U-17's and MLS

[johnaldo]

There hasnt been much talk about this on the boards but what players on the new U-17's do you think will end up skipping college and signing with MLS?

The midfield and the forwards have been talked about the most, but one player who I think has a good shot at signing with MLS is Brandon Owens, this kid has a lot more talent than Akwari who just signed with MLS. I think this kids could be a future main stay on our national team

In the Midfield I like Guillermo Gonzalez. This kid can play attacking mid or on the left side, he is a dangerous player with a lethal left foot.

I have also heard good things about John DiRaimondo but I have not seen him play.

Thoughts?

[flatstanely11]

my guess's are eddie gaven, jon diraimondo, gulliermo gonzalez, and jonathon spector

spector will sign a contarct weather its here or in europe before owens

[DigitalTron]

I would add Arturo Alvarez to that list. There are also an entire host of guys from the last U-17 team that I can see turning pro. I'm already kinda excited about the 2003 MLS SuperDraft ... especially since my sucky DC United should have the top pick unless Ray Hudson does something stupid and trades it away.

-Tron

[The REVerend]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
I'm already kinda excited about the 2003 MLS SuperDraft ... especially since my sucky DC United should have the top pick


Not if my sucky NE Revolution have anything to say about it...

[aznsensation24]

Originally posted by flatstanely11
my guess's are eddie gaven, jon diraimondo, gulliermo gonzalez, and jonathon spector

spector will sign a contarct weather its here or in europe before owens

I've talked to Spector several times about his options after the U-17s and he has told me that if he doesn't get an offer from Europe then he would go to college instead. This doesn't surprise me because he really is an intelligent kid. But you never know, his options could always change.

[k1v1n]

I've only watched these guys play twice--at Disney last December, and this week here in Cary. I will watch them again tomorrow night against NC State. I'm guessing that tomorrow's game will provide a better idea of who's ready.

From my limited looks at this group I'd say Guillermo Gonzales and Brandon Owens both looked ready to turn pro right now. I also was very impressed with Jonathan Spector and Eddie Gavins, but both looked immature. I don't think either of these boy's bodies are quite yet ready for the next level. I could probably be talked into adding John DiRaimondo to this list as well.

The 17s were not pressed very hard in the game Wednesday night. It was hard to get a feel for how good they really are. However, the defense did look superb. Spector, Owens, Szetela (as a defensive mid), Chevannes were all very impressive.

[dheck]

Does anyone know if there are more U-17s in Bradenton this time around than before. I talked with one of the player's parents at the Wed night game and he said all of the players there were in residency in Bradenton. There were like 22-23 players there and apparently there could still be more joining them. I don't entirely recall, but it seems to me that is more than in previous cycles.

I'd definitely consider that a good thing, although I'd still like to see at least one more residency program set up in, say, southern California.

[dheck]

Originally posted by k1v1n
The 17s were not pressed very hard in the game Wednesday night. It was hard to get a feel for how good they really are. However, the defense did look superb. Spector, Owens, Szetela (as a defensive mid), Chevannes were all very impressive.

The amount of fouling the US defense did in the last 15 minutes was of concern to me. CASL had 4 or 5 free kicks in dangerous positions late.

I also rarely saw a US defender dribble the ball out of the back to start an attack (except for a few DiRaimondo runs, but he didn't have much pressure). This seems to be something US defenders just don't do much, or can't do, and it can make our build-ups very predictable. The same thing was true of the last two U-17 teams, with the exception of Onyewu.

[flatstanely11]

i think they have expanded residency to 30 players

[davide]

Well, there have been between 18-20 players living at Bradenton during the previous cycles. Bruce Arena made a comment that we have 30 players at Bradenton during an interview before the World Cup. Maybe BA was talking about the increased numbers for the this fall, assuming these rumors are true.

Breakdown:

Spring 99 (20): (Countess, Cronin, Akwari, Kalso, Martin, Onyewu, Roberts, Yi, DBeasley, Beckerman, Bolin, Chillemi, Cutler, Gregorio, Jackson, Trembly, Convey, Rivera, Cila, Donovan)

Fall 99 (18): (Countess, Cronin, Akwari, Kalso, Martin, Onyewu, Yi, DBeasley, Beckerman, Detter, Cutler, Gregorio, Jackson, Trembly, Convey, Withers, Cila, A Thompson)

