Some interesting tidbits on the Internet about the U20 team. *Jordan Harvey has a fight on his hands to keep his left back spot. but an interesting battle is shaping up at left back between qualifying tournament starter Jordan Harvery of UCLA, Portland’s Heath Pearce and Mobile and former Hibernian apprentice Stephen Shirley, who showed a willingness to go forward and hit a probing cross during the Combine matches. *Rongen wants Whitbred, Big Zak wants to play for the US but Liverpool is playing hardball. This and the possible inclusion of Liverpool youth player Zak Whitbred may present Rongen with his biggest roster uncertainty prior to the FIFA event. Whitbred is getting a regular game with the full Liverpool reserve side, but the English giants have balked at allowing him to leave for international matches. Rongen said if Whitbred can come to the next camp, including matches in Madeira (Portugal) in early March, he has a chance to be included in the squad for the worlds, but that he can’t consider him if he is not released for that camp. "I understand his situation, and that he’s playing for a contract. The player and his parents want to come but I understand they have to consider what an important part of his career this is," Rongen said. "Still, even if he is an outstanding player I cannot make that exception. I need to see him with this group," Rongen said. Rongen said Whitbred, Harvey, Shirley and Pearce could be in a four-way battle for two spots on the team. "This is probably going to be my toughest choice," he said. - http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/1042600292/view *And, if we go to war, the UAE may lose the WYC. Concerning the scheduled FIFA event, Rongen said the world governing body has supposedly chosen an alternate site in the event the situation in the Persian Gulf area is deemed too volatile for the championship take place, but that FIFA is being tight-lipped about where this is "which leads me to believe either for security reasons they want to keep it quiet, or they don’t have one." - http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/20030111081704/view *Looks like the rosters for the WYC have been expanded a little. "We got three quality games at the Combine," Rongen said. "I would say we're consolidating our team. We just found out we can add two more players to our squad and for first time ever we can have 20 players at the championships. - www.mlsnet.com *And, the draw for deciding who the 20s will play in the WYC is Jan. 29. A delegation from the U.S. including Rongen will be flying out to the final draw in Abu Dhabi, UAE on January 29 - www.mlsnet.com *Also, the team has some good friendlies lined up and is looking for more. "We need to continue to provide this team with quality competition," Rongen said. "We'll head to Portugal to play Portugal and Norway. We're playing Mexico in a friendly and we're trying to play Argentina in a friendly. Training and good competition will make us a team that I think has a good chance to advance to the second round." – www.mlsnet.com
Nah, but that tidbit was in about every Portugal newspaper today. Oops. I thought you were responding to my Japan news as the alternate site. Sorry Gers.
Happened to notice on the Arsenal site today that Frank Simek scored a goal over the weekend: Larsson, Simek seal U-19s victory
Nice nuggets Sandon, thanks. Congrats to Simek! If Zak Whitbread wants to join the team, he will have a spot. Depending upon when he joins and how much time he has to gell with his teammates may determine how much playing time he receives, and in what position, but at a minimum he'll make the team as a substitute left back. Most likely he'll be the starting left back and cover for Cochrane and Marshall in central defense. -Tron
Tron, The word on my boy Zak is that he's big and strong and has a nice left foot that makes him a good passer but that he ain't the fastest. So, while he could likely play left back in a pinch, he is better suited to be a central defender. Of course, if Rongen went to a 3-5-2, he could be the left marking back. Man, that would be a huge backline - Whitbred (6-3), Cochrane (6-0) and Marshall (6-3) with Simek (6-0) backing them up. I actually wouldn't mind this formation as it would let Jordan Stone get on to the field as a starter and free Ricardo Clark up to roam and push forward a bit. The downside is that said formation calls on the wide mids to have to play some D and with Barclay, a converted forward, on the right and Mapp, whom the next time he plays defense will be the first time, on the left, I'm not sure I want to rely on those 2 to have to play defense. But, it is tempting. And, I really hope Liverpool gets their sanctimonious pole out of their ass and lets our boy go to Portugal and then, likely, to the WYC. Finally, as much as I want to see Zak playing for the 20s, I can't fault Rongen for not bringing a guy to the WYC who has never trained with the team. That has the potential of being dangerous for morale and chemistry and I don't think Rongen wants to risk that. That said, I take it as good news that Zak and his parents want him playing for the US.
Screw Whitbred then. Without him, it looks like more than half the U20 team we send will be professionals. Definite improvement from the 2001 U20 team.
Hot off the presses, the U20 team goes 3-0 vs. pro teams from South and Central America. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/1043182303/view This team is certainly going to get plenty of training time before the tournament, but Rongen notes most of the squad will still be a long way removed from any "real, live" first team matches.
