Landon tells an Everton interviewer that he would like to play in the olympics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IcATdnHZmvA The video is very long, and he talks olympics toward the end.
I was going to comment but I don't like putting the horse before the cart. Let's qualify first then we'll chat.
I think that the USA should take the three best Americans. I would advocate for us taking Donovan, Dempsey and Howard. I realize that the overage spots are usually used to fill team needs or to add a guy to the roster that might be a year or two to old for the olympics, but if you are trying to win, why would you not bring your best possible squad? Maybe Bocanegra or Gooch instead of one of the three I named, but my point is that you should try to bring your best players.
I agree that you should try to win. In our case, that would entail bringing CBs, as we don't have any decent U23 CBs (as of now).
If Donovan wants to go, I say let him. Same goes for Dempsey. Those guys may never win anything but a Gold Cup trophy at this point and medaling in the Olympics can only help increase visibility for the sport.
Indeed a couple guile defenders would be nice indeed. But not Gooch or Howard. We have decent GK's to develop. We'd need a defender/defensive minded player but with a different skill set and range. Edu perhaps, Parkhurst, Omar, Ream, etc...It says here Gooch is playing on past rep to some degree. A brute, athletic physical defender, we produce plenty. I'd rather a few youngest get time rather than Goocg.
I like Donovan and either Dempsey or Holden (If healthy), but I really agree with you that one of our overage players should be a Central Defender. If he is fit, I would go with Zak Whitbread, given his experience in England. I wouldn't mind Gooch, or Gonzalez if he's fit. I think the US does have talent on the U-23 Central Defense, but it's awfully green and needs leadership and a steadying influence. Dredgfan is also right that I would rather the US develop a young keeper instead of playing Howard or Guzan.
I like the idea of taking players closer to the age range of the U-23's, but I think that you take Donovan. As of today I'd take Donovan, Omar Gonzalez, and Bradley.
Doesn't Omar have a torn ACL? He'd be just starting to regain fitness, in a best case scenario. The Olympics is what, over two weeks? Too much too soon, I think. Look at how long it took gooch to get even close to his old level. Theres other CB's that aren't coming off an injury like that.
Gonzo won't be healthy in time. Since we're not really deep at the back I'd take a CB that's on the periphery of the senior side like John, Goodson or Cameron. I'd be alright with Boca or Gooch (if he's healthy). I don't want to mess with our central midfield, defensive midfield or wingers. We have enough young talent that we should be OK in that area, and selfishly I want to see them play. So contreversial but I'd take an overage striker like Wondo, or maybe another defender. Then with the last spot I'd prefer Demspey over Donovan. Not because I like or rate Dempsey over Donovan, I like both players. Dempsey should get the call to lead the side because it's happening in his city. I think it would mean a lot to him. I'd make him captain as well. From a P.R. standpoint he'd offer good exposure with people who don't typically watch soccer. Someone NBC can focus on for that particular event. "Here's US captain Clint Dempsey arguably the best American footballer right now. He plays for a London-based club Fulham where the Olympics are being held." Yadda Yadda Yadda.... It writes itself.
U23 players who have been in the full national team picture already and likely still are. GK: Hamid, Johnson RB: Chandler, (Morales -- uncapped) CB: LB: (Is Wallace still injured or is he just not in the picture anymore?) RM: CM: Williams LM: Shea AM: Adu, Diskerud FW: Altidore, Agudelo, Bunbury Am I missing anyone? Based only on that, our biggest holes right now are at both CB positions, LB (Chandler could fill in there), RM (it's very possible that a U-20er like Gyau or Gatt will emerge as a decent enough option there), and CM (Mix might be able to play here). The upcoming friendly will hopefully help us to fill in a couple holes there, but it looks likely that we're going to need at least one overage CB. After that, it's still possible that Donovan could help us to fill a hole in there, especially at RM. Also of note: last time around we filled two of our overage spots with players that were close enough in age to the cut-off to fit in with the rest of the squad. The following is a list of capped USMNT players who will still be 24 or under at the time of the Olympics: Jose Torres, Tim Ream, Fabian Johnson, Eric Lichaj, Michael Bradley, Eric Alexander, AJ DeLaGarza.
