One of the top young defenders in the U.S. Men’s National Team talent pool is once again leaving Tottenham Hotspur in search of playing time.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was sent on a season-long loan from Spurs to Championship side Swansea City on Saturday.
The loan is the third in a span of 12 months for the 20-year-old, who hasn’t impressed Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino enough to keep him around for the Premier League season.
Carter-Vickers, who should be in the mix for the collection of fall USMNT friendlies, played on loan at Ipswich Town and Sheffield United last season.
Swansea is looking to bounce back into the Premier League after suffering relegation in May, and it is off to a decent start with eight points through five games.
Carter-Vickers’ direct competition for minutes at center back in Wales will be Mike van der Hoorn and Joe Rodon.
Swansea needed another central defender after losing Federico Fernandez, Alfie Mawson, Jordi Amat and Kyle Bartley in the summer transfer window.
He doesn’t look very happy about it
I’m not really a fan. I think he’s a decent player but I think low-Prem or Championship is pretty much his level…he doesn’t distribute out of the back nearly as smoothly as a Miazga does and he’s a little blocky and slow-moving to suit me.
Just for my .02, I’d prefer to see Brooks, Miazga, Zimmerman, and even Red Bulls’ Aaron Long ahead of this guy. I think they’re better athletes and more technical players.
I don’t think his distribution is top quality but on the other points I disagree. He’s quick and powerful, not fast, but explosive. He can make up ground with good acceleration but doesn’t have top end speed to chase down a speedy player who gets a significant lead on him.
I think Miazga and Brooks are ahead of him but he has his place depending on the striker/formation we are up against. I think he is a better one v one defender than Zimmerman and Long giving him the edge. I think EPB is ahead of the other two as well.
At this point in his career I see him as a poor man’s Kompany/Ledley King.
The last time I saw him play Carter Vickers looked noticeably improved. He’s still very young and even a little improvement should be enough to get him a job in the EPL next season, IMHO. Remember that Yedlin was originally a Tottenham signing and now he’s well ensconced in Newcastle and on the USMNT, Our USMNT has a bright future along the back with CCV, Brooks (if he can stay healthy), Palmer-Brown, Miazga and Alvarado is now starting to play regularly in Mexico. Re Zimmerman, Bradley has found him wanting at LAFC and brought in a Brazilian named Silva to replace him. Zimmerman played last night but only because Ciman was kept out of the lineup.
He is also several years younger than everyone you listed. At 20 he is a very young CB with lots of upside. He has plenty he can improve on his game, and I agree shouldn’t be a US team starter now. He could get there this cycle though.