More than off the ball positioning, his weakness is off the ball effort (this includes the moment of change of possession especially if/when he is the one who gave it up). He s a talent on the ball no doubt though. Interestingly, the couple of times Weah has trained with the first team, they have positioned him as an outside back. They must at least be thinking of a transition as a possibility. Also, the rumor is that he recently committed to a college for next year, as MNUFC has not decided the route they are going to go with their best talents that graduate from the U17 DA team.
Do you think that makes sense at outside back? Outside backs need to give effort off the ball and read the game a lot better than Weah does. He seems more like an eventual attacker to me. A position switch makes no sense IMO.
I agree mostly. Just reporting what I know. The switch may be due to just what the team needed in those couple of practices, as opposed to long term plans for him. That I can't speak to. He has the strength and speed to play just about any where on the field. Maybe not the pure speed you would want as a winger, and not the off ball activity from an outside back that would need to track back.
He is without a doubt an out an out 9. His largest problem is that he is playing at a level where he is a man among boys and can get away with being lazy and any bad habits because he is technically and physically dominant compared to everyone else on the field. This is definitely something that a coach like Adrian Heath would correct.
Hey everyone. Here is my take on the 2003 age group. I would love for you all to check it out and let me know of what your feedback is! https://chasingacup.com/a-breakdown-of-the-2003-age-group/
I will read when I have a moment (not that I know enough about any of these guys to comment), but I just wanted to say I'm enjoying reading them!
This was the best one IMO. I think you are a little low on Sarver, but I agree with most of the blurbs about the top players.
I like Sarver but I think both Pepi (obviously) and Weah have more potential. Sarver is interesting because of his versatility. I just think his on the ball skill is a little behind right now. His soccer iq is one of the highest in the age group and it's obvious watching his off the ball movement. I'm worried about him being with the Columbus Crew and not having a USL team to play for. the next two posts will be hot take central because the 2004's and especially the 2005's are a toss up.
I know Columbus sometimes uses him as a striker, but I don’t like it and I think he’s a winger only. It results in very negative football where they kick the ball long and hope he can run onto it. He also has no holdup game. He’s short and slight.
I haven’t seen too much of the 03’s but from what I’ve seen Nyeman seems best as an 8 rather then a true 10. He seems more comfortable getting the ball off of the back 4 and dictating play from there vs playing in-between the lines like a true 10. I think he may be best playing in a three man midfield alongside another 10/8 hybrid like Caden Clark, with Chifamba providing protection (but then again maybe the whole 8 vs 10 is just semantics.) Also, when you say he has the potential to be a star in Europe what does that mean? What type of team could you see him playing for? Is there a player in Europe you’d compare him to? Love to hear your thoughts!
Nyeman doesn’t have the athleticism to play as a lone 8, and he plays too conservative the further back on the field he’s used. He’s said in the past that he likes playing most as a #8, but I don’t think he’s physically developed well enough to project well for the position. I don’t think it’s that big of a problem because he’s a very good CAM, but I think we are talking about a worse player at the pro level as a #8. Athletically, he’s not up to the job at the position.
Yes, I agree he probably can’t play as a lone 8 but the few times I’ve seen him play, he seemed to get disconnected at the 10 and naturally float deeper to get on the ball. Is there a player in Europe he projects to be similar to?
Loved it. Really good write up. I think there are a few slight differences I would have in the depth chart, but that's it. I think you like Sealy more than most on here. I go back and forth between Chifamba and Clark. Love them both, drastically different players. Clark is the more dynamic player though, but not as consistent. I think you have Casas too low. I agree that GK is the weakest position of the group. You mention that Slonina may have been the best to play with this group. Might be true. But here is what gets me...I don't even know if he is the best GK at his club at his age. I like Brady a lot. Some what related (and a bit homerish) but am curious if you or anyone else on here have noticed GK Jack Morris from Minnesota? He is dynamic and unrefined. The club clearly likes him. He was starting over 60% of their academy games over Emmings before the club made him their first homegrown signing. He has been in training with the first team fairly consistently too this season. He plays a fairly high line. Likes to stay connected with his defense when MNUFC is in possession. Really good distributor of the ball, especially with his hands. Kid has a canon for an arm. Likes to smother through balls before they are opportunities. He is unrefined though. He comes off the line sometimes when it might have been better to stand firm. As he gets more time in the MLS environment I am sure this will improve. Easier to pull some one back than push someone to do something they are unwilling or incapable of doing though. Beside Weah, I think Morris is the most ready for competition against men in the academy. Next would be Andrew Ellis (midfielder asked to play CB after some defenders left the club for NYRB late last fall). In time, Darboe (definitely), Straub, and Burton may be better prospects, but their time is a couple years down the road.
I think Sealy’s potential is sky high, he struggles with consistency at the men’s level but that’s not uncommon. I think Dallas will develop his game really well. I think Casas is right outside of the top 25 but is also not even the best dmid on the Chicago Fire u17’s which is Allan Rodriguez. I don’t think Slonina is the best 2004 GK but he has been the best GK in the 2003 games (no one else has been given a real chance). Darboe, Straub, and Burton are all fantastic prospects. Especially Darboe who is easily top 5 for the 2006’s.
Juan Mata (when he was good)? Christian Eriksen? I think Nyeman is a little more mobile than these types of players and contributes more defensively, but his best attributes are his passing ability, combination play and soccer IQ. He has skill, creativity and vision, but I think he doesn’t always use it like he should. I think being used as a holding mid for the DC reserve team last season hurt his confidence in being an attacking player. He was asked to play such a conservative role that he can’t excel in due to physical limitations as a 15 year old in a lower league that when he was then tasked to play further forward and be the main creative force playing against his own peers, he had been so accustomed to playing a different style of football. I think the ability is there to be a top playmaker in world football, but he needs to not play as conservative when playing as a #10 as he’s shown the last six months.
I completely agree. I’ve been saying the same thing this season, and it’s not a slight towards Slonina. Brady is excellent.
I also agree. Brady is a phenomenal goalkeeper. It could be very realistic to see all 2004 GK’s in the 2023 u20 cycle
I was very impressed by Sealy in an FCD spring exhibition game. I’ve never noticed much about him before but he’s had a growth spurt and now is sort of a bigger, thicker and maybe better Kelly Acosta. I thought he made the right decision every time he got the ball although he got chased down on a breakaway.
Chasing A Cup did an interview with Jonathan Gomez and Patrick Weah. Weah says he has been in contact with USSF and expected to be called up this year. Presumably it would have been with the U18s. We know Gomez was called up to the cancelled U19 March camp in Spain, playing up a year.
Caden Clark will for sure be one and we’re looking for another. Caden was going to be in the first episode but unfortunately due to the Minneapolis protests (he is from Minneapolis) he had to miss it to help with his family. Please keep him in your thoughts everyone.
I listened to it, and thought Gomez was very insightful for a professional athlete. You also have to consider he’s 16 years old, and 16 year olds are learning to drive. Most pro athletes in their late 20’s/early 30’s are not very insightful about the game. I also thought Weah handled an uncomfortable situation very well.
Story on Weah committing to SLU, among other things: https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_cf555bb4-7dc0-5df8-b9b2-0ec749b6f7d8.html This, by the way, is his brother: http://spkc.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=3936640&player=378386367