Article by Pedro Gomes
As yet another January camp enters the United States Soccer history books, let us take a quick look back at what has transpired and what we have learned from the camp.
Rosters:
Typically US roster announcements are desperately anticipated, usually overly analyzed and this camp was no different.

Four days after putting together an impeccable performance against Venezuela, the United States had to overcome a sloppy and disheveled showing to escape Estadio Rommel Fernandez with a 1-0 win over Panama Wednesday night.

Graham Zusi's ninth minute goal survived more than 85 minutes of as Panama squandered countless chances to equalize against a maligned back line during the international friendly.

The U.S. men's national team plays its second game in a week, and second of 2011 in Panama City tonight against CONCACAF foe Panama (8:30pm, Galavision/ESPN3.com).

The United States is coming off a 1-0 victory against Venezuela, but tonight should offer a much tougher test as the Americans face the Panama side that beat the Americans in the Gold Cup group stages before losing a 1-0 decision in the Gold Cup semifinals.

Ricardo FTW!

The US's January Cupcake Campers took on Venezuela's B-minus side Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona.

And while the run of play favored the States, it was unlikely former scapegoat in Rico Clark who provided the only nail in the coffin as the US opened their pair of camp-closing games with a 1-0 victory.

Before we dig into some of my takeaways from tonight's battle with Venezuela (another three-pointer!), the original starting lineup: Bill Hamid, A.J. DeLaGarza, Michael Parkhurst, Geoff Cameron, Heath Pearce, Jeff Larentowicz, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi, Benny Feilhaber, Brek Shea, Teal Bunbury. As for the highlights, check out the ESPN3 replay here.

The U.S. men's national team will play its first match of 2012, and an MLS-heavy squad will take the field against Venezuela on Saturday night in Arizona with many players looking to impress Jurgen Klinsmann and work their way into the full senior team mix.

Some familiar faces are back in the mix as Benny Feilhaber and Ricardo Clark are in camp, while Heath Pearce joins them as the only players on the camp roster with more than 30 caps.

BY ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. – In a match that was much closer than the last time these teams met, the U.S. Under-23 national team battled to a hard fought 1-1 draw against the U.S. national team on Tuesday evening at the Home Depot Center Complex.

Graham Zusi was flying down the flanks throughout the first half
Graham Zusi and Jack McInerney traded sweet strikes as the National Team and the U-23's finished with a 1-1 draw in the second of two scrimmages played here between the teams at The Home Depot Center.

Jared Jeffrey (blue) and Benny Feilhaber (Grey)
On Friday, the full team lined up against the U-23 MNT for the first of two scrimmages while the teams share space at The Home Depot Center. For both groups, it was the first opportunity to play 11 v. 11 since camp began and continue to evaluate players for the upcoming friendlies.

The full team lined up against the U-23 MNT for the first of two scrimmages while the teams share space at The Home Depot Center. For both groups, it was the first opportunity to play 11 v. 11 since camp began and continue to evaluate players for the upcoming friendlies.
"These scrimmages are good for us and the Under-23s, that's why we do it purposely, because it's a big year for U.

During the January camp in Phoenix, several members of the U.S. Men's National Team will write journal entries for ussoccer.com. The journals will provide a first-hand, behind-the-scenes account of what's going on in the January camp.

A member of the 30-man preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Chivas USA defender Heath Pearce writes the second installment and gives a detailed look at a day in the life in Phoenix .

New England Revolution midfielder Benny Feilhaber is among the 20 players called in by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann for the team's annual January training camp, which will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, in Phoenix, Ariz.

The annual camp held in January for players in their offseason is a largely domestic-based group that includes 18 players who ply their trade in the United States.

The Houston Dynamo announced today that centerback Geoff Cameron has been called into the US Men's National Team's annual January camp. This is a whole bundle of good news, the main piece being that the knee injury Cameron sustained in the first half of MLS Cup, the one that kept him from clearing Landon Donovan's chip for the game-winner (and we all know that absent the injury, that would have been cleared, right?

Jurgen Klinsmann has called 20 players in for the U.S. Men's National Team's January camp. The selections leave many nodding their head in agreement as several players who have been left out will finally get their shot. Barring injury or schedule conflicts, the current group to take on Venezuela and Panama looks like this:
Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (DC United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.

