I’m not against even one of them sitting if Durkin was starting in favor of trying to get more possession and almost 2 years from now, Durkin could just be flat out better. I think Durkin and Adams would complement each other fantastically if Tyler somehow played in the U20 WC. I’d just like to see Tyler and Wes play CM together where we they don’t have a #6 behind them and see how they do. Because it’s way too cluttered, confusion, and lack of possession with a 6 and two 6/8’s the way Sarachan likes it.
They aren’t technically good enough to play together. They’re competing against eachother in my opinion. If we actually want to take a step up as a country we need central Midfielders who can keep the ball.
I haven't seen Soto play. Is he really potentially better than Sargent? Why wasn't he involved in the last U17 cycle? Is he close to Hannover's first team? Either way, I wouldn't downplay Sargent's skill level. He's highly technical to the point that that is the strength of his game -- he isn't blowing people away with his athleticism or creativity. It's his off the charts game intelligence and technical ability that has him on such a high trajectory. Am very intrigued by Soto, however, based on your high opinion of him...
The weirdness of this U20 cycle (given the odd tournament and timing) and the competitiveness of a likely Finals roster are, one could argue, all the more reason to start pulling together U23 camps sooner rather than later. Start with the 97/98s and pull in some younger guys...
At this point they need to just name Tab Ramos the U23 coach and start having camps...……………………… Our U23 program right now just seems like a total afterthought. I've virtually given up on us qualifying for the Olympics. We've learned over and over again that we can't just throw a U23 team together at the last minute and expect successful results. No matter how talented the kids are. At this point we're going to have less time to assemble a program than Caleb Porter had two cycles ago. Hell...………...name frickin' Caleb Porter the coach. SOMETHING!
After Sargent, Soto is definitely the best potential striker in the whole program imo. Sargent has good skill but Soto's touch on the ball is just excellent.
Ebobisse really has come such a long way. He was poor in 2017 U-20 WC qualifying. Tab actually had him cut from the U-20 WC team but changed his mind the weekend before the roster came out. Ebobisse is a smart kid. He just worked his tail off to fix or minimize his weaknesses. He’ll play a role in Olympic qualifying
I know its hard for a CF to have the perception surrounding them be favorable when they aren't scoring goals, but I didn't think Ebobisse was that bad from a minute to minute standpoint during qualifying. He just absolutely could not find the net. Missed some really easy finishes that he usually finishes. He's a good finisher, so it was just a bad spell in front of the net for a player who is usually good in that area. I think thats one of the best things about Ebobisse's game. He can be productive without scoring goals. He has good hold up play, and is good enough on the ball to fit into the attack with more than just finishing.
With the U-20s winning the 2019 CONCACAF U-20 Championship yesterday, the US has qualified for the 2019 Pan American Games (7/25 - 8/9) in Lima, Peru. The Pan American Games is a U-23 ('97 and younger) plus 3 overage player tournament. Whether the USSF will accept the spot remains to be seen.
While I'd like to see the US compete in the PanAm Games, there's no way in hell the Euro clubs release players and any players in MLS and LigaMX who are playing regularly likely aren't getting released, either. So you're likely looking at MLS backups, USL players (if they want to release them) and college kids. I think it would be worth it to give those kids some experience and see if a diamond in the rough emerges. But US Soccer may not think it's worth it.
With so many kids jumping to Europe I'm not sure who will be left to play the qualifier. I think our defense will be good and Ebobisse has been a revelation up front but with Adams going to Europe, midfield is a concern.
U23 camps would likely take place on FIFA dates, which the U20s probably will have as well in the lead up to the U20 WC.
If the Olympic qualifier is on the date Wiki claims it to be, some of it will take place on FIFA dates. Which some clubs might be willing to let a player go. The CONCACAF Nations League will also be on those FIFA dates I believe.
This sounds like something that makes sense.......... With the Crew gig going to Porter, I could see Wolff joining Berhalter's staff and being a possible U-23 coach. https://t.co/zIfvKGtnaO— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) December 17, 2018
Berhalter says that the Olympic head coach search is being spearheaded by Earnie Stewart— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) December 20, 2018
totally makes sense give the u23 job to a guy thats never had his own team. I mean they'd be crazy to make the u23 a priority.
NEWS: Gregg Berhalter adds @NYCFC midfielder @Jon_lewis710 to our #JanuaryCamp roster.📰 » https://t.co/1HuNIobVME pic.twitter.com/ah6lFs4YTF— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) December 28, 2018
I'll be disappointed if the U20s don't make the semis of the World Cup. The midfield, wings and fullbacks are clear upgrades from the last cycle, the striking options are good enough, and the centerback pairing of Richards/McKenzie is roughly on par with EPB/CCV in 2017. https://t.co/Ka7LvTPayb— scuffed (@scuffedpod) January 2, 2019 Interesting thought experiment. I less care about that because of how random draws and results are, but I'm curious how people think our potential tournament roster this time around would rank against the competition from last tournament. Would the game vs Venezuela have gone differently?
Are you asking how our best 21 right now (including players like Pulisic and McKennie) would stack up against other teams in the world in the '97 and '98 age groups?
I remember vs Venezuela and I was thinking back then, how much better we could have done with 2-3 Dereck Jones' instead of just having 1. Venezuela just muscled us around. This team may not have the "muscle" of a Dereck Jones but I think with Servania this team plays so much smarter from the middle back, If he gets injured then we are screwed because anyone else will be a downgrade at the 6. At right back we have a future MNT starter, we couldn't say that with any fullback in the last cycle. I also feel our goalie is tops with Braddy Scott. Is this team better with a Pomikal, Llanez and Alex Mendez? I'm not fully convinced but I have been pleasantly surprised by their effort so far. I think if we can get a bit of help from players that couldn't make the qualifiers then this team has a good chance to go further. We are better defensively and we are playing/moving the ball around much better than we did the last cycle.
I meant how our '99s and younger that will potentially be at the world cup will do, and since I don't think many of us know much about '99s and younger of other countries, I thought it'd make sense to compare our '99s vs what those teams, like Venezuela, were in 2017.