It's never too early: A look ahead at the 2012 Olympic pool

A good overage player to take too, because considering he didn't make the WC, he's going to be willing to prove himself at any international level. He tore through the last olympics, so I don't see why he wouldn't want to go, unless he's already achieved Pele status by that point. LOL. You have to to hope they qualify, the post-Donovan era isn't really that far away, we have to have suitable up and comers. I don't know, given how ridiculously in shape that guy is.. that might start in 2019.

 

nope freddy is an '89, no need to waste a overage slot on him.

 

The issue with Freddy (and Altidore took, right?) is where his club career will be. Let's not forget that the Olympics occur smack-dab in the middle of pre-season training for Euro clubs. The 08 version also occured at the same time as early rounds of Champions League qualification. If you're gone.....you can become "out of sight, out of mind" for the coach.

For some of our young players trying to get a foothold in Europe, it might behoove them to skip the Olympics. We must remember that to European club football, this tournament is a distraction. Which American player was it that got deep in the doghouse for going in 08? Was it Bradley? I forget. Could have been Adu. The coaching staff at the club changed, and when the player got back, he'd lost a chance at a significant role? I forget which player it was.......

Anyway, as USMNT and USYNT fans......we want to send our strongest possible team to the Olympics. But the players need to make sure it's in their best interests from a career development perspective.

 

Joshua Gatt needs to be considered seriously. He may be one of the best one on one players out there that, for some crazy reason, has been overlooked. They obviously liked him in Europe as he was the only guy to get a contract out of the USFC tour last summer. They must see something in him.

 

I don't think anyone's overlooked him. It's not like any camps have happened or anything. If you're wondering why he isn't in any of our projected rosters, it has a lot to do with this:

MF
Alex Nimo Real Salt Lake
Gerson Mayen Chivas USA
Michael Stephens Los Angeles Galaxy
Danny Cruz Houston Dynamo
Brek Shea FC Dallas
Dilly Duka Columbus Crew
Cesar Zamora Chivas USA
Blair Gavin Chivas USA
Francisco Navas Houston Dynamo
Amobi Okugo Philadelphia Union
Isaac Acuña Sánchez Club America
Freddy Adu Aris Thessaloniki FC
Bryan Arguez G.D. Estoril Praia
Royal-Dominique Fennell Stuttgarter Kickers
Luis Gil Real Salt Lake
Armando Ochoa SCR Altach
Daniel Williams SC Freiburg
Mikkel Diskerud Stabaek
Jared Jeffrey FSV Mainz
Axel Levry Energie Cottbus
Devann Yao Ipswich Town
Josh Gatt SCR Altach
Michael Hoyos Estudiantes de la Plata
Fabrice-Jean Picault Cagliari
Patrick Otte Middlesbrough
Jordan Patrick Cambridge United
Marcel Ramsey FC Schalke 04
Christian Castaneda Hertha Berlin
Sebastian Lletget West Ham United
Will Packwood Birmingham City
Erik Benjaminsen Stabaek
Lester Dewee Marseille
Bryan Dominguez Miami FC
Alex Molano Dinamo Zagreb
George Pantelic Rad
Moises Orozco unattached

This is a very, very deep pool. Frankly, we haven't seen much of Gatt in order to know whether or not he's good enough to beat out some of these guys. There are guys on this list that are at bigger clubs and/or are getting time with their first team. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there weren't any guys on that USFC team that have gotten called into a U-20 camp this cycle, so it's hard to judge how good he is based on that tour. Gatt has a lot better chance of making the U-20 team than the Olympic team, but even that is very deep pool.

If Gatt is as good as you say, he absolutely deserves a shot at making this team or the U-20 team and if he's doing well enough at Altach, Rongen or whoever the Olympic coach is will give him a chance. Remember how early we are in this cycle so there's a lot of time for him to get a look.

 

If he's good as you say Rongen will call him up. He has a good track record for giving guys a chance but Gatt will need to prove himself. Signing with a club in Austria doesn't automatically mean a call up.

 

Accentuated your post.

Then again, Rongen wanted to take a player from Norway's third division. Gatt may yet get a shot.

