Club News

A breakdown of the u20 youth national team

Published

5 years ago

May 20, 2020

David Kerr

Today officially marks one year away from the 2021 u20 World Cup which kicks off on May 20, 2021 in Indonesia. The u20 World Cup is the target event for the 2001 age group of the youth national team but will also feature the standout players from the 2002 and 2003 age groups. 2019 saw a very up and down year for the YNT’s as the u20’s made a quarterfinal run in the best YNT display that the United States has seen yet. This amazing display was followed up by the worst performance in youth World Cup history by the u17’s who managed to score a whopping one goal in three matches and crashed out of the World Cup with one draw and two very bad losses. The only other terrible youth World Cup performance I have seen was the 2015 u17 World Cup who also only managed one point in three games but still managed to yield Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams (the age 1998 age group also produced Weston McKennie and Reggie Cannon by the way so remember that development is not linear).

With the previous u17 cycle being the 2002’s who will play a part in this u20 cycle fans are wondering how good this cycle will be. I think that the cycle is actually on track to be a very good team that has some real quality and may actually be as good as the previous u20 cycle. Even though the 2002’s are a very weak age group, the 2001’s are a very strong age group. I do not expect many 2002’s to carry over from the previous u17 cycle. I think we will see maybe three or four players carry over which is very common for a u20 cycle. I think this cycle actually has the talent that there was an A, B, and potentially even C team that they would be good enough to make it to the final in qualifying, we are that much better than every other team in the region for this cycle.

Today will be looking at each position in the u20 pool and breaking down who the top players are and who I expect to make this team in a year. Keep in mind that things change rapidly at this age group. There will be players who get hurt and fall off, there will be players who come into good form, and there will be players who hit a spell of bad form. Remember that Edwin Cerillo was not in the picture at all for the previous u20 cycle until he broke into the FC Dallas first team with around a month left before the u20 World Cup and then he ended up making the team. There could be a similar situation to happen in this cycle. But with that being said, let’s dive into the player pool.

Goalkeepers

David Ochoa

The goalkeeper depth for the u20’s is the best that I have ever seen in a YNT. In my opinion, there are five goalkeepers who have potential to make the squad for this cycle: David Ochoa, Chituru Odunze, Luca Lewis, Damian Las, and John Pulskamp. Normally in a u20 cycle you see a goalkeeper play an age group up (a 2003 playing with the 2001’s) but the depth is so good for this group that this will not be a thing for the current cycle.

The starter for this age group is David Ochoa. David is by far the most talented keeper in the depth chart as he is very good at every aspect of his game and is exceptional with his feet compared to the other goalkeepers. David was the best goalkeeper who even managed to start in goal for two matches during the previous u20 World Cup in 2019. The last goalkeeper to be as talented as David Ochoa at the u20 level was Zack Steffen, and look where Steffen is at now. David has already won the USL Championship as a teenager and is the heir to the starting goalkeeper spot at Real Salt Lake.

The youth national team players who will be competing for the other two goalkeeper spots are Chituru Odunze, Luca Lewis, Damian Las and John Pulskamp. While I do not consider any of these four to be quite as talented as David Ochoa, I do think all of these players are truly exceptional prospects. In my mind, the top two are Chituru Odunze and Luca Lewis. Both Odunze and Lewis were called up to the recent camp that was supposed to take place in March and appear to be the guys that Anthony Hudson rate highly. Damian Las and John Pulskamp are the two other goalkeepers that I think should also be given a look because they are both great players and are good enough to tend the net at this level.

Top option: David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake)

In the pool: Chituru Odunze (Leicester City FC), Luca Lewis (Torino FC), Damian Las (Fulham FC), John Pulskamp (Sporting Kansas City)

Defense

Right Back

Julian Araujo, u20 USMNT

For this u20 cycle, right back is one of the weaker positions overall. The best youth national team option currently is Julian Araujo who will also likely be the captain of the team. Julian was a late injury replacement for the previous u20 World Cup and is one of the strongest locks for this age group. Julian told both his club and country that he will suit up for the u20’s instead of playing for the Olympic team (the u23’s) as he wants to be a leader for this cycle. Julian will be a rock defensively for the team and will be able to safely put out any fires.

