It will be very interesting to see Poch’s approach to the December / January Camp this year. There is still a lot we don’t know about Poch as the USMNT coach, and this will be his first stab at this annual camp, where more and more, we are seeing less and less of our A team participate in. So, who is on the radar for this camp? First off, here is a look at the available pool / preliminary roster…. Of note, (YA) means they’re a yank-abroad who I believe we could secure their release, (DN) means a dual national who would need to agree to accept, (IN) means injured, and (OM) means they’re likely on the move in the winter. You’ll notice that I divided the pool into 2 classes. Players being monitored and players who didn’t make the cut. Subject to change over the months. GOALKEEPERS: Patrick Schulte, Roman Celentano, Matt Freese, Zack Steffen, Chris Brady Didn’t make the cut: Drake Callender, Joe Willis, John McCarthy, Brad Stuver, Joe Willis, Zac MacMath, Gavin Beavers, Alex Bono, John Pulskamp, Sean Johnson, Steffen Frei FULLBACKS: John Tolkin (OM), DeJuan Jones, Reed Baker-Whiting, Christian McFarlane (DN & OM), Shaq Moore, DeAndre Yedlin, Reggie Cannon, Michael Bresser (DN & YA), Peyton Miller, Nolan Norris Didn’t make the cut: Oscar Verhoeven, Aidan Harangi (YA), Drew Baeira, Brooks Lennon, Nathan Harriel, Thomas Totland, Cameron Harper, Caden Clark, Bode Hidalgo, Jake Davis, Kyle Duncan, Cody Baker, Justin Che (YA), Sawyer Jura, Luka Bombino, Manu Romero (YA), Tahir Reid-Brown, Sam Vines, Noah Allen, Devin Padelford, Jackson Travis, John Nelson, Marco Farfan CENTER BACKS: Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, Noahkai Banks (YA), Noah Cobb, Joshua Wynder (YA), Matai Akinbomni, Jalen Neal, Grayson Dettoni (YA), Tim Ream, Jackson Ragen, Matt Miazga (IN), Sean Nealis, Jack Maher, Ian Murphy, Andrew Privett, Kipp Keller, Justen Glad, Henry Kessler, Sean Zawadzki, Nkosi Tafari Didn’t make the cut: Tyler Hall, Stuart Hawkins, Ramiz Hamouda, Drew Murray (YA), Luis Rivera, Santiago Suarez, George Campbell, Aaron Long, Ian Fray, Garrison Tubbs, Jonathan Tomkinson (YA), Kobi Henry (YA), Michael Wentzel MIDFIELDERS: Luca de la Torre (OM & YA), James Sands, Jack McGlynn (OM), Cole Bassett, Daniel Edelman, Josh Atencio, Leon Flach, Cristian Roldan, Keaton Parks, Frankie Amaya (YA) Didn’t make the cut: Taha Habroune, Ethan Kohler (YA), Adrian Gill (YA), Brooklyn Raines, Matthew Corcoran, Sergio Oregel, Miguel Perez, Bento Estrela (YA), Pedro Soma (YA), Adri Mehmeti, Adyn Torres, Stiven Jimenez, Jude Terry, Kellyn Acosta, Owen Wolff, Paxton Pomykal, Jackson Yuiell, Chris Durkin, Oliver Larraz, Danny Leyva, Carlos Miguel, Sebastian Berhalter, Peter Stroud, Edwin Cerrillo, Robert Deziel (YA), Francis Jacobs, Edwyn Mendoza, Darius Lane (YA) ATTACKERS: Tim Tillman, Djordje Mihailovic, Ben Cremaschi, Cade Cowell (YA), Diego Luna, Brian Gutierrez, Niko Tsakiris, Cole Campbell (YA), Kristian Fletcher (YA), Quinn Sullivan, Ted Ku-DiPietro, Gerardo Valenzuela, Paul Arriola Didn’t make the cut: Cavan Sullivan, Nimfasha Berchimas, Cruz Medina, David Vazquez, Max Carrizo, Luke Brennan, Mathis Albert (YA), Ruben Ramos, Santiago Morales, Zavier Gozo, Christopher Olney, Jack Mize (YA), Serge Ngoma, Paulo Rudisill (YA), Jackson Hopkins, Aziel Jackson, Bernard Kamungo, Agustin Anello (YA), Tyler Wolff, Indiana