U17 (2010) USYNT September roster analyis

GK, Connor Dale, FC Cincinnati
GK, Luca Irigoyen, Miami Futbol Academy
LB, Seyi Fakiyesi, Atlanta United
LB, Sam Worcester, Sporting Kansas City
RB, Jeremiah Alexander-Munoz, Charlotte FC
CB, Evan Emmenegger, Real Salt Lake
CB, Myles Johnson, Columbus Crew
CB, Owen Jorgensen, St. Louis City
DM, Nathan Tchoumba, Colorado Rapids
CM, Logan Azar, New England Revolution
CM, Alex Soria, FC Dallas
AM, Noe Santillan, Atlanta United
AM, Niccolo Vafiades, NYCFC
AM/W, Kevin Baldwin, FSV Mainz 05
W, Miles Bryant, Atlanta United
W, Alexander Hernandez, Colorado Rapids
W, Kaeden McDowell, Charlotte FC
W, Liam Stribling, Nashville SC
CF, Jamil Danjaji, Columbus Crew
CF, Landon Lucero, Seattle Sounders

This looks like more of an exploratory camp, with U.S. Soccer kicking the tires on some new players.

Goalkeeper

Dale is GK1 in this class. JJ Nemo (Chicago Fire) has typically been the No. 2, and I think Jackson Dale (Seattle Sounders) should be in the conversation. Irigoyen is a non-academy invite, which has become very rare, especially at this age. I don't know him well, but I'm always happy to see U.S. Soccer explore the pool more creatively. I believe he's Uruguayan-American.

Left-back

Fakiyesi is the clear LB1 and one of the top players in this class. Many players have had the chance to be his backup. This is Worcester's first camp and his first opportunity to stake his claim.

Right-back

Alexander-Munoz is the only true right-back on the roster. He's a great kid, a great communicator and a great leader, though his ceiling may be lower than others in the pool. Dominick Lester continues to wait for his chance, and if something doesn't change, there's a real risk we lose him to Jamaica. From what we can see, right-back has been a weak spot for this group since day one.

Center-back

I was at the last set of 2010 games in Spain, and center-back was a huge problem, especially against Belgium and France. Three of the four center-backs from that camp aren't here, which doesn't surprise me, though I'm a bit surprised Jorgensen was called back. Myles Johnson is one of my favorite additions. He has a coveted combination of size and ability on the ball, and I could see him sticking and becoming a core player. Emmenegger is a solid player who'll provide a nice floor. Assuming they were available, I'd have liked to see some higher-potential center-backs here like Antoni James (Orlando City), Mikel Akinmboni (Nashville SC) or LJ Born (FC Cincinnati). Another name to keep a close eye on is Max Gordon (Bayer Leverkusen). I have a feeling we could see him in a U.S. camp before too long. To date, he has only played for Germany.

Pivots

Tchoumba, Azar and Soria are the pivots. Tchoumba is my top 2010. Soria can play left-back and as an eight, though I've yet to really see him perform at a high level in a U.S. shirt. Azar is my favorite newcomer of the group. He's a unit in midfield with good feet and ball-winning ability, and he could stick.

I get it if U.S. Soccer wants to explore other options, but this class has so many good midfielders who, from the outside, seem to keep getting overlooked — most notably Abdoulaye Diop and David Ilevbare. Both have been with the U.S. before, but it's been a while, and they're two of the highest-potential players in this class. There may be reasons we're not seeing, but I'd love to see them back.

Two German-based players I rate highly, Anthony Applewhaite and Will Recupero, are also missing. Both were among the better players in the last camp, so I'm hoping there's an availability reason behind their absence.

Attacking midfielders

We've seen Vafiades and Santillan in previous cycles. From what we've seen, they haven't changed much as players and have yet to make a big difference for this team. Baldwin did some nice things in the last camp, so I don't mind seeing him back. One of the top players in this class, Eddie Niles, is still out injured.

Wingers

McDowell and Stribling return, Bryant breaks through and Hernandez is back. Hernandez is another player we've seen a lot of, and in my view he hasn't yet performed at the level you'd hope. Erick Feliciano is the top winger in this class. My understanding is that he recently became eligible, so there may be timing or paperwork reasons he isn't here. There are quite a few other players I'd have liked to see get their first opportunity at this position.

Center-forward

Danjaji and Lucero return. They're probably the top two eligible strikers for this group, so no big complaints here, though I wouldn't have minded if Timoni Gbalajobi (Philadelphia Union) got another look. He has looked more explosive this year. Easton Wilson (Real Salt Lake) also continues to wait for his chance.

1. CB, Max Gordon, Bayer Leverkusen

As I said above, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the next 2010 camp.

2. CB, Antoni James, Orlando City

He's 6-2, mobile, left-footed and can pass. Players with this profile deserve a look.

3. CB, LJ Born, FC Cincinnati

Born doesn't have any elite tools, but he does a ton of things well. Given the struggles of this 2010 center-back group, he deserves a look.

4. CF/W, Easton Wilson, Real Salt Lake

He's a very talented, versatile attacker who deserves a look.

5. RB, Dominick Lester, FC Cincinnati

Lester is my RB1 in this class. That he hasn't gotten a single look in over two years at a position of need continues to surprise me.

Based on what I can see from the outside, this roster doesn't reflect the talent projection I'd hope for. If this is an exploratory camp, I'd like to see it lean into that fully. There are some top core players here, which is always welcome, and a couple of interesting new faces, which is great to see. But there are also several players who have had plenty of chances without making a big impact, and a number of profiles that, in my view, don't project as senior team players. I don't have full visibility into availability, injuries or club releases, and some of that may explain the choices here. Still, as it stands, this is one of the tougher USYNT rosters for me to get behind.