U16 USYNT November roster analyis

GK, Zach Lapierre, New England Revolution
GK, Alex Bayraktarov, Chicago Fire
LB, Zorion Civil, Orlando City
LB, Easton Odom, San Diego FC
RB, Aidan Carlos, LAFC
CB, Reggie Bailey, San Jose Earthquakes
CB, Malachi Joseph, Red Bull New York
CB, Matthew Leone, LA Galaxy
CB, Ethan O'Neil, San Diego FC
DM, Manny Adewunmi, Columbus Crew
CM, Chris Gonzalez, Houston Dynamo
CM, Diego Ros, FC Dallas
CM, Cosimo Tristani, NYCFC
CM, Levi Welch, LAFC
W, Benji Flowers, FC Dallas
W, Kenzynton Pierre, Houston Dynamo
W, Ryan Schlotterbeck, FC Cincinnati
W, Nolawi Teshome, Houston Dynamo
CF, Romualdo Aguirre, CF Monterrey
CF, Santi Suarez-Couri, Atlanta United

Goalkeepers

Lapierre and Bayraktarov are my two top-rated keepers in the class right now. Lapierre is in a tier of his own. I’d bunch Bayraktarov with a few other keepers who aren’t ideal size, but he’s the most polished of that group.

Center-backs

I’m totally on board with Joseph and Bailey, two of my top center-backs in this class. Joseph is a player I was calling for a lot last year, and now he’s starting to break through. He’s improved a lot this year. I haven’t seen as much of Bailey this year, but I’ve heard he’s taken a significant step forward too. Leone and O’Neil have been two of the most consistent center-backs called into this age group. I struggle to see the long-term projection on either right now, but they’re high performers at the moment, for sure.

Two names I would’ve liked to see here are Mason Washington (LAFC) and Kai Simmonds (Philadelphia Union). Washington might be injured, as I haven’t seen him in LAFC’s lineup in a while. He’s also played in a U15 tournament with Mexico. Simmonds is still waiting on his first call-up. He’s a highly projectable center-back prospect with his size, range and defensive tenacity.

Left-backs

Odom and Civil are becoming regulars for this group. I see more potential in Odom than Civil. Odom is my LB1 in this class right now and he has become a more composed and polished player this year. SDFC seem to be doing a good job with him. There are a few other players at this position in this class I really like: Jayden Staines (Philadelphia Union), Andre Campbell (Inter Miami) and Isaiah Fabunmi (D.C. United).

Right-backs

Aidan Carlos is the only right-back on the roster. In my opinion, this is a position U.S. Soccer is misidentifying in its scouting. It requires a high level of athleticism, and from what we can see, athleticism doesn’t seem to be a priority attribute in these selections. A few of the right-backs I’d prioritize are Wilson Marzariegos (San Jose Earthquakes), Blaise Blackwell (Nashville SC) and Grant Simmonds (Philadelphia Union).

Pivots

There’s a ton of versatility and talent in the midfield in this class. It’s by far the deepest position group, and every roster is going to leave some really talented players at home. This is a really strong group, and all of these players have a shout at my top 20 list, which will be updated in December. Of all of them, Diego Ros is probably the player I rate highest right now. He gives me some Luka Modrić energy at times.

Some of the talented players who weren’t selected but are still deserving include Jaethan Irwin (Phoenix Rising), Aiden Appiah (Nashville SC), Dino Shang (San Jose Earthquakes), Grant Choi (San Diego FC) and Tommy DiMaria (St. Louis City)

Attacking midfielders

A few of the players I’m calling eights can play here. Gonzalez, Ros, Tristani and Welch can all do it, but none of them are true number tens. I can’t remember the last time a USYNT roster didn’t include an attacking midfielder.

In terms of names that aren’t here, the biggest is Jackson “Papo” Gordon. He was in the last camp, and though he was hobbled by injuries for much of it, I heard he was very good in the scrimmage. My guess is that Valencia didn’t release him because this camp isn’t in an official FIFA window. The other big name missing is Zamir Loyo Reynaga (Sporting KC). I’m not sure of the reason, but he could be focusing on Mexico at this point.

The player I rate highly who hasn’t been called in yet is Maxwell Camara (D.C. United). He can play as an eight, a ten or a pocket winger. Ian Miller (Portland Timbers) is another super creative player I like in this role, but U.S. Soccer seems to see him as a left-back.

Wingers

The winger group for this class could be so dynamic if all the top players were ever called in or available for the same roster. The two top names not here are Daniel Brown (Charlotte FC) and Chris Fitanidis (Cedar Stars Bergen), two of the best players in this class. Assuming both were available, I’m surprised not to see them, though there may be reasons we’re not seeing.

Benji Flowers is the top name that is here. Schlotterbeck is a good player, but I’m not sure he’s a winger long term. U.S. Soccer seems to really rate Pierre, who has been in every camp of significance, but I have yet to be truly wowed by him. Teshome is the most interesting name on the list. He just had his first camp and has been called back. He can be very dynamic at times with his dribbling, and I see the vision with this one from U.S. Soccer. He’s still raw, but he has the pieces to be a good winger down the road.

A few other names I would’ve considered is Jayden Gonzalez (Seattle Sounders) and Neville Knowles III (Villarreal), but like Gordon, he might not have been released. Both play only a couple of hours from where these games are being held.

Center-forwards

The two strikers, Aguirre and Suarez-Couri, are my top two strikers in this class. Both are very good footballers who can do a lot of things at a high level. Carson Starrett have every right to be disappointed not to be here and Nosa Osagie missed Minnesota's last game, so he may not be fit to play.

1. CM, Jaethan Irwin, Phoenix Rising

2. CB, Kai Simmonds, Philadelphia Union

3. AM/W, Maxwell Camara, D.C. United

4. CM, Carlos Lopez, Austin FC: Lopez has been one of the most improved players from this class this season, but he’s currently at the U17 World Cup playing up two years. He isn’t with the U.S. group there, so he could end up committed to another federation.

5. LB, Jayden Staines, Philadelphia Union: Staines is the new addition to my top five players who haven’t been selected. He’s made a nice jump this year, and I think he’s now at a YNT level.

This is a super deep class with so many YNT-level options, so it’s hard to go too wrong. There are still some really big talents who have yet to be in a camp, several of whom I’ve mentioned. U.S. Soccer rarely introduces many new names for a set of European friendlies, so it’s no big surprise that no new names were added, though I think it would’ve been good to see one or two.

My main concern is that Brown and Fitanidis aren’t here, though without knowing the full picture, there may be a good reason. It’s too bad this camp wasn’t in a FIFA window. If it were, I think we definitely would’ve seen Gordon and maybe Knowles. The backline is where I have the most criticism of the roster. Outside of the Easton Odom selection, I would’ve done things differently at both full-back positions, and I would’ve brought a few different center-backs.