U.S. Soccer
Who in the U.S. Player Pool Is the Most Underrated?
The ASN 100 isn't exactly scientific, but that doesn't mean we can't take our ranking of the top 100 American soccer players seriously. We do. And here's a bit of insight into our thinking.
ASN 100 PANELISTS don't always see eye-to-eye with each other, let alone Jurgen Klinsmann. And that's by design.
With our continually updated, interactive ranking of the best American soccer players, our goal is provide a thoughtful, critical assessment of the U.S. player pool that remains independent of Klinsmann's personal favorites. (How's it going, Brek Shea?) That said, the list also represents some strategic collective wisdom: Noah Davis provides his personal 1-100 ranking; Brian Sciaretta provides his; Travis Clark and the rest of us do the same; and then one poor fool tabulates all of the results to come up with each iteration of the ASN 100.
Sixty days later, we do it all again because, well, shit happens and our evaluations evolve accordingly.
The most recent ASN 100 ranking went live on January 18, and we thought we'd take advantage of the current lull in U.S. Soccer/Major League Soccer matches to dissect the rankings, chat about our agreements and disagreements, and inspire you folks to chime in with your thoughts, criticism, and—ha!—praise. Let's dig in.
NOAH DAVIS: Michael Bradley, who has fallen all the way to fifth (eighth on my list). That might have been an accurate place for him in January, given his struggles in the previous months, but we now know that he had surgery and he looked more or less like his old self in the recent friendlies. Assuming he can keep that form, and there's no reason to think he won't, he's a lock to be top two in March.
GODFREY: No argument here. Anybody else stand out?
DAVIS: Steve Birnbaum, although his place in 64th only looks like it should be higher post-friendlies.
BRIAN SCIARETTA: Agreed. The most underrated player on the list right now is Birnbaum. His strong U.S. national team debut performances only validates his impressive rookie season—where he was a very important part of D.C. United's turnaround from a disastrous 2013 season.
GODFREY: Got it. Your turn, Travis.
TRAVIS CLARK: I think that Tim Ream could be a few slots higher. While the Championship isn't the most technically demanding league, it certainly
is a physical challenge, and this season in particular he's proven himself as a regular in the Bolton lineup. Yep, it's come to that when looking for underrated Americans. To the Championship. But seriously, Ream could be a few spots higher and deserves another look from Klinsmann. I'd take Ream over both Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler, who are ranked higher.
GODFREY: Let's stay in the Championship for a minute—especially since American outfield players are an endangered species in the English Premier League. When he played in the Bundesliga Danny Williams was a Top 10 guy and a Klinsmann regular, but then he got injured and moved to Reading and never really recovered long enough to get back into a grove. But he's healthy now, and playing well, and I don't think the 25-year-old defensive midfielder forgot how to play in the interim. He should be five or six slots higher, at a minimum.
JON ARNOLD: Jozy Altidore used to play in the EPL—and we downgraded him because he did absolutely nothing at Sunderland what else were we supposed to do? Still, Altidore is a vital component of the U.S. national team, and—as he reminded reporters in Carson when he was asked about an emerging player less than a year older than him—Altidore is not old. He wasn't good enough for the Premier League by any measure. He'll do fine with Toronto FC and get back into the Top 10.
GODFREY: Brooke?
BROOKE TUNSTALL: Ventura Alvarado has emerged as a starter at a club that can arguably be considered the best team in the world outside of Europe. He started Mexican League playoff games for Club America last fall and has carried that over this season, where he’s consistently in the Starting XI. A starter for a team that good should be higher than No. 66.
JOSH DEAVER: Digging deeper on this list, and into my own personal ballot: The Columbus Crew's Ethan Finlay immediately jumps to mind. In 2014 he was top 15 in MLS for both goals (11) and assists (seven)—an identical statistical record to higher-profile teammate Federico Higuain—doing so with impressive efficiency (22 shots on goal) and high overall impact (five game winners). The right-sided winger came on late in the year and played a huge role in the Crew's playoff appearance, scoring eight of his goals while starting the final 18 matches of the season. Another strong season could give Finlay, who is 24-years-old, some Gold Cup-level national team buzz.