Vassilev, Bryce Duke, Ben Bender, Alan Sonora (YA), Joel Sonora (YA), Tyler Boyd, Chris Mueller, Alex Muyl, Memo Rodriguez, Jared Stroud, Jonathan Lewis, Benji Michel, Ian Harkes, Jack Panayatou, Dante Sealy, Jose Gallegos (YA), Alex Mighten, Andres Jasson, Malcom Fry, Christopher Aquino, Axel Perez (YA) FORWARDS: Brandon Vazquez (YA), Jesus Ferreira, Duncan McGuire, Jordan Morris, Julian Hall, Keyrol Figueroa (YA), Marcos Zambrano (YA), Alexander Staff (YA & DN), Austyn Jones (YA & DN), Rodrigo Neri, Logan Farrington, Niko Gioachinni, Joel Imasuen (YA & DN), Patrick Agyemang, Jacob Murrell, Darren Yapi, Matthew Hoppe (YA), Brian White, Alex Woiski (YA & DN) Didn’t make the cut: Bryce Jamison, Caden Glover, Nelson Pierre, Stefan Chirila, Micah Burton, Ezekiel Soto, Nighte Pickering, Mateo Bunbury, Favian Loyola, Tega Ikoba, Korede Osundina, Kaan Inanoglu (YA & DN), Simon Becher, Preston Judd, Mason Toye, Tanner Rosborough Okay, now, we have to actually create a comprehensive roster from this player pool. While it’s impossible to predict who will be available and who won’t, my best shot at a reasonable roster: GK Patrick Schulte GK Roman Celentano GK Matt Freese > Steffen > Brady FB DeJuan Jones FB Peyton Miller FB John Tolkin > McFarlane > Norris FB Reed Baker-Whiting FB DeAndre Yedlin > Moore > Cannon CB Walker Zimmerman CB Tim Ream CB Miles Robinson CB Jalen Neal > Dettoni > Wynder > Banks > Ragen MF James Sands MF Luca De la Torre > McGlynn > Roldan > Atencio MF Cole Bassett MF Daniel Edelman AT Djordje Mihailovic AT Ben Cremaschi AT Diego Luna AT Brian Gutierrez AT Cole Campbell > Valenzuela AT Cade Cowell > Q. Sullivan FW Brandon Vazquez > Ferreira FW Jordan Morris FW Duncan McGuire FW Julian Hall > Figueroa > Staff > Jones > Zambrano …From this roster, I predict that Vazquez, Cowell, De la Torre, McGlynn, and Tolkin will be unavailable. So, here is a possible XI: —————McGuire—Morris—————— Gutierrez————————————Luna —————-Bassett——Sands————— Jones—————————————Yedlin ———M. Robinson—Zimmerman———- ————————Schulte———————- Bench: Celentano, Neal, Miller, Edelman, Cremaschi, Campbell, Hall Thoughts? Well; we are going to definitely test our depth. The only position that impacts our first team is goalkeeper. But the whole camp is worth it for that reason alone. Am I excited about every call up? No. But I could see guys like Yedlin make an appearance due to lack of other options, and he might at least offer a more veteran presence for some of the new guys. Let me just say, if Tolkin moves this winter, DeJuan Jones is the only fullback option we have that’s worth calling in, so we’re kind of stuck. I would like to see a way to introduce Gutierrez and Luna into the team. They’re a long way off from the A team. But who knows? A good camp might shake the cages. I would like to have Zimmerman and Miles get some time at center back, because they have actually been probably our most consistent duo. Maybe they could impact our A team. Jones is good enough that he could make a case for depth. Same for Sands. But that’s distant depth. I don’t expect much from Bassett, Edelman, Morris, and McGuire…. But hey; they could surprise me. It would be interesting if we could find a way to get guys like Miller, Hall, Campbell, etc. their first caps. Cremaschi still fits in this category too even if he has been capped.
