Liverpool FC America player Felipe Medina was named one of the Boys Best XI at the US Club id2 Camp in Chula Vista, California. Marc Serber from Fox Sports International had this to say about Felipe. "Upon signing Joe Allen, Liverpool manager Brendon Rodgers said that while Allen was 5’6, he played like he was over six feet. Despite being one of the smallest players on the field Felipe Medina looked like a David, but played like a Goliath. With the ball at his feet, Medina used his skill to outwit bigger and faster opponents. He often created some space in traffic and then played a simple pass to get out of the jam. Other times, Medina escaped his more developed peers by playing quick combinations while seemingly floating about the midfield. An eye for the killer through ball and a tenacious tackler, Medina shows that the game is beautiful because brains are often more important than brawn. With that said, if Medina has a huge growth spurt, he will be an even scarier player in the future."
Read the complete article from Marc Serber below.
US Club id2 Camp: Boys Best XI
Article Written by Marc Serber
Published: April 2, 2015
CHULA VISTA, California — The id2 Camps are all about taking the big fishes out of their small ponds and throwing them all together into the pressure cooker. The question is which kids can excel when they are taken out of their comfort zone and away from the clubs and competitions where they are the fastest and most skilled. All of a sudden everyone is just as good, if not better.
Here is a look at the 11 (by strongest position) players from the Chula Vista id2 Camp for the 2002 age group that showcased their potential to succeed at the next level.
GK Ashton Murga: The biggest insult to a keeper is to say they are a good shot-stopper. That’s there job. There is so much more to the art of the position and Murga displays many of those qualities in addition to his ability to pull off the spectacular flying save. Murga isn’t the most vocal, but still a good organizer that kept his back-line together even under heavy artillery fire. Murga also reads the game well. In the modern era when everyone wants a sweeper-keeper in the Manuel Neuer mold, Murga has the ability to come well off his line so that his defenders can play higher up the field without worry. Finally, field skills and distribution are the hallmarks of today’s top keepers. Murga has both in abundance, while still having the awareness to know when smashing the ball into the upper deck is the best option.
RB Kevin Carmichael: As the weekend progressed, so did Kevin Carmichael. The tough tackling outside back went about his work with an efficiency rarely seen at this level. While quietly going about his work, Carmichael has obviously passed Defending 101 with flying colors. While he doesn’t get forward as much as other outside backs, he has an eye for the killer pass to spring a counter attack. Carmichael is very smart at picking his moments of when to begin the transition from defensive to offense by linking with his midfield, or when to bypass the mid-section all together with beautifully weighted balls into the path of a forward, breaching the back-line with a diagonal run.
CB Andres Labate: Normally a forward for his club, Labate started the weekend at left back and was a bright spot in a losing effort. He continued to stand out when moved to center-back for the second half and the entirety of the defense improved as Labate was the key to battening down the hatches. Despite not having his greatest day on Saturday, Labate showed well on Sunday back in his usual position up top. Labate is a youth coaches delight because coaches want “soccer players” and not just “forwards” or “outside right backs.” Labate should serve as a reminder to all youth players not to pigeon hold themselves to one position. Versatility is something that stands out to scouts and will give a player more opportunities at the higher level. Labate is already in a place where if a forward and center-back are better than him, he can still make the starting XI by usurping another position.
CB- Kevin Welch: As stated in previous articles Kevin Welch does all the little things that every team needs to succeed. Just as strong along the back line as he is in the holding midfield role, Welch barely featured in Sunday’s match notes while playing at center back. On Friday, Welch stood out for being ever present, on Sunday Welch stood out for his anonymity. In this case it’s a good thing. Welch wasn’t mentioned because he never got beat. Sometimes the less you say about a center-back is actually proof that he is doing his job. The Yeoman's work has to be done and Welch was equal to the task.
LB Aldair Sanchez: Sanchez loves to get forward and knows when to get to the end-line and when to play the appropriate pass. His ability to cover all 120 yards means he does not neglect his defensive duties and is good in one v. one confrontations. If the score was kept in terms of which team got to the by-line, Sanchez would most likely win the battle of the flanks. He also knows when to pinch into the middle to help squeeze the play.
