WEEKLY WRAP: 7.3 through 7.9.2017: The Kids Are Alright & 14 Goals, 3 Assists & 5 Shut Outs

 I have dropped some pieces on goal-keepers, on groups of players in different countries and now US young guns - who were front and center this weekend. As we are in the throws of training games, preseason and also the lower leagues are playing or kicking off their seasons, this is the time of the young, hopeful players, not only from the USA but everywhere. For the USA read on.

Haji Wright celebrates

This past week saw the perceived promise of the future of US Soccer on display around the world and it really gives reason to get excited. Remember that these games are more often than not big vs small with scores in double figures,and are primers for the season. Also some players that I would have in this group have not started playing yet; Joshua Perez in Italy, Timothy Weah in France and Shaq Moore in Spain come to mind.

McKinzie Gaines Scores

The elder's Luca de la Torre at Fulham, Lyndon Gooch at Sunderland, Brendan Hines-Ike at Orebro in Sweden, Matt Miazga at Chelsea and Emerson Hyndman at Bournemouth all fall under the title of elders, some have played for the senior USMNT already and represent the next wave

Weston McKennie battles

The true youngsters, McKinzie Gaines at Darmstadt, Haji Wright and Weston McKennie at Schalke, Maki Tall at Tours in France have all been 'bumped' up to their teams senior squads for this coming season and all of them have responded with goals and assists, with some regularity during this early preseason. Andrija Novakovich, has been loaned for the season to Telstar in the Netherlands, while Matthew Olosunde at Manchester United, Antonee Robinson at Everton, Isaiah Thomas at Wolfsburg all have new long-term contracts while Jonathan Klinsmann and Danny Barbir are both currently without teams  Eric Palmer-Brown is playing at Sporting KC. If you keep going further, Nick Taitague, the now lone Schalke U19 and Kyle Scott at Chelsea may  break out this coming season...the list just goes on (in a good way)

Then finally there is Christian Pulisic - who doesn't really fit in the category's as a true youngster and an elder he fits both - nuf said!

So take Dr Who's TARDIS, say 5 years into the future (maybe a little more) - and conjure up your line-up for the USMNT. You can't help but feel good and a little excited.

Note here: I probably left some players off the list - If you wish, use the comment segment and let every one know...group them 1. Elders 2. True Youngsters - there are quite a few up and comings that I left off the list because, well IMHO, they have mush to prove still.

Next Week is the start of Germany's Regionaliiga and Oberliga seasons so lot's to track in next weekends wrap

OK the short list

GOALS

Gregory Conrad - Iceland

Jalon Brown - Australia

Aaron Schoenfeld - Israel

Jacob Bushue - Finland

Joe Gyau - Germany (f)

Maki Tall - France (f)

McKinzie Gaines - Germany (f)

Ian Garrett - Finland

Brendan Hines-Ike - Sweden
Luca de la Torre - England (f)

Haji Wright (4) - Germany (f)

ASSIST
Weston McKennie (2) - Germany (f)
Haji Wright - Germany (f)

SHUT OUT
Kenneth Kronholm - Germany (f)
Ethan Horvath - Belgium (f)
Paul Blanchette - Finland 
Josh Wicks - Sweden
Zac Lubin - Sweden

and the longer, more comprehensive list below.......

MONDAY
No Games

TUESDAY

Gregory Conrad Scored the tieing Goal for Afturelding in Iceland's Division 2 as they traveled to Vidar. Gregory went the full 90 minutes and picked up a yellow in ET in this away draw

Tanner Sica went 90, picked up a yellow as Tindastoll visited Volsungur in Iceland Division 2, losing this one 2 - 1

WEDNESDAY

Jalon Brown Scored (yet again) for Valentine as they win 3 - 2 over Newcastle Jets in Australia's NPL (NNSW) That's 11 goals in 8 games !!!

In a Friendly, Ken Gipson started (1st half) and Andrew Wooten started on the bench for Sandhausen as they win 2 - 1 over Luzern of Switzerland

Luca De La Torre started for Fulham in a Friendly against Piast of Poland winning 0 - 1 on a PK

GK Kenneth Kronholm got the Shut Out as Kiel faced off in a Friendly with Ukraine's Shakhtar in a goalless draw

GK Ethan Horvath gets the Shut Out as Club Brugge plays a Friendly at Oleksandriya in Ukraine, winning 0 - 3

THURSDAY

Aaron Schoenfeld (90) Scored, opening his Europa League account as M.Tel Aviv win 0 - 3 at Albania's Tirana. The aggregate for this match-up was 5 - 0 in M.Tel Aviv's favor.

