As Bshredder pointed out that this is not the final roster that will go to the tournament if we do qualify.
Exactly. Last time no one really knew anything about Wynne or Benny F until qualies. Also, when we whine/crucify kids/complain when they look at other nat options, especially better/more established/convienent countries lets just think about how Jamaica and T&T are feeling right now. People tend to go with their best possible options. Welcome to the real world. When Robles accepts a call for the GCup this summe remember this also.
One - We got Peri. Two - Remember. Not much was expected of him in TFC. He was playing a bit part and showed some nice potential. No pressure. Wasn't expected to be a big producer or carry anything. Difference between a WC spot and bit player. Also gotta have a set physically and mentally in qualies. He's young. May not have it yet. Let's not treat the kid as if he were Messi. Mistake we make all ot often on these boards. Let him grow into it.
This roster leaves me wondering what Garcia's personal issues have done to his career. He was leaned on quite heavily recently. Was that to help sell him for a pro contract? Did the following "melt down" of his pro situation burn a bridge? Eventhough his pro situation is in a shambles, he still seems like a better bet than Garza or Taylor. I'm not commenting on their individual talent, but Garcia's familiarity with the team and visa versa.
Peri hasn't played an MLS match yet. I agree about taking it easy with him. But with 4 forwards on the roster you can afford to take him without much pressure on him. It would be a great learning experience.
there was a report on italian SKY that the Americans were trying to poach "Italian youth," so I don't expect it to be true, but I wouldn't put it past those sneaky Italians.
Well, if it was for a kid who actually played, and if the other 90% of our info came from somewhere other than his agen...I mean interested local Italian writer...then I would wonder a bit. Never know, but for all the interest in Bernardo he sure as hell doesn' t play much. Oh wait...the Primevera coach doesn't like him and would sacrifice a top quality prospect (and his own career possibly) to screw him. I don't doubt the kid has some skills but just way, way, way to much to wonder about/question here.
While we are digging up dirt on players, does anyone know why four of our Euro based players were dismissed from an earlier camp and sent home?
So the start XI might be: -------------------Lambo-------------- Williams--Agbossoumonde--Davies--Wallace ----------------Jeffrey--------------- ------Shea -------------------Flores---- --------------Arguez------------------ -------Marosevic--------?------------- or -------------------Lambo-------------- Williams--Agbossoumonde--Davies--Wallace ----------------Jeffrey--------------- ------Cruz -------------------Shea ---- --------------Arguez------------------ -------Marosevic--------Flores-------------
If you are referring to the 10/04/08 game, that last time TFC played NYRB, you must mean right before Ibrahim scored. Because he had a goal in that game off a Johann Smith cross. But hey, why get bogged down in details. Getting minutes for TFC and scoring professional goals must clearly be inferior to playing college ball.
Yeah but Bradley didn't get released because he was starting for Heerenveen, Ferrari was largely unknown at the time (before he suddenly got signed for Sampdoria) and Sandbo was inconsequential. So basically, almost the same roster went to qualifying that went to the actual U-20s tournament. Although this year could of course be different.
It could very well be different. This year's tournament is in September. That is over 6 months away. If you know anything about youth soccer, it's that a lot can change for 18-20 year old players over the course of 6-7 months. Club circumstances can change for the better (example: Nazzani, Bernardo, Hoyos start making the bench or playing for the first team of their clubs) or change for the worse in that certain MLS youngsters or college players don't develop following qualifying, etc. I would be shocked if we didn't see at least 4-5 changes between the qualifying roster and the finals roster.
U-20 pros not making the roster: GKs: none DFs: Giuseppe Nazzani MFs: Gregory Garza, Gabriel Hoyos, Derek Markheim, Gerson Mayen, Alfredo Morales FWs: Vincenzo Bernardo, Tristan Bowen, Abdus Ibrahim, Matt Luzunaris, Ellis McLoughlin, Alex Nimo Some, perhaps, were not released by their clubs. Some might be injured. Most just didn't make the cut, I'm sure. I did think more pros would make it, but signing a contract isn't any sort of guarantee for U-20 action. Garza and Ibrahim are certainly ones to watch for 2011 if nothing else. Even though there have been some surprises so far -- no Bernardo, no Balchan, Garcia's self-immolation -- we still have a lot to learn about this cycle. I hope that the current team can gel in T&T and then benefit from the experience by weeding out the guys who can't contribute and by adding injured guys (Opara) or late-breaking developers. Especially because the U-20s are late this year, there's plenty of time for somebody not going to T&T to make their case. But seriously, Flores (12), Wallace (6), Arguez (1), and Shea (2) are the only guys who have played in a first-team game. That's 21 total appearances for the entire team. We'll see, but the truth is that way too much of our current opinions are based on hearsay, hype, tracking U-20 camps, and seeing guys in limited action in youth competitions. Let's hope for the best because as far as we are concerned, this team is an open book.
