Tweet tweet: J.R. Eskilson @JREskilson4h The U.S. U17 MNT leaves for Turkey tomorrow to take part in the Aegean Cup. U17s play France (1/20), Norway (1/21), and Scotland (1/23). According to the Scottish FA: Monday, 20th January 2014 Group A: Turkey v Ukraine (12pm) Group B: France v USA (12pm) Group A: Greece v Azerbaijan (2.30pm) Group B: Norway v Scotland (2.30pm) Tuesday, 21st January 2014 Group A: Greece v Ukraine (12pm) Group B: Norway v USA (12pm) Group A: Turkey v Azerbaijan (2.30pm) Group B: France v Scotland (2.30pm) Thursday, 23rd January 2014 Group A: Azerbaijan v Ukraine (12pm) Group B: Scotland v USA (12pm) Group A: Turkey v Greece (2.30pm) Group B: France v Norway (2.30pm) Saturday, 25th January 2014 Third-place match (12pm) Final (3pm) http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsID=12986&newsCategoryID=1 Scotland's roster is also on that page. France roster: http://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/12/u16/derniere-selection Credit to @Peretz48 for spotting Eskilson's tweet. I can't find a US roster and haven't looked for Norway's. EDIT: Norway below. http://www.fotball.no/Landslag_og_t...emt-gutter/G16/2014/G16-tropp-til-Aegean-Cup/
Adds: Looks like we played in the 2012 version. U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Aegean Cup 2012 Schedule Date Opponent Result U.S. Goalscorer(s) Jan. 17 Turkey 1-2 L Robinson Jan. 18 Denmark 3-2 W Donovan, Wade, Robinson Jan. 20 Czech Republic 0-4 L http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-17-m...es-out-aegean-cup-against-czech-republic.aspx That roster: GOALKEEPERS (2): Paul Christensen (Seattle Sounders; Woodinville, Wash.), Evan Louro (New York Red Bulls; South River, N.J.) DEFENDERS (6): Adonis Amaya (Chivas USA; Westminster, Calif.), Connor Donovan (NC Alliance; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Jorge Miranda (Real So Cal; Van Nuys, Calif.), Shaquell Moore (Cobb FC; Powder Springs Ga.) John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.), Tyler Turner (South Central Premier; West Haven, Conn.) MIDFIELDERS (7): Steven Echevarria (New York Red Bulls; Slate Hill, N.Y.), Junior Flores (McLean Youth Soccer; Manassas Park, Va.), Angel Heredia (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Guyllain Kabala (New England Revolution; Manchester, N.H.), Christopher Lema (New York Red Bulls; Ridgefield, N.J), Aaron Meyer (FC Dallas; Carrollton, Texas), Rubio Rubin (Westside Metros; Beaverton, Ore.) FORWARDS (5): Corey Baird (San Diego Surf; Escondido, Calif.), DeAndre Robinson (Concorde Fire; Atlanta, Ga.), Lawrence Taiwo (NC Alliance; Raleigh, N.C.), Wesley Wade (New York Red Bulls; South Orange, N.J.), Dembakwi Yomba (Concorde Fire Academy; Lithonia, Ga.) http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-17-mnt/2012/01/u17-mnt-travels-to-aegean-cup.aspx
U.S. roster (lifted from another thread, pasted with credit to the person who posted it): Only a few of the new guys here, for whatever that might mean.
