Its very heavy on regarding the qualifying tournament where we played against minnows and had almost none of our best players. Its also very heavy on just throwing names in there because of their club association. In what world is Llanez a better player than Amon? Amon is a good starter on a team that regularly qualifies for Europe. Llanez has never played a first team game. I like Llanez, but dribbling cooks and cleaners doesn't make you better than a player who a month prior no one would claim he is better than. There's also the question if he's even the best '01 winger. I think most have considered de la Fuente the best '01. When did Llanez surpass him? Among players not listed, its unreasonable that Carleton is an honorable mention. I know the good people have decided that he has poor morals over circumstances they know little about, so they have dropped him down their hype lists, but thats a puzzling one. The lack of Sands, Servania, Taitague is also puzzling. If you are going to tell me Akinola is a better winger than Taitague (or de la Fuente), I'm going to question if you've seen them play. Lennard Maloney? Why? What indication is there that he belongs other than being a former German YNT'er? What indication is there that Jones belongs other than being on the books of a big club? He has never been called up to the U-20 level and I've never read anything overly positive about his game, nor would I say anything overly positive about his game. Rogers (and Maloney) over Araujo? Maybe Araujo's not hyped enough because Gary Kleiban doesn't tweet he's the best player in his birth year? Jones isn't a CF. I've never seen him play CF nor seen him listed as playing CF. He's a winger. That doesn't make much sense to list him there. Akinola also is a terrible winger. He has a habit of wrecking games when you put him at winger. He's much less of a problem when placed at CF, so even if you want to include him (I don't know why you would), what is the reason to place him at wing? What's the case for Fontana and Torres over some of the central players I've listed? What's the case for Perez over Lindsey? Is it because Perez signed in Europe? I didn't see anyone listing Perez ahead of Lindsey prior to that move or the qualifying tournament. Lindsey was bad there in limited action (Perez also was), but why should we regard that tournament for Lindsey when he has held his own at a higher level this season (MLS)? I think Lindsey is a lot closer in ability to Dest than Perez. What's the case for Dos Santos as the back up keeper? Europe? He's a U-19 league back up. Being on the books in Europe doesn't make you better than players in the USA. The posters on this website know a lot more about the player pool than the overwhelming majority of twitter accounts with a lot of followers. Outside of that, it's a good illustration.
There are some glaring omissions there, but to each his own I think there are a couple inclusions based on reputation (or club affiliation) rather than performance. I also am not going to assume Weah's status with this team. Adams and Sargent are a good assumption as they're likely to be with the full USMNT for the Gold Cup, etc. Not so much Weah. Weah broke thru with PSG when they had first teamers returning from World Cup break, as well as some injuries. That got people really hyped and got him callups to the USMNT. Where he's done "OK." I'm really intruiged to see how Weah does when he goes out on loan in January. I'll make my decision of USMNT versus U20s based on that. I want to include Taitague, but just haven't seen enough recently to know where his game is at. My starting XI of "best" U20s right now without Adams and Sargent. Benches at the 2017 U20 World Cup were 10 players, so I'll go with that. --------------Soto--------------- Amon-----Pomykal--------Weah ---------Durkin---Mendez------ Gloster--Richards--McKenzie-Dest -------------Scott--------------------- Bench: Ochoa Perez Araujo Lindsey Servania Ledesma Booth Carleton de la Fuente Llanez My field players in the starting XI there aren't far away from the lineup that Ramos picked for the game that clinched qualification to the U20 World Cup (1-0 over Honduras). Durkin, Amon, and Weah in. Servania, Amaya, and Akinola out. If Weah isn't available, I start Carleton on the wing. Forward is a weird one for me. I can't bring myself to pick Justin Rennicks or any NCAA players. Maybe I should, but I won't. I worry about an hypothetical world in which we don't have Sargent (likely), Weah (possible), and Soto due to being with the USMNT or not released by their clubs. Then what at the #9? The World Cup squad will presumably need to be picked in May. Not much time for "late risers" in the pool. There are some younger kids like Bello that might make rapid progress at the start of the 2019 MLS season. Sands, Roberts, Busio, Bassett, and those guys just don't have much time. You know that I think Roberts might have a higher ceiling than Pomykal, for instance. I have Roberts on my #10 depth chart over guys that I see other people picking like Fontana.
in this one amon is an average starter in a poor league amon is faster so people that don't understand the game think that can be a defining skill in this sport...it can't be. the guy can't dribble with both feet he is limited at best. he may be a good option for the u20 team as a late sub when the opponent is worn down though. they've been in europe once since 2013-2014 that is hardly regularly. they were knocked out in the third qualifying round by a team from serbia...not really a powerhouse league.
Dutch 2nd division...………. 1076570796154384384 is not a valid tweet id Sargent is the odds on favorite for the 2019 Breakout Player of the Year...………….but don't sleep on Dest. He's playing well in the same division that Novakovich played in last year (which earned him USMNT callups).
This looks done...…………………….. Source: U.S. U-20 CB Chris Richards' move from FC Dallas to Bayern Munich is complete. FCD will receive a low seven-figure fee w/ sell-on clause for the Alabama native, who spent second half of 2018 on loan to Bayern. @SoccerByIves reported last month move was being finalized.— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) January 5, 2019
I'm sure this will improve his chances for an MTN call-up in the near future but I wonder if this also may prevent him from joining the U20 world cup.