After Julian is where the pool gets tricky as there is no player who could be considered a guarantee to make the team. Currently, all signs are pointing to Ian Hoffmann being the backup right back as he has been the only right back called up in all three u20 camps so far this cycle. Ian was also one of the recent top performers of the January camp which was the last time this group was able to meet.

The player who has the potential to jump Ian in the depth chart is Mauricio Cuevas who is the best right back in the 2003 age group. Mauricio is a standout at almost every level he plays in. When he was with the u17’s for qualifying last year he held his own playing a year up and when playing in the USL Mauricio looks even better. With a year to work on his game and physically mature, Mauricio could be one of the players who manages to play up a u20 cycle.

Top options: Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), Ian Hoffmann (Karlsruher SC)

Young player to watch: Mauricio Cuevas (LA Galaxy)

In the pool: Cameron Duke (Sporting Kansas City), Joe Scally (NYCFC), Tayvon Gray (NYCFC)

Left Back

Kobe Hernandez-Foster, u20 USMNT

Unlike right back, the left side of the backline is loaded. With the USMNT left back depth being pretty depressing, this is the group who could realistically change that in the next two or three years. The youth national team top option is the easiest roster choice in this cycle, Kobe Hernandez-Foster. It is truly a shame that center backs emerge on a later timeline and forced Kobe to have to play as a center backs with the u17’s because watching Kobe play as a left back in mind blowing. The weakest part of Kobe’s game is defending 1v1 but this is something that will improve over time and is something most defenders struggle with (remember, Sergino Dest also struggled with this at the u20 World Cup and now he is wanted by Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona). This is the left back that the people who rage troll the Ussoccer social media accounts have been waiting for.

There are two other players who are competing for the second left back spot. The current backup is Travian Sousa who currently plays overseas at Hamburger SV. Travian is a very athletic attacking left back who like Kobe, glides down the touchline and can terrorize a defense. Travian is a player who may get his first team chance with the German leagues now using five substitutions in a match.

The other left back to watch out for is Jonathan Gomez. Jonathan is another top tier FC Dallas product. Just how good is Jonathan? There are quite a few people who actually think that Jonathan has an even higher ceiling than Kobe does and for good reason, Jonathan is one hell of a player. Jonathan is a better defender going forward and is just as good on the ball. Kobe is more athletic and is more effective going forward but both are elite left back prospects. When looking long term for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, if neither have any major injuries then they are both guarantees to make the USMNT. Jonathan is behind Travian currently because he does have to mature physically to keep up at the older levels as he is a 2003 and the two year age gap does make a big difference at this level.

Top options: Kobe Hernandez-Foster (Wolfsburg), Travian Sousa (Hamburger SV)

Young player to watch: Jonathan Gomez (Louisville City FC)

In the pool: George Bello (Atlanta United), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls)

Center Back

Owen Otasowie, u20 USMNT

First we will take a look at the left center backs. For the first time in a u20 cycle, we have two actual left center backs which we have not had in a while. Both Leo Sepulveda and Bobby Pierre are left footed and prefer to play on the left side of the back line which is very uncommon for American center backs. The best out of the two is Leo Sepulveda and this is because Leo is a much better player playing out of the back. Leo’s downside is that his decision making defensively needs to improve and he still gets stuck in. Bobby however is not as good possessing the ball but is a better overall defender but I still prefer to have Leo in the 11. Leo will have a year to develop as a defender now that he is officially moved up to the Salmanaca first team. Bobby Pierre also brings u17 World Cup experience where he represented Haiti and was the sole reason that Haiti did not spend all three games constantly picking the ball out of the back of their net.

The starter on the right is already locked up for the youth national team. When you make an appearance for a top ten Premier League side when they aren’t having an injury crisis then you get an immediate locked in starting role. Owen also fits the style of play perfectly as this team will look to play a more possession style as he is good enough on the ball that Wolverhampton also play him as a 6. The backup currently is George Campbell. George is an absolute unit and a very good defender. However, playing out of the back is not George’s strong suit which is the only thing that separates him and Otasowie. If there is any injuries to either George or Owen, then there are quite a few reserve options who will be able to step in for the team.

