The U.S. national team's January camp helped some Under-23 players gain experience, but it may not have done much to change how the Olympic qualifying team will look in March.
When Jurgen Klinsmann revealed the roster for the U.S. national team's January camp, the abundance of Under-23 eligible players made it appear that the camp, and subsequent friendlies, would shed some real light into what the Olympic qualifying team will look like come March.
It didn't quite work out that way.
With the exception of camp revelation Kellyn Acosta, the U.S. camp had few breakout players — and even less among the U-23s. Klinsmann made it clear that he still wanted the senior team to be the priority for friendlies against Iceland and Canada, but stressed that the camp experience alone would help the U-23 team in its preparations for a two-legged Olympic qualifying playoff against Colombia.
Trying to project just what the U.S. team will look like that faces Colombia is made very difficult by the fact that club teams aren't obligated to release players for the Olympic qualifying playoff. That means Klinsmann and Andi Herzog will need to work their magic and negotiate with teams to get certain players released. In some cases, the U.S. can probably count on good relationships to help clear the way, like with Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers. But in some other cases, it remains to be seen whether Klinsmann and Herzog will get their wish (like with Matt Miazga at Chelsea).
That uncertainty is what made the January camp feel a bit like a search for viable options to replace more established players. Acosta was the big find of the camp, but Brandon Vincent also did well for himself, and Tim Parker could merit a look in March if some other European-based options aren't released.
So what does the U.S. Olympic qualifying team look like with less than two months before the Colombia series? Here is a projected starting lineup, and breakdown of the sure bets and question marks for the roster:
GOALKEEPERS
GOOD BETS: Cody Cropper.
The U.S. has done well to secure Cropper's services when needed, and it's tough to see MK Dons standing in the way of a call-up.
QUESTION MARKS: Ethan Horvath.
Norwegian side Molde will be in the early weeks of the new Tippeligaen season, so you wonder if letting a starter like Horvath go will be an automatic. If he is released, he would be a very good bet to start against Colombia.
DEFENDERS
GOOD BETS: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kellyn Acosta, Brandon Vincent, Tim Parker.
Klinsmann's strong relationship with former club Tottenham should ensure Carter-Vickers is available to start against Colombia.
QUESTION MARKS: Matt Miazga, Desevio Payne, Shane O'Neill, DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks.
OK, so maybe Brooks and Yedlin are more like long shots than question marks, especially since Klinsmann is going to want them for the World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala. Miazga is the real question mark. Will Chelsea release him having just signed him? That could depend on how close the Blues think he actually is to being a first-team contributor. Payne has broken into the starting lineup at Dutch side Groningen and would be a good fullback option. Shane O'Neill recently signed with English League Two side Cambridge United, and if he's released he could compete for playing time in the qualifying playoff.
MIDFIELDERS
GOOD BETS: Wil Trapp, Matt Polster, Jose Villarreal, Gedion Zelalem, Fatai Alashe.
The MLS options should all be released for competition, and Glasgow Rangers are comfortably in first place in the Scottish second division so releasing Zelalem shouldn't be an issue. Alashe is recovering from hernia surgery, but should be back in time to make the qualifying playoff.
QUESTION MARKS: Emerson Hyndman, Julian Green, Luis Gil.
Hyndman's relationship with his club, Fulham, is a question mark because the Cottagers are still trying to get him to sign a new deal. Could he leverage that into being released for the Colombia series? Herzog will be hoping so. Green is an interesting case, having been released for the U.S. Under-23 friendlies against Brazil in November. If he is made available for March, Green is a good bet to start on the wing. Gil recently joined Mexican club Queretaro and it's tough to tell just how willing his new team would be to release him for the series.
FORWARDS
GOOD BETS: Jordan Morris, Jerome Kiesewetter, Khiry Shelton.
The fact that Stuttgart allowed Kiesewetter to take part in the recent January camp suggests he should be fine for the March Olympic qualifiers. He and Morris will be starters, while Shelton looks like a bench option.
QUESTION MARKS: Rubio Rubin, Maki Tall.
Rubin is still recovering from foot surgery, so his status is up in the air, and that's not even taking into account whether Utrecht would release him. Tall is currently out of contract and on trial with Belgian club Standard Liege, so he has his club situation to sort out before we can project him as an option on the Olympic qualifying team.
- Goal