Jan Training Camp: Open Discussion

[pwip]

Let's see if we can start this off.

For those who have been lucky enough to feast on the focal point of the US soccer universe, thanks for the updates.

coming into the first series of friendlies, I would like to request the lucky observers if they can answer some specific questions from this board.

Do you notice any positional changes? Anyone being tried at different spots?

Which group is Freddy playing with? I can't remeber who else is a left footed midfielder?




Note:

Training camp discussion continued from: Jan Training Camp Updates: Week 2 (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287621)

[halfnelson31]

in watching the training videos its amazing how much they communicate with each other while playing. I guess im justified in thinking my soccer coach was teh worst in teh country scolding me for "talking too much"

[vane]

does anyone know wat time they are goin to train today Sun. Jan 15 and if they are going to train tomorrow on Jan 16 and @ wat time ? thank you:)

[Rocket]

According to TrickHog:

My source tells me they're doing double sessions tomorrow (Friday), morning only on Saturday, late afternoon only on Sunday, double sessions on Monday then take Tuesday off.

[Real Mobile]

At the request of multiple members, let's please keep the chit chat at a minimum and stick to discussion of the camp updates.

If you would like to discuss players not in camp do so elsewhere.
Any chance someone could create a condensed version of the previous threads? You know, a greatest hits thread that only includes relevant posts that provide some insight as to what's been happening at Home Depot. I was out of touch for the first week and don't have the time to wade through the dozens of pages of posts when only about 10% provide any "News & Analysis". There is good stuff in there, but sooo much fluff.

Rather than having everyone sort the wheat from the chaff, some fine person could make the world a better place by sifting out only the N&A posts for the rest of us pour souls. Who wants to be a hero? :)

[Scoobs]

Any chance someone could create a condensed version of the previous threads? You know, a greatest hits thread that only includes relevant posts that provide some insight as to what's been happening at Home Depot. I was out of touch for the first week and don't have the time to wade through the dozens of pages of posts when only about 10% provide any "News & Analysis". There is good stuff in there, but sooo much fluff.

Rather than having everyone sort the wheat from the chaff, some fine person could make the world a better place by sifting out only the N&A posts for the rest of us pour souls. Who wants to be a hero? :)

Mastroeni tore a quad muscle and is out 6-8 weeks.

Albright is nursing a bruised knee.

Marshall didn't make it due to injury.

KZ and DeeCee made man Boswell got called in.

Mapp is back but hasn't played yet.

Freddy made several jaw dropping passes thus highlighting
his prodigous skills.

EJ is looking good but rusty. No swelling in the toe but does
suffer from some pain the night after playing which subsides.

Ching has really sucked in the various skills drills. Not sure
if this matter too much as Conor Casey is supposedly
a wunderkind at these things.

Pearce has looked skillful.

Rolfe and Jaqua have stood out in the scrimmages and the
Revs boys have not.

[Real Mobile]

Mastroeni tore a quad muscle and is out 6-8 weeks.

Albright is nursing a bruised knee.

Marshall didn't make it due to injury.

KZ and DeeCee made man Boswell got called in.

Mapp is back but hasn't played yet.

Freddy made several jaw dropping passes thus highlighting
his prodigous skills.

EJ is looking good but rusty. No swelling in the toe but does
suffer from some pain the night after playing which subsides.

Ching has really sucked in the various skills drills. Not sure
if this matter too much as Conor Casey is supposedly
a wunderkind at these things.

Pearce has looked skillful.

Rolfe and Jaqua have stood out in the scrimmages and the
Revs boys have not.
Thanks for the quick summary! :)

I know Freddy can pass and has the vision thing. How's he holding up in other aspects of the game, such as play off the ball, defense, positional play, and physical matchups?

Too bad about Ching. It is good to hear that EJ seems to be coming back.

Is Bozwell getting settled?

[Scoobs]

Thanks for the quick summary! :)

I know Freddy can pass and has the vision thing. How's he holding up in other aspects of the game, such as play off the ball, defense, positional play, and physical matchups?

Too bad about Ching. It is good to hear that EJ seems to be coming back.

Is Bozwell getting settled?

Early on there were comments about Freddy getting dispossessed but I
haven't read any of that lately.

Ching got bad reviews on the skills drills but more positive reviews in the
scrimmages.

I haven't read negative comments about Boswell in terms of his performance
on the field.

I have read early comments about Ugo looking somewhat out of his depth.

