Breakout Youth Players in MLS/USL [2022 edition]

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Eleven Bravo, Jan 30, 2022.

  1. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    By the way, the goals were nice. McGlynn of the Union and Cade Cowell of San Jose.

     
  2. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Tale of two teams. There's were fluky and ugly while ours were great. We had many chances for some somewhat fluky goals of our own but may have had karma payback from scoring so many two days before. Sure seemed like this ref was going out of his way to make sure the US didn't get anymore pk's. Was CONCACAF worried that they were being perceived as favoring the US (for the first time ever?)
     
  3. DirectK

    DirectK Member

    United States
    Jun 27, 2018
    Kind of amazing interview with John Tolkin on the MLS Today podcast that’s out today.

    Highlight was probably learning that Tolkin kind of pranked Berhalter when he called to talk about the USMNT left back position.

    Overall he sounded like a funny, personable, smart guy. Worth checking out.
     
  4. dspence2311

    dspence2311 Member+

    Oct 14, 2007
    Wow, did anyone see that assist from Clark just now?
     
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  5. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Quinn Sullivan Hattrick, 3-0 baby nats.
     
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  6. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    The US have been playing with Aaronson at striker.
     
  7. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    I don't even know what they were playing as the third goal was 50 yards pass forward from Aaronson to Sullivan. It looked very fluid and interesting in the first half and then when Sullivan and Aaronson were subbed out everything slowed down and became unwatchable.
     
  8. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Varas has talked about the lack of a true #9 in this particular age group (with Pepi not playing for them).

    Watching this tournament so far, it seems he's decided just not to use one for long stretches. So far, so good in the opening round. Now the level of competition increases.

    The USMNT attackers just crushed it in the first half, and got up 3-0. Then they seemed to take the foot off the gas, prevent suspensions for the next round, and try to avoid injuries. Quite a boring second half.

    THe US now plays Nicaragua in the round of 16.
    After that they'll likely play the winner of Costa Rica/T&T in the quarterfinals. That game will determine advancement to the U20WC.

    They've likely avoided hosts Honduras (who are looking good) until the semifinal. That game would determine Olympic qualification. For those with good memories, playing Honduras with Olympic qualification on the line is sorta a house of horrors.

    Canada, it should be noted, was officially sent packing to the Mexico side of the bracket after finishing 3rd in the group. In the next round we get Nicaragua, while they get the winner of Panama/El Salvador. Then they'll likely need to beat Mexico just to make the U20WC. Ouch. [Mexico also probably looks at that as a pretty damn unfortunate event considering the teams they could have been facing there.]

    So far that Canada/Cuba match has been the only real surprise in the event. The less fancied teams haven't created any other upsets. Well Guatemala 3-Panama 1, but Guatemala isn't a minnow. Their American forward from FC Cincinnati has scored against both Panama and El Salvador. Arquimides Ordonez.
     
  9. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  10. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  11. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Not for me. Those neck tattoos are annoying.
     
  12. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  13. Boysinblue

    Boysinblue Member

    Jul 31, 2011
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    “When I was little, we would always have people come over and watch the game. The rivalry is a big thing, and I would always have my USA jersey on. I would cry when Mexico scored on us and I would tear up, and I was going around telling people to stop cheering - because half my family would cheer for Mexico and half my family cheered for USA.”

    “Then as I grew older, I started to realize I am Mexican, I speak Spanish, my parents are from Mexico. I started to put it into perspective - I have respect and I love Mexico and I love being Mexican, but I grew up in the United States. I think that's something that you need to be proud of. Ever since I was born here in the US, I was raised here. It gave me what I have now. It got me to where I'm at now. And I think that's a big thing you need to take into perspective - I was born and raised in the United States, so it's only right to play for the country that they raised me to who I am.”

    http://americansoccernow.com/articl...g-with-the-u-s-u-20s-luna-optimistic-for-2022
     
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  14. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    FYI it says love/hate
    [​IMG]

    obligatory
     
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  15. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oh, My, Gawwwwd! Yeah, Luna is a likeable dude. Also seems like he's gotta be stoned all the time!
     
  16. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I liked this kid before but now I love him. That has to be my favorite quote from a dual nat that I have ever read.
     
