found on topdrawersoccer.com, link. Is Avila really an '87 staying in residency? Is this the first case of this happening?
Christian Jimenez is an 86 who was in residency this past year with the 87', 88's, and 89's. I know Jimenez has a late bday as does Avila. The one name i was suprised not to see on the list is Giuseppe “Pepe” Carotenuto from Sereno Golden Eagles in AZ. From all reports he was one of the standouts for the u-15's and a sure bet for a residency spot. Maybee Gersman can check in and provide an answer to why Pepe is not on this roster.
Actually its "Peppino" not "Pepe" but I was surprised too. He was actually the only one of these kids I've seen play for his club team, though there's another Sereno kid that I've probably seen but don't remember him. "Peppino" has an awfully Italian name, maybe he's got an EU passport and prospects abroad, and turned down residency. 88s and 89s not returning (from list on US Soccer site dated Feb. 19, 2004): Tony Ampaipitakwong Alandus Brooks Cameron Jordan Brett King - 89 Jeff Scanella Jonathan Villanueva Taylor Waspi
I knew it was something like that, i got "Pepe" from a story on the 89 ODP all-stars recent rip to Germany http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/ODPBoys/76067.html Awfully, i would prefer wonderfully strong I guess out of all the players that are leaving Villanueva might be a suprise. He started off so well but his playing time has dropped since last fall.
glad to see that they are dropping players which will hopefully keep all the players on their toes so to speak.
I know what you mean, but damn, it's gotta be tough on those kids, so young, to be faced with such disappointment. I feel for them.
Yeah, Villanueva went from starter in France last April to no longer in the teams plans in a hurry. There was no stop as the offensive spark off the bench. He was my favorite US player when the US played Brazil last December, so I'm a bit disappointed.
A meritocracy as opposed to nepotism. Good job. Those who deserve to be at Bradenton, stay. Those who don't, get to go home. Plain and simple.
Originally Posted by soccermainiac2003 is freddy adu able to play in the championships No. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ why not he is only 15 now and will be 16 when played...
I could be wrong, but the FIFa u-17 world championship you can only complete one time. Unlike the FIFA u-20 World Champioship where i know you can compete atleast two times maybe more.
Brett King's absence is another that surprises me somewhat based on comments I read about him, although as an '89 he was at something of a disadvantage. It is perhaps interesting that there are no CASL players at all on the list -- that's a pretty prominent club not to be represented.
The last surge of players brought in late seem to found spots and replaced a few of the players that have been there like King. I really can't argue with the choices. The team performed better in france and especially after france with new blood. I talked to Zimmerman today at training with his club team Crossfire. He seemed ready for regionals to start monday in Spokane for region iv, and overall very positive about his time in florida. I'll be in spokane, but have no access to internet. I'll be with the Crossfire-James team that Zimmerman plays for. It will be a fun week, and hopefully successful. be nice to head to nationals again.
Yeah, that is another player that is a bit of a surprise. I never saw him play, but Rob described him as a classical Euro striker. He did pretty well scoring goals. He's the only '89 that didn't return from last spring. Some interesting facts from the new roster: *Half of the players (20/40) are from either California or Florida. Add in Illinois you have (25/40) from three states. *The 40 player roster age breakdown: 1987=1 1988=25 1989=13 unkn=1 (Ababio) * Greater Emphasis on Size? '89s that were not selected but started regularly for the U-16 team 1-CD Stephen Morales 5'5" 2-CM Pepe Carrotenuto 5'5" Carrotenuto and Morales were the #1 and #2 in minutes played for the U16s this year. The player they might have been competing with them for a spot. CD/CM Bryan Arguez 6'0"
To add to Davide's stats Players born in the first half of the year - 22 Players born in the second half of the year - 6 (I know that this doesn't add up to 40, but I took this from the birthdates available on topdrawersoccer.com.) As always -- not usual, but always -- there is a statistically significant advantage for early-year birthdates. ODP is aware of the age effect. For example, Illinois now is splitting each year of the younger ages into two groups, first half and second half. However, this awareness does not yet appear to have permeated the Bradenton selection process.
It's worth adding that of the 7 kids who failed to make the grade, 5 were born in the first 3 months of the year. Consistently, the early-year kids are a worse investment, so age bias leads to wasted money.
Birthdates: 1/18/1988 Carlos Borja 1/20/1988 Bryant Rueckner 1/29/1988 Blake Wagner 2/20/1988 Joel Smith 2/22/1988 Richard Edgar 3/5/1988 Ryan Soroka 3/16/1988 Kyle Nakazawa 4/1/1988 Evan Newton 4/13/1988 Quavas Kirk 4/19/1988 David Arizvu 5/5/1988 Kevin Alston 5/14/1988 Drew Yates 5/20/1988 Amaechi Igwe 5/28/1988 Patrick Rickards 6/5/1988 Mike Balogun 6/18/1988 Ofari Sarkodie 6/22/1988 Mike Dalpra 6/23/1988 Gabriel Farfan 6/23/1988 Michael Farfan 6/26/1988 Ernesto Mariscal 9/11/1988 Jeremy Hall 9/30/1988 Matthew Armstrong 11/15/1988 Nicholas Besagno 11/17/1988 Eric Lichaj 11/21/1988 Preston Zimmerman 1/6/1989 Cesar Nunez 1/13/1989 Bryan Arguez 3/15/1989 Andrew Gialombardo 3/20/1989 Cameron Brown 4/3/1989 Michael Stephens 4/4/1989 Matthew Walker 5/5/1989 Perica Marosevic 7/17/1989 Joe Sorrentino 7/21/1989 Brian Perk ?/?/1989 Jonathan Collier Georgia ?/?/1989 Josmer Altidore (Fwd) Florida ?/?/1989 Victor Cortez California ?/?/? Eddie Ababio (Fwd) Florida
Given their late birthdays and the fact they have been starting, the presumption is that Lichaj, Besagno and Zimmerman are the ones most likely to develop into stars. Among the early birthdate group, the one that seems to have the most potential is Soroka.
I believe that Quavas Kirk has impressed the staff with his physical tools. Some of the early '89s (e.g., Stephens) have flirted with making the starting lineup of the '88 roster. So they would have to be considered in promising positions, too. (This is akin to Convey, who as an '83 couldn't crack the '99 U17 starting lineup, but the mere fact that he made the squad suggested his future potential.) But early days yet. Remember when it was said that Freddy Adu was the splashiest player in Bradenton, but that Memo Gonzalez -- not Szetela, not Gaven -- was the best? Much will change with these young men, too.
I know the historians here will have the exact numbers, but does the 89s group seem small compared to the 87s last time. It might be I am just remembering more because of the numbers in camp last year, but it seemed like the 86s and 87s split was closer to 20/20 for the 2002-03 year then this split.
In fairness, the coaches/staff told a Brazilian reporter that Eddie Gaven was the best player on the team from day one. This was before Szetela and Adu were in the mix though.