Monday, December 31, 2007

USMNT camp

Here's the list. Keep in mind that quite a few of the European leagues are still in session, so those players aren't available if they're first team possibilities.

With Bornstein out, Ramiro Corrales and Todd Dunivant have a chance to impress Bob Bradley at left back. Both have had a national team hiatus - with Corrales being out much longer than Dunny.

Jeremiah White gets his first call for the USMNT, coming in as one of the forwards from Scandinavia. Josmer Altidore, another forward, is the youngest player in camp. It's a measure of his improvement and importance that he's here instead of at the U-23 camp Peter Nowak is running.

In that vein, Maurice Edu is one of the exciting prospects in midfiield for the US, and joins Rico Clark, recovered from his offseason surgery, in that group.

The January camp is usually the longest national team camp of the year, which gives the coaches the chance not only to recondition players, but also to assess new talent and possibilities.

Jeremiah White, Zach Wells, Eddie Robinson, Matt Pickens, Will Hesmer, and Clarence Goodson have yet to earn their first caps, but it's a good bet some can reach that milestone with an impressive camp performance.

Any prophets want to name names? Who will earn a first cap? Any guesses among that bunch as to who might earn a start for that first cap?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe that Wynne was a starter against Argentina in the Copa?

A.C. said...

yep, I recall that now - as you can see on the U.S. camp roster, though, the press release has Wynne down as having zero caps.

Anonymous said...

Given our dearth of options at center back I have to think there are spots ripe for the picking there (though Spector's recent play for West Ham in the middle may change thinking on him as a first choice for Bradley). My guess is that Eddie Robinson breaks through with some time against Sweden.

Mister Zero said...

Is it a coincidence that EJ to Derby/Reading rumors always seem to surface at USMNT camp time? Fairly transparent IMO.