Top options: Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton), Leo Sepulveda (SD Salamanca), George Campbell (Atlanta United), Bobby Pierre (Real Salt Lake)

In the pool: Jacob Akanyirige (San Jose Earthquakes), Nico Carerra (FC Dallas), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City FC)

Midfield

Defensive Mid

Johnny Cardoso

In my opinion, the 6 is the strongest position in the u20 youth national team pool. The reason for this is because both Johnny Cardoso and Taylor Booth are phenomenal prospects. For the longest time, Taylor Booth was a very safe starter for the 2001 age group and then out of no where Gregg Berhalter finds Johnny Cardoso in Brazil and Taylor no longer has the spot locked up. Realistically, these two are pretty even overall and it will boil down to who is on a bigger hot streak at the time. The biggest difference between the two is that Johnny is better defensively while Taylor is a better distributor. When looking to out possess the other team and dominate the midfield, both of these players are very good options.

The depth at the 6 is also very good for the youth national team. The two main options that will be given a look in this cycle are Leon Flach and Danny Leyva. Both Leon and Danny were called into the March camp so they are both getting the looks they deserve. Danny may not be ready physically for the u20 level and could look like a fish out of water like he did in the u17 World Cup. To succeed at the u20 level Danny would need to be paired with a physically imposing center mid… like Tanner Tessmann. Because Leon is two years older, I believe he would be the first player taken if either Johnny or Taylor are hurt.

Top options: Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), Taylor Booth (Bayern Munich)

Young player to watch: Danny Leyva (Seattle Sounders)

In the pool: Leon Flach (St Pauli)

Center Mid

Tanner Tessmann, u20 USMNT

The 8 is another position that excites me but not quite as much as the 6. I am very excited about the players in this position but they don’t have any players quite at the level of Johnny Cardoso or Taylor Booth. The best option at this position in my opinion is Tanner Tessmann. Tanner was someone I had written off in this cycle when he announced he was going to Clemson and quickly got burned when he signed with FC Dallas, was thrown into the starting lineup in the first two matches, and was fantastic in both appearances. Tanner can cover ground with ease and has a great passing range and will be essential in controlling the midfield at the u20 level.

The other option I believe separates from the pack of the 8’s is Cole Bassett. Cole is one of the many underrated prospects to come out of the Colorado Rapids. Cole, like Tanner is a very physically gifted player who covers ground well. The difference between Cole and Tanner is that Tanner is better on the ball, has a better passing range, and is more dangerous in the attack. However, if Cole needed to sub in or if Tanner got hurt then the u20’s would still be fine and I would be confident that they could steam roll almost any team they play.

The reserve options are very notable just because of how much boom or bust potential both have. The first reserve option is Bryang Kayo. Bryang is more physically gifted than both Tanner and Cole but is not quite as good on the ball as either. However, in Germany Bryang will be pushed harder to polish his skills and could very well play his way into the roster.

Moses Nyeman is the other reserve that I think has a chance to make this team. Moses is not like the other three 8’s on the youth national team because he is not the most physically gifted player (he is 5’6 125 on a good day). However, Moses is much better on the ball than the other three and it is not even close. Moses also has bite and will make the hard tackles when needed as shown in his Loundon United matches. If Moses can hit the weights and start to make some appearances for DC United (play the kid Ben Olsen!) then he could easily jump into the roster, the kid has that much potential even as a 2003.

Top Options: Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas), Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids)

Young player to watch: Moses Nyeman (DC United)

In the pool: Bryang Kayo (Wolfsburg)

Attacking Mid

Gio Reyna

Attacking midfield is another very strong position for theyouth national team. This has the potential to be the strongest position in the pool but also is not very likely to as Gio Reyna is on track to skip the u20 level and head to the USMNT. At this point you all know who Gio Reyna is and the qualities he brings so I don’t need to say why he is the starter here. But, with the u20 World Cup, the Gold Cup, the Olympics, and potentially World Cup Qualifiers there is going to be a lot of games jam packed into the summer of 2021. With Gio not just being a starter for the u20’s but the Olympic team and the USMNT then there will have to be competitions he misses out on.

Should USMNT fans have to worry about the u20’s even without Gio Reyna? Not at all, and that is because of Jose Gallegos. Jose Gallegos is this u20 cycle’s edition of Richie Ledezma, the kid who popped up out of no where playing in the USL with loads of talent. However, Jose is even more unique than Richie because he did not actually play in the Development Academy. Jose should serve as an example to players out there that you don’t have to play in the top tier youth leagues to end up as a professional soccer player. If there is a USL team near you, give them a chance to help make your dreams come true! Jose has grit, he has the skill, he has the vision, and he has the playmaking ability in his gene’s. This is a kid who should be a real break through at the u20 World Cup.

