Phall
Master
MLS-USMNT Pipeline / Young Players to Watch
These are age-25 and under players who might catch a European eye, jump into the international pool, or eventually claw their way up to the Qatar team in 2022. American players typically spend at least some time in college, so their ages are a bit advanced compared to the future stars of European nations. The MLS is sort of an intermediary proving ground, where a couple years of solid play will still catch attention abroad without fully bleaching the “promising†adjective from scouting reports.
Some won’t amount to anything internationally as a profession; others won’t be mentioned anywhere else. If I didn’t start this thread today, I might not have ever finished it. But: go here if you are left scratching your chin over the latest non-white stranger to grace the USA national team roster thanks to fetishist coach Klinsmann, and you can check here to see if there is a decent white guy paying dues who we can ‘kvetch’ about his exclusion.
Some MLS teams are white-friendly, some are easy on the eyes, some are very adamantly pro-black or mustard... this is just a thread to track white American hometown boys who might someday make the jump to "big deal."
Chicago Fire:
Harrison Shipp, CAM age 23
Industrious CM plays an advanced holding CF role this season. He learned to put goals in the net in his first pro campaign. Narrowly missed ‘rookie of the year’ vote tallies after his strong finish to a season that began on the bench. Klinsmann is already looking hard, apparently.
Colorado Rapids:
Dillon Powers, CAM age 24
Powers is emerging as a top player on his (albeit average) team. He can play off-striker or drop back a bit more as a facilitator. Also takes some spot kicks currently.
Dillon Serna, midfielder age 21
In a bit of a logjam at midfield presently, Serna has been deployed both wide and centrally. Already in his third season yet still struggling for regular minutes, he is still young, malleable, and has already been called up to a Klinsmann camp.
Clint Irwin, age 26 and Zak MacMath, age 23, goalkeepers
Irwin, ignored out of college, is generally a consensus top-5 league keeper. He holds a share of the record for shutouts in a season with ten. MacMath, on loan from Philadelphia for the season, is a curious understudy, since he was the youngest keeper to reach 100 starts in league history. Philly whiffed royally on its stab at an upgrade, so MacMath will be back between the posts next season and will spot Irwin occasionally.
Shane O’Neill, CB age 22
Dual Irish/American citizen spent his whole life stateside and has trained with USA youth teams. Has received full team camp call-ups but no caps as of yet. Can play holding midfielder as well.
Columbus Crew:
Ethan Finlay, winger age 24
Yes, please. Every score means more.
Aaron Schoenfeld
Another Columbus Crew striker. Tall and competent. Not yet a world-beater but you can’t teach tall.
Wil Trapp
Do-it-all midfielder and team captain of Columbus. Actually going to get a call-up soon and could replace Dempsey-Donovan as a legit USA worldly player. It’s a positional logjam, the only drawback.
DC United:
Steve Birnbaum (jew), defender age 24
Anchor of the MLS’ Eastern Conferences top seed and team with fewest goals allowed. Made black goalie Bill Hamid appear USMNT-worthy, or vice versa depending on your slant. Former #4 pick in the college draft after UCLA stardom.
Perry Kitchen, CDM/CM age 23
The 2011 RoY finalist and 2013 Player of the Team is linked to several European leagues. Third overall pick in the 2011 draft has a pedigree with the youth national teams and is already growing into the role of a team leader. Serious vegas-odds contender to captain the Nats eventually.
NY Red Bulls:
Sean Davis, CM age 19
Plays aggressive and hungry, soft touch, fine marking. Has played his way into late-game substitute consideration amongst a crowded NYRB midfield. Has some inherent starters to learn from or possibly usurp. But already getting regular season minutes.
Matt Miazga, CB, age 19
One of the under-20 USA World Cup stars. He’s not yet a regular starter but soon he will be... which is why “New York Red Bull†must surely sell him to the Bundesliga or transfer him “for free†to one of their counterparts.
NYC FC:
Patrick Mullins, forward age 20
Collegiate superstar apprenticing as super-sub in his second year. Mullins will never start over David Villa but will surely spell him frequently after the latter’s various muscle grabs and pulls.
Tommy MacNamara, forward age infinity
The mullet-sporting enigma has scored a few goals already in limited opportunities. He broke his leg last year with now-defunct Chivas USA: NYCFC picked him up off the scrap heap and are running with him. A Syracuse superstar, he is fun to watch and root for.
R.J. Allen, fullback age 25
Including him because he is one of the rare white fullbacks in the league, receiving high marks on a rubbish team. Allen played in Denmark after college but did not play professionally for a year (coaching instead) until the local expansion NYC franchise called him up. Fast feet for his wide frame and no worse than Robbie Rogers at this point in time.
Philadelphia Union:
Zach Pfeffer, midfielder age 20
Pfeffer is the fourth-youngest player signed in league history and is finally earning some regular first-team minutes this season. Plays for the USA youth teams and has spent a year on loan with a German youth team. Needs a specialized position to supplant the national team pecking order.
San Jose Earthquakes:
Mark Sherrod, age 25 LB
Back from ACL-tear and a long-shot to play internationally, but hey if you are watching San Jose go ahead and look for him.
Real Salt Lake:
Justen Glad, age 17 RB
The 6’0 fullback made his first team debut this past week. He can play in the middle too, as he has already been called to do. RSL kinda sucks so he might win a lot of competitive minutes.
