I think it's hard for an MLS guy to win this. Anyone becoming a regular for the caliber of team our guys now go to in Europe would likely preclude anything other than an MVP-like run. There's just too many guys with the possibility of coming good in Europe for an MLS guy to win these days, which is why I'd leave out Pomykal (and since I doubt he can really step up from last year that much in MLS). I think if Taitague can stay healthy he has a very good shot. Whenever he's not on the medical table he's always tearing up YNT camps, so I wouldn't be surprised if he makes quite the impression at winter training. Very excited for him.
18-year-old American attacker Indiana Vassilev makes his debut for Premier League club Aston Villa.Fulham fans immediately start singing “who the f**king hell are you?” pic.twitter.com/ohlmOQSYDJ— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) January 4, 2020
Naturally, Fulham fans don't pay attention to academy players since the club doesn't integrate any of theirs. Just ask Luca De La Torre.
1214550653260963840 is not a valid tweet id A name that we haven't mentioned in this thread that we should probably keep an eye on. Moved to Norwich from Solar in DFW after winning a DA title. 1214327015005937664 is not a valid tweet id
Nicholas 'Niko' Gioacchini is a candidate for breakout youngster. He scored Saturday for Caen in Coupe de France. By my quick review of the yanks abroad section he has scored four goals this season and has drawn to at least one penaltu. Bonus is he plays a position of need.
Gioacchini is a good shout. Kid has taken his chance well and earned himself not only a professional contract but continued minutes because he's productive. An honest to god #9 is needed. Ledezma is another potential break out candidate. Kid is getting regular minutes for Jong PSV and the 1st team needs an infusion of talent. PSV can afford to bring in players but they like promote from within too. Richie is a who can fill a need and obviously not cost them any more money. He seems like a guy who is likely to get at least a cup of coffee in the 2nd half before trying to earn a spot full time next season.
Hard to get too excited about a player in League 2 but that may just be me. I'll take all the attacking talent we can get however.....
Our youngsters got a pretty ugly Olympic qualifying draw. As ugly as you can get in a CONCACAF competition. Mexico, US, and Costa Rica all drawn together. 1215459078379581446 is not a valid tweet id
Another FCD youngster gets the call...…….. 📰 @brandonservania earns first senior team call-up to @USMNT January camp. | @UHChttps://t.co/BWnKYwB2yl— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) January 11, 2020
I think we're getting very, very close to a Reyna debut with Dortmund. Eyes peeled tomorrow for their Bundesglia game against Augsburg. 🎙 Favre pregame presser:“Gio Reyna will definitely be in the squad on Saturday.” pic.twitter.com/M7LFnBKmup— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 16, 2020
Even though we saw Pulisic do it, it is amazing that Reyna has come this far this fast. I think a debut is imminent but I also think he will be in the rotation as a semi-regular by the end of the year. I expect Brunn Larson to be sold soon. There is a ton of talent up front for BVB, but they also have a ton of games. Do we know in Reyna is on the UCL squad list?
Yes, Reyna is in their UCL squad. https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2020/clubs/club=52758/squad/ I don't have a good feeling for how much he'll play. But getting into the squad even for a few substitute appearances is a huge step in the right direction.
I'm pretty optimistic about all the kids, probably over optimistic. But I did not see Reyna getting a big chunk of meaningful minutes in the first game back. This is really incredible. I thought maybe a few minutes in a blow out, gradually increasing to what he got Saturday by May. He could get 700+ minutes this year and be a starter next year. He is now looking as the favorite here and I don't think he was that two weeks ago. He should be on every USMNT roster the rest of the year.
Go check out on the YA forum what Indiana’s coach is saying about him. If you take what he is saying literally it looks like he may be starting at Villa. WTF. If he starts putting some in the back of the net there who knows...maybe we have found our 9.
The Reyna debut was expected. It was a question of when with him, and not if. The Vassilev debut, however, has been a nice surprise. Moreover, the quality of his play has been a surprise. He's a dual national, and is only provisionally cap-tied to the USMNT. His father and grandfather were both professional soccer players in Bulgaria. Words of confidence for U.S U-20 midfielder Indiana Vassilev from Aston Villa manager Dean Smith. https://t.co/aIJAKrcuyJ— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 21, 2020
A word of caution wrt Vassilev. For those who don't follow Villa (probably just about everyone here) they don't have a single healthy first team striker available right now (due to both injuries and poor recruitment). Vassilev's inclusion in the squad right now isn't so much about what he's done at the youth level and more about the fact that they just don't have any available bodies.