USMNT: To Rüssia With Love

[Cellar-Door]

The other key for the new under 20 generation is they are skipping college.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The other key for the new under 20 generation is they are skipping college.

In ever increasing numbers. The U20 WC teams, by number of college players:

2017: ??
2015: 2/21 (just the backup keepers)
2013: 4/21
2011: didn't qualify, qualifying squad had 4/20
2009: 10/21
2007: 7/21
2005: 12/21
2003: 11/20
2001: 14/18

The MLS academies have hoovered up a lot of talent in major metro areas, which means that many prospects enter the league earlier via the homegrown player rule -- either before NCAA or after just 1-2 years (which IMO is not ideal but is significantly better than playing all four years). More players are going overseas than ever before. And because less of the upper echelon of American talent is going through the NCAA for both of those reasons, it's easier to fish out the best of the non-MLS-academy rest with Generation Adidas contracts to put them in the league via the draft before they graduate. I still think players should be allowed to declare for the draft as underclassmen, though.

We've had pretty minimal college involvement in U20 WC squads since 2011, but one difference now is that domestic pros have a better development environment because of the USL partnership and MLS reserve teams. Way more minutes available for many players who aren't ready for first team playing time.

Right now the US U-20 pool has some college players, but that may change by the time qualifying rolls around in February. Several college guys have MLS academy connections and could sign homegrown contracts - GK J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown/San Jose), LB Marcello Borges (Michigan/NYRB), CM Eryk Williamson (Maryland/DC), CM Cam Lindley (UNC/Chicago). CM/AM Jackson Yueill (UCLA) and CB Miles Robinson (Syracuse) are not MLS academy guys but are two of the strongest bets to get offered GA contracts and go into the draft.

All that being said, sometimes going with a college kid in the U20s is the right choice despite the NCAA environment. In 2013, Tab Ramos selected the following group of professional forwards: Victor Pineda (since dropped into NASL), Mario Rodriguez (currently on loan in Germany's third tier where he's a bit player), Jose Villarreal (not much playing time with the Galaxy), Danny Garcia (since dropped into the USL), Alonso Hernandez (now in Mexican lower divisions), Danny Cuevas (dropped into NASL, now seemingly inactive). In doing so, he chose to cut a player headed to college that fall, Stanford's Jordan Morris.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Jimmy Conrad claims he is running for USSF president in 2018.



Conrad is a jokester, so I'm not sure if he'd run a 100% serious campaign or something like Grant Wahl's FIFA president spoof campaign.

 

[Titans Bastard]

This article, I think, is a useful frame when thinking about the post-2018 managerial landscape.

Lessons that U.S. Soccer might learn when hiring future head coaches

 

[DJnVa]

Recap of Arena's meeting with reporters: http://pilotonline.com/sports/other/soccer/arena-us-fighting-for-our-lives-in-world-cup-qualifying/article_ce6a471e-8667-58a4-853e-e3f99285f145.html

"The comment regarding foreign-born players, at the time I believe was referencing player development. And I was simply saying that if our senior national team program consists of a large minority of players, large majority of players that were born elsewhere, where are we going with our development? It has nothing to do with who should be playing on the national team, who should not."

"Mexico certainly came out and took control of the game early, and I don't think that should happen at home," he said. "I think the game in Costa Rica was not good from start to finish. In general, I think the theme in both games: Our back line played poorly, and I don't think they're poor players. I think they can play better, so we've got to get them organized, get the right players in the right spots and get them playing better as a unit."

As he takes over, he wants to change the Americans' mentality and consistency.

"Too many peaks and valleys," he said, moving his hands up and down. "We've got to get them to level out their performance a little bit more."

"I'm not a person that digs deep into analytics because I don't think the sport of soccer is an analytic sport," he said. "I think baseball clearly is. I think football can be, obviously, basketball a little bit more. I think soccer is a hard one."

Players:

Arena displayed a binder with 48 players arrayed in a depth chart, but he didn't allow reporters to get close enough to view the names

Arena says midfielder Benny Feilhaber could return and 35-year-old midfielder Jermaine Jones "certainly still has something to offer."

