Especially interesting because I just saw the Fire supposedly offered $2 million euros for a U22 Polish left-footed CAM/ LW.
I would selfishly hate to see him go anywhere, but for him obviously a move to Europe is the way to go, just please not any Italian club except Palermo, tyvm.
Good article. "He burst onto the scene on opening day with a brace in Columbus..." and has not scored a "real" goal since, just padded his stats with a penalty. We ALL know penalties don't count as much as field of play goals. Really, I have always liked Brian G and I hope he continues to develop as a player and he fulfills his considerable promise. However, he needs to up his game a lot. He needs to play better on a consistent basis, learn to control the game (it appeared he was learning that in the second half of last season) and keep his recklessness in check (i.e., mature a bit). Do that and he could be penciled in as a starter for the USMNT for a decade to come. If it takes a move to Europe to do so, he should go. Personally, I think he can be a "star" here, but it is pretty clear that few MLS players become fixtures for the USMNT. It would blow a hole in the Fire's offence, but we have the players and the resources to fix that hole.
Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire, 21) vs MLS U24 Midfielders, per 90 Through passes – 1st Goals + assists – 1st Non-penalty goals + assists – 1st xG + xA – 1st Goals – 1st Non-penalty goals – 1st Shots on target – 1st Progressive action rate – 1st 🇺🇸🌟| Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire, 21) vs MLS U24 Midfielders, per 90🥇Through passes – 1st🥇Goals + assists – 1st🥇Non-penalty goals + assists – 1st🥇xG + xA – 1st🥇Goals – 1st🥇Non-penalty goals – 1st🥇Shots on target – 1st🥇Progressive action rate – 1st pic.twitter.com/Mdk8Wns1k6— w/scout (@widescouting) May 16, 2025
MLS U24 does limit it somewhat but WOW! Would not have guessed he rated that high. It is easy to forget how young he is for a playmaker.
Here is an example where context not only matters, but is imperative. Is this for the current season? For his career? What is the sample size here? How many MLS U24 midfielders are starting for their respective MLS clubs? IF G & A being three is good enough for being in first place, that says more about the state of MLS U24 midfielders than it does about young Brian G. Also "non-penalty" goals being 2, even more so. Diego Luna has scored way more goals and way more assists than Brian Gutierrez. He is also younger and has played 40% fewer minutes. Jack McGlynn has fewer goals, more assists, but 1,000 fewer minutes played. Luna: 20 goals, 14 assists 4744 minutes played McGlynn: 8 goals, 11 assists, 6635 minutes played Gutierrez: 13 goals, 4 assists, 7681 minutes played If it is for the season, Luna has 7 goals and 2 assists in 1013 minutes. A "goal contribution" every 112.55 minutes. Brian G has 3 goals, 0 assists in 645. A "goal contribution" every 215 minutes. For their career, it is not even close. Luna: A "goal contribution" every 139.5 minutes. Brian G: A "goal contribution" every 451.82 minutes. McGlynn: A "goal contribution" every 349.21 minutes.
Thoughtful comments-makes me wish I thought more before commenting. It is just all those no.1s-not used to seeing them for Fire players.
I agree. If this is all true, I would like to see the criteria used and the facts to substantiate these comments. I mean, sure "wide scout" must be the most trustworthy source in the world (see my next post), but let's see some evidence. As I have said consistently for about 2 1/2 years now, I like Brian Gutierrez as a player. He is clearly a talented attacking player and has skills that few young American players have. I want him to succeed. I think he can and will succeed. The thing is, while he shows flashes of that talent, he is not "there" yet. He and Jude Bellingham are exactly the same age (well, Bellingham is 12 days younger) and the way people speak of Brian G sometimes it sounds like they are talking about Bellingham.
Oh, there is this from the same source: 🇷🇸🌟| Mihailo Ivanović (Millwall, 20)vs Championship U22 Strikers, per 90🥇Goals – 1st🥇Non-penalty goals – 1st🥇Goals/100 touches – 1st🥇Shots on target % – 1st🥇Goal conversion % – 1st🥇Headed goals – 1st🥇Duels won – 1st🥇Interceptions – 1st🥇Aerial duels won – 1st pic.twitter.com/LfxxfjtiY6— w/scout (@widescouting) May 7, 2025 May 7th | Mihailo Ivanović (Millwall, 20) vs Championship U22 Strikers, per 90 Goals – 1st Non-penalty goals – 1st Goals/100 touches – 1st Shots on target % – 1st Goal conversion % – 1st Headed goals – 1st Duels won – 1st Interceptions – 1st Aerial duels won – 1st It seems as if this entire X-crement poster is about these unsubstantiated comparisons.
You can see a little of this confusion on FBRef. Brian shows up as amazing against midfielders, but somewhat middle of the road when compared to “ATT Mid/Wingers”. If we rate him as an attacking presence he should be compared to attackers. I’m not sure who w/scout is comparing him to though.
"By what measure"...in this moment it doesn't really matter...as Guti has clearly not 'yet' reached the potential we all see. The prior environments were not particularly helpful for his development, this year has had a couple of 'interruptions', GGG is aiming him at a new role ('box to box' instead of winger/AM), and he's change a lot physically in the last 6mo. Much to grow into! Although not as meteoric as we'd all like, I remain very 'bullish' on his trajectory. This will be a great year for him!
Of course it matters. If someone is going to claim he is "No. 1" in those various categories, the criteria for determining that would be important. If not, the designations are meaningless. I would like to think this is going to be a great year for him, but that remains to be seen.
My post must not have been clear…the designations are meaningless because: A) we don’t have agreement on what his role is B) we don’t have agreement on what criteria that role should be evaluated C) we don’t have agreement on who his peers are It’s nice someone thinks he rates number 1, but (as I said before) in this moment it doesn't really matter what the measure was.
[QUOTE="xtomx, post: 42981292, member: 17201"]Did he pull a Clint Mathis and score 5? No? 1 amazing miss 1 "real" goal 1 penalty 9.8 is too high[/QUOTE] Despite not being ‘perfect’, the measure is a new high bar…and it should be paired with MOTM…no?