scouting america

8/20/2019 Scouting America

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Scouting America: Does John Anthony

Brooks have star potential?

Posted by Alex Labidou

John Macdougall/Getty

ImagesGerman-American John Anthony Brooks has helped lead Hertha Berlin to stunning startin the Bundesliga.

In 2009, e!en "u#otic #roke the hearts o$ many %nited "tates soccer $ans in deciding to play$or "er#ia. o& in 20'(, those same $ans hope German-American John Anthony Brooks)s $uture&ill #e much di$$erent.

*!er the past $our years, "u#otic has #ecome a de$ensi!e +uggernaut at center #ack, starring in adynamic de$ensi!e duo $or ortmund &ith ats Hummels, &inning #ack-to-#ack GermanBundesliga titles #et&een 20'0 and 20'2. In comparison, out o$ the %.".)s current crop o$$eatured center #acks, only *mar Gonale has had league success &inning the /" up t&ice&ith the /os Angeles Gala1y. It)s clear to see that the center o$ the %.". de$ense lacks top le!ele1perience and "porting de$ender att Besler has #een the only consistently relia#le optionthus $ar.

3he %.". coaching sta$$ likely #elie!es Brooks can help sol!e that issue. 4"5 6 spoke &ith ahampions /eague clu# scout #ased in one o$ 4urope)s top-three leagues 74ngland, Germany,"pain8 to gain his assessment o$ the young de$ender and the scout is !ery impressed &ith his

potential.

He)s got a great technical #ase and a great physical presence to him, the scout said, choosing to #e anonymous to gi!e an honest assessment. 5laying in one o$ 4urope)s top leagues at 20 yearsold speaks !olumes and he)ll only continue to get #etter &ith more e1perience.

Brooks has already secured a starting position $or Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga and hasimpressed in his opening si1 games. 3he recently promoted side has turned heads as it is

http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/98141/neven-subotic?cc=5901http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/39386/john-anthony-brooks?cc=5901http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/39386/john-anthony-brooks?cc=5901http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/39386/john-anthony-brooks?cc=5901http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/39386/john-anthony-brooks?cc=5901http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/98141/neven-subotic?cc=5901


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currently #attling $or a hampions /eague spot in $ourth place &ith ': points. Brooks has playeda #ig role in the Hertha)s success. ;ith his to&ering


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to see ho& he does.

Is he a shoe-in $or a spot to Brail> o. But it is hard to o!erlook an e1citing 20-year-old &ho is playing regularly in the Bundesliga.

Both Brooks and linsmann ha!e an interesting decision ahead.

Here's the scout's evaluation:

Strengths:

Brooks) distri#ution makes him !ery interesting $or the $uture o$ the %.". national team. He)stechnically !ery good, especially considering he)s < $oot, = inches, and teams are al&ays looking$or naturally le$t-$ooted players.

e$ensi!ely, his physical presence &ill al&ays make him di$$icult to get around. He)s #ecome

#etter and #etter at timing his last-gasp tackles and seems to get a couple in e!ery game he playsin. He)s #ra!e and isn)t a$raid to thro& himsel$ into a tackle i$ its needed. entral de$ensi!e positions are o$tentimes reser!ed $or older, more e1perienced players, #ut Brooks) con$idenceand mature demeanor helps greatly make up $or that lack o$ e1perience.

Weaknesses:

3hat lack o$ e1perience at the top le!el can #e seen at times in Brooks) game #ut its natural and part o$ the learning cur!e.

3hough he)s o$ten !ery good at timing his sliding challenges to per$ection, the $act that he $indshimsel$ on the ground so o$ten in matches indicates that his starting position isn)t al&ays the #est.A de$ender like 5aolo aldini &as a#le to play into his late (0s #ecause o$ his a#ility to read thegame so e$$ecti!ely. As play de!elops, it sometimes +ust takes one or t&o steps to the right or thele$t to anticipate a pass or mo!ement. At the moment, Brooks lacks that little #it o$ ?uality in hisa&areness, #ut it)ll certainly impro!e i$ he continues to play against the Bundesliga)s #estattacking talent.

