Thought it needed its own thread to match U18s http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-20-mnt/2014/01/140103-jan-camp-roster-rel.aspx Roster by Position: GOALKEEPERS (4):Jeff Caldwell (N.C. Fusion; Todd, N.C.), Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zack Steffen (Maryland; Downington, Pa.) DEFENDERS (10):Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Sulaiman Dainkeh (Maryland; Reston, Va.), Conor Donovan (Capital Area RailHawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Trevor Haberkorn (Furman; Roanoke, Texas), Grant Lillard (Chicago Fire Academy; Hinsdale, Ill.), Jalen Markey (North Carolina; Renton, Wash.), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (IMG Academy; Powder Springs, Ga.), John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.) MIDFIELDERS (14):Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake AZ; Escondido, Calif.), Arun Basuljevic (New York Red Bulls; Mahopac, N.Y.), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Luis Felipe (Cruzeiro Esporte Clube; Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais), Ian Harkes (Wake Forest; Fairfax, Va.), Jacori Hayes (Wake Forest; Bowie, Md.), Brian Iloski (UCLA; Escondido, Calif.), Eric Lickert (SC Freiburg; Glotteral, Germany), Saalih Muhammad (Dinamo GNK), Adam Najem (Akron; Clifton, N.J.), Cristian Roldan (Washington; Pico Rivera, Calif.), Herbert Robinson (Club Santos Laguna; Monclova, Coahuila), Joel Sonora (Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina), Omar Thompson (Unattached; Miami, Fla.) FORWARDS (8):Andrew Brody (Louisville; Orlando, Fla.), Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake; San Diego, Calif.), Ricardo Lopez-Espin (Shattuck-St Mary’s; Miami, Fla.), Amando Moreno (NY Red Bulls; Morganville, N.J.), Alex Muyl (Georgetown; New York, N.Y.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Rubio Rubin (Unattached; Beaverton, Ore.), Travis Wannemuehler (NC State; Evansville, Ind.) - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-20-mnt/2014/01/140103-jan-camp-roster-rel.aspx#sthash.pQIhG7CJ.dpuf
Comparing the predicted with actual. No Kellyn Acosta> http://owhentheyanks.com/2014/01/01/camp-update-u20s-convene-in-florida/ OWTY Predicted Roster :: Goalkeepers (4) :: Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls), Zackary Steffen (Maryland), Jeff Caldwell (USSDA North Carolina Fusion & University of Virginia), Evan Louro (USSDA New York Red Bulls & University of Michigan) Defenders (12) :: Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Michael Amick (UCLA), Trevor Haberkorn (Furman University), Suliaman Dainkeh (University of Maryland), Robert Sagel (Temple University), Billy McConnell (Indiana University), Conor Donovan (USSDA Capital Area RailHawks & NC State), Shaquell Moore (USSDA IMG Academy), John Requejo Jr. (USSDA Real So Cal & UCLA), Dylan Greenberg (USSDA Alberston SC & University of Connecticut), Chase Gasper (USSDA Bethesda-Olney & UC-Santa Barbara) Midfielders (12) :: Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake), Arun Basuljevic (USSDA New York Red Bulls & Georgetown University), Jordan Allen (University of Virginia), Christian Roldan (University of Washington), Brian Illoski (UCLA), Andrew Brody (Louisville University), Riggs Lennon (University of Virginia), Andy Lopez (USSDA Sporting Kansas City & UNC), Eric Lickert (SC Frieburg), Ian Harkes (Wake Forest University), Corey Baird (USSDA Real Salt Lake & Stanford University), Chris Lema (USSDA New York Red Bulls & Georgetown University) Forwards (8) :: Amando Moreno (New York Red Bulls),Alex Muyl (Georgetown University), Tommy Thompson (Indiana University), Jose Navarro (Marquette University), Ricardo Lopez-Espin (USSDA Shattuck-St. Mary’s & Creighton University), Caleb Calvert (Chivas USA), Andrija Novakovich (USSDA Chicago Magic PSG & Marquette University), Elochukwu Ozumba (Houston Dynamo & Northwestern University)
I, too, am pleased to see Señor Soñora. Anybody know birth years for Felipe or Roldan? Quick stats: I am at 46 players called in so far -- 32 '95s, 10 '96s (and two unknown). Four GKs, 20 (perhaps more) professionals, and one who was called in last cycle (Acosta).
