I am tired of DC United fans complaining about not having Tino and Bobby not getting a call up for this game. There are many good young players in MLS and not all of them play for DC United. I think the coaches want to evaluate certain players. There is not an intended sleight by the Coach Myernick. I am confident the next U-23 match, you will see some other players. When I hear comments about how Tino is playing better than Johnson, I just get a good laugh. After just a few games people can make judgements about how people are playing. That is just pure hogwash. I would say it takes at least 10 games to make any evaluation. If you are DC fan, don't come on these boards with the pompous attitude that there was some sleight given to your players. They will get some playing time in the near future.
Ughhhh, what the hell are you talking about? I really don't think any of us "pompus" United fans feel sleighted in the least.. As a matter of fact, I'm delighted there staying home to play against Spurs...
Then why is Esky on the roster? Isn't the Spurs game the perfect opportunity to play him in the DC lineup? If you are going to leave out United players, why take him to Mexico?
You don't want to put Martino out on the wing like that. He's pretty lost when out there, at least that's what I have seen in Columbus. Good lineup other then that. It will be very interesting to see Donovan and Buddle team up when Buddle gets back from injury. Especially with Buddle getting extended minutes with the Crew and performing at the level he has performed at so far this year. Not to mention, he might get some senior Nat duty to boot. That's something that makes all the U23 group very exciting. Consider how many of these players will have time with the senior Nats. You have Donovan and Beasley who played in the WC, then Convey, Martino, and Buddle who will all be getting looks this year. Plus throw in the size and speed of the back line players the U23 team has available. If they come together with a purpose this team should really turn heads in qualifing and Athens.
For one thing, Convey and Tino are a known commodity to Myernick whereas Esky still has to win a spot on that squad.. I guess you'd have to ask Mooch himself for the real answer to that question but United has more than enough forwards to play against Tottenham (Quaranta, Stewart, Stoichkov and Curtis) to let Alecko go for one match...
While I'm sure Myernick knows who Quaranta is, he has yet to have him into any of the U23 camps, ever. He may give him a chance later but right now, I'd say Tino is on the outside looking in when it comes to the Olympics.
any one know if there is any chance maybe fsw could pick this up? i know its not important, but could be a good game to watch
Mapp, Test in - Johnson, Martino out Gotta love Mooch callin' up the A-Leaguer! Bet that goes over well with the MLS HQ folks. From US Soccer Wire: MAPP, TESTO ADDED TO U.S. UNDER-23 MNT ROSTER FOR MAY 14 MEXICO FRIENDLY: U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Glenn “Mooch” Myernick added Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire) and David Testo (Richmond Kickers) to his 18-man squad to face Mexico on Wednesday, May 14 in Guadalajara’s Estadio Jalisco at 8 p.m. CT. Testo and Mapp were named to the roster replacing Kyle Martino (Columbus Crew) and Eddie Johnson (Dallas Burn), who were both banged up in their respective MLS matches last weekend. The roster also includes 2002 World Cup stars Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley, who both played a full 90 minutes in the MNT’s 0-0 draw with Mexico on May 8. Next week’s match versus the Mexican U-23s will mark the first time that the two players have appeared with the U.S. Under-23 squad since 2000. Other stars on the roster include 2002 MLS Rookie of the Year Kyle Martino and the 2002 Herman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick in the MLS SuperDraft, Alecko Eskandarian. In all, 14 players on the roster play in MLS, two play in Europe, one plays in the A-League and one is still in college. The U-23s have gathered just once prior in 2003, posting a 1-1-3 record on a two-week trip to Portugal in January. The U.S. Under-23 MNT will begin qualifying for the 2004 Olympics in November, entering the tournament in the second round vs. the winner of the St. Kitts & Neves vs. Dominica first-round home-and-home series. I always thought it was odd that Testo didn't get drafted. I guess Mooch thought so, too.
This may be a silly question, but TV coverage? Even a Mexican broadcast? I would pay for a tape of that game...
really doubt it re the TV coverage - you may want to try Contacto Deportivo at 11 p.m. EST the night of the game on Telefutura, they MAY have some highlights.
In addition, Santino seems extremely comfortable, possibly even better, when he is playing as a wide midfielder. His flexibility combined with his MLS first team experience warrents him getting a look at the under 23 level. His consistency last year was dissappointing but the only reason that I can think of for his exclusion is that there is something that we don't know. I think that Myernick is too good of a coach not to even give Quaranta a look without some kind of legitimate reason. If there was not a good reason, I would be extremely dissappointed. A coach should never cut a player of Santino's talent by speculating that he would not be good enough if called in.
There is something wierd going on here. Maybe Hudson requested Myernick to leave Santino off this roster? No way is Esky better then Q right now, yet look who's chosen..... It seems to me that DC United would have been better served giving Alecko plenty of minutes against Spurs. If Hudson is counting on him to make some kind of impact this season, these are the types of games you need to play him. He must get use to his teammates and learn the system. What good is the Spurs match for Quaranta? More confidence? Better match fitness? Maybe Tino wants to stay home with the kid?
I agree. Those two might break down or get burned out. And one worries about injuries. All the recent games might leave them more susceptible to injury. Also, it's just a friendly, and, even if Beasley and Donovan were not to play, it seems that the team would have plenty of time to develop cohesiveness. Maybe Mooch will play them for only part of the match.
I suspect, but don't know, that Hudson and Myrenick negotiated about which DCU players could go. Convey and Quarenta get more playing time than Eskie, so that's a good deal from Hudson's perspective. If Myrenick is really dissing these two, then that would be ridiculous. Convey is part of the full national team setup, so he is clearly good enough for this squad. Bruce Arena has stated that Quarenta is in his mind, while Johnson is not (not to mention statistics, if you believe in them for forwards), so I would not be happy if Myrenick's judgment is different on that account as well.
The one thing that is truly missing from this age group is a pure RM. I think Adolfo Gregorio could fill this role, but he hurt himself by not coming out a year earlier. Does anyone else see Gregorio as an Olympian?
I just don't see it happening. By staying in school Gregorio really hurt his chances. He needed to get into a professional environment. Now there are players that are probably playing out of position, at right mid, ahead of him on the depth chart because they are more experienced playing at the faster professional level.
For the life of me I can't understand why he stayed in school. It was made pretty clear that if you wanted to be on the Olympic squad you'd have to have professional experience. He's just wasting away at UCLA, IMO. Maybe he's hoping for a European contract and not an MLS one. Maybe he'll pull a Nelson Akwari and leave school after he figures out no top European team wants him. There's something else I don't understand. Why no Akwari on this roster. Isn't he like the captain or something. He played really well at CB against Morelia and has been getting in lots of games with the Cincinnati Riverhawks on loan. One thing is clear, he's not an outside defender, but inside he's got good speed and can distribute well from the few times I've seen him. Maybe with David Stokes turning pro it's pushed him out.
Quaranta will likely leave DCU twice this season with the U20s, where he is a vital cog. They will play in a tournament in Spain and at the U.S. Sports Festival, I think in Houston, against amateur sides, I presume these are college-age players. At his age it may be better to keep the callups to a minimum. If he has done well by the end of the MLS season, I'm sure he will be in the reckoning for a spot on the roster vs. St. Whoever. Re the Spurs-DCU match, it's probably a couple of things. 1) I think the team putting in a good showing against an EPL side is important to the team, and especially to Ray. I doubt they treat it like a friendly. 2) If you haven't noticed, DC United has had a bit of trouble scoring goals this season. Ray may feel the offensive players need to stick around and work things out, and Wednesday provides a good opportunity to do that. Just a guess.