Just one that I can think of: Cory Gibbs started 25 games for St. Pauli in the 2001-02 season. Gibbs was 21 for the first half of the season. However, St. Pauli finished last that year and were easily relegated. That would also end up being Gibbs' last time appearing in a top 5 league -- he ended up sustaining a career-altering injury right when he moved to the Premier League 4 years later. If we're also counting non-regular starters, Matt Miazga started 2 games for Chelsea when he was 20. After that everyone I can think of ranges from mid to late 20's (including Bocanegra, Onyewu, Lalas, Demerit, Cameron, and Berhalter).
Yup. That's what I was thinking too. Richards is in virtually uncharted territory for a 20/21 year old American CB. By the way, I believe that Corey Gibbs is Chris Richards' agent. He works with a lot of these kids in Europe. A very important person in our soccer landscape. Probably underappreciated.
Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, and Bryan Reynolds are all nominees for the 2021 Golden Boy award. 🌟(h/t @FTalentScout) pic.twitter.com/6scsH0kwIR— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) June 15, 2021
The state of the US U20 youngster core can best be summed up with this list................which doesn't have likely USMNT callup Leon Flach in the top 50. The list does include all of the dual-nationals that are still US-eligible. Take the order with a grain of salt. Its just somebody's opinion. Although its a person who clearly knows the DA, as it contains a lot of those kids (who are known on the youth boards, but not necessarily the US boards). https://t.co/F00UOhOGPF— Marcus O'Malley (@Chasingacup) June 14, 2021
I have issues with the order and some of the omissions but man if that list doesn't say a ton about how much improved overall development, the depth and breath, across the country has become. I really, really hope MLS Next is another step forward and not just a side step or shuffle back. We've made huge progress, but there's still tons more we can do to bring every catchment area further still.
I think it is worth noting that MLS was fairly hastily put together when USSF basically dump the responsibility of an academy league onto the professional leagues. But I will say the decision to include non-MLS academies, the scheduling flexibility they've provided to reduce travel and also to try and get more high level competitions (like with Liga MX academies) are really good signs that MLS Next isn't going to be an insular institution and will have at least some improvements on some of the struggles of the DA. It's probably not great in the whole to once again lose scale by having everyone have their own leagues, but if USSF isn't going to run it, I'm not sure we should expect more from MLS here.
I think the big thing for me is USL. Its provided gobs of opportunities for teenagers to get professional minutes and they in turn have started their own academies in smaller cities that can also develop talent if the right work is put in.
What’s cool about the USL in these small towns is how they’re taking off in popularity. For example, my hometown team, Greenville Triumph. You will see Greenville Triumph bumper stickers all over town. I’m not dense enough to say people say Triumph over Clemson football. But from an anecdotal perspective, sometimes, I swear I see more of those damn bumper stickers than Clemson stickers. I don’t think I can drive around town, and not see one. It’s pretty cool to see.
It’s going to be an interesting year... David Ochoa, GK, Real Salt Lake, what way will the wind blow him? Tomas Romero, GK, Los Angeles FC, too old to be a youth player, but young for a keeper. Will he give us hope? John Pulskamp, GK, Sporting Kansas City, early signs were positive. He’s good enough to be some club’s #1. Chituri Odunze, GK, Leicester City, how will he develop this year? Joe Scally, RB (maybe DM), Borussia Moenchengladbach, rumored to be moved up to the first team. Bryan Reynolds, RB, AS Roma, will Mourinho play him? Julian Araujo, RB, LA Galaxy, because he’s buried on the depth chart, expect him to switch to Mexico. Jonathan Tomkinson, CB, Norwich City... will he get his shot this year? Justin Che, CB, FC Dallas, linked with Bayern Munich James Sands, CB, New York City FC, too old for breakout standards but still young for a center back and signs are very positive. George Bello, LB, Atlanta United, rumors to Galataray and elsewhere Sam Vines, LB, Colorado Rapids, rumor to Belgium and elsewhere...too old for selection probably but he’s still young for a left back John Tolkin, LB, New York Red Bulls, expect rumors soon. Kevin Paredes, LB, DC United, expect rumors soon. Jonathan Gomez, LB, Louisville City, linked with Real Sociedad (under age)...we don’t want to lose to Mexico Gianluca Busio, CM, Sporting KC, pending transfer, likely Venezia FC Jacob