It may be an international break, but Christian Pulisic and Junior Flores have earned some minutes on the club level.
Both Pulisic and Flores saw time in Borussia Dortmund’s friendly against 2. Bundesliga team FC St. Pauli on Tuesday. The 16-year-old Pulisic played the entire second half of the 2-1 win, while Flores, a U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team midfielder, entered the game in the 84th minute.
Dortmund won via goals from summer signing Gonzalo Castro and Manchester United loanee Adnan Januzaj.
What do you think of the duo playing for Dortmund? What are your expectations for Pulisic and Flores going forward? Should they look for loans at some point this season or stay put?
Share your thoughts below.
This is great. Anyone hear anything about Joe Gyau’s recovery? He was at St. Pauli before he signed with Dortmund, and was doing well before his knee injury. Last I had heard is that he would be ready to go by winter after reports that he would miss the whole season. I’m excited to see him again.
I wish he could be Donovan’s “replacement” Scott. Replacement, meaning, providing the things that Donovan brought, and are now sorely missed on the USMNT. Brazil game tonight was another example, though I think every match is a reminder that we no longer have a player that can pick the locks of any defense in the world. While Dempsey helps, he cannot do it on his own, and we still miss Donovan on a game to game basis. I hope Pulisic can be a similar player, but I don’t think he has the same break neck speed that Donovan had, which was essential for him to make the type of impact he did throughout his career. Pulisic will have to make up for that in brilliance, if he is to ever reach Donovan’s calibur.
The Brazil game tonight though, I’m interested to see how the fickle US soccer public reacts. JK once again leavin everyone scratching their heads with his player selection and player positioning, tactics overall, while fielding 11 players that, it must be said, looked like they were convinced from the opening whistle that they were playing a formation and a style that would never produce a result.
top acting like donavon was eden hazard. his level is very attainable
Maybe his level of skill, but a person’s mental fortitude and conditioning is something in itself.
For all intents and purposes Donovan had little mental fortitude.
LD broke out in the 2002 WC but failed to lead or spark the 2006 WC team, became a hero in the 2010 WC, than pouted when left off the 2014 WC.
LD failed in Germany as a youth than moved to MLS. Failed while on lone in Germany, than had 1 good stretch with Everton.
Whenever LD was asked to lead a team (excluding the 2010 WC) he was less than spectacular.
He may be one of the best all time in a USMNT jersey, but please don’t over inflate the quality of player that he was.
So your basically saying once he hit his prime he became the Donovan most people only know today. I agree.
Yes the kind of player who disappeared against England, and scored against the mighty Slovenian’s and Algerian’s.
Again, don’t over-inflate his ability.
He could have a better club career sure, but if he could replace LDs national team career, anyone would take that.
I give and have a lot of respect to Donovan, his skill, and what he has done for US Soccer. He is and continues to be the most naturally gifted player we have ever produced.
But if you honestly think the outcome would be any different against Brazil, you are delusional. We played a friendly against Brazil a few years ago, with arguablly better players on USMNT, and still lost 4-1.
As good as Donovan was, he was NOT a World Class player. As creative as he seemed to be, he would still not be playmaker of a top team. Do not cite his loan to Everton, and he MOTM performances; Everton is far from a top team, and playing well for 2 months at a time is not the same as playing well for 3-4 years.
Pulisic is already a different player, and if he continues along his trajectory, he will be a far more valuable player to the USMNT than Donovan ever was. Pulisic is very creative, is an excellant passer, and has a very tight, close dribble. He has some decent pace to compliment these skills, but isn’t reliant on it. Donovan was the opposite; he is still from an era in US Soccer where physical skill is seen as a primary assest. He used his techinical skills to compliment his speed. And the best teams in the world, 9 out of 10 times, will tactically neutralize speed.
Pulisic appears to be very highly rated by Dortmund. Very. Less so for Flores…doesn’t mean he won’t become a successful pro, just probably unlikely at BVB.
Apparently the next hot shot is Andrew Carleton. Excellent speed and close control.
Pulisic is legitimate already. If he stays healthy and on track he will be a transcendent player. Flores is good but not as bright.
Loooong way to go for either of them. Way too early to put a transcendent label on either. CP is advanced for his age but he’s not a young Ronaldo or anything.
Pulisic could be Donovan replacement.
Nope. Completely different players. Different positions.
Maybe we’ll see either of the two in St. Pauli colors one day. Former and current Borussia Dortmund academy players tend to end up in in the brown and white.
Also, Fafa Picault, the Hatian-American who was just signed by St Pauli, scored the first goal in the match. I think that’s debatably the best story here.
And here’s the game:
https: // http://www.youtube.com / watch?v=W4HL6h-ZSws
Your American players should be fortunate they get the coaching of Thomas Tuchel, who is the hottest manager in the world at the moment. Pulisic is very lucky to play under him.
Our U-17 player logged more minutes than our U-20 player in the friendly. Is Pulisic that advanced or is there something else going on there?
Pulisic is probably the highest rated U17 while Flores didn’t make the U20 World Cup side.
i think hes 2nd to passlack but hes younger than passlack
I meant for the US, I don’t know that much about Dortmund’s youth honestly
As an American and a Dortmund fan, I can tell you that Pulisic is the hottest young prospect that the U.S. has right now.