U16 USYNT September roster analyis

GK, Zach Lapierre, New England Revolution
GK, Luan Silva, Orlando City
GK, Alex Bayraktarov, Chicago Fire
LB, Zorion Civil, Orlando City
LB, Easton Odom, San Diego FC
RB, Aidan Carlos, LAFC
RB, Mason Moskau, Atlanta United
CB, Reggie Bailey, San Jose Earthquakes
CB, Malachi Joseph, New York Red Bulls
CB, Mason Washington, LAFC
CB, Ethan O'Neil, San Diego FC
DM, Manny Adewunmi, Columbus Crew
DM, Nick Harris, FC Cincinnati
CM, Tommy DiMaria, St. Louis City
CM, Christopher Gonzalez, Houston Dynamo
CM, Diego Ros, FC Dallas
CM, Levi Welch, LAFC
AM, Papo Gordon, Valencia
W, Daniel Brown, Charlotte FC
W, Kenzynton Pierre, Houston Dynamo
W, Gabriel Vazquez, D.C. United
W, Leo Woehl, Columbus Crew
CF, Rumy Aguirre, CF Monterrey
CF, Nosa Osagie, Minnesota United

Goalkeepers

There are no surprises within the goalkeeping group. It seems U.S. Soccer has aligned around their top three for this age group, Lapierre, Silva and Bayraktarov. Lapierre is the number one in my opinion and a top prospect. Silva and Bayraktarov are extremely mature keepers for their age, though I do have some questions around their long-term ceiling.

One keeper from this class I'm going to keep a close eye on this season is GK, Zion Hickson, Real Salt Lake. He was a backup while playing up an age group last year and didn't get a lot of game time. This year he'll be the U16 starter and will get more exposure. I really liked what I saw from him in his U14 season.

Center-backs

The four center-backs are Bailey, Joseph, O'Neil and Washington. O'Neil is the most experienced at the international level and he's been ping-ponging between Mexico and the United States. Washington has been doing the same, though Mexico brought him in first. Washington was the only center-back in my latest top 20 rankings for this class. Bailey is in my top four center-backs in this class and has extremely intriguing upside, though he's been inconsistent. He's also been in a few camps already.

This is Malachi Joseph's first USYNT camp. He was a player I was calling for frequently last season and now he's getting his opportunity. I've heard he was outstanding in Salzburg this summer at the preseason tournament RBNY goes to every year, and that many European clubs were asking about him. I scouted him live last weekend against NYCFC and he was dominant both in his duels and on the ball. He looked ready for U18 minutes. I believe he could become a mainstay in this generation's national team given his size, duel-winning, left-footedness and ball-playing ability.

I like this center-back group, especially Bailey, Washington and Joseph, three of my top four center-backs in this class. The one player who hasn't received a call-up that I'd like to see get a look soon is CB, Kai Simmonds, Philadelphia Union (2011), though there may well be reasons for that we're not seeing. He has a little Neil Pierre to him in that he has a great physical profile and he's extremely physical in duels.

Full-backs

On the left side, Odom and Civil were selected. Odom had an up-and-down U15 season last year, but I'm excited to see how he develops now that he's at SDFC. There's no question he has huge potential, but decision-making and playing with a little more composure are areas where he needs to grow, and I'm hopeful he'll develop nicely in his new academy environment. Civil is a solid player and is on the younger side, which suggests some additional upside, though I'd still like to see LB, Andre Campbell, Inter Miami get an opportunity, assuming he's available. I also like Isaiah Fabunmi and would like to see Matthew Brusco at left-back even though he is primarily a left-winger right now.

On the right side it's Carlos and Moskau. From what we can see, right-back looks like the thinnest position in this age group. I don't think anyone has emerged as a clear candidate, so I'd like to see U.S. Soccer do more experimentation here until a couple of guys separate themselves.

Pivots (defensive & central-midfielders)

There are six players I'd define as pivots, either 6s or 8s. That's a lot. I do really like the group. Harris, Adewunmi, Ros and Welch are all in my latest top 20 list for this class and Gonzalez was close to cracking it. And DiMaria looked very impressive last weekend in St. Louis City's first match of the season.

I have no major issues with this group, but there's one player who continues to get overlooked who might end up being the best of this bunch, CM, Jaethan Irwin, Phoenix Rising. He's one of the most talented players in this class who hasn't been invited to a camp. Hopefully that changes soon, assuming there's nothing behind the scenes keeping him out.

