Progress of last U-17's group

Those were the top three, if Adu had been as old as Spector and Gaven he wouldn't have had near the hype. Ashe might have been the next best. I also like Raimando, what happened to him?

 

I thought Spector was the best player on the team besides Adu and best central defender in the Bradenton program history by a large margin.

 

Well, you said Spector wasn't considered that good. I think you're out of your mind. I've watched every U-17 World Cup game during the Bradenton era, so I can make a judgment about each of the players. It's irrelevant whether Marshall went to college after Bradenton. I'm rating them as players at the U-17 level before they went to college/pro.

Spector was big-time as a U-17. I wrote on this board during the World Cup that it was my opinion he was the best defender in the history of the program. I think he compares very favorably to the top defenders from other countries that played in the last 3 tournaments. So, I guess I thought he was more than good.

FWIW, our central midfielders have always looked over their head against the likes of Brazil and France. It isn't even close. I haven't seen anyone in a US jersey that looked like an elite player at any of those positions.

 

Actually all the talk was initially about:

Memo Gonzalez
Feddy Adu

Then people got excited about:

Danny Szetela
Jonathan Spector.

The interesting thing was how Eddie Gaven exploded in MLS. He was legitimately a hell of a player this year for the Metrostars and his All-Star selection was deserved.

Ellinger at one point mentioned that Gaven had been their best player, but most dismissed it as trying to take some pressure off of Freddy. But Eddie's delivered the goods.

Most interesting is how good those 4 are and yet how easily Brazil handled us with all of them on the field (Gaven was playing through an injury though).

The only question that remains is, has Memo Gonzalez not developed or has he not had the same kind of opprtunities the others have had? Time will tell I guess.

 

Memo was on the bench during the Brazil game, not that it would've made any difference.

 

But does that difference subside as the players get older? The U17s had no flank play as Corey Ashe was unimpressive and DiRaimondo, IMO, was not even close to the above players in terms of class.

I ask only because in the U20s, until Rongen pulled Mapp and Adu, the US was winning the midfield battle with Argentina. Mapp and Convey looked the equal of any of the Argentina midfielders out there that day. And Clark was monstrous in the d-mid role.

 

I'll throw out an opinion.

I'll agree that the Rongen coached U-20 team were impressive and it helped that Convey and Clark were so experienced. Mapp and Adu did a good job as well and Grabavoy filled in nicely.

The Sunholz U-20 team didn't play anywhere near as well as the Rongen team in the midfield. Beasley played pretty well on one of the wings. Convey did ok on the other wing, but wasn't outstanding. The college players in the middle had problems, so Donovan was forced to drift back deep to get the ball which left Casey up top alone. Martino got benched and Sunholz kept rotating his CM players to find a winning combination. Kenny Arena started as a DMID against Ukraine. In fairness, we still had a few chances to score in the losses, but we couldn't get it done.

 

I've watched Memo over the years and he's never impressed me that much. I just don't think his ball skills are sophisticated or creative enough to play at the highest level, and at his position (central or attacking mid) those skills are essential. I agree that Spector has been impressive for some time. It looks like in every Bradenton group there are usually anywhere from 2-4 players that look like they'll eventually get to the Nats. Overall, the 2003 group is a slight improvement over the 2001 group, and I hope that with each succeeding group there are incremental improvements.

 

Robbie Rogers is apparently in Holland. http://english.psv.nl check out news for December 2. He scored a goal in a match with Romania National Team.

 

well, this group definitely developed more talent than the last group .. Quaranta, Magee, Mapp, Stone, Capano, David Johnson hasn't really develop yet. It's stil early to make any judgement but that group is definitely worst so far. EJ could change that image if he shines in WC06.

 

Wow how do you see them all? I'm curious then of your opinion on the next great players out of the class that's there now. Or maybe the breakdown of the forwards,mids,defenders, you think have a legitimate shot in the future of either being great pros or future mens national teamer. I'm only talking the kids there now, since you have watch all the games. Maybe 2 at each position. We won't hold you to it, and grill you later....I'm just curious, because most of us don't see them enough.

 

While Mapp is still rough, he's probably the 2nd or 3rd best American at beating people on the dribble. Magee and Capano are both more comfortable on the ball than most MLS players. Neither has done too much to stand out, although Magee has looked really good at times, but I wouldn't write them off just yet.

 

Based on watching all of the Under 17 World Cup games, I rated the last group as follows:

Adu
Szetela
Spector
Gaven

 

At the time that's how I would have rated them too. Now, I think it's almost the exact opposite. Unless we're talking about them as prospects and not their current abilities.

 

So, Martin, do you still think that is the ranking order? If so, it's quite a compliment to the program with Gaven holding down the last position. If not, what has changed and why?

 

I've seen all of the U-17 World Cup games from 1999-2003. I'm sure there are a few other people on this board that watched all of those games as well. The current class of players hasn't even qualified for a World Cup, so of course I've never seen them perform at a World Cup. You might try doing a search of this board to find info on the current players at Bradenton. Maybe some kind person has watched them play and provided a report.

 

Oh okay, i misunderstood. i thought you had the luxury of seeing all of their games. Friendlies, practice games and anything they've played. I thought you had info most of us wouldn't have. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

Who would I want to use in a must qualifier right now?

Nearly exactly opposite, Gaven, Spector, Adu and Szetela. The last three are very close, with good arguments being made in favor of any of them. At the moment, Gaven is the clear class of the group, though Spector may be harmed by simply not playing enough.

 

Szetela and Adu are playing up, so they are not exactly in same age group.

In 1999, Donovan and Beasley are looking good. Later on Convey and Onyewu joined up. Down the order coming up Esky who never made the cut.

Due to the odd of years, one year old kids didn't have chance in the program, but some of them made up--Buddle, Casey, and Martino.

In 2001, Johnson and Quaranta are looking good. Even though Johnson just made the cut and Quaranta still have way to go, but apparently, Mapp is not too far out. Marshall is also under the radar. But really big stories are for those never in the program but showed up in the rear mirror--Whitbread, Simak, Karybassiyoon, Cooper.

Also the older age that Dempsey made the cut and Clark is not too far.

So far the 2003 group, both Gaven and Spector already made the cut. That is impressive.

 

Hmmm. If Spector can get a little club playing time (loan?), I think he's got a decent shot at starting a Hex game or two. Ain't going to happen for Freddy or Danny.

 

I agree, but I've also learned to expect the unexpected. Who knows, either Adu and/or Szetela could have a breakout year in '05. Probably not, but stranger things have happened.

 

True enough. However, I would argue that based on 12/04 information, it would be a bit strange for Adu or Danny to start a Hex game, but nothing remarkable for Spector to do so. I mean, we've already played Vanney, Convey, and Gooch as outside back in important games. Is Spector really a scarier prospect?