2.18.15
ASN Morning Read: Abolish the January Camp
Is it time to put Camp Cupcake in the oven and bake it on high until it burns away completely? We wouldn't say no, if only because it will save us from endless discussions about fitness.
BY
Noah Davis
Posted
February 18, 2015
8:11 AM
Why yes, we are still talking about fitness and January camps. The latest, from Matt Besler: "It's frustrating that any of my comments would be taken to imply that my commitment to the National Team is anything but absolute. Like the rest of our team, I take a tremendous amount of pride in representing our country and giving 100 percent every time I step on the field. Having a professional approach is something I take very seriously. After a long season I took a much-needed three-week break, and then began the process of preparing for the January camp as I have for the past three years. Playing for the United States is always an honor, and I appreciate the opportunity. Thanks for your continued support."
So let's just cancel the January camp: "A camp for national team hopefuls after the MLS season—say, beginning after Thanksgiving—could help address some of Klinsmann's concerns about MLS players getting less than a 11-month season, though finding decent competition in early December would be problematic. A 2016 January camp for under-23 players might work if the USA has qualified for the Rio Olympics or faces a playoff against Colombia in March. But the national team's January camp otherwise makes no sense.
Questions, questions:
Can the USL become a force in American soccer? ASN delves into the details: " We spent essentially the last four years building and rebuilding this particular pro league property to the point where we are starting to see the yield in terms of the strength of the teams on and off the field; the structure of the league; the partnership with MLS; the venues; and the teams that are moving on to MLS based on their performance in USL. So a lot of these things are starting to come to fruition. We just thought that the timing was really ideal to have a new brand—and a new brand identity and look—all the way from the logo to our website to everything about us that fits where we are as a league at the present time and where we're going in the next few years."
It feels unfair to steal Paul Carr's good work by linking to these pieces so:
Joe Corona makes La Liga MX's weekly Best XI.
Listen to the man, or whatever:
