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A 2021 Update on the 2001 age group

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In 2020 we took a look at the 2001-2005 age groups and highlighted the strengths, weaknesses, and the top players of each age group.  In this article, we will take a look at how the 2001 age group currently looks almost a year since our last article.  After this, we will take a look at the 2002-2005 age groups in order.  In youth development, changes from year to year as top players plateau and other player’s see their form improve.  Overall, the 2001 age group is shaping up to be very strong and will end up producing a lot of quality professionals and potential stars for the USMNT. 

Sadly, the 2001 age group was the focus year of the 2021 u20 World Cup cycle which was recently cancelled by FIFA due to Covid-19.  This means that the next u20 and u17 cycles have started which will focus around the 2003 and 2006 age groups.  But even though the current cycles have concluded, we will still continue with focusing around the 2001-2005 age groups for the next year as if the current cycles are still happening.  In 2022 we will move on and break down the 2003-2007 age groups which will be the core of the 2023 u20 and u17 cycles.  The good news for the 2001’s is that they are still YNT eligible because they are eligible for the 2024 Olympics which they will be the oldest age group and the leaders of our next u23’s.  All of the age groups that we will talk about will be contending for spots on the USMNT until at least the 2030 World Cup. 

In this article we will begin with a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the 2001 age group, followed by highlighting the top 10 prospects, then we will look at a two-string depth chart for the age group and a ranking of the current top-25 prospects.  Because Gregg Berhalter has been doing a fantastic job of pursuing dual-nationals we will be including all USMNT eligible prospects from now on. 

Strengths

For the 2001 age group there is a lot that fans should be excited about.  The strongest position in this age group are without a doubt the wingers.  The wide talent for the 2001’s is excellent with Uly Llanez, Konrad De La Fuente, Cam Harper, Matko Milijevic, Indiana Vassilev, Quincy Butler, Jordan Bender, Jalen Hawkins, and Joshua Penn.  We have already seen both Uly Llanez and Konrad De La Fuente make their USMNT debuts as teenagers after they both played up in the 2019 u20 World Cup and had a great 2020 where they emerged as elite talents in their positions.  Cam Harper, Matko Milijevic, and Indiana Vassilev would have been among the most talented wingers in older age groups but round out the top 5 players in this position for the 2001 age group.   

The center and defensive midfield positions are both very deep in this age group.  The center mid’s are loaded with Cole Bassett, Matteo Rittacio, Bryce Duke, and Will Vint.  The defensive mid’s are even better with Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris, Taylor Booth, Sebastian Berhalter, Leon Flach, and Justin Haak.  If these players were two years older I would have started all of them in the 2019 u20 World Cup over Brandon Servania and Chris Durkin.  In addition to all of these players there is also Owen Otasowie who is a position less player but looks like he will end up settling as a 6 or 8. 

There are two defensive strengths in this age group at right back and goalkeeper.  Right back a year ago was a concerning spot for this age group with Julian Araujo being far ahead of the others but now Bryan Reynolds has exploded onto the scene in the second half of 2020 and has caught the attention of numerous clubs including Italian giants Juventus who have reportedly offered $9.2 million for the young fullback’s services.  In addition to these two the 2001’s also has Cameron Duke (who also can play center mid) and Ian Hoffmann who are both looking to make a big impact in the MLS in 2021.  The goalkeepers are led by David Ochoa who many want to see with the USMNT sooner rather than later but also have promising talents in Luca Lewis and John Pulskamp. 

Weaknesses

 The biggest position of worry for the 2001’s are the centerbacks.  With Owen Otasowie wanting to play in the midfield there are not any bigtime talents for the USMNT among the 2001 center backs.  The best prospect is Leo Sepulveda, but Leo would be a major stretch to be a top five center back in the 2019 or 2023 u20 cycles.  George Campbell and Jacob Akanyirige are notable names in this age group, but both have had their struggles breaking into their MLS clubs where they should have been getting minutes by now. 

The other notable weak spot for the 2001’s is the strikers.  Folarin Balogun is the best prospect in the entire age group and has broken into the Arsenal first team but if he can’t be convinced to play for the USMNT over England then the striker pool is very weak.  Matthew Hoppe, Charlie Kelman, Jackson Conway, and Johan Gomez are the other strikers in the age group, but none are particularly convincing in my opinion.  I am confident that Ricardo Pepi would have been the starter for the u20’s this cycle even though he is born in 2003. 

The top 10 prospects in the 2001 age group

Folarin Balogun

 The 2001 age group has a lot of great talents, but none are quite at the level of Folarin Balogun.  The Arsenal product has already made his first team debut and scored two goals in five games.  Folarin putting it lightly was a goal machine in the Arsenal youth academy scoring 55 goals in 82 games for the Arsenal u18, u19, and u23 teams.  Folarin has pace, is good with both feet, is lethal in front of net and has a large shooting range.  Folarin has scored goals from 5 yards out and 30 yards out.  If he is given time and space, then the ball is going in the back of the net. 

Folarin is one of the biggest dual national prospects in the USMNT player pool.  He is eligible for England and Nigeria but currently has his eyes set on playing for the Three Lions.  There is a path to convincing Folarin to switch to the USMNT because of the log jam in England’s depth chart that is so stacked that even though Folarin is a good prospect, he may never get a look for the England senior team.  However, due to the USMNT striker position still being up for grabs, there is a realistic path for Folarin to come into the player pool and be a favorite to make the roster for the 2022 World Cup where he could be our starting striker. 

Owen Otasowie

Owen Otasowie is another American-English dual national but unlike Folarin, Owen currently looks more likely to play for the USMNT.  Owen has recently broken into the Wolverhampton first team and has been impressive in the chances that he has been given.  Wolverhampton has even rejected bids from numerous clubs, including Real Madrid, for Owen and it is obvious to see why, the kid is a massive talent.  Owen is a very versatile player who is so athletically gifted that he can excel at any position on the pitch, but his preferred position appears to be as a center or defensive midfielder. 