Like moaning and whining and pitching fits over Klinsi's January call-ups!!! YAY!!!!G - Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)D - Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.J. DeLaGarza (L.A. Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), George John (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA)M - Kyle Beckerman (

The annual January friendlies are set for the US Men's National Team and now the roster is out. Fans will finally get to see the likes of FC Dallas defender George John and LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez in action for Jurgen Klinsmann as well as MLS Rookie of the Year CJ Sapong.

Out of the 20 players called up, only two were not from MLS.

Der Bomber Jurgen Klinsmann, named his 20-man roster for January camp and the two international friendlies in Arizona against Venezuela and away in Panama.
The good? The bad? The ugly? What are your thoughts?
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (7): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.

Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

Jurgen Klinsmann has called in 20 players for the U.S. men's national team's January camp, and the neglected ones from the past few months will finally get their chance to perform in front of the U.S. coach.

Centerbacks Omar Gonzalez, George John and Geoff Cameron and attacking midfielder Benny Feilhaber are all part of the crew that will train in Phoenix and at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

And the invites are in...or out rather.

Geoff Cameron gets his long-deserved invite...

Jurgen Klinsmann will undoubtedly run a different January camp than his predecessor Bob Bradley did. That, and the US goes on the road for not one but two matches against Venezuela and Panama. (Really looking forward to that Panama affair.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

The tradition of holding a January camp for mostly MLS players looking to break through into the U.S. naitonal team is going to be maintained during the Jurgen Klinsmann era and the German manager will be putting together his first January camp very shortly.

It's a very Pacific Northwest kind of day here in Carson with fog billowing therough the stadium and several hundred Sounders fans in the stands outcheering the home crowd.

Seattle has started pretty much a full strength lineup: Kasey Keller-James Riley, Jeff Parke (who has returned from concussion) Jhon kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez-Alvaro Fernandez, Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, Mauro Rosales-Mike Fucito, Fredy Montero.

BY ADAM SERRANO

Trouble is brewing in the front office of the Colorado Rapids.

In an interview with the Denver Post, head coach Gary Smith admitted that there is a "relationship issue" between himself and Rapids techincal director Paul Bravo that may see Smith decide not to re-sign with Colorado when his contract is finished at the end of the season.

Chivas USA 1 Toronto 0

Juan Pablo Angel scored his sixth goal in five games for Chivas USA in the 12th minute, heading home an Ante Jazic cross from seven yards after Justin Braun picked up a loose ball in the Toronto half.

*************************

It took me just 30 minutes to get from my Torrance driveway to my press box seat tonight at Home Depot Center where a rather subdued atmosphere has greeted two struggling teams.

It's finally over. This two-game-in-five-day stretch for the US national team has come and gone, and the team now has a full three matches under Jurgen Klinsmann.
How far along has the team come under Klinsmann? What progress has been made?
Despite the less-than-stellar record - the U.S. is 0-2-1 under Klinsmann - progress has been made.

It's finally over. This two-game-in-five-day stretch for the US national team has come and gone, and the team now has a full three matches under Jurgen Klinsmann.
How far along has the team come under Klinsmann? What progress has been made?
Despite the less-than-stellar record - the U.S. is 0-2-1 under Klinsmann - progress has been made.

Yeah, I though the city of Carson logo was apt for this blog post.

The U.S. Men's National Team camp is under way in Carson although Clint Dempsey is absent for Friday's game, Jonathan Spector and Chris Pontius have replaced the injured Zach Loyd and Heath Pearce and newcomer Fabian Johnson is as yet ineligible to play for the U.

Sporting Kansas City's Kei Kamara and Teal Bunbury have been called up by their respective national teams. (Getty Images)

It will be a fairly slow week around these parts, seeing how MLS is pretty much off this weekend (except for two games). With a FIFA fixture on the calendar this weekend there are a full slew of MLSers involved in friendlies and even some World Cup qualifiers.

US national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann today added Chris Pontius and Jonathan Spector to roster for the upcoming friendlies as Heath Pearce and Zach Lloyd were forced to withdrawn for injuries.

The United States Soccer Federation announced on Monday that DC United's Chris Pontius and Birmingham City's Jonathan Spector will join the National Team for the September 2nd and 6th friendlies. The two replace Zach Lloyd and Heath Pearce who were injured over the weekend in MLS play. Clint Dempsey will be joining the squad in Europe for the September 6th game after undergoing treatment for back spasms.