He views captain Michael Bradley as a defensive midfielder rather than a playmaker, a role Klinsmann encouraged Bradley to assume.

Tactics:

We need a better passer in the midfield than we have. We need to have a player in the attacking half of the field that can deliver the right ball at the right time," he said. "Who that is remains to be seen. There's a couple of domestic players that are very good at that that we'll look at in camp in January, and that to me is an area that we've got to identify. And that will help establish how we play. Do we play with one striker, two strikers? Do we play with three? How do we define our midfield shape based on that."

 

[SocrManiac]

Tactics: "We need a better passer in the midfield than we have. We need to have a player in the attacking half of the field that can deliver the right ball at the right time," he said. "Who that is remains to be seen."

Has anybody seen Michael Bradley alive since the press conference?

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Has anybody seen Michael Bradley alive since the press conference?

It's sad how excited I was reading that part, as if a central midfielder who can pass the ball is some kind of three-headed golden unicorn that shits hundred dollar bills.

 

[SocrManiac]

I read the article and he talks about Bradley as a defensive midfielder. Hmm...

 

[DJnVa]

Do we have the CM he's looking for out there?

How does this coaching change affect Jonathan Klinsmann? Or was he only considered a national team player because of his father?

I saw that he had a pretty good season at Cal: http://www.dailycal.org/2016/11/29/cal-mens-soccer-potential-remarkable-turnaround-next-year/

And in Cal’s defensive third, sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann developed into a human highlight reel, thanks to his jaw-dropping saves in the face of danger. Klinsmann often came in clutch when faced with one-on-one scenarios and parried away well-taken set pieces to single-handedly keep the Bears in the game. The sophomore is still a work in progress who is poised to get better in the coming months, so Cal shouldn’t have too much trouble preventing its adversaries from getting too comfortable finding the back of the net.

On top of the fact that Klinsmann will be expected to come up big in his defensive duties, he will also be looked at to help start the Bears’ offensive efforts by efficiently using his goal kicks to feed the midfielders and forwards. If the sophomore can provide quality service in the offensive third, Carrera-Garcia shouldn’t have a difficult time getting possession and orchestrating the offense.

 

[InstaFace]

Do we have the CM he's looking for out there?

Hint, he's 18, starts for Borussia Dortmund, considers himself a natural #10, and even if most of his club starts are coming as a winger, he will often cheat inside while looking for through-ball opportunities.

We have lots of guys who can make good winger runs, and/or can poach at the far post or clean up rebounds. He might be the only one with the combination of passing vision, speed and close-control ball handling to really serve that position well.

(I do wonder if Kljestan gets a shot at that CM role though - he looked great against T&T, though there's a wide gulf between that and looking great against MEX/CRC. Probably depends on whether Arena is going to prefer more of a 4-3-3 and needs a box-to-box, or a 4-2-3-1 and just needs a good pairing for Bradley at DM)

 

[thehitcat]

I do wish that in the short term Arena would look to Berkshire. Danny Williams has been starting and playing well/driving a Reading team that finds itself 3rd in the Championship. Rumors of a January move to the Premier League are starting to percolate. He's not a super talent but he's good and he plays in the position of need.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Hint, he's 18, starts for Borussia Dortmund, considers himself a natural #10, and even if most of his club starts are coming as a winger, he will often cheat inside while looking for through-ball opportunities.

We have lots of guys who can make good winger runs, and/or can poach at the far post or clean up rebounds. He might be the only one with the combination of passing vision, speed and close-control ball handling to really serve that position well.

(I do wonder if Kljestan gets a shot at that CM role though - he looked great against T&T, though there's a wide gulf between that and looking great against MEX/CRC. Probably depends on whether Arena is going to prefer more of a 4-3-3 and needs a box-to-box, or a 4-2-3-1 and just needs a good pairing for Bradley at DM)

I don't see it.

1. Pulisic has played as #10 for US and BVB youth teams, but playing the #10 at the international level is a different kettle of fish. I can see it happening eventually, but that's a lot of responsibility to place on an 18 year old, even one as good as Pulisic. Besides, it will take some adjustment to build a team that flows through a central attacker like Pulisic and that's time Arena does not have right now.

