By VINCE MADURI
MLS teams began training camp Monday and several notable non-roster invitees began trying to impress their new teams and earn a contract. Among the more notable names were former New England Revolution midfielder Blair Gavin, RSL forward Paulo Jr., Colorado Rapids midfielder Jamie Smith and FC Dallas forward Ruben Luna.
Blair Gavin is trying to break into the Seattle Sounders crowded midfield. Gavin played two and a half seasons with Chivas USA scoring three goals before being traded to New England for Shalrie Joseph. The Revs declined his option and the former US U-20 player became a free agent after not being selected in either Re-Entry Draft stage.
The Seattle midfield is pretty deep, so it may prove to be a difficult task for Gavin to make this team, but if he does impress, at only 24 years of age he can still develop into at least a solid rotational player.
Paulo Jr. scored four goals for Real Salt Lake before being released at the end of last year. Vancouver selected Paulo Jr. in stage two of the Re-Entry Draft looking for an offensive spark.
The Whitecaps have also brought in Corey Hertzog, formerly of the New York Red Bulls, for a trial. The 22 year old forward never scored a goal for New York in five appearances but scored nine goals in 17 appearances for the Wilmington Hammerheads last year on loan.
Both forwards looked like they had a very good shot at making the Whitecaps’ roster before Vancouver selected forwards with their first two selections of the SuperDraft. Still though, with Kekuta Menneh most likely being a bit more of a project than an immediate impact player, the draftees may not have too much of an impact on Paulo Jr. and Hertzog.
In the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Rapids had declined the option of Jamie Smith following the season but have decided to invite the midfielder back as a non-roster invitee for training camp. Smith will have the opportunity to earn back his spot on the roster alongside former FC Dallas forward Ruben Luna who has turned up following his release at the end of last season. Luna scored two goals over 26 appearances for The Hoops but is also only 20 years old.
Here is a rundown of some of the trialists taking part in MLS training camps around the league:
Non-Roster Invitees By Team
COLORADO RAPIDS
Jamie Smith – Midfielder
Ruben Luna – Forward
Luke Vercollone – Defender/Midfielder
Joel Helmich – Goalkeeper
Jim Mauer – Goalkeeper
Clint Irwin – Goalkeeper
DC UNITED
Kyle Altman – Defender
Neven Markovic – Defender
Joseph Nane – Midfielder
Demitrius Omphroy – Defender/Midfielder
Diego Restrepo – Goalkeeper
Ryan Richter – Midfielder/Forward
Matt VanOekel – Goalkeeper
MONTREAL IMPACT
Ilcu Mircea – Forward
Nick Zimmerman – Forward
Zakaria Messoudi – Midfielder
Wadrille Lefevre – Midfielder
Maxim Tissot – Defender
Maxime Crepeau – Goalkeeper
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Travis Bowen – Forward
Jose Cuevas – Forward
David Opoku – Forward
Manuel Asprilla – Midfielder
Philip Lund – Midfielder
Guy Essame – Midfielder
Jonas Rasmussen – Midfielder
Ross LaBauex – Midfielder
Marvin Angulo – Midfielder
Blair Gavin – Midfielder
Justin Davis – Defender
Cody Ellison – Defender
Isaish Schafer – Defender
Doug Herrick – Goalkeeper
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Paulo Jr. – Forward
Corey Hertzog – Forward
Tom Heinemann – Forward
Ben Fisk – Midfielder/Forward
Crispin Olando – Midfielder
Dever Orgill – Forward
Jacob Lensky – Midfielder
Sean Melvin – Goalkeeper