The USA’s U-23 squad are gathered this week in Nassau, Bahamas for a 5-day training camp to kick off the build up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The team will get some competitive action as well, as they’re scheduled to play a friendly against the Bahamas Senior National Team on the 6th.
US players fell to the turf as El Salvador leveled in the 94′
The memory of the shocking failure to qualify for the 2012 Olympics is still all too fresh in the minds of many US Soccer supporters. In 2012, the US lost to Canada 2-0 and then were only able to muster a 3-3 draw to El Salvador, failing to advance out of the group stages of CONCACAF qualifying.
Coach Caleb Porter certainly has to feel as if he’s on the hot-seat, considering new US Soccer Technical Director Jurgen Klinsmann’s focus on youth development. Klinsmann had this to say regarding the Bahamas camp:
“The chance to get this group of players together and get ahead of the curve in preparation for Olympic Qualifying in two years’ time is huge. We began with the U-21 camp in April, and now it’s critical that we have as many camps and games as possible so we can build a deep pool of talent that can qualify for Brazil. The Olympics are an important opportunity for young players, and we have to capitalize on it.”
The importance is evidenced further by the attendance of USMNT coaches Andi Herzog and Tab Ramos, as well as goalkeeper coach Chris Woods. You certainly get the sense that another failure to qualify will be an unacceptable result for Porter.
Ramos and Herzog
The camp is by no means a complete U-23 roster, as a handful of top talent, including World Cup veterans John Brooks, DeAndre Yedlin, and Julian Green will be absent. Those three will be staying with their clubs, while others will be participating in the MLS Homegrown Game on Monday evening.
Below, we’ll take a look at the 19 players called up for the Bahamas camp, as well as my projections for the Olympic roster two years from now.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Cody Cropper, Zack Steffen
It’s shocking to say, but keeper may well be a trouble spot for the USMNT when the Howard/Guzan era comes to an end (Likely after 2018). U-23 veterans Bill Hamid and Sean Johnson have continued to be average at best in the MLS, and right now, there are zero U-23 eligible American keepers starting at the club level.
Cropper and Steffen may well be the best of the bunch. Cropper plays for Southampton who managed to finish in the top half of the EPL table last year. However, he’s relegated to the 3rd string role and is unlikely to see any playing time in the EPL this season. Steffen will be returning for his sophomore year at University of Maryland, where he received ACC All-Freshman honors in his first season.
Predicted Olympic roster: Cody Cropper, Zack Steffen (Next in Line: Ethan Horvath)
Cropper makes a save in practice for Southampton
DEFENDERS (7): AJ Cochran (Houston Dynamo, Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Ramon Martin del Campo (San Jose Earthquakes), Bryan Gallego (Arizona United), Juan Pablo Ocegueda (Alebrijes de Oaxaca), William Packwood (Birmingham City), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy)
A handful of less experienced U-23 defenders will have a chance to shine at this camp, as presumptive starters DeAndre Yedlin and John Brooks won’t be making the trip. Also missing are Eric Miller of the Montreal Impact and Shane O’Neill of the Colorado Rapids, two young defenders who have had solid seasons so far in MLS.
The player to watch with this group though is Birmingham City product Will Packwood. Though Birmingham narrowly escaped relegation last season, they re-signed Packwood for another year last month, as he had become a regular starter at center back by seasons end. Juan Ocegueda is U-20 veteran at left back, and as a natural left-footer he has a leg up (Pun intended) on the competition for an Olympic Roster spot. His main competition for left back will be fellow camper Oscar Sorto, who has been playing well for the Galaxy’s reserve squad in the USLPro league this season.
Projected Olympic Roster: DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, Will Packwood, Eric Miller, Shane O’Neill, Kellyn Acosta
(Next in line: Erik Palmer-Brown, Marco Delgado, Oscar Sorto)
Will Packwood
MIDFIELDERS (4): Dennis Flores (León), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Marlon Hairston (Colorado Rapids), Benji Joya (Chicago Fire)
The stars of this group are MLS mids Benji Joya and Luis Gil, the latter of whom made this 100th MLS appearance for Real Salt Lake this week. Neither is quite an every-day starter at this point, but both have contributed to their respective clubs this season.
Marlon Hairston has been a pleasant surprise for Colorado in his first season out of Louisville. He’s likely on the outside looking in at the moment as far as the Olympic roster, but the absence of midfielders Paul Arriola, Junior Flores, Wil Trapp, Dillon Serna, and Caleb Stanko at this camp may be the chance he needs to impress the coaching staff.
Projected Olympic Roster: Gideon Zalalem, Wil Trapp, Benji Joya, Luis Gil, Junior Flores, Paul Arriola (Next in line: Caleb Stanko, Dillon Serna, Dennis Flores)
Luis Gil
FORWARDS (6): Daniel Cuevas (CF Lobos BUAP), Alonso Hernandez (Monterrey), Alfred Koroma Shams (Internacional), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Victor Pineda (Indy Eleven), Omar Salgado (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Salgado on the pitch for Vancouver
We have an Omar Salgado sighting! The former number one overall MLS Superdraft selection missed basically the entire 2013 season with recurring foot injuries, and can be described only as a bust so far. However, he’s back healthy and getting his first playing time of the season for Vancouver.
I’m a huge fan and still believe that if healthy, he has a future with the USMNT. His skills remind a bit of Brek Shea, another left footed player, but Omar’s a touch taller at 6’4″ and much better in the air. Interestingly, Vancouver coach Carl Robinson recently has been playing Salgado on the left wing, rather than his normal position up top. Salgado still has every chance to be a huge factor in 2016, but it’s really comes down to him staying healthy at this point.
Other standout names include Cuevas and Pineda, both U-20 veterans. Pineda’s career has hit a bit of a snag, as he hasn’t been able to contribute significantly during his current loan spell with NASL side Indy Eleven. Jordan Morris had an excellent freshman season at Stanford, but he’s unlikely to really compete for a U-23 spot until he turns pro. The camp roster is also missing Mario Rodriguez, Jack McBean, and LA Galaxy man Jose Villarreal.
Projected Olympic Roster: Julian Green, Omar Salgado, Mario Rodriguez, Duane Holmes
(Next in line: Jack McBean, Daniel Cuevas, Lynden Gooch, Rubio Rubin)
Projected Olympic Roster (Full):
Keeper: Cody Cropper, Zack Steffen
Defender: DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, Will Packwood, Eric Miller, Shane O’Neill, Kellyn Acosta
Midfield: Gideon Zalalem, Wil Trapp, Benji Joya, Luis Gil, Junior Flores, Paul Arriola
Forward: Julian Green, Omar Salgado, Mario Rodriguez, Duane Holmes