Top 50 Under 20

Discussion in 'USA Men' started by Marcus OMalley, Apr 28, 2020.

?

How's the list?

  1. Nailed it!

    4 vote(s)
    20.0%
  2. It's great, well done.

    7 vote(s)
    35.0%
  3. Not bad, could use work.

    7 vote(s)
    35.0%
  4. Have you ever even seen the youth National team play?

    2 vote(s)
    10.0%
  1. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'd start 9 left backs, Reyna, and have Odunze just lay across the goal line.
     
  2. Husky13

    Husky13 Member

    Chelsea
    United States
    Sep 11, 2019
    In a merit-based world, I would agree with this (i.e. 50% - or higher - on this list won't reach those levels). However, many coaches and scouts create self-fulfilling prophesies for some of these players, so that has to be factored in. In other words, some players identified early as stars can be outplayed by others but will continue to be propped up because coaches/scouts are mentally invested in them.

    I think the mental side needs to be scrutinized closer with some of these players. I am not going to start calling out names of young players just yet, but for example, one player ranked highly in this list - who receives an awful lot of press - showed up to a major MLS event this winter and completely tanked. Disinterested, no hustle, seemed to quit, giveaways/mental errors galore. Several of us watching this player in three games noticed the same thing. Still ranked near the top ....

    Certain other players look good, but talk to the players who play with them. The players are often smarter than the coaches. They will tell you which players makes other players around them better, and which players makes other players around them worse. Some of the players on this list or in other rankings fall into that latter category. They look flashy - some of them because they became men earlier than their peers - but their team bogs down when they are on the field.

    It would be interesting to have the players form rankings for their own age group. Not that these rankings aren't useful - but the players might come up with some interesting insights that scouts miss.
     
    Marcus OMalley repped this.
  3. Marcus OMalley

    Newcastle, Louisville City
    United States
    May 24, 2017
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think you're spot on with some of your comments.

    Bob Morocco put an interesting analysis piece together on probabilities & possibilities. What to make of the list David Kerr developed (with a team): https://chasingacup.com/ynt-prospects-probabilities-and-possibilities/

    Interesting on the player analysis, but they get significantly more time with those they play with, in their leagues, etc. - I think experience and emotion would play too heavy a role. It would be interesting to hear from them though. It's one question I always ask USMNT & USYNT players - who's the player no one is talking about, who's the best.

    Chris Richards shared his thoughts in a recent interview we did with him (not surprising it was former teammates). He also shared how Bayern does ask player him about personality traits, which makes a lot of sense. Intangibles that in game video won't necessarily capture: https://chasingacup.com/chris-richards/
     
    Husky13 repped this.
  4. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    I think we need more boom/bust players as we have enough low ceiling / high floor guys and we’re missing elite difference makers.
     
  5. #1 Feilhaber and Adu

    Aug 1, 2007
    he is now 20 years old. But Ledesma needs to be bubble wrapped. He is an absolute chance creator every time he plays. We saw it in the U-20 World Cup in limited minutes and in a short cameo with the USMNT.

    Secret Weapon.
     
  6. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wow that U20 team is looking crazy good from Nov 2020...

    both in quality and quantity.
     
    USSoccerNova repped this.
  7. frankburgers

    frankburgers Member+

    May 31, 2016
    Interesting.
     
  8. frankburgers

    frankburgers Member+

    May 31, 2016
    Still?
     
  9. David Kerr

    David Kerr Member+

    United States
    Oct 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If Busio was a winger/10 I would. Busio the 6 has been a completely different player that deserves the hype
     

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