I did it last year... so I decided to do it again for 2021. I went thru every MLS Team Page on Transfermarkt and listed all of the US eligible players 23 years-old and younger. The teams are in alpha-order and the players go from youngest to oldest. The (*) indicates possible dual nats... I say possible, because I can't tell if some are cup-tied or not. At any rate.... this is a great list to look at before you watch a MLS game so that you can ID kids w/ potential moving forward. Atlanta United FC Efraín Morales* - CB - #35 - Mar 4, 2004 (17) - [US U15, 17] (*Bolivia) Tyler Wolff - RW - #28 - Feb 13, 2003 (18) - [US U16] Rocco Ríos Novo* - GK - #? - Jun 4, 2002 (18) - (*Argentina U15, 16, 17, 20) George Bello* - LB - #21 - Jan 22, 2002 (19) - [US U15, 16, 17, 18, 23, MNT] (*Nigeria) Jackson Conway* - CF - #36 - Dec 3, 2001 (19) - [US U16] (*England) George Campbell - CB - #32 - Jun 22, 2001 (19) Machop Chol* - RW - #30 - Nov 14, 1998 (22) - (*Sudan) Brooks Lennon - RB - #11 - Sep 22, 1997 (23) - [US U17, 18, 20, 23, MNT] Austin FC Sebastian Berhalter - CM - #6 - May 10, 2001 (19) - [US U16] Brady Scott - GK - #1 - Jun 30, 1999 (21) - [US U15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 23] Freddy Kleemann - CB - #19 - Mar 19, 1999 (22) Chicago Fire FC Allan Rodriguez* - DM - #39 - May 27, 2004 (16) - [US U15] (*Mexico) Gabriel Slonina* - GK - #32 - May 15, 2004 (16) - [US U15, 16, 17] (*Poland) Chris Brady - GK - #34 - Mar 3, 2004 (17) - [US U15] Brian Gutiérrez - AM - #40 - Jun 17, 2003 (17) - [US U16] Javier Casas - CM - #37 - May 14, 2003 (17) - [US U16] Alex Monis - RW - #38 - Mar 20, 2003 (18) - [US U16] Andre Reynolds II - LB - #36 - May 2, 2001 (19) - [US U18, 19, 20] Nicholas Slonina* - CB - #25 - Mar 20, 2001 (20) - [US U17, 18] (*Poland) Mauricio Pineda - CB - #22 - Oct 17, 1997 (23) - [US U18, 20, 23, MNT] Club de Foot Montréal Djordje Mihailovic* - AM - #8 - Nov 10, 1998 (22) - [US U19, 23, MNT] (*Serbia) Mason Toye - CF - #13 - Oct 16, 1998 (22) - [US U19, 20, 23] Colorado Rapids Darren Yapi* - CF - #77 - Nov 19, 2004 (16) - [US U16, 17] (*Cote d'Ivoire) Yaya Toure* - RW - #37 - Jun 12, 2004 (16) - [US U16, 17] (*Guinea) Sebastian Anderson - RB - #27 - Aug 8, 2002 (18) - [US U15, 17] Abraham Rodriguez - GK - #28 - Jul 19, 2002 (18) Will Vint - DM - #16 - Oct 12, 2001 (19) - [US U18] Oliver Larraz - CM - #30 - Sep 16, 2001 (19) Cole Bassett - CM - #26 - Jul 28, 2001 (19) - [US U18, 20, 23, MNT] Michael Edwards - CB - #34 - Nov 27, 2000 (20) - [US U15, 17] Matt Hundley - LW - #29 - May 11, 2000 (20) - [US U17, 19] Sam Vines - LB - #13 - May 31, 1999 (21) - [US U15, 20, 23, MNT] Auston Trusty - CB - #5 - Aug 12, 1998 (22) - [US U17, 