Yeah, I don't want to dive too much into anyone's individual psyche, so moving on from Vargas to the broader group ... I've just seen a lot expectations with the recent generations of how good they are, what they should get, how quickly they'll start or move to Europe or whatever. We seemed to go from "No Respect" to "Big Fish in a Small Pond" mentality really quickly. Confidence is great but I think our young players can lack a global context. And there seem to be a decent number of enablers in terms of hype, which can't help.
Yeah as I said, I’m not picking on him at all. We have seen it for awhile in basketball with guys going pro early after not playing well/a lot in college. And now, with the transfer portal, guys in all sports are jumping around when they don’t get immediate playing time. with soccer, there’s been a lot of guys who wanted to go to Europe asap, regardless of whether or not they’d established themselves in mls, or were going into a good spot in Europe. Vargas is a safe bet to have a long career in mls/liga Mx, but it’s really tough to predict anything above that level. He might make it in Europe, but he’s got a long way to go to get there. And even if he does, guys like cardoso and Musah are only 3-4 years older than him, which would’ve made usmnt minutes hard to come by. with Mexico, Alvarez is a very good player, but he’s 8 years older and is splitting time between midfield and center back for them. Most of their other midfielders are either in mls or lower tier European leagues. They’re more established than him, but not really at a higher level.
Wrapping up the South American trip with a solid defensive display! 🧤⚽️The #U19MYNT along with goalkeepers - Adam Beaudry, Gavin Beavers, and Julian Eyestone - showcased their skills, securing back-to-back clean sheets against Argentina and Uruguay.— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) June 12, 2024 All goals in these 🇺🇸U20 matches in South America were scored by a 🇺🇸-eligible playerGoal against 🇦🇷 was scored by Keyrol FigueroaThe own goal by 🇺🇾 was from Miami, FL-born center back Nicolas Ramos. He's been a 🇺🇾U20 regular and has been making TOTW in the Uruguayan 2nd tier https://t.co/68bMDZXdwn— ChuckMe92 Soccer (@ChuckMe92Soccer) June 12, 2024
The timing seems more like he’s filing it now because he sees that he’s not making the US Olympic team. If he always preferred Mexico and was milking the US callups to get Mexico callups, Mexico not qualifying for the U-20 WC and Olympics complicated the situation and likely made him hold off a little on the switch.
A lot of chatter from the El Tri side that Vargas was already invited to their last U20 camp and wanted to go but couldn't attend, and will likely feature in U20 qualifiers One-time switches aren't uncommon, typically from one nation's YNTs to another's senior team. Or occasionally from a lower YNT to a higher YNT like Cole Campbell going from Iceland U17 to US U20 What's particularly uncommon is switching from a higher level to a *lower* level. That's what David Ochoa (multiple USMNT camps + Nations League medal to Mexico U21) and Vargas (US U20 World Cup plus US U23 friendlies to Mexico U20) did
Yup. It really indicates their love for El Tri that this type of peculiar switch isn't happening anywhere else. Which they are entitled to have. Ochoa's case is particularly wild because he walked away from a senior NL medal to get a few U21 friendly caps and nothing more
Ochoa is just a weird dude. Vargas might have raised his value for Mexican league offers a la Zendejas. NT is just an engine to propel players to the important thing: a good contract.
It's a bit hilarious that his Transfermarkt page still features his USMNT Nations League and US U20 CONCACAF trophies, and that will never go away. Any notable title for club and country are always what's front and center on Transfermarkt since that's supposed to be the highlight of the player's career
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...-heart-in-switch-from-u-s-to-mexico-notebook/ Vargas says that watching the 2024 Nations League Finals his main sentiment was hurt from seeing El Tri lose (as opposed to the USMNT winning). Article also says he has had no direct contact with FMF although they have communicated with the Sounders. It does seem he made the right choice for himself because he might not have been very happy as a USMNT player, especially if having to play against El Tri
There’s not a ton you can do in a case like this We talked to Obed Vargas today. Basically decision to switch from USA to Mexico was following his heart. Said he’s been no assurances of call-ups or playing time.— Jeremiah Oshan (@JeremiahOshan) June 13, 2024 Obed Vargas speaks on his commitment to Mexico 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/jAMO1KW3Y0— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 13, 2024
Ok Obed Vargas says watching the 2024 Nations League final sealed his decision:“I was more hurt that Mexico lost,” Vargas said. “You could tell inside, that’s where my heart was.”https://t.co/QjuKOXA7d7— USMNTProspects (@ProspectsUsmnt) June 14, 2024 Btw Mexico has never contacted him for a call up, he Decided to do the switch by himself.Only contact that has ever existed was to his club for a scouting report.Obed wanted the Olympics & was gonna switch after them.He always wanted Mexico over the U.S. https://t.co/8qhmcQNyeu— Edgar Moreno (@ConcacafEdgar) June 14, 2024
Top 20 United States Prospects Born in 2006 #1 | GK, Diego Kochen, FC Barcelona (No change) #2 | CB, Noahkai Banks, FC Augsburg (No change) #3 | CB, Matai Akinmboni, D.C. United (↑2) #4 | WING, Fidel Barajas, Real Salt Lake (↑6) #5 | AM/WING, CJ Olney, Philadelphia Union (↑1) #6 | CF, Keyrol Figueroa, Liverpool (↓2) #7 | DM, Pedro Soma, UE Cornella (↓4) #8 | WING, Cole Campbell, Borussia Dortmund (↑3) #9 | CM, Taha Habroune, Columbus Crew (New addition) #10 | DM, Matthew Corcoran, Birmingham Legion (↓2) #11 | GK, Julian Eyestone, Brentford (↓2) #12 | WING/AM, Dylan Borso, Chicago Fire (New addition) #13 | RB/WING, Bryce Jamison, Orange County SC (↑4) #14 | CF, Aidan Dausch, Coventry (New addition) #15 | CM/DM, Alejandro Granados, Club Brugge (↑4) #16 | AM/WING, David Vazquez, Philadelphia Union (New addition) #17 | RB, Oscar Verhoeven, San Jose Earthquakes (↓4) #18 | RB, Ajani Nixon, LAFC (↓3) #19 | CF, Julian Placias, North Carolina FC (New addition) #20 | WING, Olger Escobar, New England Revolution
I don’t think that’s the concern as I rate Beavers as well. I just want to see Kochen get more opportunities with the youth teams.
Banks is definitely one we really need to take off given the lack of up and coming centerback prospects.
I don't know that much about him. Cole Campbell is someone I can see playing for the USMNT next year or sooner.
Next year or sooner? He hasn't played above U19 yet. I assume the next logical step is a promotion to BVB II. I guess if he catches fire early it is possible we could see him w/ the 1st team by winter 2025. It seems a bit unlikely but <fingers-crossed>... Or I guess he could get a transfer for a faster track to 1st team minutes.?.?