It is often said in football that one of the most difficult aspects of the game is gauging the progress of one’s youth academy system. Gauging one’s progress in developing football players can only be determine by the quality of the output. What type of player comes out of the system? Is it a player that can play professionally? What sort of skills has this player?
These are questions that can only be answered in time and there are very few indicators as to how much progress has been made. One of the few indicators is if players are being called up to their respective national team. So if Tuesday’s announcement of the US U-16 Boys National Team is any indication then MLS is on the right path.
Of the 22 players called up to the U-16 camp to take place in Paris, France over the next two weeks 9 come from the MLS youth academies. The team will be coached by Clint Peay, the former D.C. United defender who currently acts as the Technical Advisor for U.S. Soccer.
The name that perhaps jumps out most among the 22 called in is Eric Lopez of the LA Galaxy. Lopez on Monday became the youngest player ever to sign a USL Pro contract at just 15 years old. He has already been capped at the US U-17 level and will likely be a fixture for L.A. Galaxy II in the upcoming season.
The other name that really stands out is midfielder Jose Carranza of the D.C. United Youth Academy. Carranza, who at 14 was the second youngest ever player to be admitted to U.S. U-17 residency program, is the #3 ranked midfielder in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer.
Joining Lopez and Carranza from the MLS Youth Academy System will be defenders Andrew Aprahamian (Philadelphia Union,) McKay Eves (Real Salt Lake,) Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union,) Daniel Villegas (Chivas USA/ Los Angeles FC,) and Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids,) midfielder Raul Aguilera Jr. (Orlando City,) and forward Jeanpaul Marin (New York Red Bulls).
Considering that the MLS Youth Academy system really is in its infancy and that private soccer academies have existed in some form for close to two decades, it is remarkable the strides that have been made.
What is a bit of a concern though is the lack of strikers called up from MLS clubs. One of the biggest criticisms of MLS has been their inability to develop quality strikers. With talented strikers (like Patrick Mullins) still coming out of colleges rather than the Youth Academy system, one has to wonder what measures MLS teams are using to determine if a player can play the forward position.
Full roster courtesy of U.S. Soccer:
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alex Budnik (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy; Westminster, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (8): Jose Alfaro Jr. (Fuerza Monarca; West Chicago, Ill.), Andrew Aprahamian (Philadelphia Union; Malvern, Pa.), Jordi Avila (Kendall SC; Hialeah Gardens, Fla.), McKay Eves (Real Salt Lake AZ; San Diego, Calif.), Kyle Gruno (Leicester City; Saddle River, N.J.), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.), Daniel Villegas (Chivas USA; Los Angeles, Calif.), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; Colorado Springs, Colo.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Raul Aguilera Jr. (Orlando City; Sanford, Fla.), Jose Carranza (D.C. United; Manassas, Va.), Christopher Goslin (Georgia United; Locust Grove, Ga.), Nicholas Taitague (Richmond United; Midlothian, Va.), Juan Pablo Torres (Georgia United; Lilburn, Ga.)
FORWARDS (7): Andrew Carleton (Georgia United; Powder Springs, Ga.), Lucas Del Rosario (Capital Area RailHawks – CASL; Durham, N.C.), Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Jeanpaul Marin (New York Red Bulls; Rego Park, N.Y.), Marty Raygoza (FC Golden State; South El Monte, Calif.), Adolfo Trujillo (De Anza Force; Livermore, Calif.), Hanif Wright (Unattached; Los Angeles, Calif.)