Thanks to @Patrick167 (and others who have contributed) for our criteria: 22 and younger with less than 10 USMNT caps is what we are calling a youngster. @bshredder gave us a pretty good list of possibilities with his column from yesterday. J. Sargent T. Adams R. Ledezma S. Soto S. Dest N. Taitague C. Gloster C. Richards A. Mendez C. Kelman What do you guys think? Any domestic guys need to be on our start-of-the-year watchlist?
For MLS guys I'd throw in Durkin, Efra, Ebobisse, Cannon, Perez, Pax, Servania, Carleton, Ferreira, and Bello, although I don't think any of them are really in for a "breakout" year. Just guys that will hopefully continue their rise as pros (although I think either Efra or Bello earning 800+ minutes, which I expect for both, would be quite the accomplishment).
I posted this in the 2018 Breakout Youngster thread but it may be a good idea to re-post it here. ------ Perhaps we should have a final vote, but let's hope people don't vote for someone currently playing in an amateur league or guys playing in lower divisions, or guys with Uxx/academy/reserve teams, or guys who've spent most of the season on the bench/not-in-squad or injured. Or someone who is expected to be a "breakout" in the future but is not there yet. "Breakout player" means a suddenly successful one. I have no idea what sort of success it is for guys like Weah (stuck in the 4th division at the end of the year), or Robinson (injured, not playing, in a second-division mid-table team), or Sargent (playing in the Regionalliga) or any of the 16-17 year olds that have highlights posted here and only a handful of us know beyond their parents. This should not be a thread for prospects who may "breakout" some day in the future, but for guys who are doing it THIS year. U23 guys playing consistent minutes in a first division team in a league, hopefully, stronger than MLS. That's the way I see it.
By necessity we start a thread like this with our personal "nominees" as likely to breakout during the year, but it will be only near the end of 2019 that we'll have a solid picture to name the 2019 Breakout Youngster.
For MLSers I would add: Trusty McKenzie Cannon Brendan Arronson Busio Matt Real Pomykal Jesus Ferriera Ben Mines Cristian Casseres Jr
I’m throwing in my bet on George Bello. Left back for Atlanta United has been an Achilles heel with Greg Garza’s frequent injury problems. In brief appearances, Bello seemed already for prime time. In fact, I’m willing to wager, although I hope I don’t jinx the guy, Bello will be 2019’s version of 2018, Reggie Cannon.
Since it's not even 2019 yet, for early long shots: De La Torre, Wright, Olosunde. Edit add: Fossey also. Hey, it's early.
It'll be someone with talent that is given a chance by their club team. Predicting who will be given a chance is difficult.
Based on his current trajectory at Ajax—and @Suyuntuy’s (I believe) appropriate criteria posted upthread—I think the odds-on favorite at the moment is Dest. Looks like he’s with Jong Ajax again tomorrow and is looking like he may well be on his way to a permanent promotion to the 2nd team.
I think there's no doubt that he's improved his stock a lot, but he doesn't seem to be moving through the Ajax system at a great pace. There are three 00's or younger at Ajax who've appeared for the first team, and another who has sat on the bench. If they consider Dest to be a likely first team player at their club, one would suspect a first team appearance should've already come or he's next. If not, is there some particular reason why these others are close to the first team and he's only just becoming a regular with the second team? I like his game, and I don't regard that much what teams decide to do with players. I think the best players will prove it out at the professional level over the course of their careers, but I don't think Dest is as highly rated at Ajax as some seem to think. I rate him very highly in our player pool, but I don't think Ajax does in their player pool.
The odd's on favorite is Sargent. I think he plays in the cup match and maybe the last Bundesliga game before the break. I think during the Winter break, Pizzaro takes more of a coaching role and Sargent takes his spot on the first team. By this time next year Sargent will be scoring goals for Bremen and the USMNT; starting consistently for both. But some of the odds on favorites in year's past have just about disappeared. Mendez, Ledezma, Taitague also dark horses.
