Ben Olsen still in nat pool?

[cisco39]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I wanted the opinion of United fans who see him play most often ..... and probably also see and hear more from the Bruce, given that he lives near there. I've always been a big fan of Olsen, but it seems he's kind of fallen out of the thinking for the nats. I know he's had the injury problems, but it seems he's back to full strength now. My question is: is he still a candidate for qualifying and Germany 06 (if we make it) or are his days as a nat over?

[TCompton]

I think that Benny is still in Arena's vision, but Arena probably wants Ben to get more game fit and to regain some more speed that he has lost since his injuries. He he continues to improve this season, I wouldn't think it too unlikely that he might see some time during the WCQ matches over the next few years. As for the WC, that's a long ways off.

[ursula]

I agree. Ben's still not internationally fit but he's getting there. Olsen doesn't need international games to get used to so Arena isn't calling him in yet. Wait for the winter. Still, at this point, Olsen is no shoe-in.

[sch2383]

3 years ago, if you were projecting the future of the USMNT, you couldn't imagine it without Benny.

Now, if he can get back 90-95% of his speed, I think he is a shoo in for that right mid spot, but it would be a miracle if Ben got that much back.

[JoeW]

I think he's part of the pool. The deal though is this:
--he's not on top of his game (or the kind of player who is indispensible for the USMNT ala McBride or Donovan or Pope or Bocanegra at this stage);
--he knows Arena and Arena knows him. So camp/call-ins aren't necessary for either to acclimatize one to the other.
--there are some other outside mids Arena wants more of a look at (Ralston for instance, Klein, Convey) so better to call them in and give them PT since he's got a comfort level with Olsen.
--Lewis (who Arena likes) has yet to show he can get it done in Concacaf (remember his stinky performance in the first two matches in WCQ in Guatemala and Costa Rica?). So Gold Cup time makes sense for him.
--Stewart is a useful reserve b/c he's a vet who can slot into a half-a-dozen positions.

Given all of those caveats--why call in Olsen? He's not a lock by any means. But Arena knows what he can do and likes him. If he ends up "out" of the side, it's b/c he either got hurt again OR someone else came in and just performed extremely well).