Altidore, Edu, Seitz chosen for Under-23 training camp

Red Bulls Jozy Altidore and Hunter Freeman are two of 22 players selected to the first U.S. Under-23 national team camp under U.S. Under-23 national team head coach Peter Nowak. The camp is being held in preparation of a two-match tour in China in December.

The team will train for a week at Home Depot Center beginning on Dec. 1 before departing for China on Dec. 8. The Americans will face the Chinese Under-23 national team on Dec. 13 and Dec. 16.

Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Findley, Christ Seitz and Eddie Gaven highlight a roster made up of 20 pros and seven players who made the U.S. senior national team debuts in 2007.

Here is the full roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Zac MacMath (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7): Hunter Freeman (New York Red Bulls), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Jon Leathers (Furman University), Mike Randolph (Los Angeles Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Tim Ward (Columbus Crew), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Michael Harrington (Kansas City Wizards), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (CD Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (6): Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Adam Cristman (New England Revolution), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)

Comments

[Phillip]

Umm...

Where the eff is Adu?

[Lee]

His season is still going, unless I'm incorrect I think everyone listed is done playing.

[Ives]

Adu is busy getting playing time for Benfica. Note that the roster is made up of MLS guys and Euros either out of season, in long breaks or not getting playing time.

[Dominghosa]

I assume Adu isn't in camp because he's getting pretty good playing time with Benfica. Every other player on this list is either in their offseason or isn't close to getting first-team minutes.

[Phillip]

Makes sense.

[Ives]

Anybody have info on the non-pro guys, Jon Leathers or Zac McMath?

[tmc]

Does this mean Stuart Holden has decided to play for the USA?

[THE Nick]

This is a guess, but I'd say since Adu is starting to earn his way into the squad at Benfica, Nowak has left him there to continue his progress. The other guys playing overseas on this list aren't playing as big a part on their club teams it seems.

That...or Nowak still hates the kid from their time at DC.

[Lee]

I like Holden getting a look.

[ramb0723]

Here is some stuff on Leathers from his official Bio:

Class:
Senior

Hometown:
Athens, Ga.

High School:
Prince Avenue Christian

Height / Weight:
5-8 / 150

Position:
Defender

2006: Named Southern Conference Player of the Year after leading a Furman defense that contributed to a league-best 10 shutouts and a 0.77 goals against average, also the top mark in the conference...named first-team all-conference for the second consecutive year...recognized on the NSCAA All-South Region first team...selected as Furman's Male Athlete of the Year and team MVP...behind Leathers, Furman gave up only 15 goals in 2006...earned third-team recognition on Top Drawer Soccer Men's College Team of the Season...named to the PDL All-Conference team this past summer.

2005: Started all 20 matches on defense and earned All-Southern Conference accolades as a sophomore...earned third-team All-South Region honors...registered one assist while guiding Paladin defense that allowed just 23 goals.

2004: One of just four Paladins to play in and start every match during the 2004 season...earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors...recorded three shots.

High School/Club: Played club soccer for the Concorde Fire with teammate Chris Davis...guided the Fire to three state championships, three regional championships and the 2002 national title...scored the game-winning goal in the national championship match...member of the Georgia state and Region III ODP teams...also lettered in cross country and track during prep career...member of the National Beta Club.

Personal: Full name is Jonathan Scott Leathers...born November 5, 1985 in Athens, Georgia...son of Lee and Vera Leathers...majoring in business administration.

Did You Know...Jon's favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

[ramb0723]

More on Leathers from TopDrawerSoccer:

Furman observations
Senior 2-time Southern conference player of the year, Jon Leathers is a slight central defender. His game is predicated upon positioning, quickness and his outstanding reading of the game. He’s impressive. He doesn’t go forward often instead he prefers to sit back waiting to defend. His game is similar to Stephen King (UMD - very subtle. He gets himself in good position to make the play before the play gets to him. I’m not sure where I’d draft him. I hope that I get a chance to watch him again before the draft. A good combine would help him be drafted earlier. I can see late 1st-early 2nd round, if I’m correct and he can play in MLS. Is he another Parkhurst? I’m not sure, but maybe.