Owen started playing soccer only five years ago but has risen quickly to becoming a consistent name on a Premier League team.  Owen is a monstrous physical presence and is currently listed at 6’2 194 lbs but could very easily be bigger than that.  Owen, at 19 years old, is bullying grown men in the Premier League because he is so big and strong.  On top of his physical gifts, Owen is also pretty good with the ball at his feet.  Owen has a good passing range and first touch but both need to improve if he wants to cement his place in the Wolverhampton first team and compete for a spot in the USMNT in the player pool’s deepest positions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEEW81F2mGs

Uly Llanez

Since 2017, Uly has been one of the most highly regarded players in this age group and for good reason.  Uly has made his USMNT debut already and has looked skilled and dangerous in all of his appearances.  In Uly’s January Camp debut last January, he was noticeably the best player on the field and showed confidence in taking the game winning penalty kick.  Uly’s hype train was queuing in 2017 and 2018 and took off at full steam in 2019 when he led the u20’s in scoring at Concacaf u20 World Cup Qualifying, had great performances in the u20 World cup (including his impact sub performance in the blockbuster win against France), and his constant highlight reel performances for the Wolfsburg u19’s.  Uly has had some trouble with transitioning from the youth level to the first team level at Wolfsburg but all reports out of Germany say that Uly is highly rated at the club and is in their first team plans. 

For Uly in the future he has to establish himself at the professional level at whatever club he is at.  Uly for reasons I can’t explain did not get to make his Bundesliga debut at Wolfsburg and has only been able to make five appearances since being loaned to Heerenveen in the Eredivise.  Uly is a huge talent but being talented can only get you so far, he needs to get first team minutes sooner rather than later before other players begin to surpass him in the USMNT depth chart.  Uly deserves the hype that he has but now he needs to show it at the club level like he has in a USA jersey. 

Johnny Cardoso

Johnny Cardoso has gone from an unknown to the USMNT player pool to someone that a large percentage of the USMNT fan base wants to be the backup to Tyler Adams in a full strength USMNT side.  Johnny currently is at Internacionale in the Brazilierao Serie A where he has been battling for first team minutes in the fourth-place club in the league.  Johnny is best as a deep lying 6 where he can be a defensive shield and a quarterback distributing the ball all over the field.  Johnny is a gritty player who can deliver bone crunching tackles and looks to make those defensive plays which is becoming increasingly more important for a defensive midfielder. 

Johnny currently has rumors swirling about a potential move to Marseille in France who have a long history of helping Brazilian players make the jump into a European league and them selling them on to bigger clubs.  If Johnny can follow past Brazilians who have done this or make a similar move, then he will have a very long and successful career ahead of him.  To be successful as a 6, Johnny has to improve his positioning when in possession.  Johnny often can be too deep or in a bad position to receive the ball and this is a habit he has to outgrow.  Part of the reason for this is that growing up, Johnny played as a winger, 10, and striker so he is still learning how to play as a 6.  As Johnny grows into the 6 the sky is the limit for the very talented Brazilian-American. 

Bryan Reynolds

Bryan Reynolds went from someone who many thought was the least talented FC Dallas homegrown in January 2020, to a player who is going to be one the most expensive American homegrown transfer to Europe in January 2021.  Bryan originally began his career as a winger and did not see much success in that position.  He often did not look technical enough and looked like he was still trying to grow into his 6’3 frame with the FC Dallas u19’s, the u17 YNT, NTSC, scrimmages at Bayern Munich, or the FC Dallas first team.  Then in 2019, Bryan began to play as a right back and looked a little better but still uncomfortable as he was learning a new position.  Fast forward to mid-2020 as Reggie Cannon was sold to Boavista and Bryan was thrown into being the starting right-back for FC Dallas and he hit the ground running.  Every game has been a constant improvement for Bryan who is starting to emerge as a highly talented fullback wanted all over Europe. 

Bryan is one of the most athletically gifted players in the USMNT player pool which is why many teams are trying to buy early.  Bryan is tall and skinny at 6’3, 165 lbs. but is fast, powerful, and starting to add muscle to his lanky frame.  Bryan also has shown a huge improvement in his ability on the ball as he blows by some of the best defenders in MLS with ease and racking up assists and key passes.  The young right back also has shown to be an excellent crosser of the ball, something that can be credited to his upbringing as a winger.  Bryan is a very raw player who still has a lot of areas that he needs to improve before he can compete for minutes at a club like Juventus but if he continues to improve at the rate that he has been in 2020 then this is all but a guarantee.  Bryan has the tools to be a fantastic right back and is a player that fans should be bullish about for the future. 

Julian Araujo

Julian Araujo is a highly talented right back that has been at the top of YNT prospect lists for a very long time and is showing no signs of slowing down.  Julian has had some troubles actually getting minutes at right back for the LA Galaxy, but the club has trecently ransferred away all of his competition for minutes and Julian is primed to have a massive 2021 season in MLS.  Julian is a different type of left back than Bryan Reynolds is.  While Bryan is more of a wingback who glides up and down the touchline getting into the attack, Julian is a more defensively sound player who is not as good in the offensive half but will provide much more stability for the backline.  However, Julian is no slouch going forward, his recent USMNT performance shows that Julian can effectively contribute to the attack. 

