I figured this thread needed to be started for this season, as so many YNT players find themselves fighting for significant minutes this season. So here is the first dose of action: Amobi Okugo 19 min Jack McInerney 12 min I won't talk about Mwenga because until he is a citizen, he is not worthy of this discussion. It was difficult for either of the two players to come in and have an impact having been reduced to 10 men, especially being so young, in the rain, playing not only against the Sounders but their fans as well. Okugo played a very simple game, nothing special but not glaring mistakes. McInerney was another story. I only saw the highlights but now I'm a believer. He is something special. The kid is fast as can be and really has a Rooney like game. (note: this is not comparing him to Rooney) He has a nose for the net and gives 110% every second on the pitch. The kid even tried a scissor kick after the whistle. He set himself up for open passes at the top of the box but was ignored by his frustrated teammates. He also had at least one notably good pass for the conditions off to the right side. He also ran some very good runs where twice a better pass would have seen him onside and 1v1 with Kasey Keller. He is simply fun to watch, every time he got the ball I felt like he was going to do something good with it. Everyone knows he has a great shot and finish. God only knows how good he will be if he plays like that every week.
Agreed, for the most part. Okugo did play simply and McInerney played hard and looked pretty good tactically and technically. Let's hope all that effort on McInerney's part pays off soon.
You can tell this from 12 minutes and 2 touches on the ball? Oh I forgot you didn't see the full 12 minutes just the highlights. Come on.
No sir, I saw the full 12 minutes, and I'm proud to say it. Nothing was happening for the Union, and the kid already had an amazing track record for the u17s as a goalscorer. He was already labeled as something special a long time ago, and I was a skeptic, but when he stepped on the field he created problems and the Union probably played their best during that 12 minutes. No coincidence. He was lively when everyone else was dead. He is clearly very fast and also has a great shot, as evidenced by his past endeavors. And given his intelligent runs and positioning last night, I don't see where that conclusion is necessarily heresy.
Spot on. Also, the kid had more than 2 touches on the ball and didn't play any bad balls. From what I remember his passes were crisp. I'd say he reminds me of Charlie Davies when he first started at Hammarby.
Good news for both players. It seems like Nowak will play these kids this year. Union gonna stink but it means these kid will play.
personally i think it's way too early to get all hyped up on jack mcinnerney right now. he's had 12 minutes of professional soccer and didn't really do anything special, but that's going to be hard to come by when you're down to 10 men. i think it's more appropriate to say his 12 minutes on the field was encouraging if anything else. he was active and makes some good runs off the ball to be open that you don't really see with 17 year old americans. lets just hope nowak eases his him in slowly and that he stays hungry.
It was only 12 minutes but he did look good. I have read where he said that he patterns is style of play after Rooney. At 17 he still has room to grow, if not taller, certanly physically. It will be interesting to see his game compared to Juan Aguanlo sp? fwiw a player that recently had a growth spurt and has now become a player to watch closely
Jack Mcinerney is something SPECIAL. He has scored alot of goals for the US already. Did anyonbody else watch the highlights of Philly's preseason friendlies on their website? Jack Mcinerney scored from almost midfield Mcinerney has a future in Europe for sure.
Here's my attempt at a master list. Players born 1989 and later are eligible for the U23s at the 2012 Olympics; players born 1991 and later and eligible for the U20s at the 2011 U20 WC. Chicago Sean Johnson ('89) Chivas USA Jorge Flores ('89) Blair Gavin ('89) Gerson Mayen ('89) Cesar Zamora ('91) Columbus Dilly Duka ('89) Dallas Kyle Davies ('89) Josh Lambo ('90) Peri Marosevic ('89) Brek Shea ('90) Anthony Wallace ('89) Andrew Weideman ('89) DC Bill Hamid ('90) Houston Danny Cruz ('90) Francisco Navas ('91) Los Angeles Tristan Bowen ('91) Michael Stephens ('89) New York Juan Agudelo ('92) Philadelphia Jack McInerney ('92) Amobi Okugo ('91) Brian Perk ('89) Salt Lake City Luis Gil ('93) Alex Nimo ('90) San Jose Ike Opara ('89) Toronto Fuad Ibrahim ('91) Zach Herold ('92)
^^^Good list. Agudelo is apparantly now a star in the making, so who knows when he will get his first PT. There are a lot of strikers for RBNY, but none of amazing quality past Angel.
Juann Agudelo, Jack McInerney, Michael Stephens, Amobi Okugo, Dilly Duka, and Francisco Navas. These are the players i am excited to watch.
Just rewatched his 12minutes and he had a total of 6 touches. 4 right up until he had a midfield give and go in a ton of space at the final whistle. Two were head flick ons. No bad touches or clever ones either. Had ton of time and space, Seattle just sat back even when philly attacked. I hope he's good but in no way can that 12 minutes that I rewatched can anyone say he will be special. Roger Torres who is 1 yr older had much better skill, speed and touch and I think he's overall mediocre. I do hope Jack is something special but I dislike when people use hyperbole on someone based on internal excitement and not any actual play on the field.
Yeah, I don't like hyperbole either. But there's more to it than just looking at his touches. He provided a spark for a team that was having some trouble offensively. They played better with him on. It's too early to anoint him as anything, and that includes mediocre or a bust. I thought it was an encouraging start.
I think he is SPECIAL because of what he has done for the USMNT Youth. I don't think we have had a player that good in a while so yes he should be someone to watch.
I'm sorry I just can't go there right now with him. He came out and played. I didn't see any halo or special skills as of yet. Encouraging ok? Special nah? Not yet anyhow.
He scored goals for a youth team. I've seen many. I really think Charles Renken was (is) special. When healthy he flowed around the field, making clever touch after touch. McInerney right now to me is a standard American Player. Hard working, hustling, strong without much ball skill. I hope he develops but to call him special as a professional for what he did as a youth player brings flashes of Memo Gonzalez, David Arvizu,.................
If you were impressd by McInerney, than you should be AS impressed with OKugo stepping in and stealing passes on two seperate occasions in his first Pro game in horrible conditions and not making any mistakes in a more crucial position (DM). I would say The Union looked much better when Okugo stepped onto the pitch.
Ream is too old to play for any more YNTs though. He certainly has gotten a lot of mileage out of his coach's hype though!