Like most offices and companies this time of year, MLS has been in a bit of a holiday slumber the past several weeks. The Expansion and Re-Entry Drafts came and went. But off in the distance one can hear drums of the 2015 preseason: the USMNT January Camp and SuperDraft. Stay tuned as LWOS has big plans in the works for SuperDraft on January 15.
Following the annual ‘Cupcake Camp‘ are friendlies at Chile (Jan. 28) and home to Panama (Feb. 8). The match against Panama will be played at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA.
Jurgen Klinnsman has historically used this training camp to call in a combination of talented youth and some veterans who’ve been on-the-bubble, but not regulars in the National Team. These rosters have historically been MLS-dominated. Only 3 of 25 players from last year’s camp were not from MLS. While Klinnsman has called in lots of European-based players in recent friendlies, I imagine this camp will still be primarily MLS players because they are in the off-season. We could see a few more Europeans, especially one of Klinnsman’s favored young guns who might not be getting many minutes with their club.
So, if we here at LWOS were Klinnsman for a day, who’s coming to January Camp?
Goalkeepers (3): Bill Hamid (DC), Sean Johnson (Chicago), Nick Rimando (RSL)
Rimando: Brad Guzan will be busy with Aston Villa, as they fight to make top half of the EPL. Klinnsman will look too see if Rimando continues to be the short wonder that is the ‘Wall of the Wasatch.’ He will continue to challenge Guzan for the starting spot vacated by Tim Howard.
Hamid: He showed in 2014 that he is the leader of the most ready of the young American MLS keepers, winning Goalkeeper of the Year.
Johnson: That third spot is a toss up really. I picked Sean Johnson because the skill set and potential are still there. He didn’t get the results on the field in 2014, but the rest of his competition got benched, cut, or hurt at some point this year. Steve Clark from Columbus had a decent 2014 starting all 34 league matches. He’s a dark horse to get called in for sure.
Defenders (9): Corey Ashe (Houston), Andrew Farrell (New England), Sean Franklin (DC), Matt Hedges (Dallas), Amobi Okugo (Orlando City), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus), Robbie Rogers (LA), Chris Schuler (RSL), Seth Sinovic (SKC)
Ashe/Franklin/Sinovic: Three of the better and most consistent American outside backs in MLS. With Beasley retiring from the national team, there’s a gaping home at left back. With Fabian Johnson’s ability to play multiple positions, DeAndre Yedlin is the only de facto regular right back. Any top outside back in MLS has a shot at being a regular in the future, and that starts with these guys.
Farrell: The first overall pick in the 2013 SuperDraft has developed nicely for the Revs. He’s smart, athletic, and can play both right back and center back. The kid has a great attitude and didn’t suffer a sophomore slump in 2014. You want to grow and nurture your talent, you need to start them young. Like all first-timers, this is a chance to audition for the Gold Cup.
Hedges/Schuler: Two young center backs with lots of MLS experience, both being major players for their back lines in recent years. I couple them together because of their styles. We’ve seen a theme with both MLS and the national team of having a physical do-it-all center back (Schuler) paired with the cerebral and tactically sound organizer (Hedges). If Jermaine Jones is getting a shot at center back, these two have certainly earned a look as well both individually and as a pair.
Okugo/Parkhurst: Neither had their best year in 2014, but both certainly have been on the USMNT raydar in the past. Parkhurst was in the World Cup camp before being cut. He’s experienced and can play every position on the backline. Certainly deserves another look. Okugo is a star waiting to happen in MLS. I listed him as a defender because he has been mostly a center back for the Union recently, but he’s worth a look in the midfield as well.
Robbie Rogers: January Camp has a reputation for featuring players who had a great previous year rather than several years of good play. Rogers has come a long way from 2013. He has been a revelation at left back for the Galaxy. A good supporting cast around him gave him a smooth learning curve; that is still a concern. But the guy was a borderline national team player just 5 years ago. He has time to grown into his new position for his club, and potentially country.
Midfielders (9): Benny Felharber (SKC), Ethan Finley (Columbus), Luis Gil (RSL), Perry Kitchen (DC), Lee Nguyen (New England), Dillon Powers (Colorado), Tony Tchani (Columbus), Will Trapp (Columbus), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal)
Felharber: While I think Benny’s time as a regular for the US has passed, he’s still one of the best Americans in MLS at dictating where the game is played on the field. These guys don’t grow on trees. He and a few others dragged SKC into the playoffs. This could just be nostalgia from 2010, but I think he’s still got what it takes, even if he’s only called up occasionally. Plus, there’s a lot he could teach the young ones in this camp.
Nguyen: Resurrected his career in 2013. Took himself and his team to a whole new level in 2014. Could have won MVP. Had one of the best USMNT passes of the year in his most recent call up. Klinsmann’s been talking for years about wanting to find a #10 technical player to shape the US possession offense. Here you go.
Zelalem: Yes, suggesting this is crazy. But then again, so is Klinsmann. The young Gunner recently received US citizenship and the FIFA paperwork to switch federations has already started. It’s only a matter of time. While he is only 17, this call up would be a huge statement. He hasn’t gotten many appearances with Arsenal because of his age, so I think borrowing him for a few weeks won’t be difficult. Klisnmann is always looking to make a provocative statement to get people talking. This one is it. Call the kid up, see what he’s got. While he’s not yet eligible to play competitively for the US, I can’t find any FIFA rule that says he can’t train.
Everyone else: All the other midfielders are young MLS players who had a break out year or who have been improving steadily of late. They’ve all shown promise and have played important roles in their MLS side’s success. Powers and the Columbus players have become young leaders on their teams. Kitchen could be the answer to Kyle Beckerman’s inevitable retirement. They’ve all earned this. This camp is a competition to make the Gold Cup preliminary roster for each of them.
Forwards (4): Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jordan Morris (Seattle), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich), Gyasi Zardes (LA)
Green: Like Zelalem, he isn’t getting many club minutes. Getting him released might not be difficult and could do him some good. While Green did have a spectacular goal in Brazil, the jury is still out as to whether he was worth taking him to Brazil. Any call up is another chance to evaluate and develop him. Furthermore, this will be a chance to evaluate him against others in the US pool of his age and experience.
Morris: Klinsmann’s taken a liking to the Stanford and Sounders player. While the least sharpened of the players in this camp, this is a project worth exploring further after getting his first cap last year. He did just decide to return to school for next year, so he’s an outside shot at appearing in the Gold Cup. Every minute he can get in a camp or friendly will help him improve, especially if he stays to get his degree at Stanford.
Wood: Poor finishing has left many USMNT underwhelmed by Wood’s appearances in the past, but some of what I see in Green and Rubio Rubin I see in Wood. He’s made only seven club appearances this season. Get him released from 1860 Munich, get him in camp, and work on his finishing. Worst case scenario: he doesn’t show up now, cut the cord and focus development elsewhere in the future.
Zardes: The Galaxy academy product led American MLS players in 2014 with 16 league goals in the regular season, and a huge goal in MLS Cup. Streaky at times and certainly benefiting from playing with Keane and Donovan, but the skills are certainly there. The US suffered greatly from not having a back up for Altidore in Brazil, and Zardes could certainly grow into that back up #9 role. He’s not the head case Eddie Johnson is, and a few more years under Keane’s wing could make him a viable option for this coming cycle.
That’s my January Camp roster. Agree with my selection? Think I missed somebody? Who would you call in? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on twitter. Stay tuned in the coming days for Klinsmann’s announced January Camp roster and check back with LWOS as we break down the picks and the coming friendlies on the Road to the 2015 Gold Cup!
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