Photo by ISIphotos.com
With 2008 winding to a close, and 2009 just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about the January U.S. National Team camp and which players might be getting the call for an extended look from U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley.
The camp is expected to include between 25 and 30 players, with most European-based national team players excluded (save for those whose leagues are on breaks and players who don't get much playing time with their clubs). With that in mind, here is a 30-player pool you might see joining the camp at Home Depot Center in January.
Projected U.S. national team training camp roster
Goalkeepers– Brad Guzan, Troy Perkins, Matt Pickens, Will Hesmer
Defenders– Danny Califf, Michael Parkhurst, Jimmy Conrad, Clarence Goodson, Frankie Hejduk, Marvell Wynne, Johnathan Bornstein, Jonathan Spector, Michael Harrington, John Thorrington, Sean Franklin.
Midfielders– Sacha Kljestan, Maurice Edu, Pablo Mastroeni, Robbie Rogers, Freddy Adu, Jeremiah White, Eddie Lewis, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Benny Feilhaber, Davy Arnaud
Forwards– Kenny Cooper, Charlie Davies, Brian Ching, Chris Rolfe
If you are wondering where Chad Marshall and Bobby Boswell are, I left them out due to potential January transfers that would leave them unavailable (the same could be the case for Cooper, Kljestan and Wynne). I think Marshall and Boswell would both be called in otherwise.
Guzan, Edu and Adu would all still be in their club seasons but their lack of playing time makes me think Bob Bradley could secure their services for a camp. Jozy Altidore is also a strong possibility for the camp, but considering the playing time he's been getting for Villarreal recently I decided to leave him out.
Jose Francisco Torres would be a natural pick for this camp, but the Mexican season resumes in mid-January so he and Michael Orozco are out.
I will tweak this group if any names I forgot come to me.
What do you think of the group? What players in the group don't you see getting called? Which players did I forget? Who do you absolutely want to see getting a call?
The actual roster won't be released until later this month. For now, feel free to share your thoughts on the January US national team training camp and the projected roster above, in the comments section below.
I’m not sure Will Hesmer is good enough and I say that as a Crew fan. He certainly played well throughout the season but also made too many mistakes.
By the way, German teams might be on winter break but they have their own training camps duing that time. There is no way, new players won’t participate.
Thanks y’all!
I guess it’s a good sign that West Ham resigned him despite the long layoff when they could have let his contract expire. But then again, how many 22 yr olds have 70+ EPL games under their belts? Man I hope he’s healthy thru the whole WC cycle.
It is a pretty nice list, and I would totally watch an 11 v 11 game with the line ups Sawatsky posted. Of course, I’ve been known to watch Bayern training videos…
Hey Ives,
What ever happened with Mapp on the MNT? Did he just flat fall off the grid?
Bring in the young guys, like Zizzo, Szetela, and as Ives suggested, Rogers and Holden.
Ives,
That dubious line on Buddle about “concerns regarding his ability to be effective on the international level” is a bit trite.
Sounds a whole lot like what Bradley used to say about Cooper.
Eric/Steven:
Didn’t know that Simek tweaked a ‘string. DAMN the kid seems jinxed!
I liked Thorrington at RB a lot more than Moor. Not the best spot on the field for Thorrington, but he’s better than Moor.
Ives,
Will the Danish Superleague still be on Winter Break during the Jan camp? If not, I think Parkhurst would be better served to stay with his new club and get to know his new teammates. Other than that, I like the list. Eric- Spector is rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn labrum in one of his hips.
Simek, yes I forgot, BUT the powers that be at Wednesday seem determined to not rush him back to the pitch. Witness the 38 minutes thay gave him yesterday when he had to come on early (as a sub) and then they took him off fairly quickly.
Eric,
Spector is still getting back to match fit after the long rehab, which is why he signed the extension and not dressing until after the holiday. And with that situation, I don’t see him coming back for January camp.. much smarter to get fit and stay in London.
How about Vincenzo Bernardo be given a quick look like Brek Shea recieved, just to come in and get his feet a little wet in training.
Play Moor at CB but figure out a way that he can sneak out to the wing to put in crosses.
Otherwise, leave home.
Eric, I just didn’t see much from Gibbs at the end of the season for Colorado and if he were really close to his old form I would imagine he would have seen some minutes vs. Guatemala.
