Anyone have any info about when this tourney is this summer. I remember the LD article with Connelly (I think?) where he speaks of playing with to win this event. Of course I know it is a U-23 tourney and a good chance for Mooch's team to get some quality matches together but think if LD or DMB decide to play in this event, the Confed Cup, and the Gold Cup--those guys will not be seen with their MLS squads for an ungodly amount of time. Any thoughts?
Donovan said he wants to go, however you bring up a good point. Let someone else go in his place and have the chance to use the experience as a development tool. He is going to be gone for the Gold Cup and the Confed Cup--I can't see San Jose wanting him gone for some piddly U23 tournament besides the Olympics. The Pan Am Games will be in the Dominican Republic.
It takes place August 1st - 17th. We didn't take MLS players to the previous Pan-Am event Canada '99. IIRC, we used three U-17 players (LD, DMB and Akwari ), 1 U-18 (Casey), and a bunch of guys from the U-20 team that were not in MLS at the time (Twellman, Futagaki, Bocanegra, Cory Gibbs). Olsen, Dunseth, McCarty and Wolff remained with their MLS clubs. It doesn't make much sense for MLS regulars to play in this tournament. Will there be any US TV for the Pan-American games? One of the Spanish stations had limited coverage last time.
Pan Am Games! In the Dominican Republic! Amoebic Dysentary! Festering heat and humidity! Sub par opponents! Woooohooooo! Can I go?
Re: Re: Pan Am Games The level of this tourney sucks too IMHO. MLS games are of higher quality. I'd send a pseudo 2005 U20 squad along with some of the other older guys who haven't decided to turn pro yet. Donovan was first put at attacking mid in this tourney by the coach. We got the bronze medal I believe.
I disagree. If, as we heard before I left, that qualifying starts in the fall, then the PA Games will be the last, and for that matter, only, chance for the 23s to really come together as a unit and test themselves, see what their true weaknesses are and play under tournament conditions. I expect a few top players to not go but I bet most of the preferred 18 gets a trip to Santo Domingo this summer.
True, I forgot about that factor. I tend to think that they'll have friendlies and a training camp right before the Olympic qualies though also.
Wow.. a player like Convey -- cornerstone of youth sides, fringe full national team player -- could possibly miss most of the MLS season. U-20 World Cup -- March-April Confed Cup -- June Gold Cup -- July Pan Am Games -- Aug Olympic Qualifying -- Fall 2003 Not saying it's even likely, but it is possible
Apologies if I've missed something ... I've tried to catch up as best I could. Isn't Olympic qualifying expected to be in early 2004?
If he impresses the Bruce in the friendlies, he might go with the senior team to those two competitions. If he indeed does, I can't see him going to the Pan Am games. Olympic qualifying doesn't start until October or November I believe. Beineke, I believe they're having two rounds of qualifying with the qualifying finals taking place in the spring of 2004.
Pan-American Games The Daily Listin recently announced the 8 teams that will participate in the Pan-American games this summer in the Dominican Republic. The field: USA Canada Mexico Costa Rica Haiti Jamaica Dominican Republic Venezuela The promoters are upset that Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay are not sending teams to this event because they wanted TV/radio money from the South American countries.
Myernick pretty much said in that interview we did that he won't have his strongest team for the Pan Am games, because of the problem of taking pro players away from their teams for too many matches. I think he had Donovan, Beasley, Convey and Quaranta in mind with this. I guess Brad Davis too (and i'm forgetting others probably, read sandon's list to fill in the blanks).
I hope that the U-23 is the strongest it can be without detracting from MLS play. That is a difficult situiation though. With the salary cap in the MLS, more and more of the players are younger and younger. As previously mentioned, there will be some players who will be gone lots this year for the Confed Cop/Gold Cup. How about the best of the rest. Take Kelly Gray, Brad Davis, those guys who are not ready for the full national team, but who can contribute well. Leave LD, DMB, Convey, and Quaranta (if he is starting). The US should be able to field a good team. Does anyone know when the draw will take place for the PAN-Am games?