One thing that I think people massively underrate about Ledezma is his speed over 20-40 yards. He can be blazing quick, on and off the ball. Obviously somewhat slight, but very few midfielders could pull away from markers like him.
I don't know if this is relevant, but the Rapids described Yapi today as "recently called into [the] US U-17 national team". You kind of have to stretch "recently" beyond reason to have it refer to the camp last February.
True but neither is Jordan (maybe?Jones)which is how this whole conversation got started. I assume that means nobody has confirmed if there actually is an upcoming u17 event?
Another player in the 2006 age group to look into is Neil Das, he just moved to DCU this year. I saw this kid play with his old team last year (Arlington) against DCU and he was a beast in the midfield. He is very good at 1v1 attacking, and his passing range is very good. He can be a very lethal CAM or CM. He is very underrated.
Unfortunately didn’t get called up to the Philly/NJ/DMV regional camp for the 06/07’s. Another surprising miss is Alessandro Maldonado. A surprise is that while no 08’s were called up, 09 Cavan Sullivan is on the roster
I agree, watched him last year when he was playing with Arlington and he was one of the standouts. He has lots of potential. A shame he wasn't called up to the national camp last year. Haven't seen him play with DCU this year yet though.
Currently it is Gonzalo Segares who has temporarily been promoted from being the u15 coach. Gonzalo was previously the academy director of the Chicago Fire. In terms of team performances as the Fire academy director he did a good job but his lack of homegrowns produced is a little bit of a worry. At the same time a large reason for that can be attributed to the Fire organization refusing to use their homegrowns and sign them at the correct time. I'm not totally sure Gonzalo is as good of a coach as Tab Ramos or John Hackworth but he is definitely better than Kreis, Andi Herzog, and Richie Williams. I'm not totally sure that he's a better coach than Raphael Wicky who showed in the u17 qualifying that he was a good coach before being forced to play 2019 Gregg Berhalter ball and then instantly crashed and burned. I think Gonzalo should be given a fair shot because he doesn't have any history of being a bad coach and could end up being a good coach.
For those who track at this age I think we should establish a player pool for this group: Goalkeeper: Julian Eyestone, FC Dallas Diego Kochen, FC Barcelona Nicholas Halladay, Charlotte FC Andrew Rick, Philly Right Back: Matthew Schenfeld, FC Cinci Sam Sery, Charlotte FC Kimbikula Mbula, San Antonio FC Left Back: Brian Alanis, Houston Dynamo Connor Stout, FC Cinci Henry Canizalez, FC Dallas Chris Rogers, Columbus Crew Sho Haggerty, Austin FC Center Back: Alex Hauschild, NYCFC Javen Romero, LAFC (left footed) Gabrial Brandan, FC Dallas Ty Moore, Atlanta United (played striker recently) Alex Perez, Philly Allan Legaspi, LA Galaxy Tyler Hall, Inter Miami Sagar Patel, Columbus Crew Defensive Mid (6): Matthew Corcoran, FC Dallas Mark Cajamarca, NYCFC Edgar Bazan, SKC Tino Vasquez, Chicago Fire Center Mid (8): Bento Estrela, NYRB Adrian Simons Gill, FC Barcelona Aaron Heard, unattached Morris Spaltenstein, LA Galaxy Jared Salazar, FC Dallas (can play 6/8/10) Alex Wesolowsky, Slavia Prague Pavel Romero, Atlanta United Solomon Straub, unattached (Minnesota United) Attacking Mid (10): Ransford Gyan, St Benedict’s Prep (not yet citizen) Alessandro Maldonado, DC United Ryan Reid, SKC Micah Burton, Austin FC David Vasquez, TFA Luis Moreno, Houston Dynamo Alejandro Urzua, FC Dallas Jack Brown, Philadelphia Union Wingers: Bajung Darboe, Philly Izaiah Garza, San Antonio Owen Presthus, Columbus Crew Adrian Wilbowo, LAFC Miles Perkovic, Inter Miami Leonard Aviles, NYRB Malachi Molina, FC Dallas Kristin Kelly, FC Dallas Alejandro Granados Torres, Orlando City Striker: Gael Medrano, Philly Michael Luande, Seattle Zen Franco, LAFC Jordi Ayala, New England Revs Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Columbus Crew
