Tab Ramos believes in giving young players opportunities.
On Friday, he tweeted out the January camp roster for the USMNT U-20’s side, calling this year “new year = new opportunity.”
Although there are some familiar names on the roster that were part of the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 championship, Ramos called up 14 new players to camp that weren’t part of that tournament-winning roster.
Forwards Ayo Akinola, Frankie Amaya, and Griffin Dorsey return along with midfielders Anthony Fontana, Paxton Pomykal, and Brandon Servania. Defenders Jaylin Lindsey, Matthew Real, and Sam Rogers also return from the CONCACAF U-20 championship roster.
The roster is made up of nine players from MLS clubs, eight from Division I college programs and just four players from international clubs.
Here’s the full, 23-man January camp U-20 roster, which runs through January 13th:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Justin Garces (UCLA), Trey Muse III (Indiana University)
DEFENDERS (8): Chris Durkin (DC United), Aboubacar Keita (University of Virginia), Edwin Lara (Club Leon), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union), Sam Rogers (Seattle Sounders), Mark Salas (University of North Carolina), Aristotle Zarris (Wake Forest)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Frankie Amaya (UCLA), Christian Cappis (Hobro IK), Jose Carranza (Louisville City FC), Omir Fernandez (Wake Forest), Anthony Fontana (Philadelphia Union), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (6): Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC), Simon Becher (unattached), Griffin Dorsey (Indiana University), Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas) Nebiyou Perry (FC Koln), Justin Rennicks (Indiana University), Nick Taitague (FC Schalke 04)
It’s a bit perplexing that Tab Ramos has never had a head coaching gig in MLS. He has been on the scene for awhile and proven himself deserving of an opportunity.
Perhaps he likes the international game better. The rumors at least had him being considered for a couple MLS jobs this year, but it would be hard to walk away from on paper his best U20 squad so close to the conclusion of the cycle.
I like Tab’s approach more than GB’s at this point. I wish he was our NAT coach
Internet comment board classic. Beyond simplistic cliche at this point. Classic.
Zoom forward 4 years from now after new coach hired for one mth and one Camp Cupcake.
Boy I wish X was our coach. Much better than what y has done.
Classic.
TK – Nailed it.
Ramos is exactly the type of guy you want in the youth set-up. Why waste him at the senior level?
Before Berhalter was selected and we were speculating about different options, I wasn’t the only person who thought that Ramos would be a better choice than Berhalter. As the U20 coach, in 2013 the US lost to Mexico in OT in a final played at altitude in Mexico. Then, Ramos has won the last two qualifying groups in a row. I think he is the only US coach to have won two consecutive world cup qualifying groups at any level. And he did that with different groups of players. That shows to me that his coaching makes a difference. I think it also makes him more qualified to be a national team coach than Berhalter. So, don’t let the critics get you down.
Remember a year ago when Tab Ramos had only gotten us to the quarterfinals and had just lost Jona Gonzalez to Mexico and he was almost universally loathed and seen as a Klinsmann sycophant. The grass is greener I guess.
A Nick Taitague sighting. Interesting.
Taitague now that is a shocker. I would say that this is bad news for him given that he will not be with the Schalke first team during the winter break and therefore not in their plans for him to move up to the first team this spring.
He’s just coming back from injury and winger is not a position of need for them like a striker. He’s probably not ready physically yet for the Bundesliga either, but then again either was Pulisic when Dortmund brought him up.
and Edwin Lara. glad to see he is in the USA camp.