My, if I could have a YA B team camp… GK Kochen, Slonina, Eyestone/Delpace/Di Marzi (No Horvath) RB Fossey, Reynolds CB Trusty, Wynder CB Carter-Vickers, Banks LB Wiley, Bello MF Maloney, Morris MF Busio, P. Aaronson RM Cowell, Ledezma AM De la Torre, Booth/Puktsas LM Campbell, Yow FW Vazquez, Pefok …Never would happen. But I would be interested in who would stand out.
It should be done every June and include everyone, not just YA. It could go on concurrently to the full team GC training. Guys who perform well could get some training time with the first team and shouldn't be hard to find an opponent or two to get a real game. I've been arguing for a full time u23/B team for over 10 years. This is an obvious offshoot of that. While we are dreaming, every other youth team would have a camp as well. Nice list. A couple of those guys have been in the team and are becoming more fringe players. This happening more and more would give a good baseline for evaluation. In a 23 man roster, Sargent might be on the outside and maybe only one of Johnny or Tessman.
--------------------------------Farrington/Agyemang--------- ---------Cowell/Miljevic--------Luna/McGlynn--------Zendejas/Rothrock ---------------------Sands/Atencio-------Bassett/Cremaschi --Arfsten/Tolkin-----------------------------------------------------------Roldan/Harriel -----------------Zimmmerman/Ragen-----Robinson/Padelford---- ------------------------------Kochen/Schulte/Celentano Added Miljevic, McGlynn, and Zendejas
I wonder if Rothrock will be available. This camp isn't actually that far away, and Seattle confirmed his injury is significant. It would be a shame because he's earned the opportunity. Paul Rothrock Out for Season with Quad Injury; Sounders Face Challenges - BVM Sports Seattle Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a significant quad injury. Head coach Brian Schmetzer confirmed that Rothrock initially played through discomfort but was later diagnosed with a serious muscle pull after an MRI. His contributions had been pivotal during the team's strong finish, but now the Sounders must adapt without him. This setback comes as they prepare for the Western Conference finals against the LA Galaxy, with other players also facing injury concerns. Maybe replace him with a versatile attacking player like Quinn Sullivan??
To update: GK: Schulte, Guzan, Freese, Brady or Celentano D: Neal, Zim, Ream, Ragen, Mifuni Tolkin, Miller, Yedlin, Orquin MF: Mihailovic, McGlynn, Sands, Cremaschi, Edelman, AM: Zendejas, Luna, Cowell, Clark. Q. Sullivan, Berchimas. ST: Morris, Vasquez, Markanich, Germain
People still haven't given up on Zimmerman and Mihailovic? I thought the Olympics would be their going away gift. Do people think at their age and after all their opportunities that they going to finally just figure it out. It is never going to happen. Quit wasting resources on these hacks.
Djordje hasn't risen to the occasion at the international level. But he is really good at free kicks. It's possible that a coach would want that with one of the two extra slots. Also, we're like 7 or 8 deep in Europeans at that position (6s and 8s). So my roster isn't holding anyone back. And somebody has to play these two games. But if people want to put Tsakiris in, I'd be fine with that. Zim is far from perfect, but we only gave up 2 goals in the 2022 WC group stage, which was way better than we usually do (Kudos to Gregg here). Then he rose to the occasion and played better and provided leadership in Paris. So he has earned his look. As opposed to MRob, who didn't get on the field in Copa and played poorly at the Olympics. I left him out. Our CB situation is desperate. We have two guys playing even close to well and an aging third. We have good prospects who are too young to count on for 2026. Neal was the oldest and most likely to leap into the picture but he got benched. Banks is the best teen, but he should stay in Europe for any hope of first team minutes. If he shows up at Winter Camp, there's no hope he will be getting BL minutes anytime soon. I'm not expecting a lot from Ragen. But as the best American CD in MLS, his call is necessary. Our best hope of striking gold might be the Japanese-American players - Chase and Mifuni. If they would play for us. Oh and Yedlin .... people love to write him off, but he's still one of the few MLS lifers who has actually made plays at the WC. Plus he's a leader.
We need to quit spending time on players who have zero chance of helping us going forward. Nobody in MLS can help us now, so go off potential (specifically favoring those who might have a chance to make a WC squad). We didn't give up many goals because every decision berhalter made was defensive. Zimmerman looked out of sorts at the WC and the instead of the over age players helping, they were a detriment at the Olympics. Yes, I never want to see a MLS lifer in a USMNT squad ever again. We did enough of it under Berhalter for the rest of my life. The only use MLS provides to the USMNT are developing players with potential who can go learn how to play in Europe.