Sarajevo and Nermin Crnkic (90) did not make it through to the next round of the Europa League, winning today's game 2 - 1, but losing the series 3 - 4 on aggregate, following ET and a PK shoot-out

Kyrian Nwabueze went 90 and picked up a yellow as Shirak traveled to Slovakia's Gorica carrying a 2 goal deficit, and for a short while it looked like they might pull off a surprise, unfortunately, it was just to much to ask. Shirak managed a respectable 2 - 2 draw today, but fall 4 - 2 on aggregate

Oh my, Grotta and GK Will Dieterich are just going through the worst time right now, visiting Kopavogur in Iceland's Inkasso-deildin and losing 2 - 0 and now firmly at the bottom of the table with just 5 points from 10 games

Speaking of Iceland, Dion Acoff (90) and Valur won their Europa League tie with Latvia's Ventspils 1 - 0 and will move on to the next round. Valur had a slight advantage going into today's match with a 0 - 0 away draw in the first leg, today's win gave them a 1 - 0 aggregate.

FRIDAY

Brian Span (79) as Mariehamn held on for a 2 - 2 draw at home with Ilves in Finland's Veikkausliiga. Dropped points for Mariehamn, who are fighting for a Europa League spot next season. HJK are well out in front (UCL Spot) and 6 teams are within 4 points of each other for the 2 EL spots, so dropped points - not good

Jacob Bushue (90) Scored BK-46 2nd goal from the spot, giving his team the 2 - 0 win over EsPa in Finland's Kakkonen (Group B). BK-46 who have not lost in their last 5 are now top of the division. Mitchel Lopez went 86 minutes and contributed to the teams performance.

Harrison Hanley did not get off the bench as Haukar traveled to, league leaders, Fylkir in Iceland's Inkasso-deildin and lost 2 - 0

JC Mack (90) and Selfoss battled to a 1 - 1 draw at home to Throttur in Inkasso-deildin in Iceland. Selfoss has drawn their last 2 games and remain in contention, just (they are 6 points behind 2nd place Keflavik)

In a Friendly Germany's Sonnenhof traveled to Austrian team Liefering winning 0 - 2 with a Goal from Joe Gyau in the 11th minute, that went on to be the winner.

With a new contract in hand, and an opportunity to show his worth, Maki Tall played in a friendly in France for the senior squad of Tours and Scored the sole Tours goal in a 2 - 1 defeat by Guingamp. Good showing by Maki

In a Friendly in Germany, Terence Boyd (45) McKinzie Gaines (90) and Darmstadt faced off at Worms, winning 0 - 4 with McKinzie Scoring (again) in the 15th minute (eventual winning goal)

In England, Lyndon Gooch started at forward for Sunderland as they traveled to Bury to play a friendly, which Sunderland won 2 - 3

Caleb Stanko played the 2nd half for Freiburg in a friendly against minnows FV Lörrach-Brombach winning 0 - 8

SATURDAY

Tyler Fischer came off the bench at 67th minute for Avondale as they were held scoreless at home to Hume City in Australia's NPL (Victoria)

Kenny Eze came off the bench at 52 minutes, for North Geelong as they lost their home game to South Melbourne 1 - 5 in Australia's NPL (Victoria) The Geelong Warriors are looking a fair bet for the drop at this point....

Launceston City FC and Dylan Williams were held to a goalless draw by Devonport in Australia's NPL (Tasmania). With only 6 points from 15 matches their future in the NPL looks short for Launceston

GK Daniel Schmidt and Vegalta Sendai continue their skid as they fall 3 - 0 to Kobe in Japan's J-League. That's 3 straight loses for Vegalta

In Finland's Ykkonen, Etchu Tabe (90) Felix De Bona (90) and Ekenas held on for a 1 - 1 home draw with Haka. Ekenas is hovering above the drop zone and need points if they are to survive

Dylan Autran (64) in Mikkeli's 4 - 1 loss at PKKU in Finland's Kakkonen (Group A) Mikkeli is another team sliding down the league rapidly, with 3 straight loses

Mikkelin Kissat (MiKi) and Isaac Kannah were totally dismantled by KTP 0 - 6 in Finland's Kakkonen (Group A)

On Brighter news from Finland's Kakkonen (Group A) GK Paul Blanchette recorded another Shut Out as PEPO played host to Kiffen and won 2 - 0. PEPO in 4th (on GD)

