U.S. Under-23 national team coach Peter Nowak has named the 22-man roster for the upcoming Toulon Tournament in France, and as SBI told you would be the case last week (and some folks chose to ignore), the roster consists mainly of players on the fringes of a shot at the U.S. Olympic roster.
No, there is no Jozy Altidore, Freddy Adu or Michael Bradley. In fact, none of the top stars of the U-23 age group were called up (well, one field player, Mr. Benny Feilhaber). The roster named by Nowak consists mainly of prospects with an outside chance of impressing the coaching staff enough to make it to Beijing.
There are some intriguing names to be sure, including Gabriel Ferrari, Lee Nguyen, Bryan Arguez and Kyle Davies, but there are also some long shots as well, such as Tony Beltran, Michael Gavin, Julian Valentin, Bryan Jordan and, yes Red Bulls fans, Eric Brunner.
“This tournament will give us an opportunity to have a look at some players we have had in previous camps, and also a look at the new faces,” Nowak said. “We don’t want to be short-sighted with our selection for the Olympics. We want a whole picture that includes a variety of players, and to make sure we see every option before we make final choices.”
Here is the full roster:
GOALKEEPERS – Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake), Quentin Westburg (Troyes
DEFENDERS – Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Eric Brunner (out of contract), Kyle Davies (Southampton), Michael Gavin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Jonathan Leathers (Kansas City Wizards), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Julian Valentin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Rob Valentino (New England Revolution), Blake Wagner (FC Dallas)
MIDFIELDERS – Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Greg Dalby (SC Charleroi), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Lee Nguyen (Randers FC)
FORWARDS – Gabe Ferrari (Sampdoria), Bryan Jordan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ellis McLoughlin (Hertha Berlin), Sammy Ochoa (Tecos)
The U.S. team will face Turkey (May 21), Ivory Coast (May 23) and Italy (May 25) in the Toulon Tournament, taking place in France. All the matches will be shown live on Fox Soccer Channel.
What do you think of the group? What names are you happy to see? What names are you surprised not to see? Share your thoughts below.
I will give you better odds on Tony Beltran not making the Olympic team. Ives was being nice by saying long shot. You need to consider the fact that there are only 15 or 16 spots to be won by U-23’s. Assuming at least 2, if not 3 of the 18 will be overage:
Altidore, Adu, Kljestan, Edu, Bradley, Spector, Holden, Wynne, GK (probably Seitz)… That’s 9 definites, 6 left…
Probables: Sturgis, Alvarez, Orozco, Freeman (versatility)
Fringe: Rogers, Gaven, Hill, Davies, etc, etc…
No Beltran yet…
no Szetela? He could use the minutes….
Hey Ives. Next time Bryan Jordan plays for the Galaxy you don’t have to pretend you don’t know who he is. If el fur de ball knows who Jordan is, I have to guess to do to.
what about subotic?
Benny Feilhaber should also go to the olympics.
Lee Nguyen is reallly talented I think he should go to the olympics.
Danny szetela should have been called up, and he should also go to the olympics.
Look for Feilhaber to get it right this time.
Ives,
no post on fulham’s improbable win and staying in the premiere league? i’m disappointed. i thought that would have been a huge caption for sbi.
i thought one of the zimmerman’s might have gotten a call to the u-23.
Harrington not selected? Another underrated player not everybody and their brother knows about yet.
McLoughlin is a good prospect. Has a nose for goal and quick feet.
J,
A lot of these people have played very little first team football recently. I don’t see why Feilhaber should be denied a spot if he proves himself at this tournament…
Modibo — McLoughlin was a starter on the U-17 World Cup team. He was hailed as one of the top 2-3 best player on the team. Though he probably is top 2 (midfielder Dan Wenzel or howeveritsspelled didn’t as well as expected) I believe he scored one goal in that tournament.
He has some good skill. Last time I saw him, he was tall and lanky.
