Example: GK Schulte GK Celentano GK Kochen (YA) RB Jones RB Harangi (YA) CB Wynder (YA) CB Dettoni (YA) CB Banks (YA) CB Henry (YA) LB Tolkin LB Miller MF Sands MF Edelman MF Bassett MF McGlynn MF Cremaschi MF Zendejas (YA) WG Luna WG Gutierrez WG Q. Sullivan WG Cowell (YA) FW Vazquez (YA) FW Figueroa (YA)
I could quibble about a few players, but I think the key is that this list will be more important to US soccer than whoever will end up on a usual January camp roster.
In terms of the value of January camp, I’m not sure given how little time the coach gets to spend with the team why we wouldn’t want to give him more time with a portion of the pool. And while it’s true our main group is mostly in Europe, the more up and coming options to break into the team (like a Freese or Luna) play in MLS, and a lot of the younger players will be in Europe soon themselves. And this January camp in particular is a good opportunity for Pochettino to familiarize himself with MLS options, which is the part of the pool he’s least familiar with. And more broadly while we do have most the team in Europe we may be relaying a lot on MLS when it comes to goalie options and center back.
Waste of time and resources. That has probably been the case for about 10 years. You guys are going to have to accept at some point that MLS players are useless to the USMNT. A federation with a limited budget should stop wasting it on marketing MLS.
MLS players are in fact not useless to MLS and there are some MLS players who should be probably starting for the USMNT right now. And it’s going to a primary source of the younger players trying to break into the team.
We also typically had a decent number of A team players in Scandinavia at any given time back then who were also available. That said, I think we need it at least in 2025 and 26. After that we can re-evaluate.
Who's your starting GK--an EPL backup, League One starter, or an MLS starter? Same deal at CB, Zimmerman and Robinson shouldn't at least be in the mix?
I think for 2025 it’s pretty important for Pochettino just given his unfamiliarity with the MLS pool. For 2026 it might be more of a looking at younger players type camp. 27 and 28 will probably be more Olympic prep.
I was told Turner was the best shot stopper in the world and that was the only thing mattered for years. No!!! Those two are clearly not good enough and time to move on. Did you not watch the Olympics? The time of making believe MLS players are good enough under Arena/Berhalter is over. Not only will a real coach not taking less talented players from a shit league, many USMNT fans will not forget this period and will never support MLS again.
Turner was the best shot stopper in MLS not the world. But you didn’t answer the question in terms of what goalie outside MLS you think we should be starting.
This is a bit too much on the European guys for my tastes. Not only will many of them not get released, but I feel like the sort of guys you take from Europe are the ones in bad club situations as opposed to young guys fighting for their place. And there are lots of younger guys in MLS worth taking a look at like an Akinmboni (unless he gets a move as has been rumored). I think at center back you want a mix of guys like Zimmerman and Robinson with players like Neal and Akinmboni. Partly because those guys might be A team players but also because they give you a baseline for the newer faces that are brought in.
I think we all know it’ll be a challenge to get any of the yanks abroad released. I wanted to simply illustrate what it might look like if we didn’t have that challenge, and what players we might want to look at, to fill certain positions on the field.
As far as MLS and each position goes…. Goalkeeper: There are almost too many options. Schulte, Celentano, Freese, Brady, Steffen, and so forth. There’s no other position that will have more consequential value for our A team this window than goalkeeper. Right Back: This position is a desert. Even if you converted DeJuan Jones back to right back (which he might be more of a left back by now), he’s not necessarily playing the best right now. Nor does he move the needle. Then, there’s nobody worth a damn at the senior or youth level. And there aren’t a lot of yanks abroad options to try and reach out to. So much for having a lot of depth at right back. Therefore, we might just have to give this position to someone like Yedlin because he could offer a veteran presence in this camp. Center Back: There’s Miles. There’s Walker. And I guess you can say Ream still. Then who? All the other MLS options aren’t good options. Jalen Neal ain’t it. Jackson Ragen isn’t it either. But it gets a lot worse after that. Maybe you can convert James Sands back to center back for this camp. But our best option would probably make a pitch to one of these young center backs (Wynder, Dettoni, Henry, Banks, etc.) still playing for the reserves for their club team. Even if they’re not ready yet, it allows us to go ahead and introduce them to the staff. Left Back: If Tolkin stays, which he shouldn’t, this would be his time to shine. Peyton Miller would be the next player I’d elevate. I’d try to get Christian McFarlane. Jones is still a left back. Noah Allen wouldn’t be a horrible choice to see what he’s learned from Jordi Alba. So, simply, we’ve got some interesting choices. And I’d like to see if Tolkin can earn his back up spot to Jedi. Midfield: We’ve got some decent-not-great options to try out, but none might ever really be strong contenders for the A team. But hey, it’s always good to build depth. Attack Mid/Wing: If we get Cowell and Zendejas, maybe this position will feel crowded. There’s still Luna and Gutierrez and Cremaschi (and maybe Quinn and Clark if they keep it up), but every option that we have is not going to do much to move the needle for our A team unfortunately. But again, it helps to build depth. Forward: I really want us to try hard to get Brandon Vazquez. He’s the only option on the table that could actually get into the A team rotation, as his profile is unique in our player pool. After him, we’re just putting a name onto the field and hopefully building some depth in case we have to dig that deep into our player pool.