Julian is coming to a crucial point in his career where it soon will be either make it big or be an MLS lifer.  Julian’s floor is being one of the better right backs in MLS, but his ceiling is being a quality right back for a good European club and he needs to show that he is good enough for a move abroad sooner rather than later.  For the USMNT, Julian’s window is wide open but with Sergino Dest having a firm grip on the starting spot and Reggie Cannon, Bryan Reynolds, DeAndre Yedlin, Mauricio Cuevas, and Joseph Scally all being in contention for the backup spot Julian needs to show soon that he can be a serious long-term option for Gregg Berhalter’s team.  Julian has tons of potential but now entering his third professional season it is time that he truly showed this with consistent commanding displays in MLS and a move to Europe. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT1KD68p9Mo

Konrad De La Fuente

The first American to graduate from La Masia, Konrad De La Fuente has blazed a trail that millions of American soccer players have dreamed about.  Konrad made waves in 2020 breaking into the FC Barcelona fist team which no other stateside player has done before.  Konrad not being higher in this list is just a testament to how talented the previously mentioned players are.  Konrad would be higher in this list but there are some questions of Konrad’s athleticism and his ability to beat players 1v1 at the highest levels.  If Konrad can have a 2021 as successful as his 2019 and 2020 have been then Konrad will have a great chance at cementing a spot on the USMNT for 2022.

Right now, Konrad is in an interesting position of not having an established spot in the Barcelona first team and making the bench but rarely playing.  When Konrad plays for Barca B he is always one of the best players, but he is with the first team so often that he is not getting the consistent game time minutes that he needs.  Long term it is not likely that Konrad will ever become a consistent first team player for the Catalan giants, but Konrad does have other options… notably clubs in the Bundesliga like Hertha Berlin.  What Konrad does in 2021 will have a huge impact on his short term USMNT involvement.  Being a player who rots on the first team bench while getting reserve minutes is not going to be enough to land Konrad a spot on the USMNT.  Long term, I am confident in Konrad’s chances of having a good career and being a consistent USMNT player. 

Tanner Tessmann

In 2020 Tanner Tessmann went from a Clemson Football commit to a player getting consistent minutes for FC Dallas and having many fans clamoring to see him get called up to the USMNT for January Camp.  Tanner has tremendous potential as both a 6 and an 8 because of his skill on the ball, solid passing range, and significant athleticism.  With the way the game has been trending in many leagues in Europe, there is more room opening up for athletically gifted players who are secure on the ball and that is exactly Tanner’s game.  Unless he gets hit with a dirty challenge, Tanner is not going to lose the ball and he won’t get physically overpowered. 

2021 is looking like it will be a stellar year for the FC Dallas midfielder.  Tanner should be able to lock in a starting spot in the FC Dallas starting eleven this season even with all of the other homegrowns like Paxton Pomykal, Brandan Servania, and Edwin Cerillo.  Dallas will be inclined to sell Tanner soon as the next wave of talented homegrowns are quickly rising.  Because of this Tanner is in a great position to improve his game this season and then build on the great foundation after he gets a move to Europe.  Tanner’s combination of athleticism, technical ability, and being in the right club situation should give fans a lot of hope for the future of this talented midfielder. 

David Ochoa

Even though he has had a rough 2020, there is still room to be optimistic for one of the best young goalkeeper talents in the USMNT pipeline.  David Ochoa finally made his MLS debut in later towards the end of the 2020 season after a year full of unfortunate injuries and pandemic hindered opportunities.  The young goalkeeper is still viewed as the Real Salt Lake goalkeeper of the future and he will get more chances for the club in the future so a bumpy 2020 is no reason to be concerned.

David Ochoa is so talented that like many other players in the 2001 age group, he already has gotten called up for the USMNT.  This speaks volumes for his talent because getting called up in a position which has a history of peaking at older ages shows why fans should keep monitoring the future of this kid.  David was a virtual lock to be the starting goalkeeper in arguably the deepest goalkeeper cycle that the u20 YNT program has ever had.  Goalkeeper’s careers can go in any direction but bet on this kid.

 

Cole Bassett

 The biggest loser of the u20 World Cup cancellation is most notably Cole Bassett.  Cole was a guarantee to be on the u20’s roster and likely even be a starter as he was one of Anthony Hudson’s (his former Colorado Rapids coach) favorite players in the u20 pool.  Cole showed why he is so highly rated by the YNT staff this season in MLS where he was consistent performer and one of the best young players in the league.  Cole is another center mid who can be a great physical presence who can control the midfield.  Cole is above average on the ball but unlike many other young center midfielders in the YNT pool Cole is a lot more willing to take chances in the final third and because of this he is very productive on the score sheet. 

Because of a very successful 2020, Cole has many clubs who are interested in acquiring his services.  If Cole moves to a Bundesliga club is he good enough to get minutes?  In my opinion, he absolutely is.  At this rate, it is only a matter of time before the Colorado native becomes a resident in Europe.  If Cole can get the move to Europe, then his future will be very bright.  If the less likely scenario of Cole staying in MLS happens then he should still have a very good career.  Cole’s future is very promising and if he hits his stride when he moves overseas then I can’t wait for him to fight for a spot in a very talented USMNT midfield. 

My depth chart for the 2001 age group

2021 2001 Birth Year Age Group best XI

The top-25 players of the 2001 age group

  1. Folarin Balogun, Striker, Arsenal
  2. Owen Otasowie, Center Mid/Defensive Mid/Center Back, Wolverhampton
  3. Uly Llanez, Winger, Wolfsburg (on loan at Heerenveen)
  4. Johnny Cardoso, Defensive Mid, Internacionale
  5. Bryan Reynolds, Right Back, FC Dallas
  6. Julian Araujo, Right Back, LA Galaxy
  7. Konrad De la Fuente, Winger, FC Barcelona
  8. Tanner Tessmann, Defensive Mid, FC Dallas
  9. David Ochoa, Goalkeeper, Real Salt Lake
  10. Cole Bassett, Center Mid, Colorado Rapids
  11. Cam Harper, Winger, Celtic
  12. Aidan Morris, Defensive Mid, Columbus Crew
  13. Jose Gallegos, Attacking Mid, San Antonio FC
  14. Taylor Booth, Defensive Mid, Bayern Munich
  15. Matko Milijevic, Winger, Argentinos Juniors
  16. Indiana Vassilev, Winger, Aston Villa (on loan at Burton Albion)
  17. Sebastian Berhalter, Defensive Mid, Columbus Crew
  18. Leon Flach, Defensive Mid, FC St Pauli
  19. Matthew Hoppe, Striker, Schalke 04
  20. Bryce Duke, Center Mid, LAFC
  21. Matteo Ritaccio, Center Mid, Liverpool
  22. Leo Sepulveda, Center Back, UD Salamanca CF
  23. Cameron Duke, Center Mid, Sporting Kansas City
  24. Ian Hoffmann, Right Back, Houston Dynamo
  25. Charlie Kelman, Striker, Queens Park Rangers

David Kerr | @dkerr0118 on Twitter!