[jig]

LOVE the Holden call. Who got snubbed?

[seak]

Notice Michael Bradley is also not on the list. You would assume that both Bradley and Adu would be key players for the U-23 team.

[Dominghosa]

Would have liked to see Lambo instead of MacMath or even better, Quentin Westberg (who is 21).
Not a big fan of Ward either, where is Anthony Wallace?
Plus, this midfield group doesn't seem very imposing (or good). Sacha and Edu can hold fort but not sure if any of the other players in this camp can make a big difference. And there is really only one midfielder on this list that seems capable of playing out wide -- Alvarez, who is reportedly on trial in Europe at the moment.
Maybe Nowak is looking to play a 4-3-3 with a tight formation at midfield.
Though I guess Zizzo can play wide at midfield opposite of Sacha with Edu and Holden in the middle. Hopefully Gaven continues his form from late in the MLS season.
And how far has Lee Nguyen's stock fallen? Unless, he is still injured. Not sure about his status.

[Lawrence]

Couldn't have just sent us a link eh Rambo? Just messing

Ives,
do you think Ferrari will even get looked at? I feel like he's going to continue to get the odd man out treatment.

[THE Nick]

Spector and Feilhaber are young enough for this team as well, right?

[Lee]

McMath is young, a 91.

From
http://www.ncsasports.org/student-athletes-families/soccer/soccer-archives/index.cfm?i=5281
"Zac MacMath
IMG Academies
Florida

Zac MacMath, will be a junior this fall at IMG Academies in Bradenton. MacMath is a goalkeeper for the under-17 National Team. He is an outstanding athlete who also enjoys football and baseball. Both, of which, he used to play before he settled on soccer. He made the right choice!

MacMath's biggest honor yet: he was just named to Parade magazine's All America High School Boys Soccer Team. He is also a member of the NSCAA/Adidas Boys Youth All-America Team. His awards are endless. These honors are two of the top honors to earn in the soccer world, though; MacMath is only getting better, too.

Not only has MacMath achieved unbelievable honors for his dedication to soccer, but he has high goals for himself, as well. His ultimate goal: to become a professional soccer player. He is well on his way!"

and
http://centercircle.ussoccer.com/fullStory.jsp_45-281904.html

[George]

Dax McCarty ?

This kid is awful. There must be another U-23 out there better than him. It hurts to watch him play!!

[chicago millonario]

Is this the Olympic squad?

[Dominghosa]

Leathers born on Nov. 5? I like him already.
Here's an educated guess on a starting lineup everyone would like to see from this U-23 team at full strength with every player in the pool available.
GK: Seitz
D: Freeman, Sturgis, Wynne, Subotic
MF: Zizzo, Edu, Bradley, Adu (as central attacking midfielder)
F: Altidore, Ferrari

I probably failed at this attempt, but it's a topic that is easy to discuss. I'll admit there are a lot of younger players on my list for a U-23 team.

[Sandro]

It is great to see these young kids. Great to see that we are getting better at growing our talent pool.

[toucan]

Does this mean that Adu and Bradley won't be playing in the Olympics??

[Dominghosa]

My bad, Spector and Feilhaber are eligible for this team. A new starting 11:
GK: Seitz (Guzan turns 24 next year)
D: Spector, Sturgis, Subotic, Freeman
MF: Zizzo or Nguyen, Bradley, Feilhaber, Adu
F: Altidore, Ferrari or J. Smith or R. Rogers or R. Findley

[Ives]

Guys, this is NOT the full Olympic Team. This is just a camp for Nowak to see players and for some of the projected regulars to play together. If you'll recall, Bradley barely played with the U-20 team before playing with the team at the World Cup.

The full team probably won't get together until just before Olympic qualifying in March.

[Brad]

I agree that Wallace was wayyyy better than Tim Ward or Dax McCarty in the U-20 World Cup. Definitely should have been called in.

When we have a full team, we're looking at a MF of Alvarez (who I think should be a candidate for the senior team), Edu, Bradley, and Klejstan. We could definitely do worse. With Adu and Altidore up front? We might not do so bad.