It’s been well documented that California is a hotbed for producing American soccer players and as the most populous state in the Union (nearly 37 million people), it should be.
This fact is often reflected through the high amounts of players that appear on U.S. World Cup rosters every four years – the last six of which have seen at least four Californians play important roles on those teams.
Last summer, all six Californians on the U.S. roster appeared on the field at the same time for Bob Bradley’s side in the famous 1-0 U.S. win over Algeria.
Landon Donovan, the game’s goal scorer, is from Redlands, CA; team captain and former Fire backliner Carlos Bocanegra hails from Alta Loma, CA. Maurice Edu (Fontana), Benny Feilhaber (Irvine), Steve Cherundolo (San Diego) and Jonathan Bornstein (Los Alamitos) all played their part in one of the most memorable matches in American soccer history.
Of 57 players in the 2011 U.S. player pool, 13 (or nearly 25%) hail from The Golden State…
What does this all mean and how does it relate to the Fire?
As 2011 training camp opens, the club finds itself with six Californians on its preseason roster, four of which are newcomers to the club.
Below is a breakdown of the Fire’s California kids…
Calen Carr (Hometown:
Berkeley, CA; School: University of California; Forward)
Calen Carr enters the 2011 season as one of the club’s wily veterans. Having joined the club in 2006, the Berkeley, CA native is tied for the second longest consecutive tenure with the Fire along with defender Dasan Robinson. The two trail only Logan Pause in terms of years of service to the club.
Carr certainly exudes a bit of the free flowing nature of his home state as well as his alma mater, the University of California.
Though he’s experienced injuries the past two years the speedy striker’s work ethic has never disappeared. One of the shining moments from an underwhelming 2010 season was Carr’s return after a nearly six-month injury layoff in the August 18 home match vs. New England.
Entering the game in the 69th minute with the score tied 1-1, Carr stretched the New England back line for the final 20 minutes, scoring what would be the first game winning goal of his career as he tucked inside Revolution keep Matt Reis’ net.
Entering his sixth year in Chicago, Carr is one of only two signed strikers on the current preseason roster and though only 19 of his 82 appearance for the club have been starts, it’s likely that number will go up this season as long as he keeps his health.
Kwame Watson-Siriboe
(Chino Hills, CA; University of Connecticut; Defender)
Second year defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe impressed during his rookie year in 2010, filling in admirably on the backline the club’s veteran center backs were unavailable.
The Chino Hills, by way of UConn product had his feet put to the fire early in 2010 when he started and went 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw at eventual MLS Cup champions Colorado on April 3.
He gained valuable experience throughout 2010, going on to appear in 10 games and starting seven.
Watson-Siriboe will look to slot into one of the two starting roles left with CJ Brown and Wilman Conde not returning. It seems clear that offseason signing Cory Gibbs will be the main anchor in the middle on the Fire backline, so KWS will likely see his stiffest competition from incoming Croatian defender Josip Mikulic and 2011 SuperDraft selection Jalil Anibaba (also from California).
The New Guys…
Daniel Paladini
(Northridge, CA; Cal State Northridge; Midfielder)
Coming off a two-year stint in American soccer’s second division with the Carolina Railhawks, Daniel Paladini returns to MLS with the Fire in 2011.
The Northridge product was originally a draft pick of the Los Angeles Galaxy back in 2006, eventually moving across the hall at The Home Depot Center, playing eight matches for Chivas USA during 2008.
While the Goats offered him a contract to return the next season, Paladini decided to move to the RailHawks, electing for more playing time over sitting an MLS bench.
While in Cary, NC the self-described “box-to-box midfielder” shined, appearing in 62 matches while tallying 12 goals and nine assists and earning back-to-back Best XI honors, helping the club to top four regular season finishes both years.
Most recently Paladini appeared in the USSF Division 2 Championship series where Carolina fell 3-1 on aggregate to the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Though he may not be an immediate starter, Paladini is certainly a player that belongs in MLS. His decision to move down a level in order to get playing time coincided with the league shrinking roster sizes from 28 to 24 players at the end of the 2008 season.
Jalil Anibaba (Davis, CA; University of North
Carolina; Defender)
The club’s first selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Anibaba spent his final collegiate season with the University of North Carolina in 2010, helping the Tar Heels to a third-consecutive NCAA College Cup appearance.
Prior to his time in Chapel Hill, Anibaba was a mainstay with Santa Clara University from 2007-09. In total the 6-0 defender appeared in 85 matches, starting 84 while tallying three goals during his collegiate career.
Though not officially signed, it’s likely Anibaba will ink a deal with the club. With second-year defender Steven Kinney likely out until May, the Davis, CA product’s best route to the Fire starting lineup may be at right back, where he’ll receive competition from veteran Dasan Robinson and midfielder, sometimes defender, Bratislav Ristic.
What’s unique about Jalil? His father raises canaries in their home in Davis and since his SuperDraft selection, he’s received a growing Twitter following @NigerianFuture.
Davis Paul (Upland,
CA; University of California; Forward)
Another 2011 SuperDraft selection, Paul came to the Fire a celebrity in his own right after producing this viral video during a road trip with his Cal teammates between Oregon State and the University of Washington this past October.
Appearing in 20 or more matches in three of his four years at Cal, the Upland, CA product recorded 15 goals and 21 assists over 78 games during his collegiate career.
Similar to his fellow Cal alum and new teammate Calen Carr, Paul believes his greatest asset to be his work rate. He’ll also bring “a creative, free spirit” to the field and the locker room according to his college coach Kevin Grimes.
One of five attacking players selected in this month’s Super and Supplemental Drafts, Paul will enter camp this week unsigned and looking to prove he belongs on the club’s roster in 2011.
Like Anibaba, Paul has seen an increase his Twitter following since being drafted by the Fire, follow his preseason exploits on Twitter @Davis_Paul.
Amani Walker (San
Diego, CA; UC-Irvine; Forward)
A few were surprised that Walker was taken in last week’s Supplemental Draft instead of being selected at the SuperDraft in Baltimore the week before.
Another forward that will try to earn a roster spot in camp, Walker has been key for the UC-Irvine Anteaters the past four seasons, appearing in 20 or more games every year, while tallying 27 goals and 14 assists.
In 2010, Walker led the Anteaters in scoring with 11 goals while climbing all the way up to #7 in the national rankings.
At 6-2, Walker will certainly fit more of the target forward role left open by the retirement of Brian McBride and departure of Collins John this offseason.
Jeff Crandall is the Team Writer for the Chicago Fire. Follow him on Twitter @JefeCrandall.
