23 For January Camp
If Omar Will not Go to Europe, He Belongs in Jan. Camp
The 26-year-old Texas native is approaching the prime of his profession, and will probably be fascinating to see if he strikes overseas or stays in his MLS consolation zone. Regardless, he’s a shoo-in for January camp.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
December 29, 2014
3:56 PM
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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. These will not be our predictions—these are the gamers we want to see named to Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad.
OMAR GONZALEZ BELONGS in Europe someplace. The Bundesliga. The English Premier League. Perhaps Italy.
Sure, Gonzalez was named to Main League Soccer’s Finest XI but once more this 12 months. I’m absolutely conscious that he is ranked No. 14 within the ASN 100. And positive, he carried out effectively on the World Cup—higher than any of us had a proper to anticipate. However I can not shake the sensation that he, extra than simply about anyone within the U.S. participant pool, would profit from a three- or four-year run in a high European league.
Consolation is an excellent factor whenever you’re on a transcontinental flight or curled up in an Eames Lounge Chair subsequent to a fire, however is it a essential part of knowledgeable athlete’s profession? Gonzalez is aware of he’s an automated starter for Bruce Area; he is aware of he can neutralize 95 % of the strikers in MLS with out a lot hassle; he is aware of the Los Angeles Galaxy are perennial candidates to win MLS Cup; and he is aware of that his $1.25 million annual wage permits him to eat at all the finest eating places in southern California (dude—strive Juniper and Ivy; it is nice) and fly his drone on the seashore at any time when the temper strikes him.
None of this makes the massive man a greater soccer participant, nevertheless.
There is a very actual probability that Jermaine Jones will begin in central protection for the US nationwide crew all through the approaching World Cup cycle. John Brooks, 21, must scratch and claw his approach by each coaching session simply to remain on the sphere for Hertha Berlin—after which he has to nullify top-quality attackers within the Bundesliga week in and week out. Stoke Metropolis’s Geoff Cameron hasn’t been shy about his need to play a extra central function, and if he lands a Premier League gig that enables him to take action, his recreation will solely enhance.
And Gonzalez? If he stays in MLS he can be honing his craft in opposition to the likes of Tesho Akindele and Steven Lenhart and C.J. Sapong. Within the course of Gonzalez will little doubt discover short-term success simpler to come back by. However over the lengthy haul, he could be hurting his probabilities to play a starring function in Russia and presumably even Qatar.
I am unsure Gonzalez has way more to show on the MLS/January camp stage, however he is among the finest defenders within the U.S. pool and a shoo-in to affix the squad. I simply want he was in any other case engaged subsequent month—maybe serving to Burnley or Queens Park Rangers stave off relegation.
ASN’s January roster to date
1. Tesho Akindele
2. Lee Nguyen
3. Robbie Rogers
4. Matt Besler
5. Gyasi Zardes6. Invoice Hamid
7. Matt Hedges
8. Luis Gil
9. Steve Clark
10. Charlie Davies
11. Perry Kitchen
12. Andrew Farrell
13. Miguel Ibarra
14. Jermaine Jones
15. Clint Dempsey
16. Kelyn Rowe
17. Graham Zusi
18. Omar Gonzalez
Agree? Disagree? Inform us within the Feedback part under.
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.