The roster link: GOALKEEPERS (2): Carlos Avilez (FC Dallas Academy; Dallas, Texas), Will Pulisic (Richmond Strikers; Mechanicsville, Va.) DEFENDERS (6): Hugo Arellano (Chivas USA Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Tanner Dieterich (unattached, Tenn.), Edwin Lara (unattached; San Leandro, Calif.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Matthew Olosunde (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trenton, N.J.), Alexis Velela (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.) MIDFIELDERS (7): Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Luca de la Torre (Fulham; San Diego, Calif.), Thomas McCabe (PDA; South Orange, N.J.), Logan Panchot (St. Louis, Mo.; St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri), Christian Pulisic (PA Classics; Hershey, Pa.), Nicholas Taitague (Richmond Strikers; Midlothian, Va.), Devin Vega (San Antonio Scorpions; San Antonio, Texas) FORWARDS (5): Pierre Da Silva (New York Soccer Club; Port Chester, N.Y.), Orrin McKinze Gaines (Lonestar SC; Austin, Texas), Joe Gallardo (Monterrey FC; San Diego, Calif.) Elijah Rice (Chicago Magic PSG; Highland Park, Ill.), Haji Wright (LA Galaxy Academy; Los Angeles, Calif.) http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-17-m...gean-cup-roster-rel.aspx#sthash.RF3GlozQ.dpuf
BTW, keep an eye out for that FCD keeper playing "up a cycle." Carlos Avilez is getting rave reviews in Texas. Both Richard Sanchez and Jesse Gonzalez signed with FCD when they were 16.......................
http://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=1267&ftxtID=19784 Goals by Gallardo 31 min. FRANCE IN THE 69 and penalty 79 by Pulisic clinched victory.
From the highlights, the GK and Haji Wright looked amazing. GK had a few very nice saves including a PK. Wright's dribbling and athleticism looked like too much for France to deal with.
In regards to Wright, screw you LA Galaxy. An embarrassment of riches coming out of that academy. Soon they're going to have to start selling some of them (or their HG rights) to take full advantage of the system, since they can only have a certain number of HG players on the roster.
I wonder if Haji Wright would be better off staying with the Galaxy and playing against adults. It seems like it would be easy to pick up bad habits if you're the biggest and fastest player on the field at all times. Guys like Marvell Wynne, Qavas Kirk, and Johann Smith looked great at youth levels... Christian Pulisic looks very promising from what I've seen.
Not really fair to Haji to compare him to Marvell, Kirk and Johann. He may be fast like they are but that's about it. Marvell's technique/touch were about as poor as you could get. Kirk's was abysmal as well. Haji's touch is better. How many times have we seen a fast player with poor touch dribble the ball out of bounds doing the same run(s) Haji did against France? Haji is fast so it's easy to focus on that part of his game and ignore the rest. He's not complete by any means but he's definitely not just an athlete playing soccer either (not that you said that, but that's how I viewed Marvell and Kirk in their youth days. To Marvel''s credit, he's worked on his technique a lot and has improved. It's still pretty poor but not near as bad as it used to be). I do agree with the larger point about picking up bad habits. But you don't have to be the fastest person on the field in order to do so. You just have to be one of the best. Pulisic is usually one of the better players on the field and he can pick up bad habits just as well. He's also faster than most realize. I don't think either are ready to play against adults yet but they do need to be in a good development system.
Goalkeepers on the Richmond Strikers get A LOT of practice playing in the Academy. Glad to see that getting pummeled with shots every single game of every single season has payed off!
Hmm. you guys sure that is the US? There was not only speed, but speed on the wings. I thought that was no longer allowed. So confused.
HG rules will have to be loosened and I'd expect they will. There is no developmental nor competitive reason why the number of HG players need to be limited or a certain number. If MLS is serious in expanding development talented young players need to be able to sign with MLS not inhibited to do so. They should only be limited by their roster size and not a certain designation. Here's hoping the new CBA includes additional developmental roster spots with the relationship with USL Pro growing and additional funds to keep top young US based players starting out their career in the US rather than going overseas. It only helps in the long run.
You might already know this, but I should add that there isn't actually a limit on how many players from the academy can be on the roster. It's just a limit on how many can be "homegrown" at one time, which is a designation that takes away the cap hit that player would normally have to give clubs an incentive to develop youth. After reaching the quota (currently), they have to hope that the first ones signed have become good enough to justify the cap hit that they have. I do agree that restrictions need to be lifted, but if the league is determined to have parity (and it seems they are), they can't be allowed to fill the roster with players that don't count against the cap.