Tyler Boyd is officially part of the U.S. Men’s National Team player pool.
U.S. Soccer confirmed on Saturday that FIFA approved Boyd’s one-time switch to be eligible for selection by the USMNT. Boyd previously represented New Zealand at youth levels.
A dual-citizen of New Zealand and the U.S., Boyd has appeared in six friendlies for the All Whites senior team but now can be called in by USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter.
The 24-year-old currently is under contract with Vitoria Guimarães of the Portuguese top-flight. He’s on-loan with Turkish side Ankaragücü, where he’s registered five goals and four assists in 13 appearances this season.
Boyd has also spent time with Tondela, Wellington Phoenix, and Waikato FC.
From the limited time I’ve watched him (4 game replays and a few highlight videos), he looks like a slightly upgraded version of Paul Arriola. He’s bigger & stronger than Arriola (6’0, 165 vs. 5’6, 145), but has similar attributes: speed, directness, 1st touch, hard-working, fearlessness. Maybe slightly better service (he usually takes corners and free kicks), and he looks like he has a few more 1v1 tricks in his arsenal. Not a world-beater, but should vie for call-ups. Again, as someone mentioned earlier, this comes down to Pulisic as a CAM or winger, and if Weah/Ebobisse/Amon keep developing. All of them have a higher ceiling. I could see Boyd displacing Arriola, or more likely someone like Corey Baird or Kenny Saief, who are on the bubble.
Curious what others think after watching some tape.
From the evaluations I’ve seen by people a lot smarter than me, the speed difference between Boyd and Arriola is significant as is the 1v1. Perhaps due to the size difference you referenced.
Seems like the kind of player who, if he played in MLS, would be derided by the usual segments of the USMNT fan base. But because he’s assumed to be a “dual national” ringer he’ll be overrated like Kenny Saief was and like nearly every Germerican was during the JK era (other than Jones, Johnson and Brooks who were actually better than the guys already in the pool). No issue with the guy choosing the US since he spent quite a bit of his childhood here. I assume one of his parents is American for him to have US citizenship.
Does anyone really know much about him or seen him play. Is he really a better option than anyone they have on the wings now or the younger gen coming through. Is he any better than Saief, so far that hasn’t worked out(some injuries I know). Not knocking the kid just wondering if anyone has more info on him.
Folks need to temper expectations. We can use him considering our striker situation, but not super high quality. Hard worker and feisty. The kind of player who we can use in CONCACRAP qualifying. I can see him really helping there, but still very limited. Again, happy to have them but chill, or u will just wind up being let down….even with our poor depth at the moment.
Your assessment is based on?
Having watched him at U20’s and Portuguese player evaluation’s. Vitoria isn’t convinced he can play in a technical league like theirs.. His highlights and Turkish write ups are very English CHampioshiesque. While he had injuries he is 24 and at a Turkish bottom dweller. He has done fine there, but was hardly dominating. My guess is that if it was 2 or 3 years from now and our young players had matured a bit GB would barely care. Right time for the player and us. Nothing here says high level performer, but he has speed, desire and grit. After JK neutered or Nats over the last several years that alone will be refreshing.
TK why on earth were you watching the NZ U20s in 2013 they didn’t even play the US that year.
Who exactly needs to “chill”? The only responses I have seen are people going, “who the hell is this guy?”
So the immediate question is where does he fit in the depth chart right now, and where will he be in 2 years? Based on what I’ve seen of Berhalters LW selections I’d have to guess that Boyd would likely be an immediate upgrade and the probable starter.
The more difficult question will be where he projects to be in 2 years time when our young star prospects have matured. For me this really depends on what position Pulisic plays. If Pulisic stays centrally than Boyd has a real shot at holding onto a starting roll as a wide attacker. He’ll still be challenged (Weah, Holmes, Arriola, Gooch, Saief, De La Fuente, etc…), but should be able to hold onto a starting roll.
If we find a solid ACM (Holmes, Mihailović, Pomykal, etc…) that would allow us to push Pulisic wide I think Boyd becomes a back-up to Weah.
I hope that this signals that Boyd will be part of the Gold Cup squad this summer.
We need him as a striker out forward pull is thin
Too bad he’s not a striker then, having only played there 3 times as a pro for a total of 130 minutes, with no goals or assists. The last time he played there was when he subbed on with his team down 2 men so doubtful he was actually playing as a striker.
This is excellent news we def need him!