U15s in 2024 Vlatko Markovic (PBP and Discussion)

He's got some bulldog DNA in him. Mixed in with some terrier.

 

Sokoloff has been very good. Definitely one of our best so far.

He just has an issue that kids like Sullivan (and before him Pulisic, Reyna, etc) don’t have where his athletic profile is a real question. He’s also not like an uber talent on the ball like Carrizo where he definitely still has enough talent to be a successful pro with the question.

He might be an exception. There are some, but hard to know at this point. He could also still develop in that area. He’s basically doing all he can right now with the athletic profile he has at club level and for country, so his chances are better than the majority of the 100 other with his profile. Time will tell.

 

He plays big. And his speed/quickness is not bad. Maybe not Pulisic level but I wouldn't write off his athleticism. And his tenacity and work rate are top notch. Those things are going to take him far.

I also think his soccer IQ is very high. He sees things quickly and finds the right pass.

 

His younger sister, who I also briefly "coached", went the gymnast route, and is also a high level performer. Athletic fam.

 

Manu Romero is back in Spain scoring goal #19 of the year. Likely agreed among Manu, USSF, & Real Madrid

No worry yet. Since November, he's accepted invites to 🇺🇲 & a non-FIFA regional Madrid side, yet fully absent from 🇪🇸 & 🇺🇾 YNTs. He still posted on IG about the 🇺🇲U15 success https://t.co/0T1JTcXjxY

— ChuckMe92 Soccer (@ChuckMe92Soccer) May 18, 2024

 

0-0 at the half against Japan. Very competitive match.

Adri Mehmeti was our best player in the first half. Good to see him rebound from what I thought was a poor match against England.

Hassan and Spivey also impressed. Donaldson has been very good in goal.

 

We win!! 1-0 We are the champions. We were the better team by significant amount but Japan plays like Japan and got a few good looks late.
Take that Tom Byers, and yes we were better and more importantly more dynamic on the ball than they were. And yet we never had a long running Saturday cartoon to teach us ball skills. Poor us. Maybe one day we can be so lucky.

 

One player who has not been mentioned much is Will Ostrander. I thought he was excellent as a false 9 against Morrocco and today he was dynamic after coming in at half-time as a wide attacking player on the left side.

We have 2 good 9s in this group in Steelman and Cadet.

Forfor had another strong game at left back. I'm guessing he and Hassan probably got the most notice from any scouts in attendance.

The top 4 prospects among the 09s in descending order: Sullivan, Albert, Hassan, Forfor.

But there are others with a chance for significant national team careers.

 

Romero's there. CB's are tough to project. Sokoloff too is probably 7 or 8 for me.
Mehmeti is up there too, His passing range and decision making is top notch. His off the chest long pass to Hassan in the first half was a beaut. All these players are good prospects and will all be pro somewhere, what level don't know yet but that depends on further physical and mental development.

 

I'm leaving out the CBs and goalies because they have a different developmental arc. But this looks to be a good group for those positions as well.

 

the winning goal

GOAL United States 🇺🇸

58’ Omar Hassan | USA 1-0 Japan pic.twitter.com/fM5w96KdmV

— Footy Access (@footy_access) May 19, 2024

UNITED STATES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE VLATKO MARKOVIĆ TOURNAMENT 🇺🇸‼️ pic.twitter.com/YhKTxaaWDP

— Footy Access (@footy_access) May 19, 2024

14-year-old forward Omar Hassan has been awarded MVP of the Vlatko Marković tournament 😤🏆 pic.twitter.com/lHNsiENt49

— Footy Access (@footy_access) May 19, 2024

recruitment going well

NYRB academy ballers Paul Sokoloff, Adri Mehmeti, and Alexito Gomez holding up Manu Romero’s jersey after the USA U15s won the Vlatko Marković tournament. Manu was a key part of the team but went back to Real Madrid early, where he scored this weekend.

📸 Manu Romero’s IG story. pic.twitter.com/bOeeqSrGuq

— American Ultras Talk (@ameriultrastalk) May 19, 2024

the stream since it wasn't posted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZNiFnQb4fk

 

Some pictures from the celebration after USA U15 won the Vlatko Marković tournament in Croatia 🏆🇺🇸

📸 @phildonno and Manu Romero pic.twitter.com/652T6y7O9D

— American Ultras Talk (@ameriultrastalk) May 19, 2024

 

recap
https://www.ussoccercollective.com/...ms/u15-usynt-vlatko-markovic-tournament-recap

 

Actually that was the keeper and not Gomez that booted the ball leading to Hassan scoring in the final.

 

Yup. That goal was all Hassan plus a miscue by the Japanese defender.

 

He didn't mention that it was the goal in the final, which was just a misplayed ball after a long kick by the GK, he was referring to a nice long pass from RB in the England game for O. Hassan to run onto and still dribble a few time to score to make it 3-1.

 

"The two standouts were Alexito Gomez and Prince Forfor, both started and played incredibly well in the final. Gomez played a few great long-ball, through balls that led to dangerous transitions, one of which ended in an Omar Hassan goal."
Then he should write better.

 

Since we know that the only goal in the final wasn't a special pass and was from a GK and know that O.Hassan scored a few goals in the tournament and can view the pass just a few posts above the reference. Simple reasoning or just think the writer is at fault. Whichever works for you.

 

Poor writing works for me.