The new year is still more than a week away, but we will learn quite a bit about the new year for American soccer after a pair of announcements later today.
The U.S. Men's national team will unveil its roster for next month's training camp in Carson, California, a roster of close to 30 players made up mainly of MLS players and Scandinavian-based players. Meanwhile, Major League Soccer will release the schedule of home openers for all 18 teams playing in 2011.
The U.S. camp roster will tell us which MLS players impressed head coach Bob Bradley enough to merit a lengthy look during a three-week training camp that will culminate in the team's Jan. 22nd friendly against Chile. I projected the squad two weeks ago and I can't say I see it being much different. One thing to note is that the upcoming roster may not be as large as the 30-man roster called into camp a year ago.
In MLS, the league will unveil home openers for all teams and it's a safe bet the long-rumored Seattle Sounders-Vancouver Whitecaps season opener in Vancouver (NOT Seattle-Portland in Portland) will be the marquee opener of the bunch. It will be interesting to see who Portland faces in its home opener and when that home opener takes place.
Here are some other notes to get your Monday going:
Beckham wants another loan move
Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham has spent the past two winters on loan to AC Milan and is now saying he would like another winter loan to help him stay fit and in the picture for the English national team.
Beckham won't be going back to Milan, and would only return to the Premier League to play for Manchester United, which will limit his options for a short loan.
Beckham's desire for a loan is a bit surprising considering his loan with Milan last spring ended in him suffering a torn Achilles that forced him to miss the 2010 World Cup and most of the MLS season. The Galaxy aren't exactly in position to deny Beckham's desire for a loan move given the fact Beckham is entering the final year of his MLS contract.
A Beckham loan for the remainder of the European season would also free up considerable salary cap space for the Galaxy, but the club is reportedly still wary of letting the 35-year-old Beckham go on loan again.
Wolverhampton reportedly eyes Findley
U.S. national team striker Robbie Findley is out of contract and seeking European club options and one English club has been identified as a possible destination.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Wolverhampton is eyeing a bid for Findley. The report doesn't offer much in the way of details so it's tough to tell the validity of it, but it would certainly be a surprising move for a striker who has struggled badly for the better part of the last year.
The Portland Timbers will be watching the situation closely after having acquired Findley's rights in last month's MLS Expansion Draft.
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Who are you hoping gets called in for the USMNT camp? Who would you like your team to play its MLS home opener against? Think Beckham should go on loan again, or think he's crazy for still wanting to play for England?
Share your thoughts below.
+1
Don’t like it for the season opener, but love your thoughts around it as home opener
And those “worst mistakes” cost us a place in the quarters and the easiest path to the Cup we’re likely to get for the next 20 years… Fundamental decisions by the manager and we’re left wanting for another 4 years…
I think it will be a good thing for Findley to get some playing time overseas. Maybe it might do him some good, maybe he might end up another Eddie Johnson. Either way it will be good for the USMNT because after this test, they’ll know for sure if he’s worth it or not. Hope he improves.
Ives–
What does that first line in the article mean? It’s not just a typo– it’s a Zen koan.
liked.
that was a good one…male pro
HAHA! nice..
Well, I hope you aren’t too crushed when Grella, Charlie, Gooch, Simek, Torres, Tony Taylor, and Sacha aren’t in camp because they are IN SEASON. Nevermind the fact that Charlie has been busting his butt for 14 months to get back to Sochaux’s first team. This January camp isn’t a new idea. Every year it’s for MLS and Scandinavian guys and only a few will sniff the full senior team. Be happy the US even has this camp.
Here’s to hoping that RF is the next Herculez Gomez!
I wonder if the Galaxy is kind of hoping Beckham goes on loan. It would free up cash for them to sign both Buddle and Ronaldinho and still have Beckham for the stretch run in MLS. It’s not like they didn’t get off to a hot start without him.
i LOL’d
Amen… if he wants to put his salary up as security that he won’t miss MLS then let him go but I doubt England is looking for any 35 yr old players that arent that mobile
OK I spelled his name wrong… he stinks either way
Isn’t it amazing that nobody sees anything in Findlay but BB? I often wonder exactly what Bradley sees? Rehiring him was a major mistake
I was hoping for a DCU vs Chivas opener
No Robbie Findley, No Robbie Rogers, no Kyle Beckerman, no Conor Casey, no Marvell Wynne, No bornstein, no Logan Pause or Brian Carroll and the USMNT be straight.
We need to “TRY” something different and use this opportunity to see how players like Grella, Davis, Gooch, Adu, Simek, Torres, Taylor and Kljestan can play as a team(if their clubs will release them). For a 30 man camp they should be called up if we can get them.
Wondolowski and Convey, leaders in game winning goals and game winning assist respectively, will bring something different to the table, now adding Ream, Bunbury, Agudelo and things should get very interesting, with a good midfield and service that is, hence we need Donovan!!!!.
I don’t know if Seattle at Portland will happen for First Kick. From what I’ve heard PGE Park (or whatever they end up calling it) isn’t going to be ready to host the first week. In fact, the rumor I’ve been hearing was Seattle and Vancouver for First Kick…but we shall soon find out.
(SBI-Yes, Seattle-Vancouver is the rumored match, not Seattle-Portland. That was my mistake. Call it Early-Morning Cascadia Confusion.)
That’s a good point. The derbies will no doubt sell out, so why not open against a team like LA or New York. At least then the TV audience might be a little bigger.
How different things would be for Robbie Findley if he had slotted home that great chance against Ghana.
Why can’t Beckham just go away? He’s annoying.
I am expecting big things for MLS in 2011. It’s going to be an exciting season.
Amy, the team starting out so slowly was a function of Clark being on the field. The early goals by England and Ghna were both his fault. May he never again wear the uniform.
