I watched Alvarado play last night for Club America in the Copa Mexico. They lost 4-3 but Alvarado looked the best in the backline by far. America was just overrun in the midfield. Alvarado was very quick and can pass well. Alvarado is making the bench for Club America in league games as a 19 year old and is in the first team's plans. I know he's too old for the 2013 US U20 team by a few months but how did this kid slip through the cracks until this point? It's not like he plays in a remote league or has no ties to the USA. He's been a big part of Club America's U20 team in recent season. He wants to play for the USA based on this new interview http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&id=9319 It seems that with last cycle's US U23 and U20 teams struggling in central defense, Alvarado would have at least been worth a look in camp.
Shredder, thank for yet another interesting bit of info. Serious question: does anyone at U.S. Soccer consult you for information, or your opinion, regarding Americans playing in other countries? Because you seem to have both the ability and desire to watch and evaluate a lot of Amercian players in a lot of different countries.
Hmmm yes central defense is an area where everybody better than me at soccer should have been looked at.
Hmmm yes central defense is an area where everybody better than me at soccer should have been looked at.
Brian, hard to believe that Alvarado fell through the cracks. It's not as if he was playing in an unknown, tucked-away Latino league in the boondocks. He played for Tuzos, a well known club in the Phoenix area prior to going to Mexico. http://www.azyouthsoccer.org/story/2012/07/23/aysa-alumni---ventura-alvarado-of-phoenix-tuzos-so/
How do we define that he 'fell through the cracks'? Its a narrative we use as a crutch without real definition and ramification. Did he really fall through the cracks? He left the country as a 13 yr old and he is developing his game.
It's a loose term but I think it fits. He's only 19 but is on Club America's first team now. When you see some of the other players looked at by the staffs of the previous US U20 and U23 teams, it seems odd that Alvarado would not have found his way into the mix for at least a camp or two.