Who are the top players for Colorado Rapids U-17s?
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Colorado’s U17 team is one that is difficult for opponents to play. They execute their tactics well and play hard, but they lack game breaking talents. They have a collection of players that are solid, but outside of Adam Beaudry…
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Continue ReadingColorado’s U17 team is one that is difficult for opponents to play. They execute their tactics well and play hard, but they lack game breaking talents. They have a collection of players that are solid, but outside of Adam Beaudry Adam Beaudry 6'0" | GK State #36 Nation CO , they may not get any professional players from these age groups.
My grading system
I use a numerical scoring framework to grade players. I look at what I consider to be the most important traits and skills for each position and apply a numerical value to each of those categories. I take into account the age of the player when grading for each category. The categories include physical traits, technical ability, intellectual understanding of the game and their mentality in how they approach the game. I average those individual scores in order to generate a holistic grade of the player. The score helps me identify what tier of prospect a player is.
Tier 1: A high impact player with all the tools to be a first choice youth national team selection and an obvious homegrown contract candidate.
Tier 2: A very good youth prospect that should likely get youth national team consideration and a potential homegrown contract candidate.
Tier 3: A solid youth prospect that should get a look in MLS Next Pro or is likely getting recruited to play high level college soccer.
GK, Adam Beaudry Adam Beaudry 6'0" | GK State #36 Nation CO (2006)
What makes him special: Beaudry is an athletic goalkeeper with good mobility and reflexes. Beaudry’s best trait at this point in his development is his instincts, aggressiveness and quickness to control the penalty box. He does a really great job of attacking 50/50 balls and handling it well.
How he can take it to the next level: Beaudry needs to be more decisive when playing out of pressure. In the Concacaf U17 Championship he had a bad habit of holding on to the ball too long and getting himself into dangerous situations. He doesn’t often play out of the back with Colorado which is probably why he looked uncomfortable at times, though he does distribute well when he has time.
Level: Tier 3
Beaudry has been a consistent Youth National Team call-up for the U17 team and looks like a player that Colorado is fast-tracking to a first team contract.
WING/CF, Joel Ineh Joel Ineh F State #32 Nation CO (2006)
What makes him special: Ineh is a super athletic and physical attacking player that can play out wide or as a center-forward. Ineh is at his best in transition when he has the space to use his explosiveness and power to his advantage. He can be a handful when running at defenders.
How he can take it to the next level: Ineh hasn’t quite figured out how to maximize his physical tools consistently in game situations. If he could add more dynamic off the ball movement and learn when and where to attack defenders more regularly, he could become a more compelling prospect for the first team.
Level: Tier 3
DM/CM, Andre Romo (2006)
What makes him special: Romo is a skilled playmaker that does his best work distributing from deeper positions in the midfield. He has really good technique as a passer and shooter and displays advanced passing range.
How he can take it to the next level: Romo would be a more well rounded defensive midfield with better off the ball awareness defensively. He can be slow to recognize dangers and be late to mitigate overloads and numerical advantages from the opponent.
Level: Tier 3
RB, Tadeo Razo Tadeo Razo D Regis Groff (CO) | 2024 State CO Sanchez (2006)
What makes him special: Sanchez is a highly consistent and dependable player that is comfortable and composed on the ball. He is also a solid one on one defender with good footwork and the ability to stay in front of attacking players.
How he can take it to the next level: Sanchez has decent technical ability but I don’t see him get involved in the attack as much he could. If he could get more involved combining with attacking players, timing overlapping runs and getting into dangerous positions he could be a player Colorado looks to give a professional contract to.
Level: Tier 3
LB, Patrick Dormoh (2007)
What makes him special: Dormoh is an athletic full-back that also has the ability to play in the attack. He is at his best when he is providing verticality and width with his speed and delivering in crosses and through balls to his teammates.
How he can take it to the next level: Dormoh has the tools to be a more dominant one on one defender, but I don’t see him dominate attackers as consistently as he should. Dormoh has the tools to take a big next step next year at the U17 level and be a standout player for Colorado.
Level: Tier 3