I don't think Gray has the quality on the ball to be a 6. It's either right back or center back for him. The U17 and and U20 cycles are set up to target different classes. The tournaments are two years apart, but the age groups are three years apart. By definition, only the top U17s will make the next U20 roster because that tournament is geared toward current U18s.
Good post. I hope for 5-6, but the team isn't deep, so may be less. Going by your tiers: Tier 1. Unless KHF starts playing his position he won't be on the team. Reyna will be there. Tier 2. Pepi might be a good player or early bloomer. He isn't a star. Leyva needs to get stronger/faster. For nown he seems to be a twinner #6/8 and that's something that we produce in bunches. Tier 3. AOC is better than Pepi now and isn't an early bloomer. Busio is already consistent sub/starter (the only one) on MLS team and if healthy what should happen for him not to make U-20 team I can't imagine. Busio and Pynadath (who should have been in Brasil) for no apparent reason are always critiqued here while others always hyped. Carera is yet to prove that he isn't overhyped. Bello if fully healthy should be around due to crazy athletisism. Extra tier. Both keepers and Grey might be there. Scally if he stops playing RB.
I cede your point, but that's also why include Sargent as one of the guys Hackworth got right in 2017, he wasn't w/Ramos' U20's, but he would've been if he felt like it (a la Weah) and probably should've been considering how thoroughly Berhalter wasted his call up with the senior team (then again, maybe we don't get that breakout performance from Soto if Sargent's there). But might point is: which guys did they nail with the 17's? Last cycle it looks like they nailed 6 total out of 20, looks a bit better if you ignore the keepers (6 out of 17). But yeah, I'm looney enough to argue that Gio should be called up to our first full internationals in the spring (assuming he continues on his current trajectory). But I wouldn't stop w/him: Ledezma, Llanez, Gio, Richards, Gloster etc would be called up by me as well. I see no point in continuing w/his moronic "group" when they are producing a "worst performance in a decade" game once every third match or so under Berhalter (and generating these pitiful performances against poor teams, it's not Dave's boys getting shived for 90 minutes like that death march in the fall of '18). I even hear over and over about Altidore, and the best striker in the pool, and I just shake my head. Guy misses matches left and right AND was held scoreless in 7 of 8 starts (8 of 9 appearances) in the hex last time, never scored a single solitary goal against Mexico or Costa Rica in the hex, ever. I don't care if he's the best forward, he's already proven he's not good enough and he's older and he's injury prone. Just give the kids the job, let them get familiar with the weapons available and build around them. It's just ridiculous. Not only are they not doing that, they're also starting hacks like Zardes over the kids. It's just mind numbingly painful. Sorry, went off topic.
Defeating Netherlands is difficult, but I trust we can do it. If we win, I trust that we will be in the next round since Canada or New Zealand can only have 3 points and I doubt that Tajikistan beats Argentina. If the game of Chile vs Korea has a loser, we will also advance (if we win). WE MUST WIN
So not only was this bad, it was historically bad... A strong case can be made that this is worst U.S. performance in 17 U-17 Men's World Cup appearances. In terms of goal difference, it is. pic.twitter.com/puQA5QEjDr— Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) November 3, 2019 Someone should compile a list of all the US Soccer "records" that have been broken since Bradley was fired in 2011... missing U-17 and U-20 World Cups for the first time ever, failing to qualify for two straight Olympics, finishing fourth in the Gold Cup, losing to a Caribbean team at home for the first time, losing to Canada for the first time in over thirty years, worst U-17 World Cup performance ever, missing the World Cup for the first time since the 80s.... So this is the dude who US Soccer could be moving up to the U-20s, and maybe also the next youth technical director?
Should just make him the coach of the USMNT since they really don't give a sh*t about the team anyways.
I didn't watch the game. I didn't think they were good enough. Definitely this group needs an overhaul in the quality of players. Players that I hear so much turn out to look very pedestrian. I hope Dest doesn't backtracks in his choice of MNT.
Canada has piggy backed on the U.S development system (USSDA, USL). Our results are also terrible. To me, it seems to show that the development system needs a lot of improvement. The current model isn't working. I think MLS clubs have recognized this, but what is the real fix? Right now, the only answer from USSDA is moving USSDA clubs into tiers.
1190793611136446464 is not a valid tweet id After Porter's U-23s were eliminated from Olympic qualifying, I remember him saying post-game that the system-level decision on how they would play came from Klinsmann... Wicky clearly as plenty of blame for roster selection[1], lineups[2], etc. but did the system come from Berhalter or Wicky? [1] Example: 1190786655466278912 is not a valid tweet id 1190799059889590272 is not a valid tweet id [2] Example, starting Reyna (the best player and only decent winger) up top in this final game instead of AOC
Canada looked naive and just couldn’t make the most of their chances. They really should have done better. The USA was embarrassed.
man, looking at that 2015 team roster .... what's left there? Obviously Adams and Pulisic. After that ..... Brandon Vazquez has had some goals for Atlanta United. Auston Trusty might be a solid MLSer. Hajj Wright, same level or so. And then .... what happened to Alex Zendejas?
ehh didn't watch, but there is definitely talent on the team not like last cycle but this wont be a lost cycle talent wise. Reyna, Las and Kobe are obviously supremely talented. Then you have a bunch of players who have talent but dont seem like game changers (yet) Pepi, AOC, Leyva, Scally, Bello, Busio.
The players I thought were above the rest were Busio, Pepi and Reyna. I thought Leyva was too slow. Scally lack smarts. Bello didn't improve much since his U15 days. Kobe just made too many mistakes to be above the pack.
Results at this level are irrelevant, always. I don't understan the obsession of winning these things. Nigeria would be 20 times World Cup Champions if that was important. The main point is development. Are the players developing great? are they learning how other countries play? have they found a way to counter? can they win when everything is against them? those are the important questions
I don’t get how people rate KHF. He’s not a great athlete and his defensive instincts are terrible. He has a good left foot and his technicality is good for a CB, but he’s a terrible CB. I just don’t see what others see. I think Busio will be a decent MLSer- reads game okay but his tools are very average. Pepi to me was the big stocj drop. I had him as the #2 prospect in the side but I just don’t know where he is right now. AOC needed to play more. Reyna’s upside and tools are outrageous but he doesn’t see the game like a master. I think he’s a good Nat but he might not be Gareth Bale. Saldana is not a first-division pro. Should’ve rolled the dice with Kayo at the 8 and Lleyva at the 6. At least Kayo will give you something. Scally is toolsy but he’s no where near as skilled as he thinks he is. Plus he’s a marginal 1 v 1 defender. But great engine for his size and a good right foot. Ultimately the style of play, the terrible athleticism at CM, and the generally terrible play of KHF and Scally were too much to overcome. Top 10 prospects: 1. Reyna 2. Kayo 3. Pepi 4. Busio 5. Armour (criminally underrated imo, far better feel than Bello who is more gifted) 6. AOC 7. Scally 8. Odunze 9. Las 10. Lleyva