Zoidberg, I don't understand your comments here. I've watched Ibrahim play for TFC and yeah, he isn't being leaned on as their starter, but he's come along quite nicely. Aren't we always lamenting that certain players are picked over others for physical qualities while technical ability gets overlooked? Ibrahim is 6'0", fast and technically strong. He plays in a pro environment under pro pressure and performs. Of the guys chosen, I can understand Billy Schuler, who I think is a good player, but I find it a little hard to believe that Ibrahim wasn't at least as good as Sam Garza and Tony Taylor. I've never seen the latter two play, so I'm looking forward to being proved wrong, but frankly I'm shocked that Ibrahim was omitted. I'm not treating the kid as if he were Messi, but he has definitely grown enough for this tournament.
whats the deal with matt kassel... i kno duka is good, he scored 9 goals this year for rutgers and both him n kassel were team mates on the same red bulls academy team i hope he joins the team when it counts, if him altidore, n duka played in egypt there wud b three red bulls products on the field at once
Duka is a huge surprise and certainly a questionable choice by TR. If you ever watched a Red Bull game with both Duka and Kassel playing, there is no question who is the more gifted, talented and most importantly, technical player on the field. Duka does not even come close to Kassel's ability. And what about Mike Stevens? He was another guy who did well in the mix for many camps.
Tp be clear I am just playing devils advocate for TR. When I slam people, I slam hard because I have info or have personally seen things I truely believe. I pounded TR after the Fla camp after the Subotic comments which were elementary and idiotic if you watched the whole team play. I like AI. I misjudged him as a youth player. I also was at the RB game you speak of. Nice finish, but he was mostly invisible otherwise, and had a wide open field to work with as RB pushed for the equalizer. Oceans of space for that 15 minutes. A bit different then packed in, rock'em, probably more physical qualies. Unless younger kids have a real edge skill wise, they usuaully can't hang toe to toe with kids a couple of years older, even if they have much more upside. Again, I like AI, and TR is a mixed bag for certian (some very good - some very bad) but I won't question this on a few promising TFC appearances. I just don't know enough about these guys or situations, and don't want to anymore. All I know is that I would take Opara and Peri on the opinions of people I really respect. Ike's out of course. Maybe TR thinks he needs soemone who will pound the box while AI is more of a glider. Don't know. We don't have a media that asks, and no one on the inside here this time it seems, so no one can be certain. Not a slam on AI, not an endorsement of TR, just seems like an issue no one can really be shocked at. Whether AI or Bernardo. Nazz, a guy who TR seemed to like a lot is the one that raised my eye brow. We will see soon enough.
It looks as though TR may have his first roster change forced upon him as Jared Jeffrey was injured in a reserve match v Westerlo. No info on the severity. He did score a goal though. http://www.clubbrugge.be/en/nieuws/bericht/4386/Reserves-beat-Westerlo-with--
In no way am I making Peri out to be a bad player. He scores for the U-20's in boatloads. The Schuler selection is strange. He started 16 games for UNC and scored 4 goals. Casey Townsend started all 26 of Marylands games and scored 11 goals (2nd behind MLS pick Jeremy Hall with 14). Cameron Brown, Michael Stephens, Daniel Kelly, William Koss, Brandyn Bumpas, Genaro Fernandez, and Pablo Cruz are all 89's or younger that have had looks in previous cycles but failed to make this qualifying team. That will be a big blow.
Qualifying callups by the numbers: Most callups (including the qualifying roster): 10 (Flores, Wallace); 9 (Marosevic) Fewest: 3 (Duka, Garza, Schuler, Taylor); 4 (Johnson, Maund) Most-recent first callup: T&T 1/09 (Duka, Taylor); Fla. 1/09 (Garza, Ownby) Most callups NOT called in: 7 (Opara); 6 (Balchan, Valentin) Playing "up" on qualifying roster: Agbossoumonde, Okugo (both 91s) Definitely an interesting roster. A few storylines that jump out: No Mexico-based players have yet been called in this cycle EXCEPT Jose Torres, who is not with a professional club U.S. attempting to "reclaim" Johnson (Jamaica YNT experience) and Maund (T&T) Emergence of several players late in the cycle What next for Agbossoumonde and Williams? Heavy reliance on amateur players For comparison's sake, here is the 2007 qualifying roster: F Adu A Akpan J Altidore B Arguez T Beltran A Igwe Q Kirk B Perk R Rogers O Sarkodie C Seitz J Smith N Sturgis D Szetela J Valentin J Villanueva A Wallace T Ward P Zimmerman S Zizzo
The only player cut from that roster was Villanueva. Smith didn't make the team due to injury. I still think this year it will be different. The fact the tournament is in September/October is significant. That's a long time from now when considering teenage players. A lot can happen and I am sure it will.
Didn't say you were. I just give some leeway to TR here. Whether he is right or wrong only the matches will tell. I just don't think there is a big enough/clear cut case for AI. That's all. I'm definitely on the BS outs with Schuler. I like him. Have always likied him. He was technically sound and tactically aware when I saw him. Of course size was an issue, and speed, but he had brains (I always defer to brains now in the US camp - we have so little). He seems to have grown physically in school and I hadn't seen him for a a few years until the final four...and I liked what I saw. I see him in the Sasha mode. A player we are gonna appreciate more the older he gets. I don't know what kind of ceiling he has, but the kid reads the game, can pass into space, anticipate and has good techinical skills. For me, that puts him ahead of many of his peers here where we (US players) learn those things in their 20's, instead of where they are supposed to - youth level. At least for me I'll give that player the benefit of the doubt over our EJ types.