Trapp and Yedlin were the only 2 at the u20s that really stood out to me. People say Cropper played well but too many soft goals for me. It will be nice if Trapp is his generation's Michael Bradley and in 5-6 years we are arguing who to pair with him at CM like we do with Bradley now

Good point Rey, Trapp is more of a passing #6 maybe in the Arteta mold for the way he plays with Arsenal. Trapp is very calm and smart and positionally disciplined. Bradley is more running around causing problems and pressing the defense with his endless effort and hustle, as well as making those great late runs into the box. More of an advanced CM in the new 4-3-3 model where Trapp would be the CM who stays back and cycles the ball around.

Wouldn't be crazy to see Trapp and Bradley together in 2018.

I want to see that NOW (discretion advised, by now I mean after Trapp dazzles in the league a few more times, then goes onto cheap cups like the off season gold cup, or maybe maybe even the copa america, or the olympics qualifying and tournament itself...then THEN have trapp shadow bradley around)

I am on the Will Trapp kool aid.

Fascinating early positive vibe to this thread a few years ago. Funny what 6 years can do.

My reason for reopening this thread was to post the following quote from Trapp in an article on ESPN about his trade. I think this quote attributed to him speaks volumes to player development and how we are lacking...

"If you're always trying to chase the white rabbit of some new skill acquisition, you end up not focusing on the things that you're actually good at," he said. "It's about just understanding what those qualities are, and then sharpening them to be as good as possible in those strengths."

If all player development stateside is the same, then we are training players to be the best version of what they are right now instead of the the best possible version they can ultimately become.

A player should always come to the conclusion at what he is good at, and hone those skills. No different than David Beckham. Beckham has minimal dribbling skills and wasn't a fast runner. But he could hit a hell of a cross and Derek kick and worked hard off of the ball. Not every player has Messi like talent. And every player can't be Pele.

I believe it was Roy Keane who once said his strength was doing the simple things very, very well. I think Trapp is attempting to say the same thing. Know your strengths and do them very well. No point in trying to be a fancy flicker or a speed merchant when that is not who you are. At some point you have to be the best version of yourself you can be. In Trapp's case that may not ever be a world class player but that doesn't mean he wont continue to be a very solid professional player. His biggest liability is his athleticism, I doubt he doesn't work on it but at some point your athleticism is what it is and you get as much out of it as you can. I don't think Trapp is lazy and not working on his craft very diligently. To be honest, I'd say he has worked very hard to get to where he is considering what he has to work with.