ASN: Evaluation: Varas calls 26 to January U-20 camp in Florida

Mikey Varas has now had time to settle into his job because the U.S. U-20 head coach and on Monday he introduced his roster for a camp that may run from January 24 by means of February 2 at IMG Academy in Florida. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta provides up his ideas on the roster and the staff. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 24, 2022
1:30 AM

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UNITED STATES U-20 nationwide staff head coach Mikey Varas at this time introduced his roster for the staff’s camp that may run from January 24 by means of February 2 at IMG in Florida. The roster accommodates 26 gamers and will probably be the second camp underneath Varas who was employed in November.

The U.S. staff are set for quite a few video games in opposition to MLS opponents who’re presently in preseason. Not like the primary camp of the cycle in November on the Revelations Cup, this would be the first time Varas has needed to put together forward of a camp as he was employed solely sooner or later earlier than the staff travelled to Mexico.

Right here is the roster together with some ideas.

U-20 MYNT ROSTER BY POSITION
(CLUB; HOMETOWN)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), KyMani Dade (LA Galaxy; Ontario, Calif.), Anthony Ramos (Actual SC/POR; Torrance, Calif.)

DEFENDERS (8): Noah Allen (Inter Miami CF; Miramar, Fla.), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Mauricio Cuevas (Membership Brugge/BEL; Los Angeles, Calif.), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.), Michael Halliday (Orlando Metropolis SC; Orlando, Fla.), Kobi Henry (Orange County SC; Lake Forest, Calif.), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Thomas Williams (Orlando Metropolis SC; Titusville, Fla.)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.), Javier Casas Jr. (Chicago Fireplace FC.; Addison, Unwell.), Caden Clark (RB Leipzig/GER; Wayzata, Minn.), Daniel Edelman (New York Purple Bulls; Warren, N.J.), Kristian Fletcher (Unattached; Bethesda, Md.), Diego Luna (El Paso Locomotive; Redwood, Calif.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Center Village, N.Y.), Jayvin Van Deventer (Sporting Kansas Metropolis; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC; Anchorage, Alaska)

FORWARDS (6): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; Appleton, Wisc.), Patrick Bohui (Vejle Boldklub/DEN; Philadelphia, Pa.), Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Fireplace FC; Chicago, Unwell.), Malick Sanogo (1. FC Union Berlin/GER; Berlin, Germany), Dante Sealy (PSV Eindhoven/NED; Frisco, Texas), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.)

The midfield core is unbroken

This roster accommodates what is actually the highest core of the staff. The Philadelphia Union trio of Paxten Aaronson, Jack McGlynn, and Quinn Sullivan are right here and will have each expertise and chemistry. Caden Clark’s membership scenario isn’t recognized but however he shall be a giant a part of the staff and is right here. Dan Edelman is among the high homegrown signings of the offseason and the NY Purple Bull defensive midfielder can even be right here.

The event of those gamers into making a midfield that may management the sport is vital and a high precedence for this camp.

Notable absences 

There are a number of gamers not on this roster who ought to be a part of the staff transferring ahead.

Gabriel Slonina: The Chicago Fireplace goalkeeper is presently with the total nationwide staff as a backup. He ought to be with the U.S. U-20 staff for the necessary video games forward.

Chris Brady: Additionally a proficient Chicago Fireplace goalkeeper, Brady is within the combine with the U-20 staff and was scheduled to be on this roster initially. He has had reported curiosity from overseas.

Kevin Paredes: The DC United winger is among the most proficient 2003-born American gamers together with Ricardo Pepi. He was pressured to withdraw from the total nationwide staff’s December camp with an damage.

Cade Cowell: The San Jose winger made his debut with the total nationwide staff as an alternative within the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. He’s additionally anticipated to be a giant a part of this staff transferring ahead.

Jonathan Gomez: The left again not too long ago accomplished a transfer from Louisville to Actual Sociedad in Spain the place he’ll begin with the reserve staff. He additionally made his debut with the total nationwide staff in December and ought to be within the operating to start out for this staff.

Moses Nyeman: The DC United midfielder was referred to as to coach with the total nationwide staff forward of the Gold Cup and is seen as stable prospect with the membership. Can he discover a spot on this midfield?

Central protection auditions

Other than constructing midfielder cohesion, the large check for this camp is to develop central protection depth and chemistry. This U-20 staff has some very proficient gamers however is skinny in central protection. Sadly, that’s the place the place U.S. youth nationwide groups have to be sturdy to succeed. Traditionally that has held true because the 2015 staff had Matt Miazga, Cameron Carter Vickers, and Erik Palmer-Brown. In 2017, Carter Vickers and Palmer-Brown have been joined by Justen Glad. Then in 2019, Chris Richards, Mark McKenzie, and Abubakar Keita anchored the staff.

This staff doesn’t have practically the depth or high prospects at this place. Kobi Henry carried out effectively on the Revelations Cup however Varas goes to want to work laborious on this place if this staff goes to have the ability to compete effectively in CONCACAF and past.

If Varas can emerge from this camp with a optimistic feeling about central protection, it’ll have been a really profitable camp.

2005-birth yr emerges

Regardless of it being very, very early within the 2023 U-20 cycle, we’re already seeing gamers from the 2005 beginning yr emerge with this group. That may be very younger and these gamers space all enjoying up and are eligible for the 2025 U-20 cycle as effectively.

Kristian Fletcher has been referred to as as much as this squad and the Bethesda Acaemy product has been linked with a transfer to Borussia Dortmund after additionally trialing at Manchester United and Bayern Munich. He’s a really proficient midfielder however remains to be exceptionally younger. He shall be examined in opposition to older gamers who have already got skilled expertise within the midfield.

Esmir Bajraktarevic can also be a proficient attacker with the New England Revolution II. With attackers like Paredes and Cowell not in camp and Ricardo Pepi with the primary staff, there is a chance for youthful gamers to shine. Whereas he’s pegged for the 2025 U-20 staff, this offers Bajraktarevic the possibility to impress with an older group.

Obed Vargas was with the U-20 staff in November on the Revelations Cup and have become the primary 2005-born gamers to seem underneath Varas this cycle. The Alaska native did sufficient to point out Varas that he’s able to competing on the U-20 stage whereas enjoying up a cycle – which is a optimistic message for the midfielder who can even look to interrupt into the Seattle Sounders facet this season.