Tyler Adams - the best non-Christian Pulisic prospect in the USMNT pipeline

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by scoachd1, Mar 27, 2017.

  1. scoachd1

    scoachd1 Member+

    Jun 2, 2004
    Southern California
    http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/...t-deluge-goals-continues-vs-mnufc-more-week-4

    "I've spoken with some very smart folks who think he is the best non-Christian Pulisic prospect in the USMNT pipeline. I need to see more of Weston McKennie and Andrew Carleton before I buy a ticket for that particular hype train, but I'm in the process of getting my wallet out just in case. The 18-year-old was outstanding in his first 90-minute MLS performance." Matt Doyle

    I'm posting this because I completely agree that this kid a ton of talent and will likely show up on the senior team shortly after the U20 world cup is finished.. I watched a couple US20 games and was impressed with his athleticism and general play at that level. So, when I saw he was starting Sunday, I decided to primarily watch him during the Red Bulls vs RSL game . I was glad I did as he was simply outstanding. A lot of people were speculating that they traded McCarty to get Davis time on the field but I think the player they were more focused on was Adams.

    As an athlete, this kid covers an amazing amount of ground each game I've watched him play. He also appears to be both quick and fast. Reminded me a lot of Kante in terms of physical attributes. As a soccer player he seems to position himself very well defensively, appears to see the play early in attack and his passing seemed pretty good. Watching the game you would not have had a clue this was the kids second MLS game and that he just recently turned 18. I went to check the Audi stats to see if they had any distance covered stats and didn't find any. But what I did find that he was the second highest rated player on either team. Whoscored had him as MotM.
     
  2. Techsan111

    Techsan111 Member

    Jul 8, 2014
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Adams looks like a bright defensive mid prospect but:

    Haji Wright
    Weston McKennie
    Joshua Perez
    Andrew Carleton
    Cameron Carter-Vickers
    Marlon Fossey

    All deserving of 2nd best prospect behind Pulisic
     
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  3. scoachd1

    scoachd1 Member+

    Jun 2, 2004
    Southern California
    There are certainly some good prospects in that group. I'm not claiming he's second best, but instead that I think he will be a future impact player. I haven't seen them enough as older youth players are against season pros to comment make the same comment about the rest or even comment whether I think they will anything more than journeyman pros. I really liked Carleton but learned after watching Junior Flores shine at the Nike friendlies not to get too excited to early. I heard later from some that those games were by far the best they ever saw Flores play before or after.

    I watched plenty of Perez as a younger player, but he seemed like he fell back to the pack (in a relative way for someone that was so advanced). It will be interesting to see how he plays against men but he was trending more toward the solid pro than special pro. Carter-Vickers is not really a US product (though of course a welcomed US player). Never seen him play in a first division game but he's done very well for such a young defender.

    Thing about Adams was that he didn't just looked like he fit in at the first division level. He was really good. He's got the physical tools and his decision making was better than many seasoned pros in that game despite being so raw. If he can play like that with 45 minutes of experience, imagine what he's going to be like with a couple hundred games under his belt.
     
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  4. Susaeta

    Susaeta BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 3, 2009
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Adams is good. Physical tools are all there. Plays fast, keeps his head up, and plays aggressive.

    But 2nd best prospect in the US pool? No. Not yet. Having seen him up close and personal, he has work to do on the tactical side of his game. His defensive read of the game is naive, and he tends to get bypassed pretty easily. He does not show to the ball well, tends to drift in possession, and does not get the number of touches you would expect a player of his skill to get. His decision-making when he is on the ball is cavalier. He can make Jermaine Jones look conservative.

    But when he goes in for the tackle, his timing is great and he goes in hard. He usually wins.

    Very good young prospect. As a coach, you want horses you have to rein in, not the ones you have to constantly kick into gear. Adams is a "rein him in" type of a player. He does not need a hype squad, or MLS claiming they have the next best thing in their ranks. What he needs is the tactical boot camp most 18 year olds need. Hopefully that is what Marsch is giving him. Kid is worth the investment.
     
  5. gunnerfan7

    gunnerfan7 Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Jul 22, 2012
    Santa Cruz, California
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We've got an excellent pipeline coming up. Even that list misses Erik Palmer-Brown, of U-20 CONCACAF Championship MVP fame. He was going to go to Porto if they'd offered a little more to SKC.

    We're leaving out McKinzie Gaines at Wolfsburg, Nick Taitague who may join Weston and Haji at Schalkamerica 04. Mukwelle Akale at Villareal. Joshua Perez at Fiorentina looks exciting and has already played for the senior Viola team. Hell, we've got Matt Miazga starting and getting on Team-of-the-Weeks in the Eredivisie at 20...

    The future for US Soccer is incredibly bright. The days when every prospect is derided as the "next Freddy Adu" will be over soon, because when some of these guys break through, our talent-maximization track record will suddenly be significantly better.

    BTW, this is him getting a goal vs. CHELSEA as a 16 year old!

     
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  6. Giggsy1986

    Giggsy1986 Member+

    Jan 27, 2014
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    I think you need to be watching more games from our youth players if you think Tyler Adams has the highest ceiling.
     
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  7. scoachd1

    scoachd1 Member+

    Jun 2, 2004
    Southern California
    Just curious - is your comment directed at the "very smart folks" cited in Matt Doyle's quote as that is where the title came from?
     
