The coming boom in multi-eligible player recruitment

Not thread eligible, but a one time mainstay on this board and with the USYNT, Rubio Rubin is now with Guatemala. He made 7 appearances with the USMNT, but none since 2018.

 

“Right now, I am only thinking about Argentina. I spent most of my life growing up in Argentina. I’ve never received a message from people from the U.S., so the truth is that I’ve never thought about it,” concluded Rios Novo. https://t.co/xuvp6wlkAG

— United States Soccer Center (@states_center) June 3, 2022

 

Gomez isn't on the Mexico U-20 WCQ roster due to a foot injury, but this from his uncle suggests he's leaning towards Mexico, if not already made a decision.

A recuperarse de la lesión para estar a punto para el inicio de la temporada en 🇪🇸 y para lo que venga con 🇲🇽.

Pronta recuperación hijo @jonathang_42 🙏👍👏⚽️🇲🇽🇺🇸🇪🇸

— César Gómez Cantú (@Chesare_Gomez) June 8, 2022

 

Robinson has the US spot sewn up for the next few years and Mexico has no one comparable. It's a very simple choice for JoGo and other aspects are very secondary.

 

Robinson is 25 years in two months and didn’t even play in a top league last season. He doesn’t have a starting spot sewn up for more than the next couple of months. He’s not like a Pulisic or Adams level player that is undroppable due to performance level. He starts as much as he does because we have no one else, and he’s pretty good.

 

Probably lower than ARob, but the hole behind him is even deeper so he is a holy cow of American soccer.

 

Adams plays for Leipzig. Robinson for Fulham. You don’t think there’s a big gap? Adams has become underrated recently due to not starting after the new coach came in. He played a lot under Nagelsmann and Marsch.

 

Adams is the bench player, Robinson is the lead player. Adams is playing much worse than 2 years ago, ARob much better. There are rumors that Adams goes to Leeds, and whether Leeds is better than Fulham is a big question, I'd bet on Fulham.

 

“Back home 🇺🇸” - Folarin Balogun 👀 pic.twitter.com/x3JkqUgQaN

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) June 18, 2022

 

They had an article on Goal talking about all the great Arsenal kids who were gonna make an impact and change their future.
They had write ups on 7 or 8 players.
FB was not one.

Future?

 

https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/arsenal-wonderkids-save-arteta-millions/blt8bd19140c9f78a04

Here is article. Switch coming? I know a lot less about him than the Tillman’s. Almost zip, but may be another guy added to a big pile of maybe someday he can help?

 

He's been playing very well for England's U21s and they have qualified for the final tourney next summer, which could get them to the Olympics in 2024. Since he's cup-tied to England for the Olympics, switching now (assuming the US qualifies), means he would possibly miss that opportunity.

Common sense would say he should wait this out if he's not in line for the WC. But Tillman was pretty much in the same boat with Germany and switched anyway.

 

Dual-nats who were provisionally cap-tied to the USA today:

Antonio Carrera: 🇺🇸/🇲🇽
Alejandro Alvarado: 🇺🇸/🇲🇽
Cade Cowell: 🇺🇸/🇲🇽
Diego Luna: 🇺🇸/🇲🇽
Noah Allen: 🇺🇸/🇬🇷
Rokas Pukstas: 🇺🇸/🇱🇹
Tyler Wolff: 🇺🇸/🇵🇭
Quinn Sullivan: 🇺🇸/🇩🇪
Jack McGlynn: 🇺🇸/🇮🇪

All can eventually still switch.

— USMNTProspects (@ProspectsUsmnt) June 19, 2022

@ussoccer97531 Did Cade Cowell ever actually obtain his Mexican citizenship?
There were stories that he was "in the process" of doing so, but I never saw confirmation that he'd gotten it.

If not........................then the equation on him changes slightly after appearing last night.

 

I have many friends in Munich who are big Bayern fans. None of them thought Tillman was ready, few of them think he has a Bayern future. None of them are all that upset he left the program. He is one of many guys who could blow up, or become a solid citizen one day,so to speak.
Game changer, top class? That would have shown already. His recruitment was for the future IMO. I know much less about FB but I kind of feel that way about him also. The buzz he had a few seasons ago has clearly moved on.

I didn’t know he was doing well for England’s U21’s and has tournies coming up so that makes sense for him.
Tillman I think saw the writing on the wall IMO.

 

No, it doesn't. Not having the passport in hand isn't the same as not being a citizen. FIFA doesn't appear to care when you complete the documents, just that you were eligible to apply at the time. As long as it's not through a naturalization process, he is considered a Mexican citizen at the time of the appearance.

Plus, the new FIFA eligibility rules *do* allow players who were not a citizen at the time of a provisional cap-tie to later add a citizenship and switch after a waiting period.

 

Yup. The standard is really high on the German national team.
Could Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, John Anthony Brooks, Timothy Chandler, etc. been fringe internationals for Germany? Sure could have. Let's hope Tillman develops into that caliber of player.

As of right now, I'm not sure why Balogun would switch. This is likely a decision for after WC22.

 

Balogun led the qualifying group with 6 goals in 10 matches (not sure if he played all).

Tillman scored 3 goals playing in about half the qualifying matches. I think a lot of his potential is tied up in how well he recovers from his ACL injury about a year ago.

 

That’s the key. There is a difference between being good enough to get into camps and even play a bit here and there for Germany, and being a German mainstay and impact player. The goal there is win every tourney they enter. Can’t do that without special players. Their special and our special are different, but we are working at it!

 

Can’t speak for when and how FB scored. Even before injury I know Till wasn’t considered a top, top guy. Good player, don’t get me wrong. I just think expectations need to be set. The level of our team has risen, and is rising, to the point where a good Bliga player is gonna be sitting on our bench in a few years, or not preferred in general. Happy he switched but we will see. Just another prospect for me. That being said our program has been great about giving guys who switch a real chance. He will get his.

 

I've seen nothing from Tillman in his first caps to suggest he's better than MLS guys currently on the outside-looking-in when it comes to the USMNT.

But those are his first few caps, and we'll see how he does from here.

But ya know, a guy like Paxton Pomykal is pretty good and has played a couple of minutes in a USMNT jersey (he's obviously had injury problems too). I just picked a guy I know, but there are all sorts of guys I could have named.

Being a breathing German isn't enough these days to get you in the USMNT. Or at least it shouldn't.

Just like I need to see Balogun play at a higher level than the Championship. Daryl Dike molested the Championship, and likely isn't going to the WC. Tim Ream just had a very strong year at Fulham, and isnt' going to the WC.