Found this article about the YPSV-YAZ match from the regional paper: https://www.ed.nl/psv/richard-ledez...am~a42e1a63/?referrer=https://www.google.com/ use google translate
Dying for him to see 1st team minutes.... but I love that they have him right in the center where he belongs:
Me not being as familiar with the Eredivisie I interpreted your post as him starting with the first team and almost fell out of my chair.
Ledezma goes a full 90 for Jong PSV in a 0-1 loss at home to the last-place team in the league, Dordrecht. Not good
At what point is it the more reasonable perspective to point out that as a 10 it's unsatisfactory when it comes to his immediate senior NT team prospects or the pace of his development that he's goalless and assistless against any senior side in the Dutch 2nd division? He's well over a thousand minutes. 1500 minutes? 2000? Somehow production doesn't apply to him, but it does to more productive players, who are better defensively, while playing in a superior league, and when they also double as 8's. It's like this kid's path to the national team is pre-ordained because of initial viewing against youths and his club association. And no, this doesn't mean I'm a skeptic about his future. Some just want to be in player camps and ride it from beginning to end. I like his future more than I don't. But he needs to show a lot more to pronounce he's arrived for PSV's or our 1st team.
It's all relative. Mendez just sat the bench for 90' for Jong Ajax, who beat 1st place Cambuur 2-0 today. Better to win than lose, better to play well than poorly, but count me in the camp that thinks it's better to play than not play.
That's the whole idea behind the Young teams playing in our second tier. Coaches of top clubs like Klopp envy us for it.
This is one of the MAJOR problems with US Soccer. It seems like the guys who get time aren't those who are performing. It seems like it's the same by age group they just go with the same groups over and over. I also think people on here (and other places) go nuts over youth team performances. They mean very, very little IMO. I don't really care until you start playing for a First Team. I agree with you too: playing 1500 minutes in the Dutch 2nd Division with zero production (outside of a match 2 goals, 1 ast) is not the end of the world for development. But you have to absolutely destroy this level to be considered for the full NT. Personally, I think Ledezma has a real chance to be a good NT player. He has a chance to be on PSV squads next year. But to call for him to be on the full NT is insanity.
Completely agree. I know it’s so hard to see and hear but right now he’s not even close to Trapp’s level. I’ll get killed for that but it’s true. He has miles more potential but it’s very TBD if he achieves that and we’ll hope for the best. The people begging for him to get a full NT appearance right now are at best grossly optimistic and at worst completely negligent.
How is this a problem with US Soccer? Aren't you agreeing with Berhalter here on needing first team minutes? The poster you quoted said that Ledezma is "preordained" by US Soccer, but what evidence is there of this? He's gotten US20 call ups, but actually was not a lock starter. He's played halves with the U23s. Unlike Pomykal and Aaronson, he has not gotten a senior team camp call. Actually, it seems like Berhalter and US Soccer is handling Ledezma much closer to how you want. Who you seem to disagree with is most US Soccer FANS. Ledezma brings some skills that our entire pool is really lacking. But he's got some question marks to clear up both on whether he can keep doing it at higher levels and more specifically on defense.
Is the U23 squad different than the U21? Transfermarkt says he is on the U21 squad... but this: https://nr.soccerway.com/matches/20...-international-cup/porto-u23/psv-u23/3131130/ says he scored with the U23 team today in the intl cup match. He played most of the 2nd half and scored in the 81st minute to tie it up. Nice. Also good to see Gloster get some minutes.... he hasn't been on the U21 squad since October. Gotta keep an eye on any left back from the US since we don't really have many to speak of.
I know. My text wasn't meant to insinuate that he hasn't played well enough to get minutes. I guess I should have been more speciic.
Richie has some weaknesses to fill (size, left foot) but PSV tries to play the same way from academy to first team and have a plug and play mentality. If there is an injury or someone gets sold from the first team then Richie is immediately promoted. Richie has a very, very good chance of getting first team minutes in the spring and we should have our heads high with him. More likely than not him, Gio Reyna, and Uly Llanez will be first team players by the next major USMNT camp.