You know you're doing well not when your friends praise you, after all they are your friends, inclined to be lenient with your mistakes and appreciative of your good moments; but when even those who don't particularly like you have a good word for you.
Alex Mendez made his debut for Jong Ajax a few days ago in the Dutch 2nd division. Same team Dest played with last season. We called Novakovich up to the full USMNT when he was in the Dutch second division. If he becomes an impact player in this league we should consider giving him a first cup of coffee with the USMNT later this year or early next year. Gotta perform first, though. happy for my first minutes. Much more to look forward to. ❌❌❌ https://t.co/T2KMIx9UW7— Alex Mendez (@aleexm21) August 20, 2019
This player is a midfield maestro. Love this guy. I hope he can take his talent and refine it into a great career. He'd be a fun one to watch stir the drink in the US midfield.
We'll see. We've seen some really great traits with the US U20s, but also some worrying aspects. He seems to have great technical ability (vision, passing, set pieces, etc.), but doesn't seem to be that great of an athlete. His lack of pace was exposed by elite opposition at times. [Same for Chris Durkin actually.] When he was partnered next to a guy in midfield with a motor like Paxton Pomykal, that tandem seemed to work really well. This scouting report details the good aspects (this is from before he moved to Ajax of course): https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2019/6/12/18658997/usa-u-20-2019-world-cup-post-mortem Alex Mendez - The 18-year-old Freiburg midfielder was the focal point of the attack in many of the US matches. Most of the best opportunities that the US created in the group stage came through his creativity with the ball at his feet, whether that was creating space for a strike from distance or springing a runner in on goal. Recall that it was his tackle and assist on Timothy Weah’s game-winning goal against Qatar that allowed the US to finish second in the group. Mendez is not a complete player yet (surprise: none of these players are). He needs to be able to consistently impact games (he wasn’t able to do so against Ecuador). But this player has some technical tools (in particular a wand of a left foot) that could make him a truly special player. Hopefully he can hone that ability and become that star in Germany.
Well, it just depends on how good he is offensively. Pirlo and Kaka are two great distributors who never were counted on to get stuck in. It's better to be well-rounded, obviously but if you create chances you'll get on the field.
Source: The Netherlands DID NOT attempt to call up Sergino Dest to their latest U21 roster. It's a preliminary squad so things can change, but Holland did not attempt to select him.Gregg Berhalter has been in touch with Dest's camp and continues to follow his progress #USMNT— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 21, 2019
iirc, Mendez and Dest were the young ones on our u20 squad. Alex will be 19 in September and Dest will be 19 in November.
The young'uns on that squad (who are young enough to be eligible for the next cycle) were the '01s. Julian Araujo, Uly Llanez, David Ochoa, and Konrad de la Fuente. All really good prospects. Llanez has been lighting up the U19 Bundesliga in the first three games this season at Wolfsburg (6 goals and an assist).
Sonora with 2 goals in 2 appearances(1 start) in Arsenal(Sarandi)'s first 3 matches of the season. Has a WS of 7.6 across am and rcm in a 4312 formation. Maybe he can be MLS's next hot import from the Argentina Superliga.
I just have two requests: 1.) Learn to at least stop cosplaying as a matador on defense. Don't expect him to turn into Gattuso, but it would be nice if he was willing to close guys down. Sometimes he does, but not nearly enough. 2.) Turn into a 90 minute match fit player. 3.) Do some speed training to improve the level of acceleration etc. The technical skill was flat out absurd, so we don't need to worry on that end.
Yep, not a sure thing as not everyone is capable of developing the required motor for top levels. Not making a judgement on Mendez in that regard but it is a heckuva lot easier if you are starting from a position of strength.
Stamina increases with age, peaking at around 30 if memory serves. Raw speed, however, peaks in early 20s.
This. Perhaps it's an athleticism/quickness issue as well. He seems extremely slow. Maybe because he's just tired so often.
Julian Green went 90’ for Greuther Fürth in their 1-1 tie with Hanover. Sebastian Soto didn’t make it off the bench for them— Leon (@usmntsoccerguy) August 24, 2019
Julian has been one of our better players in Europe these first three weeks, starting games and making a difference. Which is kind of depressing, though.
I think it’s great. Julian is one of those guys who makes the most of his opportunities with the Nats.
Yes, but the number of our players "on the bench" or worse is too high. And Green is in a second division, in a team that is expected to end mid-table at best. So one of our better players in Europe is a second division fairly-average-for-his-division guy.
It's BL2 though, which is at least a comparable level to MLS and probably a top 10-12 league in Europe.
Different position but Santiago Ascacíbar‘s transfermarkt value of $14m is in line with vela’s $14m. He’s also 22 vs 30 for vela.