None of us watch these players play, so we are all just guessing who is the best. The point I am trying to make is that I'd like to see Packwood get the next chance of the Championship CB's. Gooch has had too many second chances with the USMNT. Watching him play against Ukraine, its obvious that he isn't good enough to play at a high level anymore. I don't know about Ream. I haven't seen him play in a long time, but I didn't think he was good even when he was playing for the USMNT.
I just gave you more evidence than you provided. Both have won more individual honors than Packwood; both have played better for their clubs recently in the same level of competition (fan sites and official sites both confirm); and both have more experience and were chosen by the coaches to play in Ukraine; You stated he isn't going to get a first appearnace on the road in europe; I ask why not? You do realize that JAB received his first start on the road against BiH? If Juergen did it for JAB during a road match, why can't he for Packwood at a neutral site match? Even if your assertion on his first appearance is taken at face value, wouldn't Klinsmann at least get him some time on the pitch. He never entered the match. This contradicts what has been done with other players.
I've yet to see the evidence of the individual honors. I'd like to see the evidence. I don't rate the opinions of a fan site considering they are just commenting on how their players played and aren't comparing potential USMNT players. Onyewu and Brooks started against Ukraine because they were familiar faces that Klinsmann could put out there in a game that he was taking seriously. I don't think Klinsmann would be bold enough to start two 20 year old CB's on the road in Europe. The Ukraine matched showed us that Onyewu isn't good anymore. Packwood might not be ready, but Onyewu isn't good enough. If you watched that performance and came away thinking anything other than he's not good enough anymore for the USMNT, then you are working with an agenda.
I thought this was the Will Packwood club thread, not the 'which USMNT CB sucks a little less than the next' thread.
Noting the comment about keeping this on topic.. big win for Birmingham today, Packwood was unfortunately out with injury. Spector did line up. Big win for Birmingham for this year and potentially next for both players.
I know this doesn't fall under YA but... Franco Panizo @FrancoPanizo 18m Small but interesting note: When asked about Gil, Yedlin, other players in next generation, Klinsmann mentioned Will Packwood. #USMNT
You could also look at it as bad for Yedlin and Gil's World Cup chances to be lumped with Packwood. No youth at this World Cup for the USMNT?
It's really good that he is getting this encouragement from US Soccer Not to derail this thread (maybe the discussion should be moved to other forums), but the youth at this world cup would be the Juan Agudelo group of u-20s and u-23s that have yet to really contribute outside of a few players as professionals let alone the national team level.
Julian Green............................ I think that Klinsmann has called up 7 players eligible for the 2016 Olympic team in the last several camps (O'Neill, Gil, Yedlin, Green, Packwood, Cropper, Brooks). Brooks, Yedlin, and Green have a "fightin' chance" based on playing positions of need. Once the WC ends, Packwood presumably gets more of a look. For right now he should just focus on his club career.
And we can't forget that Brooks is like two months younger than Agudelo. Sometimes these "cuts" of our player pool which come out of youth soccer are a little nonsensical. McInerney is also a late 92 if I remember correctly.
I'd also add Caleb Stanko to that last..looking like he'll make his Bundesliga debut with Freiburg next fall...that '93 class is looking very very good.
Very true, the thing that sticks out a bit for me is the age difference between Gil and Brooks, but I suppose once they are past 20 years the age is less important and the other thing of course is that they cover the entire year not just the early months.
Packwood back in Birmingham's starting lineup today, but unless you're a Blackburn fan, the good news ends there. Down 3-0 early. Spector not in 18.
Ended 4-2, Packwood went 90 With the day's other results, Birmingham sunk from 18th to 21st and are only above the relegation zone on goal difference. However, they do have three games left and most of the other teams have only two.
Packwood signs a one year extension with a club option for a second year. I hadn't realized he was out of contract this summer. Signing him to a 1+1 type contract is kind of a "wait and see" type deal for a young player. Hopefully he can show next season that he's the sort of young player who merits a longer-term offer.
without the injury i dont think it would've been in doubt. He was on a great trajectory prior to that so lets hope he can have a great year and get Bham promoted.
Hopefully Will has recaptured all the potential he had prior to his injury. At this stage he should be back to 100% physically as long as it didn't do irreversible damage to his athleticism, which it sometimes can unfortunately. This whole situation is very similar to that of Marc Pelosi. It's a damn shame that hack from West Brom tore Marc's leg up like that. There were actually quite a few people that thought Pelosi had the highest ceiling among our U-20's last cycle, before that injury. I hope Marc can make a full recovery and get back to the player he once was but it's also taken him a lot longer than it took Will to get back on the field. If Aaron Ramsey is any indication it can take up to 3 years to recover physically AND mentally from such a catastrophic injury.
Yeah, he bounces around from an American accent, a British accent, and then at some points he's got a little Scottish there as well. Where was he born??