19, 20, 23, MNT] Jeremy Kelly - RB - #18 - Oct 21, 1997 (23) Jonathan Lewis* - LW - #7 - Jun 4, 1997 (23) - [US U20, 23, MNT] (*Jamaica) Columbus Crew SC Aidan Morris - CM - #21 - Nov 16, 2001 (19) - [US U16, 18, 20] Aboubacar Keita* - CB - #30 - Apr 6, 2000 (21) - [US U19, 20, 23] (*Guinea) Isaiah Parente - CM - #16 - Mar 16, 2000 (21) - [US U19] D.C. United Moses Nyeman* - DM - #27 - Nov 5, 2003 (17) - [US U16] (*Liberia) Kevin Paredes* - LM - #30 - May 7, 2003 (17) - [US U16] Jacob Greene - LB - #33 - Mar 23, 2003 (18) - [US U16] Griffin Yow - LW - #22 - Sep 25, 2002 (18) - [US U17] Michael DeShields* - CB - #35 - Apr 23, 1998 (22) - (*TnT MNT) Donovan Pines - CB - #23 - Mar 7, 1998 (23) - [US U19, 23] FC Cincinnati Beckham Sunderland* - GK - #30 - Jun 30, 2003 (17) - (*Germany) Frankie Amaya* - AM - #24 - Sep 26, 2000 (20) - [US U19, 20, 23, MNT] (*Mexico) Zico Bailey - RB - #16 - Aug 27, 2000 (20) - [US U15] Ben Mines - RW - #17 - May 13, 2000 (20) - [US U19] Brandon Vázquez* - CF - #19 - Oct 14, 1998 (22) - [US U17, 19, 20, 23] (*Mexico U17) FC Dallas Dante Sealy* - LW - #31 - Apr 17, 2003 (17) - [US U16, 17, 20] (*TnT) Ricardo Pepi* - CF - #16 - Jan 9, 2003 (18) - [US U16, 17, 23] (*Mexico U16) Beni Redzic* - LW - #? - Sep 26, 2002 (18) - [US U17] (*Bosnia U18) Tanner Tessmann - CM - #15 - Sep 24, 2001 (19) - [US U16, 20, 23, MNT] Thomas Roberts - CM - #23 - May 11, 2001 (19) - [US U16, 18, 19, 20] Jesús Ferreira* - CF - #27 - Dec 24, 2000 (20) - [US U17, 20, 23, MNT] (*Colombia) Edwin Cerrillo* - DM - #33 - Oct 3, 2000 (20) - [US U20, 23] (*Mexico) Paxton Pomykal - AM - #19 - Dec 17, 1999 (21) - [US U18, 19, 20, 23, MNT] Kalil ElMedkhar* - LW - #21 - Aug 18, 1999 (21) - (*Syria) Nicky Hernandez - CM - #80 - Sep 21, 1998 (22) Eddie Munjoma - RB - #14 - Jul 18, 1998 (22) - [US U19] John Nelson - LB - #26 - Jul 11, 1998 (22) - [US U15, 17, 19, 20] Houston Dynamo FC Juan Castilla* - CM - #? - Jul 27, 2004 (16) - [US U15] (*Colombia) Daniel Rios* - AM - #? - Mar 29, 2003 (18) - [US U16] (*El Salvador) Ian Hoffmann* - CM - #30 - Sep 8, 2001 (19) - [US U16, 18, 20] (*Germany U17, 18) Nico Lemoine - RM - #17 - Apr 10, 2000 (21) - [US U15, 17] Ethan Bartlow - CB - #13 - Feb 2, 2000 (21) - [US U17] Inter Miami FC Felipe Valencia* - RW - #25 - Mar 1, 2005 (16) - [US U15] (*Colombia) Edison Azcona* - LW - #28 - Nov 21, 2003 (17) - [US U16] (*Dominican Rep. U23, MNT) Ian Fray* - CB - #24 - Aug 31, 2002 (18) - (*Jamaica) Josh Penn - LW - #16 - Nov 25, 2000 (20) - [US U19] George Acosta* - #30 - AM - Jan 19, 2000 (21) - [US U15, 17, 19, 20, 23] (*Colombia) Robbie Robinson* - CF - #19 - Dec 17, 1998 (22) - (*Chile) Patrick Seagrist - LB - #15 - Feb 21, 