PBP: 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship: USA vs. Mexico 11/21 7:00 ET

It is hard to compare players at different positions. I wonder about Efra. I think he has a wicked left-footed shot that takes people by surprise. But I'm not sure the rest of his game is as good and I don't think his personality is disciplined enough to really succeed when he gets to a level where players expect that left foot.

Mendez is a central midfielder who has that field vision that is hard to find. Almost like he is looking down at the game from above. Why he can get the ball and immediately turn and pass, especially forward, in one motion. He has weaknesses he needs to work on, mostly defensively.

Efra is in USL for a club that is notorious for not bringing players through. Mendez is headed for a Bundesliga club that is desperate to bring players through and has a history of success doing so.

As a USMNT, we should have both and we should be working every day to get one back and keep the one here.

 

This I also noticed.

 

Compared to Carleton, Mendez is mediocre.

 

Any reason he doesn't do free kicks like that instead of rainbow softies? Maybe it was just an off game.

 

Probably didn't want to tip his hand, in case we meet again in Poland.

 

I think goes for placement over power, idk, didn't watch most of the game, he hasn't taken many for Club America.

 

Lainez in the Liguilla playoffs last night.
[If only a player like Carleton was afforded the same stage in the MLS playoffs. C'est la vie.]
We can poke holes in his game all we want, but he's an exceptional talent.
Yes, he did cause us problems. But he causes adult professionals of some distinction some problems.

¡QUÉ MANERA DE ESTRENARSE EN LA LIGUILLA!

¡TIENE SÓLO 18 AÑOS! 🤯

¡GOLAZO, GOLAZO, GOLAAAAAZO DE LAINEZ! 🔥⚽️🦅@PumasMX 0-1 @ClubAmerica pic.twitter.com/yvhAUyFkp3

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) December 7, 2018

 

He was a handful in the U20 finals. Servania and Dest were the only players that could handle him by themselves.

 

Yeah, he's good. I'm still glad we stomped his team 2-0. Or 1-0, take your pick.

And I'll still take our crop over theirs. Outside of Lainez, Mexico didn't have much in the way of talent on that U20 team.