Club News

American Transfers: Stock Up & Stock Down

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The 2024 summer transfer window closed on September 1st and over a dozen Americans made a move in the two-month span.  These players range from youth players, like Mathias Albert, to veteran players like John Brooks.  Some moves were great, and some were not.  This article will review several of these transfers and determine if it was a stock up or stock down.

Sergiño Dest & Malik Tillman to PSV- Stock Up

Both Dest and Malik Tillman went on loan (with option to buy) to PSV in the Eredivisie at the start of last season.  Both had a great season where they could have gone to a better league for this season.  PSV decided to trigger both player’s buy option, making them permanent players for the Dutch club.  These are good moves in my opinion because Dest had a regrettable loan to Milan two seasons ago and a difficult relationship with Xavi Hernandez. 

Dest needs another season (in his case, half a season) with the Dutch club to develop, recover his young career, and show clubs that he can compete in the UCL.  The same goes for Tillman, who needs to further develop his attacking, work rate, and ability to compete in the UCL.  If both can replicate and/or take a step up from their performance from last season, they should return to a top 5 league.  (Note: Bayern has a buy-back option for Malik Tillman)

Santiago Castañeda to Paderborn- Stock Up

The Tampa-born Colombian-American spent last season with the 3. Liga with Duisburg where he appeared in 31 matches with 2 goals and 2 assists.  This season, he is with Paderborn, a consistent 2. Bundesliga club and he already has a goal in 5 starts across all competitions.  This is impressive when you realize that Santiago will be turning 20 years old on November 13th.  US fans (who do not follow USL closely) are just now learning about him and some probably have already written him off because of his background. 

He is taking a similar path as Lennard Maloney, who played in both 3. Liga and 2. Bundesliga before moving back up to the Bundesliga.  In Santiago’s case, he started with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship before moving to Duisburg.  To add to the move being a stock up because of moving up a league, he is also a CDM, a position that the US is lacking depth at.  Other American CDMs who are in about his age (+/- 1 years old) are Daniel Edelman, Moses Nyeman, Marcel Ruszel, and Ethan Kohler (although, he is being converted to an RB) to name a few.  If he continues down this path, he can become the #1 American CDM in his age group followed by Pedro Soma (who is 2 years younger than Santiago) in the next age group.

Paxten Aaronson to Utrecht- Stock Up

The Paris Olympian will be heading back to the Eredivisie, but this time, he will be joining fellow Americans Taylor Booth and Rickson van Hees at Utrecht.  Paxten had a successful half season with Vitesse where he had 4 goals in 14 appearances.  As a CAM, he is competing against Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman (both being only a year older) for a spot on the USMNT.  Right now, he is not beating either one of them out, even with Gio being injury prone and Tillman’s lack of producibility for the USMNT. 

Gio has had several occasions of great moments with the national team and Tillman is coming off a 24-goal contribution season.  Going back to the Eredivisie would greatly help his development before heading back to Eintracht Frankfurt.  Also, if he has a more productive season than Tillman, then there is an argument to make Paxten the #2 CAM for the USMNT.  Currently, Tillman has 4 goal contributions in 5 matches across all competitions to Paxten’s 1 assist in 4 matches.

Caleb Wiley to Chelsea with loan to Strasbourg- Stock Up

This is one of the players who needed a move this summer and who was able to get an upgrade.  Caleb Wiley arguably has the highest ceiling amongst our U23 LBs.  Now, Strasbourg is employing him more as an LWB, which is, in my opinion, his best position.  Last season at Atlanta, Wiley started as a LW that led to a fantastic form.  When he moved to LB, he became inconsistent and stagnated, but he played more as a LWB and his form went back up.  Along with that and with him turning 20 in December, he needed to get out of MLS. 

We see what happens to players who stay in the MLS too long, i.e. John Tolkin, who has struggled to transition his club form to the USMNT, and Brandon Vazquez, who is now struggling to start for Monterrey and out of the USMNT picture.  Playing in a top 5 league and being developed into an LWB can help him unlock his full potential.  To add, Wiley already has 2 starts, a halftime substitution, and an assist for Strasbourg.

Rodrigo Neri to Atlanta 2- Stock Down

This is one of the most disappointing moves for those who follow the USYNT U20 team and the future state of the USMNT striker position.  Neri’s young career has dramatically fallen in just one year.  He was part of the Atletico de Madrid academy since 2021 but left their U19 team for Valencia U19 to now Atlanta 2.  Based on Be Soccer, Neri had 0 goal contributions in just only 11 matches for both Spanish U19 teams.  7 games in and Neri already has 3 goals and 1 assist for Atlanta 2.  This can either mean he has improved, returned to his Atletico U19 B form (where he had 17 goals in 32 matches), and/or that MLSNP is weaker than División de Honor Juvenil (the league that Atleti U19 is part of).  Either way, we can already see that his lack of goals has impacted his international career. 

