Can't believe this hasn't been posted especially by Gers himself. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/20030910180740/view
From *this* llist of names, it looks like the claim of ODP not finding talented Hispanic-American soccer players is ringing more hollow... 11 of 32 names on this roster?... perhaps it's a trend for a new wave of US players? Code: Samuel Acheampong, Brooklyn, NY Marco Angelo, Sandy, UT Bryan Arguez, Miami, FL Edgard Barajas, FC Barcelona - San Fernando, CA Matthew Brutto, GK - FC DELCO - Warrington, PA Guiseppe Carotenuto, M, Scottsdale, AZ Victor Cortez, El Brante, CA Kimo Djedovic, San Jose, CA Andrew Duran, M, Chicago Magic - Mokena, IL Douglas Ferner, Bloomfield, MI Jonathan Harris, GK, Chicago Sockers - Arlington Heights, IL Jonathan Kluz, Alta Loma Arsenal - Etiwanda, CA Cameron Lamming, Surf - San Juan Capistrano, CA Perica Merosevic, F, Rockford, IL Cesar Nunez, F, Chicago Sockers - Gurnee, IL Luis Ocampo, GK, Alta Loma Arsenal - Los Angeles, CA Demetrius Omphroy, M, Alameda, CA Joseph Ramirez, Nomads - La Jolla, CA Daniel Rodriguez, So Cal United - Oxnard, CA Tucker Sindlinger, Cedar Rapids, IA Joe Sorrentino, Hamilton, NJ Michael Stephens, F, Chicago Sockers - Woodridge, IL Lucas Swetloff, Brooklyn, NY John Tardy, Staten Island, NY Miguel Tanton, M, Cupertino, CA Joshua Thiermann, Stoughton, WI Daryl Tom, Los Altos, CA Justin True, F KC Legends Lees Summit, MO Carlos Uribe, Miami, FL Matthew Walker, GK - Grand Blanc, MI Anthony Wallace, D/M, Brandon FC - St.Petersburg, FL Jeff Zimmering, Basking Ridge, NJ
I used to carpool with Andrew Duran. He's been playing with the Magic since he was 6ish. He's a solid player, and he's got crazy hair. It's been a long time since I've played with him so I don't really know too much about his game now.
A lot of Californians. No Texans. I don't think this is a real National roster. If it is then the politics of the USSF youth teams have experienced a revolution.
Perhaps. But the precentage of Californians on that roster is actually considerably lower than that of Californians in MLS. The absence of Texans is interesting, though.
Nobody from Texas, Colorado or all of New England or non-NYC Long Island. None from the mid-Atlantic states. Yet, a high concentration from Illinois. The accompanying text is ambiguous, saying, "The first roster named for U14/15 national camp," implying there will be one or more additional rosters. I really hope the list is at least 4 times this one.
The Roster A very ethnic-sounding roster Samuel Acheompong - Thai? Some kind of African name? It sure ain't Jones ... Marco Angelo - Sounds recent Italian to me Guiseppe Carotenuto - Ditto Argues, Barajas, Cortes, Nunez, Ocampo, Ramirez, Rodriquez, Uribe - Hispanic Miguel Tanton - First name is Miguel ... Kimo Dedojevic - What we used to call Yugoslavian Perica Mirosevic - Ditto That's 14 players with obviously ethnic names, plus I'm sure you've got some black kids in there somewhere. Making the standard white suburban "majority" of U.S. youth soccer at best a 50% proposition on this squad, and perhaps an outright minority. Which sounds about right if you're assembling a team of top U.S. youth talent -- you'd have a lot of white kids with standard names because they dominate the mainstream club scene and because, heck, there are a lot of white kids with nonethnic names in the U.S. But you'd also expect a substantial amount of ethnic players, particularly those with Hispanic names. Precisely what this roster delivered.
Also a major group we need to pay attention is with standard English name but with Jamaican/T&T, etc. heritage. Ricardo Clarke and Edson Buddle are in this group.
Re: Re: The Roster Thank God I finally won something! What the heck kind of last name is "Tanton" anyway?
Re: Re: Re: Re: The Roster A Haitian named Miguel? I bet Mama cooks some interesting dinners. Acheampong appears to be a Ghananian name, as it turns out. I should have known; a lot more star African youth soccer players than stars of Thai descent.
