23 For January Camp
FC Dallas’ Matt Hedges Is Prepared for Nationwide Crew
A commanding presence on the sphere with talent on the ball and aerial prowess in addition, the 24-year-old central defender is an ideal match for January’s U.S. nationwide crew coaching camp.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
December 22, 2014
10:42 AM
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Editors word: A gaggle of ASN staffers have created a 23-man roster for the January U.S. nationwide crew camp. We will probably be unveiling our proposed squad within the coming weeks and crafting arguments for each identify on our record.
UNCERTAINTIES ABOUND WITH with the U.S. nationwide crew proper now, as ought to be anticipated. After the World Cup, a transitional interval is just pure. In central protection, nevertheless, the issues are mounting.
Whereas John Brooks is enjoying properly for Hertha Berlin, Matt Besler hasn’t fairly been the identical since coming back from Brazil, Omar Gonzalez has by no means emerged as a constant presence on the worldwide degree, and Geoff Cameron is incomes minutes primarily within the midfield at Stoke Metropolis. Jurgen Klinsmann has given time to Jermaine Jones in latest video games however that choice is way from settled.
The underside line? There are openings on the nationwide crew in central protection and Matt Hedges is on the high of the record of potential newcomers. There are some good younger defenders within the league however Hedges, 24, is a reduce above in the intervening time. He has three seasons of expertise beneath his belt now and almost 100 league appearances. It is simple to get enthusiastic about promising rookies like Steve Birnbaum however there is no such thing as a substitute for expertise.
Past his expertise, Hedges can also be a frontrunner—evidenced by the very fact he was made crew captain of a really younger and gifted FC Dallas crew. The Western Convention was simply the higher of the 2 in MLS and Dallas was capable of compete very properly towards veteran groups like Seattle and Los Angeles. With these groups shedding key gamers and Actual Salt Lake breaking apart its core, Dallas is in a great place to contend in 2015 and Hedges would be the cornerstone of that crew.
His skillset appears to emphasize what Klinsmann desires out of his defenders: Hedges can move properly out of the again and assist in possession. He doesn’t make many errors and is excellent within the air—each offensively and defensively.
All people expects Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, and Jermaine Jones to obtain call-ups in January and see minutes in central protection. However is that basically adequate? That is the chance to develop the pool, open up competitors, and maybe uncover a gem or two.
Our roster thus far
Tesho Akindele
Lee Nguyen
Robbie Rogers
Matt Besler
Gyasi ZardesBill Hamid
Matt Hedges
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Observe him on Twitter.