2. We have a strong pool of forwards and a weak pool of wide midfielders. We're already stuck using FJ at LB, so moving Pulisic would leave us with shit for options out wide and would force us to bench a forward or play one out of position. We'd be stuck with industrious pinched-in types like Bedoya or forwards being forced outside like Morris or Zardes. It just doesn't seem like a great way to set up the team given the distribution of talent. I think at this point the player pool calls for a simple 4-4-2 that allows the team to make use of two of Altidore/Wood/Morris (I can see Agudelo entering the mix, too) and Pulisic out wide where we really need the help.

3. Cuz Bruce sez so:

When asked if he thought Pulisic could wind up playing that role in the near future, Arena sounded like he sees Pulisic remaining on the wing, where he plays for Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

"He’s still young," Arena said. "I think where Dortmund plays him he plays pretty well."

 

[Titans Bastard]

Do we have the CM he's looking for out there?

Nagbe if you want a highly accurate passer, focused on possession. Kljestan if you want someone to push the envelope a bit more, though he's somewhat sloppier.

I think we'll see Arena move to reduce Jones' role over the course of this year - maybe not immediately, given the time constraints and urgency of the situation. Jones is a tough player to fit into a tactical scheme because he does what he wants. He's a great player, so it's been worthwhile for much of his tenure with the US. Now that he's 35, injury-prone, and lacks the legs to be fully effective over 90 minutes, it's getting pretty hard to justify arranging a team around him to cover for his flaws.

How does this coaching change affect Jonathan Klinsmann? Or was he only considered a national team player because of his father?

I saw that he had a pretty good season at Cal: http://www.dailycal.org/2016/11/29/cal-mens-soccer-potential-remarkable-turnaround-next-year/

I don't think Klinsmann the Younger is an egregious nepotism case, but I wouldn't be surprised if he slips in the U20 pecking order. It's hard to know what will happen; Tab Ramos was closer to Jurgen than most.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Sebastian Lletget might be a younger option than Feilhaber or kjleistan for the CM playmaker role

 

[Titans Bastard]

Sebastian Lletget might be a younger option than Feilhaber or kjleistan for the CM playmaker role

Yes, from what I've heard it is likely that we will see Lletget in January camp.

I also suspect we'll finally see Kellyn Acosta in the midfield for the US. He's Yet Another Box-to-Box Midfielder, when we really need a few true DMs in the pipeline, but stylistically he's probably the best bet among our #8s to slide back and challenge Bradley for the #6 role if needed. I don't think Bradley is going anywhere, but a little pressure wouldn't hurt.

 

[Titans Bastard]

CONCACAF has made the draw for the regional U-20 Championship.

Group A
Mexico
Antigua & Barbuda
Honduras
Canada

Group B
USA
Panama
Saint Kitts & Nevis
Haiti

Group C
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Bermuda
Trinidad & Tobago

Jamaica evidently threw up all over themselves in Caribbean qualifying.


The format has changed a bit. Instead of going from a 12 team group stage to the quarterfinals, the top two teams in each group will advance to a "classification phase" consisting of two groups of three. After two games against classification group opponents, the top two teams in each group advance to the WC and the two group winners play in the final.

The format change benefits the US because it removes the all-or-nothing QF match that determined qualification. Needing only to finish in the top two in each group allows for a margin of error. That being said, the US will be in tough shape if they finished second in Group B. That could lead to a second phase group against Mexico (Group A winner?) and Costa Rica (host + Group C winner?).

So, get the job done. I think the US has good talent this cycle, but (a) some top players won't be released for qualifying and (b) Tab Ramos.

 

[Warning Track Speed]

Joshua Perez (18) debuts for Fiorentina

18-year-old nephew of former USMNTer Hugo Perez.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The US U17s are playing in the annual Nike friendlies in Florida, which is a showcase that always has some high-profile opponents.

Tonight, they beat the ever-loving shit out of Portugal in their first game, 7-1. Turkey is up next, then Brazil.

US roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos (S.L. Benfica; Philadelphia, Penn.), Justin Garces (Kendall SC; Miami, Fla.)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Asensio (Atlanta United FC; Roswell, Ga.), Sergino Dest (Ajax; Almere-stad, Netherlands), Christopher Gloster (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City; Charlotte, N.C.), Carlos Ritaccio (BW Gotschee; Westbury, N.Y.), James Sands (New York City FC; Rye, N.Y.), Arturo Vasquez (FC Golden State; Mira Loma, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (6): George Acosta (Weston FC; Hollywood, Fla.), Isaac Angking (New England Revolution; Providence, R.I.), Christopher Durkin (D.C. United; Glen Allen, Va.), Blaine Ferri (Solar Chelsea SC; Southlake, Tex.), Rayshaun McGann (Philadelphia Union; Royal Palm Beach, Fla.), Indiana Vassilev (IMG Academy; Savannah, Ga.)

FORWARDS (5): Ayomide Akinola (Toronto FC; Brampton, Ont.), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Bryan Reynolds Jr. (FC Dallas; Little Elm, Tex.), Joshua Sargent (Scott Gallagher Missouri; O’Fallen, Mo.) Timothy Weah (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.; Rosedale, N.Y.)



@Vinho Tinto - do you know if this Portugal roster any good?

SL Benfica: Gonçalo Loureiro, Henrique Jocu, João Ferreira, João Monteiro, Mamdou Koné, Rodrigo Conceição e Umaro Embaló
FC Porto: Afonso Sousa, João Gonçalo, João Oliveira, Leandro Campos e Romário Baró
Liverpool FC: Rafael Camacho
SC Braga: Neto
Sporting CP: Bernardo Sousa, Gonçalo Costa, Tiago Djaló e Tiago Rodrigues
Vitória FC: Baba Fernandes
Vitória SC: André Almeida

 

[Vinho Tinto]

I don't recognize any of the names from the team that won the UEFA U17 in May, but that could be because they have aged out. I don't get too excited about U17 stuff, that's how we ended up making Freddy Adu a millionaire, but it's a shocking result. It's still tough to know what a non-prodigy is capable of at 15-16 years old. Even the U21 level has some high end flameouts. Nelson Oliveira won the silver ball behind Oscar at the World Cup. He's done almost nothing since to develop.

Benfica had posted that Carlos Dos Santos was going to play for the US. Pretty awesome for a kid his age getting this kind of experience.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I don't recognize any of the names from the team that won the UEFA U17 in May, but that could be because they have aged out. I don't get too excited about U17 stuff, that's how we ended up making Freddy Adu a millionaire, but it's a shocking result. It's still tough to know what a non-prodigy is capable of at 15-16 years old. Even the U21 level has some high end flameouts. Nelson Oliveira won the silver ball behind Oscar at the World Cup. He's done almost nothing since to develop.

Benfica had posted that Carlos Dos Santos was going to play for the US. Pretty awesome for a kid his age getting this kind of experience.

Yes, the Nike friendlies have produced misplaced hype for more players than just Freddy Adu. Stefan Jerome (who?) comes to mind as well. And Eddie Johnson was the co-leading scorer at the 2003 U20 World Cup.

I cross-referenced Portugal's squad with the team they used in the 2017 UEFA U17 qualifiers in September and it's largely the same group. But of course, it's a totally different cohort than the group that won the 2016 UEFA U17s.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The US U17s are playing in the annual Nike friendlies in Florida, which is a showcase that always has some high-profile opponents.

Tonight, they beat the ever-loving shit out of Portugal in their first game, 7-1. Turkey is up next, then Brazil.

The U17s gave up a quick early goal to Turkey, but ended up winning 5-1.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/12/03/05/08/161102-u17mnt-braces-from-akinola-carleton-give-usa-second-win-at-2016-nike-friendlies

 

[Titans Bastard]

U17s finish with a 3-0 win over Brazil.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/12/05/01/08/161204-u17mnt-wins-2016-nike-international-friendlies-with-3-0-victory-vs-brazil

Outscoring Portugal, Turkey, and Brazil 15-2 is a nice run of results, although I don't think this group is that good. They've generally done well this cycle, but have had ups and downs. Though the talent level of the opposition will be lower, World Cup qualifiers are down and dirty and will represent a different sort of test.