Overall this cycle has some positions that are notably stacked. The midfield for this group is by far the best that a YNT has had by a pretty wide margin. The C/D options for this group are extremely strong for the 6/8’s and would likely start for the 02 and 04’s. The defense for this group is also very good. The center backs have a ton of options and the left backs are loaded. The right backs aren’t very deep but Matthew Schenfeld is legit and Sam Sery is also very good. If anyone has any good RB’s they can add I’d appreciate it. The GK’s have good options but we need more serious names The attacking options are a little lacking for this group. Gael Medrano is a big talent at striker but that’s really it. No one else really impresses me that much. Luckily the 07’s have some good options. The wingers also worry me a little bit. Bajung Darboe is as good as it gets for a YNT winger but after him I’m not convinced about anyone being at the level of the rest of the 11 for this group. My 11: GK: Julian Eyestone RB: Matthew Schenfeld RCB: Alex Hauschild LCB: Javen Romero LB: Brian Alanis 6: Matthew Corcoran Dual-8: Bento Estrela Dual-8: Adrian Gill RW: Bajung Darboe LW: ????????? ST: Gael Medrano I still think this is our most talented YNT cycle yet
Here’s the 07’s that are options to break into this player pool: Christian Macfarlane, NYCFC, CB Chris Guillien, Houston Dynamo, CB James Arteaga, LAFC, CDM Axel Perez, Inter Miami, CAM Etienne Veillard, Seattle Sounders, W Matias Wanchope, LAFC, W Axel Havelange, RSL, ST George Okigno, Atlanta United, ST Brice Miller, FC Dallas, ST Caden Glover, St Louis, ST In particular, I feel like Axel Perez and Etienne Veillard have the strongest chances at breaking into the player pool for the 06’s. These two are excellent prospects who particularly stand out among the other 07’s
Family issues. I don’t believe it was an issue with Philly more so he just moved back home during covid and didn’t go back. I’ve heard some pretty interesting rumors but can’t say them publicly yet
To follow up on your player pool, here are some yet to be noticed, talented players from the DMV area in the 2006 age group: Adrian Buri (DC United, ST) Uriel Koffi (Baltimore Armour, Winger) Arnold Reyes (Arlington, Winger) Neil Das (DC United, CAM) Christian Rodriguez (VDA, CDM) James Ashby (Arlington, CM) Syed Raheen (Loudoun, CM) Salif Leintu (Bethesda, Winger) Ignacio Alem (DC United, Winger) Sydney Aggrey (VDA, ST) Dev Sheth (Baltimore Armour, CB) Alexander Castel (Bethesda, CB) Dash Papez (DC United, CB) Ryan Conti (VDA, CB) Ashton McNally (Arlington, Winger) Matai Akinmboni (DC United, CB) Ethan Quander (Baltimore Armour, LB) Diego Vazquez (DC United, RB) Noel Calix (DC United, Winger) Edwin Castillo (Arlington, Winger) Joshua Doffoh (VDA, CM)
Is this a serious question? Two years ago nobody here thought that Reyna is "Reyna level". Wes was barely mentioned before he went to Germany, Aaronson wasn't mentioned at all.
Personal I thought it was obvious Reyna was on Pulisic's path. I mentioned it after the final Nike friendlies. It doesn't takes much to see talent, the hard thing to predict is the opportunities and career decisions a player will have/make.
I think Reyna developed extremely well once he got to Europe. I’m not convinced he was ever a can’t miss superstar. This is only my opinion, but I don’t think the ‘06 age group has any players I’d yet consider at the top tier of the youth player pool. The top few players in the age group aren’t overly spectacular. I do like the age group, and think there’s a good amount of talented players, some with big upside, but I have yet to see a clear star player in the age group. It’s a similar level to ‘01 and ‘04, but I think it may end up a little better than both. It’s still early though, so this is a very initial assessment.
I’ve been a Gio believer since day 1. Had gripes with his attitude but always said he’s going to be this good. With that being said Matthew Schenfeld is not that level of prospect but he is one of the higher ceiling right back prospect’s that we’ve had for quite some time. I also don’t think we should be saying fullbacks are a Pulisic/Reyna and instead compare them to Sergiño Dest who we still don’t have a prospect in the same category of. I’m not fully ready to project but if he continues his trajectory he’d be like Araujo, Reynolds, and Cuevas. Schenfeld has excellent skill on the ball combined with extremely fast acceleration/top speed. He also combines with teammates well when needed. He still needs to work on his 1v1 defending but his whole game is unmatched by anyone else in the 06 fullback pool.