The last time that he was part of the team was the U19/20 March camp against Morocco and England.  He was left off the CONCACAF U20 Championship for Keyrol Figueroa and Marcos Zambrano.  This is after being part of the U19 team that participated in the 2023 PanAm Games where he had 1 goal in 5 matches.  Besides that, he had scored a goal against England and a brace against Norway when he was part of the U17 team in 2022.  AS USA even had a piece on Neri back in 2022 calling him the next big thing for the US. 

Usually, this far of a drop would almost take you out of the international conversation but knowing US Soccer’s habit of calling up MLSNP players like Sergio Oregel Jr., there is still a chance that Neri can be back in the conversation in time of the 2025 U20 World Cup.  The only positive thing about this move is that it could help him get his career back on track.

Vaughn Covil to Las Vegas- Stock Down

For Covil’s career, this was the right move to make.  For his international career, it only leaves the Philippines for him.  His chances with England were never going to happen.  2-3 years ago, you could have said he had a chance with the US and even more with Canada with the right development.  Now, he is better off committing to the Philippines if he wants to have an international career. 

It’s a stock down move because it would’ve been better if he had made a deal with an EFL League 2 club than coming to the USL Championship and because he is limited to just one national team instead of four.  Hopefully, he does well at Las Vegas and can get a call-up by the Philippines.

Jonathan Gomez to PAOK- Stock Down

This move is one of the most disappointing of all the transfers this summer by an American.  While at Louisville and with the USYNT, he looked like a future LB/LWB option for the USMNT and another dual national battle with Mexico.  When he went to Real Sociedad and after his successful loan to Mirandes in La Liga 2, things were in an upward trajectory.  He left Real Sociedad (likely because they didn’t want to extend his contract, so they opt to sell him to make a profit) for reigning Greek champions, PAOK.  When it should have been a positive that he will be playing in his first season at a 1st division, it is a negative because of it being the Greek Super League 1.  PAOK is also in the Europa League and that should’ve been a positive for his career, but the Greek champions left him off their UEL roster. 

He is still only 21 years old and if he does well enough for them, then he can move up to a better league in a season or two.  At this moment, he has slipped out of the conversation to compete with Lund, Tolkin, and Wiley to be the future #1 LB/LWB.  To make matters worse, Caleb Wiley’s 2024/25 season has started off well at Strasbourg with 2 starts and an assist.  You could argue that during the 2023 U20 World Cup that JoGo was the better of the two at the LB/LWB position but now Wiley is above him on the depth chart.

Aidan Morris to Middlesborough- Stock Up

Like Caleb Wiley, Morris needed to leave MLS to further his development and avoid the situation that John Tolkin is in.  Even though Morris has been underwhelming for the USMNT, he has the potential to be a consistent player of the 23-26 men roster.  So far this season with Boro, he has been a standout and quick favorite amongst the fans.  Going to the EFL Championship was one of the best choices he could have made as his next stop.  The physicality of the league will teach him how to become more physical and his quick decision-making.  The development could easily put him in the top 4 CDM options for 2026. 

The biggest question for him is, can he transition his great club form to the national team.  If he can pull it off, he can jump ahead of Lennard Maloney and Tanner Tessmann, depending on how he does with Lyon this season.  This is a top 3 move by an American player not just because how the season is going so far for him but because Boro will be competing for promotion and development potential.

Tanner Tessman to Lyon- Stock Up

Tessmann’s transfer saga is one for the books.  He was closely linked to Inter Milan and Fiorentina until both fell apart because of disagreements.  Towards the end of the transfer window, he got a move to a top Ligue 1 club, Lyon.  If he had stayed with Venezia, he still would’ve been playing in a top-five league, but Lyon is the better option.  Venezia will be fighting to stay in the Serie A like they did in 2021/22, whereas Lyon is consistently a top 10 French club, and in many cases a top 5 club. 

To add to that, Lyon is in the UEL.  The season is not going well for Lyon right now, but they can recover and compete for UEFA qualification.  The club and the fans will be more demanding than Venezia because of their prestige, he can learn from veteran players like Matic and Veretout and it would require him to compete for starts.  It’ll be a real test for him after his last time in a top 5 league did not go as well and two great seasons in the Serie B.

All of these will help him take the next step and help him be in the top 3 CDM USMNT conversation.  The battle Tessmann, Aidan Morris, Maloney, Johnny Cardoso, and Tyler Adams (once he returns) for the top 2 CDM spots on the USMNT will be a joy to watch this season.

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Club News

Who’s a Keeper?

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Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

The USMNT has had a solid track record with goalkeepers over the last three decades. There seems to be a problematic situation with their current group. Is this an overreaction or a real concern for the USMNT which is less than 2 years away from hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The average age of the last seven USMNT goalkeepers to regularly start in one of the top two tiers in Europe is 27.5 years old and while it took several seasons for Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard, and Brad Guzan to settle and have continued success they did while all having the opportunity to be the number goalkeeper for the USMNT.

Where there has been a lot of deserved criticism towards Matt Turner’s play with the USMNT lately it’s clear that he remains the best shot-stopper in the pool, but also clear that a transfer from Nottingham Forest is desperately needed to provide regular playing for Turner. Turner’s foot skills remain weak along with the rest of the USMNT goalkeeper pool very much an area that needs improving. Something they could learn from Tony Meola who was hands down the best USMNT goalkeeper with his feet.

Struggles also continue for Ethan Horvath whose transfer to Cardiff City last February was supposed to provide him with the needed playing time to push Turner for the number one goalkeeper spot of the USMNT but, his performance at Copa America didn’t inspire many, along with a recent match for Cardiff City where he conceded five goals.

