I think that's the case about both Sands and Aaronson. It would be stubbornness on the behalf of Tab. What % of u-20 WC teams have good MLS starters or their equivalents let alone that are left off? Both Sands and Aaronson have improved the fortunes of their clubs. Sands with a clear contribution of dominance in the air, defensive awareness, and solid passing from the position; in addition to versatility. Aaronson provides some versatility, solid defensive contribution, passing, dribbling, and shooting technique.
I actually think he's discernibly improved his mobility, and yet he's still second best to balls against men and teams can run at the DC back line with him not venturing forward all too often. Trying to compensate with aggression and it sometimes leading to bad challenges. Excellent for keeping possession and occasionally winning it up field. You just have to do more from that position though. At this stage in his development he's a luxury player. Don't think his future success is dependent on transferring to Europe (although I guess I'd prefer it). It's going to be a case of either he has it or he doesn't.
Does anyone have an opinion on how they would rank the four '00 CF's (Sargent, Weah, Soto and Ferreira)? Who is the best now? Who has the most potential? Who plays your preferred style of play from a CF? Who would fit best in different formations and with different tactics?
There are many great CFs playing at the top level of world soccer but they are not all great finishers. That is why I would put Sargent at the top in terms of potential. He can get a shot off and on target from almost anywhere in and around the 18 yd box. It is sort of rare. I think this is why he is compared with Lewandowski, as he has the same rare skill. I'm actually least familiar with Soto. I see him as a player that is good at everything but not exceptional at anything. Like Altidore or Giroud. Weah I would think of more like Aubameyang. Great blistering timed runs in behind a defense. Auba is not a great finisher but he creates so many chances that he scores a lot of goals. Ferreira, to me, is more of a False 9 type of CF. A possible model might be David Villa. Although, I think Villa was a great finisher and I have no idea if Ferreira has that ability to get a shot on target with venom every time.
Yup. I was thinking the same thing while watching this game. Not only would Sands be part of my U20 team, he's starting next to Richards for me at this point.
All-touches video of Cerrillo v Atlanta United: From @dunathanj, I believe. I'm getting more worried about Durkin's lack of mobility and am not sure he's a transcendent enough passer to make up for that limitation. He's a good option and I'm sure he'll get plenty of minutes at the World Cup and do fine, but Cerrillo is looking more and more viable as the hard man in our U20 midfield. Also, I agree with everyone else that Sands should be on the roster at CB.
Snip: With four goals and six assists in 10 games in the CONCACAF U-20 playoffs in the fall, which is the regional tournament with North and Central America to qualify for the World Cup, Rennicks was at his best offensively. “I felt really good in that tournament, for sure. Especially played with so many great players, that only makes you better,” said Rennicks, who battled through an injury at the recent training camp in Spain. Though the Team USA roster hasn’t officially been announced, he’s hopeful about the opportunity to play on the world stage. The U-20 World Cup is often a precursor for future senior national team success and showcases some of the very best up-and-coming players alive. “It’s the biggest thing coming up in the soccer world. It’s going to be some serious competition. It’s hard to even talk about because its everything I’ve been working for these last five years,” Rennicks said. “I feel fit and ready to go. I’m hoping to hit the ground running and try to work my way into the starting 11.” https://www.salemnews.com/sports/ho...ad-5a5e-5c39-a142-318a77dd56c7.html?psid=njeu
Cerrillo may have vaulted past Servania and Durkin. I do think in part that's because he has a real edge to his game. Not sure if that's needed in U20 WC as they tend to call youth tournaments very tight yet US got pushed around last time so if Cerrillo can play right up to the edge in terms of fouling he may be a 6 the US has need for a while. He also can pass as he had the nice long hockey-like dump into the corner and let barrios run onto it against Atlanta. Not a one trick pony.
He looks fairly low ceiling, but that's not the worst thing. He's effectively already a truck in MLS, although his technical ability isn't at the same level as other midfield products. I'd still prefer Sands or Durkin in the WC, I think, although I can see the argument for Cerrillo considering Mendez and Ledezma aren't very defensive, either.