Assuming Gio does not play with this youth national team, there will need to be a backup for Jose. In my opinion, that backup should be Thomas Roberts. Thomas has almost all of the skill as Jose but is not quite as athletic. Thomas has consistently produced at every level he has played at and was one of the standouts in the early parts of this u20 cycle. When Paxton Pomykal and Jesus Ferreira move on from FC Dallas, Thomas should fill in quickly and effectively.

There is one other player who could become part of the player pool but I am unsure of the actual possibility of this happening. The player I am talking about is Efrain Alvarez. There are a couple reasons for him to join the youth national team. The first is would Efra leave the Mexico setup to play for Anthony Hudson? I am pretty doubtful of this because of Anthony Hudson’s not so great coaching track record and the ideal coach for Efra not being involved in the USA setup. Another reason is would Efra be willing to file a one time switch so quickly after making a u17 World Cup final run with Mexico and permanently seal who he plays for? If he does then does he not feel like he has a future in the Mexican national team system? If Efra feels valued, then why would he file a one time switch and leave after being given everything he wants by the Mexico federation? The only thing that I could see not making Efra debate switching is him not getting called into the early Mexico u20 camps. But at the same time of not getting called into the Mexico u20’s, would Efra make the USA u20’s who are a lot more talented and have a lot more depth at his position? If he wouldn’t then there is no chance he files the one time switch and moves into the USA setup. I think there is a very good chance of convincing Efra to switch long term, but I do not think it would be smart for Efra to switch so early until Mexico has completely closed the door on him.

Top Options: Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Jose Gallegos (San Antonio FC)

Young players to watch: Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls), Johnny Perez (LA Galaxy)

In the pool: Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas), Matteo Ritaccio (Liverpool), Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo)

Unlikely dual national: Efrain Alvarez (Mexico, LA Galaxy)

Attack

Wingers

Uly Llanez

The reason I listed Gio Reyna with the attacking midfielders is because the wingers are exceptionally talented for this cycle. Tab Ramos’ mentality for the youth national team was that you should always want to play as many good player as you can, even if it means one is not in his strongest position but can still benefit the team. With both Uly Llanez and Konrad De La Fuente in this group, the wings are going to be fast, skilled, dangerous, and unstoppable.

Uly is one of the hottest USMNT prospects currently and I think he will end up being with the team being in a similar situation that Tim Weah was with the last group. If Uly is given the chance to play with this team, Uly will be a force and will quickly draw the eyes of the world. Konrad is a player with a lot to prove this cycle. I actually came away impressed Konrad after the last tournament and this is an opinion that is not shared with many. The reason for this is because Konrad held his own and was still confident on the dribble and beating defenders as a 17 year old in a u20 World Cup. With two more years of development at La Masia, Konrad will be playing with a chip on his shoulders and I think Konrad will be in for an electrifying tournament.

The third winger that I am taking for this youth national team is Cameron Harper. Cam is not as technically sound as both Uly and Konrad but makes up for it by being ridiculously fast. Cam will be faster than any full back at this level and has the dribbling ability to beat defenders easily. Cam could make his first team debut for Celtic before the u20 World Cup happens and has been the top standout with the u20’s early in the cycle so far. If Uly is withheld from the team then expect Matko Milijevic to step in. Matko will bring the flair you often see from South American wingers who were born with a ball at their feet.

Top options: Uly Llanez (Wolfsburg), Konrad De La Fuente (FC Barcelona), Cameron Harper (Celtic)

Young player to watch: Dante Sealy (FC Dallas)

In the pool: Matko Milijevic (Argentinos Juniors)

Strikers

Ricardo Pepi

This is the only weak spot in the youth national team. The best player in this group is Ricardo Pepi who I don’t think is actually ready for the u20 level because he did not have a very good u17 World Cup. However, compared to the other options Pepi is by far the best at connecting with defenders and being clinical in front of the net. Ricardo Pepi is a top tier striker prospect but as a 2003 he will be playing an age group up against much older and stronger center backs who will be better than almost anyone he will face off against in the MLS.

