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USA U23s January camp: A Look Back

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photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

The U.S. Under-23 men's national team has just over a month left before Olympic qualifying takes place, and Caleb Porter's side wrapped up its penultimate camp last week in Costa Rica with a pair of friendlies.

After playing two friendlies against the senior U.S. side in California and missing some of its top players, the U-23 team played to a scoreless draw with the Saprissa reserves before concluding camp with a 1-0 win over Alajuelense's reserves courtesy of a goal from Tony Taylor.

The camp served as the latest chance for players like Freddy Adu, Mikkel Diskerud and Andrew Wenger to convince Porter of their ability to contribute to the Olympic qualifying team. It was also Porter's second camp with the team, and one in which he saw progress made.

Here are highlights from both scrimmages as well as words from Porter and some of his players on the games and the camp:

 

 

 

What do you think of the the U.S. U-23 team's January camp? Who do you see making it to the Olympic qualifying team? Impressed by Taylor's goal?

Share your thoughts below?

Comments

  1. Under 23 teams don’t develop players. Porter is not going to teach these guys how to bend a free kick around the wall.

    He will introduce them to his attacking 4-3-3 and they will hopefully get some understanding of his attacking philosophy which is suppposedly consistent with Klinsmann’s.

    But players do not develop with national teams. There is no time for that. Porter’s job is to take them and assemble them into a winning unit.

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  2. Team chemistry is developed by winning. Losing teams rarely have team chemistry.

    If the overage players can get in a game or two and some practice with the larger group,it’s not as if there is a lot of chemistry to disrupt.

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  3. If they select 3 overage players instead of filling the 3 slots with true u23’s, are they working on development or they just do not want to risk losing?

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  4. Nice tight, close ball control and dribbling in the box by Taylor, followed by a quality finish.

    Eso! Muy bien!

    That’s how to make the little pass to the net! Ole!

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  5. when are people going to realize jose torres is a decent passer who doesn’t tackle well? people act as if he’s xavi. the overage players should be CBs (a position we actually need) and howard.

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  6. the only upside to NOT use over-age players is team chimistry. As to getting the best player available, I don’t think porter will go that route, he will use over-age player(s) to strength his weak positions which I believe is CBs

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  7. psyched for this team and qualifying

    perhaps a CB as an overage player, and would like to see Michael Bradley captain this team…great idea

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  8. While I know that it’s always smart to use every advantage offered (and the overage players are just that) would there be an upside to NOT using overage players?

    Do folks think Porter will figure out where his strengths are in the squad and use the overage to plug holes or will he simply go for the most talented players he can find to fill those spots?

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  9. No replace Bruin and Salgado with Wooten and Bunbury, and Replace Wooten with Agudelo. My bad wasn’t thinking clearly. Agudelo will definitely be on the qualifying team.

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  10. I think in Porter’s speech he hinted that this was the final game for some of the players. I wonder how much of a full team he is going to have for the final camp.

    Taylor’s goal was quality but I’m not sure if he is going to make it, I guess it all depends how Porter feels about Teal’s performance or lack of.

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  11. Some tough choices ahead for the coaches on who to select. Since The U.S will be allowed more players for the qualifying tournament VS. the Olympic Tournament then I am going to go with 21 players for the qualifying tournament.
    GK: Johnson, Hamid
    Defense: Agbossoumonde, Opara, Ibeagha, Fennel, Valentin, S.Williams, Sarkodie
    Middies: Diskerud, Duka, Corona, Jeffrey, Okugo, Lletget
    FWDS/Attackers: Shea, Boyd, Adu, Wooten, Gyau, Taylor.

    Alternates: GK: MacMath, Defense: Wenger, Villafana, Anthony Brooks, Middies: Acuna, Gatt, Kitchen, FWDS: Jann George, McInerney, Salgado, Bruin.

    I am not going to even attempt an Olympic team roster until the U.S. has qualified for the tournament.

    Players that will not be avialable for the qualifying tournament: Morales, D.Williams, Altidore.

    Players that may not be available for the qualifying tournament due to club not allowing them to leave for the tournament: Boyd, Wooten, Corona, Gyau, Taylor, and Diskerud(now that he is with Gent.)

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  12. Originally I thought he would make a good captain for the Olympic team, but we don’t need to use one of the three overage spots on a defensive midfielder when we have Danny Williams backed up by someone competent like Okugo.

    I predict Fabian Johnson for the versatility, plus at least one CB and possibly two (it’s the weakest position by far).

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  13. O/T – Bradley with a nice corner leading to a chance and as I type Pellisier scores putting Chievo up 1-0.

    Wonder if he’ll be considered for an overage spot on the Olympic team?

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