Miguel Tanton is of Phenomenonish descent. He's an American. The roster is for the Chula Vista interregional just after Thanksgiving. Each of the four regions will also have a roster there and all the players will be under evaluation. The roster listed is kind of an acknowledgement of who performed best at the camp in Concord, MA in August.
Ethnic Background You made that up. By which you dismiss the importance of the ethnicity discussion. I disagree. There has been a very large amount written, some of which appears justified, that ODP soccer targets but one segment of the American mosaic -- the white suburban player. This list would seem to challenge that criticism. That's newsworthy. Maybe not a subject that you would wish to cover, but somebody will.
Interesting. Anyone planning on attending? I should be able to catch a few of the matches. My experice with the Arco Center is that they are pretty spotty about getting a schedule out, but usually provide accurate info over the phone.
Re: Ethnic Background didn't mean to dismiss it John, just trying to be funny. The kid IS a phenomenon thought, Remember the name. His dad told me his background but I don't quite recall it all, a bit of a mix I think. His mother is Filipino if I remember correctly. There is some Hispanice heritage back a ways, but re the name Miguel, "he called him that because he likes the name." Very nice kid, btw - really loves soccer and pays a lot of attention to what is going on around the world. Has a couple of older brothers that should be college-level players too.
Where'd they find this kid? Did he make the drive into Madison to play his club ball or did somebody just "find" him playing in Stoughton?
if there's no date given than it's the 89s (U14/15) NT is of course National Team (the Bradenton Boys) The older national teams will be playing a year up. sorry for the format, its pasted from an Excel file. Sat. Nov. 29 1:30 PM 1986 Region I vs Region IIIField 3 2:00 PM 1986 Region IV vs Region III ('87) Field 2 3:30 PM 1986 Region II vs NT '87 Field 3 8:30 AM 1987 Region IV vs NT '88 Field 2 10:30 AM 1987 Region I vs Region III Field 2 2:00 PM 1987 Region III vs Region IV ('86) Field 2 8:30 AM 1989 Region II vs NT Blue Field 1 10:00 AM 1989 Region IV vs NT Grey Field 1 11:30 AM 1989 Region I vs Region III Field 1 Sun. Nov. 30 1:30 PM 1986 Region III vs Region II Field 3 2:00 PM 1986 Region I vs Region II ('87) Field 2 3:30 PM 1986 Region IV vs NT 87 Field 3 8:30 AM 1987 Region IV vs Region I Field 2 10:30 AM 1987 Region III vs NT '88 Field 2 2:00 PM 1987 Region II vs Region I ('86) Field 2 8:30 AM 1989 Region I vs NT Blue Field 1 10:00 AM 1989 Region III vs NT Grey Field 1 11:30 AM 1989 Region II vs Region IV Field 1 Mon. Dec. 1 1:30 PM 1986 Region IV vs Region IField 3 2:00 PM 1986 Region II vs Region IV ('87)Field 2 3:30 PM 1986 Region III vs NT '87Field 3 8:30 AM 1987 Region II vs Region III Field 4 10:30 AM 1987 Region IV vs Region II ('86) Field 2 2:00 PM 1987 Region I vs NT '88 Field 2 8:30 AM 1989 Region II vs Region III Field 1 8:30 AM 1989 Region IV vs NT Blue Field 2 8:30 AM 1989 Region I vs NT Grey Field 3
I've now actually seen this kid play a few times. His nickname is something like Peppino or something. He's being coached by former Scottish international Ally Maxwell for Sereno Soccer. Takes most of his side's set pieces. He hasn't really dazzled me or dominated his opposition, but he has been playing a year or two up locally, as his Sereno side is one of the best in the Age Group in the country. I'm a terrible scout, but I thought I'd mention him. He's a Martino type player as opposed to a Beasley type slasher.
And for his age, incredibly vocal. A born leader. Always in the right position it seems. Ally Maxwell a former Rangers goalkeeper, although an unfortunate match-costing error against Celtic in 93-94 season has made him less than popular with the die-hard support over the years. I think he closed his playing career out with Greenock Morton a few years back. I remember that because they played Gers in the Cup, and some of the Bears at the club in Detroit were still moaning about "that mistake" 6 years before. Long memories in Scotland when it comes to the Old Firm match.
I've seen the kid play twice and from what I saw, the kid is excellent technically. Not the fastest, but good vision. The comparison to Martino is a pretty good one, except without the out of control hair. I would have liked to play against him, actually.