It will be tough to say what the best line up for the U-20s will be since so many people have shown well at different times. Given the past qualifying tournament who do you think is the best group that Sigi can take to Holland. Keep in mind that it is very unlikely that Sigi will bring all these foreigners into camps, if they are as good as some of you say they are he probably would have called them in. I think i heard that there will be two camps and a foreign trip before they get together in May to begin final preparations. How many from the qualifying trip will remain on the roster? My projected line-up will be as such: Goal: Westberg Defense: L Spector CB Ianni CB Phelan R Wynne Midfield: DM Dalby AM Gavin RM Frielhaber LM Adu Forward: Barrett and Peterson
Sigi should probably bring in some players that were in previous camps that are still a possibility for the World CUp Some players that could potentially start in Holland miteve not been in the qualifiers. I'd like to see Brandon Owens, Craig Capano, Spector(obviously), and mayhbe some previous national team players like Mcclung and Purdy. Taking everything in mind, I think the team will be liek this.. Wynne, Spector, Owens, Freeman Feilhaber, Ianni, Gaven, John Peterson, Adu
Hard to say. Depends who step up in the club play. Spector would stay in the center. Freeman is a right back and if he can become a starter for his club team, he may challenge Wynne for that spot. If Szetela can step his game in MLS and win a spot as defensive midfielder, he would take voer Dalby's spot. The left side midfield, Alveraz still have a chance if he can secure a starting spot. So is John. Barrett may secure the starting in forward if he can get good playing time from Fire. Also if J. Johnson decides to join US team, he would start too. (He made his debut today for EPL). We also have two forwards playing in Seria B.
I highly doubt Sigi would pull any guys out of epl or serie b this late in the process unless they make some serious noise overseas. The MLS season will determine a lot because he seemed not too impressed with the professional players during qualifying.
Johnson, Denny, and Spector are in similar situations to Whitbread and Simek last time. Both were invited only Whitbread came. They don't necessarily need the camps because they already get high quality practice at their clubs. If any of those three want to play they will get consideration. Spector is making noise in the EPL and would walk in with no warmup and start for this team. The serie B guys have just become pros and it likely is too late for them.
Robbie Rogers may be in the mix. He is still making noise in Europe:http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/sport/story/0,2789,593558,00.html More articles: http://www.fotbolldirekt.com/IndexNews.cfm?ID=15563 http://www.sportal.nu/nyheder.asp?sportsgren=Fotboll&liga=Allsvenskan&nyheder_id=36866
can't recall their names... go to the ya forum and look at the end of the stickied thread for information
One is Long Island University Sean Rush who signed with Serie B club Treviso. He is 19, 5-10, and a midfielder. He trained with Brazilian club Santos in summers 2003 and 2004. Even though he would join the club at July 21, but this signing open the door for Sigi to check on him. Since Sigi will have to take some college players to WYC finals and had no problem to start a college kid over a Pro kid based on the talent and form, don't exclude him out. Another one is Davide Somma who signed with Serie B club Perugia. He is about 6-0 to 6-2, and a forward. He was born in South Africa but moved to USA with a greed card lottery (Adu and Zotinca both came as winners).
I say Gaven at the tip of the Diamond with Spector behind him. Spector is a cool head, good passer, and good tackler. Play him right in front of the back four. I think thats a good idea.
Just of note it seems the u20's will be getting together again in Feb down in FL to play some MLS teams during their preseason. http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20050126&content_id=21487&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp I wonder if the professional u20's play with their MLS teams or the u20's. These are the confirmed games with a possibility of more when the Metros, Galaxy, Wizards and the Crew finalize the preseason schedule. U.S. Under 20s Feb. 13: vs. DC United Feb. 14: vs. San Jose Earthquakes Feb. 19: vs. Chicago Fire at IMG Academy (Time TBD)
The info is deceiving in some newspaper articles. They state he is an "American". With Italian parents and being born in South Africa and living there until 14 I fired off an e-mail to Joey Bilotta of Educkick. He confirms the mom's green card, and that Davide has "residency", but he is still an italian citizen. No mention of becoming a US citizen-yet. Here is educkick's release. Note "Somma, an Italian citizen that was born and raised in South Africa until the age of 14, now lives in Sarasota, Florida." http://www.edukick.com/news.asp BTW what's going on th Weah Jr.? He had a game with the <20's IIRCC.
One of the poster talked with Davide who told him that he is due a citizenship in Christmas time. The Edukick release is before that, so maybe he can get the paper early this year. For Weah Jr., he may not good enough because he only get one look.
His father is running for President of Liberia, so it wouldn't look good for his son to play for the US. It may pass.