I'm not sure that there's a Pulisic-level prospect in this group, but then, there almost never is. It does seem like there will be some good players, but it's always hard to predict at this age.

As an aside, it is pathetic how much faster the USSF puts up a recap when a youth team wins.

 

[Quintanariffic]

So Carleton isn't considered in that category? Of course he and others like him don't have to be in order to raise the median skill level of the player pool, but interesting to speculate if others may be out there.

 

[Titans Bastard]

So Carleton isn't considered in that category? Of course he and others like him don't have to be in order to raise the median skill level of the player pool, but interesting to speculate if others may be out there.

Carleton looks like one of the best of his age group, but he doesn't have Pulisic's elite quickness and athleticism.

Then again, Pulisic gained a little boost of speed when he was 16/17 so you never know.

Carleton could wind up playing a bit for Atlanta next season so hopefully we will be able to get a stronger read on him. He did play in some games against adults in the USL last year and generally was effective.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Steve Goff, who IMO is one of the most serious and respectable journalists in US soccer, calls for Gulati to step down when his third term expires in 2018.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The roster for an upcoming U-20 camp was announced today. The team is heading to Costa Rica for two friendlies against the Ticos' U-20 team.

The squad is very domestic; only Las Palmas' Emmanuel Sabbi and Veracruz's Sebastian Saucedo are based abroad (and it's quite possible Saucedo will return to RSL after his loan expires this month). Hopefully we will be able to add some key pieces from abroad to strengthen the team for qualifying. Our top RBs are all in Europe, as well as many of our best midfielders.

CCV and EPB would be a great CB pairing, but Redding/Glad/Robinson is a pretty solid fallback, too.

There are three first-timer '99s playing up a cycle with the '97s and '98s. Nick Taitague is an attacking midfielder bound for Schalke when he turns 18, who is supposed to be pretty good. Tyler Adams is a DM, which is an area of need for this team. Jake Morris (no relation to Jordan, AFAIK) is a defender of some sort, but I don't know much about him.

GK
Jonathan Klinsmann (California)
J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown)

DF
Marcello Borges (Michigan)
Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake)
Aaron Herrera (New Mexico)
Jake Morris (Seattle Sounders U18)
Tommy Redding (Orlando City)
Miles Robinson (Syracuse)
Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union)

MF
Danilo Acosta (Real Salt Lake)
Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)
Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union)
Sebastian Saucedo (Veracruz)
Nick Taitague (FC Richmond)
Eryk Williamson (Maryland)

FW
Jeremy Ebobisse (-)*
Jonathan Lewis (Akron)
Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders)
Emmanuel Sabbi (Las Palmas)
Brandon Vazquez (Atlanta United)

* has signed with MLS and will go into the draft next month

 

[moly99]

Bruce Arena has hinted that he might call up Cristian Roldan (21 yo midfielder for Seattle) for the USMNT.

As a Sounders fan I have mixed feelings about this, and I think it shows where we are as a national side. Objectively speaking Roldan is merely a good MLS midfielder who can defend and distribute the ball. Germany and Spain probably have 250 guys each who can fill that role.

But the USMNT is stuck playing Michael Bradley because we don't have many other options. So maybe Roldan, even though he isn't that great, deserves a look as a Bradley backup?

 

[DJnVa]

He's still eligible for other nations too, so maybe it's worth it just to get him tied to the USMNT, even as just a depth guy down the road.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I think Roldan will get invited to January camp. If he does well and continues to progress with Seattle, perhaps he'll get called back to the Gold Cup roster next summer. I don't see too many new faces being involved in WCQ this spring.

I'm not sure that Roldan and Bradley are competing for the same spot. We'll have to see how Arena sets things up, but I suspect that Bradley will be given a very deep-lying DM role. Roldan is more of a box-to-box guy.


Twellman reported the members of Arena's USMNT staff. All were Galaxy assistants last year.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The Serbian federation is saying that they will be one of the USMNT's opponents in January. Like the US, they will have a primarily domestic team.