Interesting roster trends: -No Kellyn Acosta -Jordan Allen as outside back -Getting so many foreign based/dual national in this camp: (6): Luis Felipe (Cruzeiro Esporte Clube; Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais), Eric Lickert (SC Freiburg; Glotteral, Germany), Saalih Muhammad (Dinamo GNK), Herbert Robinson (Club Santos Laguna; Monclova, Coahuila), Joel Sonora (Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina), Omar Thompson (Unattached; Miami, Fla.) -The fact they are all MFs -Really no #9's in this camp. Where is Ben Spencer, Caleb Calvert, Andrija Novakovich -Glaring lack of professional academy Defenders or CBs
Cherry-picking this one -- I once had a coach whose opinions I respect very much tell me his general rule was to hold young attacking players back a bit (to let them express themselves, see themselves succeed and teach themselves techniques that work, and be able to grow into the speed of the adult game) but to push good young defenders as far as they can stand (to train them to make good decisions even faster). At high levels of American soccer -- including, to some degree, the MNT and MLS -- it sometimes seems like we do the opposite, holding back defenders until we are "sure" they are ready, pushing attackers as far and fast as their natural ability takes them and waiting to make position switches until we are absolutely certain they are not panning out as strikers or central midfielders. Of course, this was just one coach and my own observations -- the latter, at least, worth less than the proverbial two cents. I've not done a study of this, of course. And there are some pretty obvious recent exceptions, Yedlin and O'Neill arguably among them. Still, it does seem like a thing that happens pretty frequently.
Haven't seen that many of them play, but this is my attempt at a best 11: GK: Zack Steffen RB: Shaquell Moore CB: Matt Miazga CB: Trevor Haberkorn LB: John Requejo Jr. DM: Marky Delgado DM: Herbert Robinson LM: Amando Moreno RM: Zach Pfeffer AM: Joel Sonora CF: Rubio Rubin Complete guesses on LCB, LB, LM and RM. Those seem to be the weak spots for this cycle.
You're best 11 template should be a 4-3-3. The last two line-ups 4-1 loss to Hellas Verona Primavera 1-Ethan Horvath (12-Santiago Castano, 46); Marco Delgado (2-Shaq Moore, 46), Matt Miazga (14-Mattias Fracchia, 46), Conor Donovan, Kellyn Acosta (13-John Requejo, 46), Lynden Gooch (20-Amando Moreno, 46),, Russell Canouse (Kristian Scott, 46), 10-Romain Gall (24-Junior Flores, 46), 7-Rubio Rubin (18-Omar Thompson, 46), 19-Ben Spencer (9-Benji Lopez, 46), 11-Zach Pfeffer (21-Kainoa Bailey, 46) 4-1 win over Atalanta Primavera USA: 12-Santiago Castano (1-Ethan Horvath, 41); 2-Shaq Moore, 4-Matthew Miazga, 5-Conor Donovan, 15-John Requejo Jr., 8-Lynden Gooch (24-Junior Flores, 30), 6-Marco Delgado (capt.), 10-Romain Gall (16-Kristian Scott, 74), 11-Amando Moreno (21-Kainoa Bailey, 54), 19-Ben Spencer (9-Benji Lopez, 71), 7-Rubio Rubin
My best U20 :: GK: Ethan Horvath RB: Shaquell Moore CB: Matthew Miazga CB: Michael Amick LB: John Requejo Jr. CM: Herbert Robinson CM: Joel Sonora LM: Rubio Rubin RM: Marco Delgado AM: Zach Pfeffer CF: Amando Moreno
Cruzeiro put out a piece on their website about Luis Felipe's call up that included his DOB: 1/29/96 I don't have any info on Roldan either. Saalih Muhammad is a 1995, but anyone have his exact DOB?
Jalen Markey is a Sounders Academy Graduate and been called up to the U-18s and U-16s in previous years I believe. Maybe some other players have ties to Academy teams that aren't listed as well.
Wow, Horvath over Steffen? You probably know better than 99% of us, but I was sure that Steffen was a can't miss prospect that was probably the first name on the team sheet with this group. In your opinion, is Steffen overrated or is Horvath a lot better than he gets credit for?
