Ben Olsen and Nick Rimando have been called into Bruce Arena's 23-man camp for the US vs. El Salvador friendly. The camp begins on November 10th and the game is at RFK on November 17th. Every MLS team is represented (New England and Columbus have the most with four each). Only Landon Donovan (28 caps), Clint Mathis (25), Ben Olsen (19), DeMarcus Beasley (15), and Pablo Mastroeni (13) have more than 6 caps. Donovan, Mathis, Beasley, and Mastroeni are the only four who were on the World Cup roster. 11 have zero caps, while three more have 1, and one has 2. http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=23628&itype=
The only thing I find disturbing about this roster is that I'm older than every single player on it. That should be a great battle for the starting position between Rimando, Brown and Howard.
First of all, I love Bruce's system. It's a four year process, so start off seeing as many players as possible. And more importantly (and more on topic) it's good to see those guys called into camp. Rimando will have a tough fight down the road with all the solid young US keepers (not to mention Keller and Friedel), but Ben really needs to get back into the swing of USMNT things. I still think he'll end up being a consistant starter for us.
Thanks for the link Mark. If I gotta sit thru flyin' crap again, all I ask is that the boys light up the scoreboard.......early and often. wouldn't mind seeing Nicky between the pipes.
At the charity golf tournament Mark Simpson was saying Nicky was worth a look for the Nats. I'm glad to see him get the chance.
get used to it dude. it will get worse and worse until you start looking around and the coaches are younger than you...
Crazy, isn't it? He played in the last four WCQs (three starts) and started every game of the Gold Cup and World Cup, so that's 14 right there. The last "competitive" game he didn't play in was the game in Azteca (and only in Saprissa, the second in that 14-game span of "competitive" games, did he come off the bench)!
Actually, I think he's played in every match the USA has had this year. That's 19 right there. Sachin
That was my first thought on seeing this list too. Here is a good question: Who is your Captain of this squad? Landon, Clint, Olsen, Mastroeni, Beasley? Those are the only ones with double digit caps on the squad. Nobody born before 1976.