Zarek ValentinPorter’s U23 squad concentrates on improving
January 13, 2012
CARSON, CA – U.S. U23 head coach Caleb Porter conducted a light training session Thursday evening, as three days of two-a-day practices began to reveal some heavy legs. Porter was also considering the impending test for his group against the full national team.
On Friday, the U23s welcome the U.S. MNT to the Home Depot Center for the first of two scrimmages scheduled between the squads over the next few days.
“Tomorrow will be a good benchmark to see how we do against the full team,” defender Zarek Valentin told TopDrawerSoccer.com after practice. “I know everyone is excited about it.”
After four days of practicing against each other, the 23 players in the U23 camp will finally face off against some new faces, but the feeling amongst the Olympic camp is that tomorrow is more about moving forward as a unit opposed to putting one over on the full team.
Zarek ValentinPorter said on Tuesday that he was more concerned with the advancement of the group, especially from an attacking standpoint, than anything else at this point. Valentin echoed that goal.
“We want to become a unit within our style. Part of that is to breakaway from how your club team might play or your own tendencies and really become a cohesive group.”
The Montreal Impact defender said Porter had not revealed his plans for the lineup in the scrimmage, but he anticipated getting that news later in the evening. The former Akron Zip has been featured at center back for much of the camp and felt comfortable with that role with this team.
“There is a certain trust factor,” said Zarek about playing for Porter again. “I know what he expects from center backs and hopefully I can keep progressing there.”
Porter has maintained that it remains an open competition for spots on the field, but through the first four days of training the squad has been split into similar teams with Valentin, Joshua Gatt, Jorge Villafana, and Andrew Wenger looking like the choice pick for defenders.
Gatt and Villafana inhabit the spots on the right and left side of the defense, respectively. Part of Thursday’s session focused on the duo whipping in crosses, as Porter has stressed the importance of having box-to-box type players in those roles.
The midfield is more of a question mark though, as Amobi Okugo looks like the only consistent among the three spots. The coach said earlier in the week that he was weighing his options with the players in the center of the field as he looks for the perfect chemistry.
“We want to have guys with different dimensions, that gives us the freedom to make adjustments personnel-wise depending on the opponent,” said Porter. “We also need to figure out the right balance with how much ball-winning we get, how much creativity.”
Isaac Acuna, who is making his first appearance with the U.S. program at this camp, made a very good impression in the last training session before the scrimmage. The midfielder, who plays with Mexican club Merida F.C., was used as a target forward earlier in the week, but moved to a more natural position in midfield on Thursday.
During the 8v8 drill, Acuna’s surprisingly nimble feet and distribution while holding possession impressed the coaches enough to move him onto the first team in the midst of the game.
The forward and winger spots have remained unchanged for much of the camp as Freddy Adu and Jack McInerney look like the top picks on the wings. Tony Taylor is a shoe-in for the striker role with not much competition currently for his position.
All three goalkeepers have done well, but Philadelphia Union’s Zach MacMath entered camp as the favorite and remains the top choice.
Note:
Sheanon Williams (personal), Joe Corona (club commitment), and Andrew Wenger (draft) missed Thursday’s training session, but all will return to camp soon.