RW Mario Penagos: Perhaps in the top three of most impressive performers, Penagos started the weekend off with a bang, dominating on Matchday 1. As the weekend went on and legs began to wilt, Super Mario only grew stronger. Penagos was just as dangerous attacking from out wide as he was cutting inside. He also showed great vision on his distribution, perfectly judging and executing his passes with the proper weight, and an eye for goal. His skill level was also well beyond his years. Penagos’ ability to take players on (especially when cutting inside) included an arsenal plenty of tricks, but perhaps what was most impressive was his penitent for bringing the ball out of the air. On a few occasions, Penagos left his feet to bring the ball down, evoking flashbacks to traps from the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Zinedine Zidane. (Of course he is no where near the skill or ability of those players, but the traps WERE THAT GOOD!). Penagos ended the weekend by scoring a neatly placed downward header from a corner kick. He almost ended Matchday 3 in the assist column as well, springing Bryson Hankins with a delightful through ball, only for the weekend’s best forward to put this particular effort off the post.
CM Felipe Medina: Upon signing Joe Allen, Liverpool manager Brendon Rodgers said that while Allen was 5’6, he played like he was over six feet. Despite being one of the smallest players on the field Felipe Medina looked like a David, but played like a Goliath. With the ball at his feet, Medina used his skill to outwit bigger and faster opponents. He often created some space in traffic and then played a simple pass to get out of the jam. Other times, Medina escaped his more developed peers by playing quick combinations while seemingly floating about the midfield. An eye for the killer through ball and a tenacious tackler, Medina shows that the game is beautiful because brains are often more important than brawn. With that said, if Medina has a huge growth spurt, he will be an even scarier player in the future.
CM Maximilian Goeggel: Not only did Goeggel standout for his quick thinking and fluid style of play, but because he made those around him better. He combined well with every central midfielder he was paired with and dictated the rhythm and pace of every match in which he featured. Perhaps most impressive, was the midfielders speed of thought. The staff was alerted to it on the first day when Goeggel was hammered to the ground. While superstars usually role around until a yellow is produced. Goeggel jumped up and sent a quickly taken free kick right into the path of Hankins who scored before the defense could even think about getting themselves organized. That speed of thought will serve Goeggel well as he progresses through the age groups and possibly more id2 and national team camps. Goeggel could very well grow into a top creative midfielder who will also be expected to supply around ten goals a season.
LW Cameron Dunbar: Very much in the same physical mold as Medina, the difference is that Dunbar often invites the contact and somehow rides challenges with the ease of a pro surfer taking on a moderate wave. Dunbar seemed to float around the field because he was always in the right position a second before most players would know to get there. His style of play was epitomized by his equalizing goal in the weekend’s final match. Dunbar made a brilliant run into the channel and effortlessly used his first touch to spring himself into the channel. Despite having two burly defenders baring down on him from either side, Dunbar looked serene as he picked his head up and nonchalantly curled his effort just inside the far post.
F Bryson Hankins: Four goals in the first game is not a bad way to make a first impression. Yet, the id2 coaching staff made it very clear that it wasn’t about one game or one moment, but how a player preformed throughout the entire camp. Hankins answered the call. Not only is he big and strong, and can obviously finish, but Hankins is always making impressive runs off the ball, looking to get open, and asking questions, not afraid to learn. These are all attributes that will serve the striker well. As other kids catch up to him physically, the mental side and determined attitude should keep Hankins one step ahead. All the attributes of a top striker. Big, strong, has a silky touch, knows when to be a target player in front of the defensive and when to make a darting run in behind it. His goals ranged from thunderous drives to smart and simple finishes. Hankins almost ended the weekend in style, only to see his parting shot come rebounding off the base of the post.
F Jovani Casillas: Much like Hankins in his skill level and understanding of the game. What sets him apart from his running mate is that Casillas often drops deeper to link up with the midfield. Despite coming away from goal, this served the forward and his teammates well. Casillas made himself a tripple threat. He could hold up the ball and combine with midfielders joining the attack, turn and run at defenders, or slip in a midfielder making a delayed run to get in behind the defense. Casillas also demonstrated his ability to strike a dead ball, playing his corner kick with the perfect pace and trajectory for Penagos to head home the opening goal in the weekend’s final match.
Honorable Mention: GK Maclean Learned, D David Montes, M Gonzalo Solorio, M Marco Milan, M Leo Alvarez, F Dominic Vega