In Finland's Kakkonen (Group C) Ian Garrett (82) Scored VIFK's 2nd Goal as they went on to win 2 - 4 at Narpes Kraft. VIFK have won their last 5 and sit just 1 point out of first place on the table

Tanner Sica (90) was on the losing side in a 0 - 1 home defeat for Tindastoll as the hosted Hugin in Iceland's Division 2. With 2 loses this week Tindastoll need to figure out were the problem's are quickly

In Sweden's Allsvenskan, Brendan Hines-Ike went 90, picked up a yellow and Scored Orebro's only Goal as they fall 3 - 1 to Hammarby, stopping their win streak at 3 games. Orebro are far enough off the bottom to feel safe following their run

GK Josh Wicks (90) gets the Shut Out against his old team 1 - 0, as Sirius were pushed by AFC until they broke through at the 75th minute. The win has Sirius in 3rd place in Allsvenskan in their first season back. AFC has not faired well and will probably be back in Superettan next season

In what is becoming a normal thing, Eric Friedlander spent the match on the bench for Nykopings as they visited Vasteras in Sweden's Division 1 (Norra), losing 3 - 1. Nykopings needs to shore up its defense quickly, if they are to survive the drop

Ryan Masch (74) and Skovde just didn't have enough today as they fall 2 - 3 at home to Kristianstads in Sweden's Division 1 (Sodra). With just 3 points from their last 5 matches Skovde have slipped into the red zone

In a Friendly, GK Mike Lansing remains unbeaten for his new club Aalborg as the Danish side visited Rostock in Germany and earned a 1 - 1 draw

Aaron Jóhannsson started for Bremen in a friendly that was abandoned after young Ajax player, Abdelhak Nouri, collapsed during the game. Our thoughts are with the Abdelhak for a speedy recovery

Fulham looked good for the win after Luca de la Torre Scored their 2nd Goal, giving them a 0 - 2 lead over Czech team Zlin in their Friendly match, then they gave up 2 goals in 3 minutes....and the game ended 2 - 2. Tim Ream also started for Fulham

In, undoubtedly, the most tracked, and fun, friendly of the day, Schalke traveled to minnows, Erkenschwick, winning 1 - 9. Weston McKennie (90) had 2 Assists, and Haji Wright Scored 4 (Four) Goals and an Assist, in his 2nd half appearance. With so much written by others I leave it at this.

Alfredo Morales started for Ingolstadt in their Friendly with Wehen with the hosts Ingolstadt winning 2 - 1

SUNDAY

In a Friendly Lyndon Gooch and Sunderland managed a 2 - 2 draw at Hibernian in Scotland

Julian Green played the 2nd half in a Friendly in Germany, as Stuttgart visited Stuttgart kickers, in a game that ended in a 1 - 1 draw

In Sweden's Division 1 (Sodra) 5th place Ljunskile tried to stop their 3 game skid, and succeeded. GK Zac Lubin gets the Shut Out as Ljungskile traveled to Qviding and won 0 - 1. Zac played 90 and picked up a very late yellow (time wasting maybe?)

In a Friendly, Caleb Stanko played in the 2nd half for Freiburg as they had no difficulty with amateurs Freiburger winning 0 - 8

Christian Eissele came off the bench for the 2nd half as Jaro tried to make up a 1 goal difference at GriFK, but they fall short losing their Finland Ykkonen game 1 - 0. GriFK Daniel Stevens stayed on the bench for this match, which was only their 2nd win of the season. After 2 straight losses Jaro has slipped into a dangerous position 7th place in a 10 team league)

Shawn Barry got his first run out with his new team in Poland, Korona Kielce in a friendly with Greek side AEK. Shawn came off the bench in the 62nd minute in a 0 - 1 loss

Will Daniels (90) and Grindavik got back on their winning ways with a 2 - 1 win over Akureyri in Iceland's Pepsideilid. Grindavik go back to the top of the league, with Valur (the only team that can keep pace with them) and Dion Acoff, playing later today

GK Alex Horwath was the back-up keeper for Brann in Norway's Eliteserien as they traveled to Stabaek, losing this one 2 - 0. Brann are really having trouble lately, and although they sit in 2nd place they are falling further behind leaders Rosenborg, as a number of teams creep closer (Molde are on the same point total, Sarpsborg 1 behind and now Stabaek are just 3 points back) 

Dion Acoff (90) and Valur hosted Stjarnan in Iceland's Pepsidelid with a chance of taking over clear league leadership. Unfortunately Valur fell a little short drawing 1 - 1 at home. So at the end of this week of games Valur & Grindavik share the top spot, with Valur ahead on GD.