Young players who had the best year
By Brent Latham
ESPN INSIDER
With a serious setback suffered in Olympic qualifying and no youth World Cups scheduled, 2012 could hardly be called a banner year for U.S. youth.
But there were plenty of bright spots among the wreckage of the failed Olympic campaign, including the continued emergence of Terrence Boyd, Brek Shea and Mikkel Diskerud, and cups of tea for Josh Gatt and Joe Gyau with the full team.
A little further down the depth chart, several other young Americans had noteworthy seasons at the club level as well. Here are a few of 2012's fastest risers among American soccer's young prospects.
Will Packwood, D, Birmingham
The Massachusetts native won't be 20 until next May, but he's broken through this year with Birmingham's first team in the English Championship. Promoted from the reserves at the beginning of the season, Packwood has made a handful of first-team appearances on defense this semester, including four starts across competitions, while becoming a regular inclusion in the 18 for much of the 2012-13 season.
A flexible defender who can also play in central midfield, Packwood's stock continues to rise for club and country. He figures to play a central role for this cycle's U-20s -- under the unlikely scenario that Tab Ramos can secure his release in February for qualifiers, but more likely at the U-20 World Cup this summer.
John Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin
Given a thin central defense corps for the full national team, it's encouraging to see another young center back starting to stand out at the European club level. In Brooks' case, Hertha Berlin's relegation from the Bundesliga last year may have come as a blessing in disguise.
The hulking CB finally looks to be growing into his reputation as one of America's future stars. The precocious 19-year-old didn't register any league time last season, and even garnered some critical words from his coach as Hertha struggled and eventually failed in its bid to stay up.
But the 2012-13 Second Bundesliga campaign has been a different story for the American. Brooks has won a starting spot, making 10 starts in 13 appearances thus far this year, while providing steady if not spectacular first-team form. After so much hype, it will certainly be interesting to see him next year in a U.S. jersey at the U-20 level.
Amobi Okugo, D/MF, Philadelphia Union
The year started off for Okugo just as his other two professional seasons in MLS have -- with limited playing time. Then Peter Nowak got sacked in Philly. In came former U.S. U-17 national coach John Hackworth, and a newfound trust in young domestic players.
That helped young Americans to excel across the board in Philly, but Okugo and fellow former youth national teamer Jack McInerney were among the players who benefited most, going from afterthoughts to regulars during the second half of the season. Having made a switch to center back from midfield, Okugo made his second start on June 16 against DC, and didn't come off the field again for the rest of the season, literally playing every minute for the duration of the campaign as he jump-started a promising young career.
Marc Pelosi, D/MF, Liverpool
The 18-year-old Pelosi has risen up the ranks at the Liverpool Academy at a staggering rate in his first year in England. If Liverpool instructors are to be believed, the former U.S. U-17 international, a left-sided midfielder who has also been tried on defense by the Reds, has the makings of stardom.
Making it to the first team from the academy of a top European team is always a long shot, but Pelosi truly looks to be well ahead of schedule, already turning out for Liverpool's reserves and putting in a couple of impressive performances. That he's impressed in such a short time at Anfield is all the more encouraging.
Jose Villarreal, MF, L.A. Galaxy
Quietly, Bruce Arena has always done an impressive job of developing young American talent. The tandem of Villarreal and Jack McBean, both of whom made some significant progress this year in L.A., are the latest examples.
Arena has brought U.S. U-20 midfielder Villarreal along slowly from the L.A. youth ranks, but with 11 appearances this season for the now two-time defending champs, the Los Angeles native is clearly being groomed for a more important role going forward. He'll have a chance to shine with the U.S. U-20s as soon as CONCACAF qualifiers in the spring.
Greg Garza, D/MF, Club Tijuana
After failing to catch on after several years in Portugal, Garza moved on to Mexico, where his debut season with Club Tijuana has been a surprise success. While many, including U.S. Olympic coach Caleb Porter -- who preferred a pair of little-used MLS left backs over Garza for Olympic qualifiers -- seemed to have given up on the Texas native, Tijuana gave the versatile midfielder a chance to shine.
Garza took full advantage, filling in ably for fellow American Edgar Castillo as the deputy left back, getting some time in defensive midfield and even scoring a pair of crucial goals for coach Antonio Mohamed. As the Xolos swept to the Apertura title in Mexico, Garza's career was resurrected.
Bobby Wood, F, 1860 Munich
Wood only last month returned from long-term injury, but gets a special mention because of the potential he has shown on the rare occasions when he's healthy. After battling injury since last year's U-20 World Cup qualifiers, Wood has finally reappeared in the lineup for his Second Bundesliga club with some solid play and one sensational goal in a handful of impressive starts.
For a player who at points has looked close to having to give up the game to injury, that marks an extremely positive turn of events. Wood can play winger -- a position of interest for Jurgen Klinsmann -- so if he can stay healthy through the summer of 2013, he could well find himself back on the national team radar.