Benny F does not deserve a spot, he hasn’t played first team competitive soccer in ages….FACT.
Are some of these guys really on the fringes? I would think some of these players have a legitimate shot at making the roster? Goes to show what I know.
Topher, Soumare has said publicly that he wants to play for Mali, and that he’s been in touch with their Nats management about playing in the future. He hasn’t worn the colors yet in any youth nats side. He has a US green card.
He also has a really convoluted history – born in Mali, grew up till he was about 14 in Paris, then moved to New York where he was adopted.
Who can tell me something about Ellis McLouglin? Only player on the roster I’ve never heard of.
P.S. Ives, since you claim Beltran is a “long shot” to make the USO Team, you want to give me 10-1 odds and put $25 bucks on it? 🙂
I didn’t see Seitz was named. That sucks. RSL needs to get him in some games. He certainly isn’t a “fringe” player. Could RSL refuse to release him? Why does the coaching staff feel they have to have him to evaluate?
umm, wasnt this roster supposed to include neven subotic supposedly?
so can we interperet this as subotic electing not to play with the U.S.?
Corey Ashe is the biggest MLS contributor of the lot so that will answer about 90% of the questions on this thread.
Like dominghosa and Cyrus, I’m curious about Pachuca’s midfielder Jose Francisco “Paco” Torres. He was born in Texas and was apparently approached by the US folks when Pachuca was playing DC United in the Concacaf Champions Cup in early April. As far as I can remember we never found out whether or not he would commit to the US team.
Do you know anything further about his status, Ives?
I’m not certain he’d make the first XI for the Olympics but he’s definitely got talent deserving further evaluation – if he’s interested.
I think Lee Nguyen, Tony Beltran and Bryan Arguez all have a decent shot at making the team. Outside of Spector, the defensive candidates for the U-23 squad are weak. I realize Nguyen is not a defender, he is just good.
I wonder if this omits Benny from being called up to the USMNT for the may 28 Match vs. England. It’ll give him five days of rest .
I would rather see Jose Francisco Torres in there than Ochoa.
I agree about the omissions of Zimmerman, Smith, Johnson (though there are only so many forwards you can call up) and Szetela (what happened there?).
Ashe over Szetela? Not sure about that.
But I like the call ups of Westberg, Nguyen, Leathers, Shea, Vanletino (if only because he’s from Phoenix), Dalby and Arguez.
Not sure about Beltran over C. Myers but maybe it’s because Myers is more important to his club now than Beltran.
Hincha, any way you stack it Tony Beltran is a longshot to make the U.S. Olympic team.
LA losing 3 fringe players is gonna hurt them.
The way Tony Beltran has been playing for RSL (very well, earned a starting right back position) I wouldn’t necessarily call him a long shot at the end of the day.
It’s about what I expected. I am happy that Benny is on this roster so that it probably prevents him from the England friendly. Benny, Convey, and EJ are people I don’t think have earned a continued place on the National Team.
I doubt any of these guys make the Olympic team. Including Benny.
Nice to see Quentin Westburg get a call up. He needs to find a new team and get some first team minutes.
Jamel Johnson deserved a look for sure
I would like to know why Jemal Johnson and/or Johan Smith aren’t on the squad??? I mean they are closer in age to the U-23’s than McLaughlin.
Interesting not seeing szetela, rogers, zimmerman, or smith, and it’d be nice to see alvarez too. I’m glad that we’re lookin at players in the Mexican league. Is Jose Francisco Torres an omission due to Novak already reserving a spot for him, or is he just not included in the team? Though he’s probably good enough to play on the 1st team, it would’ve been nice to see him in US Camp at some point prior to Novak choosing the team.
But now thinking about it, we have a very competitive player pool, and not all these quality guys can be on the team. I think we’ll be fine regardless of these guys being on or off the team.
Nice barrage of posts today. Well done Ives.
Sammy!
And Quentin!
Horray!