Aaron, I’m not sold on Drew Moor. He can cross a nice ball but is weak defensively at right back and isn’t really an option for the national team at center back. That said, it wouldn’t shock me if he got the call since Bradley has taken repeated looks at him in the past.
Aaron-
Drew Moor will never be a CB for the Nats even though he did a decent job filling in there for FCD. But he has too many better CBs in front of him.
That leaves him as an RB. In that case, do you think that Moor is a better option at RB than one of Hejduk, Wynne, Franklin, and possibly Spector, or do you think BB should be calling in 5 RBs for this camp (in addition to Cherundolo and the recently recovered Simek, who we presume will not be called in)?
Anyone know when the cities for each qualifier will be announced?
I would add Buddle.
Why no Drew Moor?
Steven – Simek was pulled from the game in the 1st half with a hamstring injury yesterday 🙁
Ives’s list could produce an interesting scrimmage:
Guzan
Hejduk-Califf-Parkhurst-Bornstein
Adu-Kljestan-Mastroeni-Rogers
Davies-Cooper
v.
Ching-Rolfe
Lewis-Edu-Holden-White
Spector-Conrad-Goodson-Wynne
Perkins
subs:
Hesmer, Pickens
Harrington, Thorrington, Franklin
Clark, Feilhaber, Arnaud
Ives – I’m curious with your non-interest in Gibbs. Do you think he’s permanently lost a step due to too many injuries, or do you just want to see him do more to earn his way back first?
Convey got 9 mins yesterday for Reading! Woo Hoo!
FORWARDS: Charlie Davies, Kenny Cooper, Chris Rolfe, Brian Ching, Edson Buddle
MIDFIELD: Pablo Mastroeni, Robbie Rogers, Sal Zizzo, Jeremiah White, Benny Feilhaber, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Lee Nguyen, Arturo Alvarez
DEFENSE: Clarence Goodson, Sean Franklin, Jonathan Bornstein, Marvell Wynne, Michael Harrington, Michael Parkhurst, Danny Califf, Jimmy Conrad, Danny O’Rourke
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Matt Pickens, Troy Perkins, Will Hesmer
Nobody mentioned Frankie Simek. He’s back now, healthy, I’d like to see him get another look. Lot of potential w/ this kid.
Hopefully no Boswell or Carroll, they are too limited physically (i.e., slow) to hack it on the international level. They have no future so leave them home.
Rod, Pearce doesn’t start for Rostock but he plays in a good share of games, and usually a decent number of minutes. To be fair, his minutes have dipped a bit but I’m not sure Rostock is ready to let him go away for a few weeks.
JJ Fad, I really didn’t mean anything by listing Pablo as a defender. He can certainly still play midfield for the national team. It doesn’t really matter where he’s listed, he can play both. In fact, I’ll switch him to midfield to avoid any more confusion. Also, Ricardo Clark is on the list, was there from the beginning. Szetela would definitely merit a call if he is available. I know he has struggled for time in recent weeks, but he was starting just a few weeks back so it’s tough to say whether he’ll be available.
And Dr, out of your list I would say Brian Carroll is a name I plum forgot and one who should certainly be considered for the group. The rest I’m not sure about getting a call.
I’d like to see how potent a Cooper/Davies partnership would be!
Ives-
See, J. White is an SBI-fave, I knew it! But it’d be good to see him in camp again since he hasn’t been around since Cupcake ’08.
I like the defender pool you mentioned, but do we really need 12?
As long as we’re throwing names out, some other MLS guys who are on the periphery in my mind include:
J. Jewsbury – versatile, could be a Thorrington type
C. Casey – possible depth for Hex
B. Shea – is he fully recovered?
E. Buddle – coming off a strong season
C. Gibbs – not at his old level yet, but…
R. Russell – possibility at LB/RB?
C. Clark – LM depth
B. Carroll – not that we need another CM
S. Quaranta – good comeback year
As for other possibilities playing abroad:
E. Johnson – another SBI-fave, right?
B. Convey – health status?
V. Bernardo – doing well for an 18 y.o.
Sadly, Eddie Lewis still brings things to the table that no one else does. No one hits a better ball than him. Freddy’s shot might be better, but not crosses. Plus, he can teach the youngsters about busting their arses.
Spector is a weird situation, what’s up with him? He just signed a new deal but can’t even make the bench.