  8. scoachd1

    scoachd1 Member+

    Jun 2, 2004
    Southern California
    Although I'm not doubting you, I did not see the negatives you describe. He looked very active showing for the ball and his defensive position seemed solid. What I saw seemed to be very repeatable skills with the positive traits you described. Thus I felt quite comfortable posting here as I don't think it will be that long until he regularly starts showing up in the full national team pool. I was planning to post something following the game when I had a chance and Doyle's article just gave me some insurance the post wouldn't sent to some other forum and a provocative title as a bonus.

    That said, given the number of times I closely watched him rather than him in a game (exactly once) wouldn't be enough for me to disagree with what you write. Given his age and experience I'd be surprised if his tactical decision making didn't need a lot of improvement. I'm looking forward to seeing more.
     
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  9. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Pulisic is not really an NT prospect at this point.
     
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  10. vexco

    vexco Member+

    Nov 2, 2013
    Acosta is still my favorite midfield prospect, if he counts.

    If not, Davis is up there. I think McKennie and Nick T will have something to say about that eventually, though.

    Not counting Carleton or Perez who are both great as well.
     
  11. Giggsy1986

    Giggsy1986 Member+

    Jan 27, 2014
    Club:
    Manchester United FC

    Technically he is just not good enough at this point to be elite. He also won't develop the needed technical ability while he is in MLS and you can't claim he will until someone actually develops within MLS.
     
  12. nobody

    nobody Member+

    Jun 20, 2000
    No opinion on Adams myself, but I would mention that Dempsey is a pretty technical player who developed in MLS for quite some time before moving abroad and looked ready quite quickly upon his arrival in England. He didn't suddenly develop technical ability outside of MLS. Just one example, but a pretty obvious one. You could probably throw Geoff Cameron in there as well.
     
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  13. Giggsy1986

    Giggsy1986 Member+

    Jan 27, 2014
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Yes but Clint Dempsey already had the technical ability at age 18. You're also comparing Adams to the technical ability of a Centerback in Cameron. We should be comparing the technical abilities of our central midfielders to the Iniestas, Scholes, Makallele, Zidanes, Pirlos of the world.

    For example Emo Hyndman has fantastic technical ability but lacks physical traits that in my opinion will always hold him back unless he develops an understanding of the game like a scholes or pirlo.

    Technical ability should be fully developed within players by the age of 15. It's almost impossible to develop technical traits after that age because the speed of the game becomes so fast that it eliminates the ability to "try things" in matches.
     
  14. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    #15 IndividualEleven, Mar 31, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2017
    Think the discussion of the top prospects is within the context of US soccer. Obviously, none of these guys will be good enough to clean the boots of Rooney, Defoe, Stones, et al. ;)
     
  15. Giggsy1986

    Giggsy1986 Member+

    Jan 27, 2014
    Club:
    Manchester United FC

    Oh I agree, but we still should be comparing them to that level. It's the only way we will reach that level of player development.
     
  16. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    The more useful comparison would be to peers not legends of yesteryear.

    If Tyler as a teen can dominate in the league then he'll likely move on to bigger and better things including the Senior NT.

    At the W20 WC, he'll have a chance to show against his international peers.
     
  17. Bob Morocco

    Bob Morocco Member+

    Aug 11, 2003
    Billings, MT
    Ahh yes, Claude Makalele, who Madrid let go because he was too technical.

    Emo, grandson of an MLS coach and an FCD academy product who would train with the first-team. Probably doesn't count because he didn't play first team games before he turned 16 in the window of technical development.

    DM requires specific technical and mental skills, maybe think about what those could be.
     
  18. MPNumber9

    MPNumber9 Member+

    Oct 10, 2010
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know what is meant by technical ability in this case, but from that single clip I watched of Tyler he looks to be a very accomplished passer and passing is certainly a technical ability that applies to the type of player he is.
     
  19. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    I think the importance of the survival of this thread is the realization the if Pulisic is alone, he is alone. He is definitely a saint straight from heaven. He's Jesus.

    On the other hand. If we have some other kids hit, we might be looking at a golden generation.

    And there are some possibilities.
     
  20. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You are missing Keaton Parks. He is my dark horse to make the U20, show he can ball and get a few invites by the end of the year.
     
  21. GiallorossiYank

    GiallorossiYank Member+

    Jan 20, 2011
    NJ/Roma/Napoli
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Key to Adams' development:

    Get as many first team minutes as possible before the age of 20... and of course, ball out during them.
     
  22. dlokteff

    dlokteff Member+

    Jan 22, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    So who's Adams? Peter, Paul, John? Maybe he's a tweener like Thomas? A bit player along the lines of Jude? Is he a dual national that might be Judas?
     
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  23. gunnerfan7

    gunnerfan7 Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Jul 22, 2012
    Santa Cruz, California
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Maybe if he can get out of Varzim and somewhere that I (and other Euro scouts) can see him develop. Not playing in Portugal's 2nd or 3rd division is not good.

    Besides, I "left out" a lot of people. Kyle Scott, Emerson Hyndman, Desevio Payne, Xuxuh Hilton, Ben Lederman, Kai Koreniuk, Andrija Novakovic, Gideon Zelalem, Lynden Gooch, Danny Barbir, and I'm sure many others, including highly rated Jesus Ferreira, and other younger prospects.

    There are too many to list, and their futures are shrouded in mystery. But the future as a whole is undeniably bright!
     
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  24. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    Everybody else is just common fisherman. Jesus has not yet picked his disciples.
     

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