DCU Trio (And a Kicker) Called into Camp

Congratulations to Alecko -- he earned his place last season. I hope he sticks when it gets to the final 18.

 

I guess it all depends on what shape they're in, but good luck to them all.

Frankly, I think Nikky is great and all, but I'd really like someone more stable in the nets for the USA.

When it said "Kicker" I thought maybe they invited that guy from the JETS
(wouldn't be the first time a Jets reject kicker was in a US camp)

 

Probably not completely on topic, but good for the guy from Richmond to play well enough originally to stay invited. Talk about a dream come true.

 

Well, he may just owe Kenny Arena money on a bet, so Bruce is helping him make some

Seriously, I meant to say earlier that I was very glad Ben was invited to this camp. Bruce knows he'll go all out for him in the middle, I just hope Bruce thinks he has enough still at this level. Esky will get more chances for sure, but this might be Ben's last on this stage (this set of quallies I mean, not just T&T)

 

Eskandarian is the dark horse here. We may see him running onto the field, 2nd half vs. t&t.

 

Without looking at the list yet, but assuming the regulars from both MLS and abroad. I say Eski is the only one that has a chance.

As much as I love watching Nicky play and as good as I think he is, I don't see him as a serious consideration for anything but a friendly right now. I think it's a "You've done good at the club level, so come to camp and see what I expect of you to come play a game for me" type call up.

As for Ben, we all love him and believe he is the heart and soul of DCU, but I think this is more of loyalty thing between him and Bruce. I don't see him as filling any holes like he used to before his ankles went out. It's a shame since he was becoming such a bright star on both the club and country level, but I think those years off really hurt him. I think he'll play more friendlies than Nicky, but I don't see him in a WCQ or the WC unless something big happens.

That said, if either of them are going to make it to a WCQ team, I think T&T is the best bet (though I would go with the home leg over the away).

-dave

 

That's great news, the bad news is....The match is now scheduled for 2:30, so......Won't be able to see the boys play unless I ditch work. And I have been doing an awful lot of that lately.
But anyhow, good for Esky and Ben, Rimando probably won't see anytime but it's nice to have him called.

 

Esky has almost no chance to make the final roster. McBride, Johnson, and Wolff are all ahead of him, and if there's a fourth forward it will probably be Ching or Casey. And, you have Donovan and Mathis who can play up top. I would give Olsen a better chance than Esky.

 

Perhaps...
28 in camp, only 18 plus some alternates go...and this doesn't include Euro-based guys. So only about 6-10 of these guys will be going ultimately.

I sort of agree scary, except that Esky out-performed ALL those forwards last fall, except maybe EJ. Plus the game at T&T, looks like a good opportunity for a confident, selfish, scoring type like Esky.

 

This is key - the camp doesn't include the Euro-based guys.

I think this is a good way for BA to assess which guys are good shape and to supplement the EU guys where needed.

 

Yeah, I think the Benny call-up means that Arena really liked his progress as a central midfielder as last season wound down.

 

Maybe Ben has inherited Ritchie Williams' old role. The tough as nails midfielder that the team has to go up against in practice.

And really, just how deep is the USNT in DM's? Zavignan. has played well recently there; Pablo floats between here and defense; Armas is still servicable, but has seen better days; sadly, O'Brien always seems hurt, and Reyna is following his lead. Until some of the young 20 somethings, and teenages mature, Ben ,might be a decent solution.

 

What does Namoff have to do to earn a call up? Does Bruce hate him or something?

I mean seriously, Chris Albright and Ritchie Kotshau? Is this some kind of cruel joke?

 

I think fitness will play a big part in who makes the roster for the actual game. If Ben isn't done getting nasty, he might not be in shape to play a qualifier.

 

The labor issue really hurt Namoff above all. That winter camps was his chance to shine, now Bruce has to go with those he knows (Esky has one cap and Rimando has been in camps). If Namoff keeps his level of play up, there is no way he isn't called in.

 

Esky had arguably the best MLS season of all of these forwards, but for my money I'm putting Eddie Johnson into the game based on his absolutely ridiculous scoring rate for the USMNT.

 

I've thought that Namoff should have started when Hudson was in town, and think that he could still play a bigger role with DC United (more offense,) but he's what? 25? Turning 26 this year? He may end up being a very good MLSer that doesn't get much chance in the International stage.

I think he needs a shot at D-mid, but he won't get it in DC because we need outside backs. It's not Namoff's best role, but he does it well. But it also hurts his chance for a callup.

 

So if you had to pick 3 United players to call into camp, who would it be?

I hate to say this, but. Benny is the heart and soul of our team right now. He has to be Captain next season. (that wasn't the part I hate to say). (This is) I would bring in Esky, Namoff and Gros. Esky will eventually be a either pretty good Nat, or Taylor Twellman. Namoff has earned it, nuff said. Gros will be a future role-player for the National Team, I truly believe this. Gros will be what Benny would have been if it weren't for the injury.

Nicky is great for us, but just not cut out as a GK on the International stage. Especially with so many good American keepers.

 

IMO, Namoff is a casualty of the 3-5-2. It seems to me that Bruce wants a midfielder at the wingback position so that he can overload the flanks. Namoff hasn't been able to run up and down the wings getting off crosses because of his defensive responsibilities in Nowak's system so Bruce hasn't really seen much offense from Bryan. If he ever gets a call and has a regular run in the team I'm more than confident he'd be the 1st choice right back for a long time to come.

 

wingback is a midfield position. do you mean fullback?

 

Give me a break Wolff sucks.

The man hardly strikes terror into anyone these days, and you can't blame "Bunker" Gansler for that either.

 

As I understand it, wingback is a flank defender that gets forward from his defensive position. What we Americans refer to as a fullback is a defender in a flat back four. I used to play as a wingback in a 4-4-2 and my job was to get forward on offense. Now that we play a 3-5-2, I have to stay at home as a marking back. I also played as a "fullback" in a more defensive shell/counterattacking scheme.

Why do we call defenders and midfielders full and half back? Are we still peering through the prism of American football?