Do we have an advantage in preparation?

[BenfromUSA]

Half of our squad has the ability to rest up and prepare in NT camps and we get a good chance to look at our domestic talent. And I think the other half of the squad that is playing in europe is a good counter-balance for the domestic players rustiness.... any thoughts on this?

[ty webb]

Agreed.... The Czech coach was quoted regarding how difficult he views the US will be due to the NATS training like a club team. Not many countries have the luxury to bring in the best domestic players for a 2 month camp. This builds current team chemistry and builds for the future.

Other top countries have all of their players in top leagues that play year round, with virtually no open time to train as a team. I think this is great for the present and the future of the NATS, although many of our starters are now playing in year round top leagues.

[VOwithwater]

Half of our squad has the ability to rest up and prepare in NT camps and we get a good chance to look at our domestic talent. And I think the other half of the squad that is playing in europe is a good counter-balance for the domestic players rustiness.... any thoughts on this?

Once you finally pick the WC team how long is about right to train for the WC Tournament with those players.

[G-boot]

Another way I'd like to view our run up to the cup: Americans are known as the premier planners of the world. The Bruce should have comprehensive study of our opponents, so much so, I believe shock will once again underscore victory.

[swedust]

It has been mentioned in several threads that FIFA has attempted to address this concern by demanding that domestic leagues stop at a certain date (don't have it in front of me), with only the Champions League final falling after that date.

So while I agree this camp is helping us (who coudln't after seeing the progress of our domestic-only side), all the teams should be somewhat more even at this cup than in 2002.

That said, let's hope for our sake that Juventus is in the CL final, because that will help wear out Nedved, Camorenesi, Buffon, etc.

[Etienne_72772]

Half of our squad has the ability to rest up and prepare in NT camps and we get a good chance to look at our domestic talent. And I think the other half of the squad that is playing in europe is a good counter-balance for the domestic players rustiness.... any thoughts on this?

I also think that we have an advantage as our domestic players are playing in league games up to the moment they leave for Nats camp in the summer. Not many other leagues are playing at this time, so it has to help our fitness, if nothing else. (Of course, it also increases the likelihood of serious injury...)

[BenfromUSA]

plus a few MLS games to get heated up for our domestic guys will help alot.

We had a mostly MLS squad in 2002.

[Shackleton]

I also think that we have an advantage as our domestic players are playing in league games up to the moment they leave for Nats camp in the summer. Not many other leagues are playing at this time, so it has to help our fitness, if nothing else. (Of course, it also increases the likelihood of serious injury...)

Actually, most Euro leagues are finishing in early-mid May. Right after they finish, the players start preparing for international duty. So, we don't have an advantage in that players from other leagues are out of shape. We may have an advantage because the Euros are worn out at the end of an extremely long season, while our domestic players are in peak mid-season form. As previously noted, this may not be as much of an advantage this WC because there is a longer break between the end of the Euro leagues and the beginning of the WC, so fatigue should not be as much of a problem (excuse?) for the Euros.

[monster]

Twice in his tenure, Bruce Arena has had a solid group of players in a camp leading up to a tournament. The first time, the US won the Gold Cup. The second time, they went to the final 8 of the World Cup.

I think his ability to form a cohesive team over a month-long stretch is one of his best attributes and think this camp is the precurso to an even more successful camp in May. The players seem to buy into it, which makes it even more important.

[Crimson Ace]

Twice in his tenure, Bruce Arena has had a solid group of players in a camp leading up to a tournament. The first time, the US won the Gold Cup. The second time, they went to the final 8 of the World Cup.

I think his ability to form a cohesive team over a month-long stretch is one of his best attributes and think this camp is the precurso to an even more successful camp in May. The players seem to buy into it, which makes it even more important.That was a very well thought-out, lucid response that makes a lot of sense. However, I can't take it seriously because I see your avatar and then proceed to read your statement like Butters! :D

[monster]

That was a very well thought-out, lucid response that makes a lot of sense. However, I can't take it seriously because I see your avatar and then proceed to read your statement like Butters! :D
Ah, hamburgers.

[Caulfield]

The Czech coach was quoted regarding how difficult he views the US will be due to the NATS training like a club team.