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 27: Matt Turner (L) and Ethan Horvath of United States interact during the United States Training Session at Al Gharafa Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)


November 27, 2022, in Doha, Qatar (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

USMNT Youth Goalkeepers

The current group of USMNT goalkeeper prospects appears to be solid, but if history has proven anything there are no guarantees. The list of the failed USMNT youth keepers over the last decade is long. It includes names like Joe Bendik, Alex Bono, Cody Cropper, Tally Hall, Clint Irwin, Dan Kennedy, and Luis Robles, of the over 15 USMNT prospect goalkeepers who have only been capped 18 times, eight of those held by Bill Hamid.

At the moment goalkeepers Antonio Carrera (20), Matt Freese (25), Chituru Odunze (21), and John Pulskamp (23) are on the outside looking in compared to the goalkeepers listed below.

Currently playing for Fulham U-21 Premier League 2 (Reserve League) Alex Borto (20) who was part of the 2023 U-20 World in May and June, but didn’t receive any playing time will need to increase his current playing time to get more opportunities but, I feel Borto is much lower on the youth USMNT depth chart at the moment.

A regular starter for the Chicago Fire over the last couple of seasons Chris Brady (20) is another highly touted USMNT goalkeeper, who has been held back from regularly being called into USMNT youth camps by his club. A move to Europe would provide him with the next level of competition needed to continue his growth as a goalkeeper.

Who would trust a now 18-year-old who hasn’t had any professional experience to start for the USMNT? Not many but Diego Kochen (18) who is currently with FC Barcelona Atlètic in the Third Division is a name that continues to be mentioned, but highly unlikely in my opinion.

As the starter for all four of the U-23 USMNT Olympic matches Patrick Schulte (23) has earned a call-up to the USMNT. Schulte has had a very strong season with the Columbus Crew which accounts for 8 clean sheets over all matches at the time of this article.

Many fans think Gaga Slonina (20) is the best U-23 goalkeeper in the player pool and is destined to be the number-one goalkeeper after the 2026 cycle. Slonina is currently playing in EFL League One the third division in England. Slonina was the starting goalkeeper for U-20 USMNT where he had four straight clean sheets helping lead the US to the quarter-finals. He also was part of the U-23 USA Olympic team but failed to receive any playing time.


October 4, 2022, (Photo by Christian Hansen/Chicago Fire FC)

Aging or Bridge Goalkeeper Options

The list of recent third and often injured USMNT goalkeepers Drake Callender (26), Roman Celentano (23), Sean Johnson (35), and Zack Steffen (29) provide little to no confidence when looking at a current solution and none are likely to break into the top two of the depth chart but, stranger things have happened in the world of USMNT goalkeepers.

Looking Ahead

With less than 2 years until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s unlikely that any of the younger USMNT goalkeepers will be able to play at higher levels and contend for the number one spot, which I believe still belongs to Matt Turner, but, Turner needs to do whatever possible to get a transfer to another top five leagues or worse case Eredivisie or EFL Championship as he needs to be playing matches every week to ensure he’s in form and improving headed into the World Cup with the backup position is up for grabs.

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The Top 10 Americans in Europe this Season

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The season is over for most of the major European leagues and compared to last season, this was a better season for Americans in Europe.  The US had several Americans win a trophy this season or were promoted with their club.  Both Tim Weah and Weston McKennie won the Coppa Italia, while Cameron Carter-Vickers won the double in Scotland.  You also had Nick Gioacchini, Gianluca Busio, and Tanner Tessmann gain promotion to Serie A in their respected clubs.  In this article we will cover who we consider to be our top 10 Americans this season in Europe.  The stats information for each player comes from FotMob.

Lennard Maloney

Few Americans played in the Bundesliga this season and even fewer had a good season in the German topflight.  Lennard Maloney was one of those Americans who had a successful Bundesliga season.  Maloney was the main central defender for the newly promoted club Heidenheim.  Last season, he helped them win the 2. Bundesliga to get their first ever promotion to the Bundesliga.  This season, he helped Heidenheim qualify for the UEFA Conference League, their first ever continental competition.  Few American soccer players can say they have that accomplishment.  It was only until this season did Maloney get his first call-up to the USMNT.  Maloney was spectacular on the stats sheet, but it was what he did off the ball that made him one of the best American players this season in a top European league.  At one point during the season, Maloney was leading in distance covered.  His ability to stop the opposition’s transition to the attack helped Heidenheim to have 1.6 goals conceded per match and a possession of 42.1%.  Maloney outperformed 97% of Bundesliga midfielders in aerial duels won and 90% in defensive actions.  Between the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal, Maloney started in 29 matches out of 31 matches played with 2 goals and 1 assist.  He also had an 83.5% passing accuracy, 69.4% long ball accuracy, 29 tackles for 80.2%, 79.1% aerial duels won, 29 interceptions, and 144 recoveries.  For me, Maloney barely makes it in the top 10 list due to his low stats.  His accomplishments for Heidenheim and being a major piece to their successful season can’t be ignored.

Chris Richards

April 21, 2024: Crystal Palace v West Ham United Premier League 21/04/2024. Chris Richards 26 of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United at Selhurst Park, London, England on 21 April 2024. Editorial use only DataCo restrictions apply See www.football-dataco.com , Copyright: xNigelxKeenex PSI-19528-0101 (Credit Image: © Imago via ZUMA Press)

It took a while for Chris Richards to get a start for Crystal Palace and it was worth the wait.  When Richards began getting minutes this season, it was at defensive midfielder.  He took people by surprise with his solid performances in the position.  With the injury of Marc Guehi and Crystal Palace moving to a back 3, Richards became a lock starter in the defense.  It was rocky at first for him, but that all changed when Oliver Glasner took over the club.  In the first match under the new manager, Richards got a goal.  Richards became one of Crystal Palace’s best CBs.  In the 30 matches played, Richards started in 27.  Richards finished ahead of 83% of the CBs in the Premier League in aerial duels, and 66% in both defensive actions and goals.  Across all competitions, Richards had 1 goal and 1 assist, 85% passing accuracy, 59.2% tackles won, 54.5% duels won, 37 interceptions, and 106 recoveries.  There is hope next season for Richards.  Guehi is gathering interest from other EPL clubs once again and Glasner will be returning next season.  If Richards retains his starting role next season, we could see Richards be one of Palace’s best defenders.  Due to not appearing in every match, having some inconsistent matches before the Glasner Era, and not unlocking his full potential this season until Glasner took over is why Richards is 9th on my list.