Also, despite his great sie, Brooks) can also look to impro!e his aerial a#ility. 3eams look attheir central de$enders to impose their authority on a game &hene!er a #all is in the air, andBrooks at times struggles to do that. Being tall is one thing, #ut #eing po&er$ul and strong in theair is another. I$ Brooks can instill that tenacious attitude into his game, he &ill #e !ery di$$icultto get past.

Similar Player: Jerome Boateng


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Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty

ImagesJerome Boateng has #ecome a top player at Bayern and similar to John Brooks, started hiscareer at Hertha Berlin.

3hey)!e #oth got great presence at the #ack and are com$orta#le on the #all &ith $antastic passing ranges. Boateng is clearly $ar more e1perienced at the moment ha!ing played in t&ohampions /eague $inals and #oth the 4uropean hampionships as &ell as the ;orld up $orGermany, #ut Brooks is still young and &ill get his opportunities i$ he continues to impro!e.

Also, interesting to point out that Jerome started his career at Hertha as &ell.

Ratings out o! "#:

Dri$$ling: %&inishing:

&irst (ouch: %

Passing an) *ision: +

Spee): +

Aerial A$ility: %

Strength: %

,n-ury: % .here / means he gets in-ure) a lot an) " means he's al.ays !it#

0aturity: +

De!ense 0arking1 (ackling#: +

(otal Score: %+ out o! "2Potential Score: +2

Ratings 0eter: 0-'0@ ot e!en A"/ le!el'0-':@ A!erage A"/ player':-20@ /" ole 5layer20-2:@ /" "tarter


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2:-(0@ /" All-"tar(0-(:@ "tarter on mid-, lo&-ta#le 45/ side or role player on top team.(:-=0@ A solid starter on a top 45/ clu#=0-=:@ A legit star player=:-:0@ 3hiago "il!a, Hummels, incent ompany

3urrent trans!er !ee: C: million&uture trans!er !ee: C'0 million to C': million

4ucas Pia5on1 &erreira63arrasco an) a

Spanish !ull6$ack on the rise

Posted by Christopher Atkins

GettyImagesitesse)s /ucas5iaon scored a #race against Heeren!een.

3he "cout)s ote#ook returns &ith its &eekly re!ie& o$ youth talent around the &orld and, onthis occasion, $eatures three youngsters &hose goalscoring contri#utions this &eekend &ill onlyser!e to add to e!er-increasing hype regarding their de!elopment.

3he trio -- itesse)s Brailian $or&ard /ucas 5iaon, onaco)s Dannick 6erreira-arrasco and"e!illa)s Al#erto oreno -- are all regular $irst-team mem#ers at their respecti!e sides and ha!eall $eatured at some le!el $or their national teams. 3hey are, though, all $urther adding to theirreputations &ith impressi!e starts to a season that has #rought each player a ra$t o$ ne&

challenges and di$$iculties.

/et)s, then, look at our three #urgeoning stars and their standout per$ormances this &eekend@

4ucas Pia5on inspires *itesse come$ack

At 2-0 do&n a&ay to Heeren!een on "aturday e!ening, it did not look as though itesse &ould #e returning home to Arnhem in good spirits a$ter :0 minutes o$ the t&o sides) 4redi!isie clash.


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Ho&e!er, three goals made in helsea -- i$ you)ll e1cuse the pun -- sa& 5iaon and hiscolleagues claim a (-2 !ictory in the $inal minute thanks to a &onder$ul e$$ort $rom le$t-#ack5atrick !an Aanholt.

3here &as nothing particularly special a#out either o$ 5iaon)s goals in the come#ack, #ut it &as

the manner o$ his o!erall per$ormance that impressed greatly -- as it has #een $or much o$ thecampaign. *nce itesse came into the game, though, the Brailian &as a constant threat on thele$t $lank. A s&ept le$t-$ooted $inish #rought his side #ack into the game, &hile his second &as atouch $ortunate as a $loated #ack-post $ree kick e!aded e!eryone and snuck into the corner o$ thenet.

He &ould also go on to play a ma+or role in an Aanholt)s &inner. A s&ept #all into the le$tchannel &as chested do&n &ell, stretching play #e$ore checking his run and playing a simple pass #ack to the ad!ancing $ull-#ack. ;hile his colleague)s sumptuous strike could not ha!e #eene1pected, the Brailian)s &ork-rate and ?uality e!en in the $inal minute o$ the game helped toseal the triumph.

