ASN: Breaking down the U.S. U-20 roster for the Revelations Cup

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the U.S. U-20 roster for the Revelations Cup and appears at how he sees the roster progressing after the crew’s profitable summer season the place it received the CONCACAF U-20 Championships to e-book a spot within the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
September 19, 2022
6:00 AM

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UNITED STATES U-20 nationwide crew head coach Mikey Varas in the present day introduced his roster for the upcoming Revelations Cup match in Mexico. This is similar match which kicked off the cycle final November simply days after he was employed because the crew’s head coach. This marks the crew’s first time collectively since profitable the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 title in June to qualify for each the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.

At this yr’s version, the U.S. U-20 crew will face Peru, Mexico, and Paraguay. It’s a slight step down from final yr once they confronted Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia.

However this crew must be much more ready because it comes in the course of the season for all gamers and 14 of the 20 gamers on the roster have been a part of the crew that received the CONCACAF title. The chemistry must be clearly there.

Right here is the schedule, the roster, adopted by just a few ideas.

The Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 21

Peru vs. USA – Instalaciones Membership America en Coapa – 5 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 24

Mexico vs. USA – Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes – 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 27

USA vs. Paraguay – Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes – 10 p.m. ET

The U.S. U-20 Roster by place
(Membership/Hometown)

GOALKEEPERS (2): Alexander Borto (Fulham/ENG; South Plainfield, N.J.), Chris Brady (Chicago Hearth FC; Naperville, Unwell.)

DEFENDERS (7): Justin Che (Hoffenheim/GER; Richardson, Texas), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia. Pa.), Mauricio Cuevas (Membership Brugge/BEL; Los Angeles, Calif.), Marcus Ferkranus (Phoenix Rising FC; Santa Clarita, Calif.), Jonathan Gomez (Actual Sociedad/ESP; Keller, Texas), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; Lakewood, Calif.), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.), Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (Vizela/POR; Los Angeles, Calif.), Caden Clark (New York Pink Bulls; Wayzata, Minn.), Daniel Edelman (New York Pink Bulls; Warren, N.J.), Diego Luna (Actual Salt Lake; Redwood, Calif.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Center Village, N.Y.), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Break up/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.)

FORWARDS (4): Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Hearth FC; Chicago, Unwell.), Jackson Hopkins (D.C. United; Fredericksburg, Va.), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Using, Va.), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.)

Improved roster from CONCACAF

If the U.S. U-20 crew impressed on the CONCACAF U-20 Championships this summer season, this roster is even higher. Nearly all the core of the crew will return plus some key additions.

Who’re the additions?

Kevin Paredes: A very powerful addition to this U.S. U-20 crew. The previous DC United homegrown winger is now lastly getting minutes at Wolfsburg and he’s enjoying his pure winger place versus left again. The truth that this U.S. crew has added pure left backs in Gomez and Wiley to the roster implies that Paredes goes to play winger.

Caleb Wiley: Wiley is one other vital addition to this crew, and he’s coming off a season with Atlanta the place he’s getting common minutes regardless of being a late 2004-born participant (he’s solely days away from being eligible for the 2025 cycle). In Atlanta, he’s enjoying each left again and wingback and is displaying himself to be a key prospect. Wiley’s addition additionally reveals what is perhaps a softening stance from Atlanta in releasing gamers for youth nationwide crew obligation.

Jonathan Gomez: is an addition that can absolutely excite the followers given his backwards and forwards with representing Mexico. It stays to be seen if he’s higher than Wiley, however this may give Varas an opportunity to look at each facet by facet. It’s actually good to have two left backs within the participant pool.

Brian Gutierrez: The Chicago winger was not launched this summer season for the CONCACAF championships and he can have a troublesome street forward to make the U.S. U-20 crew with everybody accessible Cade Cowell and Niko Tsakiris have been requested however not launched for this camp. However Varas likes Gutierrez provides the crew choices within the assault and so they should be inventive within the assault given the dearth of No. 9 choices.