 

[moly99]

I'm not sure that Roldan and Bradley are competing for the same spot. We'll have to see how Arena sets things up, but I suspect that Bradley will be given a very deep-lying DM role. Roldan is more of a box-to-box guy.

I am no doubt wrong, but I think the reason Bradley has a virtually guaranteed spot on the USMNT is his distribution rather than his position. I think Roldan would be useful as a holding midfielder who can link up the attack and defense, thus allowing Arena to construct lineups sans Bradley.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Via Arena today, some of the players who will be involved in the January camp:

Keegan Rosenberry
Matt Hedges
Walker Zimmerman
DaMarcus Beasley
Dax McCarty
Darlington Nagbe
Benny Feilhaber
Chris Pontius
Juan Agudelo
Gyasi Zardes
Jordan Morris

Kekuta Manneh is (I think) not quite yet a citizen, but will be brought into camp.

 

[Quintanariffic]

Half of these guys hadn't gotten a sniff from JK in a few years, if ever. No Klejstan?

 

[DJnVa]

That list is made up of guys that weren't there during the last set of games. Klejstan was.

More on tactics: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2016/12/16/30575372/bruce-arena-contemplates-using-pulisic-and-kljestan

“I think (Pulisic and Kljestan playing centrally) is an obvious option for our team,” Arena said. “You play both of those players, you could look at a formation of 4-1-4-1, but there are other methods of playing both of them in the center midfield. Clearly, it’s something we’re going to look at.”

“I met with Fabian in Germany this past month and I asked him the same question,” Arena said. “His answer to me was, ‘I can play either position. I just would like to play one of them and have a little consistency in where I play with the national team.'"

 

[Titans Bastard]

Yeah, I think most of the rest of the camp will be the usual crowd. Bradley, Kljestan, Altidore, Besler, Guzan (assuming his transfer goes through) et al. Plus Arena's preferred MLS goalkeepers. Horvath looks like he's gone from Molde and won't be available.

I think Bruce likes Kljestan a lot. He tried to sign him in LA a few years ago.

 

[Titans Bastard]

CONCACAF announced 2017 Gold Cup venues today.

http://www.espnfc.com/concacaf-gold-cup/story/3023239/concacaf-confirm-14-venues-to-host-matches-at-the-2017-gold-cup

The group stage venues and dates are as follows:

July 7, Group A -- Red Bull Arena (Harrison, New Jersey)
July 8, Group B -- Nissan Stadium (Nashville)
July 9, Group C -- Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego)
July 11, Group A -- BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston)
July 12, Group B -- Raymond James Stadium (Tampa)
July 13, Group C -- Sports Authority Field (Denver)
July 14, Group A -- Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
July 15, Group B -- FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)
July 16, Group C -- Alamodome (San Antonio)

Knockout Round venues (in alphabetical order by metropolitan area):

Bay Area -- Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Dallas -- AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Los Angeles -- Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Philadelphia -- Lincoln Financial Field
Phoenix -- University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)

Foxborough is not on the list this time. The USMNT will play group stage games in Nashville, Tampa, and Cleveland.

 

[Infield Infidel]

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/going-the-long-way-around-qa-with-jordan-morris-on.html

Interesting Q&A with Jordan Morris, he talks about winning the MLS cup and also how he deals with Type 1 diabetes.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The roster for an upcoming U-20 camp was announced today. The team is heading to Costa Rica for two friendlies against the Ticos' U-20 team.

The squad is very domestic; only Las Palmas' Emmanuel Sabbi and Veracruz's Sebastian Saucedo are based abroad (and it's quite possible Saucedo will return to RSL after his loan expires this month). Hopefully we will be able to add some key pieces from abroad to strengthen the team for qualifying. Our top RBs are all in Europe, as well as many of our best midfielders.

CCV and EPB would be a great CB pairing, but Redding/Glad/Robinson is a pretty solid fallback, too.

There are three first-timer '99s playing up a cycle with the '97s and '98s. Nick Taitague is an attacking midfielder bound for Schalke when he turns 18, who is supposed to be pretty good. Tyler Adams is a DM, which is an area of need for this team. Jake Morris (no relation to Jordan, AFAIK) is a defender of some sort, but I don't know much about him.

