US Soccer - MLS Reentry Draft - US national team winter camp

With most Euro-leagues on winter break, MLS in the depths of its off-season, and no international action to speak of, the past month has been predictably slow. That's not to say that all has been quiet on the American soccer front, but as we move into January, drafts, transfer windows, and friendlies get the news flowing once again.

Stemming the Tide?

Last month we discussed the dud that was the first stage of the first MLS Reentry Draft with the caveat that the second stage would prove more interesting. Certainly more players were taken, though not all have been able to negotiate satisfactory deals with the clubs that took them. With some players able to swap clubs without being subject to onerous "ownership" rules, there was certainly a degree of success, and that's a decent opening salvo in keeping veterans and journeymen in the league.

Still, the league has already lost the likes of Buddle and Findley, experienced, fringe internationals, to second-tier Euro clubs in the current transfer window. With expansion continuing apace, these are precisely the sort of players the league needs to hold on to in order to maintain a quality product on the field.

Euro Struggles & Renaissance Men

A quick glance at any of the sites tracking Yanks Abroad will reveal how many Americans are involved in relegation battles. The likes of Dempsey (Fulham), Guzan, Freidel, Lichaj (Villa), Spector (West Ham), and Bradley (Mönchengladbach) are all at or near the bottom of their respective tables.

But those disturbing positions are balanced by loan moves and returns, be they from injury or poor form, for players that will be key to US qualification for the next World Cup. Brad Guzan, stuck behind the other Brad at Villa has seen first-team time in net for Hull City. Oguchi Onyewu is likely to see far more time at Twente than he did at Milan. And Maurice Edu has come back from another injury spell for Rangers.

But the big story over the last month has been West Ham's Jonathan Spector. After starting his career as a forward, then dropping to center back, only to be pushed wide to fullback, Spector has been on fire for the Hammers in the center of midfield and not just as a holding player. He's been getting forward as well, scoring and creating goals. With the US stocked in central midfield, it's unlikely he gets a look there, but given the dearth of quality fullbacks, a continuation of his current form is sure to keep him firmly in Bradley's thinking.

Going Camping

Speaking of Bradley, the roster for the annual winter camp and friendlies features mostly MLS players with a few European-based players plying their trades in leagues with winter off-seasons added to the mix. It's an inexperienced roster, with Alejandro Bedoya topping the cap-haul at six. In fact, half of the roster has never been capped and only one, Juan Agudelo, has scored in senior international action.

Considering how settled and experienced the core of Bradley's first-choice team is, his selections here shouldn't be surprising. Entering the new qualification cycle and ahead of the Gold Cup, he's looking for new faces and talent to refresh the current lineup and possibly directly address the concerns about fullback and forward depth. He'll also want to audition the next generation of defenders with the likes of DeMerit, Bocanegra, and Cherundolo being questionable at best for 2014 given their respective ages.

Looking Ahead

The coming month will be a busy one, and the discerning US soccer fan will be paying attention to...

• Bradley's youthquake US roster against Chile (1/22). Who shines and gets added to the first team mix?
• Further US player movement. Where does Feilhaber land?
• The MLS SuperDraft and the continued swapping of parts as clubs build their rosters ahead of the 2011 pre-season.

We'll see you on the other side of January.

Michael S. Hund is the creator of the Fullback Files, a blog covering DC United, the US National Team, and Major League Soccer.