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  17. dspence2311

    dspence2311 Member+

    Oct 14, 2007
    Me too. This is what Herc Gomez and a few others have been trying to emphasize for a long time. When a family chooses the US, that is a different kind of attachment that should be respected. The USMNT can absolutely win over Mexican-American fans with the right approach, and by dominating Mexico (which is also possible, IMO).
     
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  18. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The fact that Mexico has to spend so much energy attempting to poach dual nats in the US is a good indicator of the growing strength of soccer talent in our country.
     
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  19. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    5-0 win for the U20s over Nicaragua in the round of 16.
    Two goals by Quinn Sullivan (Philly), and one each for Diego Luna (RSL) and Jalen Neal (LAG).

    Quinn Sullivan is currently the goals leader of the tournament at 5.

    Now on to the quarterfinals where they'll face Costa Rica with a U20WC berth on the line. From here on out the games all matter and the level of competition ramps up. If the US beats Costa Rica, they play the winner of Honduras/Panama for Olympic qualification.

    If it seems like the US is on the harder side of the bracket (as opposed to Mexico), it's because they are. That's just how the results from the groups lined it up. Panama finished 3rd in their group.
     
  20. dspence2311

    dspence2311 Member+

    Oct 14, 2007
    I have seen three of the four matches. This team looks very powerful offensively, though I have no idea about the quality of the opponents. But they play a beautiful attacking game, that includes combination play and attacks of the middle, something that the senior team has struggled to create. On the other hand, the defense has looked shaky at times, particularly the center backs. It could be that they just haven’t had enough challenges to get into the flow. But as with the senior team, the manager puts the CBs on an island defensively; the FBs are really wings. I don’t know if the DM is failing to help or if they are just shaky defenders. But the office looks so dominant and powerful and deep that perhaps it doesn’t matter.
     
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  21. Yowza

    Yowza Member+

    DC United
    United States
    Oct 23, 2019
    Arlington
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good observation, apparently they are missing most of their first choice defenders and that is their weak spot.
    Regarding level of competition, it's not good, but they've been brushing them aside which hasn't always been the case.
     
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  22. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    #272 gogorath, Jun 26, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2022
    We rolled everyone last time except Honduras and Mexico with a team that wasn't that stacked until the end of the tourney when we added Richards, Dest and Soto. Before that it was a Mendez, Pomykal, Llanez, Ayo Akinola driven show. This was at home.

    But the previous winner actually lost to Panama!, gave up a number of goals and only beat Honduras on pens. That team had Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Williamson and EPB but the attacking talent was more forgettable. This was in CR.

    I'm not sure how much fight Costa Rica is going to be, but Honduras at home and Mexico will be a battle. We need to beat CR to make the U20 WC, and Honduras to make the Olympics.
     
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  23. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Two big upsets in the tournament.

    The vaunted El Salvador team of 9 dual-US citizens lost last night to the Dominican Republic. So, yeah. I could go on a rant about it in reply to some posters above, but won't bother. The result speaks for itself.

    Canada lost to Guatemala in the round of 16 last night as well.
    [Mexico's draw just opened up all the way to the final.]

    Just for those of you thinking Canada is about to become a machine, their U20 team was darn poor at this event. The result doesn't mean they don't have some elite talent at this level that can impact their senior team. Their depth is still a concern across the youth levels. The dropoff is substantial. Meanwhile a team like the US can be without Pepi, Slonina, Che, Paredes, and others and still beat the teams they're supposed to beat. Now we'll see about Costa Rica, though.
     
  24. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    Canada's struggles revolved far more around the complete and utter lack of preparatory games than some massive sinkhole of talent. A bunch of their players weren't released, as you noted.

    Senior teams don't need more than a couple of good players every year once they get rolling, either -- no team needs 20+ quality players every two years to be pretty good.

    Canada has 30 million people, is developing their infrastructure and has talent. They will be fine. I'm not worried about them in the least, but these U20 results just don't mean a ton to me in the grand scheme.

    If they had played together like a team like the US does in a normal cycle, it'd be the sign of something -- but still not necessarily damning. Because look at our 2019 U17 team everyone lamented -- we're getting good talent out of that.
     
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  25. Strikerdad10

    Strikerdad10 Member

    Jul 22, 2005
    Best post of the forum. Hahahaha. Easy for me to like Luna after watching his games and even more so after reading the article about how he’s American and watching the video with him and his teammate
     
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