What Should the USMNT's January Camp Look Like in 2023?

[Webster]

Every year the USMNT holds a January Camp and plays a few friendlies. It's been a good way to get the team together outside FIFA windows. But with the vast majority of the US player pool now playing abroad, how should we use this valuable window from here on out. I'll also be highlighting which players I think should get a look in January camp.

 

[PGen98]

Get the kiddos some seasoning, put them up against some strong competition and see how they fair. Best way to bring them along.

 

[Webster]

Get the kiddos some seasoning, put them up against some strong competition and see how they fair. Best way to bring them along.

I agree; I'll be shocked if they bring in more than a hand's worth of veteran players but the problem is that, because the camp is usually not held during a FIFA window, European/South American clubs may not (and in most cases won't) release Americans we're looking at so we may end up seeing mostly MLS players at this camp.

That, of course, is its' own problem, Gen, because I just don't rate MLS that highly; at best, we're on the level of Mexico's Liga MX and South Africa's Premier Division (third tier under (a) the Big 5 European leagues and (b) Brazil, Argentina & Portugal).

 

[PGen98]

I agree; I'll be shocked if they bring in more than a hand's worth of veteran players but the problem is that, because the camp is usually not held during a FIFA window, European/South American clubs may not (and in most cases won't) release Americans we're looking at so we may end up seeing mostly MLS players at this camp.

That, of course, is its' own problem, Gen, because I just don't rate MLS that highly; at best, we're on the level of Mexico's Liga MX and South Africa's Premier Division (third tier under (a) the Big 5 European leagues and (b) Brazil, Argentina & Portugal).

Yeah, the MLS has a long way to go, honestly, but it takes time for leagues to strengthen, the MLS is still relatively young, so it'll get there.

 

[Webster]

Yeah, the MLS has a long way to go

Shoulda' been around when it first started; let's just say it was one of the few things we couldn't Americanize.
However, until a few years ago it became a retirement league for aging European & South American stars.

 

[PGen98]

Shoulda' been around when it first started; let's just say it was one of the few things we couldn't Americanize.
However, until a few years ago it became a retirement league for aging European & South American stars.

I remember the sort of early 00s era..eek. And yeah, Beckham and co heading there to get their last payday and such. It's getting better!

 

[Webster]

I remember the sort of early 00s era..eek

 

[PGen98]

Yep.

 

[Webster]

Yep.

It could've been worse; imagine you were a Scottish football fan from about 2012 to 2017 after Rangers' collapse to Scottish League 2.

 

[PGen98]

It could've been worse; imagine you were a Scottish football fan from about 2012 to 2017 after Rangers' collapse to Scottish League 2.

Oh absolutely!! Worst time in the league. Celtic and then a lot of a lower league fodder for them to beat up on.

 

[Webster]

Celtic and then a lot of a lower league fodder for them to beat up on.

TV Tropes used to describe the Scottish league as "a two-horse race and one horse is at the glue factory"...now its' "a two-horse race with all the remaining horses at the glue factory".

 

[PGen98]

TV Tropes used to describe the Scottish league as "a two-horse race and one horse is at the glue factory"...now its' "a two-horse race with all the remaining horses at the glue factory".

It's pretty bad, for sure. It's not like Celtic and Rangers are even that good, they'd struggle in League One of the English game, imo, but they are miles ahead of everyone else. Closest is Motherwell, and they're just...no...

 

[Webster]

they'd struggle in League One of the English game

That's an insult to League One!

 

[Webster]

Closest is Motherwell, and they're just...no...

Can't be as bad as Hearts or Dundee Uni.... *goes to look at results*

 

[PGen98]

That's an insult to League One!

It really is, honestly.

Can't be as bad as Hearts or Dundee Uni.... *goes to look at results*

lol, yeah...

 

[Webster]

It really is, honestly.

Check that; its' an insult to the National League.

 

[PGen98]

Check that; its' an insult to the National League.

Maybe not THAT bad, but they'd definitely struggle against some of the lower league teams, for sure!

 

[Webster]

Anthony Hudson to coach USMNT during January friendlies

The former Colorado Rapids coach and current assistant assumes control temporarily.

www.starsandstripesfc.com

The United States Men’s National Team will have a temporary coach for their upcoming January Camp. Today, U.S. Soccer announced that Anthony Hudson will lead the USMNT on an interim basis for friendlies against Serbia on January 25th and against Colombia on January 28th.

Anthony Hudson has served as an assistant under Gregg Berhalter on the USMNT since 2021. Before that, he was the head coach of the USMNT U-20 side. He also has experience as a head coach on the club and international level, with coaching stints for Real Maryland Monarchs, Newport County, Bahrain’s U-23s, Bahrain, New Zealand’s U-23s, New Zealand, and the Colorado Rapids.

Anthony Hudson will be joined by fellow World Cup assistant coach B.J. Callaghan and Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team head coach Mikey Varas in forming the roster for the January Camp friendlies.

Gregg Berhalter, who led the USMNT as head coach from 2019 until 2022, had his contract expire at 11:59pm on December 31st. With him out of contract and with the investigation into the circumstances surrounding an intimate partner violence incident from 1991 involving his now wife Rosalind, Berhalter will not be in camp with the team this month. U.S. Soccer says it continues to conduct its “customary review” of the USMNT program following the team’s Round of 16 exit from the 2022 World Cup.