Just happy to see Rongen out of the mix. While he wasn't terrible, he wasn't the "next level" we need to aspire to be.
Koffie, Nagbe, & Zakuani... I dont know their personal situations regarding if & when they are eligible, but I was just making a point to whether Porter would convince them to play for the US even if they couldnt play for the U-23's by the time they became eligible..
Hirings official http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-23-M...Names-Caleb-Porter-Head-Coach-of-U23-MNT.aspx Ramos and Reyna to run a joint Under-20 and Under-23 camp in Germany from Nov. 7-Nov. 16.
I'm interested to see how the idea of the joint U20 and U23 camp goes. Great way to comparatively evaluate talent coming up on the outskirts of the senior NT, but otherwise I wonder.
Dude, Caleb Proter is going to be their boss.. If they piss him off, there is no olympics for them ever. You only get one chance. With Porter having the backing of Klinnsman, there is no danger of him losing anyone as they will already by starting in Klinsman's doghouse if they make conflicts with the olympic coach.
It's hard to say until we see who is on the invite list. Will it be a U23 camp with Porter and a few 1993s along for the ride, like Gil, Hurzeler, Brooks, et al? Or will there be a more extensive camp? Maybe it will be a 40-player mega-camp or something like that, but whatever happens I'd like to see a full complement of U23s. It's an international window and the MLS season will be over for all but the two finalists. This is one of the best opportunities to get everyone together before qualifying. Edit: I meant Ramos along for the ride, then realized that Porter won't be there because of his college commitments. D'oh.
Ah I got ya. Possible dual citizens, not dual citizens. Kofi is American as they come. I don't know if he is dual citizen eligible or truly does have dual citizenship. With so much experience with US Teams and playing domestically I don't think we have anything to worry about. Nagbe and Zakuani are so far off C.Porter may be coaching in MLS or overseas by the time they become citizens so his influence is minimal. Nagbe has stated preference of US over Liberia for obvious reasons, and Zakuani will be in his late 20's when he becomes eligible and has stated all 3 as favorites so we'll see with him.
I would assume that is where the senior Nats are meeting as well, so the outskirts might be on the same field!
I'm hoping that USSF gets Caleb over to Europe soon to scout. I think that the majority of our Olympic team will be Euro-based, at least the starters (Altidore, Gatt, Mix, Williams, and Chandler to name a few).
you of course understand that A. i was only saying it would be interesting to see how these young pros take to a college coach and what issues MIGHT arise and B. i am not talking about a bloody coup d'etat ... all it takes is for the guys from big professional set ups to think this guy doesn't know what he is talking about compared to the world class coaching they are used to getting for them to tune him out ... i don't really know how this will turn out. maybe well. maybe not. but i can tell you that Caleb's lack of professional experience and cred, both as a player and as a coach IS a hurdle that he will need to overcome ... especially with so many of these kids not being wide eyed pliable amateurs but professionals with access and experience in some of the most world class training environments around. now does Caleb have enough natural talent and charisma and leadership to overcome that? maybe. but to act like there is no possibility that his total lack of any real quality experience on any stage bigger than Akron, which is to say no stage at all, might not be an issue is just downright pollyannish.
Caleb Porter is one of the most brilliant young minds in American soccer. At Akron he's produced a ton of MLS talent over the last few years and plays very attractive soccer. He's been courted by MLS clubs a couple of times (DCU, especially). I think he's the next big American coach, and will manage the US NT in the future. PERFECT coach to bring in. Young. Attacking. Will help train him for the future. I said before I'd love to see him in the Youth NT set-up but I didn't think would leave his job at Akron. Now, I guess he doesn't have to. While many have been disappointed by results, I've been getting more positive. I think Klinssy is doing the right things.
I'll take your word for it have no idea who Porter is. Ramos good to see Tab, the most skilled midfielder our nation has ever had, in USSF. Good luck to both!
I for some reason was thinking Gershon Koffie instead of Kofi Sarkodie who I thought & is Ghanain. Ofcourse Sarkodie is completely American, you're right. That was just a mindslip. He didnt even go to Akron, I guess I just got the names mixed up.
How is it that an American soccer fan hasn't heard of Caleb Porter? Not knocking you at all, I just thought his name was pretty well known by everyone.
