Youth Yanks Abroad, ‘01-‘04 YOBs (and younger): 2019/20 Thread

Do they? How do you adjust for the quality off player? What do you define as a path?

Is an uber talented Pulisic going to Dortmund at all a data point someone with much less talent pushing their way into a lesser team with less of a track record?

Has anyone even bothered accurately measuring each path? Even defining each path? Even before adjusting for all three factors?

There's no control here -- we can't see if Sebastian Soto would be killing it with RSL this year or if Paxton Pomykal would be starting in the Bundi.

What even constitutes success? I saw Tim Weah as a positive for the European path. I'm not quite sure we can say that yet -- the dude didn't get time at PSG and not much at Celtic. If he starts at Lille, it was likely worth it. If he doesn't, don't you start to wonder if PT would have been better?

There's a lot of paths here. So many more than Europe or MLS. They aren't exclusive or final, either.

The obsession with drawing these lines is tiring.

 

The tons of American busts that we’ve seen over the years shows that it is not a higher probability at all

 

Pointing out the obvious is not drawing lines. It is only tiring to defend a league that really doesn't want to develop American players for other leagues.

Not all paths are equal. The path most took until recently, playing in college for 3+ years, is not a valid path. It is very recent that MLS started signing kids that are not expected to go to college.

Things are changing, but ignoring the fact MLS won't sell Americans is just willful ignorance. Signing with MLS means playing in MLS at best or playing for 5 years for very little money and leaving on your own.

 

American busts?

 

You all probably know by now but Gio made his champions league debut and got an assist for a Haaland banger.

 

I didn't say they were. I said two things: that no one has really done a comprehensive evaluation taking into account things like player quality and a full survey; and that the path will differ from person to person based on the player, their quality, the team they sign with and whatever.

I'd also challenge folks on what they think the goal or a good outcome is here. I will gladly agree that heading to Europe beats not heading to Europe if they goal is simply to head to Europe.

But if the goal is to reach your potential as a soccer player, well, I think it's a lot more complex than what people are making out.

 

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5’ - HARPER! ⚽️ @kdembele_10 finds @cameron__harper from the left and the attacker does brilliantly before slotting the ball through Jackson’s legs! 💪

CEL 1️⃣-0️⃣ ABE pic.twitter.com/KalzHXjvUs

— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) February 18, 2020

 

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🇺🇸 Uly Llanez (18) makes it 11 goals in 13 starts for @VfL_Wolfsburg’s U19s. 🔥

That’s to go with 4 assists, averaging more than a goal involvement a game played. 🤩

Not surprisingly, when Uly scores - Wolfsburg is undefeated. 💯

Uly ➡️➡️➡️ the #Wolfsburg 18. 😉 pic.twitter.com/yEzZOZej4J

— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) February 22, 2020

 

Brace today for '04 Union Berlin F Malick Sanogo makes him the U17 Bundesliga's current top overall in goals + assists, and third in goals only (tops in scoring for his North/Northeast division). 14 G and 5 A in 1478 minutes. He also scored a goal against Brondby IF first team in a friendly for Union Berlin U21. He said on social media he's open to a US or Ivory Coast call-up and hasn't been contacted by either federation.

 

Has anyone seen him play?

 

Yes and he’s a beast. For a cycle that lacks offensive fire power he is desperately needed

 

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According to this interview with McBride it sure sounds like Gio Reyna will be getting a USMNT callup in March:
https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/02/25/brian-mcbride-trip-europe-americans-abroad-usmnt-gm

 

Goal + assist for Uly Llanez for Wolfsburg A-Junioren-Bundesliga over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/8EOL6WsQsR

— Travis Clark (@travismclark) February 24, 2020

 

U.S U-20 d-mid Johnny Cardoso makes another Libertadores appearance for Internacional. This time as a late sub in a 1-0 win over Colombia’s Deportes Tolima. Internacional was down to 10 players in the 62nd minute https://t.co/ie61BwpifL

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 27, 2020

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Let's hope for Schalke. I don't think he'll be able to break into Dortmund's team

 

I think you're right on that, but where would he play in a Germanic team where pretty much no one uses a real number 10? I think he'll need to work on his strength a lot over there, but then again that's what moving over there at 16 is for.

Anyone got an idea on how big Dom is?

 

Evan is either just as tall or maybe an inch shorter than Dom currently. Evan's major skillset weakness is his lack of creative dribbling but everything else he is exceptional at. His major problem as a player is that he is the least athletic of all of the luxury 10's that we have (Mendez, Ledezma, Aaronson). He is very weak and very slow which are things you need for the bundesliga. If he can discover protein shakes in Germany and bulk up then he could become quite the player.

 

Dom is 5' 7'' (if that) and mom is shorter. Genetics has a funny way though. Just pay close attention to Tessman's parents in that clip.

 

A kid who was a keeper for my son's team had a dad that was 5-8ish. His mom was maybe 5-5 but she said that her brothers were all very tall. The family doctor told her the kid who was the keeper would be the taller of the twin (not identical) brothers. That was interesting because the whole time growing up the non soccer brother was 3-4 inches taller. He ended up 6-1 and the keeper is now about 6-4 meaning he grew about a foot from a junior in high school to his mid twenties.

 

'01. He was the starting keeper at Sockers FC this past season.

🆕| Livingston FC is pleased to announce the signing of 18-year-old, American goalkeeper Brian Schwake.

We caught up with him earlier today to hear how he’s been settling in.

Read the full story on Brian below.

🔗 https://t.co/Q87Myd1eUr pic.twitter.com/Ib6iUsEfzU

— Livingston Football Club (@LiviFCOfficial) February 28, 2020

Hat-trick for Oliva.

⚽️⚽️⚽️ tres goles y tercero en la tabla👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/alSoKU8XwF

— Carofeni (@carofenico) February 29, 2020

 

Balogun is the best American striker today. Would be ahead of Jozy and at different level from the rest if decided to play for us.

 

New Jersey native Johnny (Cordoso) starts for Internacional in the second stage of Campeonato Gaucho. They take on first stage playoff winners SER Caxias. https://t.co/WCXiYDhBbF

— Yanks Abroad (@usmnt_abroad) February 29, 2020