With the World Cup completed, and the French honeymoon coming to a halt, I can dream of the future. Where I can proudly claim that I’m American in Soccer comment sections without being made fun of with the classic insult, “lol the U.S. didn’t qualify.” That future is being led by players that have shown much more promise in recent years than Walmart Romelu Lukaku, aka Jozy Altidore, or the ancient Tim Howard. But few know the name of our future leaders of America, so here is a Per Sources introduction to the USMNT future.
Christian Pulisic
Everyone knows the kid at this point. The beacon of hope during the abysmal attempt by the USMNT to qualify for the last World Cup. He fed most of the best opportunities and was one of the only unpredictabilities we provided offenseively. All of that while being the youngest player on the pitch. One of two Americans in the running for the Golden Boy award, which is all but Mbappe’s already, and a consistent starter for Borussia Dortmund. BVB’s great track record of producing great young players bodes well for Christian’s development, though that might not last long. There are many rumors of him being sold to the Premier League, but Real Madrid’s name has been tossed around a couple times as well. For the sake of publicity for US soccer talent and his progression as a player, I would love if Pulisic was part of the mission to fill a Ronaldo sized hole, though it seems unlikely.
Comparison-Marcos Reus, Borussia Dortmund
Weston McKennie
More underground than Pulisic, this rugged midfielder is crucial to our success. His progress at Schalke, a German club, has been undeniable, as the team has lost more games with him not starting despite starting most of the matches. He’s all of 6″1′ and plays like a Range Rover, tough when necessary but smooth. His playstyle will provide a strong anchor for both hold-up play on the attack, and preventing counter-attacks defensively. His military upbringing, dad in the Air Force, has bestowed him with a first-rate work ethic and superb leadership qualities. At only 19 he risen as one of the front-men of an established European club. He is also the second US player currently up for the Golden Boy award. If you’re interested, a fantastic video was posted by the USMNT Twitter if you want to learn more about the kid. Linked here.
Comparison-Leon Goretzka, Bayern Munich
Josh Sargent
The Missouri native has been the leader of the relatively successful USMNT youth teams, including the U17 World Cup where the US finished 7th. Playing striker, he netted three goals in the competition and proved to be effective. His very controlled play relies on smart runs and good finishing, a good combination considering the pace we have wide with players like Pulisic and Yedlin. Signed by Bremen recently, he has a knack for finding the ball which is a skill in itself. Not the most prolific on the ball, but provides a large frame with two good feet to get the ball to in the box. He was also praised for his very team oriented attitude, recognized by Bremen’s scouting director. A trait that will have use in a young team trying to find itself these next years.
Comparison-Harry Kane, Tottenham
Timothy Weah
We have to talk about this kid. If you know soccer than you know that the name Weah carries weight. His father was one of the greatest strikers of his era, winning the Ballon D’Or (an award for the world’s best player). This inherited pressure seems to not slow him down by any means, though. His bold statements of becoming a top tier player in the world is a testament to his confidence. Signed to PSG, he has made multiple appearances for the senior club, bagging an assist and goal in the ICC. His explosiveness is electrifying yet unpredictable. He makes some rather young mistakes, more than the rest on the list, yet has the highest upside here. Both his pedigree and flashes of brilliance prove that fact. Moving forward, if he expands his role at PSG then he could become a huge face for the USMNT.
Comparison-Willian, Chelsea FC
Tyler Adams
Tyler Adams, a defensive midfielder, is an interesting player. Currently enlisted for the New York Red Bulls, with a move to Germany seeming imminent, he has become a staple to MLS youth talent. His physical attributes, excluding his average height, are potent in a below average talent league, and his skill seems undeniable. But what makes him a great prospect is his drive and energy. His story is inspiring (another USMNT Twitter video here) and displays a great love of the sport. This becomes evident on the field, as he carries a chip on his shoulder that I love to see. His ceiling becomes high because of these factors. My comparison is def lofty, but his energy is where I see the comparison more than the skill.
Comparison-N’Golo Kante, Chelsea FC
Cameron Carter-Vickers
I’ll end this list with two defenders of the future, the first being Cameron Carter-Vickers. The 20-year-old defender, signed to Tottenham, has had a little turbulence in recent months as he has voiced his frustrations to the Spurs about playing time. Yet those concerns have been silenced in recent days with the ICC playing time he has picked up, along with the comments by Mauricio Pochettino (Spurs manager) about him being apart of the 2018-2019 campaign. His solid stature and maturity for his age makes him a great future center-back for not only the aging Spurs back-line, but also the USMNT young one. Could be a rock for future tournament runs.
Comparison– Davinson Sanchez, Tottenham Spurs
Antonee Robinson
Making his first national appearance against Paraguay in March of this year, he proved to be a true talent. Nicknamed “Jedi,” his long-athletic frame gives him the ability to cover large parts of the pitch. What makes his future so impressive to most though is the fantastic defensive effort he made against France’s now World Cup winning attack in a friendly earlier in the year. Helping hold them to one goal is truly a great accomplish for such a young team. Currently signed to Everton, Robinson has been loaned to Bolton for the last year and will probably be loaned to them again this following year. But with Leighton Baines aging, Everton could replace him with the young American.
Comparison– Faouzi Ghoulam, Napoli
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