This could definitely impact the decisions of some of our college players. Figure Rongen will want a two-week camp, minimum, before they go to the UAE. Most of the conference tournaments, including the ACC are Nov. 13-16. The NCAA's start Nov. 21-22. So, if Rongen does have a two-week camp, guys like Cronin, Cochrane, Marshall, Klaas, Cameron, Moose, Moor, Harvey and the rest will likely have to miss either their conference tournament or key end of season conference games, and definitely the NCAA tourney. I will not be surprised if some of these guys just say the hell with it and turn pro now. Either way, as someone else said, the college coaches will not be thrilled.
I had a feeling this would happen, especially since the NCAA is not FIFA regulated. I don't know what I would do if I were a college coach. Do you really want some of your best players to play in all the games that don't really matter and then pretty much thow a new player to the wolves when the games that really count start (Conference and NCAA tournaments) I expect to start seeing some of these guys sign P-40 contracts real soon, Im looking in Marshall and Cochrane's direction when saying this. Its going to be real hard to stay NCAA eligible after missing this semester (in preparation for the original tournament date) and then at least a month of course work next semester. If they do plan on staying in school thats probably going to mean spending their summer in school instead of the PDL which could hurt some players chances of staying on the U20 squad I don't think this will effect any of the MLS players unless their team goes deep into the playoffs, I thought MLS cup was the first weekend in November? Which even then would allow players to get into camp two weeks before the tournament. I could be wrong though
MLS Cup is November 23. Rongen's worst-case scenario is if Dallas (Stone, EJ), faces the MetroStars (Magee, Clark) or (ha ha!) DC United (Quaranta, Convey, Barclay). I mean, you can't have your players miss that and if you excuse the pro players its hard to have a double standard and not excuse the college guys. But, from a competitive experience, this is really good for Rongen and the US as the young pros will be far more seasoned in late November than they were right now. I mean, look at Jordan Stone. He hardly played at all for Dallas last year. As soon as the WYC got postponed, he reported back to the Burn and had a great camp, getting a lot of pre-season minutes and emerging as one of the Burn's top 14-15 players who figures to get a lot of PT this year. Look at Mike Magee and Ricardo Clark. Neither would have played with any pro experience had the tournament been originally played, but now each will have a year of first division ball - and based on spring training, each seems likely to play a lot for Bradley - and be for more accustomed to playing against pros than they would have been. Granted, the other team's players will also be more experienced but since most of them were already pros, the chances for increases in experience are greater for the US than they are for other countries.
You nailed it. Now if you could just get some of the Eurotrash on these boards to believe it so that they can start getting prepared for certain defeat in 2010....
The only downside to having this right after the end of the MLS season is that there could be some lingering injuries that come from playing the whole season. I know its a minor thing, but its still something we should keep in the back of our heads.
Yes, but there are lingering injuries now. Eddie Johnson wouldn't have played in the tournament was held as originally planned. Devin Barclay has been on the shelf the past 2-3 weeks. Ned Grabavoy was nurising a sprained knee. I'm sure there will be some key players nicked up, or even to hurt to play, in November but I don't think the injruy sitiation will be any better or worse than it is now.
Also, the players from other countries are more likely to be playing significant roles for their clubs in December than they would have been in March, which may mean that our rivals will have a harder time getting players released.
Unfortunately, our European opponent is Germany, and we know how much playing time U-20 players get there -- none. I'd also expect Korea and Paraguay to have their full teams. As for our own prospects, it's unlikely that Simek or Whitbread will be getting first-team playing time at their current clubs. OTOH, there is a pretty good chance they will have been released or sent out on loan by then. Dave Johnson is reportedly "taking it slow," so he should be available.
This has to change Rongen’s approach to looking at players. I know that in March he had basically whittled his pool down to about 22 players. Now, he has a chance to look at more and may be forced to look at more. A few candidates include some of the top players on the current U17 team like Guillermo Gonzalez, Jon Spector, Eddie Gaven and, of course, our favorite 13-year old. (Technically, the 17s will be in the U20 pool by September because they will no longer be age-eligible for the U17 team after that age groups WC in August in Finland.) He could try, again, to look at Zak Whitbred and perhaps try and bring in US/UK midfielders Jemal Johnson (Blackburn) and Lloyd Sam (Charlton). Others who could or should get a look are Danny Karbassiyoon, who by late November should have several months at Arsenal under his belt. Same thing if Bryce Wegerle sticks with the Quakes. Who knows, if Craig Capano gets a lot of minutes for the Fire, he should get considered and fellow 85 Arturo Alvarez, who was already pushing for consideration, could really help his bid to make the team with a lot of minutes in MLS this year. Speaking of 85s, most of them will have had most of the college season to make an impression. If one of the top ones, like Notre Dame-bound Greg Dalby or Virginia’s Hunter Freeman, has a great start to the college season, they could warrant consideration. The same can be said for other 83s and 84s who had good college seasons last year but didn’t get a look – or did get a look at didn’t impress enough to stick – like New Mexico GK Andrew Weber, Cal MF Mike Munoz, Bradley GK Chris Dunsheath, UConn GK Adam Schuerman, Clemson D Justin Moore, Wake Forest D Michael Parkhurst and South Florida F Hunter West. Rongen may not consider any of them but he certainly has a chance to look at a bunch of new faces to try and strenghten any weaknesses.
Thanks for another run-down ... a couple of thoughts. 1) Wegerle wasn't with San Jose for very long; the last I heard he was in Sweden. I don't know whether the Quakes invited him to come back, but I doubt it. 2) I like Munoz's passing ability, but I peg him as a kid who sacrificed his soccer career for his education. Cal has improved rapidly, but it still hasn't provided the supporting cast to really develop his game.
U-20s at US Soccer Festival The U-20's will play in the US Soccer Festival in Houston this summer. They played Mexico and Canada last year in this event. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/soc/1875311
What position is he going to play? He looks like an attacking mid to me...unless we're going to continue playing a 4-5-1
Freddy likely won't join the 20s till after the U17 World Championship the second half of August. Soccer Festival is too close to the start of the WC for Ellinger to risk his best player getting hurt. For all the money the Fed has spent on this team, he needs to do better than go three-and-out like he did in T&T two years ago. So, I doubt you'll see Freddy with the 20s before then. After that, well, that depends on how many camps Rongen has and if there is enough time to integrate him into the team. With the MLS and college seasons overlapping in September and October, I doubt there will be too many camps for the 20s so I don't know if Freddy - or any of the other 20s, for that matter - will have a lot of chances to beat out an established player on the U20 team.
Does Adu really need to be on the U20 right now? He'd be behind Quaranta and Johnson at striker and Convey at a-mid. Plus, if he was effective playing against a 20 year old German defender could get the kid killed.