result is mentioned below and in the article. Match is being shown sometime next week on Fox Sports World. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/20031205133419/view Team really showed a lot of heart and I think played pretty decent football as well in a 2-1 loss. Bad mistake for the first goal and just a great late strike on the second. Battling goal for the U.S. by Nathan Sturgis, on his way to Clemson. Keep in mind most of these players are not those who will play in the next U17 world championship. That is the 88s, who won comfortably today as you can read. That team plays Brazil on Sunday. We'll be there.
Gers - great coverage - thanks! I couldn't tell from the article, but it sounded like the blatant clothesline / handball was not called? Also, it sounds like the US held its own through the run of play - is that correct? And, how much of Brazil's squad is the same as their U-17 side from Finland?
None of them. Brazil brought their '88 team to Florida. They just defeated our team from that was mostly made up of players from '87 age-group. It's a nice result for Brazil to beat an older National team. We actually tied this Brazil team in England this summer, so I'm not impressed by losing at home.
Nope, this is our "A" team from the '87 age group. John Elllinger has identified these players as the best in their age group. Why else would they be invited to Bradenton? You could make a case that we're missing Freddy Adu ('89), Brian Mascarenhas and maybe Robbie Rogers. But, this still isn't our "B" team. BTW, Adu didn't play when these same two teams played to a 1-1 draw in England this summer. It's a fairly disappointing result. Maybe the younger US team ('88s) will fare better.
it's also a group that hasn't played together all that much, given that most were not part of the World Championship roster. This is really the first year, with the expanded residency, that such an age group would get a lot of chances to play internationals. I thought they did alright, certainly didn't look overwhelmed or anything. I wouldn't sweat the result. I think a lot of this group will be on the U18 roster at the camp next month at Home Depot.
Home Depot [ I think a lot of this group will be on the U18 roster at the camp next month at Home Depot. [/B][/QUOTE] Will be interesting to see if Southern Cal's Robbie Rogers is back in the fold. Home Depot is in his back yard. Foolish not to include him.
First Half Observations Szetela is a very good player who seemed to not have a great half. Love how he fights for everything. Has good/ not great pace. His link-ups with McCarty and Bradley didn't work well due to his teamates. Would love for him to play with players as good or better than he is. I like to see 2 or 3 talents per team and my #2 player #2 is Jimenez. Speed, great touch, and vision. Long pass to Bradley and another to Hidalgo (I think) were nice. My disappointments were: McCarty: good speed, slow thought Bradley: too mechanical Hidalgo: Just too slow for this level. Avila: did nothing Defense was good: the only one to slightly standout was Sturgis who is a good ball handler and decent speed. Look forward to seeing Sarkodie in second half.
2nd Half observations Another great left-sided player: We all knew about Szetela but Christian Jimenez can be special: Dribbled between Brazil, with clever touches and has great crosses and free kicks. Folk had a great half. Really good speed and was impressed by one stop, quick turn, and outlet to start the offense; all in one quick action. Valentin makes too many glaring mistakes. I just love watching Szetela and Jimenez. they both cross over defenders when the beat them (show them your heels). Knows how to play the game. Sloutcher solid also. Just an overall game view: Brazil hits the open man always. I mean always and we don't. I saw many times when we waste an open man 15-20 feet away and try to dribble or pick the wrong man that's not open. Often when you have to collect and make a quick decision he's the only open man resulting in a turnover. Good overall game and I'm happy that we may not be a Brazil yet but every day/year we get better and better. With Adu/Szetela/Jimenez and look forward to seeing Villanueva/Kirk/Soroka we may have an exciting future.
