Photo by ISIphotos.com
This morning will mark the kickoff of the U.S. men's national team training camp in Carson, California, a camp that should offer plenty of storylines and some good insight into how the U.S. national team roster will take shape heading into a busy 2009.
For those of you who missed it, here is my ESPN.com piece on the camp, which lists five storylines to follow. Yes, there are plenty of other storylines, but those are just five I decided to touch on. I am not fortunate enough to be in Cali for the proceedings, but will attempt to bring you as much information and coverage from the camp as possible.
There have already been some changes to the group in camp, with Clarence Goodson and Cory Gibbs no longer taking part. Goodson had yet to recover from ankle surgery while Gibbs withdrew for undisclosed reasons. No word yet on when or if replacements will be called in.
If you are looking for a regular national team camp fix, a good place to go will be the U.S. men's national team blog, which will offer daily reports on the proceedings at Home Depot Center.
Did you forget the roster for the camp? Here it is after the jump:
GOALKEEPERS: Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract)
DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Chris Wingert (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Kansas City Wizards), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)
Which storylines will you be following the most closely in this camp? Which player are you hoping to see have a great camp? What player do you see falling flat?
Share your thoughts below.
This seems like as good a spot to post this thought/question:
My understanding is that Bocenegra plays outside left for Rennes(sp?). Is there any indication Ives, or others, that Bradley would consider the same?
Given that Bocenegra’s playing left back and we are deeper in the middle, it seems to make sense to slide him out. I’m ignorant on some of the finer details of the game but I wonder if Bob could put Bocenegra out wide with someone such as Parkhrst in the middle with Onyewu. Is Bocenegra to slow for outside at the international level or what’s the knock that he can play outside in France but not with the US?
Two Cents.
-Thomas
By the way, and not that anyone really cares, but, Davies has instantly become my favorite: he wrestled in high school. Now I know this dude has work ethic.
As a DC fan I really hope that Perkins does well. He was prone to the occasional mistake, but he could really be great sometimes.
Its no coincidence that we’ve been in shambles since he left.
David Yelldell and those guys didn’t make it likely because even with the break, they’re not in their offseason like the MLS and Scandanavian guys are.
we need to cap tie Luis Robles! before the Puerto Ricans or Koreans get him!
I am dissapointed to read that Gibbs is not making this camp. Hope he’s fine & can revive his USMT career. However, I was not impressed when he played against the Red Bulls in COlorado last year.
Why isn’t David Yelldell in the mix of keepers? The guy had a tremendous first half of 2BL season and was voted as The Man for TuS Koblenz. Louis Robles at 1.FCK isn’t far behind in his development- that kid can play tween the posts.
As for attackers, Matthew Taylor, Yelldell’s teammate isn’t having a bad season at TuS Koblenz either. I saw him put up a hat trick. He should be given a look.
I hope conrad or boswell and eddie robinson or hejduk replace gibbs and goodson. I don’t know why bob called gibbs in the first place. Boswell and conrad definitely had a better season than him.
Our strikers for the World Cup – Altidore, Donovan, Cooper and Davies. I can see Davies being a super-sub and Cooper/Donovan partnering with Altidore.
Davies can score all over Sweden and Cooper the same with MLS. Hopefully they can make a move to France or Germany and light them up with goals.
From what the crapids fans say, Gibbs is far from top form anyway, so missing this camp is no biggie. If and when he has ability to dominate in MLS then he should be considered, but he’s not there yet, despite our fond memories of his St.Pauli/Charlton peak form.
troy Perkins should be 3rd choice keeper on wc roster as a gk, he’s one of the most fearless I’ve seen for the US. I also believe Harrington should be on that camp… And also give jeff parke a try now that Gibbs is unavailable.
why bother with pickens?
it’s only b/c he and bradley have the same agent. waste of a spot – could’ve brought in someone who, ya know, actually plays soccer.
> How did Heath Pearce “fail to make the LB spot his own” in 2008?
Well, he did establish that he is the first choice, but his hold on that spot seems less solid than other starters (compare: Howard, Boca, Gooch, Cherundolo, Depmsey etc.) due mostly to (1) not getting PT — at a 2BL club no less, (2) not looking great for MNT (was solid in most matches, but was never great, and a few times was shaky).
BB seems to have (correctly) concluded that Pearce is our best LB right now, but there are enough ?s around him to warrant a continued effort to develop Johnny B or someone else as an alternative.
This just in…..”Cory Gibbs started practice by kicking a ball which in turn tore all the cartilage in his knee…..more to follow”<——wouldn't surprise me.
