Welcome to another edition of "Discuss," in which MLSsoccer.com editors debate the topics of the moment in MLS.
It’s a great time to be a US national team supporter. The squad is getting ready for the 2016 Copa America Centenario and (more than likely) a year of Hexagonal action ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
But then – on top of all that – there’s the influx of young players banging on the door of the US program. Two in particular have been getting plenty of ink: 21-year-old Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris and 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic.
MLSsoccer.com Editor-in-Chief Simon Borg and Senior Editor Andrew Wiebe exchange thoughts on the future of the USMNT. Which player are you most excited about? Discuss!
WIEBE: Nothing like a No. 10
Am I excited about Jordan Morris? Duh. He’s a battering ram of a forward, and his explosion onto the international scene and growing momentum in his first MLS season rightfully have US national team fans downright giddy about the 21-year-old’s future.
But Morris over Pulisic, a 17-year-old No. 10/second striker/goalscoring winger playing regularly for Borussia Dortmund, the same club that developed world-class talents (and World Cup winners) Marco Reus and Mario Gotze, among others? Come on now. This is US soccer hype (cap-tied, booyah!) bottled up in a neat little package. You might say Pulisic's “smart, efficient and clean.” I’d grant you that, with the caveat that he’s also imaginative and cutting with the ball at his feet, ruthless in front of goal and an elite athlete who’s physical peak is still a few years down the line.
The Nats already have power and speed, but the “Michael Bradley is our No. 10!” experiment speaks to what’s been missing since the likes of Claudio Reyna and Tab Ramos. Oh, and Pulisic will be 19 in 2018 and 23 in 2022. We’re talking about a possible US soccer unicorn here!
BORG: Pulisic is steady, but Morris is thrilling
What Christian Pulisic has achieved at the age of 17 at Borussia Dortmund – he's the youngest player to score two goals in the Bundesliga – is nothing short of remarkable. But while the achievement is exciting, I just can’t bring myself to attach the same descriptor to Pulisic’s game and that’s no fault of his: He’s an exceptional technical player and smart with his runs and positioning. But smart, efficient and clean doesn’t always equal exciting.
And that’s where it’s different with Seattle’s Jordan Morris, a player who looks to outrun and overpower opposing defenders with his runs. Plus, he’s a goal scorer. It might not always be pretty, but his style of play is more daring and thrilling and it makes you want to watch.
Ultimately, in order for Morris to have long-term success on the national team, he’ll need players like Pulisic and Emerson Hyndman to excel in their efficiency in midfield. But to me there’s little question as to who will capture the imagination of the US fan base.
