Yeah, cause some people may have taped it and they dont want the outcome ruined when they watch it on the VCR! Incidentally, here's the complete report from US Socer - The U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team, playing as an Under-21 side, topped Bolton’s Under-21 team 4-1 at Bolton’s training ground in Chorley, England today. U.S. midfielder Brian Carroll scored twice to go along with goals from Edson Buddle and Alecko Eskandarian. After not scoring in 30 matches across two years with the U.S. Under-20s, Carroll has now scored three times in five games at the Under-23 level. The U.S. dominated play, outshooting Bolton 14-3. U.S. goalkeeper Doug Warren was only called on to make two saves, while his Bolton counterpart came up with six. Carroll provided the only scoring of the first half, putting the U.S. on the board in the 38th minute with an unassisted goal. Alecko Eskandarian, Carroll’s teammate at the World Youth Championship in Argentina last year, doubled the U.S. lead just five minutes into the second half, finishing from a Seth Trembly pass. Bolton wasted no time getting back into the game, scoring from the penalty spot just one minute later. But Eskandarian set up Buddle for the USA’s third goal in the 58th minute, and Carroll sealed the win in the 76th minute with his second goal of the game. The Under-23s next face the Under-21 side of Huddersfield on August 3. During the Under-23s tour of England, Glenn Myernick’s team will also play Under-21 sides from Crewe Alexandria (August 5) and Manchester United (August 7). The U.S. team in England includes three MLS players, the Colombus Crew's Edson Buddle and the Colorado Rapids' duo of Kyle Beckerman and Seth Trembly. All three MLS players started for the U.S. The U.S. Under-23s are essentially an Under-21 team preparing for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. The U-23 roster features eight players who were part of the U.S. Under-20 MNT that played in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina. The Under-23s have posted a 2-1-2 record this year. All five matches have taken place in Europe. -- U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team Game Report -- Participants: U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team vs. Bolton Under-21s Date: August 1, 2002 Location: Chorley, England Weather: 65 degrees / rainy Scoring Summary 1 ….. 2 ….. F USA 1 …..3 ….. 4 BOL 0 ….. 1 ….. 1 USA – Brian Carroll …….. 38th minute. USA – Alecko Eskandarian (Seth Trembly) …. 50. BOL – Penalty Kick ….. 51. USA – Edson Buddle (Alecko Eskandarian) … 58. USA – Brian Carroll (Jason Thompson) … 76. USA: 1-Doug Warren; 3-Ricky Lewis, 6-Alex Yi (12-Scott Thompson, 70), 4-David Stokes (17-Nelson Akwari, 46), 2-Chris Wingert; 2-Brian Carroll, 10-Ned Grabavoy (9-Logan Pause, 54), 5-Kyle Beckerman (8-Kenny Arena,68), 13-Seth Trembly; 11-Alecko Eskandarian (15-David Testo, 62), 14-Edson Buddle (23-Jason Thompson, 58) Statisctical Summary USA ….. BOL Shots 14 ... 3 Saves 2 ... 6 Corner Kicks 4... 1 Fouls 11 ... 11 Offside 1 ... 1
Glad to see Carroll and Alecko score. I thought Alecko would have turned pro by now. The only time I saw him play was on an underwhelming teamat Toulon. I thought he was the only player who showed well, lots of creativity and menace. Any more seasoned opinions out there on his prospects?
Whitbread was the only palyer on the roster not to play. Was he injured? Is it because he is new blood? Is Mooch trying to teach him the system? Does he not want to get capped to the US? Answers? Good to see Yi and Akwari are at least playing and that the rumors of their giving up the game aren't true. Why didn't Brian Carrol turn pro last year along with Martino and Davis?
Is anyone of note on that Man U u-21 squad? I don't follow the reserve squads that much except where an American is involved. But it seems to me that the teams, with the exception of Man U, shouldn't provide a signifigant challenge.
Alecko has always had skill and just missed out on residency with the U17s in '99. It would have been awesome for him to get that type of training. I think he'll make a very good MLS player if he can cope with the physicality. He's been offered by P40 more than once IIRC, but I'm not sure if he's trialed abroad or not. AFAIK his parents want him to finish school completely. Caroll and Trembly's decent performances surprise me.
Man U will obviously be extremely tough, but don't overlook Crewe. They were one of the first clubs to start a youth academy, and they're still renowned for developing young talent. P
I wouldn't be surprised if the USSF agreed not to play Whitbread. That way he gets to check out the scene and lower his risk of injury with the English season gearing up. Just a guess -- wasn't there some talk in the UK press about Ian Joy doing the same thing?
Ian Joy has already been around USYNT soccer. He's appeared for other USYNT's. The U23's have four more games. Everyone will play. Whitbred or Joy could get hurt during training. General thought... Bolton don't have an U21 team. They have a reserve team (any age), an U19 and a U17 team. I wonder if this was their reserve team, using only U21 players and/or some of the U19 and U17 players.
It's not even that, the reserves and the top academy players are with the first team for their pre-season games. I've been trying to find the Bolton line-up but to no avail. My guess is that the US team faced Bolton's U17s + a few from the U19s, that would be the strongest team avaliable at present.
CyberSoccerNews.com Similar snipet from CyberSoccerNews.com but if you haven't visited there before, you ought to, it's a first rate site. http://www.cybersoccernews.com/ Pump up their hits and let em know we want to hear more about the youth teams. -Tron