Actually, if he makes the camp in March, I expect one of the current starters to become a substitute. Let's hope that Liverpool lets him go in March. I think they will if they think of it from an asset view--Whitbred immediately becomes more valuable to the club as an U20 international IMHO. I'm glad that he wants to play for the U.S., and I'm sure our showing at the recent World Cup didn't hurt any.
Did the last team have this extensive of a preparation? I want to say no from recent memory--there was only the Toulon tournament wasn't there? If Pearce, Moose and/or Moor end up making the team, that increases their potential for joining the professional ranks immensely. Might make the Olympic pool even sweeter than it is.
Actually Sandon I was figuring Zak would play left back and CJ Klaas would play right back. This would allow Klaas to get forward more. Also, it would allow more flexibility on set pieces as Marshall or Cochrane could move forward for headers while Zak slides into a sweeper role. While I cannot comment on Pearce or Shirley, I think our options aren't very good if Harvey is contending for a starting spot. I expect Rongen to play Zak if he's available, and at this point I don't see Zak displacing either Cochrane or Marshall. I wouldn't want Ricardo moving forward much against top notch competition. While he does have the skills, IMHO he is needed to play stopper in front of the back line. It would be a rare team that scored more than 1 against the US if we play with him anchored ahead of the back line. With that being said, we're almost guaranteed to get a result, because our 5 or 6 attacking players are pretty good. As you have correctly identified numerous times in the past, the right wing position is a point of weakness. I'm still very curious who will play there, Barclay, Johnson, etc. -Tron
I think the only question re the starting lineup is left back. The attackers are all set, I'm pretty certain - and Klaas is not threatened at right back in any way. I suppose if Whitbred came in and was Franz Beckenbauer or something, he'd have to reconsider,but as it stands he would be additional cover at the back (Mainly in the center). Marshall and Cochrane have a very good partnership in central defense for the U20s.
how bout my boy drew moor with two goals in three games, including the gamewinner in the third match. i think that he can definitely make a huge contribution for the u-20s in the WYC
drew played mostly as an outside back, usually marking the opponents tallest/most physical forward. then, later in the year, due to some injuries/car accident he actually played some outside midfielder. but his natural spot is as an outside back. he possesses great skill on the ball, plus is pretty tall with excellent jumping ability. he helped to mark chad marshall and taylor graham in the stanford game on set pieces and did a pretty good job other than the one that marshall got a good head on. he will be good for rongen and the 20s.
The 2001 U20's played 29 games prior to the World Youth Championships. 9 of them were International friendlies... Mexico 1-0 Mexico 2-1 Guatemala 5-0 (CONCACAF WCQ) Trinidad 5-1 (CONCACAF WCQ) Costa Rica 1-1 (CONCACAF WCQ) Costa Rica 1-1 Italy 2-1 (Toulon) Colombia 1-3 (Toulon) Netherlands 0-0 (Toulon) The 1999 U20's played 16 games prior to the World Youth Championships. 5 were International friendlies... Denmark 1-0 Spain 0-1 Portugal 0-3 Morocco 1-1 Morocco 0-1
Just posted US Soccer's release about the Mexico match. I guess Homestead has a large migrant community and they are hoping for a fair-sized crowd. The U20s might as well learn about playing away games on home soil. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/1043329610/view Any aspiring journalists or friends and family fancy filing a report for us tonight? It'd be great to keep a running tab on missiles thrown, that sort of thing. PM me if interested.
Hey, a new player! From the release - MIAMI TO SPAIN TO ITALY TO ARGENTINA TO MIAMI: The U.S. roster contains six relative newcomers in Chris Ordonez, Heath Pearce, Troy Roberts, Stephen Shirley, Drew Moor and Justin Moose, but it is Ordonez's name that sticks out. Ordonez, born in 1984, lacks the youth national team pedigree of the other five. After spending time in Spain and Italy, Ordonez, a Miami native, has signed a pro contract with Tialleres in Cordoba, Argentina., where he is yet to make his league debut. Anybody know anything about this guy? Please let him be a right midfielder, and a really good one. With our luck he's a forward or a goalie. I wonder if this is someone that Thomas Rongen knew about from his days coaching/living in South Florida or if he was tipped off about him from one of his contacts down there. (Rob, this is your mission to find out!) I also found this tidbit interestng - 6 – Justin Moose, Devin Barclay and C.J. Klaas are the only U.S. players to appear in all six matches That Moose is playing so much does not bode well for Ned Grabavoy. Better get healthy in a hurry, son! And, Barclay playing every game appears they are just force-feeding that right midfield position to him. And, though we already knew this, Klaas' position on the team is pretty secure.
Know where I can find details on the game? time, location etc. I might make a run down there to check it out.