U.S. Soccer's Forward Momentum: Strikers Coming Out of Woodwork for Yanks
A few months ago, the biggest concern on the minds of followers of the United States Men’s National Team was not at the rapidly aging, injury depleted defense, but the glaring lack of depth at striker. Shortly after the World Cup ended, the question most often asked was, “who else is there?” Jozy Altidore, although one wouldn’t know it by his goal total, actually did turn in a solid performance as a holdup striker, but after the Villareal striker, the next best option seemed to be Edson Buddle or Robbie Findley.
In the roughly seven months since the United States exited the tournament, the answers have become much more plentiful, and the picture for the MNT’s future strikers has become much brighter.
Juan Agudelo -- New York Red Bulls, MLS
1 of 6Let us begin at the obvious first stop, Juan Agudelo. The New York Red Bulls striker is barely old enough to vote, but has already featured for his club in the playoffs, turning in a performance far more mature than his years. It was at this point that Bob Bradley, recently brought back for another four years at the helm of the national team, rewarded him with a callup to the November friendly against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Agudelo was brought on in the second half for his first cap, and scored the impressive match winner from a crafty and guile-filled Mikkel Diskerud ball. Agudelo combines an excellent field vision with speed (enough to play on the wing in a 4-3-3) and striking power. Although he certainly has not had a great degree of full international experience, this combination could be deadly alongside a holding striker like Altidore.
While Agudelo’s rise has been impressive, expectations must be tempered to some extent. After all, he’s only just turned 18 and still has a lot of growing to do. He remains a big part of Thomas Rongen’s U-20 national side as well as serving for the full MNT in the January camp and will be expected to play a large role at the U-20 World Cup this year. That tournament will be perhaps more telling of the growth that can be expected from the humble Agudelo than infrequent callups to the senior side.
Teal Bunbury -- Sporting Kansas City, MLS
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Another very interesting striking option revealed himself in South Africa as well. Sporting Kansas City’s Minnesota native and half-Canuck striker Teal Bunbury also made his senior national team debut in the November friendly. The 20 year old possesses an impressive physical game and combines that with good finishing ability. He made the most of his 45 minutes in Jo’burg – although he didn’t find the back of the net, he unleashed several good shots, one of which forced a good save from the South African netminder.
Although “The Canuck” has had relatively little international experience for the United States, he has clearly been impressing at every stage in his still-young career. He grew up representing Canada at the U-17 and U-20 level. However, having grown up for the most part in the United States, Bunbury used his dual-citizenship to switch his allegiances to the Yanks. Bunbury, a Generation Adidas product, traveled with that group of young MLS players to Spain to face some of the top reserve sides in that league – he impressed observers in each match, having scored against Athletico Madrid.
After his solid showing in South Africa and again in Spain, Bunbury was invited to England to train with the Premier League’s Stoke City. In reserve action against Wigan Athletic, Bunbury notched a goal – obviously he has enough quality at age 20 to be able to impress a club competing in one of the top leagues in world soccer today. The Canuck will begin preseason training with Sporting KC shortly.
Charlie Davies -- FC Sochaux, Ligue 1 (France)
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Another bright spot for the Yanks will be the potential return of Charlie Davies, the tenacious and lightning-fast striker currently with Sochaux of French Ligue 1. Davies’ injuries and his attempted return for the World Cup has been well documented, of course, but the New Hampshire native still had a long way to go before he could truly make his return.
Thankfully, it appears that Davies is at least still on the right track to make his eventual return. The striker recently moved up from reserve action to have a spot on the bench as Sochaux faced Bordeaux in Ligue 1 action. If Davies does make good his return, his presence will certainly help bolster the American attack. His combination with Altidore yielded great results throughout 2009, with Davies scoring important goals against Egypt in the Confederations Cup and in World Cup qualifying against Mexico in Estadio Azteca.
Omar Salgado -- Vancouver Whitecaps FC, MLS
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There are even a few very young dark horse candidates for the MNT’s forward pool. Getting the most attention recently has been the newly drafted Vancouver Whitecap Omar Salgado. Just 17 years old, the former CD Guadalajara man’s future appears to be very bright. He showed very well in the Milk Cup run during the summer of 2010, scoring once in the tournament and worrying defenses constantly.
He was then invited to train with Everton of the English Premier League, a club becoming increasingly familiar with young American players. Salgado entered the 2011 MLS draft and was the somewhat surprising first overall pick. At such a young age, Salgado’s development will likely have its stops and starts as both he and the team around him develop and adjust to MLS play.
At 6’4”, Salgado has a great aerial game, which he combines with great speed – similar to Agudelo in his ability to play on the wing.
Bobby Wood -- TSV 1860 Munich, Bundesliga (Germany)
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Yet another dark horse could present himself in the form of 1860 Munich’s 18-year old Bobby Wood. The 5’10” native of Irvine, California native has been ascending the ranks of the German club since the summer. He first began to get regular time with the reserves and showed well. Having been a part of the US youth setup for years, he was invited down to Georgia to train with the U-20 squad beginning preparations for the 2011 U-20 World Cup.
Wood once again impressed in action against MLS combine players as well as other youth sides. 1860 took notice – the youngster may get his first minutes with the senior side as early as this weekend’s Bundesliga action. While in camp, he received a call from his coaches back in Germany who told him that he would be training with the first team from now on, a major step forward in the a young American’s career, let alone of any young player’s career.
Conor Doyle -- Derby County, Football League Championship (England)
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Yet another very young striker, at just 19 years old, Doyle very recently burst onto the American youth scene. As a Texas native, the 6'2" striker played with both his high school team and the Dallas Texans Soccer Club, the same club that produced current MNTers Clint Dempsey and Brek Shea. Doyle used his standout play at the youth level to earn a scholarship to Creighton University.
Doyle appeared for the Bluejays seven times in the spring of 2010 before receiving a somewhat surprising call from Derby County. Doyle wasted little time making his presence felt in England, being subbed into his first match on August 10th, just days after he signed for the club. He was given his first start in Derby's next match, facing off against Coventry City.
According to Creighton coach Johnny Torres, "He's a very talented young soccer player, He's such a technically clean player. He's a traditional target, and he does a good job by holding the ball and allowing the team to get up. He's got a great finishing touch, is very composed and has a good nose for the goal." Clearly, all of these skills will benefit the young striker both with Derby and in his future with the Yanks.