And this will be the main excuse used if we beat them. I recall the Portugal coach harped about our preparation time in 02, and Zico had this excuse in his pocket post-game as well.

You can bet that Italy will be crying about our time together as well should they go down.

Might as well go ahead and say it. Any team we beat in the World Cup will have lost not due to being outcoached or outplayed. The loss falls squarely on the shoulders of our team having more time together.

[sidefootsitter]

And this will be the main excuse used if we beat them. I recall the Portugal coach harped about our preparation time in 02, and Zico had this excuse in his pocket post-game as well... Prep/camp time was very short for the Euro based players in 2002. Many blamed that for the poor showing by France, Portugal and some extent Argentina, as several top players were still nursing injuries from their regular club seasons.

That's why FIFA forbid all called-up players to see pitch with their club sides after May, 9 (I believe) with the exception of the CL Final and perhaps the Colaship play-offs.

This time, all teams will have a month long camp.

[Galaxian]

Well a lot of people after 2002 said Korea and us did so good because we had extra time to prepare . I think our squad in 2002 had more MLS players , so we might not have as good of an advantage as we had then , but it is definitely helpful .

[BenfromUSA]

Well a lot of people after 2002 said Korea and us did so good because we had extra time to prepare . I think our squad in 2002 had more MLS players , so we might not have as good of an advantage as we had then , but it is definitely helpful .

yeah thats what I was thinking, but a good balance between rested domestic players and tested euro players may turn out to be beneficial.

[GalaxyOne]

Half of our squad has the ability to rest up and prepare in NT camps and we get a good chance to look at our domestic talent. And I think the other half of the squad that is playing in europe is a good counter-balance for the domestic players rustiness.... any thoughts on this?

Yes, I think it is a huge advantage, and we should exploit it to the greatest extent possible. What that means is the US sticking with the current core of the team right through the World Cup. The current team should be kept together for the vast majority of the time between now and the WC. I'd say the core group would consist of Twellman, Donovan, Dempsey, Dunivant, Hejduk and Pope. The top European guys like Onyewu, Cherundolo, Beasley, Reyna, McBride and Convey could come in be a good complement without distrupting things too much.

[Elninho]

The Euro press sometimes seems to go so far as to exaggerate our camp time. In 2002, some media outlets claimed that the US team had been in camp for three months prior to the World Cup...

Yes, we do have an advantage in preparation, but it doesn't come from time together. (After all, a number of countries that have summer leagues, especially in Scandinavia and East Asia, do exactly the same thing as us in January/February, with an all-domestic training camp.) It comes from the fact that we scout our opponents better than just about anyone else, and are willing to adjust our game plan to exploit opponents' weaknesses. (This is a particular weakness of the big European powers, which often choose to play their traditional styles regardless of the opponent they are facing.

[Caulfield]

It comes from the fact that we scout our opponents better than just about anyone else, and are willing to adjust our game plan to exploit opponents' weaknesses.

Right, but it will be one cold day in hell before any Euro coach or press reporter admits this on record.

[falvo]

UEFA and FIFA have never really seen eye to eye. The UEFA Champions League is in Uefa's eyes far more important and brings in more revenue in their pockets thru TV and sponsors. The top clubs in most European countries are far better than their own national teams. If you look at the Italian national team compared to Juventus or AC Milan, there is no comparison. When you see national teams playing at home they usually play in front of sparse crowds and usually in a town like Cosenza or Perugia who's club teams are in the Serie B or C.
I've said in other threads that the USMNT has half of their core starting players playing regularly with the NATS. They play at least 20 games a year. The Europeans are lucky to play maybe 5-6 national team games a year. Therefore, it is much harder to find continuity. It would seem since before the 1990 World Cup the USMNT actually has been training as a club team would. They a huge advantage of playing like a club team would in Europe. If you look at club teams and leagues year in and year out, you see the changing of at least 4-5 players from year to year. Sometimes you see the changing of 4-5 players throughout the course of the season or even from game to game because of lack of production or injuries. To bring in another 5-6 or 3-4 extra players to an existing club, especially if they are offensive starters in a European league, only enhances the clubs chances of improvement.