Starts: #NECvsAME | Alineaciones listas para el encuentro de esta noche, en el Estadio Victoria. #DaleNecaxa #ConElRayoEnElCorazón ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Mp2oR52Tgv— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) July 23, 2018
Went the distance in a 2-1 victory, picked up a yellow in the 68'. Ventura is someone who I've always liked as a player despite being downright awful in a USMNT shirt. I'm glad to see he's found a good place to play.
Starts: #PUMvsNEC | Este es el once inicial de ambas escuadras. ¡Vamos, Rayos! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/mplouBlyIB— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) July 29, 2018
Starts: #NECvsBUAP | Estos son los 22 hombres que inician el partido en el Estadio Victoria. ¡Vamos, Necaxa!#ConElRayoEnElCorazón ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/uueWTG1M7Z— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) August 4, 2018
Went the distance last night as Necaxa lost 2-1 away to Monarcas. For the second Monarcas goal, it looked like Alvarado was lined up marking the eventual goal scorer (Gabriel Achilier) before the free kick was taking but as soon as the kick is taken it looks like he moves toward a different man leaving Achilier unmarked. Also, keeps shot taker onside during the chance at 1:01 of the below highlights.
Starts: #CHIvsNEC | Las alineaciones para esta noche 👇. ¡Vamos, Rayos! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/1wrFGXCGhh— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) August 22, 2018
Starts: #NECvsTIG | Alineaciones listas para esta noche. ¡Vamos, Rayos! #DaleNecaxa ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Bq4MVs72OP— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) August 26, 2018
Starts in Copa MX: #NECvsPUM | Alineaciones confirmadas para esta noche en el Estadio Victoria. ¡Vamos, Rayos! #DaleNecaxa ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/zNzq3COkXo— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) August 29, 2018
Starts: #TIJvsNEC | Alineaciones confirmadas para el duelo de esta noche. #ConElRayoEnElCorazón ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/lxD6XaSrXe— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) September 1, 2018
Starts: #TOLvsNEC | Alineaciones confirmadas para el duelo de esta tarde. ¡Vamos, Rayos!#DaleNecaxa ⚡ pic.twitter.com/AeymgsB0o6— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) September 22, 2018
Starts: #NECvsSAN | Listos los cuadros iniciales para esta noche en el Estadio Victoria.#ConElRayoEnElCorazón ⚡ pic.twitter.com/HU4lUTHnOs— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) September 30, 2018
Went 90 in a 0-1 loss. He's started all 11 of Necaxa's Liga MX games and gone the full 90 in each of them. He also has two Liga MX starts. I wonder if starting regularly in Liga MX will get him another USMNT look. He'd, at best, be 4th on the depth chart and probably closer to 7th or 8th realistically, but he's also a guy who has started in a lot of big games and won a lot of trophies and is only 26. He's had a weird career.
I think we've seen with players like Yarbrough, Torres, Castillo, Alvarado, Bornstein, Orozco, Gonzalez, etc. that being a solid starter in Liga MX doesn't necessarily translate to US success. Very different styles.
I think he got too big of a challenge too early (America and usmnt) and hurt his confidence. If he has over come that and has eliminated the lapses, I'd think he'd be 4 or 5 in our pool. Based on current call ups, I see the depth chart as JAB, MM, CCV, EPB (less proven), Parker, Long? His skillset was a perfect match for pairing with Brooks. I'd also think he'd fit nicely between Brooks and Miazga in 3 man backline. His mobility, recovery speed, 1v1 defending, and ability with ball at his feet put him in front Parker for me. Neither are completely true but Brooks and Miazga are similar and EPB and CCV are similar, so a coach might see VA's different skill set provides him more flexibility and choose him over EPB. Anyone watch him play recently? Based on his skillset and playing regularly, I'd think he would be worth a look... ie like what Long recently got.
We've also seen solid starters from MLS, Championship, Bundesliga, etc not translate to USMNT team success. I dont see any generalized rule we can follow and it just comes down to the player. The other thing I'd think worth considering is that maybe it is our "style".
Sure, that's true, but he has also shown in his US appearances that he's not up to that level. My point is that, despite having some success in a good league, the combination of his international track record and the record of other players who have had a similar club background means that he probably shouldn't get another look unless he is producing some truly standout performances.
That is really a different argument. If you consider that broke into the America side in Jan of 2015 and all but 180 of his minutes came before he turned 23 yo that august and many of those minutes occured with an inconsistent Brooks to his left and an inconsistent Chandler to his right, his prior international games should be considered but taken with a grain of salt. I dont think I've seen another american player judged as harshly as Alvarado was that year. Ream was probably our most consistent CD in that Gold Cup and think Gonzalez was easily the worst. He also had a decent game against Jamaica. After Brooks, Miazga, and CCV, things are pretty wide open at CB. EPB still needs to prove himself and then there are a bunch 25-26 yo guys that people are talking about, most notably Parker and Long. I've only watched a few of the clips I recentlyh posted, but I'd take Alvarado over either of the NYRB backs. Instead discarding him for games 3+ years ago, I'd observe that he has picked himself back up and putting in some decent performances. If I were the coach and trying to figure out who that fourth spot was, I'd like to see all those guys in training, preferably together.