For folks wondering what the starting lineup looked like for the #USMNT U-20s today, here it is: pic.twitter.com/EWXZ1YTAcd— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 16, 2020 Nice to see Akanyirige get the start
And we have a red card, USA sub Nathan Harriel sees red for a bad challenge. No replays here to see. Home team will be down a man, leading 2-0 in the 77th minute.— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 16, 2020 Final- The #USMNT U-20s beat Mexico, 2-0. Cole Bassett with both goals in a comfortable win. Mexico showed more in the second half but Odunze made a big save early in 2nd half to thwart the momentum swing. #DosACero— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 16, 2020 Also in attendance today were Ulysses Llanez and Julian Araujo, who are in #USMNT camp but are age-eligible for this U-20 group. They shared a nice moment post-match with David Ochoa. All three were part of the last Under-20 World Cup team.— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 16, 2020
Any Yanks in Mexico's squad for these games, apart from Vasquez? https://miseleccion.mx/noticias/2999/la-snm-sub-20-viajo-a-florida
I heard Cam Harper impressed so much that he was asked to train with the USMNT today. I am not sure if any other U-20 players were asked. I believe Harper is returning to Celtic before the end of camp (which was agreed to before the start of camp) and won't play in the second Mexico game.
Looks like Sealy trained with the senior team as well (3rd pic) The #USMNT is holding open training in Bradenton today and it's a good turnout: pic.twitter.com/MRy1qOFv1n— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 17, 2020
So with this week's signings, there are now 32 players born in 01 (20) or 02 (12) signed to MLS contacts. Toss in the USL kids and the foreign-based kids and it's already a pretty deep pool in terms of the number of pros a year and a half before the U20 WC.
US Soccer Match Report USA: 1-David Ochoa (capt.) (22-Chituru Odunze, 46); 2-Ian Hoffmann (16-Nathan Harriel, 73), 14-Jacob Akanyirige, 5-Leonardo Sepulvdea, 3-Leon Flach (4-Nico Benalcazar, 73); 13-Aidan Morris (8-Marcelo Palomino, 62), 6-Cole Bassett, 10-Thomas Roberts (23-Blake Malone, 78); 7-Cameron Harper (18-Jordan Bender, 78), 20-Matko Milijevic (9-Stefan Stojanovic, 62), 11-Gianluca Busio (17-Dante Sealy, 62) Subs Not Used: 15-Kurowskybob Pierre, 18-Jordan Bender, 19-Marlon Vargas, 23-Blake Malone Statistical Summary: USA / MEX Shots: 4 / 9 Shots on Goal: 2 / 6 Saves: 6 / 0 Corner Kicks: 3 / 8 Fouls: 15 / 17 Offside: 0 / 0
I guess it's safe to assume that if you're getting minutes in the EPL, you have a pro contract, so congrats Indy -- both for your big day, and for allowing me to check some boxes in my spreadsheet! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lfMvt087D65kHEJtitNuODh4dPgpKCQTi6Ae9VJ2c0g/edit?usp=sharing
US U20s drew 2-2 today with Mexico. Starting lineup was: Pulskamp; Harriel, Sepulveda, Benalcazar, Akanyirige; Flach, Morris, Palomino; Bender, Stojanovic, Sealy. pic.twitter.com/WDUBcM4Kqm— ChuckMe92 Soccer (@ChuckMe92Soccer) January 18, 2020
Why is our U20 national team calling up a collegiate forward who scored - checks notes - ZERO goals and one assist in 17 games playing in the 18th-best conference in college soccer? https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/stefan-stojanovic/2584 http://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/search/label/Conference RPI Rank I've got no issues with the YNTs looking at college players. Provided they are earning it. A forward not scoring while playing in a crappy conference damn sure ain't earning it.
Here's an age-eligible college forward who earned a look: LIam Butts of Penn State (and the Atlanta United academy.) https://gopsusports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/liam-butts/9617 He scored 9 goals and an assist playing in one of the toughest conference's in college soccer. Herbert Endley, an 01 from Indiana (who didn't play USSDA ball) had 2 goals and 3 assists - for the Hoosiers. Not great, but a hell of a lot better than one assist.
🤝🇺🇸⚽️ Aligning the pathway took a direct route when the #USMNT and the U-20 MNT (@USYNT) shared ideas and a little bit of competition last week in Bradenton. #TheFutureisUS x #JanuaryCamp pic.twitter.com/2ieufaObYo— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) January 19, 2020
I asked around about the U-20 camp. Here is what I heard from a few different people Ochoa, Hoffmann, Bassett, Harper, Akanyirige, Flach, and Morris all had very strong camps. Some others might have also performed well, but this is what was told to me. I asked specifically about Miljevic, and what I heard from multiple people is that in training and small-side games, he was amazing. In actual games, he tends to over-complicate things a bit. To me it sounds like he has a huge upside but needs some work. It's a fixable problem. I heard the same things about Palomino.
Are Flach and Hoffmann seen as a possible LB/RB pairing? Both seem to be versatile players based on what I've been able to discern about their club careers. But both of those positions could be pretty competitive, not that competition is bad.
I forgot to add Sepulveda was very good this camp. I spoke to a bunch more people, and you can add Roberts in as well. So pretty much the consensus (after speaking with over 5 people associated with camp) is that the winners of camp were Ochoa Hoffmann Bassett Harper Akanyirige Flach Morris Roberts Sepulveda
I don't really get this. Busio as a prospect has some issues in that he doesn't fit very cleanly into a archetypical position, but the level of hate he gets is strange to me. He's extremely skilled, he's got a sneaky sense for the ball in the box, he was one of our better players at the U17 WC, he plays both ways a lot more than you'd think, and he seemed to shake his lack of activity to some extent with Sporting KC last year. I'm not saying he's a superstar, or even say he's not risky as a prospect. But "should not be close to a full strength U20 squad" as an attacking mid? Who are all our superior attacking mids?
Gio Reyna, Jose Gallegos, Thomas Roberts, Marcelo Palomino, Matko Mijilevic, Matteo Rittacio, Moses Nyeman, and Elton Chifamba are all players who can play as an attacking mid who I would take over Busio. if he played out wide then he would be buried even further. Busio looked good on a very, very weak 02 cycle. If Kayo was fit and we had Efra then Busio may not even have started with that group. His stats were inflated at SKC by shockingly bad defensive errors that academy kids might not even make. He is a good player but in a cycle where there are many of them you need qualities that truly help you stand out. He does not have an elite first touch, his passing is not elite, his dribbling is not elite, and he lacks creativity so where does that leave us? Busio is great at one thing and that is keeping the ball but in his position he needs to do more.