[Zip_ME87]

Great interview on WEWS with Coach Porter as posted in the GoZips.com article. Of note, Caleb mentioned Zarek Valentin, Perry Kitchen (who have U20 experience) and Teal Bunbury (USMNT full team experience) as being in consideration for the U23 player pool.

Thanks Zip_ME87, sounds like CONCACAF qualification will be located in Nashville. This is fantastic. Road trip.

I was thinking the same thing, but I may be traveling for work in that timeframe.

[ndzippy]

Great interview on WEWS with Coach Porter as posted in the GoZips.com article. Of note, Caleb mentioned Zarek Valentin, Perry Kitchen (who have U20 experience) and Teal Bunbury (USMNT full team experience) as being in consideration for the U23 player pool.

Rumor has it some of these were present vs. BGSU.

Is that true?

I heard that Michael Nanchoff and Chris Korb were at the BG game last night. Unfortunately, I didn't see them myself.

Korb was definitely there, I saw him. Don't know about anyone else though.

[Yaznasty]

Bleacher Report has a slideshow about who they think should start for Porter at the U-23 level.

Teal and Perry both make this list, at striker and center back, respectively. I would still rather see Kitchen play in the midfield, and I think that's the direction DC is moving towards next year, but unfortunately the player pool is very shallow for center backs at the U-23 level. I think an important thing to remember though is that it was Porter who made the decision to put him in the midfield last time, and he knows that in the middle is where he is perhaps the most effective.

[Zip_ME87]

Bleacher Report has a slideshow about who they think should start for Porter at the U-23 level.

Teal and Perry both make this list, at striker and center back, respectively. I would still rather see Kitchen play in the midfield, and I think that's the direction DC is moving towards next year, but unfortunately the player pool is very shallow for center backs at the U-23 level. I think an important thing to remember though is that it was Porter who made the decision to put him in the midfield last time, and he knows that in the middle is where he is perhaps the most effective.

Thanks for the link, Yaznasty. I agree with you about preferring Perry in the midfield. There may be center back options not mentioned by Bleacher Report, either in MLS or US players in Europe.

[fknbuflobo]

Very interesting!

I agree with Ken Mack that Kitchen will play center back for the U23s. Klinsman prefers playmaking/distributing center backs, a la his stellar long-time teammate Lothar Matthäus. In Klinsman’s 4-4-2, the diamond is in the back, not in the midfield. Kitchen would play that not often heard (anymore) position of Stopper. He will excel in that role.

And yes, Ines Sainz is smoking hot! Way too hot for sports reporting. Holy…..!

[Crew8]

Probably not the best time to post this after tonight's loss, but I thought I'd share. Kitchen and Valentin invited to camp Porter Names 31 Players to Roster for U-23 Men's National Team Camp for Nov. 7-16th in Germany

[bobbyake]

Probably not the best time to post this after tonight's loss, but I thought I'd share. Kitchen and Valentin invited to camp Porter Names 31 Players to Roster for U-23 Men's National Team Camp for Nov. 7-16th in Germany

no Bunbury? interesting

[Ando]

No Bunbury is probably due to there simultaneously being a senior team camp.

[Yaznasty]

No Bunbury is probably due to there simultaneously being a senior team camp.

Well, Teal didn't get the call up for the senior team either. Could be a conflict because MLS playoffs are going on right now, but Landon Donovan and Kyle Beckerman were called up. Teal wasn't the only surprise left off, as Agudelo wasn't called up either. Maybe some mangers just didn't want to release their guys for national team duty during playoffs and others didn't mind? It's weird though since Donovan and Beckerman are their clubs' captains and Hans Backe hates Juan Agudelo.

[Zip_ME87]

Zarek Gets U-23 Call

CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, November 3, 2011) - When he heard he was called up to next week’s U-23 U.S. National Team Camp, Zarek Valentin’s first reaction was not to celebrate, but to keep working. He got a few weeks notice, and he has spent them working hard to make sure he’s ready. The camp, which runs from November 7-16th in Duisburg Germany, is an exciting opportunity for the Chivas USA rookie defender.

“Obviously it’s an honor,” said Valentin. “You work really hard, both in MLS and for me with the U-20s, to potentially get a look. Being one of the younger guys in the age group, you just want to get a shot. And now that I got that shot, I have to take it the best I can. I think I have a pretty good chance.”

The camp is the first opportunity for players to get evaluated as a group, trying to make an impression on the coaching staff in advance of next spring’s Olympic qualifying, and potentially, the 2012 Olympic Games in London next August.

The twenty-year old Valentin has a total of 29 caps with the U.S. U-20 National Team, and has spent time with the players from the older age group, but this will be his first time officially with the U-23’s.

“I’m familiar with the guys and a couple of them are good friends,” said Valentin. “I’ll be comfortable”

Beyond the opportunity on the field, the trip is also a chance for Valentin to see a new part of the world.