Pudding!
Does anyone even listen to Ives on this site???
In regards to his existing article… the ones called up this time would likely be ‘fringe’ players for the U-23’s. So 1/2 of these questions like “Why isn’t Robbie Rogers playing” are annoying. He’s nearly getting full Nat consideration + he’s a lock for the U-23 + He’s getting solid PT with the Crew.
These annoying posts remind me to facetiously ask ‘Whats John O’Brien up to these days and would be a good fit for being one of the older players on the U-23 squad?’
Come on.
Sammy Ochoa? It’s about damn time!! I hope he and Ferrari become lethal together.
douglas- with rogers and alverez getting 1st team PT, actually starting XI spots, Nowak probably didnt see it worth it to call them up… depending on their continuing efforts and our options for the olympics they’ll be considered just like anyone else… if not more depending on current form
I like the selections, there are a lot of names that i didn’t even consider and i am excited to see how they play.
how do we interpret the absence of Robbie Rogers and Arturo Alvarez? Does this mean that they are in, or out? Are they too important to their teams to be released? Has Nowak seen enough of those to not need to call them for this tournament?
Can the Galaxy really afford to let a defender go to a tournament in France for a month?
Overall, I like it – doesn’t impact the MLS teams too much, and gives the ‘fringe’ kids a chance to impress and get to know each other, and play for their country at least once in their career.
If you can, check out the 2008 version of the Tournoi Toulouse. This is a classic tournament for up and coming players and past tournament alumni include Henry and Shearer to name a few. Actually the year Henry played, Josh Wolff finished 3rd in tournament scoring.
Ives,
What about Szetela? That guy has fallen off the radar screen.
Good to see Bryan Jordan. Watched him last season with the Portland Timbers. Fierce worker up top. Quick as hell and a little gritty. Also draws a lot of penalties.
what about soumare? i heard he is from mali, but i think he might also have a u.s. passport. anyone know?
MikeMike (and JSquared), Brunner’s tie to the Red Bulls only applies to MLS, so if he goes to the tournament and catches the eye of a European club that likes him, then he’s gone.
As for whether Ferrari starts, given the fact that the three games are five days apart I am sure he will start in at least one of these games, if not two.
chris- dont forget, we do have some defenders who can 2nd in the midfield, and at least 1 who can push up to the front line…. just b/c they are labeled there doesnt mean they’ll play there… for example, take a look at Hill.. he played defense during the qualifiers, but i recall him moving up during one of the games…. not to mention they used him as a winger most of the time anyhow
Ah right. Good call Mike. Thanks!
JSquared-
NY still will hold rights on Brunner because they did offer him a substitute contract. They can still sign him to a senior spot. Kinda crappy for Brunner, but sometimes the discovery claim business works in a team’s favor, sometimes it don’t.
-Mike
why is practically our whole roster defenders? its really strange
im going to enjoy watching this tourny…. always been hopeful that Ferrari can break the scene… playing reserves with Samdoria is nice, but id like to see him break some 1st team PT…. this tourny could lift him out of the reserves with some stellar play, especially against Italy 😀
could this also launch Feilhaber’s career in the right direction?? hopefully… i’ve been a fan of his, but his lack of play and rumors around the Olympics seemed to knock him off the radar… hopefully he can leave Derby (or at least get PT now that they are relegated)…
HOO HOO HOO…HOOSIERS!!! happened to have attended the great college of IU when Nguyen stayed a semester and tear up the field…. since then ive always liked seeing him succeed… glad to see he’s finally getting PT even if its not with PSV… altho he had some stellar performances with the Reserves… glad to see him get another look into the nats (at any level)…
I’m glad to see Brunner getting a shot. If the kid turns out to be a stud I’ll be pissed that RBNY basically dropped him for Boyens.
On first glance, Johan Smith and Preston Zimmerman stand out among the omissions. Too young?
Ives: Will Gabe be getting the start?