He must still &ork on cutting out some #asic errors at times, #ut at +ust '9-years-old has plentyo$ time ahead to re$ine his all-round game. helsea in!ested a lot in his talent a couple o$ yearsago and, at the time, there &ere dou#ts o!er the in!estment. "ince arri!ing in 4urope, though,5iaon has made steady progress and, &ith itesse, looks to #e thri!ing in the $ree-$lo&ingen!ironment that the 4redi!isie has to o$$er. He is, certainly, a player to keep an eye on $or theremainder o$ the campaign.

&erreira63arrasco stars in 4igue /

Belgian attacking mid$ielder Dannick 6erreira-arrasco &as a ma+or $eature $or A" onaco lastseason and, despite $ears he &ould lose his place as part o$ their summer o!erhaul, has remaineda nigh-on permanent presence on the le$t-&ing this campaign.

3he 20-year-old has played &ell this season &ithout contri#uting greatly in terms o$ either goalsor assists. Ho&e!er, he &as e!ery&here in the opening minutes o$ the clash &ith "ochau1 this&eekend and sa& his &ork-rate re&arded &ith t&o opportunities that &ere calmly dispatched past goalkeeper "imon 5ouplin.

onaco, though, &ere una#le to hold onto their t&o-goal ad!antage in &hat &as a $irst ma+orsign o$ &eakness this season. ;ith their mishap, the principality side surrendered their lead at thetop o$ the ta#le, &ith reigning champions 5"G no& t&o points clear at the summit o$ /igue '.

;ith a good season at onaco, the young &inger undou#tedly has a chance o$ making ne1tsummer)s ;orld up &ith Belgium. Both e!in de Bruyne and acer hadli are out o$ $a!our atclu# le!el $or the time #eing, &hile there &ill almost certainly #e in+uries #et&een no& and ne1tsummer. He is e1cellent technically, his &ork-rate &ould help any side and, gi!en his !ersatility,he &ould #e a use$ul $igure in any 2(-man s?uad.

6erreira-arrasco has #een a hugely in$luential $igure in the rise o$ onaco $rom /igue 2 o!er


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the past year and he must surely #e a candidate $or inclusion in arc ;ilmots) side e!en at thecurrent time. A ma+or role in a title challenge, though, &ould o$ course !ery much help his case.

Al$erto 0oreno continues to attract attention

GettyImages"pain and "e!illa youngster Al#erto oreno.

In the past $e& &eeks, this column has discussed the rise o$ Atletico adrid mid$ielder oke and

ho& his impressi!e start to the season has propelled him into icente del Bos?ue)s plans $or the;orld up ne1t summer. Ho&e!er, oke may #e $ar $rom alone in graduating $rom "pain)s!ictorious %nder-2' s?uad o$ this summer to the senior s?uad o!er the ne1t '2 months.

eal adrid)s Isco has long #een an o#!ious candidate, as has Barcelona)s 3hiago, #ut it &ouldappear that "e!illa le$t-#ack Al#erto oreno may #e the surprise package that makes icente delBos?ue)s s?uad $or Brail ne1t summer. Just a year ago, oreno &as playing at B-team le!el $orhis clu# side and, indeed, it &as only &ith the arri!al o$ %nai 4mery in 6e#ruary that the!ersatile youngster &as promoted to senior le!el $or use at le$t-#ack. By the summer, though, he&as already $irst-choice $or "pain %nder-2's and, +ust last &eek, he &ould make his seniorinternational le!el.

oreno, o$ course, can rely on impressi!e speed and stamina to push up and do&n the le$t $lankthroughout the game. ;hat particularly stands out a#out his game, though, is the intelligence hesho&s in his positioning and in interplay &ith teammates. "uch is his intelligence that, this&eekend, he &as #ack in a le$t mid$ield role and adapted &ith ease to his more attacking role -- a position he played many times at youth le!el. 3he 2'-year-old got himsel$ on the scoresheet togi!e "e!illa a 2-0 lead on the hal$-hour mark and, &hile the Andalusian clu# conceded their leadlater in the tie, oreno could not #e $aulted.

