys who have no idea how to play the game. I know it sounds lame but I really believe you need to have at least some veteran presence.
DMB, Dax, Benny, Nagbe and Agudelo are all guys Arena mentioned during a video conference when asked about which MLS players might be in the January camp. Probably some others I’ve forgotten. Bruce was not in a mood to dis any player.