    Josh Sargent

    Norwich City v Southampton – Sky Bet Championship – Carrow Road Norwich City s Josh Sargent during the Sky Bet Championship match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Picture date: Monday January 1, 2024. EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxIRL Copyright: xAdamxDavyx 74979369

    One of the US’ most prolific scorers this season came from Josh Sargent in the English Championship.  Missing 22 matches due to an ankle injury did not stop him from scoring double-digit goals, but it did stop him from winning the league’s golden boot.  Sargent finished 6th in goals scored with 16 in 26 league matches played with 2 assists.  If Sargent had not sustained the injury, he would have been in the argument for the league’s golden boot.  Across all competitions, Sargent started in 25 matches out of 28 matches played.  When you compare his traits to other strikers in the English Championship, Sargent finished ahead of 65% strikers in chances created, 83% shot attempts, and 96% goals.  In league play, Sargent had an 81.8% passing, 23 chances created, 47.5% dribbles completed, 45.4% duels won, and 39 recoveries.  Even with the injury, there have been rumors that Premier League clubs are monitoring him.  Maybe we will see him back in the EPL next season.  The reason he falls just short of the top 5 is because between the months of May and April, he had only 2 goals and 1 assist.  As a striker, you cannot have only 3 G/A in 2 months.  The injury also allowed others, mainly Haji Wright, to pass him in the top 10 Americans in Europe this season.  If he was not out for 4 months and was in contention for Championship Golden Boot, he would have been a top 5 American.

      Johnny Cardoso

      Johnny would be much higher on this list if he had played a full season in Europe based on his form with Los Verdiblancos since joining in January when you compare him to the other Americans in a top 5 league.  Johnny took LaLiga by storm and quickly took a starting role in just his second match, which happened to be against Barcelona.  He also received how praises from Manuel Pellegrini just after his first week with the club.  Johnny was awarded the LaLiga EA Sports U23 Player of the Month in February, his first full month for Real Betis.  Johnny’s quick adoption to LaLiga and excellent performances has already caused inquiries from major clubs, one of those clubs being Barcelona, and being a LaLiga U23 Player of the Season nominee.  Across all competitions, Johnny had 3 goal contributions, 72% long ball accuracy, 9 chances created, 78.9% successful dribbles, 34 tackles won for 65.9%, 51.2% of duels won, 35 interceptions, 101 recoveries between LaLiga and Europa Conference League.  In just half of a season, Johnny beat 96% of midfielders in LaLiga for defensive actions and 92% of them in aerial duels.  For playing only half a season in a top 5 league, these are very impressive numbers, and it made him one of the most exciting Americans to watch in Europe this season.  His nomination for LaLiga U23 Player of the Season, winning a U23 Player of the Month, and the quality of the teams he faced compared to other Americans in Europe is very difficult to ignore when placing him on this list.  Johnny only playing half the season in Europe does keep him from being higher up in the top.  If he can continue this form next season, he will for sure be a top 5 American in Europe.  Next season, Real Betis will be taking part in the Europa Conference League once again.

        Malik Tillman

        The American player who had one of the best loan spells this season was Malik Tillman.  After his successful loan at Glasgow Rangers last season, Malik Tillman proved that he could conquer a top 7 league after putting up 19 goal contributions for PSV in the Eredivisie.  His effort on the offense helped PSV win the league title.  Amongst all attacking midfielders and wingers in the Eredivisie, Malik finished ahead of 94% of the players in touches and 92% in chances created.  Also, he beat out 90% of them in defensive actions and 71% in goals.  Malik started in 24 matches out of 39 across all competitions with a total of 21 goal contributions (his one match with Jong PSV is not included).  Tillman also had 71% shots on target in league play; 81.6% passing accuracy, 67.8% long ball accuracy, 61 chances created, 47 successful dribbles for 47.8%, 3 penalties won, 36 tackles for 81.2%, 48.2% duels won, 25 interceptions, 9 blocks, 171 recoveries, and 39 possessions won in the final third.  On May 10th, PSV made the announcement at the end of the season that they had acquired Tillman permanently through 2028 and Bayern retained their buy-back clause.  PSV were not the only club that was pleased by his performance this season.  His parent club, Bayern, was reportedly to be very happy with his season as well.  Maybe we will see Tillman back in a Bayern shirt in the future.  Tillman not being higher on this list was due to his inconsistent performances in the Champions League and early in the Eredivisie season.

          Segiño Dest

          The player with arguably the best loan spell of the Americans in Europe was Sergiño Dest.  After appearing in only 14 matches for Milan AC last season and his second season with Barcelona under Xavi Hernández.  A step back to the Eredivisie was the right move for Dest to rejuvenate his career.  Due to Jordan Teze being PSV’s RB, Dest played LB this season and was successful at it, showing he can play on both sides.  In the Eredivisie, Dest made it on the Team of the Month on multiple occasions.  There are still improvements that need to be made in his defensive game, and that was evident in the UCL matches.  In the Eredivisie, Dest finished ahead of 90% of other fullbacks in chances created, 88% in touches, and 90% in shot attempts.  Across all competitions, Dest finished with 9 goal contributions, 86.9% passing accuracy, 69.1% long ball accuracy, 52 chances created, 62.4% dribbles completed, 58.5% ground duels won, and 163 recoveries.  Dest played a critical role in PSV winning the Eredivisie this season.  He did make some mistakes in the UCL matches, but he was still one of PSV’s better players in the competition.  Even though the Eredivisie is not a top 5 league in Europe, Dest was one of our top performers and most informed American players in Europe.