While I’m certainly not the most pro-MLSer, I don’t know if we have the depth yet to completely exclude MLS. Look at goalkeeper. I hate it but none of our yanks abroad are any good at goalkeeper. All of them are bench warmers at best. We can’t even have a goalkeeper starting in League One. We’re desperate. So, MLS still has value. Secondly, our depth at center back still requires us to evaluate our MLS options. I don’t like it. But we don’t have a reliable Carlos Bocanegra right now. We have an injury prone Chris Richards who is lucky to play. So, again, MLS still has value. Thirdly, we have seen how the injury bug can create chaos in our roster selections over the years. At some point, we might have to dig deep. So, MLS still has value. And finally, as you mentioned, MLS still serves as a launching pad for aspiring USMNT youngsters. So, MLS still has value. That said, I agree with you that I don’t want to see a return of the Berhalter days where we are selecting Daniel Lovitz over Antonee Robinson, and other such selections. For instance, Fossey > Moore. At the same time, if the coach can use the camp appropriately, it’s still a good use of our time. It just becomes a detriment if we exaggerate a players worth based on their performance in these camps.
That is a generally rational response. Historically, I would agree as my view has always been to select the best players, no matter where they play. However, after Arena/Berhalter misuse of our pool, I dont want to see any MLS players near the USMNT. Also, the extended over use of MLS players makes this a rational view until proven otherwise. My response to 1 and 2 is that MLS doesn't prepare players in these positions for the USMNT. Our pool is large enough that we can cover with foreign based players. I'll take Kochen and Banks over any MLS player at this point. If an MLS player wants to play international soccer, then they should get to Europe as quick as possible. The only thing good that can come of this camp is Poch seeing up close how poor these players are. It is shocking to see these players technique/touch up close. A cheaper and better use of time would be to send the staff to Europe to scout and spend time with the actual USMNT players.
I agree that I would like to see more opportunities for our fringe European guys. In other threads, I’ve made mentioned of a hypothetical YA - B team, and I wish we could try something like that out. That said, I don’t think Poch is so busy that he can’t explore what he has in his own back yard too.
--------------------------------Farrington/Agyemang--------- ---------Cowell/Miljevic--------Luna/McGlynn-------Zendejas/QSullivan ----------------------Sands/Atencio-------Bassett/Cremaschi --Arfsten/Tolkin-----------------------------------------------------------Roldan/Harriel ------------------Zimmmerman/Ragen-----Robinson/Padelford---- -----------------------------Kochen/Schulte/Celentano---- Sullivan to replace the injured Rothrock If Cowell transfers, Caden Clark would be a good replacement. If Tolkin transfers, Harriel can do double duty in role backup role.
Liga MX Clausura is in January. Starts January 10th???? Its unlikely any of these first team Liga MX players will be released. Also of interest.......................CONCACAF Champions Cup first round is February 4th. I suspect we'll get everybody we want from MLS in January. However, it also wouldn't shock me if one or two clubs don't release players in order to prepare for those matches with their teammates. Or ask for them to be released for the second friendly. Clubs in the first round of the CCL: Colorado, LAFC, SKC, Vancouver, Seattle, Cincinnati, RSL. [LAG and Columbus have first round byes.]
Doyle weighs in: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/usmnt-roster-prediction-who-could-make-january-2025-camp GOALKEEPER (3): Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire FC) LEFT BACK (2): John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) CENTER BACK (6): Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Andrew Privett (Charlotte FC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy) RIGHT BACK (2): Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake), DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati) DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD (3): James Sands (New York City FC), Edwin Cerrillo (LA Galaxy), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) CENTRAL MIDFIELD (4): Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Jake Davis (Sporting Kansas City), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Timothy Tillman (LAFC) ATTACKING MIDFIELD/WINGER (4): Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire FC), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union) CENTER FORWARD (2): Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC) I would probably cheat a bit younger or add a U20 camp (Reed Baker-Whiting anyone? Nimfasa Berchimas?), but aside from the obvious centerback and keeper evaluation, I think there's some intriguing "What could Poch do with someone like this" in this list. Bassett and McGlynn have completely different skillsets, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Poch bring out their game, especially Bassett. He's a much better player than he was a year ago. The non-Yedlin fullbacks are all intriguing given our struggles to find backups, and they generally have better skill sets than a lot of our prior looks, if maybe not the athleticism. Maybe they simply aren't enough defensively ... but Arfsten will surprise you offensively. Agyemang is the kind of late developer that could actually surprise. I want to see Guti and Luna with a coach who plays more 1-2.
Doyle needs to quit shilling for over the hill former USMNT players. In the words of Charlie Davies. "Get rid of the mls riff raff". He was referring to Zimmerman, but Sands, Roldan and Yedlin could also be part of his target. None of these guys are going to sniff the roster for 26. Bring in youth.
