Bruce Arena just announced the 23 man roster for training camp for the Nov. 17th match vs El Salvador: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=23628&itype= Let's start the debate about who is not in camp but you think should be! It's good to see Benny Olsen back in the mix. Also, I'm assuming none of the U-20's are available because of qualifying! Who did he miss this time around?
Steve Ralston isn't in BA plans. And I was hoping Antonio Martinez (assuming he's a US citizen) would get a call up. But Chad McCarty?!?!?!?!?!.
I would have to say Ralston. I know he's been given his shot before but if you're going to pick anyone other than Twellman from the Rev's because of the season they had, he's the guy...certainly not Hernandez.
I'm a huge Crew fan, but I am just as puzzled about McCarty as you! No Brian West, this only seems odd since Westy was an alternate for the WC. Not that he deserved that, but Bruce was high on him once. Hey did everyone notice that Ritchie Williams is not in camp? What about the kid from Coloroado, the forward, what's his name?
Chris Carrieri. He's good but not at the rate of Taylor Twellman. Perhaps one more season and will soon see. As for Richie, Pablo Masrroeni and (ASAP) Chris Armas has that position down. Besides Richie is getting on his age and hasn't impressed me that much.
Very interesting list. Landon Donovan is the most capped player on the Roster! Which should be all the answer you need regarding any of the older players. This is round one, game one of the '06 weeding out process. Eleven players (nearly half) on this list have ZERO caps. I'd expect any veterans (excluding RunD, Landon and Mathis) will not be seen until preps for the Gold Cup/Confederations Cup next year.
I know that this is a game for the younger players but since it's at RFK stadium in DC I'm surprised that Pope isn't on the team.
McBride Along those same lines, I didn't see McBride's name on that roster. Does anyone know why he was left off?
Didn't West get injured toward the end of the Crew's season? Did he play in the L.H. Open Cup final? (Damn non-FSW having cable company!)
Westy had the assist, however, it was only because Matt Reis dropped his less than perfect service! Did I ever see a Dynamo 73 playing in regionals in Omaha a long way back?
Hope I didn't miss anyone on this... Domestic players on WC squad, but not in camp Agoos Llamosa McBride Jones Meola Wolff (knee) Pope (knee) Domestic players (non-WC) listed by USSF, but not in camp Armas (knee) Convey (U-20) Gutierrez Lagos Maisonneuve Mulrooney Razov Thornton West Williams Many left off are older (Agoos, Jones, Llamosa, Meola, Williams, ...) and we probably won't see them again. Some are on the age bubble (McBride?) and we will see them only if nobody younger proves himself before qualification starts. Others are in the age range and have previously been seen by Bruce, but if you don't leave some folks out, then you can't see some new ones. I think West (who played the first 65 minutes of the Open Cup final -- saw no mention of injury) is not out of the mix, but Bruce left some out to get a look at others. P.S. Couldn't find a link, but I believe Pope's knee has been cleaned up a bit. Nothing too serious, but surgery and he's unavailable. Edited to add link: http://unitedmania.mlsfansites.com/...10&PHPSESSID=b701b4c7cb83745387dac80bfb207f10 Will Eddie Pope play tomorrow? Hudson: “No, he’s done for the year. I think he might be out of Bruce’s (Arena) plans for a little while now. He’s going to have an operation on his knee next week to clear that up once and for all. It’s a minor procedure. He’s had an MRI. He’s had discomfort in it ever since the World Cup, and it keeps nagging him.” "
P.S. Couldn't find a link, but I believe Pope's knee has been cleaned up a bit. Nothing too serious, but surgery and he's unavailable. [/B][/QUOTE] http://unitedmania.mlsfansites.com/...10&PHPSESSID=b701b4c7cb83745387dac80bfb207f10
I think it's absurd that Rimando got picked over Joe Cannon. I don't care if the friendly's at RFK, Cannon is a better keeper. I don't know what more he has to do to get a shot. And who the hell is Eddie Robinson? I haven't heard his name mentioned ever on here about a possible call up or about being impressive. And then we have Chad McCarty? Not quite sure what's going on here.
He was a starting centerback in the olympics w/ Califf (due to Dunseth's injury or suspension). Played well enough to keep the U-23 captain at the time (Dunseth) on the bench. I guess people were not expecting to see him called up???
I wonder how Chris Klein feels to be the old man of the team now? Also, Bobby Convey is currently with the U-20s and can't make this camp, am I correct?
I feel old, since Klein is a year younger than me. Yep, Convey will be in SC that weekend with the U-20's.
So do "unproven" players in the MLS have a better shot at the team than "unproven" yanks abroad? Or will Arena schedule plenty of Euro-based friendlies over the next 18 months? I'm just wondering what kind of shot players like Cherundolo, Casey, and Thorington will get at making the team.
I'm guessing that this is for the MLS players since Euroleagues are currently in season. We probably won't see too many Yanks abroad until next summer. Unless there's a friendly played in Europe between now and then.
I noticed that the oldest guys in camp are all in the 76 birth year -- will be 30 years old for the next WC. It seems to me that's a reasonable cutoff -- if you're not ALREADY a known commodity on the international scene and you're going to be over 30 for the next cup, then there's no point in bringing you into camp. For those calling for Ralston to be given a shot, unless you think he can cut it as an outside defender at the international level, I don't see him being in BA's plans. He'll be 32 at the next cup. Yes, you can have 32 year old outside midfielders providing veteran experience off the bench like Earnie and Cobi did last year -- but Ralston's not an international veteran. We don't need any 32 year old rookies at the WC.
No Martinez????? I was disappointed that Antonio Martinez didn't make the cut. The kid has skills far better than most wings in MLS, and I was under the impression that he was a US citizen. Can anyone provide that info about him? 3rdegree?