U16 USYNT October roster analyis

GK, Zorian Hickson, Real Salt Lake
GK, Luca Shevchenko, LA Galaxy
GK, Gunnar Vanzant, Atlanta United
LB, Santiago Alvarez, Houston Dynamo
LB, Ian Miller, Portland Timbers
RB, Blaise Blackwell, Nashville SC
RB, Wilson Mazariegos, San Jose Earthquakes
CB, Sasha Charles-Antoine, Seattle Sounder
CB, Pietro Lolos, Red Bull New York
CB, Colin Panarelli, NYCFC
DM, Maximiliano Alvarez, Orlando City
DM, Dinolen Shang, San Jose Earthquakes
CM, Austin "AJ" Gonzalez, Red Bull New York
CM, Jacob Mays, Philadelphia Union
CM, Cosimo Tristani, NYCFC
AM, Darwin Lopez, FC Cincinnati
W, Williver Chea, Atlanta United
W, Djibriil Rivera, FC Cincinnati
W, Ryan Schlotterbeck, FC Cincinnati
W, Nolawi Teshome, Houston Dynamo
CF, Oscar Olsen, Houston Dynamo
CF, Carson Starrett, Orlando City
CF, Santi Suarez-Couri, Atlanta United

Goalkeepers

All three of these keepers are in their first camp, and I really like the selections. All are players I’ve tagged as prospects and am continuing to get to know. Hickson is a player I’ve admired for a while, and he’s finally getting his chance to start every game at RSL. Vanzant joined Atlanta midway through last season and has impressed. Shevchenko was injured all of last season, but I’ve heard he’s highly rated at Galaxy.

Center-backs

Leone is one of the most experienced YNT center-backs in this class, so it’s good to see him in the group. Lolos can play center-back, but he projects more as a right-back or a six. Whatever he plays, he does it well. He’s a super-intelligent player who can organize a backline. Charles-Antoine is a good selection in my view, and he’s developed a lot since the start of last season. If he can get to an acceptable center-back size, the rest of his tools project to pro level.

There are still some center-backs I’d love to see get a look, most notably CB, Kai Simmonds, Philadelphia Union (2011). He’s 6-3 and mobile, he loves to defend and his passing continues to improve. All the tools are there, and assuming he’s been available, I hope his chance comes soon. There are a handful of other center-backs in this class who deserve a look as well.

Left-backs

Both left-backs have been in camp before. I see Ian Miller’s position differently than U.S. Soccer does. I’m a fan of this player, but I think his best work is done in midfield. I’m not sure he has the profile to handle the defensive duties of a left-back long term.

This is a good left-back class, and a few guys I rate highly continue to be left out, though there may be reasons we’re not seeing. That group includes LB, Andre Campbell, Inter Miami (2011), LB, Jayden Staines, Philadelphia Union (2011), LB, Matthew Brusco, Cedar Stars Bergen (2011), LB, Logan Leaf, Atlanta United (2011) and LB, Isaiah Fabunmi, D.C. United (2011).

Right-backs

The two right-backs in this camp are currently my top two right-backs in the class, so I’m in alignment here. This is Blackwell’s first camp, and it’s great to see him get the call. He isn’t a flashy player, but he has the physical tools the position demands and he can defend explosive wingers. To me, that’s job number one for a right-back.

Another player I’d like to see get his first camp is Kai Simmonds’ twin brother, Grant Simmonds. I’d also like to see U.S. Soccer project some players at right-back who aren’t playing the position yet. One idea is Houston Dynamo’s Kenzy Pierre.

Pivots

I like the pivot group. Many of these guys, like Tristani, Shang and Alvarez, have a lot of experience with U.S. Soccer. Mays has moved from right-back to midfield this season and has looked good. Clearly U.S. Soccer has liked that transition as well. He also adds the flexibility to play right-back at a good level. Gonzalez is in his first camp is a player that I know RBNY rate highly as he has been playing up with the U18s the entire season.

This position group is a major strength of the class, so some guys I rate highly are still on the outside looking in. That includes CM, Jaethan Irwin, Phoenix Rising (2011), CM, Aiden Appiah, Nashville SC (2011), CM, Carlos Lopez, Austin FC (2011) and CM, Kayden Drolette, San Jose Earthquakes (2011).

Attacking midfielders

The only true number ten in this group is Darwin Lopez from FC Cincinnati. U.S. Soccer typically overloads rosters with tens and brings very few wingers. This roster doesn’t do that, and it’s a breath of fresh air. I have some questions about Lopez’s upside, but he’s a really technical and creative player. I have time for that as long as the roster doesn’t have five of the same profile.

Wingers

I really like how U.S. Soccer approached this position group. None of these guys are finished products, but they have the foundation needed to become good wingers. Schlotterbeck and Chea are experienced USYNT players, and deservedly so.

Rivera and Teshome aren’t polished yet. Like many young wingers, they can struggle in the final third. But they have the pace, creativity, flair and 1v1 ability that should be the baseline for our YNT wingers.

Center-forwards

I count three strikers in this group, which again I really like to see. Suarez-Couri is just getting back from a long injury, and I see him as a top-5 player in this class.

Olsen is the son of Ben Olsen, head coach of Houston Dynamo. He’s a smart and productive player, but I don’t see the same upside.

Starrett is one of the big new additions to the group. He has a ton of tools. Goal scoring has been the main criticism of his game, but it has picked up early this season. He has the profile of a modern striker and could be a player who sticks.

1. CM, Jaethan Irwin, Phoenix Rising

The wait continues…

2. CB, Kai Simmonds, Philadelphia Union

Simmonds continues to get better and better. With the way Philly develops players, he’s one of the most projectable center-backs in this class. He still has clear areas to improve, but with a little projection, he looks like he could end up being one of the better players from this class.

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

Camara has been consistently impressive. Without knowing the full picture, it’s hard to say what’s keeping him out, but I hope he gets his chance soon.

4. LB, Andre Campbell, Inter Miami

Campbell is another projectable player with all the tools to be a successful left-back now and into the future.

5. CM, Carlos Lopez, Austin FC

Lopez has really caught my eye this year. I can’t confirm he’s eligible. He plays for Austin and has been called up by Honduras at the youth level, but youth call-ups don’t tie a player to one federation.

I like the way U.S. Soccer approached this squad. There’s clarity and balance across the position groups, with a good mix of projectable profiles. I like the emphasis on true wingers over makeshift attacking midfielders on the wing. I like that they’re bringing in multiple strikers, and I like the combination of profiles in midfield. There are also some really promising debutants: the goalkeeping group, Blackwell, Charles-Antoine, Rivera, Teshome and Starrett.

The 2011 class is the deepest I’ve seen to date in terms of players who have a shout at a USYNT invite. With that depth, many super-talented players are still waiting for their chance. These aren’t marginal talents. Guys like Irwin, Simmonds, Camara and Campbell are big-time players. There may be reasons behind the scenes we’re not aware of, but I hope they get a look soon.

Overall, I like the expansion of the pool, and some of these guys could impress and become core players for this generation. As this group gets closer to its shot at the U17 World Cup, the competition for spots is going to be fiercer than in any class before it.