These are age-25 and under players who might catch a European eye, jump into the international pool, or eventually claw their way up to the Qatar team in 2022. American players typically spend at least some time in college, so their ages are a bit advanced compared to the future stars of European nations. The MLS is sort of an intermediary proving ground, where a couple years of solid play will still catch attention abroad without fully bleaching the “promising†adjective from scouting reports.
Some won’t amount to anything internationally as a profession; others won’t be mentioned anywhere else. If I didn’t start this thread today, I might not have ever finished it. But: go here if you are left scratching your chin over the latest non-white stranger to grace the USA national team roster thanks to fetishist coach Klinsmann, and you can check here to see if there is a decent white guy paying dues who we can ‘kvetch’ about his exclusion.
Some MLS teams are white-friendly, some are easy on the eyes, some are very adamantly pro-black or mustard... this is just a thread to track white American hometown boys who might someday make the jump to "big deal."
Chicago Fire:
Harrison Shipp, CAM age 23
Industrious CM plays an advanced holding CF role this season. He learned to put goals in the net in his first pro campaign. Narrowly missed ‘rookie of the year’ vote tallies after his strong finish to a season that began on the bench. Klinsmann is already looking hard, apparently.
Colorado Rapids:
Dillon Powers, CAM age 24
Powers is emerging as a top player on his (albeit average) team. He can play off-striker or drop back a bit more as a facilitator. Also takes some spot kicks currently.
Dillon Serna, midfielder age 21
In a bit of a logjam at midfield presently, Serna has been deployed both wide and centrally. Already in his third season yet still struggling for regular minutes, he is still young, malleable, and has already been called up to a Klinsmann camp.
Clint Irwin, age 26 and Zak MacMath, age 23, goalkeepers
Irwin, ignored out of college, is generally a consensus top-5 league keeper. He holds a share of the record for shutouts in a season with ten. MacMath, on loan from Philadelphia for the season, is a curious understudy, since he was the youngest keeper to reach 100 starts in league history. Philly whiffed royally on its stab at an upgrade, so MacMath will be back between the posts next season and will spot Irwin occasionally.
Shane O’Neill, CB age 22
Dual Irish/American citizen spent his whole life stateside and has trained with USA youth teams. Has received full team camp call-ups but no caps as of yet. Can play holding midfielder as well.
Columbus Crew:
Ethan Finlay, winger age 24
Yes, please. Every score means more.
Aaron Schoenfeld
Another Columbus Crew striker. Tall and competent. Not yet a world-beater but you can’t teach tall.
Wil Trapp
Do-it-all midfielder and team captain of Columbus. Actually going to get a call-up soon and could replace Dempsey-Donovan as a legit USA worldly player. It’s a positional logjam, the only drawback.
DC United:
Steve Birnbaum (jew), defender age 24
Anchor of the MLS’ Eastern Conferences top seed and team with fewest goals allowed. Made black goalie Bill Hamid appear USMNT-worthy, or vice versa depending on your slant. Former #4 pick in the college draft after UCLA stardom.
Perry Kitchen, CDM/CM age 23
The 2011 RoY finalist and 2013 Player of the Team is linked to several European leagues. Third overall pick in the 2011 draft has a pedigree with the youth national teams and is already growing into the role of a team leader. Serious vegas-odds contender to captain the Nats eventually.
NY Red Bulls:
Sean Davis, CM age 19
Plays aggressive and hungry, soft touch, fine marking. Has played his way into late-game substitute consideration amongst a crowded NYRB midfield. Has some inherent starters to learn from or possibly usurp. But already getting regular season minutes.
Matt Miazga, CB, age 19
One of the under-20 USA World Cup stars. He’s not yet a regular starter but soon he will be... which is why “New York Red Bull†must surely sell him to the Bundesliga or transfer him “for free†to one of their counterparts.
NYC FC:
Patrick Mullins, forward age 20
Collegiate superstar apprenticing as super-sub in his second year. Mullins will never start over David Villa but will surely spell him frequently after the latter’s various muscle grabs and pulls.
Tommy MacNamara, forward age infinity
The mullet-sporting enigma has scored a few goals already in limited opportunities. He broke his leg last year with now-defunct Chivas USA: NYCFC picked him up off the scrap heap and are running with him. A Syracuse superstar, he is fun to watch and root for.
R.J. Allen, fullback age 25
Including him because he is one of the rare white fullbacks in the league, receiving high marks on a rubbish team. Allen played in Denmark after college but did not play professionally for a year (coaching instead) until the local expansion NYC franchise called him up. Fast feet for his wide frame and no worse than Robbie Rogers at this point in time.
Philadelphia Union:
Zach Pfeffer, midfielder age 20
Pfeffer is the fourth-youngest player signed in league history and is finally earning some regular first-team minutes this season. Plays for the USA youth teams and has spent a year on loan with a German youth team. Needs a specialized position to supplant the national team pecking order.
San Jose Earthquakes:
Mark Sherrod, age 25 LB
Back from ACL-tear and a long-shot to play internationally, but hey if you are watching San Jose go ahead and look for him.
Real Salt Lake:
Justen Glad, age 17 RB
The 6’0 fullback made his first team debut this past week. He can play in the middle too, as he has already been called to do. RSL kinda sucks so he might win a lot of competitive minutes.
