Here are the 45 players who are U.S. citizens AND age-eligible for the 2004 Olympics that I’ve confirmed are on MLS rosters either as members of the 18, P40 or Developmental Players. Suffice to say, this is the biggest and deepest U23 pool of professional players the US has ever had. U23 coach Mooch Myernick and his assistant, Curt Onalfo, are going to have a lot players whose performance and form they are going to have to monitor in MLS this year. It breaks down as follows: Rookies - 26 No college soccer - 16 1-3 seasons of college ball - 15 4 season of college ball - 13 Developmental Players - 10 Played A-League before MLS – 2 Played in Europe before MLS - 1 Not yet called into the U23 team - 18 Currently eligible for U20 team - 12 Age eligible for the next U20 and U23 cycles - 4 Rookies undrafted in 2003 - 2 Here’s the list. Nelson Akwari, D, Columbus Crew, 1982 Arturo Alvarez, F/M, San Jose Earthquakes, 1985 Devin Barclay, F, DC United, 1983 DeMarcus Beasley, M, Chicago Fire, 1982 Kyle Beckerman, M, Colorado Rapids Nat Borchers, M, Colorado Rapids, 1981 Edson Buddle, F, Columbus Crew, 1981 Jose Burciaga, D, Kansas City Wizards, 1981 Craig Capano, M, Chicago Fire, 1985 Brian Carroll, M, DC United, 1981 Ricardo Clark, M, NY/NJ MetroStars, 1983 Bobby Convey, M, DC United, 1983 D.J. Countess, GK, Dallas Burn, 1982 Brad Davis, M, Dallas Burn, 1981 Landon Donovan, F, San Jose Earthquakes, 1982 Alecko Eskandarian, F, DC United, 1982 Kevin Friedland, D, Kansas City Wizards, 1981 Eddie Gaven, F/M, NY/NJ MetroStars, 1986 Guillermo Gonzalez, M, Los Angeles Galaxy, 1986 Kelly Gray, D, Chicago Fire, 1981 Nate Jaqua, Chicago Fire, 1981 Jack Jewsbury, M , Kansas City Wizards, 1981 Eddie Johnson, F, Dallas Burn, 1984 Jake LeBlanc, M, NY/NJ MetroStars, 1981 Roger Levesque, F, San Jose, Stanford, 1981 Ricky Lewis, D, Los Angeles Galaxy, 1982 Mike Magee, F, NY/NJ MetroStars, 1984 Justin Mapp, M, Chicago Fire, 1984 Kyle Martino, M, Columbus Crew, 1981 Jesus Ochoa, M, Los Angeles Galaxy, 1981 Logan Pause , M, Chicago Fire, 1981 Trevor Perea, M, Columbus Crew, 1981 Santino Quaranta, F, DC United, 1984 Tim Regan, D, NY/NJ MetroStars, 1981 Michael Ritch, F, Columbus Crew, 1981 Andy Rosenband, F, Dallas Burn, 1981 Josh Saunders, GK, San Jose Earthquakes, 1981 Casey Schmidt, F, Colorado Rapids, 1981 David Stokes, D, DC United, 1982 Jordan Stone, M, Dallas Burn, 1984 Jason Thompson, F, Dallas Burn, 1981 Scot Thompson D, Los Angeles Galaxy, 1981 Seth Trembly, D/M, Colorado Rapids, 1982 Jamil Walker, M, San Jose, 1981 Doug Warren, GK, DC United, 1981 Also, the following players are still in MLS camps and will likely make the roster as, at least, a Developmental Player, but I’ve been unable to confirm this so I’m not including them. Kenny Arena, M, NY/NJ MetroStars, 1981 Hercules Gomez, F, Los Angeles Galaxy, 1981 Other U23 players who have been on trial with MLS teams whose status I am unaware of include Phil Salyer (last with Dallas) and Curtis Spiteri and Nick Walls (both with Chicago), Bryce Wegerle (San Jose), Bryan Jackson (Colorado) and Cody Anderson (Kansas City). The list does not include U23 players who were drafted by MLS teams and released like Mike Tranchilla, Matt Behonick and Joe Barton. This list also does not include any European-based players in the U23 pool like Oguchi Onyewu, Conor Casey, Alex Yi, David Johnson and Frank Simek. Nor does it include any U23 players who will be playing in the A-League this year. I am of the opinion that any U23 A-Leaguers who get substantial minutes should be considered for a call-up by Mooch. FYI, the players who have been called up by Mooch who aren’t – as of yet - in MLS, still in college or in Europe include Salyer, Spiteri, Tranchilla, David Testo and Jason White. U23 players who have been called in by Mooch and are still in college are Chris Wingert (St. John’s), Adolfo Gregorio (UCLA), Ned Grabavoy (Indiana), Seth Stamler (Maryland), Matt Oliver (Virginia), Paul Souders (Clemson) and Andres Rota (Connecticut). It would also likely be fair to include the top collegian U20s in this pool – Chad Marshall (Stanford), Steve Cronin (Santa Clara), C.J. Klaas (Washington), Ryan Cochrane (Santa Clara), Knox Cameron (Michigan), Justin Moose (Wake Forest) Heath Pearce (Portland), Jordan Harvey (UCLA), Drew Moor (Furman), Ford Williams (North Carolina) and Grabavoy.