Ream and Cameron should be #1 and #2, given how truly weak our U23 CBs are. If Donovan wants to play, then you have to take him as the 3d overage guy. Otherwise, I'd try someone like Feilhaber, Larentowicz or Bedoya. A good US B-teamer who can help the A-team in the 2014 cycle, but isn't crucial for the 2012 World Cup qualifiers.
The Olympics are being held in London, but the soccer event is being held in Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle, Glasgow, London and Coventry. No team is guaranteed to play in London until they reach the final.
Then you should bring Gooch and Bocanegra. I have seen people that believe we should bring guys like Ream, Cameron, Whitbread, etc. just because they are a year or two over the age limit. "You Play to win the game".
Let's remember that we also have qualifying for the senior nats to worry about. I don't want to compromise our ability to do work over the olympics. It would be nice to do well, but the World Cup is still the priority for me. I for one don't want any core players to sustain an injury that is going to ruin the cycle during the Olympics.
I havent seen any mention of Ream as an overage CB. If he continues to get pt at Bolton, and plays well, then he should be considered. He hasnt had much international experience, and the Olympics would be a great chance to prepare him for the full side, especially since he may be one of the favorites moving forward.
I think that playing to win the Olympics and playing with an eye towards the development of the full USMNT are not mutually exclusive. I absolutely want this team to do well in London - it's great to succeed in ANY tournament and it would again help to draw more fans to the team. In general, LD is always going to help us win at any level. But here, I think that the upgrade he offers over other options (likely Gyau, Gatt, etc) is less than the upgrade that senior CBs would provide over what looks like an anemic pool of possibilities in the U-23 ranks. Also, I think that for guys where a prolific career with the full nats is possible, the Olympics serves as a good high-pressure tourney to get a full look at them. If Gyau/Gatt are to have a future with the nats, we have to look at them sometime, and this is a good opportunity to do it (rather than leaving them to play spot minutes by bringing LD and Dempsey.
Good points striker. Now the questions looms.... Who do you take at CB? Omar(out). Ream(Bolton-might not be released) Cameron(good choice) Edu and/or Bocanegra( Rangers-see Bolton) Anybody else?
I'd imagine Landon WOULD want to go to the Olypmics. He had that chance taken from him in 2004 unfortunately, by Mexico, if I rememeber correctly. On the other hand, we have Clint Dempsey, who is based in London and could definitely garner some support from the locals attending the games, assuming the USA doesn't end up in a game against England. An option MIGHT be to just bring both. Donovan gets support from the Americans who barely pay attention to soccer, and only know him simply because he is who he is. Most people are aware of his goal against Algeria. Dempsey gets attention from more learned followers of the game who have seen him play in England. Throw in Freddy Adu and you've got a lot more attention drawn to the U.S. Plus, there's a leftover spot to bring in a centerback like Goodson as an overage player The only issue with that is that those two kind of usurp attention from the young players that are supposed to be coming through the ranks. The Olympics is the stage where these young-ins are supposed to get their reputation and get boosted to higher levels. It's rough. We're likely to bring at LEAST one of them considering that neither of them have been and they likely won't ever get another chance to do so. I think we could do well with either one. Of course, Dempsey hasn't even said anything about going. For all we know, he could see the Olympics being held in his city as a great chance for him to just kick back and watch his country play. Speculation of course, but not far-fetched.
With a guy like Ream, you can strike a deal with Bolton. You promise Bolton to not call Ream for the June and September Qualifiers, if they will release him for the Olympics. If they refuse to release for the Olympics, then you call him for the Qualies, and they must release him. You can do that kind of dealing for the 2nd tier USMNT players. You can't do that with Dempsey and Donovan, since those guys are must-have players for qualifiers. Since the clubs are not required to release overage players, Klinsi and Porter will have to negociate releases that maximize both the Olympic squad and the WC Qualifier squads. It's all interconnected.
Clubs don't have to release any overage players for the Olympics. You are going to have to convince Rangers and Sporting to allow them to play... in other words you are going to have to deal/negociate with them, offering the clubs something useful in return.
http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/index.html Olympic Soccer is July 26 – August 11 The Mexico friendly at Azteca is 8/15 That being said I hope we qualify first.