McDonald called into U.S national team camp
By Jeff Carlisle · December 22, 2009
Brandon McDonald has been called into the U.S. national team camp. Photo: Kelley L. Cox, isiphotos.com.
San Jose Earthquakes defender Brandon McDonald received an early Christmas gift on Tuesday, when it was revealed that he had been called in by U.S. national team manager Bob Bradley to take part in the team’s January training camp.
The call-up is just reward for the fine season that McDonald had for the Quakes, although he is curiously listed as a forward in the U.S. Soccer press release. Of course, the biggest hope for San Jose is that the University of San Francisco product avoids the injury bug that Jason Hernandez picked up last year while attending the same event, one that plagued him for the entire 2009 campaign.
So what are your thoughts? Surprised that McDonald got called in? Do you think he’s just there to make up the numbers, or will Bradley give him a serious look?
Based on the players called in, I think Bradley has realized that his current depth chart is pretty shallow. He is using the camp to bring in mostly new faces and hopefully find a few gems to add to his squad. I do not think he is looking for starters from this group per se’, but role players, fill-ins and back ups is a good bet. I think it is a smart move.
The camp is at least five months before the WC, which is plenty of time to integrate a few new players into the system/rotation. This is especially important in the face of injuries to Gooch and Davies. Additionally, if you do not do this and one or two more players get hurt either in MLS or overseas, and suddenly, you could be facing a quick exit from the WC if you do not have enough depth in your squad.
One more note, I am glad McDonald was called in to the camp. Based on his performance this past year, Brandon completely deserved it. While making the squad is completely up to his performance and attitude at camp, at the very least we know that Bradley is watching the Quakes… And I thought no one care about lil’ ol’ San Jose…
Better not be Jason Hernandez all over again. His decent into injury hell began in a January national team camp and trying too hard in January.