My Darkhorse is: Rolfe
Start the odds of him making the squad at 100:1. Let the betting begin.
I see Charlie Davies and Kenny Cooper being a part of the 2010 strike force. I hope they get time on the field together.
How did Heath Pearce “fail to make the LB spot his own” in 2008? He started in most of the games we played this year.
David N, just watch the highlights of the Mexico/US game last February… then you’ll understand why Ramiro wasn’t brought in.
Someone must have sneezed on Gibbs. Tore his ACL from that blow.
I was surprised not to see Ramiro Corrales in the squad as possible left back. He played great for Earthquakes as a holding Midfielder and he’s played left back for the MNT before, so I was wondering why he didn’t get a call-up.
P.S. Look out for Shea Salinas next year, I think he’ll surprise a few people this year after being Darren Huckerby and Ronnie O’Brien’s understudy last year.
I want to see what Davies is all about. I haven’t had a chance to see him play, but I’ve heard nothing but good things. How big is he? I’m too lazy to look it up.
I confess, I usually feel compelled to bash Bob Bradley. I will give him credit for calling in some younger blood for this camp.
Holden, Rogers and Rolfe: it’s your time to shine. Show us what you can do.
If replacing some backs, how about 1) Mike Harrington, 2) N. Borchers (only b/c BB seems to have decided that Conrad will not be in the mix).
Rogers, Holden and Rolfe: it’s your time to shine! Show us what you can do.
with goodson and gibbs out, do others like harrington and robinson get a run out? my guess is he’ll try thorington out there again too.
WOW!! I can imagine Gibbs withdrawal was something major. He is in no position to miss camps when he has been vacationing off the face of the earth for the last 18 months. I hope he gets a chance to get back in the discussion. You can never have enough quality defenders at the national team level
Will Bradley call in replacements? Be curious to know who might be pulled in since no one jumps out at me as a clear ommission from the centerbacks in MLS. Maybe Jimmy Conrad is bored and will want to come in for some work…
I’m glad to see Jon Busch in there as a reward for his phenomenal season. However, it is very unlikely any of those GKs will see any time in the WC.
Realistic shots (aka players who need to show Bob Bradley something):
1)Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA)
2)Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
3)Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF)
4)Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)
5)Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
6)Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)
7)Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
8)Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo)
Sacha Kljestan is a definite for me.
While our keepers, CBs, and central MFs are better, it is a less interesting competition because the starter-types (Howard/Guzan, Gooch/Boca, Bradley) are not likely to change, with the possible exception of who gets paired with Bradley (Kljestan v. Torres v. Mastro v. Edu v. ?).
More interesting and more urgent are the flanks and strikers.
At RB, for example, there are a lot of names in the mix. Assuming Cherundolo is the top dog, the candidates for back-up include: Hejduk, Spector, Simek, plus Jan campers Wynne, Franklin, Thorrington, Wingert, or possibly Jewsbury.
Much less to be excited about at LB.
Im bias being a supporter of his team, but I was a bit disappointed not to see Harrington get a look considering the horrible preformances we have had at LB so far with guys like Pearce; but other than that this camp looks solid for letting MLS players get a look/reward for doing will in league.
-players I hope have a good camp
Wynne, Davies, Cooper, Rogers, Franklin and Jewsbury (mainly because he is a Wizard, we are solid at DM and I dont think he has the speed for wing at international level)
-players I hope “fall flat”
Bornstein – all the coaches seem to love him, I just dont see it and I dont like his limitations physically
Gaven- his facial hair bugs me, reminds me of the muppets, and I dont think he is national team good..
Ching- I like him for what he is, but all the old forwards seem to hinder players like Cooper and Davies (who have more upside)from getting time
This group definitely looks like Bradley is trying to survey the talent pool. Aside from the ones that have already gotten MNT call-ups, others from this group that I think would have a GOOD chance of being on the WC roster would include:
1. Chad Marshall
2. Kenny Cooper
Ones that have a LESSER shot at being included on the WC roster, but still possible are:
1. Marvell Wynne
2. Jonathan Bornstein
3. Charlie Davies
4. Chris Rolfe
5. Stuart Holden
6. Ricardo Clark
Kurt, Ives has Gibbs and Goodson both crossed out, so he must know something. I wonder if they are both injured.
I could see only 4 of these players making the world cup roster. Davies, Kleistan, Rodgers and possibly wynne. Maybe perkins if you take 3 keepers but I still think hanneman will be in top form by then.
One of your storylines just got more interesting. USMNT blog is reporting that Gibbs has withdrawn from camp. What’s the scoop?