USMNT

MLS 2023: American U21 Impact Rankings 1.0

Published

1 year ago

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Four weeks into the 2023 MLS season and it looks like it is going to be a much bigger year for young Americans after a down year in 2022. Caleb Wiley has been the headline with five goal contributions in four games, all five coming in his last two and Atlanta looking like they are going to be a force in the Eastern Conference. The 2004 class is off to a strong start overall with Owen Wolff looking like a primary starter, Chris Brady picking up where Gaga Slonina left off and Darren Yapi getting a ton of early minutes. 

John Tolkin, who finished atop last year’s rankings is also off to a strong start with two assists — continuing to make a case for a European move. 

Ted Ku-DiPietro has been another early success story with a goal and assist late in matchday 1 to give DC United the come from behind win. Teddy KDP has started the last two games and looks like a guy Rooney is starting to trust. 

Jalen Neal is another great story early in the year. It looks like he is earning a starting center-back spot for LA Galaxy at the tender center-back age of 19. Neal looks like he has made big strides in his development from last season and could be the next big CB prospect coming out of MLS. 

Michael Halliday and Noel Buck are two other new starters this season and have been playing admirably. Cade Cowell has started every game and is racking up expected goals and assists, but he has not yet tallied a goal contribution. 

Brian Gutierrez has picked up where he left off in 2022 and looks like he is going to be a major difference maker. 

Miguel Perez and the expansion club St. Louis City has been one of the great early stories in the year. Perez has come out of obscurity to become a key squad player for STL and has recently been awarded with his first youth national team camp. 

The Philly kids have not been super impactful nor have they seen a ton of MLS league minutes so far, similar to last year. 

Matai Akinmboni is the first 2006 born player that has received minutes this year and at center-back no less. He has looked rocky, which is to be expected for a player that young at that position, but the trust from Rooney is very encouraging. 

Obed Vargas returned to the pitch for Seattle after a back injury sidelined him for over six months. 

Overall it’s been a super exciting start to the season for young Americans and it looks like we could see a big wave of exports in this summer’s transfer window.

Top 25

#1 | LB, Caleb Wiley, Atlanta United (2004)

Minutes: 254
G+: 0.00
Fotmob rating: 7.88
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
xGA / 90: 0.59
GA / 90: 1.77

#2 | CM, Owen Wolff, Austin FC (2004)

Minutes: 280
G+: -0.01
Fotmob rating: 7.48
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
xGA / 90: 0.04
GA / 90: 0.64

https://twitter.com/usmntonly/status/1634756771817439232?s=20

#3 | LB, John Tolkin, New York Red Bulls (2002)

Minutes: 360
G+: -0.18
Fotmob rating: 7.62
Assists: 2
xGA / 90: 0.14
GA / 90: 0.50

https://twitter.com/FootballReprt/status/1637267189668499457?s=20

#4 | GK, Chris Brady, Chicago Fire (2004) 

Minutes: 180
G+: 0.51
Fotmob rating: 6.41
GA / 90: 2.00
PSxG +/- /90: -0.18

#5 | AM, Ted Ku-DiPietro, DC United (2002)

Minutes: 201
G+: 0.05
Fotmob rating: 6.99
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
xGA / 90: 0.50
G+A / 90: 0.90

https://twitter.com/MLSComps/status/1630246152946831360?s=20

#6 | AM, Brian Gutierrez, Chicago Fire (2003)

Minutes: 153
G+: -0.30
Fotmob rating: 6.69
Assists: 1
xGA / 90: 0.16
G+A / 90: 0.59

#7 | RB, Tayvon Gray, New York City FC (2002)

Minutes: 195
G+: 0.03
Fotmob rating: 6.75
xGA / 90: 0.02

#8 | CB, Jalen Neal, LA Galaxy (2003)

Minutes: 206
G+: –0.03
Fotmob rating: 6.43
Goals Against / 90: 0.43

https://twitter.com/americanwigends/status/1637450539771240448?s=20

 #9 | RB, Michael Halliday, Orlando City (2003)

Minutes: 239
G+: -0.27
Fotmob rating: 7.00
xGA / 90: 0.09

#10 | CM, Noel Buck, New England Revolution (2005)

Minutes: 289
G+: -0.24
Fotmob rating: 6.83
xGA / 90: 0.19

#11 | WING, Cade Cowell, San Jose Earthquakes (2003)

Minutes: 299
G+: -0.22
Fotmob rating: 6.22
xGA / 90: 0.61

https://twitter.com/americanwigends/status/1632938076937895937?s=20

#12 | CF, Darren Yapi, Colorado Rapids (2004)

Minutes: 351
G+: –0.23
Fotmob rating: 6.12
xGA / 90: 0.48

#13 | DM, Miguel Perez, St. Louis City (2005)

Minutes: 125
G+: –0.21
Fotmob rating: 6.90
xGA / 90: 0.22

#14 | WING, Andres Jasson, New York City FC (2002)

Minutes: 81
G+: 0.07
Fotmob rating: 6.65
xGA / 90: 0.58

#15 | DM, Daniel Edelman, NYRB (2003)

Minutes: 109
G+: -0.17
Fotmob rating: 6.46
xGA / 90: 0.02

#16 | WING, Damián Rivera, New England Revolution (2002)

Minutes: 63
G+: 0.03
Fotmob rating: 6.74
xGA / 90: 0.18

#17 | CM, Jack McGlynn, Philadelphia Union (2003)

Minutes: 61
G+: -0.02
Fotmob rating: 6.62
xGA / 90: 0.30

#18 | CB, Matai Akinmboni, DC United (2006)

Minutes: 108
G+: -0.40
Fotmob rating: 6.32
Goals Against / 90: 1.67

#19 | RB, Jacob Greene, DC (2003)

Minutes: 45
G+: -0.03
Fotmob Rating: 6.81
xGA / 90: 0.00

#20 | CF, Tega Ikoba, Portland Timbers (2003)

Minutes: 15
G+: 0.20
Fotmob Rating: 7.27
Goals: 1
G+A / 90: 6.00
xGA / 90: 1.32

#21 | AM, Diego Luna, RSL (2003)

Minutes: 34
G+: 0.03
Fotmob rating: 6.56
xGA / 90: 0.14

#22 | CM, Obed Vargas, Seattle (2005)

Minutes: 28
G+: -0.03
Fotmob rating: 6.18
xGA / 90: 0.00

#23 | DM, Josh Atencio, Seattle Sounders (2002)

Minutes: 26
G+: -0.02
Fotmob rating: 6.04
xGA / 90: 0.00

#24 | CF, Quinn Sullivan, Philadelphia Union (2004)

Minutes: 22
G+: -0.09
Fotmob rating: 6.11
xGA / 90: 0.35

#25 | WING, Jackson Hopkins, DC United (2004)

Minutes: 38
G+: -0.19
Fotmob rating: 5.94
xGA / 90: 0.27

Statistical sources: Football Reference, American Soccer Analysis

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