That is some great analysis and data. I really hope the US can mop up the Olympics. Get some momentum.
I don't think Spiteri and Walls are in the Fire camp any longer. The current roster that some of the Fire faithful are keeping up to date only list Futagaki and Ralph as being in the picture but not yet officially on the rostser. It was updated today by alf.
Just got confirmation that Gomez has been signed as a DP by the Galaxy, bringing the MLS U23 pool to 46. Also, Chris Bergin is reporting that Salyer has signed as MLS deal and will be allocated via lottery "soon."
Also interesting to note the distribution by team: DC United: 7 Chicago Fire: 6 Dallas Burn: 6 Columbus Crew: 5 San Jose Earthquakes: 5 NY/NJ MetroStars: 5 Los Angeles Galaxy: 4 Colorado Rapids: 4 Kansas City Wizards: 3 and New England Revolution: 0
I asked on the Rapids board what people thought of Bryan Jackson's chances of making the team were a couple of weeks ago, and no one responded..Good ol' Rapids fans. Has Gregorio been called into any camps? I didn't think that he had and I thought that was odd because Right mid is going to be a weak spot for us. Does anyone have any info on either of these guys?
US U-23 v Mexico I didn't know where else to put this and didn't want to start a new thread so I'll put it here. The US U-23 team will play Mexico's U-23 on May 14 in Leon, Mexico. " El partido de la sub'23 ante Colombia se jugará el próximo 16 de abril en el estadio "Corregidora" de Querétaro, centro del país, precisó el dirigente de la Federación, Alberto de la Torre. La selección tendrá un segundo amistoso ante su similar de Estados Unidos el 14 de mayo en el estadio "Nou Camp" de la ciudad mexicana de León, manifestó." This is from an EFE report found on AOL's Spanish language soccer news. It also says Mexico will play Colombia in an U-23 match on April 16.
It starts in the fall. The first round, which the US has a bye in, is supposed to be in September. The second round is in November. It got to about 25 or so in 2000 when the likes of Califf, Garcia, Bocanegra and Pierce turned pro but before then, it was still fairly small, maybe 15. Guys like Olsen, Cherundolo, Wolff, DiGi, Howard, Dunseth, McCarty Yesterday's SoccerAmerica confidential reported that Jackson is close to signing with MLS and that there will be a lottery for him. Phil Salyer, too. Gregorio was called into one of Mooch's first camps early in 2002 then after his superb run at the Final Four, he was called in for the tour of Portugal. Thanks for posting that. I would expect that any MLS player that is playing regularly won't be called in so it could be a chance for Mooch to look at some fringe players and new faces like Schmidt, Regan and Gomez.
The departure of Gilles Grimandi means more PT and/or a bigger role for Beckerman. At least until/unless the Rapids bring in a replacement. I don't know how big of a factor this might be for the Olys.