By Brent Latham
ESPN INSIDER
With a serious setback suffered in Olympic qualifying and no youth World Cups scheduled, 2012 could hardly be called a banner year for U.S. youth.
But there were plenty of bright spots among the wreckage of the failed Olympic campaign, including the continued emergence of Terrence Boyd, Brek Shea and Mikkel Diskerud, and cups of tea for Josh Gatt and Joe Gyau with the full team.
A little further down the depth chart, several other young Americans had noteworthy seasons at the club level as well. Here are a few of 2012's fastest risers among American soccer's young prospects.
Will Packwood, D, Birmingham
The Massachusetts native won't be 20 until next May, but he's broken through this year with Birmingham's first team in the English Championship. Promoted from the reserves at the beginning of the season, Packwood has made a handful of first-team appearances on defense this semester, including four starts across competitions, while becoming a regular inclusion in the 18 for much of the 2012-13 season.
A flexible defender who can also play in central midfield, Packwood's stock continues to rise for club and country. He figures to play a central role for this cycle's U-20s -- under the unlikely scenario that Tab Ramos can secure his release in February for qualifiers, but more likely at the U-20 World Cup this summer.
John Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin
Given a thin central defense corps for the full national team, it's encouraging to see another young center back starting to stand out at the European club level. In Brooks' case, Hertha Berlin's relegation from the Bundesliga last year may have come as a blessing in disguise.
The hulking CB finally looks to be growing into his reputation as one of America's future stars. The precocious 19-year-old didn't register any league time last season, and even garnered some critical words from his coach as Hertha struggled and eventually failed in its bid to stay up.
But the 2012-13 Second Bundesliga campaign has been a different story for the American. Brooks has won a starting spot, making 10 starts in 13 appearances thus far this year, while providing steady if not spectacular first-team form. After so much hype, it will certainly be interesting to see him next year in a U.S. jersey at the U-20 level.
Amobi Okugo, D/MF, Philadelphia Union
The year started off for Okugo just as his other two professional seasons in MLS have -- with limited playing time. Then Peter Nowak got sacked in Philly. In came former U.S. U-17 national coach John Hackworth, and a newfound trust in young domestic players.
That helped young Americans to excel across the board in Philly, but Okugo and fellow former youth national teamer Jack McInerney were among the players who benefited most, going from afterthoughts to regulars during the second half of the season. Having made a switch to center back from midfield, Okugo made his second start on June 16 against DC, and didn't come off the field again for the rest of the season, literally playing every minute for the duration of the campaign as he jump-started a promising young career.
Marc Pelosi, D/MF, Liverpool
The 18-year-old Pelosi has risen up the ranks at the Liverpool Academy at a staggering rate in his first year in England. If Liverpool instructors are to be believed, the former U.S. U-17 international, a left-sided midfielder who has also been tried on defense by the Reds, has the makings of stardom.
Making it to the first team from the academy of a top European team is always a long shot, but Pelosi truly looks to be well ahead of schedule, already turning out for Liverpool's reserves and putting in a couple of impressive performances. That he's impressed in such a short time at Anfield is all the more encouraging.
Jose Villarreal, MF, L.A. Galaxy
Quietly, Bruce Arena has always done an impressive job of developing young American talent. The tandem of Villarreal and Jack McBean, both of whom made some significant progress this year in L.A., are the latest examples.
Arena has brought U.S. U-20 midfielder Villarreal along slowly from the L.A. youth ranks, but with 11 appearances this season for the now two-time defending champs, the Los Angeles native is clearly being groomed for a more important role going forward. He'll have a chance to shine with the U.S. U-20s as soon as CONCACAF qualifiers in the spring.
Greg Garza, D/MF, Club Tijuana
After failing to catch on after several years in Portugal, Garza moved on to Mexico, where his debut season with Club Tijuana has been a surprise success. While many, including U.S. Olympic coach Caleb Porter -- who preferred a pair of little-used MLS left backs over Garza for Olympic qualifiers -- seemed to have given up on the Texas native, Tijuana gave the versatile midfielder a chance to shine.
Garza took full advantage, filling in ably for fellow American Edgar Castillo as the deputy left back, getting some time in defensive midfield and even scoring a pair of crucial goals for coach Antonio Mohamed. As the Xolos swept to the Apertura title in Mexico, Garza's career was resurrected.
Bobby Wood, F, 1860 Munich
Wood only last month returned from long-term injury, but gets a special mention because of the potential he has shown on the rare occasions when he's healthy. After battling injury since last year's U-20 World Cup qualifiers, Wood has finally reappeared in the lineup for his Second Bundesliga club with some solid play and one sensational goal in a handful of impressive starts.
For a player who at points has looked close to having to give up the game to injury, that marks an extremely positive turn of events. Wood can play winger -- a position of interest for Jurgen Klinsmann -- so if he can stay healthy through the summer of 2013, he could well find himself back on the national team radar.
