MLS Next Playoffs U15 & U16: Weekend review

<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="brkna-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="brkna-0-0"> <p class="p1">FRISCO, Texas - Day Three of the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs in Frisco, Texas. The focus of this piece is on the age groups of U15 and U16 from the last two days of games.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="48939" first="Dozy" last="Ogbonna"], Wake FC U15</strong></p> <p class="p1"><strong>Position: Left/Right Wing, No. 21</strong></p> <p class="p1">Dozy stood out to me through his work rate and speed and disciplined positioning. He possesses a nice turn of speed and uses it to attack and defend in equal measure. Has very good reading of the game also. He is quick in mind and has the athleticism to match too. Dozy is also very comfortable on the ball also and can play both sides of the field.  Also, see him as a Swiss Army-type player as a wing back in different formations.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="48940" first="Michael" last="Roman"], Silicon Valley SA U16</strong></p> <p class="p1"><strong>Position: Defense Center, No. 21</strong></p> <p class="p1">Michael is a very good talker and a good organizer. He played very well and was always talking and organizing his players throughout the game. Michael is very assured on the ball, strong on his right but not afraid to use his left. Michael has great positioning. He has great physical size to add to his speed also. He is not afraid to step up and play either. He also does not shirk his defensive responsibilities, a real team player.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>Valter Sedin, Vancouver Whitecaps Academy U16</strong></p> <p class="p1"><strong>Position: Center Mid Right, No. 87</strong></p> <p class="p1">Valter played a very well and disciplined game. He is very confident on the ball and able to play with both feet. He has very clever movement and is good at talking to his teammates. He is well-sized and strong on-ball, not knocked off the ball easily. He possesses a great pass and a good eye for passes too. Very nice link player who is also not afraid to tackle or defend. Very likable player. He has great ability in the air, too, and scored from a corner kick.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="48941" first="Timothy" last="Shine"], FC Boston Bolts U16</strong></p> <p class="p1"><strong>Position: Midfield/Wide Forward, No. 17</strong></p> <p class="p1">Timothy is quite an accomplished player and is tidy on the ball and off the ball also. Very disciplined in his positioning defensively as well as on offense too. Timothy is very comfortable on the ball. He is always looking for the ball and holds his position quite well too. He links play very well from defense to offense. Has great size and is quick of mind and speed as well as has a great eye for goal and took his goal well too as well as been very good with his passing. Seems that he could play as a center forward also.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="48943" first="Gus" last="Velez"], Albion SC U16</strong></p> <p class="p1"><strong>Position: Forward/Wing Midfield, No. 7</strong></p> <p class="p1">Gus is another kid who I saw that reminded me of old-school players. He is big, strong and quick. From the moment game started to end, he kept running and closing down the opposition defenders and did not give them an inch. He possesses a very good shot. He has a discipline in his position too and knew his role in the team. He has clever movement also. He is quite adept at using both feet as well as having very good dribbling abilities too. You can tell he is also a great team player.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="48949" first="Bryce" last="Fulton"], Louisiana TDP Elite U16</strong></p> <p class="p1"><strong>Position: Goalkeeper, No. 2</strong></p> <p class="p1">Bryce had a very good game. He has a very calm presence throughout the game, very confident. He is a good talker and went about organizing his defense very well. He is good with distribution also. You can see him as a leader of his team. He has good agility, and positioning, and is good at coming for crosses. His starting position was good at all times. He also covers his goal quite well too with his size. He is very good in 1v1 situations and made a couple of fine blocks in this area.</p> <p class="p1">Honorable mentions for [player_tooltip player_id="48942" first="Keoni" last="Young"] (Santa Barbara SC, U16 forward) and [player_tooltip player_id="48948" first="Erwin" last="Osmanovic"] (BW Gotschee, U16, defender)</p> </div> </div>