Ives, can you put your response about why we need some vets in our nat’l team mix in the same category at Jon o’brien & relegation.
It should be obvious to people by now that with any sports team, veteran leadership is a must.
Ives, Any thoughts on bringing in anyone from the U20 team sans A&A? The Italian duo – Bernardo and Nizzani (spelling?)?
Zizzo or Zimmerman?
What about trying to entice Subotic? The Bundesliga would be on break and would give him an opportunity to stay “in-form”.
By the way Subotic does have a Facebook page if anyone is interested. Email him..
Movsisyan is a baller with goal-scoring potential. His play w/ KC and RSL has impressed me these last couple of years.
How about these eight players for the January USMNT camp:
-Chad Barrett
-Edson Buddle
-Brian Carroll
-Brad Evans
-Eddie Gaven
-Cory Gibbs
-Jason Hernandez (don’t know if he is cap-tied to Puerto Rico or not)
-Chris Seitz
I noticed Heath Pierce is not on this list – he seems at this point to be the most viable left back for us but has not featured regularly at Hansa Rostock. Who on the roster would push Pierce?
Will Spector be back? I presume Bornstein is just for numbers based on his international performances (although he rocked against Mexico 2-0 win in Feb 07!)
Ives
Interesting to see you list Pablo as a defender. Do you think he is he done as a midfielder at the national team level?
Two surprise omissions for me are Szetela and Rico Clark.
Any chance that Convey, Zizzo, or Kamani Hill get a look?
RJ: Thanks for the Feilhaber news. Had no idea he was injured. No luck finding info on his status myself. Thanks again.
how could some one say for get pablo. he still are best dm if not for sure second. come on guys seriously, seriously?
I think Eddie Lewis should end as a player for the US team. I think there are now some younger players who could be about as good as he is.
jozy?
Voodoo, Buddle getting a call isn’t totally out of the question, but I do hear concerns about his ability to be effective on the international level.
as for Torres, the Mexican season gets underway in mid-January so he and Orozco are out.
As for the veterans I mentioned, maybe not all of them get called, but some of them well. You can’t just have a group of all young and inexperienced players. You need veteran leadership in the mix to work with younger players and to provide some balance.
JRNail, I wouldn’t mind seeing Zizzo and Casey certainly showed enough in the second half of the season for Colorado. As for Lee Nguyen, I’m not sure he’s getting a call anytime soon.
I suspect that Adu might resist attending this camp, as he recently alluded in an interview that having left of a camp (I think the Olympic Qualifying one) really hurt his standing at Benfica, especially when their was a managerial change in his absence…
Arturo Alavarez
I would love to see Holden and Rogers in camp. The US needs to put a priority on developing new options on the wing and they are our brightest options.
Orozco and Torres will be missed, they both showed promise. But I’m happy to see the prodigal Feilhaber returning to the fold!
How ’bout Szetela?
oranje mike: Feilhaber has one appearance this year, he is making his way back from a knee injury at this point in time
I’d say forget Hejduk for this camp, Bob already knows what Frankie brings to the table. Instead, get Sean Franklin a look at right back.
Same goes for Eddie Lewis, Brian Ching, and Pablo Mastroeni. Maybe bring in guys like Sal Zizzo, Lee Nguyen, and Conor Casey in their place?
“save for those whose leagues are on breaks and players who don’t get much playing time with their clubs.”
At the rate things are going, that could be all of the January camp in a couple of years!
Ives:
I noticed Thorrington played in the back in the last US game. Who made that decision and is that because he can’t make it as a midfielder for the national team?
Ives,
Are your questions rhetorical? We all know that there are players who should be in camp based on form and performance; and then there are the players who are “Bob’s Boys”.
I’ve got nothing against Uncle Bob’s Boys, but Hejduk and Bornstein?? Are they really the best options for outside backs in the MLS?
What about Klein? As far as the forwards–I like everyone you’ve named except for Ching.
I’ve asked before, but one more time, who exactly, does Buddle have to blow to get a MNT look?! Uncle Bob himself? Please be specific.
Feilhaber made your list, Ives? I thought he fell off the face of the earth. Glad to see he may get more looks on the national side. Always liked what I saw from him. Has he been getting time in Denmark?
I really hope Michael Harrington gets a callup. He has the potential to be a solid player for the MNT.
Great group…. i would just add…. Torres.