With regards to MLS...………………. I think Jeremy Ebobisse is a great candidate in this category. I think we can as he's eligible for the 2020 Olympic team (which is my personal cutoff). As I see it, he could be the starter for Portland at forward next season. Heck, he might get a January camp cupcake callup. We DESPERATELY need some young forwards to step to the fore in MLS next season. Only two USMNT-eligible players amongst the top 25 goal-scorers in MLS in 2018 (Zardes and Dwyer.) By the way, the situation was even WORSE in the assists category. But I digress...………... Hard to know what going to happen at Atlanta without knowing the identity of the new manager. Carleton and Bello are certainly candidates. Its really hard to know what's going to happen at FC Dallas without knowing who the coach will be as well. But both Pomykal and Servania should be first team players next season. Ferreira and Roberts are talented youngsters that might break thru. Reynolds is in competition for a right back role, but will only see playing time if Cannon is sold (which is possible). Richards is likely to be sold to Bayern Munich, so he's out from an MLS perspective. Kansas City is also certainly a club that's been giving increasing playing time to young players. Jaylin Lindsey might be a good candidate for a breakout season. SKC has a really aging backline, and need some young blood into the rotation. He might be next season's version of Auston Trusty. Based on the uncertainty in Dallas and Atlanta...…………..I'll go with a fairly obvious answer. Chris Durkin will be a full-time starter, will be a standout at the U20 World Cup, and will have a USMNT callup by the end of the year. There are always surprises. The immediate and impactful playing time of McKenzie in Philly was a big surprise. So there are current NCAA players that have this potential. I like Andrew Gutman of Indiana, a potential homegrown signing of the Chicago Fire. With Brandon Vincent unexpectedly retiring, might there be significant playing time right away for Gutman? Maybe. He has a fall '96 birthday, so sliiiiiiiiiiiightly too old for the consideration of some folks. Still expect him to be really good, thugh.
I would like to add Mihailovic as a candidate. Injury took away last season but hopefully he is healthy this coming year and I am looking forward to seeing how he does. He should get plenty of minutes.
I don’t understand why playing in a first division leagues is meaningful. There are second divisions that are equal to or better than many first divisions. I think it should be someone getting significant minutes at a top 100 global team (I’d use 538 as a guide). I think you may be referring to a similar idea when you gently state “hopefully better than MLS.”
Keep an eye out for a debut this weekend...……………. 🇺🇸 @joshsargent is set for his first squad inclusion against @f95 tomorrow evening! 💪#werder #SVWF95 pic.twitter.com/DaOQU2hpDB— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) December 6, 2018
Those are my standards. Because the word is "breakout." Not "20XX Youngster Who Finally Got Minutes" or "20XX Youth Player Scoring Somewhere." Breakout is a term that implies something big. Second divisions are not considered big.
You are of course entitled to your opinion but I don’t understand why a player who leads his team to promotion in the championship would not be eligible while a simply being a starter in MLS would. Earning promotion is a much bigger deal IMO Then winning the MLS title.
This is potentially big news...……… Sources: Bayern finalizing transfer for USMNT prospect Chris Richards https://t.co/z214qfZLgK— 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) December 6, 2018
Anyone needing a refresher, he played in the International Champions Cup this last summer for Bayern and looked good: Chris Richards is indeed a very good talent and a solid candidate.
He's been on a rocket ride up the developmental ladder. An example of what can happen when the model actually works. Three years ago playing for Birmingham United in Alabama. Moves to a development academy team, the Houston Texans, where he's a standout on a team that won the U19DA title. Moved to FC Dallas's MLS Development Academy team where he was again a standout for a season. Provided with the opportunity to train with Bayern Munich as part of the Bayern-FCD youth development partnership. They were so impressed that they wanted to loan him for 6 months upon his 18th birthday. A transfer clause was built into that contract, and it seems like that is going to be triggered. This is a story all about good scouting, good recruiting, and providing opportunities up the ladder all along the way. Another US U20 and FCD homegrown signing, Brandon Servania, is from Alabama. Another USYNTer and FCD homegrown signing, Thomas Roberts, is from Arkansas. The US U17 that they just signed to their USL team today, Ricardo Pepi, is from El Paso (which is closer to California than to DFW. Actual fact).
Sargent indeed on the bench today. This game is on FS2 as we speak. 🔁 SUBS: Plogmann, Beijmo, Kainz, Harnik, Sahin, Sargent, J. Eggestein.#werder #SVWF95 pic.twitter.com/DlQDdAPT8z— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) December 7, 2018
Josh Sargent not only debuted for Bremen..………….he scored: THE RED BARON SCORES 2 MINUTES AFTER COMING ON! ⚽ 3-1 #werder #SVWF95 pic.twitter.com/TrJ5IDSU2a— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) December 7, 2018