One of the major topics of discussion for USMNT fans these days is who will play forward during the next four years. So, as a public service to those readers with regular jobs and actual lives that cannot spend all of your free time looking for information on every kid who once nut-megged a defender in some U-9 tournament in Bangladesh, I thought I would put together a primer on the players who have not been with the USMNT yet, but whose names you will hear mentioned most frequently when the topic of forwards comes up. For what it is worth, in my opinion, all of these guys have areas to improve upon before they are ready to consistently contribute to the USMNT. That said, I hope this list helps you sort out the rumors, myths and legends going forward.
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JUAN AGUDELO: 17 y.o., 6’, 180 lbs. He was born in Colombia and was part of the US U-17 residency program. He has played for the US in the U-17 World Cup and for the US U-20 team, scoring goals at both levels. He scored twice in the finals of the 2010 Milk Cup and was named Man of the Match. He is currently on the New York Red Bulls, and although he did not play much during the season, he started twice in the MLS playoffs, contributing a nice assist. Agudelo is very composed on the ball for a young player, has speed, and good control when receiving the ball. With Juan Pablo Angel likely done in New York, Agudelo may get to play with Thierry Henry next season, which should be good for his development. Agudelo was called up to the USMNT for the friendly against South Africa.
TRISTAN BOWEN: 19 y.o., 5’ 11”, 170 lbs. He is currently with the L.A. Galaxy. He played in 17 games in 2010, and was solid, adding two goals and two assists. He has been a member of the USA U-18 and U-20 teams, including the recent Milk Cup team. He has some strength, speed, and decent skill, but it is hard for him to get minutes in L.A. given their success with their attacking options. Training with players like Donovan, Buddle and Beckham and being coached by Bruce Arena should give Bowen the opportunity to see what it takes to be an international, which can only help him.
TEAL BUNBURY: 20 y.o, 6’ 2”, 175 lbs. Bunbury played at Akron University and was the Hermann Trophy winner as a senior. He was the #4 overall pick in the 2010 MLS draft. He has speed and scored five goals in 26 appearances, playing a withdrawn role for the K.C. Wizards. His father is a former Canadian National Team player and his mother is American. He grew up in Minnesota, but has played with the Canadian U-17 and U-20 teams. Bunbury is undecided on whether he will stay with Canada or play for the U.S. His past comments were that he was going to play for Canada, but, in a recent interview, Bunbury said he would have to sit down with his family and agent to decide what is best for his career should the U.S. call. Well, the USMNT has called him up for the friendly against South Africa, so stay tuned.
CONOR DOYLE: 18 y.o., 6’ 2”, 189 lbs. Conor Doyle grew up in Texas and was a part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In August 2010, Doyle signed a two year contract with Derby County of the English Championship. He has mainly played with Derby’s reserves, but he has begun to see some first team minutes. His father is Irish and he has an Irish passport, so Doyle avoided the obstacle other Americans have to sign with an English team. Of course, this also means he could chose to play for Ireland.
MIKE GRELLA: 23 y.o., 5’ 11”, 170 lbs. Grella played well as a substitute for Leeds United in 2009, when Leeds was promoted to the English Championship. He got into twenty eight matches and scored five times, but he was stuck behind Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio who were scoring often. In 2010, Grella has gotten stuck behind the Becchio and Davide Somma pairing, which is also scoring goals. In October, Grella went out on a month-long loan to Carlisle United in League One and has scored two goals in three appearances. He is athletic and strong with decent ball skills and a hard shot. Grella got a reputation in college as an attitude and ego problem, but to be fair, I have not heard any such reports coming out of Leeds. At his age, I think Grella needs to start getting some first team action in order to get a look from the USMNT.
JOSEPH GYAU: 18 y.o., 5’ 6”, 150 lbs. Gyau is a player that many have been watching since he was in his early teens. Gyau may end up as a midfielder, but US Soccer’s website lists him as a forward, so I am adding him in here as a name you might see. He was in the US U-17 residency program, but left there to sign with 1899 Hoffenheim of the German Bundesliga. Because of European age restrictions, Gyau played with the Vancouver Whitecaps in USSF D-2 for a year before going to Hoffenheim in 2010. Gyau has been playing with Hoffenheim’s U-19 team on the wing in midfield. He is fast and has good 1-v-1 skills. He was not called in for the U.S. Under-20 national team's upcoming participation in the Torneo de las Americas in November 2010, but Thomas Rongen has said it was due to the club situation and that Gyau is someone he is watching. Gyau could also choose to play for Ghana, and, there are rumors that there is tension between Gyau’s father and US Soccer.
FUAD IBRAHIM: 19 y.o., 6’, 0”, 153 lbs. At 16, he was drafted by Dallas FC, making him the second youngest player to be drafted in MLS. After a couple of uneventful years, he moved to Toronto FC. To date, his pro career has been largely unremarkable, but he is still young. He was in the US U-17 residency program and has made several appearances with the US U-17 and U-20 teams, including playing in the U-17 World Cup. He was recently called up to the U-20 team for the Torneo de las Americas in November 2010, so someone likes him. It will be interesting to see how he looks against other U-20s this November.
JEROME KIESEWETTER: 17 y.o., 6’ 0” 165 lb. He has good size and speed. He contributed 10 goals and 6 assists for Hertha Berlin’s U-17 team last season. Kiesewetter is currently with Hertha Berlin’s U-19 team where he has gotten some playing time and scored, as well. He got his first call to a US youth national team this summer when he went to Peru with the US U-20 team. Kiesewetter is eligible to play for the U.S. or Germany.