Forward this to Poch so he has a blueprint. Let's crowdsource him into being knowledgeable about the pool. I'd be enthused about the GK & CB trials. You could try 2 keepers in 2 matches - Schulte & Freese. At CB I'd pair one golden oldie (Zimm/Miles) w/ a platinum newbie (Neal/Ragen). As for FB, I agree, there's tasty wheat at the top, surrounded by chaff. If we lose Tolkin or Jones, this position is shoddy. Maybe a flyer on youth like McFarlane & Jake Davis or RBW. Wing is also kind of weak, facilitating bringing over a near ready reserve from abroad like Campbell. Though Q. Sullivan & Luna could suffice. I think this a pretty strong group up the middle offensively or defensively. You could play Luna at the former. That's also where I'd put Guti, McGlynn. You have viable 6's like Sands, Zawadzki, Atencio. At 8 you have Tillman, Tsakiris, Parks, Bassett, Cremaschi. And CF is respectable. It'd be great if you could get Vazquez, but I doubt you will. Time to bring Morris back in. Ferreira's a decent change of pace. Maybe we could get Colombia domestic & Argentina domestic, w/ Poch's connections, for opponents. Could play them in South America, though that may be too tough. For starters, I'd go w/: ----------Morris----------- Luna----Guti-----Sullivan ----Sands---Tillman------ Tolkin-----------------Jones- -------Neal---Zimm--------- ---------Schulte-------------- Switch to Miles-Ragen for the other game. Give Tsakiris a real chance outside those loser Quakes. I want to see Zawadzki at his preferred position. And again, give Freese the other start. Also, afford Campbell a little look see. It would make for a nice little January camp Saturday.
My gut is we'll also have a U20 camp in this window as that team is preparing for the U20 WC a few months later. So some of these U20s, like Peyton Miller, might not be at this camp.
I mean, if the senior team needs you, and you might actually play for the senior team, you’re going to play for the senior team over the u-20.
They usually bump a few guys up if they are promising and it’s not as if there’s a ton at left back domestically behind Tolkin (who himself may move in January). Though I do like the idea of trying to get McFarlane to camp if he’ll accept.
I wouldn’t expect many of the European guys to be there (or any at all) unless they are in a poor club situation. Feels like it’ll be mostly a camp for MLS guys to make their case to Pochettino that they deserve to be in his plans. With some up and coming and young prospects sprinkled in.
I agree that it’ll be difficult to secure their releases. That said, it’s usually a 50/50 shot (not sure about the exact percentage) of being able to secure the release of a player who is still with the reserves or not playing at all. You could ask if it’s even worth bothering with such a player…. But for a January Camp, if our options are one player in MLS who has no prospect of being a future USMNT player or a player who hasn’t earned it yet but who could be a key player in years to come; who do we select? Personally, I have limited interest in calling up another Cristian Roldan type ~ unless there is no reasonable alternative. I would personally give that chance to a promising youngster. Even if it was a gamble.
im curious how we are going to fill the youth coaching jobs. i sure wouldnt mind some new blood, guys from tottenham, psg, chelsea b/youth teams, lil poch or one of his assistants maybe? that pool of fc dallas, luchi, gregg with a dabbling of pareja guys have been oppressively mediocre...
Luna, Schulte, Neal, and Jones show. I like Vasquez and Caldwell from Liga MX if they can be called in but they are quite useful players for their clubs so it may preferred for them to stay and train with their clubs this winter. Other than that, slim pickings.
I mean those jobs are all currently filled. The only youth coach who is out is Mitrovic as there’s no U23 team at current.
Are we even sure Poch and Co. are even going to have a January camp? How much benefit will he and his coaches gain from a January Camp? Their mission is to find the best 23ish players for WC2026 and mold them into a cohesive team. January Camp won't help them in that mission. Also, CCC play will likely start EARLIER in 2025 due to the Club World Cup in June, which means some MLS teams aren't going to be willing to release their players. Liga MX starts play in January..... so clubs south of the border aren't likely to release players either. It wouldn't be all that surprising if January camp is an U20 and U17 camp to get ready for the U20 and U17 WC's.
If I was Poch, and I had an opportunity to work more with my possible number one keeper (Schulte, or maybe, Celentano, etc.) and maybe work with the Miles-Walker center back duo (due to the fact that center back is so unsettled right now), I’d say that January Camp would absolutely be worth it to have.
I mean it’s worth it if it can work schedule wise. Opportunity for him to take a long look at the MLS guys and figure who can help and who can’t. Given the limited windows and time he has with the team worth looking at say Freese and Schulte and seeing what you think of both. Or if you think you can use Zimmerman or Robinson. Similarly looking at guys on the cusp of call ups like Luna and Gutierrez. It’s maybe not as worth it in January 2026, but it is now given his newness to the job and lack of familiarity with the MLS pool.