US U20 Sebastian Soto got onto the field today for Hannover in a friendly against NEC of Holland. I'm not sure we'll see Sebastian in a Bundesliga game this season. They're in the relegation zone, and I suspect that they won't be in "blooding the newbies" mode down the stretch. He's definitely one to keep an eye on, though. 71‘ Dreifach-Wechsel bei unseren Jungs 🔁: Josip #Elez kommt für Kevin #Akpoguma, Sebastian #Soto für Flo #Muslija und Hendrik #Weydandt für Nicolai #Müller. #Vamos96 #H96 #NiemalsAllein ⚫️⚪️💚| #H96NEC 0:0— Hannover 96 (@Hannover96) January 6, 2019
he is a way from a usmnt call up. he currently a youth player there he has a way to go. they also are pretty good releasing players for youth teams doesn't seem like there would be an issue.
Don't know if the kid is good enough for the National team but knowing what I have seen the last 4 years at CB we should be open to seeing what he can do. It is not like we have a bunch of Fabio Cannavaro's coming into the 2019.
Here's a good story about Chris Richards' background. He and McKenzie are probably the starting CB tandem for the U20 World Cup (if they're released). If they aren't available we probably use Jaylin LIndsey at CB (he's capable of playing fullback and centerback). For our current U20 camp, Chris Durkin is listed as a defender. I just wonder if the U20 staff is already thinking about using Durkin as a CB............... Chris Richards ( @eastmamba ) is the latest American teenager to make the jump to the Bundesliga, but who is he? Here’s an in-depth look at his journey from Alabama to Bayern Munich: https://t.co/Z1l8gOqwzu— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 6, 2019 “Out of all the center backs I’ve coached I think he’s the one with the most potential,” U.S. Under-20 coach Tab Ramos told Goal. “He has unlimited potential. All the other guys you could tell they’re good. They’re solid. I look at [Matt] Miazga, [Cameron] Carter-Vickers, Erik Palmer-Brown. I just think Richards has a really high ceiling. He also has great charisma, which other guys follow, and he makes a team better because of it.”
That is some quote by Ramos. If Richards is out of season with Bayern U19, he should be released. Might be able to kill two birds with one stone if Richards can solve half our CB problem and be captain and drop Real to the bench. I think it is completely up in the air who Ramos can get for this tournament. I know people presume MLS teams will always release players, but I'm not sure. Atlanta won't even release players now with weeks before CCL. Doubt they would do it during the season. Wonder if other MLS teams will release players that could be starters or important bench players in the middle of the MLS season. Conversely, most of the European players who were so hard to get last cycle might be done with their youth and reserve and senior sides by the time the tournament starts. For instance, the Eredivisie is done on May 12th, the Bundesliga on May 18th. The U19 Bundesliga is done on May 11th (not sure if playoffs follow). We could have Richards, Ledezma, Mendez, Soto and be without McKenzie, Durkin, Carleton, Servania, and other MLS players. Probably the bulk of the team will come from USL.
Sebastian Soto continuing to get a look................ In a friendly today, #USMNT forward Bobby Wood and U.S. U-20 forwards Sebastian Soto start together up top for Hannover against Zlute Waregem https://t.co/Q76fwvLS5s— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 9, 2019
America special 🎞 Joshua Pynadath! His path to Amsterdam...📌 @AFCAjax👣 @RealMadrid👣 USA Sit back & enjoy 👁⏩ https://t.co/tqS7jJMNdQ pic.twitter.com/Gqi0Nn7zBu— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) January 9, 2019
Good news on Haji! A really nice story of this season. Haji had a failed trial at Union Berlin this past summer in the 2nd Bundesliga. Only half a year later and he's been promoted to the Schalke first team! 💬 #Tedesco: "We have also promoted Philip #Fontein, @HajiWright, Benni #Goller and Ahmed #Kutucu to the first team from the U23s."#S04WOB #s04 pic.twitter.com/KemGoyWjMl— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) January 18, 2019
Some fans who I think have not watched much of Wright are really not doing his talent level justice. I see a lot of comments acting surprised that he's having success this season. Wright has always been one of the best talents in his age group. I thought he was the best player in his U-17 cycle during the first year of the cycle. Pulisic was better the second year, but Wright was also heavily mismanaged by Richie Williams that second year of the cycle. Wright put together the best two year U-17 cycle we've seen from a striker, IMO. He was then as good or better than McKennie in the Schalke youth teams the year they played in the same team. You'll see some really ignorant comments from time to time that he's only an athlete, but he has tremendous technique for a player his size, and his finishing skills with both feet are excellent. His athleticism has gotten worse as he's added weight. His mobility is barely above-average anymore. I don't understand how someone could watch him play and think he gets by on size/speed. Only recently has he started using his height advantage, and thats happened as his speed has gotten worse. We hear a lot about his struggles on loan at Sandhausen and a failed trial, but he wasn't that bad at Sandhausen. I don't see many reviews of his play from these people. As someone who watched his minutes, I think he started well but then had a few games without scoring/assisting. The coach used him sparingly the second two thirds of the season when their regulars returned from injury. I believe his "trial" at Union Berlin was less than one week and only one match. When you set up a "trial" like that, you are prone to bad decisions due to insufficient amount of time to evaluate the player. This is all to say that no one should be surprised that Wright is having success. He's been a big talent for years, and he's been very successful at nearly every level. He might not get the USSF hype (they seem to not like him), so the journalists who take their instructions from the federation don't write flattering portrayals of him, but that does not mean he was a low-talent hack who has had to work harder than others due to having less talent to have success at Schalke, as some seem to portray it.
I'd make fun of this post but I'd get another yellow card. i wish some of the people who love to pull then..I know he was going to make it to the first team..would come out when things aren't going well instead of the day after the coach says he'll be with the first team. Also never read someone say that much negative stuff about a guys abilities then somehow try to end it with praise lol. 'mobility is worse' 'athleticism is worse' 'speed is worse' 'just learned how to use his height'...but is doing great and you knew he was lol.