That's obviously the big hope. Going by past results when U17, U20 and U23 -Olympic weren't good and a corresponding lost generation followed it seems a fairly easy assessment that there is a big upswing coming. Is this a golden generation or a new normal? I think with the enormous US population, the maturing of the MLS academies now joined by lower league academies and just a general never-ending interest in soccer in the US since the mid 90's that this is the new normal. I'm just seeing too many players on every team that at a young age are so much better than even five years ago. Players jumping almost immediately from MLS to good teams in top 4 Euro leagues. I will be shocked if the full team isn't playing similarly to the way the U17's,20's and now 23's are playing in a few years.
For anyone who saw these matches (I only saw a putrid first half vs Egypt), would this squad with these players qualify out of CCAF?
We'd probably need a win in the third match. But we might be helped by the fact that the two countries we already played aren't eligible to advance out of CONCACAF.
There are several talented players in this group; Now we have to see if the coach can exploit that talent and get us to qualify directly.
Yes. Egypt was a respectable opponent (better than all but the top couple CONCACAF opponents), and the tactics used in that game were basic to the point of hindering our potential for a positive result. I think the Holland game is more indicative of what this team is capable of, and there is no excuse for an unsuccessful qualification tournament.
The players got unusually late notice for an international and didn't arrive until a couple days ahead of time. And the manager had just been announced. Then he tinkered a lot in the first match, before getting serious in the 2nd with nearly his best xi. He made the adjustment to press. It resulted in a massive improvement to the point they out-played probably one of the better u-23 sides in the world on their side of the pond. So I'd imagine they would emerge out of a weak region while playing at home (presumably). But when it matters more they'd probably allocate the senior u-23 players like McKennie, Adams, and Pulisic to Olympic qualifiers instead. And get more starters for their club teams released. So they wouldn't even need to qualify with that outfit. I think fans should be pretty optimistic about the U.S.' chances coming out of those matches, not only to qualify, but to make a run. On paper we could assemble a very strong squad if it's prioritized, which I think it will this time. Many more games to compile info for the senior squad, and showcases so those players can advance their careers professionally.
Must admit Sabbi was my personal disappointment. I thought he was going to shine. This is the full Egypt-USA game:
I think too much is made over individual performances in these games. These are two friendly games with a group of players who were playing their first U-23 games of this cycle. We already know which players are good and which players aren't. Unless you haven't seen these players play yet, and admittedly one or two I hadn't seen play that much (Lindley, Pos), there isn't a lot you can take from these games.
Watching the effort 4 years ago, I felt that team had talent. But it was inexperienced and young. The tournament format is goofy and the USA blew through the group stage, but that just gets you a knock out game. In that game, a good and older Honduras team was very physical and put the US off and they fell apart mentally a bit. The team that played Holland had quite a few professionals with a season or two under their belt. Anything can happen in a one off tournament, but I doubt any CCAF team outside Mexico could dominate Holland like we did.
Particularly because this is the first camp with a new coach and players are just now figuring out what's expected of them. This is the start of the process. Frankly, the sheer results against Egypt and Holland have no meaning to me.
6,4,18...They look not be messed with. Jones used to be 6'3 He looks to be a tad taller than Parks and Parks is said to be 6'4.
Keaton Parks gave two post-camp interviews that offered insight into the link between the u23s and the senior side: Speaking to ESPN: Speaking to ProSoccer USA:
Odd to see a goalkeeper smaller than his defense but I like the hungry-eyed, all business look of this group.
Makes little difference in the bigger picture. It's a process NOT a one game playoff. The objective is to qualify for the Olympics. Those who get hung up on one meaningless result or one isolated statistic don't see the soccer forest for the trees.
Who said anything about a "result"? I said defining a group based on one match misses the point. Your point being that this group is really poor. Thank you for your opinion.
Looking at the starting lineup from that game. Keeper: Horvath had just barely broken into getting playing in the Norwegian league. He's turned out to be a decent keeper. Okwuonu was never an MLS player and probably won't ever be. Miazga obviously one of the best senior players at his position right now. Was already an MLS veteran. Carter-Vickers was deep down the Spurs youth program. Hasn't really established himself as a pro yet. Serna ironically probably at the pinnacle of his career, fringe MLS players at htis point. Polster solid MLS rookie at the time who has had his career derailed a bit by injury. Trapp was a fringe MLS player at the time and has developed into standout MLS player now looks like he might be a senior XI Hyndman, like Serna was probably at the pinnacle of his career getting a few run outs with Fulham. Has never established himself as a pro. Gil our standout player at the time, like Serna and Hyndman was probably at the peak. Was only an average MLS players at the time though and now is damn near out of soccer. Kiesewetter, another player who might have been at the height of his value. Was playing in the 3rd division but had 2 bundesliga appearance by that point. Never had another. Had one season at the B2 level, but now in the forth tier. Morris, was destroying college soccer at the time of the game, outside of his rookie year has struggle to establish himself as an MLS player. So outside of Miazga, Trapp and maybe Horvath none of these guys made themselves into senior team level players. Average age of the starting lineup was 20.5. (Carter Vickers at 17 is the major difference between Honduras average age and the US) Honduras had two guys that played full seasons in La Liga and La Liga 2 squads. One MLS regular. And 5 guys who played senior team team games in qualifying where Honduras finished above us in the Hex. They also had far and away the best player on of the two groups with Anthony Lozano, if not the two best players with Alberth Elis. Average age of Honduras XI was 20.7. The honest truth here I think is that actually Honduras was a pretty good team. At the very least even to the squad of players we put out there and they played a smart counter attacking style and deservedly won.
Yes, Honduras went the farthest in the Olympics of any CCAF team. That is why the format is so unforgiving. The USA could have been the second best team, not saying they were, but they could have been. But they and Honduras play a one off for the berth. USA wins every other game they are involved in but then have to play Colombia to get in. Unlucky and outclassed. The games were at home, which helped. But poorly marketed as always and poorly attended.