Uncapped Players to Watch For

As if the wait between international match days wasn't bad enough, we're also at that awkward purgatory that comes around once every four years when one cycle ends and the next has yet to begin.  I guess if there is any silver lining, this month long gap between the 2010 cycle and 2014 cycle provides us with a good opportunity to not only look back at what was, but to also look ahead to what might be.

As unsettling as it may be to look at some of the ages on the World Cup roster and add four years to them, there's also the hope that there is someone out there who hasn't yet had their first taste of international duty that could end up being a difference maker in the years to come. This past cycle, players like Jozy Alitdore, Charlie Davies, Michael Bradley, and Jay DeMerit come to mind, just to name a few. Who will be the next crop to make the jump to the international level as we begin the journey to Brazil 2014? Only time will tell. But for now, I'll give you some players that I will be keeping an eye out for in the coming cycle.

Some of these guys will probably end up making a name for themselves with the USMNT in the upcoming cycle. Most will probably just get their feet wet, preparing them for bigger and better things in the 2018 go-around. Others, meanwhile, might never make it. And, of course, some of these guys that I'll talk about in a minute might not even be USMNT-eligible this cycle. For now, though, these players all look like they have some promise, and that's good enough.


The Almost-Capped

Omar Gonzalez
Kevin Alston
Sean Franklin
Brek Shea

All four of these players have been called into camp by Bob Bradley at some point in the past four years, though none has actually seen the field.  Gonzalez is developing into a nice player with the LA Galaxy, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get called into camp for the USMNT-Brazil friendly in a couple of weeks.  Alston and Franklin, meanwhile, look like legitimate possibilities at outside back for the upcoming cycle; I've been particularly impressed with what I've seen out of Alston, just 22 years old, in the few Revs matches that I've seen recently.  Shea, meanwhile, is in the midst of a solid sophomore campaign with FC Dallas, with four goals and two assists thus far.  His size, athleticism, and left-footedness (not a word, but you get the idea) might also entice whoever the USMNT coach may be to experiment with him at left back.


The Europe-based Youngsters

Eric Lichaj
Mikkel Diskerud
Gale Agbossoumonde

21-year old Eric Lichaj looks poised for big things this cycle.  He's impressed in preseason with Aston Villa, even scoring a goal the other day, and will hopefully get a good chunk of first team minutes in the upcoming season (which would be more likely with a loan away from Villa Park).  In a recent interview, he stated that he could play at either outside back position, making him all the more attractive as a national team prospect.  Diskerud, meanwhile, continues to do some impressive things up in Norway with Stabaek, earning consistent playing time and contributing on the stat sheet despite being just 19 years old.  We saw a couple of young outside midfielders break onto the scene in the past year or so with the USMNT in Stuart Holden and Alejandro Bedoya, and I wouldn't be surprised if Mix was able to do the same in the not-too-distant future.

Last of the bunch is Gale Agbossoumonde.  "Boss" played in the 2009 U-20 World Cup and parlayed those appearances into a six month loan with Portuguese side Braga.  Though Gale did not make any first team appearances in his time at the club, he played with the reserves and even earned a spot on the bench, a fairly impressive feat in and of itself for an 18-year old on a team in the midst of a title race.  He may not make much noise in the upcoming cycle, being so young, but his skill set and athletic ability have more people than just me believing that he could have a very bright future with the USMNT.


The MLS Rookies

Tim Ream
Ike Opara

I know, more defensive players, but having a bunch of talented prospects can only be a good thing, particularly with the defensive issues of the last cycle and the aging of some of our defensive mainstays.  Both Ream and Opara have looked good in their rookie seasons with New York and San Jose, respectively.  Ream has shown his defensive abilities while also demonstrating some good skill on the ball, while Opara has helped the Earthquakes into playoff position just one year after finishing second-to-last and conceding the most goals in MLS.  He's also proven to be a threat on the offensive end as well, scoring three goals in league play thus far.

Of course, these aren't the only MLS rookies that are making some noise; there are a couple of offensive players who have created a bit of a buzz, as well.  I couldn't include them in this category, however, because they are a couple of...


The Not Quite Yanks

Andy Najar
Danny Mwanga
Yura Movsisyan

All three of these players have done some impressive things this year, though none of them are currently eligible for the USMNT.  Movsisyan continues to score goals with Randers and has stated his desire to play for the US; he is currently going through the citizenship process, which he says has slowed down a little since his move to Denmark.  Mwanga, meanwhile, left the Democratic Republic of the Congo during high school; where he stands on the citizenship front, I'm not so sure.  He has indicated, though, that he would want to play for the US if given the opportunity.  With goalscoring strikers not exactly available in bunches in the US player pool, both of these players could earn a call up to the senior team if they continue to develop (and, of course, get that pesky citizenship thing taken care of).

Last of this group (and this post, for that matter) is a player who has already had to field questions about where he play internationally despite being just 17 years old.  Andy Najar has been one of the best players (probably the best, even) for DC United this season, showing remarkable poise and ability for a teenager in his first professional season.  His choice between nations is relevant to the USMNT on multiple levels, as he could very well end up playing for CONCACAF rivals Honduras, the country that he spent the first 13 years of his life in.  It looks like he could blossom into a supremely talented player in the years to come, but for now we will just have to wait and see what team he decides will have those talents at their disposal: the Yanks or Los Catrachos. 

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Well, that's it for now.  This isn't meant to be comprehensive, so feel free to chime in with your own thoughts; I'm sure I missed someone good along the way.