I know that some of the most hardened fans are watching what's going on in the camp...is there a camp? The game is only weeks away and there is nothing on these boards about how training camp is progressing. If I missed a post on who was invited, I'm sorry, but I haven't seen any news on the subject. Any help out there?
I hear camp starts Nov. 5th. Most of the MLS players are training on their own right now or not training at all.
According to information at ussoccer.com "the team will train in the Washington, D.C. area beginning Nov. 11." If that's true, then we've probably got at least another week before any official announcements on who has been invited and the exact location...
Official announcements aside - unofficially 4 Revs invited: Twellman, Brown, Hernandez, Cullen. While Franchino's failure to progress from Pool to Camp may not be a surprise, I am a little surprised that Ralston isn't being looked at. I guess the recent good form of the "bad hair twins" - Cobi and Olsen edged him out.
You might want to check out the US Women's National Team board. They might have more information as to whether your sister would fit into the system that the team employs.
Who is definatly injured? Someone give me an estimation of what the squad should look like......will it be mainly MLS?
buddle - broken foot, will just be getting out of cast here in the next two weeks... pope - i heard he had minor knee surgery...
Hey, I really like Ralston, he's made quite a difference for the Revs. But in the last 1/4 of the season and through the playoffs, he just hasn't been that effective. I don't think he ever was at the level of the healthy Ben Olsen. The real question is whether Olsen will ever be back to his previous level. Watching Olsen against Tottenham and in two of the last few United MLS games I would say he is really close to being a contender for a starting position for the National team again. I guess we'll see in a few weeks if Bruce agrees.
Yeah, that sublime goal in the third game of the semifinals wasn't very effective. When was the last time Ben Olsen did somethig like that? Jmeiss actually makes a good point about their age difference. But a healthy Olsen was never at the level of Steve Ralston at his best.
You are kidding Noah, aren't you? Before he got hurt, Ben was just coming into his own and was turning into one of the most dangerous players in the league, period. He can play every midfield position credibly, defends well, has a nose for the goal, and -- most critically -- has shown a decided ability to continue learning and improving over time. The fact that he lost two years robbed us of something special, but he's already almost back to where he was, and there's some sense that he actually improved his tactical sense during the time off. Ralston's a very good player who could never quite get over the last hurdle to greatness (measuring greatness by an MLS standard). Olsen was there before, and will be again.
not to mention: ralstons energy, olsen energy ralstons defense, olsens defense ralstons past usmnt appearances, olsens past usmnt apprearances olsen please
Olsen is a better player than Ralston. Ralston is a great MLS player, but he isn't an international caliber player.
I for one would rather see Klein and Olsen get time out on the flank than Ralston. In MLS Ralston may outperform them both next year, but with the greater speed and physicalness of the international game I'd prefer the other two. Last cycle is when Ralston should have gotten some minutes and would have been better than some of the guys we ran out, but this time I think BA is going to be looking for speedy, fighting, 2 way wingers like DMB and Olsen to play in a 3-5-2. If that's the case I don't want Ralston there. The question is if there is anything Ralston can do to require a call up. I mean he had a great season again, but I think he just doesn't fit in BA's ideal system.
Ben Olson is a tool. I don't care how good everybody thought he was going to be before he got knifed, he never lived up to the bloated expectations. I don't know that Ralston is my first choice either...personally I'd put them on the same plane of almost-existence. Chris Klein, though, big, tall, stronger than the other two, finishes better than both, stronger on D than both, hard freakin worker...that's the guy we need.
Should have put a winky in!!! I like Ralston and would actually have preferred Ralston and Olsen to Olsen and Klein for this camp!!
So did you guys ever watch Olsen play, like when he was with Nottingham Forest and getting rave reviews from the media and the team? Or are you just making your assumptions from one bad game you saw him play?