Breakout Youth Players in MLS/USL [2022 edition]

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Eleven Bravo, Jan 30, 2022.

  1. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is not true, actually.

    Klinsmann had no problem with a geriatric Tim Howard taking a ONE YEAR break from the national team. He gave him the starting job back... and... we failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup that cycle with Howard in goal.

    But yes Klinsmann DID have a problem with Landon Donovan taking a three week break even though he came back and was the best US player at the 2013 Gold Cup, and had a goal and assist in the 2-0 win over Mexico to clinch World Cup qualifying.

    Very selective issues with taking a break!

    https://www.espn.com/soccer/league-name/story/1996424/headline

    Tim Howard will take a one-year break from the United States national team to spend more time with his family, the goalkeeper announced on Thursday.​
     
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  2. dspence2311

    dspence2311 Member+

    Oct 14, 2007
    I took it as a sign of massive insecurity by JK
     
  3. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Quality post. A lot of facts to hang our hats on. Really hoping they can win this game. I think being part of the Olympics is more important than the U20 WC. On that note... do clubs generally let their players go for the Olympics? I think we could put together a monster U23 team if we had access to all of our players.
     
  4. Maximum Optimal

    Maximum Optimal Member+

    Jul 10, 2001
    Add Pulisic, McKennie and Adams as the overage players and we would basically be playing with the regular national team (but without the marginal players we endlessly debate around here).
     
  5. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    But you just said you want McKennie on the roster?

    (this comment was sponsored by that one McKennie hater)
     
  6. Maximum Optimal

    Maximum Optimal Member+

    Jul 10, 2001
    Haha. Well-played. Um make that Excellently-played. Maybe keep Roldan and drop McKennie.
     
  7. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cowell update



     
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  8. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well... no Cowell for the rest of the tourney. He hasn't played all that great IMO, but he can be a difference-maker one-v-one.
     
  9. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Not in a good way at this tournament. The kid needs to learn that he should be tough in the game not after it.
     
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  10. onefineesq

    onefineesq Member+

    Sep 16, 2003
    Laurel, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think the exact opposite (not about it being a quality post, but about the Olympics being more important). Guys who are Olympic age are generally guys who are established pros, even if not at their peak. They are guys already getting playing time regularly somewhere, or they likely wouldn't be in a squad mostly full of 22 and 23 year olds. On the other hand, a U20 WC is an opportunity that comes for players that, for the most part, are just really starting to get their footing in the pro environment. And, for some, the tournament is likely to be great publicity and a springboard for a desired move at a young age. Which is why it seems that from a development standpoint, the U20s are much more important. Of course, the prestige of the Olympics is far superior, but that is a different kettle of fish. Just my opinion.
     
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  11. onefineesq

    onefineesq Member+

    Sep 16, 2003
    Laurel, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not sure he was even tough after it. Wasn't he the guy running away from a CR player at top speed? It was the most celerity he showed all tournament.
     
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  12. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    I think that might have been Aaronson, running and screaming "I'm not ruining my Nations League chances with this stupid shit".
     
  13. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    Serge Ngoma just had a great interception and goal to beat Atlanta for NYRB.

    16 years old for another week or so.
     
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  14. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  15. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    You are right, that was Cowell.
     
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  16. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Uh oh that’s not ideal company

     
  17. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Shrug. Two guys that played for the USMNT.

    Scary fact. Eddie Gaven is still only 35 years old. It seems like he retired 400 years ago. He is younger than guys who are still active like Brad Guzan. Now a coach in the NCAAs. 2018 Sun Conference Coach of the Year.

    Very interesting character.

    Anyway, its nice to see the NYRB pipeline continuing to produce. Ngoma had been out injured for quite a while.
     
  18. Maximum Optimal

    Maximum Optimal Member+

    Jul 10, 2001
    Call him up.
     
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  19. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Serge Ngoma, as a summer 2005 birthday, is in a weird place with US programs. To old for the U17s, and will have great difficulty breaking into the U20 squad for the WC.

    [If he was at the ongoing U20 CONCACAF Championships, he'd be the youngest player in the squad.]

    But there could be a lot of movement in the pool in the next year until the U20WC. Lots of movement can happen in a year. Let's see how it goes. Ngoma has been highly regarded. COVID and then some injuries have meant that he's rarely been looked at by USYNTs. I think he has a U15 appearance a few years ago.
     
  20. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    Kids that miss the timing on U17 get it on U20. Ngoma is young for this U20 squad (though lord knows we need a striker or speedy winger), but the 2005s will be the oldest class in the next U20 World Cup.

    Every class either gets to hit the U17 or U20 on the nose.
     
  21. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've always guessed that he stuck his neck out at Bayern for Donovan and had a grudge ever after since it didn't work and he didn't last long.
     
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  22. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Tyler Wolff

     
  23. MuchoTakeItEasy

    MuchoTakeItEasy Member+

    LAFC
    United States
    May 16, 2015
    Land of the Free
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He was good in his opportunities last year and if the team hadn't some karmic curse with xG his mistakes wouldn't have been punished as harshly by the coaching staff (giveaways leading to goals in close games). He tended to get "little brothered" but if he can sort that out he could be useful. Not sure if he could be a senior international level, but could be a good Olympic option (if we qualify)....
     
  24. xbhaskarx

    xbhaskarx Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Feb 13, 2010
    NorCal
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Serge Ngoma



    Obvious hindsight bias alert, but this kid looks like maybe he should have been on the U-20 roster despite only being 16? Plenty of those guys have never looked this good in MLS...
     
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  25. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It was an impressive debut for sure. But 16 is still pretty young for the U20 Team. Usually there is some semblance of hierarchy based on time played with YNTs in the past and obviously the amount of minutes played as a pro. Aside from Vargas, (who didn't end up making the trip due to his injury) is there another 16 year old on the roster? I don't think so. Besides... he is certainly not the only U20 eligible player that could have helped this U20 Team. Owen Wolff should have been invited over his brother IMO. He is a more talented player and his natural CM position is an area of weakness on this squad. Heck... Brooklyn Raines could have helped there too. Then there are the Euro/MLS players that were not released by their clubs. At any rate... I assume we will see Ngoma in the near future... perhaps in Indo if he makes enough waves in the MLS.
     

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