“Germany, France and Italy are three European countries I really want to go to, so I’m checking one off the list,” he said. “I think we’ll have maybe a day or two off. We’ll definitely go see what’s around us a little bit. It’ll be good to go check out [the cities] and soak up the atmosphere.”

When his former University of Akron coach Caleb Porter was named head coach of the U-23’s last month, Valentin was very excited.

“He’ll be great for it,” said Valentin. “Obviously it doesn’t guarantee anything by any means for me- just because I’ve played for him before - but it gives me a certain comfort factor. I’m excited, and more than anything I think he’s excited to get a new challenge and really excel. He’s a great coach and I’m expecting great things for the age group in general.”

If everything goes according to plan, one of those great things could be the 2012 Olympics.

“It would be an absolute dream come true,” said Valentin of qualifying for the Olympics. “It’s something that I’ve wanted to do as long as I’ve been a soccer player. I know some of the coaching staff who were at the last Olympics in Beijing, and to hear the stories they talk about, and the emotions they felt, it’s something I want to have. My brother [Julian] has talked a lot about what it means to play in World Cups too, he played in two youth World Cups, and I haven’t been able to do anything like that. I’ll do whatever it takes just so I can get there, it would be a once in a lifetime thing.”

When reminded that next summer’s Olympics are in England, with the soccer events being held in such venues as Wembley Stadium, St. James’ Park and Old Trafford, Valentin was almost lost for words. Of course, the journey is just beginning next week in Germany. Valentin knows there’s much to be done, both by himself and for the team, before the Olympics become a reality, but you can’t blame the twenty-year old for taking a quick moment to dream.

“It would be perfect, it would be unreal,” he said. “I would be playing with a complete smile on my face- if I even played! I want to keep everything in perspective, this is just the first camp now, but it would be an incredible journey.”

[Zip_ME87]

Perry Kitchen and Ethan White called-up to U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team

D.C. United announced today that defenders Perry Kitchen and Ethan White have been called-up by the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team to attend a training camp in Duisburg, Germany at sporting school Sportsschule Wedau. United players will join the U.S. Soccer Federation from November 7-16.

The D.C. United defenders join a roster of 29 other players chosen by newly-appointed U-23 Head Coach Caleb Porter. The U-23 camp is taking place at the same time the full Men’s National Team will be gathered in France and Slovenia. The United States’ senior team will take on France at Stade de France on November 11, followed by a subsequent friendly in Slovenia on November 15.

Both Kitchen and White have previous international experience. Kitchen featured prominently for the U.S. U-20 National Team in 2011, starting three matches and registering 270 minutes of action to help the team reach the CONCACAF U-20 Championship Quarterfinals. The young defensive midfielder was also the captain of the U.S. U-17 National Team residency program and competed in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.

Kitchen was selected by D.C. United in the first round (third overall) during the 2011 MLS SuperDraft on January 13, 2011. The former University of Akron player participated in 31 matches (30 starts) for United during his rookie campaign, registering one goal. Kitchen became the first rookie in United’s 16-year history to lead the team in minutes played (2,726) during the 2011 season.

U.S. Soccer recently named Caleb Porter the Head Coach of the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team. Porter will coach Kitchen once again, as the two worked together to help Akron claim the 2010 NCAA Championship.

Ethan White is currently part of the U.S. Youth National Team player pool. In 2010, he was called-up to Thomas Rongen’s U.S. U-20 side to participate in the prestigious Milk Cup in Northern Ireland, in which the U.S. lifted the trophy after defeating the host nation.

A graduate of D.C. United’s Youth Academy, White signed with the first team on December 14, 2010. The young center back played a major role in United’s defense during his first MLS season, playing 24 matches (21 starts) and tallying one goal in 1,928 minutes of action. Prior to signing with United, White started 20 matches to help the University of Maryland reach the NCAA Tournament in 2010.

[Zip_ME87]

Probably not the best time to post this after tonight's loss, but I thought I'd share. Kitchen and Valentin invited to camp Porter Names 31 Players to Roster for U-23 Men's National Team Camp for Nov. 7-16th in Germany

no Bunbury? interesting

Note this in the article: "Porter plans to have additional domestic camps early next year as the U-23 Men prepare for 2012 Olympic qualifying beginning in March. "

I believe that Teal can still be invited to these additional camps even though he wasn't invited to this first one in Germany (which probably is due to the conflict with the MLS playoffs).

[Zip_ME87]

And, here it is:

Teal Bunbury and Luis Gil Added to U-23 Men's National Team Roster

[Crew8]

Jason Davis of the Best Soccer Show chats with U.S. coach Caleb Porter

[Crew8]

Jason Davis of the Best Soccer Show chats with U.S. coach Caleb Porter

It was confirmed today, CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers will be held in Nashville, TN and Carson, CA, while Kansas City will host Semifinals and Final. Road trip anyone? I believe USA will play the Group stage in Nashville if you listen to Coach Porter in the video above. Just before the 16 min mark.