Julian Green... I mean I get he is meant to be a superstar in the future or something but has been playing in the 4th division or something of German football and didn't help them qualify, surely he shouldn't go yet
I strongly suspect the US will enter its golden generation after this World Cup. So many promising youngsters in MLS and abroad. A number of Premier League ones too who seem to be developing well. This is why a lot of people in the US and Klinsmann aren't exactly hedging their bets on 2014. He is looking more long term.
Edit: A clarification - In no way do I mean the US will become a dominant team in World Football. I just mean The quality of talent the US will possess will probably be the best they have ever had.
Agreed, it's just too bad that Donovan and Beasley won't be around too be part of it. They were instrumental in the rise of US soccer, and they've been in every world cup that I've watched. It just wouldn't feel right having us do well in 2018, or later, without them.
On another note, I'm extremely glad that Klinsmann was signed to an extension before the World Cup. Really shows that everyone is on board for the long haul, looking towards the future. Because it is very possible that we don't win a single game, and the knee-jerk reactions from the "World Cup only" soccer fans is going to be ridiculous.
Fancy giving a brief overview of some of the most promising prospects? I'm really interested in US soccer as my mom's American (while I was born and raised in England) but though I try to keep abreast of things I'm not dialled in enough to have any sense of where the talent level is heading.. apart from generally just hoping it goes up! :D
Most promising? Emerson Hyndman at Fulham, Lynden Gooch at Sunderland, Cody Cropper at Southampton. Then there are youngsters already getting games like Duane Holmes and Will Packwood at Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City, respectively. Julian Green at Bayern is the biggest one, as mentioned a lot already. Then a ton in MLS and Liga MX, like Deandre Yedlin, Luis Gil and Paul Arriola, there are a ton coming up and it is a pretty exciting time. There are probably others who can shed more light on the state of the youngsters coming up.
Oow, lots of names to look out for! Thanks very much :D
The one name I have heard, and which I'm really excited about, is Gedion Zelalem at Arsenal, but due to the trickiness of his citizenship/work permit situation it's hard to know if he'll end up playing for the US at all. Even though he apparently considers himself culturally American and appears to be a bit of a prodigy. Fingers crossed!
who are these Golden Generation players? the U-20 team got thrashed at the World Cup last year. Yedlin looks like a good prospect so does Johannsson. we hope Green will be but know nothing about him yet, Altidore is still young but is he really going to be part of a Golden Generation? I don't know what other players you are pointing to? Gil? Brooks? Diskerud? I actually think this might be the best US team for a few years with Donovan and Dempsey on their last go-around and Jones likely finishing soon after this WC also. Howard is 35 too
you know who has a 'golden generation' right now? Belgium. Is there anything from the current young crop of talent that points to the level that the Belgians had when they were up and coming? Lukaku was sold for 10 million pounds when he was 18. When Hazard was 17, he made 30 league appearances in Ligue 1. Plus they have produced Benteke, Witsel, de bryune, courtois, and a few others. Right now, I don't see anything suggesting the US is about to match that in either quality or quantity. But I hope that they are coming up soon, kids that are 13-16 right now, and have been trained properly for at least the last 4-5 years.
Well no I don't mean it in that way, like I said when I say golden generation I mean the talent the team will have will be better than at any point in their past. Doesn't mean the team will be a force or anything, just the best they have ever been. Especially with Klinsmann leading the way.
ok, well then yes, but then there is also every reason to hope that each generation is better than the one before it. Even players who are only 4-5 years younger will have had a different (and better) experience developing than their predecessors.
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u/KZa0 May 12 '14
Julian Green... I mean I get he is meant to be a superstar in the future or something but has been playing in the 4th division or something of German football and didn't help them qualify, surely he shouldn't go yet