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Time to Change Your Bookmarks for the New WNT Blog
17 years ago
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A Little from the New Guy
The newest member of the U.S. national team pool is Jose Francisco Torres, who got his first sniff in training yesterday. Born in Longview, Texas, he left high school and his family behind at the age of 16 to join Pachuca. Four years later, he has earned a regular place in Enrique Meza's squad, and all the while he had an eye on fulfilling his dream of playing for the national team. That dream came one step closer to being a reality yesterday, so we asked Jose about his first experience with the U.S. national team.
us: How was your first day?
Jose: "The first day was good. I was really nervous because I didn't know what to expect. Everyone has treated me really well. I started to feel very comfortable, and after the first day of training I'm feeling better and better."
us: With all the anticipation, has camp been different than you expected?
Jose: "It's better than I expected. I thought my teammates might be different, because sometimes in Mexico your teammates can be difficult. But here everyone treated me well. I felt comfortable with everyone very quickly. The coach is really cool, and everyone on the staff has been great. I'm really excited."
us: You've said that this has been a lifelong dream. How does it feel to now actually be wearing the colors of the U.S. National Team?
Jose: "When I put on the shirt I get the chills, because it's a dream. I think it is everyone's dream as a kid to be on the national team. Right now I think I'm living it, and when I put the shirt on I'm very excited and motivated to start playing. My choice was always to come here and represent the country was where I was born."
us: How was your first day?
Jose: "The first day was good. I was really nervous because I didn't know what to expect. Everyone has treated me really well. I started to feel very comfortable, and after the first day of training I'm feeling better and better."
us: With all the anticipation, has camp been different than you expected?
Jose: "It's better than I expected. I thought my teammates might be different, because sometimes in Mexico your teammates can be difficult. But here everyone treated me well. I felt comfortable with everyone very quickly. The coach is really cool, and everyone on the staff has been great. I'm really excited."
us: You've said that this has been a lifelong dream. How does it feel to now actually be wearing the colors of the U.S. National Team?
Jose: "When I put on the shirt I get the chills, because it's a dream. I think it is everyone's dream as a kid to be on the national team. Right now I think I'm living it, and when I put the shirt on I'm very excited and motivated to start playing. My choice was always to come here and represent the country was where I was born."
Perkins Back in Town
Training at RFK evoked a sense of deja vu for goalkeeper Troy Perkins, the former D.C. United netminder having spent four seasons in Washington, D.C. Joining the squad as an undrafted rookie, he went on to post a league best 16-6-7 record en route to earning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2006. Perkins joined Valerenga IF in Norway this past January, and while his career continues to move forward, he is certainly enjoying his time back in the United States.
us: What's it like being back in your old stomping grounds?
us: What's it like being back in your old stomping grounds?
Troy: "It's weird. You go from the biggest city in Norway, which you think is good sized, but it wouldn't even be a third of the size of DC. Seeing old faces, the old club ... It's a walk down memory lane."
us: You made an appearance at D.C. United's training yesterday. How was it seeing the fellas?
Troy: "Yeah, I showed up to say hi to some of the guys . I didn't get a chance to say goodbye before I left for Norway. Many of them didn't travel to Costa Rica (for the Champions League match against Saprissa), so I should get a chance to seem them again."
us: How did it feel walking out the tunnel underneath RFK and on to the stadium field?
Troy: "Neat. I have a lot of good memories on that field. We left on really great terms, and you never know in this game where you are going to wind up."
us: So what's the first thing you did when you got back?
Troy: "I went to Starbucks coffee. And I was very disappointed. It wasn't as good as I thought in my head. I also went to some of the back country outfitters that you only find on the east coast, like REI and couple other place. I've been seeing some old friends and family. D.C. is an impressive city. Very neoclassical."
Troy: "I went to Starbucks coffee. And I was very disappointed. It wasn't as good as I thought in my head. I also went to some of the back country outfitters that you only find on the east coast, like REI and couple other place. I've been seeing some old friends and family. D.C. is an impressive city. Very neoclassical."
us: You've been in with national team a couple in times in the past, but were you surprised by the callup?