I was really impressed by Jimenez. He was the oldest player on the field - he's actually an 86 - but he still looked good. Based on what I say in this game, Jimenez should get a look from Thomas Rongen on the U20 team. He's technically too old for the next U18 team, but we've seen in the past that Gelnovatch isn't shy about having players "play down." That said, he doesn't need to play with younger players, he needs to play with older ones and ones his age who will challenge him. The forwards did not look very good and I certainly saw nothing from Bradley, save for his last name, that explains why he is being considered for a P40 contract right now. Szeltella has a great work rate and uses his size well but he forces the action too much and sometimes makes silly turnovers. The second goal came after he rushed a freekick, had it go right to the Brazilians, who then countered. Granted, the US had a chance to clear it that they failed to do before the monster game-winner (wow!) but they wouldn't have been on their heels like that if Danny boy had made a smarter pass on the restart. That said, he's special and will be a great player for the US for many years and I can't wait to see what he looks like when he gets in a pro environment. After seeing him play, what do folks think is his best position - holding mid, attacking center mid or a link between the two similar to Reyna?
Sandon, I didn't realize Jimenez is an 86. Kinda disappointing to hear that but nonetheless agree with you is a great player and should be playing up and not down. I've seen Jimenez and Alvarez and think they compare similarly. If Alvarez is an 86 and Jimenez how do you think they compare. Alvarez looked stronger and more compact. Should Jimenez go Pro-40? Bradley definately is a college player. He should not go pro. Hidalgo looked like he was playing up top alone and again think he's too slow. Like Sturgis and Folk but thought our talent was too spotty across the field. Cameron Jordan was way over his head. I truly think Szetela if he does what you said and play some more simple smarter plays his talent has been unseen prior to him. He great on the ball, breaks up everything. Since we are having problems developing wingbacks. I'd like to see him play alone or with a partner ahead of a back 3. this will let him link/move forward when needed/and defend. I think we should let him play center mid with a free reign attitude. What's your take Sandon?
Some thoughts: 1. I know this is the U16 team, but some of these kids look incredibly young. Schloucshter (I know thats horribly garbling his name) especially had the baby face and gangly body of someone just coming out of a growth spurt. 2. As Sandon said Bradley doesn't seem so superior to his teammates that he's ready for MLS play. However in the first 20 minutes he seemed like the USs second most productive player, coming back to make several nice passes including one pinpoint lob to Jimenez from 30 yards or so. Gott lost after that as McCarthy starting making more plays when we built up the middle. Definetly could be an effective withdrawn striker down the line. 3. Folk showed a great willingness to dribble out into the attack from the right back spot. The results were pretty uneven but his ball skill was quite abit higher than the other youth defenders I've seen. 4. As Szetela learns to focus his game more he could well turn into a truly dominating player. He already does all the things required of a world class central midfielder, harry target forwards, blow up building attacks, quickly redistribute the ball to spring the counter. But he tries to do so much that occassionally things get out of control. Edit: To answer Sandon's question he seems most effective to me as a pure d-mid. While Danny's distribution is very, very good for someone in his role he doesn't seem to have the vision or patience required to fill Claudio's role as a center mid. Also his man marking skills are so valuable that limiting his ability to track the other teams biggest threat would be a shame. 5. The US attack seemed to have alot more focus in the 2nd half. In the 1st we were fairly hestiant and Brazil would close things up before anything developed, but there were several very nice chances in the 2nd, one of which Sturgis managed to knock home. Sakordie provided a nice spark when subbed in as well.
IIRC Jimenez was born late in '86, like November maybe. Thats why he's still at Bradenton while the rest of his class is in college. Or this could be a bigsoccer hallucenation.
Not impressed Were we trying to score a goal? The offense didn't create much of anything except for a few dangerous plays by Jimenez. The defense were beaten enough for Brazil to score a few goals and miss a few that should've been made. F Rigo Hidalgo- He seems a bit slow and he didn't win much of anything from the Brazil centerbacks. Nice hair. In all fairness, he didn't have any service from our bland midfield. F/AM Bradley- Umm, Project-40 huh? RM Avila- He had a chance in the second half to make a play when he was 1 v 1 versus a Brazil defender with plenty of room. The Brazilian forced him back to the sideline and then took the ball away from him. CM McCarty- He needs to put his head up, so he can find our players with his longballs. IMHO, he doesn't pass the ball well enough and he seems a bit stiff. This team needs something more dynamic. CM Szetela- He battled the whole game, but some of the passing killed our offense. LM Jimenez- One of the only bright spots with the ball at his feet. RB Folk- Ok passing, but Brazil sent at least one ball over his head that should've been a goal. CB Valentin- Terrible giveaway gifted Brazil its first goal. He covered well for Slouchster a few times. CB Slouchster- He got caught a few times, but Valentin covered well. I thought he was ok. LB Sturgis- An impressive turn/shot to put the US even. GK Rein- ? Subs: LB Sarkodie- His quick dribbling move drew the foul that lead to the US goal. He looks very promising in brief action offensively and defensively. He has enough speed to contribute on both ends of the field. RM Jordan- Shanked cross reminded me of Hejduk. Sandon, I think Seztela should play defensive midfield. He seems to enjoy getting physical. Rob, Were there any impressive forwards, right midfielders, central midfielders from this age-group at the ODP event last week? I think the offense needs an upgrade. Maybe they're used to Adu doing most of the work?