I come embrace Doyle as the face of MLS. He is the perfect clown to represent all the leagues silly little fans and so simply highlights how idiotic the decisions of the league can be. I wonder why no other sport would push a fat, unathletic, childless, cat lady to market their leagues? Armchair Analyst: The MLS-based guys I want to see Mauricio Pochettino take a look at in January camp.I'm really, really focused on that backline & goalkeeper.https://t.co/0HIXBxD3mK pic.twitter.com/JCVxjxQ1ne— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) December 18, 2024
A look at the player pool for this camp: *= eligible for u-20 ! = possible YA call up ? = uncommitted dual national % = rumor of move abroad or move to MLS this winter Goalkeepers: Patrick Schulte, Roman Celentano, Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Zack Steffen, Brad Guzan, John McCarthy, Brad Stuver, Gavin Beavers*, Andrew Rick*, Julian Eyestone*!, Duran Ferree*, Adam Beaudry* Top 5 picks: 1. Schulte, 2. Celentano, 3. Brady, 4. Freese, 5. Steffen Analysis: Almost have too many options and yet we need to evaluate all of them. The whole purpose of this camp should be to figure out who can be our new #1. Enthusiasm meter: A + (the main reason to tune in for this camp. We need competition with Turner whose career is in free fall). Right Backs: Oscar Verhoeven*, Reed Baker-Whiting*, Aidan Harangi*!, Leo Duru*!, Andrew Baeira*, Harbor Miller*, Frankie Westfield*, DeAndre Yedlin, Shaq Moore, Brooks Lennon, Reggie Cannon, Nathan Harriel, Emeka Eneli, Thomas Totland, Bode Hidalgo, Nick Lima, Cody Baker, Mauricio Cuevas, Jake Davis, Michael Bresser*!?, Wesley Okoduwa*!? Top 5 picks: 1. Yedlin, 2. Moore, 3. Cannon, 4. Lennon, 5. Harriel Analysis: I would love to give a young guy a chance because I’m not excited about any of our right back options. But there isn’t even one decent kid on this list who I think even has the potential to ever be a decent player for the national team. Thus, I have to defer to experience. And hope that a call up might resurrect a career. Enthusiasm meter: F (let’s never brag about having too much depth in one position again. Every option stinks.) Center Backs: Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Jackson Ragen, Jalen Neal, Andrew Privett, Justen Glad, Noah Cobb*, Matai Akinbomni*%, Joshua Wynder*!, Noahkai Banks*!, Chris Mbai-Assem*!, Elijah Scott*!, Tyler Meiser*!?, Grayson Dettoni*!?, Stuart Hawkins*, Neil Pierre*, Chibuike Ukaegbu*, Tyler Hall*, Christian Diaz*, Henry Kessler, Sean Nealis, Nkosi Tafari, Ian Murphy, Kobi Henry!, Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Kipp Keller, George Campbell, Aaron Long, Sean Zawadzki, Jack Maher Top 10 picks: 1. Zimmerman, 2. Robinson, 3. Ream, 4. Ragen, 5. Privett, 6. Nealis, 7. Neal, 8. Glad, 9. Kessler, 10. Miazga Analysis: There aren’t any promising prospects to really look at. So, this camp is only to give Poch time to really evaluate Zimmerman, Miles, and Ream. Sorry if you want better. There isn’t better. Enthusiasm meter: B - (rated this high only because maybe Poch can figure out a way to get more out of the vets who still figure to be part of the senior team) Left Backs: John Tolkin%, DeJuan Jones, Max Arfsten, Peyton Miller*, Nolan Norris*, Christian McFarlane*%?, Sawyer Jura*, Tahir Reid-Brown*, Luca Bombino*, Sam Vines, Devin Padelford, Noah Allen, Jackson Travis, Will Sands Top 5 picks: 1. Tolkin, 2. Miller, 3. Arfsten, 4. Jones, 5. McFarlane/Vines Analysis: I want Tolkin to make his move abroad but it comes at the cost of him missing a very valuable call up. Oh well. I would honestly consider stealing Miller from the u-20’s. I don’t expect much from anyone else. Maybe you can win a dual national battle by calling in McFarlane. Other than that, Vines? See if we can resurrect his career? Enthusiasm meter: A (if Tolkin is there), C (if he’s not) Holding Mids: James Sands, Daniel Edelman, Cole Bassett, Jack McGlynn%, Ethan Kohler*!, Pedro Soma*!, Taha Habroune*, Brooklyn Raines*, Sergio Oregel*, Owen Wolff%, Bryan Moyado*, Nathan Worth*, Ervin Torres*, Colin Guske*, Jude Terry*, Adrian Gill*!, Matthew Corcoran*, Miguel Perez*, Bento Estrela*!, Adyn Torres*, Stivin Jimenez*, Adri Mehmeti*, Kellyn Acosta, Cristian