 

Wasn't he actually playing for the club though? Its one thing to be starting for any club and doing well, its another to sign and only play for the reserves. I don't know anything about Gatt's team but I think they signed him as one for the future, not exactly someone who is gonna come in and play right away, even if it is the Austrian second division.

 

Yeah, Troupe is a starter for his club, which makes the difference. 17 year old starters in lower divisions (like Troupe) tend to be very upwardly mobile; starting at that age often means that they are playing below their level. So if Gatt shows up at Altach and immediately plays, bring him in. If not...well, it would be hard to blame Rongen for overlooking him.

That said, Rongen has looked at an Austrian second division reserve before! (Matt Luzunaris -- he didn't stick around).

 

Well lets hope he proves me wrong. Whats the competition like in Austria? The only thing I know about that country is the Sound of Music a movie most Austrians don't even know about apparently.

 

Are there age rules for olympic soccer? Could someone please quickly explain this? Thanks!

 

1989 and younger (90, 91, 92,). Teams are allowed 3 over age players.

 

Ok thats what I thought, 23u? Right?
And can the 3 overage players be of any age?

 

Yes they can. FIFA wanted to drop it to an U21 tournament for 2012 but it didn't happen. The rules are staying the same.

 

Do we have a idea of who the coach will be? I know Nowak coached the 08 team but considering he is the coach of Philly Union I doubt he will have time. I'm hoping Rongen just because I'd be interested to see who he calls in.

 

They'll probably wait to deal with this until after the WC. We'll more than likely have a new coach of the USMNT, and then they'll deal with the U-23's. Remember that Nowak was Bob's assistant with the USMNT, and as part of that gig he worked with the Olympic team.

 

So if Bob stays, Mike Sorber? Or Jesse Marsch?

And if Bob moves on, perhaps a USSF veteran like Rongen.

 

PLAYER POOL

GOALKEEPERS
Bill Hamid (21) DC United
Samir Badr (19) Porto FC
Cody Cropper (19) Ipswich Town
Sean Johnson (23) Chicago Fire
Brian Perk (22) Philadelphia Union
Josh Lambo (21) Tampa Bay Rowdies
Earl Edwards (20) [UCLA]
Zak MacMath (20) [Maryland]

DEFENDERS:
Ike Opara (23) San Jose Earthquakes
Gale Agbossoumonde (20) Sporting Lisbon
Kyle Davies (23) FC Dallas
Cesar Zamora (21) Chivas USA
Greg Garza (20) Sporting Lisbon
Cristian Flores (20) Monterrey
Greg Eckhardt (23) VPS Vaasa
Fabian Irigoyen (22) Centro Atletico Fenix
Parker Walsh (20) Karlsruher
Daniel Williams (23) SC Freiburg
Sheannon Williams (22) Harrisburg City Islanders
Anthony Wallace (23) FC Dallas
Giuseppe Nazzani (21) ASC Figline
Michael Ambrose (18) FC Dallas
Chad Barson (21)-[Akron]
Bryan De la Fuente (19) Chivas USA
Zach Barnes (20)-[SMU]
Bryan Gallego (19) New York Red Bulls
Moises Hernandez (20) FC Dallas
Ian Hikes-Ike (20) Chivas USA
Perry Kitchen (20) -[Akron]
Emilio Orozco (20)-[Real So Cal]
Tyler Polak (20)-[Creighton]
Kofi Sarkodie (21)-[Akron]
Jared Watts (20)-[Wake Forest]
Eriq Zavaleta (20)-[FC Pride]