1998 (23) Drake Callender - GK - #27 - Oct 7, 1997 (23) - [US U23] LAFC Erik Dueñas* - RB - #18 - Oct 18, 2004 (16) - (*Mexico U17) Antonio Leone* - CB - #28 - Apr 28, 2004 (16) - [US U15, 17] (*Mexico U15, 17) Christian Torres* - LW - #21 - Apr 15, 2004 (17) - [US U15] (*Mexico U17) Bryce Duke - CM - #19 - Feb 28, 2001 (20) - [US U18] Tomás Romero* - GK - #? - Dec 19, 2000 (20) - (*El Salvador U17, 23) Marco Farfán* - LB - #? - Nov 12, 1998 (22) - [US U19, 23, MNT] (*Mexico) Cal Jennings - CF - #? - May 17, 1997 (23) Los Angeles Galaxy Jalen Neal - CB - #44 - Aug 24, 2003 (17) - [US U16] Marcus Ferkranus - CB - #74 - May 10, 2003 (17) - [US U16] Jonathan Pérez* - LW - #56 - Jan 18, 2003 (18) - [US U16] (*Mexico U16, 18) Cameron Dunbar - RW - #25 - Oct 22, 2002 (18) - [US U15, 17] Efraín Álvarez* - AM - #26 - Jun 19, 2002 (18) - [US U15] (*Mexico U15, 17, MNT) Adam Saldana - CM - #43 - Feb 7, 2002 (19) - [US U15, 17] Julian Araujo* - RB - #2 - Aug 13, 2001 (19) - [US U16, 18, 19, 20, 23, MNT] (*Mexico) Eric López - GK - #12 - Mar 5, 1999 (22) - [US U15, 16, 17, 18] Ethan Zubak - CF - #29 - Apr 15, 1998 (23) - [US U19] Kai Koreniuk* - LW - #28 - Mar 1, 1998 (23) - [US U17] (*Dutch U16, 18) Danilo Acosta - LB - #24 - Nov 17, 1997 (23) - [US U18, 20, MNT] (*Honduras U23, MNT) Minnesota United FC Fred Emmings* - GK - #99 - Feb 8, 2004 (17) - [US U15] (*Luxembourg U16) Patrick Weah* - RW - #29 - Dec 5, 2003 (17) - (*Monrovia) Justin McMaster* - RW - #24 - Jun 30, 1999 (21) - [US U16, 18, 20] (*Jamaica U17) Nabi Kibunguchy* - CB - #36 - Jan 5, 1998 (23) - [US U19] (*Kenya) D.J. Taylor - RB - #26 - Aug 26, 1997 (23) Hassani Dotson - CM - #31 - Aug 6, 1997 (23) - [US U23] Nashville SC Jack Maher - CB - #18 - Oct 28, 1999 (21) - [US U18, 23] Handwalla Bwana* - LW - #70 - Jun 25, 1999 (21) - (*Kenya) Dylan Nealis - RB - #12 - Jul 30, 1998 (22) Robert Castellanos* - CB - #24 - May 11, 1998 (22) - [US U20] (*Mexico) Nick Hinds - LB - #31 - Oct 15, 1997 (23) - [US U20] Luke Haakenson - LW - #26 - Sep 10, 1997 (23) New England Revolution Damien Rivera - AM - #72 - Dec 8, 2002 (18) - [US U17] Justin Rennicks - CF - #12 - Mar 20, 1999 (22) - [US U16, 18, 20] Henry Kessler - CB - #4 - Jun 25, 1998 (22) - [US U23] Jon Bell - CB - #23 - Aug 26, 1997 (23) - [US U20] DeJuan Jones - LB - #24 - Jun 24, 1997 (23) New York City FC Tayvon Gray - CB - #24 - Aug 19, 2002 (18) - [US U15, 17] Andres Jasson - LW - #? - Jan 17, 2002 (19) - [US U17] Justin Haak - CM - #80 - Sep 12, 2001 (19) - [US U18, 20] Chris Gloster - LB - #2 - Jul 28, 2000 (20) - [US U15, 17, 19, 20, 23] James Sands - DM - #16 - Jul 6, 2000 (20) - [US U15, 17, 19, 23] Vuk Latinovich* - D - #? - Sep 14, 1997 (23) - (*Serbia) Keaton Parks - DM - #55 - Aug 6, 1997 (23) - [US U23 MNT] New York Red Bulls Bento Estrela - CM - #91 - Feb 10, 2006 (15) Caden Clark - AM - #37 - May 27, 2003 (17) - [US U16, 23] John Tolkin - LB - #47 - Jul 31, 2002 (18) - [US U17] Cameron Harper* - RW - #17 - Nov 19, 2001 (19) - [US U16, 18, 20] (*Scotland) Luca Lewis* - GK - #88 - Feb 22, 2001 (20) - [US U20] (*Italy) Omir Fernandez* - RW - #21 - Feb 8, 1999 (22) - [US U15, 18, 20, 23] (*Mexico) Kyle Duncan - RB - #6 - Aug 8, 1997 (23) - [US U18, 20, 23, MNT] Orlando City SC Wilfredo Rivera* - LM - #32 - Oct 14, 2003 (17) - [US U16] (*Puerto Rico U17 MNT) Michael Halliday - RB - #26 - Jan 22, 2003 (18) Jordan Bender - CM - #33 - Jul 9, 2001 (19) - [US U16, 20] Andrés Perea* - DM - #21 - Nov 14, 2000 (20) - [US U23, MNT] (*Colombia U17, 20) Rio Hope-Gund - CB - #29 - Aug 20, 1999 (21) Raul Aguilera - DM - #28 - Aug 2, 1999 (21) - [US U15, 16, 18] Brandon Austin* - GK - #23 - Jan 8, 1999 (22) - [US U18] (*England U20, 21) David Loera* - CF - #30 - Sep 10, 1998 (22) - [US U15, 17, 19] (*Spain) Joey DeZart* - DM - #34 - Jun 9, 1998 (22) - (*Jamaica U20) Mason Stajduhar - GK - #31 - Dec 2, 1997 (23) - [US U18, 20] Benji Michel* - CF - #19 - Oct 23, 1997 (23) - [US U23, MNT] (*Haiti MNT) Philadelphia Union Brandan Craig - CB - #34 - Apr 7, 2004 (17) - [US U15] Quinn Sullivan - AM - #33 - Mar 27, 2004 (17) Paxten Aaronson - AM - #30 - Aug 26, 2003 (17) - [US U16] Jack McGlynn - CM - #16 - Jul 7, 2003 (17) - [US U16] Jack de Vries* - RM - #14 - Mar 28, 2002 (19) - [US U15, 17] (*Dutch) Cole Turner - DM - #13 - Jul 7, 2001 (19) Nathan Harriel - RB - #26 - Apr 23, 2001 (19) - [US U19, 20] Leon Flach* - CM - #31 - Feb 28, 2001 (20) - [US U20] (*Germany U18) Anthony Fontana - AM - #21 - Oct 14, 1999 (21) - [US U18, 20] Matthew Real - LB - #32 - Jul 10, 1999 (21) - [US U15, 18, 20] Matt Freese* - GK - #1 - Sep 2, 1998 (22) - [US U19, 23, MNT] Portland Timbers Hunter Sulte - GK - #26 - Apr 25, 2002 (18) Blake Bodily - LW - #98 - Jan 13, 1998 (23) Eryk Williamson - CM - #19 - Jun 11, 1997 (23) - [US U18, 20, 23] Zac McGraw - CB - #85 - Jun 8, 1997 (23) Real Salt Lake City Jeff Dewsnup - GK - #24 - May 21, 2004 (16) - [US U15, 17] Christopher Garcia - RW - #17 - Jan 13, 2003 (18) - [US U16] Bode Davis - RM - #80 - Feb 22, 2002 (19) David Ochoa* - GK - #1 - Jan 16, 2001 (20) - [US U16, 18, 20, 23, MNT] (*Mexico U16) Milan Iloski* - CF - #23 - Jul 29, 1999 (21) - [US U19] (*North Macedonia) Bret Halsey - RB - #27 - Jan 1, 1999 (22) Noah Powder* - LB - #53 - Oct 27, 1998 (22) - (*TnT U17, 20, MNT) Aaron Herrera - RB - #22 - Jun 6, 1997 (23) - [US U18, 20, 23, MNT] San Jose Earthquakes Emmanuel Ochoa* - GK - #41 - May 5, 2005 (15) - [US U15] (*Mexico U16) Cade Cowell* - CF - #44 - Oct 14, 2003 (17) - [US U16, 17, 23] (*Mexico) Casey Walls* - CB - #77 - Oct 1, 2003 (17) - [US U16] (*England) Gilbert Fuentes* - AM - #21 - Feb 21, 2002 (19) - [US U15, 17] (*El Salvador U23) Jacob Akanyirige* - RB - #29 - Dec 31, 2001 (19) - [US U18, 20] (*Ghana) Benjamin Kikanovic* - CF - #28 - Jan 6, 2000 (21) - (*Bosnia) Siad Haji* - RW - #19 - Dec 1, 1999 (21) - [US U15, 17, 19, 20] (*Somalia MNT) Jack Skahan - CM - #16 - Feb 7, 1998 (23) Eric Calvillo* - CM - #26 - Jan 2, 1998 (23) - [US U15, 17, 19] (*El Salvador U23) JT Marcinkowski* - GK - #1 - May 9, 1997 (23) - [US U15, 18, 20, 23, MNT] (*Poland) Seattle Sounders Danny Leyva - DM - #75 - May 5, 2003 (17) - [US U15, 16, 17] Ethan Dobbelaere - RM - #45 - Nov 14, 2002 (18) - [US U17] Alfonso Ocampo-Chávez* - CF - #87 - Mar 25, 2002 (19) - [US U15, 17, 23] (*Mexico) Josh Atencio - DM - #84 - Jan 31, 2002 (19) - [US U15, 17] Shandon Hopeau - RW - #37 - Dec 1, 1998 (22) Sporting Kansas City Ozzie Cisneros - AM - #25 - Mar 13, 2004 (17) - [US U15] Tyler Freeman - LW - #23 - Jan 9, 2003 (18) - [US U16, 17] Gianluca Busio* - CM - #10 - May 28, 2002 (18) - [US U15, 17, 20, 23] (*Italy) Brooks Thompson - GK - #31 - May 28, 2002 (18) Kaveh Rad - CB - #48 - Jun 13, 2001 (19) John Pulskamp - GK - #24 - Apr 19, 2001 (19) - [US U18, 20] Cameron Duke - RB - #28 - Feb 13, 2001 (20) - [US U16, 18] Grayson Barber - RW - #19 - May 3, 2000 (20) - [US U17] Jaylin Lindsey - RB - #2 - Mar 27, 2000 (21) - [US U15, 17, 20] Wilson Harris - CF - #96 - Nov 28, 1999 (21) - [US U16, 18, 20] Felipe Hernández* - CM - #21 - Jun 8, 1998 (22) - [US U19, 20] (*Colombia) Toronto FC Ayo Akinola* - CF - #20 - Jan 20, 2000 (21) - [US U15, 17, 19, 20, MNT] (*Canada MNT) Griffin Dorsey - RW - #19 - Mar 5, 1999 (22) - [US U18, 20] Kevin Silva* - GK - #90 - Jan 5, 1998 (23) - [US U15, 17, 19] (*Brazil) Vancouver Whitecaps FC NONE
Any updates on Pomykal going into the season, since I know we have many Dallas supah fans here? Last I read he's still not playing, which is concerning. I figure he's training, but not ready for a full 90? Still think he's the guy who is closest to forcing himself into the qualifying squad, though he might not have enough time to do so since Berhalter seems to like, from his MLS guys, those that are well versed in the system.
Fontana is the front runner for me so far after the CCL legs. Side note: Rivera for OC was playing WCQ games for PR last window. So I doubt he’s a US possibility.
Pomykal has been back in training. Has played a marginal role in preseason. His was a significant surgery. They're taking it slow and steady.