Did you see this coming with Cerrillo? I didn't.............................. Even the most diehard FCD youth watchers weren't paying much attention to Cerrillo over the past couple of seasons. Maybe we were just paying more attention to the "flair players." But still. I was even surprised when he committed to an NCAA school as good as Maryland. Here's just a reminder that he's another one of these FCD kids that doesn't actually come from DFW. He moved to FCD from Waco, a relatively unmined region of the state in terms of soccer. Moving from your family as a teenager to play soccer in Frisco, TX – not your avg high school story. But this isn’t your avg athlete. Edwin Cerrillo's made his professional debut w @FCDallas last month and we're proud to have been there... @kelly_walker_tx https://t.co/biZmoWZFWS— Lifestyle Frisco (@lsfrisco) April 19, 2019
I think Durkin is getting an unfair reputation as being bad defensively. In youth football for USYNT's, Durkin was always an excellent defensive player. He was great in the air, won the majority of 50/50 duels, won a lot of tackles, he was naturally a strong kid with good size, always gave great effort and had good positioning. Professional football is an adjustment for all players. Durkin is playing a role that requires him to be excellently positioned at all times. It's a role that players probably shouldn't be playing as they first break into pro football. A better coach might make a tactical adjustment there. Durkin doesn't yet seem to have the positioning aspect down pat, which I think has his mobility and defensive ability unfairly criticized. McKennie and Adams both had the same types of problems with positioning when they started getting first team minutes, but they are more mobile, so some of their positioning errors could be covered by their mobility. They play a different style of game, and played a different role, as well. They weren't hung out to dry like Durkin has been at times. When Durkin learns to position himself better, he won't be beat 1v1 as much, and there won't be as much mobility questions as some are voicing. I don't think Durkin has worse mobility than some deep lying #6's like Busquets, Matic, Jorginho, but when he struggles positionally and also has an adjustment to the speed of the game (he's only played 2024 first team minutes), his skill-set might look worse than it is. I don't think Cerrillo is better at any part of the game than Durkin other than being slightly more mobile. I also don't think Sands is better at any part of the game than Durkin other than being slightly more mobile. I still think Durkin has the highest ceiling in the system among #6's, along with Chifamba. Other than having average mobility, I don't think there's an area of the game for a deep-lying #6 he won't be above average or better at.
I agree; Durkin's strength against same age peers was always his defensive ability. Unfortunately, playing against grown men is a whole different game for defensive mids. Unless you have something that instantly separates you (i.e. Adams' engine or McKennie's aerial ability) it will take some time to find a place as a CDM. Durkin's physicality is not outstanding in the pro ranks but in time he will get bigger, stronger, and smarter.
Watch Cerrillo who is six months younger than Durkin. He doesn't look strong but sure plays that way. He's a lot like Gruezo while not going full Chara (at least yet).
We just need to give Durkin time. He's just turned 19. Give him a run of games with the first team, instead of herky-jerky Ben Olsen style management, and he can work out a lot of the issues that folks are talking about. I do think its possible that, like Sands, he can also play as a centerback. If he moves to Europe soon, it wouldn't surprise me if he's moved there. I essentially agree with @ussoccer97531 's assessment of his skill set. The question is whether his "average mobility" is a hindrance to him taking the "next step" past MLS. Cuz let's be honest, in today's world of elite european soccer..............that mobility level is critical. You can name a couple of players that don't have it. But by and large when you watch elite soccer, these N'Golo Kante types have incredibly mobility and engines. By the way, i don't think Adams and Durkin play the same role. Comparing Adams to Durkin isnt' quite fair in my assessement. Adams is a #8. Durkin is a #6. You wouldn't think of playing Adams as a centerback. Fullback, but not centerback.
Can't remember which club but I could've sworn some club in a major Euro league wanted to grab Durkin via loan and DC nixed it. Can't remember what league or team though. Anyone heard of that?