He &ill no& likely make "pain)s s?uad at the ;orld up ne1t summer as #ackup to Barcelona)sJordi Al#a, yet i$ the $ormer-alencia man struggles to reco!er $itness and $orm, oreno may

&ell $ind himsel$ in a $irst-team role. *!er the summer, /i!erpool &ere linked &ith a #id $or hisser!ices and the eds &ere highly unlikely to ha!e #een alone in en?uiring as to oreno)sa!aila#ility. I$ he can maintain his current $orm o!er the coming months, interest is likely toe1pand e1ponentially #y January -- yet alone ne1t summer.

uch has #een made o$ "pain)s long-identi$ied talents such as 3hiago, Isco and Gerard eulo$eu$or many years no&. oreno, though, could #e one o$ the #est o$ &hat is a hugely talented #unch, ha!ing emerged almost $rom no&here in &hat has #een a tremendous 20'( calendar year


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$or the rising star o$ "e!illa)s much-changed side.

For further discussion on any of the players featured in The cout!s "oteboo#$ %hristopher canbe found on T&itter ' (chris)elastico* More of his &or# profiling rising talents can also be

found at The+lastico*com*

Scouting America: Ho. .ill Juan Agu)elo

!are at Stoke?

Posted by Alex Labidou

,nne-Marie or.in/,T01,2 portsJuan Agudelo is &idely regarded as the %nited "tates #est homegro&n prospectand &ill +oin "toke this January.

"ince Juan Agudelo)s pro$essional de#ut at 'E, he)s #een long heralded as a #ig hope o$ America)ssoccer $uture. o& 20 and on his &ay to 4nglish 5remier /eague side "toke ne1t January,Agudelo has sho&n $ans glimpses o$ ho& talented he can #e #ut has also reminded them ho&much &ork lies ahead.

6or all o$ Agudelo)s #right moments -- a game &inner on his %nited "tates national team de#utor a stunning o!erhead kick against .. %nited &hile &ith the e& Dork ed Bulls -- he)s hadhis share o$ &arranted criticism, as &ell.

Agudelo is on his third team in his third $ull pro$essional season in a+or /eague "occer.

onsidering ho& restricti!e the league)s salary cap is, young, talented and a$$orda#le 7Agudelomakes C'E:,000 per season8 talents aren)t usually traded a&ay #y /" clu#s. But Agudelo)s lack o$ consistency, along &ith ?uestions a#out his attitude, ha!e hurt him.

Agudelo has ne!er scored more than si1 goals in a season during his time in /", &ith hiscurrent run o$ si1 goals in '0 games #eing his #est stretch in $our years o$ #eing a pro. 3he youngstriker)s maturity has also #een ?uestioned #y !arious general managers and 4uropean scouts."ome e1ecuti!es ha!e pointed to his misguided ret&eet o$ a "ky "ports report sending him to

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eltic, &ithout a concrete deal on the ta#le, as a sign that he has some gro&ing up to do.

"till, &ith a strong


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good strikers into great strikers. He also needs to impro!e his a&areness o$ time and space in the$inal third as he continues to de!elop. 3oo o$ten he takes too many unnecessary touches &hen hecould play one or t&o touch and +ust mo!e the #all ?uicker.

3hough he is ?uite con$ident dropping o$$ into the mid$ield to get the #all to his $eet, his lack o$

a&areness o$ &hat is around him at times gets him in trou#le &ith his $irst touch, &hich $orceshis second touch to #e a tackle.

Why Agu)elo .ill succee):

He)s naturally gi$ted and physically !ery imposing. lu#s are al&ays looking $or a guy &ho isa#le to hold a #all up #ut also $or a player &ho looks to get in #ehind.

He)s also sho&n in the national team that playing on a #ig stage isn)t an issue. Be$ore others &ill #elie!e in you as a player, you ha!e to #elie!e in yoursel$ and I don)t think that)ll e!er #e an issue&ith him.

A mo!e to 4urope &ill see him get #etter aerial ser!ice $rom &ide areas, especially at "toke,&here &ide players are used to picking out #igger targets centrally, &hich means he)ll ha!e moreopportunities in $ront o$ goal i$ he continues to get into good spots.

Why he .on't:

He)ll de$initely need to impro!e that a&areness along &ith his $irst touch i$ he is to make it in4ngland)s top $light. e$enders are used to dealing &ith some o$ the most intelligent attacking players in the &orld, and his mo!ement o$$ the #all &ill hea!ily dictate &hether or not hesucceeds. ;hen he does get the #all, he)ll ha!e to impro!e his $irst touch and learn ho& to playmuch ?uicker.