The good news is that, aside from Jimenez, what we were watching was basically the U18 team, just a few weeks before they "officially' become the U18 team. So, this group has more than two years to develop and introduce new players before it becomes the U20 team for the 2007 World Youth Championship. Szetella is the only one of this group I see playing up with the next U20 group (85-86s... plus a certain 89!). I agree that he's better suited for a D-mid, though certainly one of the most dynamic and well-rounded ones we've ever had. I don't know how tall he is but he looks close to 6-0, though that could be the hair making him look bigger. But, he's physical and has a great work rate, his positioning is excellent and he passes well and thinks the game at a fast rate. I'd like to see him on a team with a bunch of players where he doesn't feel like he has to carry the team so that he isn't foricing the action quite so much as he did against Brazil. Regarding Jimenez, he was born in November of 86 and didn't join residency till about a year ago so I don't think he had quite as much time to do the accelerated HS program, thus he's back for another year. He does remind me a lot of Arturo Alvarez, who is a year older. Obviously, with Alvarez and Corey Ashe, the next U20 team has plenty of depth at left mid but I still like the idea of Rongen giving Jiminez a look. (I bet if he sees a tape of this game - and I'm sure he will - he'll give it some consideration.) Regarding the D, this was one of the few youth national teams I've seen in a while where I thought the backs, particulalry the outside ones, were a strength of the team. I'd like to see more of Sarkodie, Sturgis showed some promise - great composure on the goal - and Folk looked good going forward.
No hallucination, he was born in November 86. No question he was the "story" today for the TV audience. One has to wonder why he wasn't in Finland. Apparently he's had several great games for the U17's, once netting two free kicks. Alvarez is excellent too, but I love Jimenez' size and wheels. You can't teach that. I swear I could hear Paul Gardner's rocking chair creaking in protest when Ellinger yelled out "stop dribbling and move the ball" at him. No doubt he has a gift for taking on defenders, crossing, and timing runs. Szetela to me is a U17 Ronnie Ekelund. He wins the "battle of the shinguards". A true holding mid. To me that's Claudio Reyna. Not a pure d-mid, not a pure a-mid. Obviously the best of this bunch. I thought the outside backs were good, particularly Folk. Nobody else stood out to me. Bradley was in way over his head. MLS? Ya gotta be kidding.
Reminder to everyone to watch the 87's in action again friday at 8pm eastern time on FSW. Without revealing too much for those who don't want to know results in advance, Jimenez watchers won't want to miss it.
Following the consensus here, Jimenez really jumped out at me. Alvarez is a bit smoother on the ball, but can only dream of jetting by defenders on the dribble like Jimenez. The player Jimenez reminds me of most is the unfortunate Cesar Andrade (lost a leg in a car accident), who ran the left side for the exciting young Atlas sides & the Tri youth in the mid/late 90s. High school aside, he's wasting his time in Bradenton and needs to be with a professional program somewhere. Since Jimenez is from So Cal, you'd have to think a few Mexican sides are already on his trail.
I watched the game on FSW on Friday and I'd have to say on a superficial level I was impressed. Maybe because I don't see a lot of youth games but I was impressed with the creativity of this age group. I'm used to seeing a lot of kick and chase soccer at this level. I thought there were flashes of pretty creative play by some of our players.