GK
Jonathan Klinsmann (California)
J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown)

DF
Marcello Borges (Michigan)
Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake)
Aaron Herrera (New Mexico)
Jake Morris (Seattle Sounders U18)
Tommy Redding (Orlando City)
Miles Robinson (Syracuse)
Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union)

MF
Danilo Acosta (Real Salt Lake)
Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)
Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union)
Sebastian Saucedo (Veracruz)
Nick Taitague (FC Richmond)
Eryk Williamson (Maryland)

FW
Jeremy Ebobisse (-)*
Jonathan Lewis (Akron)
Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders)
Emmanuel Sabbi (Las Palmas)
Brandon Vazquez (Atlanta United)

* has signed with MLS and will go into the draft next month

Game recaps here:

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/12/21/14/49/161221-u20-mnt-acclimates-to-world-cup-qualifying-venues-in-final-friendlies-of-2016


Ramos started the same back four in both games, which says to me that he's settled on his worst-case-scenario-domestic-only unit for qualifying. Hopefully he'll get reinforcements from abroad, but there's no telling who will be released yet. I still have no clue who the starting GK is on this team.

----

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 3 4
CRC 0 0 0

USA – Sebastian Saucedo (PK) 45+1 minute
USA – Sebastian Saucedo (PK) 56
USA – Jeremy Ebobisse (Nick Taitague) 61
USA – Tyler Adams (Sebastian Saucedo) 67

Lineups:
USA: 22-JT Marcinkowski; 2-Aaron Herrera (8-Derrick Jones, 68), 4-Tommy Redding (capt.) (13-Miles Robinson, 68), 15-Justen Glad (5-Auston Trusty, 68), 3-Marcello Borges (14-Jake Morris, 68); 16-Eryk Williamson, 6-Danny Acosta (23-Tyler Adams, 45), 19-Victor Mansaray (10-Emmanuel Sabbi, 45); 11-Sebastian Saucedo, 21-Brandon Vazquez (9-Jeremy Ebobisse, 45), 7-Nick Taitague (17-Jonathan Lewis, 68)

Subs Not Used: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann
Head coach: Tab Ramos

----

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 0 0
CRC 0 0 0

Lineups:
USA: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann; 2-Aaron Herrera, 4-Tommy Redding (capt.) (5-Auston Trusty, 80), 15-Justen Glad, 3-Marcello Borges (14-Jake Morris, 31); 16-Eryk Williamson, 23-Tyler Adams, 8-Derrick Jones (17-Jonathan Lewis, 59); 11-Sebastian Saucedo, 9-Jeremy Ebobisse (21-Brandon Vazquez, 70), 7-Nick Taitague (10-Emmanuel Sabbi, 70)

Subs Not Used: 6-Danny Acosta, 13-Miles Robinson, 19-Victor Mansaray, 22-JT Marcinkowski
Head coach: Tab Ramos

 

[Titans Bastard]

The USMNT adds a second January camp friendly against Jamaica in.....Chattanooga. That's a first for a US friendly.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The USSF confirms reports of Arena's staff

Dave Sarachan
Pat Noonan
Kenny Arena
Matt Reis


This is his crew from LA. I would have preferred to have at least one outsider with a different background.

 

[Cellar-Door]

January camp, all MLS or unemployed:

Good: Seb Lleget
Bad: a ton of old washed dudes. Including WONDO!

 

[Infield Infidel]

Well, I hope they're washed LOL.

Last year only had one non-MLS player in January camp. Usually the only non-MLSers in this camp are in Scandinavia, but Horvath (and Gatt, I guess) just left. This is also the biggest camp (32) in a while, JK's camps avg 24. Frei and Manneh aren't eligible to be capped yet, but good to get a look-see. Glad to see Hamid, Feilhaber, Lletget, Nagbe, and a few others get looks too.

A lot of the central defenders are needed because Cameron, Besler and Brooks are all injured. Outside of Marshall I don't really know these players since I don't watch a ton of MLS. We're probably going to have a new duo there for at least the two friendlies. CCV? Miazga? Maybe one of them with a more experienced partner?

