Cary Taining Camp

The training camp in Cary, N.C. got underway Wednesday. Arena says the idea is to push fitness levels hard (the players, not his) before “building on our team concept.”

Camp is officially closed to the public but the N.C. based Triangle Soccer Fanatics has a great first hand report of what’s going on. As usual, I recommend reading the original, but here’s a summary:

Roll Call:
The majority of the squad (Keller and Cherundolo are finishing up their Bundesliga seasons, Albright and Donovan played for Galaxy last night) are present, plus young Michael Bradley has been called in to make up the numbers. Even Eddie Lewis has made it to camp, though he’ll be heading back soon for Leeds’ promotion play-off final on May 21.

Injuries:
Seems Onyewu has a minor ankle problem (right) but nothing to get too concerned about, Lewis is recovering from a slight virus (damn English weather) and O’Brien still has a calf strain but was OK to take some part in practice. O’Brien will be keen to prove himsef, Arena has until May 15 to make alterations to the roster.

Fitness:
Jogging and stretches, followed by a 6 minute endurance test measuring heart rates and distance running. Apparently Dempsey and Bradley won the distance run. Predictably, the keepers came in last.

Drills:
Keepers practiced shot blocking.
Outfield players did 8v8 two-touch passing on a quarter pitch size area, then one-touch passing in a bigger size area.

Scrimmage::
9v9 scrimmage on a shortened field (goals at 18 yard line) for approx. 20 minutes.

Red team: Hahnemann, Gibbs, Pope, Bradley, Convey, Olsen, McBride, Reyna, Wolff

Yellow team: Howard, Conrad, Bocanegra, Mastroeni, Dempsey, Johnson, Ching, O’Brien, Beasley

• Red won 2-0.
• Reyna opened the scoring when he slid in to meet a cross.
• Yellow looked threatening but couldn’t find a way through.
• According to TSF “One of the most interesting matchups of the scrimmage was Beasley v. Olsen — a battle which Olsen won more often than not.”
• O’Brien sat out the second half with his calf strain (just a precaution though), being replaced by coach Curt Onalfo.
• Arena encouraged yellow to really push for an equaliser, leaving them vulnerable to the counter.
• Convey hit the post
• Dempsey nearly scored for yellow, beating Reyna one-on-one but then hitting the crossbar.
• Red’s second goal came right at the end. Hahnemann saved and found Convey for a quick counter down the left. Convey beat Tim Howard with a shot to the far post.

Warm-down:
McBride and Lewis played some pointy ball (right).

Once again all this (including images) is via Triangle Soccer Fanatics. There are also further images from the training camp available here.