OK, your turn. Take a look at the ASN 100 and tell us who deserves to move up the list in March, when we unveil our latest updates.
Sixty days later, we do it all again because, well, shit happens and our evaluations evolve accordingly.
The most recent ASN 100 ranking went live on January 18, and we thought we'd take advantage of the current lull in U.S. Soccer/Major League Soccer matches to dissect the rankings, chat about our agreements and disagreements, and inspire you folks to chime in with your thoughts, criticism, and—ha!—praise. Let's dig in.
Roundtable: Who is the Most Underrated Player in the ASN 100?
JOHN GODFREY: Noah—you get to go first because we all really liked that CBA piece you wrote for Grantland. Who on the list deserves to be moved up?
NOAH DAVIS: Michael Bradley, who has fallen all the way to fifth (eighth on my list). That might have been an accurate place for him in January, given his struggles in the previous months, but we now know that he had surgery and he looked more or less like his old self in the recent friendlies. Assuming he can keep that form, and there's no reason to think he won't, he's a lock to be top two in March.
GODFREY: No argument here. Anybody else stand out?
DAVIS: Steve Birnbaum, although his place in 64th only looks like it should be higher post-friendlies.
BRIAN SCIARETTA: Agreed. The most underrated player on the list right now is Birnbaum. His strong U.S. national team debut performances only validates his impressive rookie season—where he was a very important part of D.C. United's turnaround from a disastrous 2013 season.
GODFREY: Got it. Your turn, Travis.
TRAVIS CLARK: I think that Tim Ream could be a few slots higher. While the Championship isn't the most technically demanding league, it certainly
is a physical challenge, and this season in particular he's proven himself as a regular in the Bolton lineup. Yep, it's come to that when looking for underrated Americans. To the Championship. But seriously, Ream could be a few spots higher and deserves another look from Klinsmann. I'd take Ream over both Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler, who are ranked higher.
GODFREY: Let's stay in the Championship for a minute—especially since American outfield players are an endangered species in the English Premier League. When he played in the Bundesliga Danny Williams was a Top 10 guy and a Klinsmann regular, but then he got injured and moved to Reading and never really recovered long enough to get back into a grove. But he's healthy now, and playing well, and I don't think the 25-year-old defensive midfielder forgot how to play in the interim. He should be five or six slots higher, at a minimum.
JON ARNOLD: Jozy Altidore used to play in the EPL—and we downgraded him because he did absolutely nothing at Sunderland what else were we supposed to do? Still, Altidore is a vital component of the U.S. national team, and—as he reminded reporters in Carson when he was asked about an emerging player less than a year older than him—Altidore is not old. He wasn't good enough for the Premier League by any measure. He'll do fine with Toronto FC and get back into the Top 10.
GODFREY: Brooke?
BROOKE TUNSTALL: Ventura Alvarado has emerged as a starter at a club that can arguably be considered the best team in the world outside of Europe. He started Mexican League playoff games for Club America last fall and has carried that over this season, where he’s consistently in the Starting XI. A starter for a team that good should be higher than No. 66.
JOSH DEAVER: Digging deeper on this list, and into my own personal ballot: The Columbus Crew's Ethan Finlay immediately jumps to mind. In 2014 he was top 15 in MLS for both goals (11) and assists (seven)—an identical statistical record to higher-profile teammate Federico Higuain—doing so with impressive efficiency (22 shots on goal) and high overall impact (five game winners). The right-sided winger came on late in the year and played a huge role in the Crew's playoff appearance, scoring eight of his goals while starting the final 18 matches of the season. Another strong season could give Finlay, who is 24-years-old, some Gold Cup-level national team buzz.
OK, your turn. Take a look at the ASN 100 and tell us who deserves to move up the list in March, when we unveil our latest updates.
