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U.S. Under-23 training camp update

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  1. Messi’s opportunity to join FC Barcelona at 14 would never occur at 24. Adu’s grab at millions at 17 and not join a solid club will never return at 22. Those are opportunities taken and lost, never to return.

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  2. i said he is going to be a good player for the Nats and his club team. The only thing I hold as “ridiculous” are people that demand that the Angedelo’s and Shea’s of the world be world beaters by the age of 20 or else they are worthless. If the same logic was applied to Clint Dempsey at the same point, you would apprently be underwhelmed too. That seemed to work out rather well for Deuce. Im not some Break Shea fanboy, but i really like the intangibles he brings to the fold.

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  3. Yes, as the author of ‘Outliers’ illustrates, opportunity is often a larger force than ability, however those life changing opportunities almost always come very early in life. So when fans claim their hero is still young, 20, 21, etc, their argument is sometimes masquerading lost opportunities, that will never return, regardless of age. Making the most of early opportunities,is often the determining factor between mediocre and great.

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  4. It’s not always up to the player. A lot of it is up to the player but not everything. They have to be in the right club/country situation not to mention injuries and more importantly life outside of soccer.

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  5. Didn’t know you could see into the future. Gotta love when fans make predictions like they are all knowing. A lot of these guys have great potential Shea included. It’s entirely up to them how far they take their talent. Players continue to learn and evolve over time. Not one player is afinished product at 22, or, 18, or 28. Messi isn’t a finished product, and he has improved his game since bursting onto the scene at 18. Look at Dempsey he has even improved his game since WC 2010. He is a far more dangerous player at 29 then he was at 27.

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  6. Shea has look like a man among boys in almost every U23 scrim/matches and if he cant amount to anything better then he is right now then I don’t really have faith in any player on this team.

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  7. He’s 22.

    When is the next “phase” going to end? When he’s 26? and then what?

    Shea hasn’t really shown a “ridiculous” level when playing against senior internationals so I’m not sure where you’re coming from.

    The most impressive thing about Porter’s squad is their team play, not necessarily the individual players. Only a handful of these kids will move on to the senior squad and out of those an even smaller amount will have successful careers in Europe with mid table clubs.

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  8. Anyone that thinks that Brek Shea isn’t going to be a serious player at club and country level is ridiculous. Kid is going to be a stud. He’s in the next phase where is is learning he cant just run past every defender. Watching the young guys is exciting knowing that the future is going to be beyond bright.

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  9. Bummer that Gatt was recalled to norway. I wonder who the will call in to repalce him. Has to be a defender. Also Boyd, does not get in until the 21st, the day before the 1st game. I assume he won’t start that first game?

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  10. @FulhamPete – I think you’re spot-on in that players are already often snagged by their senior squad by this age (18-23), and they’ re in the midst of qualifying for Brasil. Also, many clubs refuse to release players for the Olympics (at least qualifying), since it’s not an official FIFA event (and they don’t have to). Speculation about over-aged players is all over the page, from Tim Howard (Brad Guzan?) to Carlos Bocanegra to Landon Donovan. Who would you like to see?

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  11. Maybe I’m just wearing my Elton John standard-issue rose lenses…but this team looks pretty damn good. Like world-class good. I don’t like getting my hopes up, but these guys made Mexico U23s look like U18s.

    Is this because elite nations have already pulled their top talent to the senior team, and the don’t want the Neymars to play with the young’uns?

    Also, is there any speculation on who Porter would want with for the over-age spots?

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  12. If any of the Cuban players want to defect, their coaches are probably warning them about a blonde spiky haired monster that lurks outside the hotel.

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  13. You would think that they would be making a decision earlier than later so that everybody has some field time together before the real matches.

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  14. What’s with her random voice inflection…

    “And now it’s back to the practice field where the team makes there FINAL! preparations”

    “the next big date is March 20 when the final roster is announced, followed by MARCH!!!!!!!!! 22 when the US takes on Cuba”

    eh whatever, I’m sure I wouldn’t do any better…and she’s better looking than me. ::hangs head in shame::

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