Troy: "I know the national team coaches are always keeping an eye on players all over the world, and they are very good about giving players opportunities. I just try to focus on playing well and getting better, and letting the other things take care of themselves. I'm very pleased to get the chance to be here, so I just plan on working hard and hopefully showing enough to continue to get called in when there are opportunities."
us: Biggest difference living in Norway?
Troy: "The expenses! Norway has a lot of good things. The culture is centered around the family. We are about working and making money all the time. A full time job there is considered 35 hours a week, with five weeks guaranteed vacation. So in those terms, the lifestyle is quite nice."
Homecoming
The Maryland Terrapins had a special guest at their 2-1 overtime win against Charlotte at Ludwig field last night: none other than former Terp and current Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu. Mo managed to avoid the pomp and circumstance, watching the game from behind the Terps bench. A member of the 2005 NCAA National Championship team, he played with many of the seniors and some juniors on the team, so for the former Olympian, it was a nice reunion.
Restaurant Picks
Last night was the night the players got a chance to have dinner on their own. For those Washingtonians in search of restaurant recommendations, here's a sample of where our guys spent their evening:
Oguchi Onyewu - Some Italian Restaurant in Georgetown (We're pretty sure he meant Paparazzi). He recommends the stuffed crabcakes.
Brad Guzan (Michael Bradley and Sacha Kljestan) - BLT Steak. "It's the bomb-diggety!" (Feel free to send in your translations).
Troy Perkins - Legal Seafood. Let's just say his favorite part of the meal was the company.
Frankie Hejduk - Mate. "Solid sushi."
Jay DeMerit (Heath Pearce) - Chipotle. [Editor's Note - Holy cow ...]
Danny Califf (Tim Howard) - We went the non-traditional route and had different things at different places. We started at Capital Grille, moved on to J Pauls (joined by Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo), and finished at Clyde's. We were just enjoying the Georgetown scene.
(For the record, the MNT bloggers went to the District Chophouse. Great steaks).
Oguchi Onyewu - Some Italian Restaurant in Georgetown (We're pretty sure he meant Paparazzi). He recommends the stuffed crabcakes.
Brad Guzan (Michael Bradley and Sacha Kljestan) - BLT Steak. "It's the bomb-diggety!" (Feel free to send in your translations).
Troy Perkins - Legal Seafood. Let's just say his favorite part of the meal was the company.
Frankie Hejduk - Mate. "Solid sushi."
Jay DeMerit (Heath Pearce) - Chipotle. [Editor's Note - Holy cow ...]
Danny Califf (Tim Howard) - We went the non-traditional route and had different things at different places. We started at Capital Grille, moved on to J Pauls (joined by Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo), and finished at Clyde's. We were just enjoying the Georgetown scene.
(For the record, the MNT bloggers went to the District Chophouse. Great steaks).
Getting after it
The first nearly-full training session for the national team in D.C. was a lively one. Minus Tim Howard (dentist appointment) and Charlie Davies (somewhere over the Atlantic), the rest of the group engaged in an intense and focused 90-minute training that had a great buzz about it. After a 25-minute warmup, they went straight into a possession game of 7 v. 7 plus two. It's fair to say the ball was pinging all over the place, with crisp passing and fine spacing off the ball. Next was 8 v. 8 to big goals, where both teams were able to create good scoring opportunities and finish several off as well. The day ended with a crossing and finishing exercise.
"It was a good day. From start to finish, there was a good mentality, sharpness and competitiveness, said U.S. coach Bob Bradley. We believe that the camps add up and eventually you get to the point where, when you come in, you don't start over; you start from where you left off. More and more, that is the case."
Stay tuned for video of the action ...
Listen to Bob Bradley's quotes
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Americans in the UEFA Cup
Two U.S. players learned their fate for European club competition this morning as the draw for the Group Stage of UEFA Cup was announced. Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege, fresh off their qualifying victory against Tim Howard and Everton, were drawn into a Group C headlined by 2006-07 UEFA Cup champions Sevilla. Meantime, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and Aston Villa face an interesting challenge in Group F along with fellow former European Champions Ajax and Hamburg. Group play kicks off Oct. 23.
| Group C | |||||||
| Sevilla | |||||||
| VfB Stuttgart | |||||||
| Sampdoria | |||||||
| Partizan Belgrade | |||||||
| Standard Liege | |||||||
| Group F | |||||||
| Hamburg | |||||||
| Ajax | |||||||
| Slavia Prague | |||||||
| Aston Villa | |||||||
| MSK Zilina | |||||||
Impromptu Interview with Jay DeMerit while Jay is on the Training Table
us: What's the most interesting thing that has happened to you in the last two months?