The other striker I would take for this youth national team is someone who may not actually be a striker long term and that is Indiana Vassilev. Indy can literally play in every position and if you have not watched a youth world cup, versatility matters when choosing a 21-man roster. Indy has played as a 6, 8, 10, winger, and striker over the last three years and has excelled at every position. However, many fans at Aston Villa believe that his best position is either up top as the 9, or on the left wing. Due to Aston Villa being one of the only clubs to never release film of their youth teams anywhere online, we will have to take the club’s die hard supporters word for where he currently plays. Indy also made his Premier League debut as a 10 and made another appearance as a striker. Indy’s versatility to play six different positions will be key for this team.

The other striker options are all less than thrilling for the youth national team. The best of the group is Charlie Kelman who has been doing well with Southend United. The fourth option would be Matthew Hoppe with Schalke and the last option before there is a massive drop off is Johan Gomez at Porto. None of these players excite me and I don’t see any of them having a USMNT future but because the roster depth is so thin at this position, all are still in the running to make this team.

One player could turn this position into a strength but in my opinion is a pipe dream and that is Folarin Balogun. Folarin is on track to be a first team player for Arsenal as early as next season and has been a prolific goalscorer for the Arsenal academy at every single level. However, all signs are pointing to Folarin leaning towards England as he does not have any photos on his Instagram from when he played with the Ussoccer u18 YNT and he also only follows one person who has any ties to Ussoccer and that is Owen Otasowie (who is a English dual-national). Folarin would turn the USA into a powerhouse at this level but that is not looking like it will happen.

Top options: Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas), Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa)

In the pool: Charlie Kelman (Southend United), Matthew Hoppe (Schalke), Johan Gomez (FC Porto)

Unlikely dual-national: Folarin Balogun (Arsenal)

The ideal 21-man youth national team roster for this age group

u20 USMNT

The idea of this youth national team is to be a possession based team with attacking prowess similar to the previous u20 World Cup team. Like the last u20 cycle, this group should make teams play their game. This team should control the tempo and momentum of every game they play in no matter who they are lining up against. So what should the expectations be with this group? If at full strength, this team should be expected to make at least a semi-final run. Anything less would be a disappointment. If the youth national team does not have Gio and Uly, then they should still be expected to make it to the quarterfinal like the three previous u20 cycles have done.

So how does this youth national team compare to the previous cycle? The defense overall is not as solid as the last backline of Chris Gloster, Mark McKenzie (or Aboubacar Keita who filled in), Chris Richards, and Sergino Dest. The midfield however is a much better group than the last cycle. The last group kept possession well but struggled to turn possession into goals and that won’t be the case with this group. The 2019 midfield was also relatively easy to play through (see the quarterfinal against Ecuador) which won’t be the case with this team. The offenses of both teams are about equal. The previous u20s had better strikers but this group has better wingers so it balances out. If both youth national teams played each other, the score would be just about even. There is one difference between the two cycles and that is depth. The current u20 cycle would be able to qualify in Concacaf with their c-team. In fact, USA already beat the Mexico u20’s with a majority second and third choice roster (some players in the camp are realistically not even good enough to be third choice players).

So how would this group do against the u20 teams who were not developed in the 10-month season DA? This youth national team would likely slaughter all of them except for the 2007 World Cup team which contained players like Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, and Freddy Adu. The 2007 would only lose by 2 goals most likely, the gap in level from what the USA used to developed compared to now is that big, things are changing. Every other u20 team the USA has sent out would get fleeced by 3 or 4 goals at least by this side, including the 2015 and 2017 teams who both made quarterfinal runs. The future is bright.

If you enjoyed this article make sure to give me a follow on twitter (@dkerr0118) so you can be kept up to date on more content like this about our youth national team!

Club News

American Transfers: Stock Up & Stock Down

Published

3 months ago

September 9, 2024

Zach McCabe

The 2024 summer transfer window closed on September 1^st 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 13^th. 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 1^st 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.

Club News

Who’s a Keeper?

Published

4 months ago

August 21, 2024

Thomas Deschaine

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.

Club News

The Top 10 Americans in Europe this Season

Published

6 months ago

June 10, 2024

Zach McCabe

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

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 9^th on my list.

Josh Sargent

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 6^th 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 10^th, 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 1^st 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 6^th 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 2^nd best American this season and even 1^st 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 4^th of all players in the league for goals and assists. For Milan, he was their 2^nd highest goal scorer and had the 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 3^rd in possession won in defensive 3^rd 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.