I think they just maybe, MIGHT, be able to score a goal or two. So I'm guessing any over-age players will be defenders
Sandon...I know of at least 54 (2000 Oly eligible) players that played in MLS in 2000. 31 are still in MLS. Whether or not they were on an opening day MLS roster or on an MLS roster prior to the Oly's is questionable. I know not all were on MLS rosters to begin the season, which is what your initital post is about. Here is the list and their 2000 club(s)... Lazo Alavanja - DAL Chris Albright - DC Jeremy Aldrich - MIA Steve Armas - CLB DaMarcus Beasley - CHI Jamar Beasely - NE Kyle Beckerman - MIA Jeff Bilyk - MIA Carlos Bocanegra - CHI Scott Bower - SJ Adin Brown - COL Chris Brown - KC Mike Burke - DC/DAL Danny Califf - LA Matt Chulis - CLB Jim Conrad - SJ Bobby Convey - DC Jon Conway - SJ Micah Cooks - DC Ramiro Corrales - MET Nino DaSilva - MET Eric Denton - DC Joey DiGiamarino - COL Jeff DiMaria - COL Brian Dunseth - NE Gabe Eastman - LA Justin Evans - CHI Adam Eyre - NE Nick Garcia - KC Francisco Gomez - KC Wes Hart - COL Tim Howard - MET Chad McCarty - TB Jason Moore - COL Matt Napoleon - CLB Ben Olsen - DC Carlos Parra - NE Orlando Perez - MET Rusty Pierce - NE Eric Quill - TB Nick Rimando - MIA Tim Sahaydak - MIA Dominic Schell - CLB Steve Shak - MET Seth Trembly - COL Peter Vagenas - LA Sasha Victorine - LA Brian West - CLB Evan Whitfield - CHI John Wilson - KC Kirk Wilson - DAL Josh Wolff - CHI John Wolyniec - CHI Alan Woods - COL Combined they had played through the end of the 2000 season - including playoffs - 98,025 minutes in MLS. They each had played an average of 1,815 minutes of professional 1st division soccer in their career.
Bryan Jackson's chances with the Rapids are slim and none, despite his potential. Even if Grimandi leaves, the team will likely sign Mexican Alberto Rizo Bautista, bringing the roster to 22 plus 2 development players.
I only count 14 players that would definitely take up one of the 18 slots available for senior players... Carrieri, Chung, Fraser, Garlick, Grimandi (SI), Hart, Henderson, Herdsman, Kotschau, Mastroeni, Roberts (TI), Sleeth, Spencer (SI), and Vallow. Casey Schmidt, though eligible to be a Developmental Player (DP), signed a "senior" contract. I also think Jeff Stewart and Zach Kingsley will be classified as "senior" players. That makes 17, with one slot left. Alberto Rizo would could fit in here as a "TI" not as an "SI". There are currently four players under developmental contracts... Kyle Beckerman (P40), Nat Borchers, Bryon Foss, and Seth Trembly (P40). That means there are two slots open. Currently Alex Blake, Matt Crawford, and Bryan Jackson are fighting for these. I could see Alex Blake playing as a "senior" (IIRC, he holds U.S. and Jamaican citizenship) - he is that good. It boils down to the following players for one "senior" and two "DP" roster slots... Alberto Rizo - Senior (TI) Alex Blake - Senior or Developmental Player Matt Crawford - Developmental Player Bryan Jackson - Developmental Player If Grimandi leaves that will open the door for Rizo and Blake to be on the "senior" roster, with Crawford and Jackson to take the remaining two "DP" slots. Now the question remains...how does Jackson compare with Crawford and Blake, or more importantly Crawford since I think Blake will make the cut? The question for Blake is will he sign a "DP" contract or want to the "big money" contract as a "senior" rostered player?
Here's an article on Stokes and Carroll from the Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23576-2003Apr3.html
Phil Salyer has officially joined the Burn so there are now 47 U23 Americans on the books of MLS teams. Still waiting for word on Bryan Jackson and Kenny Arena.
We're up to 48 as Nick Walls, an 81 from Saint Louis who is a right mid, has nabbed a Developmental Player spot with the Fire. He joins Nat Borchers and Trevor Perea as the third undrafted senior to stick on an MLS roster this spring.
Fantastic work SANDON but..... Soccer in USA is moving on a geometrical proportion it seem to me that MLS could go younger, what about some U 17...some info about some really AWESOME U-17 just like FREDDY ADU...