ASN: The ten American Soccer Gamers to Watch in 2016

As a brand new 12 months brings new hope to the US males’s nationwide group, ASN’s Brian Sciaretta shines a lightweight on the ten gamers he will probably be monitoring intently because the Copa America Centenario approaches. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 04, 2016
9:00 PM

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IT’S WELL DOCUMENTED that 2015 was a tough 12 months for the US males’s nationwide group. Sadly for Jurgen Klinsmann and U.S. Soccer, that unhappy state of affairs has left 2016 with extra questions than solutions. 

For the 2015 Gold Cup and CONCACAF Cup, Klinsmann referred to as on the core from his 2014 World Cup group—and people gamers got here up brief. That now has many on the group at a crossroad with questions surrounding them as the brand new 12 months begins. Listed here are 10 gamers that will probably be nicely value watching in 2016. 

1. Jordan Morris

Definitely, the No. 1 participant to observe is Jordan Morris. Morris, as you little doubt recall, was the primary school participant in additional than twenty years to turn into a daily participant with the nationwide group. However now that he has received a nationwide title with Stanford, all indicators are that he’s turning skilled with the Sounders on a deal that might make him would make him the very best paid participant in league historical past instantly out of faculty.

How will he match into the system with Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey? Will he play 2,000-plus minutes in his rookie season? And the way will he deal with the expectations of being a full nationwide group participant at the beginning of his MLS profession? He’s going to be essentially the most attention-grabbing rookie to observe within the league’s historical past.

2. Matt Miazga

Final 12 months Matt Miazga performed in three main worldwide youth tournaments, emerged as among the best central defenders in MLS, and even made his nationwide group debut in World Cup qualifying—which eradicated any chance he would play for his dad and mom’ native nation, Poland.

Getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract with the New York Crimson Bulls, Miazga desires to maneuver overseas. Given the 12 months he simply had, he can have choices and seems able to seize the chance. His inventory has by no means been increased given his age and pedigree.

He needs to be cautious, although.Enjoying time is essential and if he makes the leap to one in all Europe’s high leagues, taking part in time will probably be arduous to return by for a 20-year-old central defender. Would he have the ability to negotiate a sale and a loan-back to the Crimson Bulls to make sure he’s a weekly starter?

Then there may be the query as to how this impacts his nationwide group standing and whether or not or not he continues his rise inside the group. Both means, by this time subsequent 12 months he’s more likely to be in vastly totally different place.

3. Fabian Johnson

In 2015Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Fabian Johnson loved one of many best-ever membership years for an American participant. 

Transferring that success to the nationwide group on a constant foundation stays a problem, nevertheless, particularly since he would not have a constant place below Klinsmann. Johnson had an excellent World Cup in 2014 whereas taking part in proper again however his offensive numbers at Borussia Monchengladbach whereas taking part in within the midfield are simply too troublesome to disregard.

So the true query will probably be if Johnson can translate his membership kind over to the worldwide sport. Not each participant can however as of now he’s has essentially the most untapped potential when it comes to serving to the nationwide group flip issues round.

4. John Brooks

John Brooks has all the time had superior expertise and loads of potential however he has been referred to as out a number of occasions previously by coaches in Germany for an absence of focus. 

This season, nevertheless, has been large for the Berlin-born Brooks, who has been invaluable with Hertha because the Bundesliga membership contends for a spot in European play. As of now the large subject is whether or not or not Hertha can lock him as much as a long-term contract extension—which additional displays his hovering worth in the mean time. 

Regardless of his memorable objective in opposition to Ghana on the 2014 World Cup, Brooks has didn’t lock down his place as a transparent starter. Expectations for him will probably be raised in 2016 and it will likely be disappointing if he can’t drive himself into the beginning lineup on the Copa America Centenario.

5. Jermaine Jones

It is no secret that Klinsmann loves Jermaine Jones. The enforcer has nearly all the time been a starter on the nationwide group when wholesome and as soon as noticed time in central protection in an try to extend his worldwide profession.

The issue is that Jones will probably be 36 on the subsequent World Cup. Final season he fought by way of accidents and he’s out of contract to begin the 12 months (and can serve a suspension at any time when he finds a brand new group). Will he nonetheless be a key participant forthe U.S. on the finish of 2016? There is not any assure that he’ll.

6. Geoff Cameron

The 12 months ended on a really sturdy word for Geoff Cameron, who was lastly given an prolonged run at his most well-liked central defensive place and has performed nicely for a Stoke Metropolis group that has impressed this 12 months. 

Cameron, 30, will not be younger anymore however seems to have a number of good years left in him. Internationally, it’s arduous to know simply how extremely Klinsmann charges him however the truth stays that the Massachusetts native is the one American outfield participant who performs frequently within the Premier League. 

Cameron has performed three positions for Stoke: defensive midfield, proper again, and central protection. All three positions are a bit unsettled on the nationwide group stage. It looks like there needs to be an enormous opening for Cameron to be an integral a part of the U.S. squad—however the place?

7. Aron Johannsson

Aron Johannsson is a skillful ahead who can rating in a wide range of methods—from long-range or with artful maneuvers contained in the field. He reads the sport nicely and is a really good participant. 

The issue is that he’s typically injured and in consequence has not turn into an essential a part of the US group but. He was not at 100% on the World Cup, he missed the CONCACAF Cup in opposition to Mexico, and he missed the beginning of World Cup qualifying. 

Nonetheless injured at Werder Bremen, eyes will probably be on Johannsson to see if he can lastly keep wholesome. If he can, it could be an enormous increase for each Werder Bremen and the US. 

8. Jozy Altidore

A longtime veteran of the US nationwide group, Altidore has a historical past of inconsistent play. It is no coincidence that when he’s taking part in nicely, the nationwide group tends to get outcomes. If the Individuals intend to compete nicely on the Copa America Centenario, Altidore should be wholesome and in good kind—two issues which have been elusive for fairly a while. 

Accidents restricted his involvement on the 2014 World Cup and he was not even near 100% on the 2015 Gold Cup. Ultimately issues have to interrupt his means, proper? 

9. Bobby Wooden

Whereas 2015 was a foul 12 months for Klinsmann’s squad, it was an important 12 months for Bobby Wooden, who scored objectives in opposition to the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. . In the meantime, his performances within the 2.Bundesliga with Union Berlin have additionally been stable regardless of the group hovering close to the underside of the desk. 

Wooden is definitely a participant to observe. Can he proceed his accent at a time when there are such a lot of essential questions on the ahead place? Questions like: Will Altidore rebound after an uneven 2015? Will Johannsson return to well being anytime quickly? How a lot gasoline does Clint Dempsey have left within the tank? Is Jordan Morris going to play when he turns skilled? Is Rubio Rubin going to be prepared quickly? Will Juan Agudelo ever step up?

10. Ventura Alvarado

Ventura Alvarado ended 2014 in terrific vogue, beginning for Membership America within the Liga MX ultimate. That exhibiting earned him a shot on the US group in 2014, and through this time Klinsmann noticed a lot to love—even when soccer analysts had been extra important of the Phoenix native. 

The issue is that Alvardo struggled for many of the 12 months and he even misplaced his spot within the beginning lineup with Membership America. In truth, he solely performed 478 minutes within the Apertura and has solely performed 1,795 minutes to this point in Liga MX. Regardless of this, Klinsmann apparently nonetheless has religion in Alvarado. However will this proceed if he continues to journey the bench at Membership America? Solely time will inform.