Attacking-midfielders

The biggest news of this camp's roster is the inclusion of attacking-midfielder Papo Gordon. Gordon is a South Florida native who moved to Spain over a year ago back and now plays for Valencia's academy. Before that, he was getting invited up an age group at talent ID camps. Last year he was injured for a large portion of the season with growing-pain-related issues, but now he's back and ready to roll. Leading up to last season he was considered one of, if not the, top U.S. talent in the 2011 class, so this is a big-time addition to this generation's pool.

I'm sure one or two of the players in the pivots group will play a more advanced role like Gordon. Gonzalez is probably the most capable playmaker of that group.

The big name who isn't here is AM, Zamir Loyo Reynaga, Sporting Kansas City, who is with Mexico playing up an age group. It will be interesting to see how U.S. Soccer responds and whether they consider playing him up with the 2010s as well.

Another name who isn't here, but who I heard was invited, is AM, Cris Batiz, Seattle Sounders, last year's U15 Generation adidas Cup Golden Boot winner. I believe he's still working on his passport, but apparently is far enough along that U.S. Soccer felt comfortable inviting him, though I think he decided to go to a Honduran camp instead. This is definitely a situation to monitor, because he's probably a top 10 player in this class.

Wingers

The winger group has three returnees in Brown, Pierre and Vazquez and one new addition in Woehl. I believe Woehl has been deserving of a selection for a while. He was consistently one of the best players in this class last year and I'm happy to see him finally get an opportunity.

Brown is the top winger in the group and my third overall player in this class as of my last rankings. He's a top, top player and should be in every camp in which he's available. I'm a fan of Vazquez and take no issue with his continued call-ups. Pierre seems to be well thought of by U.S. Soccer, though I wouldn't mind seeing some others get a look.

There are two top players in this class who aren't here, Benji Flowers, FC Dallas and Chris Fitanidis. Fitanidis isn't in this camp and I believe that's because he's training over in Germany with Werder Bremen. He also trained with Genk this summer. He has a Greek passport and is eligible to transfer to a club in the European Union once he turns 16 in 2027.

Flowers' absence is due to the same reason as Loyo Reynaga, he is playing up an age group with Mexico. My instinct is that U.S. Soccer understands one of its top prospects is now in a recruiting battle, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the 2010 camp in a couple weeks, matching Mexico's move to play him up an age group. I'm not sure he's 100% ready for that, but I'd understand the recruiting logic. We'll see, but either way this is probably the most important Mexico versus USA prospect battle right now.

Center-forwards

Aguirre and Osagie are a dynamic striker duo. They're two of my top three strikers in this class and are extremely talented. Aguirre is another Mexican-American being pursued hard by both federations, and he was on Mexico's U-15 roster this summer. It's very encouraging to see him back in his second United States camp, which suggests he's open to both options.

CF, Santi Suarez-Couri, Atlanta United (2011), the top striker in this class in my opinion, isn't here because he's still coming back from an injury, though I think he's getting close.

1.  CM, Jaethan Irwin, Phoenix Rising

Irwin is a top talent in this class and the top player not at an MLS academy.

2. W/LB, Matthew Brusco, Cedar Stars Bergen

Brusco is another player not at an MLS academy, but he showed he can perform at that level at the Generation adidas Cup last year.

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

Camara is going a little under the radar, but he's a super talented and smooth lefty who can play a lot of different positions and roles.

4. LB, Andre Campbell, Inter Miami

Campbell is one of, if not the, most talented left-back in this class, so his continued absence is something I'd like to understand better. There may be things going on we can't see from the outside.

5. CF, Carson Starrett, Orlando City

Starrett is the best striker in this class who hasn't been in a team camp yet.

I'm aligned with a lot of the decisions made by U.S. Soccer on this roster. Gordon, Joseph and Woehl are a great list of debutants and could become key players for this group. I also like seeing Washington, Gonzalez, O'Neil and Aguirre back in here after a Mexico camp.

The other two Mexican-Americans that U.S. Soccer are battling for are playing up an age group — Flowers and Loyo Reynaga. We'll see if either one or both are on the 2010 roster that should get announced in a couple weeks. While I don't think either is ready to play up an age group at the international level, I'd understand the decision by U.S. Soccer given the recruiting battle they're in with Mexico.

Irwin is the biggest omission for me, assuming he was available, but I also really like the midfield group, so it's hard for me to criticize too much. At some point, though, you have to get a talent like him into a camp and see what you have. And right-back is a position group I'd like to see get turned over a little more.

Overall, this is a really good representation of the 2011 class, which is still looking like the deepest class I've seen to date.