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SBI MLS Spotlight: Juan Agudelo

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  1. Tim, I don’t put that much emphasis on his U-17 coaching, if it was true, more than him from that class should have develop that style of play.

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  2. That is what I was saying, Jozy was very raw but used his athletism early on in his soccer career, people talked about his scoring not really seeing how he scored. Once he started to play in europe the truth came out, which it was he was no where near a polished player. Jozy has improved a lot in his skills but that brought out his lack of finishing skills. Now Agudelo seems to be a lot more advanced than Jozy at the same age. Only time will tell how far he will take his game.

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  3. looks like he played with city teams until the age of 16, then he tried out for U17 which that turned in to U20 NTs at 17 he then started with the red bulls academy and we all know what happen next. So, I stand by my statement, his early development wasn’t because of the USSF O.D.P. program or the residency program in Florida he was tought the way he plays by people around him. Here is an interesting fact, he was selected by BB to play in S.A. as a forward with NEVER having scored a goal profesionally. Talk about going on reputation alone.

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  4. I guess the meaning of American program has a different meaning for the both of us. to my an American program would be a direct control/direction of the USSF, like the ODP program or the residency program in Florida. I don’t think he was discovered until he was 16. So I don’t give the federation credit for his soccer upbringing until then. Naturaly, he already knew how to play soccer by then, in fact, in an article it states that he used to play against grown ups twice his age.

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  5. Since he arrived in the U.S. when he was 8, it’s safe to say he was in an American program of some sort or another. Whether it’s residency or not is immaterial: Agudelo was coached by the same sorts of programs many other Americans are.

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  6. my statement about his training is just my opinion, I’ll check for sure where with whom he did his training from 10-15. which I’m betting wasn’t with any US residency programs. If I remember from somewhere he played in a city team which his father was a coach, I’ll verify it either way. he was with NY from his late 16-to present.

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  7. Well, look, if you want to say Agudelo has a different style than most American forwards then, duh, yes. But that’s a completely different statement than “You can tell he wasn’t trained by US youth programs,” which is not a matter of opinion; it’s a matter of fact, facts about which you are completely wrong.

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  8. How about this too: he was playing under Wilmer Cabrera (Colombian) on the US U-17 National Team. So yeah, that would add to the Colombian influence while living in the US

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  9. Great interview, Ives. I’m excited to watch him grow and progess. As for all the comments here, let’s not heep savior, next great and any other accolade that could screw him up like we’ve seen with other past promising prospects.

    Ives, did you get my email?

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  10. agudelo has a grown man’s body. I was sitting in the corner, 7th row and was really surprised at how big he looked and how well he handled is body. Seattle’s D was grabbing him all day, even on the play he scored on

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  11. i think the topic was that for Agudelo is too soon to be declared a proven player, I agree. I’m just pointing out that his goals have been of a more impressive variety than Jozys. Up to now Jozy’s best play that resulted in a goal was against Spain and that goal he didn’t finish well, his shot was straight to Casillas which he partially blocked but because it was a hard shot it still went in. That is what I’m talking about the way these two forwards are finishing or not, of course both of their goals counts the same.

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  12. I stand by my statements, show me another USMNT forward that plays his style for that matter, the closes you would get is Dempsey.

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  13. Go back a few years and read the things people use to say about Jozy.

    It’s the grass is always greener, the new kid in town syndrome.

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  14. “People just enphesize on the results rather how the goal “got” there. ”

    Well Louis. that happens because getting the goal is all that matters. You think Ronaldo or Messi will turn up their nose at a free tap in? Guess agian.

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  15. of course he is just starting out, but so far he has come through with either a goal or a penalty at the senior/club level. Remember he has only play 2 games last season and each game he made his presence felt, do you think BB would have called him up for the S.A. game just for the hell of it? The kid is special not just for the results but for the way he plays the game. Jozy never had the flair, he early on in his career was known for his scoring, no matter if it was a tap in or if he actually put it together. People just enphesize on the results rather how the goal “got” there.

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  16. The fact that we’re comparing this kid to Jozy already is incredible. We seem to be pretty deep at striker for the Nats. Not to mention Mwanga hasn’t even made up his mind yet.

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  17. I still think Jozy is stronger, they are about the same speed, Jozy is concidered a “power runner”, Agudelo is not quiet a long stride runner, to me it looks like he finish his stride a bit too soon before the next one. One major difference between them…Agudelo can finish better than Jozy.

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  18. Hater, me? I don’t hate anyone. and yes I meant to say that he wasn’t in the youth residency program early on like for instance LD.

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  19. It wasn’t my intention, I also didn’t say he learned his craft in Colombia. All I’m stating is that his style of play resembles the way it’s played in South American, most likely he was taught by family members. As far as Agudelo being part of the USA youth development program I believe he started late with 17 y.o. as a 16 y.o. I’m sure he was already playing that style of ball control way before. One key technique about his game been south american is the way they like to use the outside of the foot alot. notice that both of his goals were done that way, specially on his first goal, when an instep or left footed shot would have been the norm.

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  20. The amusing part about this statement isn’t just that he’s been in the U.S. since he was 8. It’s that he was a Bradenton kid. You literally could not have made a more incorrect statement if you thought about it and tried to.

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  21. Watching his goal, Agudelo seems to be more explosive and faster than Jozy, and probably close in terms of strength.

    Moreover, he showed great touch/technique on the goal. Obviously, nobody should be anointing him as US soccer’s next big thing, but it’s great to see young talented players who have technique to go along with strength and stamina. This kid is definitely an exciting prospect.

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  22. I love it when haters speak before they research… He’s a US product. I think you meant to say that he wasn’t one of these that payed the USSF for training and integration.

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  23. louis z….. 99% percent of his training is US…… he may have kicked a ball once or twice as a toddler in colombia… but thats about it.

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  24. he has trained within the US set up for quite some time. he was at the residency with the u-17s for a while before moving up to u-20’s and now the full team, and he was a part of the red bull’s academy. i know he’s trained with millonarios in colombia but it was a tryout- they were looking at what he already had to offer, not looking to develop him. i don’t know what age he started with US youth teams but to the best of my knowledge, a majority of his training has been within the US system.

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  25. Didn’t he move to the US when he was 8? So wasn’t he trained by US youth programs? Could be wrong, but that’s what I thought…

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  26. His style of play is so much like Colombian greats i.e(Rincon, Valencia). You can tell he wasn’t trained by US youth programs.

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