Montes, CM, Crystal Palace, late bloomer? Moses Nyeman, CM, DC United, too soon this year to win the breakout player of the year, but he’ll be a strong candidate for next year if he continues Tanner Tessman, CM, Venezia FC Owen Otasowie, CM, Wolverhampton Johnny Cardoso, CM, Internacional Taylor Booth, CM, Bayern Munich, pending loan Leon Flach, CM, Philadelphia Union Caden Clark, AM, RB Leipzig, loaned back to Red Bulls until winter Cole Bassett, AM, Colorado Rapids, no rumors yet Cade Cowell, RW, San Jose Earthquakes, no rumors yet Konrad de la Fuente, LW, Olympique Marseilles Folarin Balogun (dual), FW, Arsenal Malick Sanogo (dual), FW, Union Berlin Ricardo Pepi, FW, FC Dallas... we won’t what to lose to Mexico Daryl Dike, FW, Orlando City, will be a hot ticket Matthew Hoppe, FW, Schalke, rumors that he’ll stay but could transfer too
There's a lot going on................and a lot of kids on the verge. Due to the cancellation of the U20 and U17 cycles, there are going to be players "coming out of nowhere" for much of these boards. We've seen that in MLS, where some of these guys we've talking about on the youth boards have broken thru. Evan Rotundo of Schalke, for instance, isn't on that list above. I won't be surprised if he makes a debut this season. I always look to the Bundesliga for the guys about to break thru. Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Bryang Kayo, and those types of players. Kayo has had some injury problems. Nico Carrera has played with Holstein Kiel in the preseason. The kid I'm really keeping an eye on..........................is the 16 year old at Union Berlin on that list. Malick Sanogo. Just prolific at the youth levels. Already training with their first team. As far as our award for 2021 goes: If Richards stays at Bayern (which it seems like he might based on Nagelsmann's comments), and plays, then for me he's going to be hard to beat. Or if he's loaned back to Hoffenheim and is their regular starter. If neither of those two happen, then others can make a push. Cuz he'll have the full calendar year in a top 5 league of impactful play. A guy like de la Fuente will have half a year. Or Tessmann. Or...............the list goes on. Hoppe is #2 on my personal ballot, but right now he's in Bund2. If he doesn't move, he's going to need to be really impactful there to merit my vote over Richards.
Another player to add to the list above if former US U17 starter Nico Carrera. He didn't sign with FCD and went to Germany. So far in preseason he's gotten some first team time with Holstein Kiel, one of the better teams in Bund2 the last two seasons. One senses he's really close. A nice article on @in_online about our youngster @NicoTeamCarrera @TeamCarreraZ .#KielAhoi #Holstein #Kiel https://t.co/WetIWdQXPA— Holstein Kiel English (@HolsteinKielEN) July 19, 2021
Outside shot, but 17 year old Cade Cowell called into Gold Cup camp ahead of QF. He has not been officially added to the roster yet but I doubt they call him in just to train a couple of days.
kayo being in jan camp pre-covid (20) is such a mind-trip. seeing hes only 18 now it just feels like the internet is trying to trick me. that dudes at least 24!
Unfortunately Kayo has suffered a lot of injuries in Germany. Wolfsburg fans seem to think he'll be loaned to St. Polten in the Austrian 2nd division. [Their partner club that Uly Llanez is also at now.] Cade Cowell is now the next competitor to win the title of "first 2003 to be capped." That's a fierce contest between Cowell, Clark, Pepi, Nyeman, Paredes, Gomez, Che, etc. etc. There are already 2004s getting playing time in MLS. Quinn Sullivan of Philly is a standout.
We've gotta say that Ricardo Pepi and Justin Che are both zooming up the charts. Won't win. Still behind Richards, Hoppe, and friends. They're making a push, though. The kids aren't too shabby. pic.twitter.com/rH7GiqAW9r— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) July 26, 2021
Konrad and Bryan Reynolds are uniquely positioned to have break-out seasons at a higher level than their peers.
Indeed. I would add Joe Scally at Gladbach behind them..............as he's getting great reviews in preseason. He's positioning himself nicely. He should make a debut this season, and we'll see how much time he gets.
With regards to Scally, he's indeed starting another friendly today for them. And now this................... A few signs point to Scally starting v Bayern today at left back as a legit audition b/c there's concern Bensebaini won't be fit for their Bundesliga opener in 2 and a half weeks...which is against Bayern.Manager Hutter said he was "surprisingly good" at left back vs. Metz. https://t.co/LOlZmg0ICo— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) July 28, 2021
So far for me it's: Richards Hoppe Aaronson Musah with any of these guys possibly making a late push Dike Pepi Reynolds Scally KDLF