Who are the top players for LAFC U-17s?
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The LAFC U17 team is one of, if not the deepest team in MLS Next at this level. They have one blue-chip prospect that is playing up two levels. One player that has been a fixture for a United States…
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Continue ReadingThe LAFC U17 team is one of, if not the deepest team in MLS Next at this level. They have one blue-chip prospect that is playing up two levels. One player that has been a fixture for a United States Youth National Team and two other players that have been in and out of United States Youth National Team setups. One player that has been a fixture for a Mexico Youth National Team and one that has spent some time with a Costa Rican Youth National Team. They have significant contributions from both the 2006 and 2007 class. While they have been dominant in league play, they have not been as successful in tournament play. They have done all of this without a 2006 Mexico U17 player who has been promoted to the MLS Next team: Javen Romero Javen Romero D State CA .
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:
- High impact Youth National Team Player, often times playing up an age group
- High impact club player, often times plays up an age group and still heavily impacts games
- On the fast track to the first team
Tier 2:
- Depending on strength of the age group, likely Youth National Team pool or core player
- High impact player within his age group
- Potential future first team player
Tier 3:
- On the outside looking in to the Youth National Team
- Consistently one of the more impactful players on his club team
- On track for a look in MLS Next Pro, USL or NCAA soccer
- Possesses some high level skills or traits, but also holes in his game
RB/RCB, Shakir Nixon Shakir Nixon D #7 Nation CA (2006)
What kind of player is he?
Nixon is one of the most underrated players in the 2006 class and one of the best defensive players in MLS Next. Nixon started the year playing right-back and has shifted over to play right center-back in the second half of the year. Nixon is a strong and athletic player that projects better as a right-back because he doesn’t have the size to be an elite center-back, bit his profile plays well at right-back. Nixon is clean on the ball and is a very good passer with good range and technique. Defensively, he is so good. He positions himself well and is very disciplined. He mirrors dribblers well and is also disciplined with his tackles and duels. This is a player that I think is being slept on by U.S. Soccer.
Tier: Low 2
WING, Adrian Wibowo Adrian Wibowo M #12 Nation CA (2006)
What kind of player is he?
Wibowo is having a really good year for LAFC and has been their most consistent attacking threat. Wibowo is a left-footed winger with good ball control and ability to get to the end line and put through an accurate and dangerous cross. Wibowo is strong and has quick and decisive moments. Wibowo likes to get on the ball and does so consistently, but also does some of his better work off the ball with well timed, vertical runs. Wibowo tends to have an impact on every game he plays, he understands how to impose himself on a game.
Level: Low 2
RCB, Christian Diaz Christian Diaz D State #23 Nation CA (2006)
What kind of player is he?
Diaz is a right-footed center-back that plays on the left side next to Shakir Nixon Shakir Nixon D #7 Nation CA . Diaz has been a consistent member of the U.S. U17 team, but struggled a bit in the World Cup qualifiers and is now in a heated competition for a spot. Diaz is tall and thin with decent mobility. As his body matures he should have a very good physical profile for a center-back. Diaz has a good ceiling, but his biggest challenges right now are his consistency in decision making and discipline. He has moments where he looks like a top level ball playing center-back, but he also has moments where he makes some head scratching decisions. If he can clean that up he could be a player LAFC looks to sign to a first team deal.
Level: 3
CM, Tamir Ratovitz (2006)
What kind of player is he?
Ratovitz has been one of the steadiest performers all season for LAFC and has probably been their best midfield player. Ratovitz may lack elite traits, but he is good at all of the things you look for in a box to box midfielder. He is one of the few center-mids in MLS Next that are good at both dropping in and helping progress the ball and he arrives in the final third and can make plays in that important area of the field.
Level: 3
CM, Kyrome Lumsden Kyrome Lumsden M State #1 Nation CA (2007)
What kind of player is he?
Last year, Lumsden was one of the most impactful players at the U15 level in MLS Next. He has not been a regular starter for LAFC at the U17 level, but he is starting to become more and more critical to the team and he could take a big step forward next year. Lumsden is a shifty, box to box midfielder that is tough with the ball at his feet and clever in the final third. Lumdsen is smooth on the halt turn and can eliminate defenders with his body positioning and touches.
Level: 2
WING, James Arteaga James Arteaga M State CA (2007)
What kind of player is he?
Arteaga is another 2007 that will likely be a start for this team next year. Arteaga is a technically sound, left-footed winger that does his best work when he is initiating one-two connections with his teammates. Arteaga moves well to find pockets of space and can find teammates in dangerous positions in the final third.
Level: 3
AM/WING, Matias Wanchope Matias Wanchope M State CA (2007)
What kind of player is he?
Wanchope is an explosive, attack minded player that does well when dribbling past defenders and finding angles for his strong left foot. Wanchope is a chance generator for himself and for others. He is a little bit hot and cold and will look to be more consistent within the game and from game to game next season.
Level: 3
WING, Charlie Rosenthal Charlie Rosenthal F State #40 Nation CA (2007)
What kind of player is he?
Rosenthal is a speedy, undersized winger that can explode by defenders in tight spaces. He has the ability to deliver clever, finesse passes in difficult situations and he shows good poise in the final third. He plays with a high level of confidence when he has the ball. Rosenthal is the profile of player that could show rapid development late, especially if he can become a little bigger and stronger.
Level: 3
DM, Decarlo Guerra (2008)
What kind of player is he?
Guerra is one of the best 2008 born players in the country and there may not be a 2008 with more minutes at the U17 level in MLS Next. Guerra has a rare combination of size, athleticism, on ball technical ability and defensive aptitude. Guerra is tough to analyze as a defensive midfielder in MLS Next because LAFC is so dominant with the ball, but we were able to see what makes him special at the Generation Adidas Cup and see that he can be impactful against higher level teams when playing without the ball and when put under more pressure. Guerra does need to be more assertive. What is separating him from being a truly elite prospect is a determination to dominate game in and game out.
Level: 1