MIDFIELDERS
Jared Jeffrey (21) Mainz
Bryan Arguez (23) Estoril Praia
Michael Stephens (23) Los Angeles Galaxy
Gerson Mayen (23) Chivas USA
Danny Cruz (22) Houston Dynamo
Blair Gavin (23) Chivas USA
Jorge Flores (22) Chivas USA
Amobi Okugo (21) Philadelphia Union
Freddy Adu (23) Benfica Lisbon
Mikkel Diskerud (21) Stabaek
Dilly Duka (22) Columbus Crew
Fuad Ibrahim (20) Toronto FC
Luis Gil (18) Real Salt Lake
Hagop Chrishian (22) AC Saint Louis
Will Packwood (19) Birmingham City
Andy Najar (19) DC United*
Sebastian Lletget (19) West Ham United*
Michael Hoyos (20) Estudiantes*
Carlos Martinez (20)-[Wilmington Jr]
Vincenzo Bernardo (22)
Dillon Powers (20)-[Notre Dame]
Ernest Nungaray (20) Monarcas Morelia
Felix Garcia (21)
Ruben Gonzalez (21) Chivas USA
Christian Castenada (19) Hertha Berlin
Erik Benjaminsen (19) Stabaek
Lester Dewee (19) Marseilles
Bryan Dominguez (21) Miami FC
Alex Molano (20) Dinamo Zagreb
Nick Palodichuk (19) Seattle Sounders
George Pantelic (20) Rad
Fabrice Picault (21) Cagliari
Conor Shonosky (20) DC United
Moises Orozco (20)-[Real So Cal]
Roberto Romero (20) Cruz Azul

FORWARDS
Jozy Altidore (22) Villarreal
Tristan Bowen (21) Los Angeles Galaxy
Juan Agudelo (19) New York Red Bulls
Jack McInerney (19) Philadelphia Union
Stefan Jerome (19) Miami FC
Bobby Wood (20) 1860 Munich
Tony Taylor (22) Estoril Praia
Danny Mwanga (20) Philadelphia Union*
Alex Nimo (22) Portland Timbers
Israel Sesay (21) Maryland Monarchs
Andrew Wiedemann (22) FC Dallas
Joseph Gyau (19) Hoffenheim*
Ellis McLoughlin (21) Seattle Sounders
Ryan Finley (21) Randers FC
Francisco Navas (20) Houston Dynamo
Charles Renken (18) Hoffenheim
Julio Cesar Castillo (19) Monterrey
Brek Shea (22) FC Dallas
Ronald Medrano Williams (19) Alajuelense
Adrian Ruelas (21) Santos Laguna
Omar Salgado (18) Chivas Guadalajara

................
with all that said, the main player pool i'd look at bringing. *Noting that i wouldn't bring Jozy.

for overage players, we are weak on defense: i'd look at Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Chad Marshall, Kevin Alston, Jeremy Hall, Edgar Castillo, Geoff Cameron, Marvell Wynne...i'd also look at possibly bringing in Jermaine Jones or Charlie Davies. if an injury happens to one of our key midfielders...i'd look at Kljestan, McCarty, Bedoya, Rogers, Torres, and Pontius.

a figurative 20
GK Hamid, Johnson
[Cropper, Badr, MacMath]

DF Opara, Agbossoumonde, K. Davies, D. Williams, Wallace, Castillo*, Cameron* [Garza, Marshall*, Ream*, Gonzalez*, Alston*]

MF Jeffrey, Adu, Diskerud, Okugo, Gavin, Stephens, Bedoya*
[Arguez, Benjaminsen, Najar, Cruz, Mayen, Lletget, Flores, Kljestan*, Jones*]

FW Taylor, Shea, Mwanga, Bowen
[C. Davies*, McInerney, Agudelo, Finley]

--------------Bowen-------Mwanga---------------
----------------------Adu------------------------
----------Bedoya---------------Mix---------------
--------------------Cameron---------------------
Castillo------------------------------------D. Williams
---------------Opara--------Agbossoumonde-------
----------------------Hamid-----------------------

 

great list, id also add Sebastian Troupe in there for a centerback prospect. He could very well be starting with Boss in the middle during the U-20s as well

 

i've never heard of him...can you give me some info?

 

17 yr old starting in Norweigan 2nd division side thats quite close to promotion. Mix Diskerud told us about him, and Troupe had an interview with YA saying he would indeed play for the nats if called.

 

Note that the Norwegian 2nd division = 3rd level. Apparently he was called into the Netherlands camp, but Bærum wouldn't release him.

 

Is this still going to be U23?

 

Qualifying is U23.

Olympic Games will allow 3 overage players.

For now.

This could all change in the next year.