            Haji Wright

            Arguably one of the top 3 Americans in England this season, it did not start well for Haji Wright in his record transfer to Coventry City.  In his first 3 months at the club, Haji only had 2 goals and 2 assists.  Things did not start to turn around for him until November when he scored 3 goals in 4 matches.  By the end of the 1st half of the season, Haji had 12 goal contributions.  What changed for him?  Manager Mark Robins moved Haji to LW and occasionally as a left striker.  That move in position helped provide Haji Wright his best season of his career and one of the best American players this season.  His most iconic goal in my opinion this season was scoring the winning goal at the last minute against Wolves to help get Coventry City into the FA Cup Semi-Final followed by his goal against Manchester United.  By the end of the season, Haji had 25 goal contributions across all competitions, tying him with Christian Pulisic for most goal contributions by an American in a top 10 European league.  In league play, Haji and Sargent tied for 6th in goals with 16.  Haji was better than 93% attacking midfielders and wingers in aerial duels won, along with 97% in goals, and 98% in shot attempts.  Haji finished the season with 75.9% in passing, 32 chances created, 4 penalty goals, 36 completed dribbles, 49 fouls won, 63.9% tackles, 47.8% aerial duels won, and 114 recoveries.  If Haji Wright can recreate this season again next year in the English Championship, I will have no doubt he will be linked to a move to the Premier League.

              Weston McKennie

              Another player who was consistent for his European club this season was Weston McKennie for Juventus in the Serie A.  McKennie was one of the most informed players for Juventus this season and their leading player in assists with 7.  There has been discussion by Serie A media since January that McKennie deserves to be on the Serie A Team of the Season.  He spent a good amount of the season at RWB and was very successful.  He did not move to his natural position (central midfielder) until later in the season due to injuries.  Even with being one of Juve’s best players this season and being in discussion for Serie A Team of the Season, Juve refused to give the salary raise that McKennie asked for, leaving his future with the Italian giants in doubt.  McKennie started in 33 matches out of 38 matches.  He finished the season with 10 assists. 77.4% passing accuracy and 64.4% long ball accuracy across all competitions.  He also created 46 chances, 60.8% completed dribbles, 31 completed tackles for 80.2%, 168 duels won for 42.3%, 20 interceptions, and 128 recoveries.  When you compared McKennie to other Serie A midfielders, he outperformed 87% of them in chances created and 65% for aerial duels won.  After how things went last season for him, he had one of the biggest improvements in performance for an American along with Christian Pulisic.  The reason he finishes behind Pulisic is because he did not score a single goal and he was beginning to struggle in form towards the end of the season.  He was one of the few Americans to win a trophy this season by winning the Coppa Italia.

                Christian Pulisic

                It is a close call between Pulisic and Weston McKinnie for the 2nd best American this season and even 1st between Pulisic and Antonee Robinson.  I must give it to Pulisic because of his offensive work rate and productivity, and his European competition performance this season.  Pulisic finished the season with 15 goals and 10 assists across all competitions (1 goal being in the Champions League (UCL), and 2 goals and an assist being in the UEL) bringing a total of 25 G/A, the most he has had in a single season.    In Serie A, Pulisic tied for 4th of all players in the league for goals and assists.  For Milan, he was their 2nd highest goal scorer and had the 2nd most assists.  Pulisic started in 44 matches out of 55 matches played across all competitions.  Pulisic was nominated by the league for best midfielder of the season.  When compared to attacking midfielders and wingers in Serie A, he scored more goals than 91% of other players in those positions.  He also had an 83% passing accuracy, 60 chances created, 28.5% crossing accuracy (in the league, Pulisic was in the 72.7% ranking), 66 successful dribbles for 49%, 181 touches in opposition box, 71.3% tackles won, 198 ground duels won for 46.3%, 24 blocks, 11 interceptions, and 138 recoveries.  Since becoming a professional athlete, this was Christian Pulisic’s best season of his career.  People would argue he only performed as well as he did because he took a step down.  Even with Serie A not being at the level that the EPL is at, it is still a top 5 league in the world and Milan is one of the biggest clubs in Europe.  The reason why he is not the #1 American for this season is because Pulisic was not being consistent, especially against major opponents.

                Antonee Robinson

                  It was a tight decision between Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic for best American player in Europe this season, but I must hand it to Antonee.  Antonee Robinson was arguably the best LB in the English Premier League this season and even argued to be the best fullback this season.  This is very challenging when talking about the best league and the world where you have the likes of Kyle Walker, Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson.  For the USMNT, he was perhaps the most consistent American in Europe this season.  Antonee started a total of 42 out of 44 matches.  He had a total of 6 assists this season, making him one of the top EPL defenders in assists this season.  He also finished with the most interceptions in the EPL with 80, 15 more than Lewis Cook, who had the 2nd most in the league.  This does not just include the EPL, but Jedi also had the most interceptions across Europe’s top 7 leagues.  In the top 7 European leagues, he came in 3rd in possession won in defensive 3rd with 145.  When comparing him to other fullbacks in the EPL, he outperformed 95% of the league’s fullbacks in defensive actions, 80% in touches, and 68% in aerial duels won.  Across all competitions, Antonee had 35 chances created, passing accuracy of 76.5%, 23% crossing accuracy, 49 successful dribbles for 60.3%, tackles won, 56.5% duels won, and 264 recoveries.  Antonee has made it on several reviewers’ EPL Team of the Season and is being monitored by top clubs for this summer by the likes of Liverpool and Bayern.  Compared to other Americans in Europe this season, Jedi made it on more continental stats leaderboards and competing in this best league in the world making him the best American in Europe this season.

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