His attitude &ill also play a #ig role -- &ill he arri!e &ith that huge &illingness to learn, or &illhe arri!e thinking he)s made it>


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John Peters/Man td/Getty ImagesJuan Agudelo has similar skills to Ja!ier hicharitoHernande #ut hasn)t consistently produced like the e1ico striker did at Guadala+ara.

Similar player: Javier 73hicharito7 Hernan)e5

3he e1ican international has impro!ed dramatically since his mo!e $rom Guadala+ara toanchester %nited #e$ore ;orld up 20'0. Hernande is among the #est in the &orld &hen itcomes to his mo!ement in the #o1. He)s capa#le o$ getting in #ehind &ith &ell-timed runs #uthe)s also con$ident enough to demand the #all to his $eet. 3echnically, the e1ican isn)t &orldclass #ut he rarely needs more than one touch &hen he scores his goals #ecause o$ his mo!emento$$ the #all.

/ike Agudelo, his creati!ity and a#ility to impro!ise in $ront o$ goal has to #e applauded.%nlike Agudelo, ho&e!er, Hernande &as scoring regularly in /iga F #e$ore his mo!e, &ith2' in 2 league appearances #e$ore he signed $or %nited.

Ratings out o! "#:

Dri$$ling: (&inishing: (&irst touch: (Passing an) vision: (

Spee): =Aerial a$ility: =Strength: =,n-ury: (0aturity: 2De!ense marking1 tackling#: (

(otal score: (2 out o$ :0


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Potential score: (=

Ratings 0eter: 0-'0@ ot e!en A"/ le!el'0-':@ A!erage A"/ player

':-20@ /" ole 5layer20-2:@ /" "tarter2:-(0@ /" All-"tar(0-(:@ "tarter on mid, lo&-ta#le 45/ side or role player on top team.(:-=0@ A solid starter on a top 45/ clu#=0-=:@ A legit star player=:-:0@ essi, onaldo, Bale

3urrent trans!er value: C',000,000&uture trans!er value: C(-E million

Ser$ia's youngest )e$utant hits internationalscene

Posted by Christopher Atkins

8ame: Andri+a i!ko!ic Age: 'E 3lu$: 5artian BelgradePosition: ;inger 8ationality: "er#ia

rd3an te.ano.ic/Getty ImagesAndri+a i!ko!ic, le$t, #ecame "er#ia)s youngest international player 6riday in a match against Japan.


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5artian may ha!e lost /aar arko!ic to Ben$ica this summer, #ut the $lo& o$ talent out theclu# does not appear to #e stopping. In recent years, the clu# ha!e released oran 3osic, ati+a astisic, "te!an Jo!etic and Adem /+a+ic into the &ider &orld o$ 4uropean $oot#all.

;hile arko!ic is yet to pro!e himsel$ at those le!els, the '9-year-old has the a#ility to #e the

#est yet o$ &hat is a talented #unch. Ho&e!er, &ithin +ust months o$ his departure, the clu# may&ell ha!e $ound the ne1t another replacement $rom &ithin their youth ranks -- Andri+a i!ko!ic.

*nly 'E years old plus 0 days, the le$t-$ooted &ide $or&ard made his de#ut $or "er#ia againstJapan on 6riday night, #ecoming the youngest player in his national team)s history. 6ollo&ing$our goals in his opening si1 appearances in the "er#ian "uper /iga, the young speedster &as$ast-tracked into the national team setup and, on the hour mark, replaced 3osic to make hisinternational de#ut.

His arri!al has #een long anticipated, &ith the '99< generation at 5artian one o$ great promise.entral playmaker aniel 5antic made his $irst-team #o& at the end o$ last season and is still +ust

'


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"er#ia ha!e not #een en+oying the #est o$ times at international le!el in recent years, #ut as moreyoung talents seem to continually emerge at "tadion 5artian, they should #e a#le to #ounce #ack in $ine style at coming tournaments.

For further discussion on any of the players featured in The cout!s "oteboo#$ %hristopher canbe found on T&itter (chris)elastico* More of his &or# profiling rising talents can also be found

at The+lastico*com*
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