For me the young player to watch is Caden Clark. https://t.co/vM0dy1d8sG— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) April 16, 2021
Right. I put it in my disclaimer above. I wish there was a binary stat that indicated if a player is cap-tied or not. There are plenty of dual nats on the list that might already be cap-tied to the US as well.
Since he's on a loan at Bayern, Justin Che probably wasn't listed on transfermarkt as being on FCD. He's expected to return to FCD once that loan is over in June. There isn't a transfer clause as part of that loan deal.
Clark is for sure at or near the top of my list. Clark, Bassett, Busio, Cowell, Paredes, Sands*, Tessmann.... just some of the U20 names I am expecting big things from. * Sands is one of my favorites because we need a legit destroyer at CDM behind Adams.... but I am not sure when he is back from injury.
I followed Che last season and think he has a ton of talent. But I was put off a bit about how he wants to play for Germany.
Just another interesting note. The teams with the most players born in 2001 or later are Philly (makes sense) and a surprise entrant. Chicago. They're tied with 8. A few of those kids made debuts last season. We'll see if Chicago goes aggressively in the youth development direction. They're talking the talk. Most of those kids are still a mystery to me.
I'd think it's unlikely that many of these guys have any shot of being on the roster at least for fall qualifiers, even if they blow up in MLS this year. They just won't have an established enough track record professionally or in the MNT program for Berhalter to feel comfortable with them in qualifying. I'd say most are playing for Gold Cup or January Camp call-ups. There are a few, though, in addition to Pomykal, who have some serious pro experience and some serious time in MNT program who might make the WCQ roster with a good MLS season...Vines, Araujo, Perea, Bello, Mihailovic, Lewis, etc. Heck, Vines might be on Berhalter's best 23 right now as the backup LB. I'd hope Mihailovic and Lewis are out of serious consideration given their showing in the Olympic qualifiers, but they both keep hanging around on MNT rosters for some reason.
But Gold Cup could gain them enough trust to be part of the world cup qualifying roster. They have 6 months with a summer slate of games in between. That's enough if you blow up. Edson Buddle and Herc Gomez did it w/ a few months of club play & friendlies going into the World Cup. This is even just qualifying. I know the pool is deeper, but in some positions it's really not, that's established, like the 6 & lb. That means a Sands, if Gregg pulls his head out of his butt, and isn't so dead-set on the style of 6 he uses. Or Bello, if he builds on last season. At wing you have Gold Cup rosters and major comp benches with academy players like Llanez & KDLF on there. They're not going to play for a respectable club before fall. Meanwhile you could have cats like Clark, Paredes, Harper, Cowell, etc.; producing samples against decent competition. Hell, at the aforementioned striker, while there's a lot of depth, it lacks quality at the top. That's why Dike, Siebatcheu, & Hoppe could move so fast initially. Having a good scorer in a top league has been elusive. So being a good scorer in a secondary league like Siebatcheu & Zardes, while having more ability, on the path to greater things than them abroad, could propel you quickly up the depth chart. Why a Pepi or even Wilson Harris, would be ones to watch, if they actually get opportunities, and run with them.
I like their coach and their style of soccer. If they can add some youth here and there and keep their stylish soccer, that would be great. Philly got a couple of their kids some playing time last CCL game. They look so young/frail out there. I hope they can stay healthy and get some experience throughout the year.
On one of the latest 3rd Degree podcasts Buzz got to go to actual training for the first time in ... a year? He said Pomykal was about 90% which is still very good. He wasn't stretching for balls just outside his reach and not doing quite the Pomykal things we are used to. Said he was surprised he looked so good as he was suspecting him be much less farther along. I'd guess he gets slowly brought along as a sub and if no problems slowly up his minutes. Hoping he gets healthy and knocks Bryan Acosta to the bench. I will add that FCD are toying with a 3-4-3 and I think Pomykal gets on the field a lot sooner with a 4-3-3 than being one of two CM's in a 3-4-3.
Caden Clark with another Golazo. Just sic. Busio gets the #10 and looks so far beyond his years. Toye and Dorde each getting on the board for Montreal. Not a ton of other U23 performers setting the world on fire... as a matter of fact... a lot rode the bench. I wanted to see more.... and I expect to down the stretch. Honorable mentoin: Leon Flach.