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

It's kind of hilarious seeing the article headline variations of "Arena Picks All MLS Players!" as if that's anything other than how the January camp works.

I'm excited to see Wil Trapp get a bit of run maybe. With Hyndman struggling to break through, he's going higher on my "God I just want a classy under-25 midfielder to start pushing Bradley" list.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Yeah, didn't mean to hold all MLS out as unusual (though I feel like in the past there were some Mexico based guys, but maybe I'm wrong). I was really making fun of the two unemployed guys.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

Not a big deal, I was thinking more about ESPN articles and excited bloggers.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I'm fine with the roster, even if it doesn't have much hype to it. Arena was always going to start off with a conservative/veteran bent because he needs to win immediately. After he gets through the March and June WCQs, he can afford to be riskier and more experimental in the Gold Cup.

The reality is that when there is a roster that is 32 players deep AND all foreign-based players are unavailable, there's going to be some uninspiring players in the squad.

GKs - we could really use someone to rise up and challenge Guzan. Bingham and Hamid seem like the best bets to consolidate a position among the top three GKs. I didn't realize Frei was close to citizenship. He had a great season, but is probably a #3 at best.

Fullbacks - grim. That's why DMB is back in camp and somebody like Graham Zusi is being looked at as a right back. (Given his workrate and mediocrity going forward as a winger, Zusi probably should have been converted to RB ten years ago.) He won't play, but you know depth is bad when Taylor Kemp is called in. One bright spot is RB Keegan Rosenberry, who had a pretty solid rookie season, although he faded down the stretch.

Center backs - with Besler injured, there are no mainstays here. My sense is that Matt Hedges is the most likely starter. I find it hard to guess who might pair with him. We know he plays well with Zimmerman at FCD.

CM/DMs - It's crowded with veterans. On the DM side, we do have some younger options in Acosta and Trapp. Hopefully we've seen the last of Acosta at LB. I think he's underrated in part because he's been used at LB for youth NTs and for Klinsmann, where he's mediocre at best. Lots of quality on the ball in Feilhaber, Kljestan, Nagbe, and Lletget. Really curious to see how Arena uses Nagbe.

AMs - some of our CMs are tweener #8/#10s like Kljestan and Feilhaber. Out wide, there's not much. Bedoya is the unexciting defensive workrate guy. Pontius could have had more of a US career if he didn't get injured at inconvenient times but at 29, it's hard to see him playing a big role. Manneh is absolutely electric when he's on, which definitely isn't always. He is Morris/Yedlin level fast. I'm glad he's in camp and he should be eligible to play for the US soon.

FWs - the presence of Wondo is annoying, but it's only a problem if he plays. Hopefully we start Altidore/Morris and use Agudelo off the bench or something like that.

 

[Infield Infidel]

For friendlies this is fine, Arena needs to know what he has and who works well together. But I would be surprised if half these guys are selected for the March qualifier. Pulisic, Johnson, Guzan, Wood and Yedlin are locks. Brooks and Cameron are locks if healthy. So that leaves 16 spots. Williams, Chandler and Lichaj could get looks, Lichaj played well in the couple games I've seen him in and it's not like we have a ton of options.

 

[DJnVa]

Cameron Carter-Vickers starting for Tottenham today in FA Cup against Villa on FS1. Just started,

 

[Titans Bastard]

Hamid withdraws from camp:



Dude is never going to crack the GK rotation if he keeps having knee problems (especially at the worst times).

 

[Titans Bastard]

I believe the hold up is the FIFA rule that states that if a player is naturalized, he must have resided in his new country for five years after age 18 before becoming eligible to play. This rule was adopted to prevent the likes of Qatar from making it rain passports on random Brazilian imports. Manneh has been in the US since his teens and he's even been legally adopted by his original host family in Texas. Although he plays for Vancouver, he reportedly commutes from the geographical curiosity of Point Roberts, WA to stay on track.

It is possible to apply for a waiver of this rule (Zelalem successfully did so), especially given Manneh's non-soccer-related ties to the US. Worst case scenario, he'd be eligible when he turns 23 in December 2017.