Buck broke out after the CONCACAF championships. Can’t blame the staff for rolling with the guys that got them there. DM/CM is insanely deep at that level. Also, we don’t really know if the Revs didn’t release him. Noel Buck Highlights🤤pic.twitter.com/AsEfmTLEAS— Sanjiv (@USMNTvideos) May 25, 2023
Also Buck has played all over the field for New England this season. He's played DM, CM, and Striker. What's his position going forward? Where on the field are his skills best utilized?
Either way...............we've now qualified for back-to-back-to-back-to-back U20WC quarterfinals. US 4 New Zealand 0 Goals by Owen Wolff, Cowell, Che, and Pukstas. US still hasn't conceded a goal in the whole tournament. We now face the winner of Gambia and Uruguay in the quaterfinal. Cowell is scoring goals for fun. He's above this level of competition so far. Tied for 2nd leading scorer at the event. Left foot banger from @Cc4Official 🔥🎥 » @FOXSoccerpic.twitter.com/tyqCn7uliv— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 30, 2023
A reminder of how hot the U20s are. Blowing out New Zealand, and brought Kevin Paredes off the bench. Just for fun. The USA u20s’ last 9 competitive games..9 wins29 goals scored0 goals concededAll while missing several players in this age group. They will play Gambia or Uruguay on Sunday for a chance to go to a World Cup semi-final pic.twitter.com/5bcqoKsOFL— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) May 30, 2023
I thought he had his best game in tight spaces. He was combining and the ball was sticking to him better than I’ve seen. A technical Cowell with that physical profile is a poor man’s Ronaldo, yes please.
@jaykoz3 think Craig will get minutes in a 3-5-2 after the U20's finish? Jim Curtin all but ruled Alejandro Bedoya out of tomorrow's Union-Charlotte game.The 3-5-2 has done very well in Bedoya's absence, but it doesn't make sense to run all three centerbacks out for three games in a week:https://t.co/QtXroCQDdl via @phillyinquirer#doop pic.twitter.com/PB0cjENohy— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) May 30, 2023
It's very possible. He's got stiff competition for a spot though with Lowe, Elliott and Glesnes. I will say the Gold cup will offer him some playing time with Lowe being with Jamaica. I'd love to see him get some extended minutes. If for nothing else, but to give them another set piece option. The whole reason the Union are playing a 3-5-2 is because they don't have like for like replacements for either Martinez or Bedoya in their preferred 4-4-2 diamond setup. There are a lot of ignorant Union fans who have been crying out for Bedoya to be benched or at a minimum not play as much. What they don't realize is the Union don't have a player who can fill Bedoya's role in the 4-4-2. Same with Martinez, though Flach can play a much more defensive version, the Union's attack suffers greatly when Martinez is out (see the CCL semifinal second leg as an example). The Union ask a TOB of their midfielders in their prefered formation. The amount of ground Martinez, Bedoya and Flach cover is insane. Bedoya does so many little things, off ball runs, recovery runs, etc. that get overlooked. Martinez just is unique in his play. The only player that comes close to him in MLS is FCC's Nwobodo. Who is the real reason FCC's defense has improved so dramatically.
I think if folks are watching Cowell at this event, he's got more to his game than just physical tools. I'm sure Euro scouts are taking notice. The competition here so far can't handle him. The next opponent will be a sterner test. I hope we get Uruguay in the next round. Cuz Uruguay is my favorite ever game at the U20 level. 2007 U20WC Round of 16 in Canada. The one where we beat an absolutely loaded Uruguay group (Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Martin Cacares, etc.). Uruguay couldn't handle losing to the US. Michael Bradley gave 'em the business at the end of the game. We were absolutely drained after that game, losing to Austria in the next round.
Seems like Craig may have the same problem EPB did. The CBs ahead of him are simply better on a team actually challenging for MLS titles.
I have my reservations... He is very slow and I expect him to struggle on teams that do not dominate the ball heavily.
So maybe the succession plan for Bedoya is actually a formation change? It suits McGlynn better, not asking him to run like Ale. I would like Craig to be the third CB but Lowe is no slouch.
I feel like Cowell's talent has been a real tease so far in his career. He'll have these stretches where he seems to be putting it all together and becoming a dominant player, but then he'll follow that up with a longer stretch of being pretty anonymous. He has 3 goals in the tournament, but he really should have 5 or 6 be running away with the Golden Boot. I'm torn between thinking he needs to be dominant in MLS before moving to Europe and thinking that maybe a Euro move this summer will get him to a place where he can find his best form more consistently.
McGlynn is getting sold either this summer or in January. IMO the Union are hoping Perrea can be that long term replacement for Bedoya.
Is he really that slow? No, he isn't as fast as Che or Wynder, but I get the impression that his lack of speed is being overstated, continually.
The last u20 team so far had 4 real senior int'ls. The prior one had 4-5, w/ the benefit of a couple extra years of time/maturation. I predict this team will double those #'s. There will be around 8 who are legit senior int'ls. There's a lot of assurances for these kids based on what they are already proving at young ages against men. Some fetishize playing in reserves in Europe. You can be a sensation overnight, but usually you'll be worse/unproven. Individually, I look at players like Slonina, Wiley, Che, & Paredes; and think these guys are all about as strong bets to be regulars as prospects can be. Then there's a group underneath that, which consists of most players on this roster, where they have a flaw, but if that's eliminated or mitigated over time they can be senior team regulars too. Quality comes from elite prospects and then quantity of good prospects as well. In that regard, this group is far superior to any we've ever had, & that doesn't include the greater # of players who couldn't be here due to circumstance. It's a new era. Embrace that.
It's not. He's being protected by the 3-man back-line & having no a-mid centrally. Still, when tested, he's really struggled to beat attackers to the ball, even when he's had a big head start. This last match he had to be bailed out at the end by Che. It's a matter of if he had adequate mobility, same thing w/ McGlynn, to get the benefit of their substantial on balls gifts.
I think his passing and free kicks are good enough that if he is slow (don't know) teams will plan to protect him. Is he anywhere near as good as Zimmerman? Obviously not but had he been taking a lot of corners and free kicks last cycle there would have been a lot more goals. So, he needs more experience obviously and perhaps needs to be the center back in a three man set like he is here with two faster guys for cover.
His passing and dead ball gifts are so tantalizing you'd want to play him. Yet he doesn't in Philly, and that's not just on youth. If he was the better option he'd be playing. So I think we have to see what he can do defensively, I haven't seen him have to work too hard on that end yet.
I think Philly ought to start incorporating him as their 3rd/rotational cb to find out. They've dragged their feet long enough if they are serious about integrative processes. Your club has been much more amenable when they have a young player who looks like he might be ready. What do you think their plans are w/ Che now that the loan is over? I'd like to see them play a 3-man back-line w/ him as the RCB. I think it's his best role & he looks special to me. If they move him back to CB & put him in position to succeed like that, I think they could make another double-digit sale, while winning in the interim.
The obvious American upside comp is Ream. Zimmerman is taller and more physical. Brooks has the passing but he's also a beast in the air. At 6'1" and not a great leaper, Craig isn't going to own the air. Is he as quick as a young Ream? No idea -- I barely remember young Ream. But you can work on that. More importantly, work on footwork and positioning and reading the play. His defense will cap his level because the leg is there.
Curtin talks a good game but I think it is super unlikely Craig gets a lot of time until Lowe is out for the Gold Cup. And even then, I bet he goes to a 2 back set. He simply doesn't ever want to rotate.