basically the US is finally able to field a all pro-U23 team at the Olympics. minus a few players (all of whom can potentially sign with MLS by the time the Olympics comes around), all of these players are on professional rosters. U-23 MNT Roster GOALKEEPERS: D.J. Countess (Dallas Burn) Doug Warren (DC United); DEFENDERS: Nelson Akwari (Columbus Crew) Jose Burciaga (K.C. Wizards) Bobby Convey (DC United) Kelly Gray (Chicago Fire) Ricky Lewis (LA Galaxy) Kyle Martino (Columbus Crew) Oguchi Onyewu (FC Metz – France) Philip Salyer (Werder Bremen)** Seth Stammler (Univ. of Maryland)* David Stokes (DC United) Scot Thompson (UCLA)* Chris Wingert (St. John’s Univ) Alex Yi (Royal Antwerp) MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire) Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids)* Brian Carroll (DC United) Brad Davis (Dallas Burn) Adolpho Gregorio (UCLA)* Logan Pause (Chicago Fire)* Seth Trembly (Colorado Rapids)* FORWARDS: Edson Buddle (Columbus Crew) Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes) Alecko Eskandarian (DC United) Roger Levesque (San Jose Earthquakes)* David Testo (UNC)* Jason Thompson (Dallas Burn)* * players not listed as current stalwarts on ussoccer.com site but have been called-up most recently to portugal friendlies ** don't actually know if Salyer is on contract still with Werder Bremen or if he's shopping around obviously not all of these players will be going to Greece but the point is that we are stacked. and that's good news. i still haven't figured out whether or not Taylor Twellman figures into the U23 age group or not.
Actually in 2000 we had an all pro team except for Conor Casey, and we had a damn fine team that made it to the semis. We're all hoping for a similar run and even one better(making the final). We tied Cameroon last time in the group stage, and they won the whole thing, so I think we're going to be in for a good chance. The last team had a few guys that were only pros in the 4 or 5 months before the Olympics, this team is goin to have this year's current crop of P40s plus some other guys with 4 years of experience---I'm pumped up needless to say! It would have been nice if Wingert would have turned pro, I guess he figures he doesn't have much of a chance even if he does go pro though.
I understand your rationale for listing Bobby Convey and Kyle Martino as defenders, but they're both clearly midfielders for this team. In fact, they are the leading candidates for the central attacking midfield position. IMHO, Convey is #1 and Martino is his backup, but I realize that some do not agree with my assessment. -Tron
So far, Mooch has had 5 U23 camps/tours and in those looked at a total of 45 different players. Here are those 45, from A to Yi. Guy Abrahamson M Columbus Crew Nelson Akwari D Columbus Crew Kenny Arena M NY/NJ MetroStars Devin Barclay F/M San Jose Earthquakes DeMarcus Beasley M Chicago Fire Kyle Beckerman M Colorado Rapids Edson Buddle F Columbus Crew Jose Burciaga D Kansas City Wizards Brian Carroll M DC United Bobby Convey M DC United D.J. Countess GK Dallas Burn Brad Davis M Dallas Burn Landon Donovan F San Jose Earthquakes Alecko Eskandarian F DC United Ned Grabavoy M Indiana Kelly Gray D Chicago Fire Adolfo Gregorio M UCLA Nate Jaqua F Chicago Fire Eddie Johnson F Dallas Burn Ian Joy D N/A Roger Levesque F San Jose Ricky Lewis D Los Angeles Galaxy Justin Mapp M Chicago Fire Kyle Martino M Columbus Crew Matt Oliver D Virginia Oguchi Onyewu D Metz (France) Logan Pause M Chicago Fire Trevor Perea M N/A Andres Rota M Connecticut Phil Salyer D N/A Josh Saunders GK San Jose Earthquakes Paul Souders M Clemson Curt Spiteri GK Portland (A-League) Seth Stamler D Maryland David Stokes D DC United David Testo F/M N/A Jason Thompson F Dallas Burn Scot Thompson D Los Angeles Galaxy Mike Tranchilla F Dallas Burn Seth Trembly D Colorado Rapids Doug Warren GK DC United Zak Whitbred D Liverpool (England)Jason White GK N/A Chris Wingert D St. John's Alex Yi D Royal Antwerp (Belgium) Mooch also has yet to look at Conor Casey or most of the members of the current U20 team who are all also age-eligible for the 2004 Olympics. Among the candiates for Athens from this group are Ricardo Clark, Santino Quaranta, Chad Marshall, Ryan Cochrane, Jordan Stone, C.J. Klaas, Mike Magee, Frank Simek, Steve Cronin and David Johnson. Also, there are another 30 or so pro players who are age-eligible for the Olympics but are currently not on Myernick's radar screen but could burst their way onto it with a strong season this year, particularly if they are a right mid or left back. Oh, and Taylor Twellman was born in 1980, which makes him too old for this U23 team. To be age-eligible for Athens, you have to have been born on or after Jan. 1 1981.
Thanks for the updated list. Apart from Casey, I wonder if any of the uncalled Euro-based players has a chance. At one time or another, there have been quite a few US kids over there. Considering the uncertainty over our back line, perhaps Myernick will look at the Holland-based defenders Shepherd and Kazlauskas. Charlton's Lloyd Sam might also be worth a look at right mid.
Definitely pumped also. i remember the players from the last Olys. I think we'll show the world how well we ball this time around. i just hope the security at the Athens Olympics is locked down. Don't want nothing bad to happen to our boyz.
Actually there were many people who took notice of the last Olympic team---they gave no quarter and attacked their a$$es off. I wish Dunseth's long range blast against Spain would have bounced off the post and in! I know many of us railed on Charles for not playing Donovan as a forward, but the style of the team was something that we haven't seen much of yet at the senior level(attacking). He clearly deserves lots of credit, and he obviously has an eye for talent(Casey, Cherundolo, Jaqua).
This is not a good way to make the roster pool. I will give a better way: Rule #1---Forget any college players. I don't care if you are Pele or Maradona. If you are not in PRO, or you're turning PRO too late, such as later than summer as 2003, then find a good bar to watch the game. Rule #2--For a starter and major sub role, you have to be a starter in first division club. Reserve doesn't count. Let's assume a 18 rosters. Forwards--4 Donovan, Quaranta, Buddle are three starters for their clubs. Casey, E. Johnson are subs. Eskandaran, Magee, Nate, etc. are in the picture. You have to be especially good to be in this pool. That may push someone like Quaranta, Buddle to right midfield role. Man, feel like Brazil or Argentina now. Midfielders--6 Beasley, Convey are starters. Martino, Davis, Gray, Barclay and Stone are sub. Clark is in the picture big time, so is Gavan, Memo, Capano and Mapp. Defenders--6 No one secure anything yet. Onyewu is a major sub now. If Convey keeps to play left back for US NAT, then he may start here too. Gray can secure a center defender spot if he can do that in Fire. Marshall and Cochrane have to turn PRO after U-20 WC soon because if I am the coach, rather to take two college defenders to the Olympic, I probably say--"Boca, Califf and Saurez, pack your bags!" Goalkeepers--2 Countess is set for Dallas as starter. Warren is backup in DC.
Yeah but we have to qualify for the Olympics first, and we can't use overrage players in qualifying. This MLS season is important, and hopefully Cochrane, Marshall, Pearces, Moor, Klaas and the other non-pro U20s bolt. I wouldn't count out the Dutch league players Kazlauskas and Shepherd just yet, some people just simply don't realize the technical and tactical standards over there.
I'm pretty sure that in a recent article Mooch just mentioned that he gets to take 20 to this Olympics.