I don't think we have a clue what type of players Poch and staff will focus on for this camp. Klinsmann behaved at times like January camp was an afterthought with regards to the senior USMNT. He basically turned it into a U23 camp for fringe players. Even players like Alonso Hernandez from Mexico. So if Poch wants to make this partially a U20 camp for the U20WC in March (with U20 coaching staff), that would be fine for me. And then turn it into a U23 camp as the Los Angeles Olympics start approaching, more power to him. Or he could say "I need to see these MLS vets in order to evaluate for myself if they can help the A team." We don't know..................................... [What we do know is its incredibly difficult to get players from Europe. Even those in reserve teams. The likelihood of a player like Cole Campbell being at this camp is near zero. Teams in Europe that have winter breaks, take those breaks seriously for their players.]
I'd say very useful given that Poch is coming in with less exposure to the MLS/LigaMX based player pool than any coach in the modern history of our team. Including both Arena tenures, Poch is the 7th permanent NT head coach since the end of the 1994 WC. Of the previous 6, 4 came directly from MLS jobs (including Arena both times) and another was promoted directly from NT assistant to HC. The 6th was Jurgen who hadn't coached in MLS but had been residing in the US and publicly lobbying for the job for several years prior to his hire. While most of our top players are in Europe now we have a number of positions in both the 11 and the 26 that are in flux and that MLS/LigaMX guys are very much in the mix for--2 GK spots including the starter, 3 CB spots including at least 1 if not both starters, depth at fullback and wing. We also don't know how Poch will weigh the sliding spectrum of guys excelling in MLS vs playing in Europe--obviously a Pulisic/ARob/healthy Dest excelling for a good team while passing the eyeball test is the ideal, but we also have a lot of guys who are bench players for top clubs or starting regularly but not really excelling in a 2nd tier Euro league. You could maybe argue a Camp Cupcake in Jan 2026 would be a waste of time but Jan 2025 still has 18 months or so to go before the WC and will leave plenty of time for guys who take advantage of the opportunity to work their way into the senior team.
This is really your primary concern, huh, and why you claim this doesn't have value, even though Poch has little domestic pool knowledge & especially at the back a # of these guys can figure into the WC roster. There's a limited amount of MLS clubs in CCL & they seldom doesn't acquiesce to senior calls. They know their success is part tied to how we do internationally. And if they were stingy with senior calls, less domestics would sign with them.
I wouldn’t use Klinsmann as a proxy for anything given he is a charlatan who shouldn’t be taken seriously as a coach.
Indeed. January 2026 camp may be last chance saloon for fringe domestic players to make a case for the World Cup roster. At least, that's what its been under other managers. I was just pointing out that each USMNT manager has had a different approach to January camp. We don't know what Poch's will be. Hell, for all we know he'll decide it's a waste of time.
Top 10 Things to Look for at January Camp: #1 MOST IMPORTANT - Can Patrick Schulte (or Roman Celentano, or someone else) emerge as a legitimate starter for our A team? #2 Can Walker Zimmerman and/or Miles Robinson make their case to be either starters for the national team, the 3&4 bench options at center back, or a reliable alternate for us? #3 If he doesn’t move abroad, is Tolkin a reliable back up for left back? #4 Is DeJuan Jones ready as an alternate for the USMNT at either right back or left back? #5 If we can secure Brandon Vazquez release, could he push into the senior team? #6 If he moves to MLS, will Luca de la Torre be there? And is he ready for more of a leadership role? #7 If we can secure their releases, Noahkai Banks, Joshua Wynder, and/or Grayson Dettoni, will they look good enough to break into the senior team rotation? #8 Can we keep Brian Gutierrez and Diego Luna in our program? And if so, are they ready for prime time? #9 If we can secure his release, is Cole Campbell the real deal? Or just another over hyped prospect? #10 Is anyone from this Olympic generation, such as Jack McGlynn, Cole Bassett, Ben Cremaschi, etc. are they ready to make the jump into the senior team and maybe push for a move abroad?
Good work on this but didn't Miles only sign a one year deal in hopes of moving abroad in the winter?
No, it's a 1 & 1 (team option). So Cincy would have to be really accommodating if he receives an opportunity. And it's effectively no different than any 2-yr contract.