JACK MCINERNEY: 18 y.o., 5’ 10”, 160 lbs. The Philadelphia Union rookie was selected #7 overall in the 2010 MLS Superdraft. He scored 3 goals as a rookie in a substitute’s role for the Union. McInerney entered US Soccer’s Residency Program in 2008. He was used as a target forward for the U.S. U-17 team at the CONCACAF U-17 championship in April 2009 where he had 5 goals and 3 assists in 3 games. U-17 coach Wilmer Cabrera called him “far and away the best player” for the team in those matches. He is not flashy, but he makes the right runs, the right passes, gets into good positions and has displayed a good long range shot. He was not called up for the U.S. Under-20 national team's upcoming participation in the Torneo de las Americas, but I would expect to see him in the future.
DANNY MWANGA: 19 y.o., 6’ 2”, 175 lbs. Mwanga started 17 games for the Philadelphia Union in 2010. His 7 goals were the most among rookies and he was named a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year. Peter Nowak coached Freddy Adu, so one can assume Nowak has more faith in Mwanga’s play than he did in Adu’s which may say something. Mwanga is quick and has decent ball skills. He was born in Congo and is not yet eligible to play for the U.S., but he has expressed an interest in playing for the U.S. If reports are true, Mwanga would not be eligible for U.S. citizenship until sometime in 2011 or 2012.
SAMMY OCHOA: 24 y.o., 5’ 11”, 183 lbs. Ochoa was born in Mexico and has played in the youth system of Tecos in Mexico’s Primera Division since 2005. He scored some goals for the reserves and has now worked his way up to the first team as a substitute. Tecos is bottom of the table this season, but Ochoa has scored two goals, including a game winner, while only playing in five matches. Ochoa has made appearances for the US U-20 and U-23 teams. Overall, at his age, you would like to see him getting more time in first team matches.
ADRIAN RUELAS: 19 y.o., 6’ 2” 170 lb. Ruelas has been in the reserve system of Santos Laguna in Mexico. In September 2010, Ruelas began to train with Scottish giant, Celtic, under an arrangement with Santos Laguna. It is expected that Ruelas will train with Celtic until January 2011, when Santos Laguna and Celtic will decide if he stays or not. Ruelas was born in California to Mexican parents. He played in the Mexican national youth system, but accepted a call up to the US U-20 team in June 2010. Ruelas was the leading scorer for the US U-20’s at the Milk Cup and played with the US U-20’s in Peru. Some reports out of Mexico suggest that Ruelas may still be interested in playing for Mexico, so he is a question mark.
OMAR SALGADO: 16 y.o., 6’ 4”, 170 lbs. Tall and lanky, Salgado was in the Chivas de Guadalajara youth system in Mexico and had been in the Mexican U-20 national team camps. Chivas has a policy of only having players who are eligible for the Mexican national team, so his choice to play for the US ended Salgado’s time with Chivas. Salgado scored a goal in the 2010 Milk Cup and he played in the Peru tournament with the U-20 team. He trained with Everton’s U-18 team for two weeks in the fall of 2010 and reportedly played well. He has now been called up to the US U-20 team for the Torneo de las Americas later this month. He has signed with MLS as a Generation Adidas player and is expected to be a top ten pick in the MLS SuperDraft in January 2011.
EVGENI STARIKOV: 21 y.o., 5’ 8”, 150 lbs. Starikov is with Zenit St. Petersburg of the Russian Premier League, but is on loan to Tom Tomsk in the Russian Premier League. Starikov is eligible to play for the U.S., Ukraine and Russia, but he has not played in any national system yet. He was born in Ukraine, grew up in Florida and was at Stetson University briefly before going to Russia. There is not a lot of information on him out there, but it appears he is getting time in the Russian Premier League which is not a bad league and he has scored once.
TONY TAYLOR: 21 y.o., 5’ 11”, 165 lbs. Taylor went to play for G.D. Estoril Praia in the Portuguese Second Division in 2009. He played for the Estoril reserves and scored some big goals as Estoril won the reserve championship. He closed out the year with the first team, scoring 2 goals in 3 appearances as a substitute, helping Estoril avoid relegation. In 2010, there is a new coaching staff, and Taylor has been used as an offensive substitute for the first team. He has scored three goals so far and has gotten a start in the Portuguese League Cup. He was on the U.S. U-20 CONCACAF Championship team and the U-20 World Cup team. In addition to putting the ball in the net, he has some speed and strength and has shown the ability to take on defenders.
MARCUS TRACY: 24 y.o., 6’ 1” 170 lb. Tracy is currently with Aalborg BK in Denmark. While at Wake Forest, he put up 30 goals and 23 assists in 77 games. He won an NCAA Championship and the Hermann Trophy. He was called into the USMNT camp in January 2010, but he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the rest of Aalborg’s season. He underwent surgery and is not expected back until January 2011. He appears to have the tools, but injuries have prevented him from showing what he can do. Given his history of knee problems, his career at the international level seems to be a major question mark to me.
BOBBY WOOD: 18 y.o., 5’ 10”, 165 lbs. Wood began playing in the 1860 Munich youth system in 2006 and started 2010 with 1860’s U-23 team. Wood played for the US U-20 national team in a tournament in Holland in May 2010, where Thomas Rongen said Wood was one of the best players. Wood was called up for the U.S. U-20 tournament in Peru, but declined due to commitments with 1860 Munich. He has not been called up for the U-20 Torneo de las Americas in November 2010, and my guess is that this was also due to club commitments.
Again, I think these seventeen names are the ones you will hear most frequently when the topic of USMNT forwards comes up. If there is someone else you think should be on the list or more factual information about the players on this list, please share it in the comment section below for the benefit of our readers. Also, stayed tuned as in my next article I am going to give my opinions on who I think should get a serious audition at the USMNT forward spot over the next four years.
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