Turner is a short stop, not a GK. Anyone who pushed him into our national team should be ashamed. Berhalter getting rid of Steffen to appease Turner and remove Steffen was incredibly detrimental to our program. I'm ok with Steffen being in the pool, but don't see him getting to where he needs to be playing in this crap league. He still isn't too old to get his head straight and find a better environment to reach his potential. I'd probably go all in Slonina with Steffen as back up. What is the deal with the kid in Chicago? I liked his game but havent heard MLS geniuses talking about him.
This is how I think of the MLS options at each position Goalie:: Schulte, Freese, Brady, Celentano, Steffen, and Callendar and I think the first four in particular are who we should look at. You also have an up and coming option like Beavers Right Back: I think you have to use Jones as a right back here and the other options are Yedlin if Pochettino wants someone for veteran leadership who is familiar with his methods, Cannon, or Reed Baker Whiting if you want to call up a youth option. Left Back: Tolkin is the obvious pick here if he’s still around and I think the next best option is Miller. And if you can get McFarlane in for this camp you absolutely do it. Someone like Vines or Noah Allen are the fallback options Centerback: Robinson, Ream, and Zimmerman are all still under consideration for the A team. Miazga is good in MLS but hasn’t really shown it for the national team. Neal and Akinmboni are the up and coming options (and Akinmboni may have a move in him). I’d probably want to see the first three plus those two but other options in addition to Miazga include Ragen, Campbell, Tafari, Ian Fray, and Cobb. Defensive Midfield: Your options here are Sands (who can also play center back), Acosta, Atencio, Flach, and Edelman. None of these guys particularly stand out to me. Central Midfield: Pool here is probably McGlynn, Bassett, Cremaschi, Tillman, and Roldan. Possible LDLT if he makes a move back to MLS. There’s also Tsakiris and and Quinn Sullivan has played here a bit too. Attacking midfield: Luna and Gutierrez seem like the picks here. Cavan Sullivan an option here too but I think U20s first for him. Caden Clark maybe if he keeps up the good play I agree. Wings: Assuming we can get guys from Mexico Cowell and Zendejas would be options. I’d make a run for Barajas too but probably not happening for now. Someone like Berchimas would also be an option and there’s always Paul Arriola. Forward: Ferreira, Vazquez, and McGuire seem like the obvious options here, with Julian Hall the up and coming pick. Works out to something along the lines of GK: Schulte, Freese, Brady, Celentano LB: Tolkin, Miller RB: Jones, Cannon, RBW CB: Robinson, Zimmerman, Ream, Neal, Akinmboni DM: Sands, Atencio CM: Tillman, McGlynn, Cremaschi, Bassett AM: Luna, Gutierrez WF: Cowell, Zendejas, Quinn Sullivan, Arriola FW: Ferreira, Vazquez, Hall
Winter Camp Starting XI. ------------------Morris--- -------Clark----Acosta-----Rothrock--- ------------Bassett---Roldan--- --Arfsten------------------------------Harriel-- --------Zimmerman---Robinson---- ------------------Schulte---
That is an absolute waste of time except giving another few weeks to talk about how bad Morris, Acosta, Zimmerman, and Robinson are. I do have this dream of Poch calling these guys in for a camp and then just shutting down with disgust on the second day.
I don't think any of us have a real clue what Pochettino and staff are going to do with the January camp. I personally would much rather skew to young and new players, than the veterans. But maybe Pochettino will want to bring in the Zimmerman types for an evaluation. Who the hell knows? Like why do we need another look at Morris and Ferreira? [We don't, but maybe Poch will want one.] A guy that isn't getting anywhere near the love on the boards that his play deserves is Patrick Agyemang of Charlotte. 9 goals and 5 assists. One goal contribution less than Diego Luna. That's the kind of guy that January camp is usually for. Even guys "outside of box" without numbers that the staff think have potential. 9th goal of the season for Patrick Agyemang (‘00) https://t.co/GES8iWtrXC— American Ultras Talk (@ameriultrastalk) October 6, 2024
its a camp that euro players can't attend and the domestic players aren't in season, its not a showcase.
the irony is that if ur going to run out a lineup like that they are almost better as calling in twice as many players and playing against themselves in a 'friendly'. call in some young guys and have them play an mls team of guys who are on the fringe at best. maybe he can find a young guy who is a year away.
Slonina hasn’t exactly been playing well in League One. And Steffen is the worst shot stopper in MLS this year. Brady in Chicago has shown improvement but still a long way to go development wise.
I mean it’s a new coaching staff, they aren’t taking a new look at a player like Ferreira or Morris, they’re taking a first look at those players. There’s of the question of which MLS players deserve inclusion with the A team and to the extent any do it’s another opportunity for Pochettino to spend time with them working on his system. As for vets generally they do help provide a baseline for which to measure new faces and you do want at least a handful of guys who have been in camp before who can help the young guys. Go back and look at the comments Jonathan Gomez made about Acosta during his only January camp to get a sense of what that means.