European-based forwards Charlie Davies, Preston Zimmerman and Kamani Hill headline the 24-man roster chosen by U.S. Under-23 national team head coach Peter Nowak ahead of a two-week training camp in January in Bradenton, Florida. The camp is being held as part of preparations for U.S. Olympic qualifying.
Here is the roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake), Chris Brown (Boston College), Billy Chiles (Towson University)
DEFENDERS: Sean Franklin (Cal State Northridge), Steve Purdy (1860 Munich), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Greg Dalby (SC Charleroi), Julian Valentin (Wake Forest), Pat Phelan (Wake Forest), Mike Randolph (Galaxy), Chance Myers (UCLA)
MIDFIELDERS: Stuart Holden (Houston), Johann Smith (Darlington), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Stephen King (Maryland), Alejandro Bedoya (Boston College), Eric Avila (UC Santa Barbara), Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Charlie Davies (Hammarby), Preston Zimmerman (Hamburg), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg)
If you are wondering where MLS-based stars Jozy Altidore and Maurice Edu are, they are both taking part in the U.S. national team camp in California.
The U-23 camp will take place from Jan. 6 to Jan. 20 and will be used as preparation for the U.S. team's upcoming Olympic qualifiers in Tampa in March.
What do you think of this group of players? Is there anybody missing? Is there anybody who surprised you by being selected? Share your thoughts below.
No Mo Edu? That's a surprise.
Posted by: JoeSoccerFan | December 31, 2007 at 04:00 PM
Joe, Mo will be at the senior team camp
Posted by: ben | December 31, 2007 at 04:06 PM
Mo Edu is on the men's roster.
The roster is pretty solid for this camp considering there is still the European Americans that haven't been brought into the fold.
Posted by: Mike | December 31, 2007 at 04:06 PM
Just caught that...my typing is faster than my reading!
Posted by: JoeSoccerFan | December 31, 2007 at 04:09 PM
Stephen King in midfield is quite scarey!
Posted by: Well done | December 31, 2007 at 04:25 PM
Chad Barrett? Seriously???
Posted by: Beto | December 31, 2007 at 04:27 PM
Surprised not to see Nate Sturgis on the U-23 roster, he seems to have been a mainstay the last few years.
Posted by: Keith | December 31, 2007 at 04:29 PM
Chad barrett? I gotta say I don't know what that selection..
Posted by: EDB | December 31, 2007 at 04:32 PM
I guess Hunter Freeman was pretty badly injured a few weeks ago? I know he didn't tear his ACL...
Posted by: THE Nick | December 31, 2007 at 04:35 PM
Will someone like Spector likely be called when it counts?
Posted by: Dannyc58 | December 31, 2007 at 05:03 PM
what about Gabriel Ferrari? Is he below Zimmerman and Barrett in the forward ladder?
Posted by: anon | December 31, 2007 at 05:06 PM
I woulda put Cristman in over barrett
Posted by: Andrew | December 31, 2007 at 05:08 PM
we'll just assume Freddy Adu will make the team, right? And that he had to stay with Benfica? Surely his old coach Peter Nowak will include him?
Posted by: macheath | December 31, 2007 at 05:28 PM
Ives,
This is off topic but im not sure if you noticed a WHOLE LOTTA reports comin out today about Figo to MLS. (I woke up to this and it took me by surprise, then again rumors are rumors).
I was just wondering if you knew anything about it? Any truth to it?
Posted by: Warren | December 31, 2007 at 05:44 PM
isnt Arturo Alvarez a forward ives?
Posted by: wendel | December 31, 2007 at 05:46 PM
How about Ibrahim from FC Dallas
Posted by: Isaac | December 31, 2007 at 05:49 PM
Ibrahim is only 16
Posted by: sprool11 | December 31, 2007 at 06:43 PM
where is the kid marcus tracy from wake forest as a striker?
Posted by: gel65 | December 31, 2007 at 06:53 PM
where is andre akpan?
he has a great year at Harvard.
Posted by: Pete | January 01, 2008 at 01:09 AM
wow. weak. maybe 4-5 guys on the roster who have a shot at being among the starting XI for the World Cup. The only way any of the others end up starting are if they either greatly improve in the next two years or the team is in bad shape.
Posted by: groove | January 01, 2008 at 08:47 AM
ooops, wrong thread, that will teach me to post before noon on new year's day.
Posted by: groove | January 01, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Sturgis is still hurt. I think Cristman might be also. They both were suppoosed to go to China if I remember and couldn't.
This is a pure prospect camp.
M Tracy? Funny stuff. Kid is typical US material. Great athlete playing versus limited comp, athletically and tactically, whose first touch is weak (as usual) and people want to project that type of player as a quality prospect. It's like we can't get pro football scouting out of our heads. We have produced way too many M Tracy's. Dime a dozen in U S Soccer.
Fast strong guy who out runs and out muscles weaker opponents who are organized in a rudimentay fashion. Big deal.
When was the last time ANY college "forward" made a real impact in MLS?
I mean a good one.
They don't because they can't rely on weak/unorganized/ physically overmatched comp and purely on athletics and they can't hack it.
Let's grow up a little in our analysis of soccer players. It's not like pro football or basketball, it's more like baseball. The guys who have physical attributes, but who also get the subtle stuff will be good prospects. Can't hit a curveball, or throw a straight 90 mile an hour fastball with no movement and you will never ever make it as a pro. Ever. May dominate kids or low levels (college) but that is it.
Marcus Tracy has a lot to prove. A lot. Doesn't mean he won't be a player, but the odds are certainly against him. College doesn't help at all.
Posted by: Tom | January 01, 2008 at 11:35 AM
what about nevin subotic from mainz. i know they're only in the bundisliga 2, but he plays like, the full 90 in every match. he has to be better than some of the central defenders on this roster.
Posted by: matt | January 01, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Matt,
i think Subotic has yet to decide who he wants to play for. I know for the last camp he was able to pass on the invitation due to injury. I think he's still deciding who he wants to commit to.
Posted by: Pete | January 01, 2008 at 01:01 PM
hey tom,what is funny is that you are the typical person who overanalyzes things,there are people who can get it done and those who cannot. a strikers job is to find the back of the net no matter how or what it looks like.if you dont think so,then maybe you ought to educate urself and watch clips of pippo inzaghi at a.c. milan.m. tracy does have lots to prove but thats what these camps are for .believe me,tracy is a player and you will be hearing lots from him in the future.any good coach will tell you to give them a good athlete and they can teach him the rest if they are woth their weight as a coach.obviously you havnt read the article about billy beane and his overanalyzing of things when it comes to baseball and hopefully he doesnt bring it to the mls.the article i believe is on the du nord soccer website if you care to read it.thats my typical american opinion anyway.
Posted by: gel65 | January 01, 2008 at 06:48 PM