biggest current hole

Discussion in 'Youth National Teams' started by johnaldo, Dec 29, 2002.

  1. johnaldo

    johnaldo New Member

    Apr 23, 2002
    A lot of people were talking during the world cup about how the US lacks quality defenders and people have noted that this is also a problem with our youth teams, but I think this is an area that we have players that will in time be better than what we have playing in our senior team's back line right now. If you look at our current youth national team pools, I would say our biggest hole is at right midfield, where we almost have nobody.
    when I break down the players that I think will have a solid shot at being successful with the senior team it looks like this:
    Forward: Donovan has already proven that he can play with the big boys, Casey has a shot if he continues to improve, the same goes for Buddle. Then you also can't forget about Quaranta and Johnson who have amazing potential and IMHO because of their size advantage might eventually surpass Donovan.
    Attacking Mid: This area is not as strong as our Forwards but with guys like Convey, Martino, and Capano its clearly not a weakness. Though he has not played a pro match, Eddie Gaven is supposed to have a lot of potential as well
    Left Mid: Whats amazing is how strong this side of the field is. Every year has a great player '81 Davis, '82 Beasley, '83 Convey, 84' Mapp, and if you skip a year '86 Gonzalez is supposed to have a load of talent and can play the middle too.
    Defensive Mid: Ricardo Clark has the ability to be a great D mid, he has the ability to do it all, while Jordan Stone is not too shabby either.
    Then you come to the back line, and how sweet would it be to show up for the 2010 world cup with a premier league defense of Zach Whitbred ( yes, I know he isn't cap tied), Jon Spector (yes, I know he hasn't signed the Man U offer sheet), and Frank Simek. Then putting a french league defender in Oguchi Onyewu at right back and our back line is from left to right is from Liverpool, Arsenal, ManU, and FC Metz. I know there is no way to guarantee that these guys will stay with these teams let alone get playing or starting spots, Im just saying how far in terms of respect for US soccer would we come with players coming from these backgrounds.
    I would also say that Cochrane (who actually starts ahead of Simek on the U20's), Yi, Stokes and Lewis have a shot at being sucessful with the senior team.
    Keeper: We look like we have plenty of talent here between Countess, Warren, and Cronin

    But who do we have at right midfield: We don't have any true wingers. There is no one in our current youth system that stands out. People have mentioned Barclay, Quaranta, and Buddle but all of those guys would have to be converted from their natural forward position. Neither one strikes me as a true winger. If you look at the last couple of U17 teams, a guy named Bryan Jackson started in '99 and is now out of soccer. Then in '01 Quaranta played out of position in that spot. It is looking like John Diraimondo will start for the next set of U17's but with Gaven, Gonzalez and Spector getting the most hype I have not heard much about him. The youngest true right wingers in our senior national team system are Olsen and Thorrington, who with their frequent injuries might be a little to old by 2010. My question is who do you think will be our answer at right mid for the 2010 world cup.
     
  2. Daniel from Montréal

    Aug 4, 2000
    Montréal
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Christina Aguilera's.

    Thanks folks, I'll be here all week!
     
  3. The Wanderer

    The Wanderer New Member

    Sep 3, 1999
    Johnaldo, I'm sure we'll find someone in the next couple of years to play there. I posted somewhere else that it's amazing the depth of left-footed midfielders we have.

    I wouldn't count out Gregorio from UCLA. The kid is Ralston-esque, meaning he has avg. speed, but he is extremely skilled.

    In the future I really couldn't tell you what our formation will be, so who knows if we'll really depend on right wingers. We could easily play with an asymmetrical formation.

    Short term we have Klein, West, Ralston and Olsen.

    I was suprised that DiRaimondo hasn't received more interest.
     
  4. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    HYPE ALERT! What is Freddy Adu's position? I've heard midfield but not which one. Another option would be any of those left middies who can use a right foot.
     

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