Justin Che: As soon as Che was thought of a high prospect for this age group however 2022 has been a very robust yr for him. He has struggled to slot in at Hoffenheim and he was searching for new golf equipment this summer season, however nothing materialized. His athleticism is high notch however wants work on his defensive positioning and consciousness. He’s in all probability going to be requested to play proper again on this camp as a backup to Cuevas.

Alexander Borto: The Fulham based mostly youth goalkeeper will get a glance on this camp though Gaga Slonina might be the frontrunner to begin subsequent summer season on the U-20 World Cup and he’s but to play with this crew because the begin of the cycle.

The No. 9 continues to be missing

Whereas Cade Cowell wasn’t launched, this roster consists of a number of key upgrades within the vast positions. They now have two left backs who ought to be capable of push ahead into the assault. Then on the wings, you may have Kevin Paredes who’s the very best vast participant within the U.S. U-20 participant pool.

I even have questions how the crew will proceed to push ahead with out a true No. 9. At qualifying, Varas had Paxten Aaronson play as a false 9 generally. Different instances he moved Caden Clark, Cade Cowell, and even Tyler Wolff up high.

No No. 9 has emerged since then so it is going to be extra of the identical. Gutierrez is now an choice however I believe we are going to nonetheless see Aaronson and Clark in these roles too. It’s irritating for Varas that the crew is getting higher out vast however there aren’t any options on the No. 9.

Place battles

Throughout qualifying, it was clear that there have been some budding positional battles that will proceed via 2022 and into the lead as much as the 2023 U-20 World Cup.

Listed here are some that I see.

Central protection: Varas rotated three central defenders on the CONCACAF Championships: Jalen Neal, Brandon Craig, and Marcus Ferkranus. It was a gradual rotation and there was no high pairing. However control Josh Wynder who’s among the many very high 2005-born (eligible for the subsequent U-20 cycle) gamers Wynder is presently with the U.S. U-19’s in Europe. He’s gaining in stature quick and must be making a push for this U-20 crew very quickly. It’ll possible come on the expense of Craig, Neal, or Ferkranus.

Left again: At qualifying, Noah Allen was the one true left again (Cuevas out of place was the backup). With Allen downshifted to the U.S. U-19 crew, that units up a contest for what most assume is a key positional battle: Wiley or Gomez for left again. The followers in all probability assume Gomez however I feel Wiley has an excellent likelihood to emerge because the crew’s high left again.

Defensive midfield: This was a really shut name in the course of the CONCACAF Championship. Each Dan Edelman and Rokas Pukstas have been rotating, and each have been enjoying effectively. However Edelman in all probability has an edge right here as his kind has actually taken off for the New York Pink Bulls and he has been beginning frequently the previous six to eight weeks. He was additionally the co-captain of the U-20 crew this summer season. Pukastas needed to battle via accidents and enjoying time has been inconsistent in Croatia. The difficulty for each these gamers is that after Obed Vargas returns to well being (in all probability now in 2023) he’s going to compete for a spot.

Kind watch

Like most youth groups, kind is crucial as some gamers can skyrocket and different can fade rapidly – generally they will fade out of the skilled ranks altogether. Listed here are some notes on the gamers who’re in the very best kind – making them gamers to look at.

Jack McGlynn: Of the 4 Union gamers on the crew, a lot of the consideration went to Paxten Aaronson who was each the Golden Boot winner and the match’s MVP on the CONCACAF Championships. Quinn Sullivan was a part of 9 objectives with six objectives and three assists (a match excessive). However Jack McGlynn is in the very best kind out of anybody on this roster. The central midfielder has put in some very spectacular performances this summer season for a Union crew that is perhaps the very best within the league.

Caleb Wiley: Atlanta United is now in an improved place to make the playoffs when it appeared unimaginable for a lot of the summer season. Wiley has enjoying vital minutes throughout that climb and appears to take a giant function on this crew.

Kevin Paredes: Has lastly began to get common bench minutes for Wolfsburg and he’s full of life and generally efficient on this function. It looks like his first Bundesliga begin is approaching. He ought to give the U.S. U-20 crew width choices and an much more feistiness within the press and on protection. He’s an important addition and hopefully for Varas, Wolfsburg will proceed to cooperate in his launch.