[dark knight]

This thread is for open discussion of the camp (ignore my quote post in the first post).

[TrueCrew]

How bad is Albright's knee?

Too bad about Mastro. Too bad for Rico as well as this would have been his chance. Is out midfield decimated or what? Reyna, O'Brien, Mastro, Rico, Armas all out. We're running out of central midfielders.

On the bright side (though not from camp), DMB started today for PSV.

[Scoobs]

The description was basically day-to-day on Albright's knee.

Precipitously high level of carnage in central midfield, but everyone should
be ready to go in June except Armas who I didn't rate.

[WC2010Champs!]

scoobs mentioned that ej is not having any swelling in his toe but is experiencing soreness in the evenings. I am not a doctor - is this a big deal? this normal? what does this mean???

[Scoobs]

scoobs mentioned that ej is not having any swelling in his toe but is experiencing soreness in the evenings. I am not a doctor - is this a big deal? this normal? what does this mean???

EJ mentioned this in an All Access interview. He didn't seem worried. He has just started kicking a ball remember. Personally I have no idea if it's a big deal, though one would think it would be if three weeks from now he still gets sore or the pain more intense.

[Scoobs]

There was also a blurb in one of the camp threads that John O'brien may make a cameo appearance as continues his rehab.

[dcole]

Albright to have exploratory surgery (also posted in "who will be cut" thread):

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=295736&itype=113&iCategoryID=0

[dcole]

There was also a blurb in one of the camp threads that John O'brien may make a cameo appearance as continues his rehab.

Actually, I think he's rehabing in a nearby facility, but is only at the point of "light jogging" according to a quote from him in a local LA rag (posted somewhere in one of the Camp updates threads)

[USA_2014]

Just a quick question - anybody help? Do I understand right, there are 28 players in camp right now, almost all MLS, but BA's final roster of 23 men will be probably half from Europe, so, these 28 players are trying out for only about 11 spots or so, yes? Do the European players try out or no cuz they're so good? Thanks!

[westsidepunk]

Just a quick question - anybody help? Do I understand right, there are 28 players in camp right now, almost all MLS, but BA's final roster of 23 men will be probably half from Europe, so, these 28 players are trying out for only about 11 spots or so, yes? Do the European players try out or no cuz they're so good? Thanks!
All the players in camp are from MLS except for Heath Pierce, who plays in Denmark. These 28 guys are probably trying out for about 4-5 spots on the team, as we could take closer to around 15 euoropean players to the WC, and depending on whom you talk to, there are 3-4 MLS guys who are a lock to go. So really of the 28 players, 24 or 25 of them are trying out for only 5 or so roster spots. The European players are not at this camp because they have commitments to their club teams that are in season. There is no way that they could be released for a training camp right now. Their tryouts are taking place through their club performances.

[Bostonbird]

check out the video on ussoccer.com from yesterday's scrimmage.

blue team beat the red 3-1. hard to tell some of the players because the video was from far but you can hear bruce's comments. on the goals you can hear him say nice goal referring to the players then Clint has a great goal off a sweet cross and all Bruce says is great coaching Mooch. what is the deal with that?

[tbgh]

I just found the video of Sunday's scrimmage and am astounded that no one on here was already discussing it. Someone will have to help me with names because I don't know a lot of these guys on sight.

First of all, these are the people I'm pretty sure of on each team.
Blue: Landon Donovan, Eddie Pope, Rolfe, Clint Dempsey, Heath Pearce, and Hejduk.
Red: Freddy, Chris Klein.

The first half looked very rough. Only one shot on goal in the highlights (by red) and if you look carefully you can see Freddy making some chances not getting finished. There were a couple really wild shots and bad crosses by both teams. Once again, I'm not that great with names so I'll need help. Also Freddy seems to stand around a lot on defense.

The second half was when the offenses settled in. Blue dominated the red defenders and got several great looks in the box. The first shot (by Rolfe I think) came under pressure and was about one ball-length over the crossbar. Donovan drew another foul pressing the defense and on the resulting set piece Pope gets a pass over his shoulder and without setting it knocks it in the far corner with the right foot. Another shot over the crossbar by blue (Rolfe again I think). Then off of another set piece, Pearce hits a beautiful cross that Dempsey picks out of the air with his right foot to the near corner. Rolfe then steals the ball from the D-Mid, runs by him and buries it top shelf. On a set piece by red, Chris Klein takes a short setup pass and drills it in a top corner from over 20 yards.

Now help me with who was on that very bad red defensive line please.