Is it just me, or is our team fairly dogs**t?
by PeteatND (2017-03-15 20:30:31)

In reply to: and Dax McCarty is the new Beckerman  posted by plaid_pants

Post Reply Return to Clark's Pitch

Given the growing popularity of soccer at youth levels over the past 25 years, one would've thought our talent level would've improved somewhat.

But the way I see it, the best players on the team are either foreign-born (Brooks, Johnson, Nagbe), or 18 years old (Pulisic). Perhaps Bradley, but even he -- as the son of a former national team head coach -- isn't really emblematic of a widening in the American talent pool.

Where's all the young, home-grown talent? Even guys like Morris (22) and Wood (24) aren't young enough to be considered future superstars.

The young, homegrown talent isn't even 20 yet.
by PaulM  (2017-03-16 01:55:52)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Yes, the sport has been growing in popularity, but just because a sport is popular doesn't mean you play it well. Basketball has been huge in China for a couple decades and they haven't seen much in the way of results.

The top American talent that has received good quality training in dedicated systems for most of their life hasn't had as much time. If you look at our U-17 team, they've looked dominant in recent competition and have the CONCACAF championship later next month. They should be World Cup bound after that.

Our U-20s just won their first ever CONCACAF championship on the back of a weakened squad, and are headed to the World Cup this summer in South Korea where they should put in a good showing. A weak pool means advancing is likely there.

Our last cycle of U-20s made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Serbia, the eventual champions. While many of those players are struggling to find playing time now the quality is there. Carter-Vickers, Zelalem, Hyndman, Rubin, Miazga, are a few examples of the talent on that team.

Pulisic isn't the culmination of a long period of US soccer development; he's the first and best of a group of players that is slowly rising through the ranks. Though many will not pan out, the overall talent pool is getting better.
Precisely. I think Pulisic will be the headliner...
by baloo88  (2017-03-16 09:01:31)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Of a mini golden generation for the USMNT. I'm very bullish on our chances at the U-20 World Cup. Haji Wright, Josh Perez, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Gedion Zelalem (whom I don't really rate, but others apparently do) were among the big names left off the CONCACAF Championship roster. Erik Palmer-Brown, Brooks Lennon, and Luca de la Torre all impressed me at that tournament. This might sound absurd, but I think our U-20s are dark horses to win the World Cup.