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...ed-rejected-bid-leverkusen-durkin-last-winter "D.C. United and US youth national team midfielder Chris Durkin has already garnered interest abroad from Benfica and Sporting CP. Now another suitor has emerged. According to Pablo Maurer of The Athletic, D.C. rejected a loan bid from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen this past winter. The deal reportedly would have come with option to buy."
One of the main problems with using Durkin and Sands at CB is that their instincts are defensive midfielder instincts. They often make mistakes at CB that they probably wouldn't make had they been natural CB's. One of the main problems both have is ball watching. As a #6, you are moving a lot more often than a CB. CB's almost never hunt down the ball when their team has a good defensive shape. They play a reactionary style. A #6 might not always be hunting the ball, especially if your team has a good defensive shape, but they will hunt it more often than a CB. I think its difficult for natural defensive midfielders to find the correct calibration needed at CB, which often has them watching the ball when they should be reacting to the movement of a player in the box. Another issue is positioning. #6's need to be positioned well, especially someone like Durkin who doesn't have great mobility, but CB's must have good positioning. This is not something that they can struggle with. If they don't have good positioning, it will result in goals. Considering most professional CB's have played the position for years, very few CB's struggle with positioning to any big degree. Some are better at it than others, but natural #6's almost always struggle compared to natural CB's at CB positioning. In Durkin's case, if you are going to criticize his mobility and positioning, I don't know why that would make him a better CB. Do you want a CB who you think isn't mobile? If a natural #6 is struggling with positioning as a defensive midfielder, I doubt they'll do a better job of positioning as a CB.
The difference between Durkin and Sands on this front is that Sands has looked pretty good at CB in MLS this season. There are some caveats -- he's playing in a 3-man back and he's only done it 2-3 times -- but Sands has at least shown he can play back there at a pretty high level.
Fair enough, although I remember him struggling in this regard with the U-17 NT. I think Sands is a little undersized and soft for CB, but a back 3 can hide that. Playing CB in a back four might be more problematic. I have no problem with using Sands as a CB in the U-20 WC, but I think looking towards his pro career, he should be developed as a defensive midfielder.
Sands has developed grown man strength this season, Durkin is still lanky and growing into his body. Pretty much everyone on here is on the Sands at CB train after his past couple matches. I think he’s a tad too conservative with the ball as a CM, but plenty fine as a CB. Then NYCFC will have Haak maybe ready by next season to play CM. MLS | 🇺🇸 James Sands (18) at DC United today ⤵️✅ 90 minutes🅾️ 1 clean sheet🚀 6 clearances⚔️ 6/7 duels won💪🏻 3/4 tackles won❌ 2 interceptionsHis 2nd match at centreback, Sands & #NYCFC waltz into Audi Field and get their first win of the season. ✅Versatility. 👊 pic.twitter.com/xoJE9bOJ88— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) April 21, 2019
It's also handy for the US player pool of his age cohort. Lots of CM prospects of varying kinds in the 99s/00s. Not many CBs there, or in the 02s.
He may be undersized but I agree with @ielag that Sands looks way more physical and decisive this season than he did even last season. Like, softness might not even be a problem any more. And like @don Lamb I'd probably start Sands at CB next to Richards against Ukraine, unless McKenzie can get back on the field quickly for Philly and put in a quality 90 minutes pre-World Cup. McKenzie should still go to Poland, IMO, but Tab might have to work him into the lineup gradually in the group stage given his appendicitis and ongoing recovery.
I don't get the undersized and soft critique for Sands. That must be grandfathered in from when he was like 15. Now that he's matured he's big and hard. Appendectomy is nothing. You just have to get passed the 1-2 week suture protection period. Then you have no restrictions. He'd need to get fitness up a bit, but he plays at cb. So that effort is minimal. I'd put him on the roster. Question is does that force the hand to call upon Real? Not ideal but versatile, he plays for the same club, however they have a lot of depth. But then that might crowd out Gloster or Araujo, the latter of whom I really like. When everybody is healthy put Sands, Richards, and McKenzie on the field and then figure out positions from there. You could go 1 of Sands or Richards at destroyer (actually like Richards there for range) ala EPB or 3-man back line. Solidity at the back, allowing the team to build off that.