I enjoyed this list, published by the Chasing a Cup website. Spring 2022 update to their "Top 50 U20 Eligible Prospects". Little surprised that Axel Perez is that high (for an '07). @ussoccer97531, how would this compare to your top 50 list? https://chasingacup.com/top-50-u20-prospects/
It would differ significantly, but I don’t like to criticize other people’s mere difference of opinion with any specificity, if they put significant time and effort into it. I don’t plan to do any full top 50 list until December, but I would say my top 50 looks like the one I made in December with some allotment for what’s changed in 6/7 months.
And to be fair to the compilers, one of them said on Twitter that they limited their list to only players they have watched. So no Neri and Koleyosho.
I can’t really disagree with a lot of the highly ranked names. This is the first time I didn’t have any input on the list so big credit and massive respect for Gideon and Alex for the list. But if you put out a list like this you generally will need another article to defend your rankings against the guaranteed push back that you will get from people who slightly agree with things
Don’t mind not have GK’s in there, it’s such a different position in terms of development and breakthrough predictability that really they should be judged on their own compared to the field positions
I think the importance of GK’s can get underrated. I always try to assess them as equals to the field players, even though the way to assess them differs and can be harder.
Axel is extremely talented however, he is still a child that is yet to go through puberty. We can expect that in a 5 year span of age groups, the top 10-20 players will all be successfully playing in the top European leagues so by putting Axel at 4th that is stating their expectations for him. Whether Axel pans out or not solely depends on how he grows physically. Axel’s soccer IQ and technical ability are among the best in the world for his age and will likely stay that way for a while, but it doesn’t matter if Axel can be marked out of the game easily because he doesn’t have the pace or dynamic ability to beat defenders on or off the ball. This is very similar to Evan Rotundo, super talented player, but does his game translate to playing with grown men? Rarely will a team in Europe’s top leagues build their team now around a creative 10 who doesn’t bring much value off the ball, so Axel will need to improve his soccer athleticism (agility, change of pace, shiftiness) in order to pan out.
Seems like the "consensus" eligible guys who aren't on the qualifying roster for various reasons are Che, Gomez, Paredes, Pepi and Slonina? That it? Maybe Leone, Nyeman or Sealy?
I think you have it right, but I have to think including Nyeman makes sense. He’s missed so much time that everyone forgets about him, but almost everyone thought he was one of the best in this age group before the injuries. Also Pepi, but you may have been accounting for him already.
I have a philosophical question. I'd be interested to hear responses. Use the example of Efrain Morales, but it illustrates a larger point. Not a very good player right now. Clearly does not belong on current performance level on this team, but in terms of actual upside there are very few on this team with his upside. In five years, there's a good chance a lot of people are asking how he didn't make the U-20 team. Should we be bringing the most talented players and finding the best ways to utilize our best long-term prospects or is this a team of best current players?
Best current players, for qualifying especially. The u20 WC and Olympics are the big show for the YNT - and I’m happy to see younger players with a higher ceiling on those rosters, but you have to get there first.
If a MNT/YNT program can't make space both for building rosters around discrete competitive events AND for helping players deemed to be high-potential move up the ladder, than it's maybe not functioning particularly well? Though I suppose you could argue otherwise -- either that nothing but the MNT program really matters, so focus entirely on (the highly subjective concept of) "development," or that YNTs don't matter at all because the professional marketplace will take care of identification and development for you, so don't worry about them much at all...
It's always, always best current players (with obvious exceptions for not being released, injury etc.) Because then it becomes guesswork or crystal ball methodology. Let development happen then select. Obviously there will be times where things are not so black and white and many players will be close especially at younger ages so its not so absolute, but the overriding issue I have with many opinions is that it guesses who will develop as opposed to letting the players answer those questions themselves. If you have any questions let them compete.
Fans tend to waaaayyy over project what a player is based on bias and need. In the old days that was fine because we had so precious few prospects we were desperate. It’s so easy now. Their play on the field against adults tells so much more. An NFL coach (I forget who but it was a big name) once said potential is fine for the fans and media. All it really does is lose you games and get coaches fired. Bring the team that can win now.
I personally think we are making space for both. You are old enough to know just how bad it used to be. We are growing and evolving. We are still so new at this stuff. We are learning. Quite honestly I am ecstatic where we are. In a decade the US will be a true footballing factory IMO.
Good Points, I'll add 2 caveats. We used to be able to send our 'top' team because we had U17 residency and we only had a few identification camps a year. It was even for that for U20 and even U23 because we used HS, Club and colleges (with a few pro early developers) to identify our best which were all domestic based. Now/Today our developmental structure is so far more advanced with players all over the country and all over the world. We now have probably 2,000 teenagers in MLS/Europe/SA all professionally trained free of charge, by top coaches, teaching skills, being evaluated and competing daily, weekly, yearly. Compared to 10-15 Project 40, U17 Pros in MLS and 10 in Europe. Our youth teams will rarely have top players because our youth players are now needed on 1st teams or top youth teams around the world getting developed well beyond what our youth national team could provide for a few games. The other point is rather than youth national teams being developmental in nature they are becoming more of a recruiting method for dual nationals rather than for development. Its important to bring players in to feel comfortable with the organization and structure rather than the need to teach them the game at a high level. They are already at high levels during everyday training. Sorry we have to start so young but top players at age 18 or 19 are now world stars or soon to be...we have to make them comfortable with us at 14,15,16 so we don't miss having a positive relationship with top dual nationals when they embark on their international careers at 18/19.
This is where Mex flexes it’s muscles. They have so many camps at every age. More than I have ever seen in Europe. They use it to identify talent, have players feel comfortable with their style of play at an early age, and now, more than ever, recruit, recruit, recruit. They are the SEC of the world in that regard. illegal payments and all. I worked in Mex City for two years so yeah, I have no problem sating that last line through experience. None at all.
When it comes to events and major tournaments, you play to win the game. But our program should have very active U18, U19, U20, U23, etc. squads to catch these other young players. Why does Mexico play the Toulon tournament, and we no longer do? Why does Mexico play the PanAm games, and we don't. Lots of other tournaments like that. Why did we stop going to the Milk Cup? [It hasn't started up post-COVID.] Lots of other examples I can use. I know what the excuses will be. Oh, these players are needed and won't be released by their clubs. OK, well then pick players in MLS NEXT Pro. Pick NCAA players. Pick kids way down on depth charts in Europe. I don't care who it is, just pick the available guys and play. Is it possible that some kid like Evan Rotundo, who's seemingly disappeared when it comes to USYNTs..........................can improve and get back on track? Sure. Why not take him to something?