Roldan, Pax Pomykal, Tim Tillman, Josh Atencio, Danny Leyva, Leon Flach!, Jackson Yuiell, Keaton Parks, Chris Durkin, Oliver Larraz, Noel Buck*!?, Edwin Cerrillo Top 10 picks: 1. Sands, 2. McGlynn, 3. Bassett, 4, Edelman, 5. Soma, 6. Buck, 7. Acosta, 8. Tillman, 9. Wolff, 10. Roldan Analysis: After the top 4, which aren’t necessarily thrilling, your hope is to see if Barcelona will release Soma, and then a bunch of vets who we already know aren’t good enough. Maybe, we could steal Buck back for the national team. But it’s worth it to see if one the young players can at least be considered good depth options. Enthusiasm meter: B - (the young options have some talent, but I don’t see any breaking into the senior team any time soon) Attackers: Brian Gutierrez, Diego Luna, Quinn Sullivan, Cavan Sullivan*%, Mathis Albert*!, Ninfasha Berchimas*!%, Djordje Mihailovic, Ben Cremaschi*, Caden Clark, Ted Ku-diPietro, Kristian Fletcher*!, Luke Brennan*, David Vazquez*, Serge Ngoma*, Max Carrizo*, Zavier Gozo*, Ruben Ramos*, Chris Olney*, Santiago Morales*, Mehki Joyner*, Jack Mize*!, Bajung Darboe*!, Paulo Rudisill*, Gerardo Valenzuela, Aziel Jackson, Paul Arriola, Indy Vassilev, Jackson Hopkins, Bryce Duke, Bernard Kamungo, Ben Bender, Tyler Wolff, Tyler Boyd, Paul Rothrock, Alex Muyl, Memo Rodriguez, Chris Mueller, Ian Harkes, Benji Michel, Jonathan Lewis, Jack Panayatou, Jose Gallegos!, Dante Sealy, Alex Mighten, Malcolm Fry*, Brian Romero*, Chris Aquino*, Cole Mrowka* Top 15 picks: 1. Luna, 2. Gutierrez, 3. Q. Sullivan, 4. Cremaschi, 5. Mihailovic, 6. Clark, 7. Arriola, 8. Valenzuela, 9. Albert, 10. C. Sullivan, 11. Berchimas, 12. Darboe, 13. Carrizo, 14. Fletcher, 15. Ramos Analysis: This is the one area of the field where I wouldn’t mind seeing us take some risks on some youngsters. Mainly, I want to see if Gutierrez and/or Luna can show enough to take the next step in their careers. Enthusiasm meter: B+ (a more generous rating than our holding mids because there might be more of a chance that a good window could elevate Guti or Luna). Forwards: Jordan Morris, Duncan McGuire, Brandon Vazquez!%, Jesus Ferreira, Julian Hall*, Keyrol Figueroa*!, Marcos Zambrano*!, Alex Staff*!, Austyn Jones*!, Jykese Fields*!, Dino Klapija*!, Caden Glover*, Nelson Pierre*, Stefan Chirila*, Bryce Jamison*, Joel Imasuen!, Logan Farrington, Patrick Ageyemang, Brian White, Nico Gioacchini, Matthew Hoppe! Top 5 picks: 1. Vazquez, 2. Ferreira, 3. Agyemang, 4. Farrington, 5. Morris Analysis: There aren’t any options that we should get excited about becoming our number one or number two man, besides maybe Vazquez, who seems to have hit a slump in his career. Hopefully he’ll move back to MLS and at least be a decent option. Enthusiasm meter: If Vazquez is there (B-), if he’s not (F.)
The way I see it, like Doyle says, it's very, very unlikely that we'll see MLS guys making the 2026 roster at CM or the attacking positions, so I'd skew younger there in my call-ups for this camp...Berchimas, Cremaschi, Raines, etc. These picks are more about the future and seeing which guys who have looked good with the YNTs might be able to scale up to the senior team eventually even if they haven't earned it with their play in MLS. Then, for the back line and GK, there's a very good chance we'll see some MLS guys on the 2026 roster, so I'd call in whoever is currently looking good in MLS for these spots. For GK right now, we have Turner, ???, ???. Maybe Kochen takes one of those spots, but we're going to need at least one MLS GK. For CB right now, I'm comfortable with McKenzie, and I assume/hope Richards will be better after looking terrible at the Copa and getting benched at his club. But that still leaves 2 open spots. It seems totally plausible that those spots go to 2 MLS guys, since the Euro competition is basically the Celtic guys, CCV and Trusty,...maybe Chase if he switches, or Banks if he starts getting Bundesliga minutes. We know backup LB is wide open, and 3rd string RB is wide open. So, look at the best current MLS guys for those positions, whoever they are (I didn't watch much MLS this year). But it might be the case that someone like Miller is currently one of the best options and is a pick for the future too.