Cole Bassett is a really interesting prospect. Relative to his production, he's got to be the least hyped American teenager. He doesn't turn 20 until late July, and his goal production in MLS is pretty impressive: 2020 (18/19 yo): 5g, 5a in 1,073 minutes 2019 (17/18 yo): 2g, 1a in 1,062 minutes 2018 (16/17 yo): 1g in 307 minutes I understand the potential reasons why Cole Bassett is underrated: He was not a big prospect or USYNT guy He doesn't play like a big time producer -- he's a right place, right time guy who feels more like a second striker/poacher in terms of how he scores ... but he also gets assists. Nothing is spectacular - dribbling, passing, shooting, speed. But he gets it done. Last year's productivity is at pretty unsustainable levels. So I get all that. My question is: Where do you think Bassett ends up as a player? In terms of style, in terms of production, in terms of level?
At best is a lower table Bundesliga starter in my opinion. His key weapons in his game are his above average athleticism and his smart soccer IQ in the final third for a box to box mid. But purely on the ball he doesn’t bring that much to his game that separates him from other midfield prospects his age In regards to the USMNT I think he’ll be a depth player and not someone who can break into our long term A-team as the quality of players in the midfield is very quickly increasing compared to what we’ve ever seen before. He’d be a gold cup/CNL guy for me
He's like a Tyler Hansbrough or Luka Garza type prospect to me. At their current level, their deficiencies aren't deficient enough to really hurt them and the things their good at are really useful, but their skillset just doesn't translate to a higher level. For Bassett, I think he'll struggle in a league more focused on technical nous. In MLS it's fine since it's so high paced and the possession game is so underdeveloped but that's not how it is at higher levels.
No way to tell. High IQ guys that keep on growing can go really far. Nobody expected much from Michael Bradley, Wondo, or Wes. If you want to look at the really top level: Close or Lewandowski. So as long as the kid keeps on improving year after year I won't bet against him.
I really like Bassett as a prospect. I don’t think this is a particularly unique position, but I think system young players (16-20) are in playing time wise is more important than overall ability. I’d also say that attitude is probably close to as important as ability, but that’s too subjective of a convo. I don’t want to use anecdotes too much. But for me his situation is a lot like Aaronson’s. Not particularly highly rated in the youth levels or even when he went pro, but Philly let him play. He wasn’t great at first but he acclimated and became a good MLS player at a young age and then went to Europe. A lot of the players that I really thought were the bee’s knees at the U17 or U20 level didn’t end up at the right club and they stalled, and now they’re starting their career really at 21. I want to be clear this isn’t an MLS vs Europe thing, this is about being at a club that will let you play pro minutes. Cole Basset is at team that for a few years has played him. He wasn’t particularly good at first, I actually remember his first game. But he’s progressively gotten better. If this season he can connect the players behind him with the players in front of him, while maintaining his goal dangerous-ness, he is going to Europe. Like Aaronson again though, he needs to leave for Europe at the right time for the right club.
Did people really not expect much from Michael Bradley? During his prospect days I was in middle school not tracking this stuff so I wouldn’t know. But in his youth days he had quite the early career
Nope. Dad's boy, the whole youth team was "better" than him, taken in the 4th round, sold for $250K. At Heerenveen was originally lower rated than Robbie Rogers. Exploded at age of twenty.
Bradley, from the very beginning, was always criticized and knocked down. He far exceeded general expectations.
Indeed, see my reportings on him in those days. Sc Heerenveen were in the post season play off rounds for UEFA cupmatches and he was blundering in those and lucky it didnot cost sc Heerenveen. However after the summer break in the matches he played a completely transformed Michael appeared, so much I asked the question if he had spent the summer watching dvd's with his play of last season to learn and avoid the mistakes he had. So indeed you can see a player make a quality jump you didnot see coming.