Pre-match: International Friendly: USA vs Costa Rica: February 1st

cant wait to see our guys in action again- out of season, fresh off a 16 hour flight- its gonna be electric!

 

They have a week in between the end of camp and the game....

 

I am planning to attend.

 

Then I guess he'll have to wait.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/usmnt-will...-for-its-january-training-camp-185958977.html

Here’s the full squad:

• Goalkeepers: Sean Johnson, New York City FC; Bill Hamid, D.C. United; JT Marcinkowski, San Jose Earthquakes; Matt Turner, New England Revolution
  
  
• Defenders: : Julian Araujo, LA Galaxy; Reggie Cannon, FC Dallas; Chase Gasper, Minnesota United; Justen Glad, Real Salt Lake; Aaron Long, New York Red Bulls; Mark McKenzie, Philadelphia Union; Sam Vines, Colorado Rapids; Walker Zimmerman (Los Angles FC)
  
  
• Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Philadelphia Union; Christian Cappis, Hobro (Denmark); Bryang Kayo, Unattached; Sebastian Lletget, LA Galaxy; Paxton Pomykal, FC Dallas; Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders; Jackson Yueill, San Jose Earthquakes

• Forwards: Paul Arriola, D.C. United; Jesus Ferreira, FC Dallas; Jonathan Lewis, Colorado Rapids; Ulysses Llanez, Wolfsburg (Germany): Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders; Gyasi Zardes, Columbus Crew

 

Interesting roster for sure. Some missing names makes for a late Christmas present for many here.

 

Interesting add https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryang_Kayo

Surprised we aren't seeing other Scandinavian guys.

This is interesting too:

Can confirm via a team spokesperson that #ATLUTD denied to release Miles Robinson, Brad Guzan and Brooks Lennon for the #USMNT January camp. The team has preseason opening very soon and CCL in mid-February.

— Rob Usry (@RobUsry) December 30, 2019

 

It is an interesting roster. Some thoughts:

--It's not a huge deal for me, but I'd rather see Jesse Gonzalez than Johnson or Hamid. I don't really think any of them have a good chance of playing a big role for the USMNT, but if they're all equally mediocre, I'd go with the guy several years younger.

--Does the inclusion of Cannon and Long mean they're unlikely to be making a move to Europe this window?

--It's weird that Cappis is here, but not Sabbi. Does this mean Sabbi is on the move to a league that's still playing, or is he just not rated?

--I'm happy to see Llanez in camp, but this likely means he's not in Wolfsburg's 1st team plans for this season, if he wasn't brought into the 1st team training over winter break.

--Is there not going to be a separate U-23 camp? It seems like this is a half-and-half roster with some guys having legit shots at the full national team and other more realistic candidates for the U-23s.

 

Feelings are mixed about that roster.

Negatives: 1. Where's Lima? On the move already?, 2. Hollingshead is a glaring omission. Way better than Vines. I guess he's a u23 but still, 3. c-blocking Canouse, that's over-dedication to Gregg's suspect system, 4. even if Toye and Mueller are borderline on qualification gotta take shot on talent, 5. Sapong and Opara would have provided vet leadership and could back door usefulness, 6. Ebobisse would potentially help both teams, 7. Corona deserved another shot, 8. was Amon and Parks available?, 9. Don't get fascination w/ McKenzie (really weak back line, especially if Long and/or Cannon leaves mid-camp)

Positives: 1. ingratiating Araujo and banking on talent, 2. kicking tires on Llanez, 3. no Lovitz or a bunch of unsavories, 4. Cappis compared to MLS contemporaries, 5. working Ferreira in quick, 6. Gaspar is worth a shot at lb, 7. Aaronson and Pomykal have starter potential as a-mids, 8. Turner should get both games in net imo to see if he's maybe better than Steffen or Horvath

 

That's the first time I can recall releases being denied from an MLS team for January camp. Atlanta has been good for the league but bad for the USNT. Robinson was one of the key integrations.

 

Assuming Miles Robinson is injured still?

Edit nevermind.

 

I thought I remember this happening last year too? Or maybe some clubs were just making noise about having to give up their players while trying to prep for CCL?

 

That may be but I'm happy missing out on Robinson for now if it avoids guzan and Lennon.

 

FC Dallas did it a couple years ago for the same reason Atlanta is. I'm OK with it because those players will be playing some high profile games with their club teams. Still plenty of time to bring them in later and by not being there some others get a chance to be seen.

 

Any word on if Trapp is injured or dropped?

 

I'm hesitant to fully buy into this myself, but I think he could be dropped at this point. It was clear by the fall that Berhalter had him behind Bradley and Yueill on the DM depth chart. Now it seems as if he's curious to see if Cappis can be a younger option for that role.

 

You're probably right but this gives all the new callups a chance to knock off someone ahead of them. Can Pomykal knock out Roldan? If given an opportunity at the same spot maybe although he and Aaronsone may fight it out with Lletget for the more attacking mid spot while Cappis may fight for the 8/10 spot and the 6/8 spot. Midfield free for all!

 

I'm fine with Canada. I wonder if any Asians will be here, like China, Korea, Japan? In the past I think they were around. One of my favorite games was @ Chile under Klinsi. I don't suppose we'd travel. It's nice down there that time of year.

 

I highly doubt that Canada will play the US. The Canada camp is from January 4th to January 16th 2020.
http://canadasoccer.com/?t=project&sid=1320
The USA will still be in Qatar.

 

I'm happy to know that the absence of Robinson wasn't Berhalter's decision.

 

doesnt cananda have to hide from friendlies to keep their miniscule chances at the hex alive?