A pair of great hires. Kudos to JK and USSF and Sunil on both. And congrats to Caleb Porter, Tab Ramos, and, to a lesser extent, Claudio Reyna. The U-23 gig first. This isn't really a full time deal. U-23 tournaments are limited (Olympics), and many of the best 21-23 year old players step right into the full NT set up anyway. Porter is a perfect hire. Made Akron, OH into THE premier college soccer program in the nation. Winning national titles and producing an unprecedented amount of MLS talent the last couple of years. For the record, here are the Akron players taken the last 3 years. 2011: 5 1st round picks, 2 second round picks 1st round: Nagbe (2nd, Portland), Kitchen (3rd, DC), Valentin (4th, Chivas), Sarkodie (8th, Houston), Nanchoff (9th, Vancouver) 2nd round: Korb (31st, DC), Ampaipitakwong (33rd, SJ). 2010: 2 1st rounders: Bunbury (4th, KC), Gavin (10th, Chivas). 2009: 1 1st rounder: Zakuani (1st, Seattle) I LOVE the Porter pick. He's a professional level coach who is currently coaching at the university level. Think young Arena or Sigi, except better. As for the U-20's and Ramos. I love the fact that the most technically gifted player we've ever had is going to be in charge of the U-20's. Joined by perhaps the 2nd best, Claudio Reyna. That both are of Latin heritage in addition to their technical abilities as players will hopefully ensure that pay to play doesn't persist, and that our young players get the necessary technical skills training they need. All three (Porter, Ramos, Reyna) share JK's vision of how we should play and so fit in very nicely philosophically. Very happy at these hires. For the American kids, Porter has a national title and has produced MLS ready players. For the internationals, we have Tab Ramos and Claudio Reyna. If they can't garner some respect from the players with their resumes, then no one can. Hopefully, Dooley will be a part of the mix as well at some level.
If one does not follow college soccer, then it is completely understandable. I would understand why one would choose not to follow it.
This is one thing I actually really like about Ives' site. He's really pushing his college soccer coverage, despite it being "fashionable" to say that college soccer sucks and everyone should play in professional academies. Well maybe they should, but as of right now college soccer has a pretty big impact on the US game and deserves to be followed, at least cursorily.
I know I'm in the minority on this, but I hope this means that the quality college players like Kelyn Rowe will get a shot with the U-23's.
Is Kelyn Rowe better than...... Adu Gatt Shea Gyau Diskerud Wood Hurzeler I seem to think it's not about taking a quality college player, but taking the best players.
Thats why I said I hope they get a shot. Just call them in to a camp. It can't hurt to see what the Kelyn Rowe, Jose Gomez types have to offer.
One further point from a huge USMNT fan based on my fervent MLS observations... Not too long ago, FC Dallas was fixated on hiring this local college coach and kept chasing him - the team was largely inept and coaches were rotated like a game of musical chairs. I thought to myself: there FC Dallas goes again; another MLS team that thinks a college coach can make the step up in class and be a professional coaching success (historically, that hasn't happened much). All Schellas Hyndman has done since is: create a team that plays a sophisticated, entertaining and winning style; unearth a league MVP from overseas; unleash a shooting star USMNT winger and found his ideal position; and survive long-term injury to said MVP to cobble together yet another fairly powerhouse season. If Caleb is a better version of Schellas, we're in for a treat. (Having said the foregoing, I still think - based on the way RSL plays the game the right way, especially internationally in CONCACAF Champions League - Jason is a better bet to be first in line as the next American-born USMNT coach.)
Very good points. I think we all forget how dysfunctional Dallas was on the field. He has made many very good choices over that time. He loses a leage MVP and still has oodles of depth.
He he has done well at Dallas. I think you run into a issue with college coaches, though. You never really know what you are going to get from them at higher levels. My concern with Porter is can he have the same success at a higher level. Akron has clearly had the best talent in college soccer the past few years. When the talent gap is so big you can do more with your soccer team. This also covers up a lot of flaws. Hopefully, Porter is truly a talent.
Forget the talent, its the way Akron plays (against the NCAA grain) that makes him such a promising coaching prospect. Watched NCAA tournament closely for the first time last year and was shocked at how well Porter had Akron playing. Love the hire.