It is time to remind Becks that he is under contract with MLS and his loans are causing him to miss too much of past seasons. His England days are over.
Becks won’t be sold, sadly, due to his marketing/merchandise sales over the next two years. Even though, I recall three to four clubs in England stating publicly they’d like to bring him in.
**These loans that extend past the start of the season simply need to stop. No matter the player.
If Becks truly is seeking one just for “fitness reasons” then hold him to his word. Compromise to a loan agreement (if you must) for 3 months, making him ready for his contractual obligation with the Galaxy.
Bending over backwards for Becks has set terrible precedants across the board. These type of loan spells being at the top of that list.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, staunch supporter of our league but loans that extend past the start of league’s matches make MLS look and become: Mickey Mouse.
(I hate using that term, too)
Wow, you would think Robbie Findley personally assaulted all of your grandmothers. It’s very easy to criticize from behind a keyboard.
(SBI-Some would argue he has emotionally assaulted USA fans with his lack of production.)
I don’t know why anybody would ever pay Findley to run and to use his feet at the same time. I’m a huge Salt Lake supporter and other than a couple month stint 2 or so years ago, the guy is complete rubbish. I would get angry when he would start for our MLS team, he should be a super sub at the most. If Mick wants somebody so fast they’ll get 2 or 3 one on ones each game, Findley’s the man – just hope he knows he’ll never not kick them right at the goalie, or wide, or high, or…
You’re what we call a “realist” Amy. Nothing wrong with that.
Indeed, maka. While we’re offering our “f*** off’s” let’s throw one in there Capello.
You xenophobic pompous a**hole of a manager.
The Wolverhampton Track Team will improve quite a bit.
I think Findley has one primary attribute for Wolves, he is a free transfer that won’t cost a lot. If he works out, great. If he doesn’t, no big loss.
I suspect Findley is better than most of the free transfer forwards available.
Ives, can you explain if Findley could even get a work permit? Same problem that Buddle had.
The “haters” have extremely good reason to loathe Findley in a USNT kit, Jesse. Your opinion of his potential is an entirely different conversation.
Findley has speed but is in dire need of a position change. Hopefully going to Europe and playing with/around other elite players will cause Findley to develop other facets of his game, rather than relying on said speed.
Personally, I think if he puts in the time, he could be a bright prospect at winger. That’s a big if though and completely dependant on numerous variables.
I think its a mistake to open the season with derbies. Opening day is usually a big event anyways. Let the derbies happen about 1/3 to 1/2 way into the season with the return legs towards the end of the season (like RM-Barca).
To all the Findley haters,
How many forwards in the history of the USMNT were thrown into starting roles in the World Cup with so few matches under their belt? Findley is far from a lost cause. It seems to be a popular thing to bag on him.
I for one see a bright future ahead for him, although I think he should stay in MLS for at least another season. He’s still young, and unlike EJ, he has his head on straight and has the attitude to improve and work through hard times.
If Beckham wants to go to Europe, let him, but make it a permanent move. I am sick of his crap!!! Move on and get a real DP who actually wants to focus on playing for the Galaxy.
By the way, if the Three Lions do want him, it shows how bad a job they are doing at developing young talent that a 35 year-old, over the hill, one-footed, whiny a$$ wanker is constantly considered for the team!
Whenever I think of Findley, I always think about an episode of the Simpson’s where Homer is a horse whisperer and whispers to a horse “When the race starts…run REAL fast”. I can’t help but imagine Bob Bradley saying something similar prior to the matches Findley has played for the USMNT.
Eddie Johnson’s in the premier league too. It probably says more about Wolves than it does about Findley.
How about Vancouver opening at home against Toronto for the Great Canadian Clash?
Seriously. I’m no Bob hater but that and the Clark fiasco were his worst mistakes in the Cup. And the team starting out so slowly every single game.
apparently they are scoring too many, and they need somebody to miss the frame once in a while.
f*** off beckham
Portland – Seattle, ESPN2 opener. Make it happen.
Sucks that Seattle would open three seasons though.
Apologies, Ives. I over-looked the “close to” in your first reference. “a roster of close to 30 players made up mainly of MLS players and Scandinavian-based players”
But… That was only one of the ways that joke could have gone. 😉
Seriously though, I really appreciate the work you guys do. This is my go-to site for my soccer news 🙂 I love you guys.
All these months later, I still can’t believe Findley was one of our first-choice “strikers” at the World Cup, let alone that he had to miss a match due to yellow card accumulation. If someone had told you that in late 2009 or early 2010, you would have despaired at our chances of making it out of the group.
1. The upcoming 30-man roster may be smaller than last year’s 30-man roster? There’s a joke in there somewhere, I just don’t know which way to go with it… Bazinga!
2. Findley to EPL? WTF!? I think I just died a bit inside. I guess they’re starting a track team?
3. [sarcasm] I’m sooooo glad Beckham is 100% committed to MLS and the Galaxy. I would hate to see what he’s like if he were uncommitted.[/sarcasm] I wonder if he shows this level of dedication and commitment to Posh as well.
(SBI-Darth, you should read the camp roster item again, I only say 30-man roster once, meaning the roster is likely to have fewer players. Fair points on 2 and 3 though.)
Have you seen them play? Findley’s about par for the course at Wolverhampton.
Dunno, but Mick probably wants Findley to give it back.
Becks needs a fashion capital to be happy. What about PSG, or Monaco?
Wolves don’t like scoring goals, eh?
I laughed at the Daily Mail article when it mentioned Findley caught Mick’s eye. Caught his eye doing what exactly?!
I think it would be pretty cool if I got called in. My back is starting to feel pretty good after a rough month or so. My knees and ankles aren’t too bad right now. I should be over this cold in a few days and could get serious about my training.
Is there a real ‘senior’ US team I could try for?