Jay: "The goal that never was! It was against Reading [a 2-2 draw on Sept. 20, 2008]. They had a corner kick that gets played into the box. Our guy heads it down, then it hits another player's knee and is heading out of bounds about three yards wide of the goal. Just before the ball is across the endline, a Reading player slides to keep it in and crosses it back across the goal. The linesman's flag goes up, the referee blows the whistle, and everyone sets up for a goal kick. All of a sudden, the referee runs over to the linesman and then points towards the center circle as if it's a goal. Naturally we go ballistic, the ref is handing out yellow cards left and right, and he is adamant that they scored a goal. The ball was three yards wide! Our manager compared that goal call to a UFO landing in the middle of the pitch. Neither ever happened."
us: That certainly qualifies as interesting. Your take on the Brett Favre move to New York?
Jay: "I thought it was dealt with badly by both parties. As a huge Favre fan, you never wanted to see him go. At the end of the season he said he was done, and the team had to be prepared for the future, and it's hard to take that back. Then again, he's proved with the Jets that he can still get it done. The Packers had a decision to make, and fair enough to Brett that he wanted to be the number one. It's weird seeing him in another jersey. But then again, Rogers has come in and done a good job, so everyone's been proved right."
us: So clearly you are still conflicted ...
Jay: "Clearly."
us: What's the last thing you read?
Jay: "I'm reading Richard Branson's book. He's the owner of Virgin Atlantic Airlines. Being the budding entrepreneur that I am, it's a fascinating read for me."
us: What's next?
Jay: "Pool workout, more stretching and getting ready for training. The life of the footballer..."
Jay: "The goal that never was! It was against Reading [a 2-2 draw on Sept. 20, 2008]. They had a corner kick that gets played into the box. Our guy heads it down, then it hits another player's knee and is heading out of bounds about three yards wide of the goal. Just before the ball is across the endline, a Reading player slides to keep it in and crosses it back across the goal. The linesman's flag goes up, the referee blows the whistle, and everyone sets up for a goal kick. All of a sudden, the referee runs over to the linesman and then points towards the center circle as if it's a goal. Naturally we go ballistic, the ref is handing out yellow cards left and right, and he is adamant that they scored a goal. The ball was three yards wide! Our manager compared that goal call to a UFO landing in the middle of the pitch. Neither ever happened."
us: That certainly qualifies as interesting. Your take on the Brett Favre move to New York?
Jay: "I thought it was dealt with badly by both parties. As a huge Favre fan, you never wanted to see him go. At the end of the season he said he was done, and the team had to be prepared for the future, and it's hard to take that back. Then again, he's proved with the Jets that he can still get it done. The Packers had a decision to make, and fair enough to Brett that he wanted to be the number one. It's weird seeing him in another jersey. But then again, Rogers has come in and done a good job, so everyone's been proved right."
us: So clearly you are still conflicted ...
Jay: "Clearly."
us: What's the last thing you read?
Jay: "I'm reading Richard Branson's book. He's the owner of Virgin Atlantic Airlines. Being the budding entrepreneur that I am, it's a fascinating read for me."
us: What's next?
Jay: "Pool workout, more stretching and getting ready for training. The life of the footballer..."
Olympic Reunion
Sitting in the breakfast room and noticed that one of the tables - in fact the only table that is occupied by players at the moment - is made up of this summer's Olympians. Both Mo Edu and Sacha Kljestan are wearing some of the USA team gear from Beijing, while Michael Orozco, Danny Szetela, Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore join them in breaking bread. Jose Torres is taking in the stories as well.
And just in case you were going to give the youngsters extra credit for being up early, several of the veteran players have already been in and out of breakfast...
And just in case you were going to give the youngsters extra credit for being up early, several of the veteran players have already been in and out of breakfast...
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