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ASN 100 Ranking Report

Zardes and Nguyen Move Up, Besler & EJ Slide Down

The ASN 100 wants to know: What have you done for me lately? The constantly updated ranking of the top American soccer players rewards recent successes and is notoriously unforgiving to slumping athletes.
BY Blake Thomsen Posted
September 18, 2014
3:13 PM
THE SEPTEMBER ASN 100 launched earlier this week, and in the two months since its previous iteration we’ve seen some serious movers and shakers. Let’s take a closer look at the biggest risers and fallers.

STOCK RISING

The theme in this section is youth, with one slightly older hand sneaking in on the basis of some spectacular form in MLS.

Gyasi Zardes—ASN ranking: 36 (+59)
The homegrown Los Angeles Galaxy forward picked up one of the biggest rises in ASN 100 history on the back of a stunning two months in MLS. Since July 16, Zardes has scored 11 goals in 12 games, leading to ever increasing calls for a U.S. national team call-up. The 23-year-old’s combination of size, speed, finishing ability, and—perhaps most importantly—desire to continue improving should keep him in (at least) the top 40 for a very long time.

The above goal is a nice look at Zardes’s rapid development. Last year, he almost certainly wouldn’t have finished the tricky shot (with his weaker foot, no less), and he also wouldn’t have made the clever dummy and run.

Perry Kitchen—ASN ranking: 42 (+18)
Kitchen isn’t the type to dazzle on the stat sheet. As a smart, exceptionally fit central midfielder, however, anything Kitchen adds in that department is a bonus. And lately, he’s done exactly that, delivering two goals and two assists since July 20. Granted, it’s not a ton, but consider that Michael Bradley has just one goal and one assist all year from the same position.

Emerson Hyndman—ASN ranking: 58 (+42)
After debuting at No. 100 in July’s edition, Hyndman has risen into the top 60 thanks to increased playing time at Fulham and an impressive cameo for the U.S. against the Czech Republic. Hyndman, for now at least, isn’t the type of player who’s going to rack up a ton of goals and assists, but the central midfielder’s impact is hard to miss. As Fulham continues to struggle mightily (especially when he doesn’t play), his playing time may increase further for the West Londoners. At just 18, Hyndman’s rise is likely nowhere near its completion.

Rubio Rubin—ASN ranking: 75 (+23)
Also just 18, Rubin is following in Hyndman’s footsteps in terms of getting minutes in a European league. In three starts for FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie, Rubin has already registered his first league assist. He has also fired off seven shots, so his first goal may not be too far away. Like Hyndman, Rubin received a call-up against the Czech Republic, but didn’t enter the fray in the Yanks’ 1-0 win.

Lee Nguyen—ASN ranking: 28 (+17)
Light up MLS, find yourself in the top 30. Now 27 years old, the New England midfielder is finally delivering on his huge potential, scoring 13 goals and adding three assists for the wildly hot and cold Revs. Most relevantly for the “Now” part of ASN, Nguyen has eight goals in his 11 games since the July ASN 100. With New England in good shape to make the Eastern Conference playoffs, Nguyen will have a chance to make an even stronger audition for a top 25 spot in the ASN 100 and, more importantly, a U.S. call-up.

ON THE WAY DOWN

This section is not where any American wants to find himself, but the ASN 100 stops for no one… or something like that.

Duane Holmes—ASN ranking: 100 (-20)
For a player who was making an impact at the English Championship level last season, it’s not exactly promising to see him on loan in League Two. It’d be one thing if Holmes were playing 90 minutes each time out, but he’s been restricted to sub duty in League Two, where he’s yet to score or assist. He won’t be around in the November edition if this keeps up.

Eddie Johnson—ASN ranking: 51 (-11)
EJ’s form has never really recovered since he was left off the World Cup roster back in May. Due to poor form and a couple different injuries, Johnson has scored just once since the start of August. Given that character issues were a potential reason for his missing out on that World Cup roster, don’t expect him back in the U.S. fold anytime soon, especially if his indifferent form keeps up.

Brad Davis—ASN ranking: 35 (-5)
Since the last ASN 100 update in mid-July, Davis has slumped in a big way. He’s only managed two assists and no goals since that point, compared to four goals and five assists before then. Considering his advancing age, it’s hard to see him moving back into the top 30 unless he really turns his form around as the MLS regular season winds down and the playoffs kick into gear.

Matt Besler—ASN ranking: 9 (-3)
A three-place drop is nothing substantial but movement is generally far less volatile in and around the top ten spots in the ASN 100, so Besler’s skid is definitely worth noting. Besler seems to be struggling a bit from Michael Bradley Syndrome, namely that he hasn’t looked the same player since playing an exhausting World Cup. It’s no coincidence that Sporting KC’s form has dipped in line with its center back’s, but don’t bet against both KC and Besler turning things around soon.

Which of these rises and drops are most accurate? What would you have changed if you were an ASN 100 panelist? Let us know in the comments section below.

Blake Thomsen is a frequent ASN contributor. Follow him on Twitter.

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