My go at the best 11 from this camp(hard decisions). GK: Zack Steffen(Horvath) RB: Jordan Allen(Moore) CB: Matt Miazga CB: Amick(Haberkorn) LB: John Requejo Jr. DM: Marky Delgado(Lickert/Hayes) CM: Herbert Robinson(Lipe/Harkes) LM: Rubin(Thompson/Najem) RM: Moreno(Pfeffer/Iloski) AM: Joel Sonora(Roldan/Basuljevic) CF: Lopez(Muyl/Lopez-espin) Although there might be a few snubs(Thompson for one) still a really strong squad. Makes me feel better for the qualifying team next year. Still a really decent team. Still some more players could get a look namely Tommy and Arce Jr. But we'll see. Some euro attackers missing from here who would definitely be in the final squad: Ariyibi, Flores, Gall, Gooch, Spencer, Scott, Bailey and of course Arriola in Mexico.
So Jalen Markey, an MLS academy player. doesn't play a minute for UNC this fall but he gets a call up. That's way too similar to Javan Torre! Also, curious that Travis Wannemuehler , who just happens to go to the coach's alma mater, gets called in as a forward despite not scoring any goals or assists as a freshmen. (Also curious he's listed as a forward while Jordan Allen, who was productive as an attacker, is listed as a defender.)
Interesting to note the influence of the MLS academy teams among the players who aren't pros yet. Of the 13 players still in school who played college soccer this past fall, 9 are from an MLS academy or affiliate. Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.) Andrew Brody (Louisville; Orlando, Fla.) - Salt Lake Sulaiman Dainkeh (Maryland; Reston, Va.) - D.C. Ian Harkes (Wake Forest; Fairfax, Va.) - D.C. Jacori Hayes (Wake Forest; Bowie, Md.) Brian Iloski (UCLA; Escondido, Calif.) - Los Angeles Trevor Haberkorn (Furman; Roanoke, Texas) Jalen Markey (North Carolina; Renton, Wash.) - Seattle Alex Muyl (Georgetown; New York, N.Y.) - New York Adam Najem (Akron; Clifton, N.J.) - New York Cristian Roldan (Washington; Pico Rivera, Calif.) Zack Steffen (Maryland; Downington, PA) - Philadelphia Travis Wannemuehler (NC State; Evansville, Ind.) - Chicago, via affiliate (Plus Jordan Allen, who was at Virginia last fall, just signed a HG deal with Salt Lake.) Of the 8 current HS seniors who got invited to this camp, 3 are from MLS academies. (I put the college program they have reportedly verbally-committed to after their club and hometown.) Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake AZ; Escondido, Calif.) - Stanford Arun Basuljevic (New York Red Bulls; Mahopac, N.Y.) - Georgetown Jeff Caldwell (N.C. Fusion; Todd, N.C.) - Virginia Conor Donovan (Capital Area RailHawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.) - NC State Grant Lillard (Chicago Fire Academy; Hinsdale, Ill.) - Indiana Ricardo Lopez-Espin (Shattuck-St Mary’s; Miami, Fla.) - Creighton Shaquell Moore (IMG Academy; Powder Springs, Ga.) - Likely going pro but doesn't turn 18 till fall. John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.) - UCLA So only 9 amateur players who weren't affiliated with an MLS team got invited. Of the 15 professional players, 7 are from MLS academies and 5 grew-up abroad. MLS pros. Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake; San Diego, Calif.), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Amando Moreno (NY Red Bulls; Morganville, N.J.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Foreign-based pros. Luis Felipe (Cruzeiro Esporte Clube; Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Eric Lickert (SC Freiburg; Glotteral, Germany), Saalih Muhammad (Dinamo GNK), Herbert Robinson (Club Santos Laguna; Monclova, Coahuila), Rubio Rubin (Unattached; Beaverton, Ore.) - has a verbal deal with Utrecht pending his turning 18 Joel Sonora (Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina), Omar Thompson (Unattached; Miami, Fla.) All told, that's a grand total of 12 players who grew up in the US and weren't/aren't affiliated with an MLS team.
OWTY :: Background on Herbert Robinson :: http://owhentheyanks.com/2014/01/04/us-u20s-debutant-herbert-robinson-garcia/