D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius and Birmingham City defender/midfielder Jonathan Spector have been called into the U.S. men's national team training camp as injury replacements for Heath Pearce and Zach Loyd, U.S. Soccer announced on Friday.

Pontius is enjoy a stellar season for D.

Spector gets his first call up since joining Birmingham City this summer
As the MNT arrives in Southern California, the MNT Blog has a few roster moves to report. Birmingham City defender Jonathan Spector has been added to the squad, as has DC United midfielder Chris Pontius.

STARTERS
The NSC Minnesota Stars game on Saturday night v Montreal will be a night for Breast Cancer Awareness. The Stars will be sporting hot pink uniforms to show their solidarity. Game time is 7pm sharp. See you in Blaine.
-IMSoccer News got pictures of the uniforms for us to preview:
dN
UPDATED: MLS has POSTPONED 3 East Coast games this weekend to avoid any danger from Hurricane Irene:
-Saturday
DC v Portland
-Sunday
New York v LA
Philadelphia v New England
dN
Just like what happened last week in Spain, the players in the Italian Serie A have declared a strike and will not play their first round matches this weekend.

New US coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named the squad for the upcoming friendly matches vs. Costa Rica and Belgium. The Costa Rica showdown is set for September 2nd at the Home Depot Center. Coverage of the match will be on ESPN2, ESPN3.com, and Galavision at 10PM CST. The US will follow that up on Sept.

GOALKEEPERS (2):

Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS (9):

Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Edgar Castillo (Club America), Timmy Chandler (FC Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)

MIDFIELDERS (9):

Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS (4):

Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Klinsmann's squad for the upcoming USA vs.

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton, England), Bill Hamid (DC United).Goalkeepers: Carlos Bocanegra (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Edgar Castillo (Club America, Mexico), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg, Germany), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Clarence Goodson (Brondby, Denmark), Zach Loyd (Dallas), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis, Mexico), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York)Goalkeepers:
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Jurgen Klinsmann today announced his 24-man U.S. Men's National Team roster to face Costa Rica in Los Angeles on September 2nd and Belgium in Brussels on September 6th. Included in the squad are ex-New England Revolution midfielders Clint Dempsey, now in England with Fulham FC, and Jeff Larentowicz, now with the Colorado Rapids.

USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named his 24-man roster for the upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium. Eleven MLS players including Colorado's Jeff Larentowicz and Sporting Kansas City's Teal Bunbury were rewarded for their strong recent play with call-ups.

Michael Orozco-Fiscal is also on the roster.

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named a squad of 24 players to prepare for the upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium. Of the 24 players called 18 are returning from the squad that tied Mexico 1-1 on August 10th. The six new players called up are; Clint Dempsey, Fabian Johnson, Sacha Kljestan, Jeff Larentowicz, Jozy Altidore, and Teal Bunbury.

24 Players have been called in by USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
G:
Bill Hamid - DC United
Tim Howard - Everton
D:
Carlos Bocanegra - Rangers
Edgar Castillo - America
Timmy Chandler - Nürnberg
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover
Clarence Goodson - Brondby
Zach Loyd - Dallas
Michael Orozco Fiscal - San Luis
Heath Pearce - Chivas USA
Tim Ream - New York Red Bulls
M:
Kyle Beckerman - Real Salt Lake
Clint Dempsey - Fulham
Maurice Edu - Rangers
Fabian Johnson - Hoffenheim
Sacha Kljestan - Anderlecht
Jeff Larentowicz - Colorado Rapids
Robbie Rogers - Columbus Crew
Brek Shea - Dallas
Jose Torres - Pachuca
F:
Juan Agudelo - New York Red Bulls
Jozy Altidore - AZ
Teal Bunbury - Sporting Kansas City
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Assistant Coaches:
Thomas Dooley
Tab Ramos
Martin Vasquez
Ian Feuer - Costa Rica
Chris Woods – Belgium

With today's announcement of call-ups to the United States National Team, particularly with 11 from MLS, one could quickly think that this could effect the hunt for the MLS Cup Playoffs. It won't. MLS is taking a pretty light weekend over with the international date, and only two games will be played that could be effected.