I'm incredibly excited to see two guys that were featured in the same match this past weekend: Caden Clark and Gianluca Busio. Clark has been discussed a ton, just seems to be on a rapid ascent that reminds me of Aaronson. Busio has played the DLP #6 role for SKC, the attacking #10 role, and this weekend played as a false 9 for them. Very excited to watch his continued development.
Clark and Busio are the two standouts in week one in terms of USYNT-eligible players. Both will be in Europe at this time next year. Clark's move to Germany isn't a secret. Busio has an Italian passport, which will open a lot of doors. We also tend to forget how young George Bello is. Born in 2002 like Busio. Having a starting left back of that age isn't the norm in MLS. He's still got some moments when he looks shaky, but overall he stands firm. He's got a little way to go before we think of him as a USMNT contributor, but there are tools. Honorable mentions from me in that age group are Cade Cowell of San Jose (kid is a beast) and Atencio of Seattle. I personally don't consider 23 year olds that are no longer eligible for USYNTs as "youth players." But that's just me. So I'm focused on the players that'll remain eligible for the 2024 Olympic cycle. Those are players born in 2001 or later. When you add the Euro players of that age, its a really strong group. Gio Reyna is the star there.
The moment that stood out for me in the Houston vs Earthquakes match was the moment when Cade Cowell just shook off a physical challenge from Tim Parker on top of the box as though Parker were the 17 year-old center back.
I think the latter guys are probably seen as the best MLS career option types, I don't think Mihailovic and Lewis are seriously considered options anymore for anything other than cupcake unless they make the leap, which I imagine was part of the reason they made the olympic team, it was probably a last stop before they fall into that Joe Corona type hole of irrelevant long term. For the most part, pending health over the next 21 months or so, this is evolving in a best case scenario kind of way. A Qatar WC instead of Russia in '18 probably would've been even better from the perspective of having qualifying perhaps delayed a bit and getting guys into the program for the second half of the hex like McKennie and possibly Adams etc, but in this version of how things played out guys like Caden Clark are actually options, and considering how young our team is, having them get an extra half season of pro experience in the lead up to the tournament as well as an extra season of pro experience befoe qualifers is huge as well. Much better to have Reyna's dip in form happen before the qualifers even started than in the midst of them. Agree on Clark btw, his parents really positioned him well on that, the podcast his dad did last year, was it scuffed?, was really helpful in elucidating what went on in their process. It wasn't haphazard at all, they knew exactly what they were doing and so now he is in position to go off to Europe much sooner than guys typically are that are saddled with more team friendly than player friendly deals when it comes to European aspirations.
At this point I'm beginning to wonder if they just don't rate him for the program in terms of what they do. The lack of attention with Sands in terms of the olympics and cupcake has been very odd to me.
Yeah, I'm completely ignoring him as a prospect. View him as someone that just isn't gonna be a USMNTer, kinda like Rossi a decade+ ago. Hope we continue to recruit him, and keep in touch with him as a program, recruit, recruit, recruit after all, but at the same time, I am completely off of him in terms of Yanks Abroad and Twitter talk about his performances, it seems a waste of time to me until/if he changes his mind.
Pretty much agree w/everything, my only quibble here is with Buddle and Herc (and Findley for that matter). I tend to think that Forward got trashed by McBride retiring, Eddie Johnson stalling out as a prospect, and Charlie Davies' car accident which derailed his career. We were basically a mess at forward because McBride wasn't an option, and Johnson and Davies somewhat unexpectedly failed to make the pool leaving the Forward group essentially empty other than Altidore and MF/F options like Donovan and Dempsey. That's why we ended up with a whose who of non-entities at Forward in the '10-'18 era basically. None of the prospects developed other than Altidore, and Davies, and Davies car accident destroyed his career. Eventually Wood would graduate to the team as a borderline option, but it's incredibly telling that our forward options were basically, pick an MLS guys+Altidore & Wood and that was it for nearly a decade.