Spring 00 (18): (Riffett, Schuerman, Mario Rodriquez, Chun, Griffen, Harvey, Lancos, Pearce, Simo, Capano, Stone, Villalobos, Marco Rodriquez, Fiore, Mapp, P Johnson, E Johnson, Quaranta)

Fall 00 (20): (Williams, Schuerman, Marshall, Chun, Griffen, Harvey, Lancos, Pearce, Simo, Capano, Stone, Villalobos, D Johnson, Magee, Mapp, P Johnson, E Johnson, Quaranta, Wahl, Freeman)

Spring 01 (20): (Williams, Schuerman, Marshall, Chun, Griffen, Harvey, Lancos, Pearce, Simo, Capano, Stone, Villalobos, D Johnson, Magee, Mapp, P Johnson, E Johnson, Quaranta*,Wahl, Freeman)

* left during semester to join DC United

Fall 01 (18): (Marfuggi, Schuerman, Forbes, Olatomiwa, Griffen, Vogl, Lancos, Owens, Gonzalez, Capano, Stone, Villalobos, Gaven, Magee, Mapp, DiRaimondo, Harrington, Ashe)

Spring 02 (20): (Marfuggi, Hahn, McDonald, Olatomiwa, Harrison, Vogl, Helton, Owens, Gonzalez, Wileman, Grazier, Gomez, Gaven, Lewis, Colaluca, Spector, DiRaimondo, Harrington, Ashe, Adu)

[GersMan]

at least two of those guys from the Spring are not coming back. I thought I had read that on here, but perhaps it was somewhere else? Lewis and McDonald will not be there, for reasons unstated here.

I have also heard that the program is now expanded to 30.

flatstanely and johnaldo - I think you two probably know more than you are letting on about which ones are the pro prospects. Why don't YOU tell US? Hmmmmm?

for what it's worth, multiple sources mention:

Owens
Gonzalez
D'Rimando

as drawing interest from MLS.

others are mentioned but not named.

[k1v1n]

Originally posted by dheck

The amount of fouling the US defense did in the last 15 minutes was of concern to me. CASL had 4 or 5 free kicks in dangerous positions late.


The game was pretty much over at this point. The CASL team had committed several nasty fouls. I think the ref was calling most of everything at the end. I think he was just wanting to play the game out without having anyone injured. I never felt the US was fouling because they were in danger of giving something up.

I also rarely saw a US defender dribble the ball out of the back to start an attack (except for a few DiRaimondo runs, but he didn't have much pressure). This seems to be something US defenders just don't do much, or can't do, and it can make our build-ups very predictable.

There wasn't much dribbling done anywhere on the field except for by Adu and Ashe.

[davide]

Is the USSF planning to hire another full-time assistant coach to help manage the increased numbers?

As far as leaving Bradenton, I heard Gomez and Hahn are not going back to residency. Colaluca and Vogl apparently aren't in North Carolina with the team either. Colaluca isn't a huge surprise since he hardly played in the international games this year. But, Vogl started quite a few games, so maybe he's injured or something.

FWIW, Brandon Owens said earlier this summer that he would like to turn pro ASAP.

[Bumptious Rex]

During Surf Cup, I heard that Gonzalez was in Germany a couple of weeks ago working out with B. Dortmund.

[GersMan]

WHOA - haven't heard that one.

MLS Project 40 - your trousers may be down.........

[DigitalTron]

Whoa, what's the info on MacDonald? I thought he was supposed to be a big strong skilled top notch prospect?

-Tron

[Sandon Mibut]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
Whoa, what's the info on MacDonald? I thought he was supposed to be a big strong skilled top notch prospect?
Don't hold your breath on McDonald. Word is he won't be back at Bradenton.

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by k1v1n
There wasn't much dribbling done anywhere on the field except for by Adu and Ashe.

What kind of style did they play? And is this a bad thing that there wasn't more dribbling out there?

Can anyone really confirm that they've expanded the amount of players at Bradenton?

Someone commented on a few players' physical maturity--remember that most of them are still 16 and Convey was considered small also. Although I do agree that reserve teams would be best for most youngsters, not necessarily because of size.

Anyone know who the 15 year olds are at Bradenton? Or are there any?

BTW, 24 needs a haircut baaaaaad.

[flatstanely11]

ya i can for sure tell you that they are taking 30 into bradenton....and dont make fun of szetela..hes an 87....

[k1v1n]

Originally posted by flatstanely11
ya i can for sure tell you that they are taking 30 into bradenton....and dont make fun of szetela..hes an 87....

Szetela can flat out play the game. He's going to be something special.