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This week, Major League Soccer released its annual "24 Under 24" list-- the top players in the league under two dozen years of age, as voted by a select panel of media members in the U.S. and Canada.
The panel considered technique, soccer IQ, physical attributes, personality, and potential.
And, as with everything else this year-- No Poku, No Party.
The New York City marauder finds himself amid some massive company in the top third of this year's rankings, including FC Dallas's Fabian Castillo (#1) and L.A. Galaxy's Sebastian Lletget (#3), both of whom scored against New York City in the past month.
Poku is the third-highest ranked player on the list who didn't appear on any previous year's ranking. Only Lletget and center back Matt Miazga (#5) of the New York Red Bulls placed higher.
New England Revolution lead the way with four players in the 2015 rankings. Vancouver Whitecaps are right behind with three.
The New York City faithful, of course, will be more than pleased with their sole selection.
The Ghainain-born Poku -- who is in the process of becoming an American citizen, and has spoken openly about his desire to break into the U.S. National Team -- sports four goals and a team-leading seven assists in 911 league minutes. He added two goals in the U.S. Open Cup against the New York Cosmos, the first brace scored by a New York City player in a competitive game.
Additionally, three four New York City players were named to the 75-man shortlist from which the final rankings were formed: Angelino, Shay Facey, Patrick Mullins, and Khiry Shelton.
Though Poku's exposure has been limited to bench appearances with the modest emergence of Frank Lampard at the top of the midfield, there's no question as to who is nearest and dearest to the hearts of New York City fans.
From the Yankee Stadium bleachers to the Soccer Gods' ears:
"WE WANT POKU."
Check out Major League Soccer's complete "24 Under 24" rankings for 2015:
RANK |
NAME |
TEAM |
1 |
Fabian Castillo |
FC Dallas |
2 |
Kekuta Manneh |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
3 |
Sebastian Lletget |
L.A. Galaxy |
4 |
Wil Trapp |
Columbus Crew SC |
5 |
Matt Miazga |
New York Red Bulls |
6 |
Harry Shipp |
Chicago Fire |
7 |
Poku the Punisher! |
New York City FC |
8 |
Perry Kitchen |
D.C. United |
9 |
Joao Plata |
Real Salt Lake |
10 |
Cyle Larin |
Orlando City SC |
11 |
Erick "Cubo" Torres |
Houston Dynamo |
12 |
Matias Laba |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
13 |
Juan Agudelo |
New England Revolution |
14 |
Kellyn Acosta |
FC Dallas |
15 |
Kemar Lawrence |
New York Red Bulls |
16 |
Andrew Farrell |
New England Revolution |
17 |
Diego Fagundez |
New England Revolution |
18 |
Octavio Rivero |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
19 |
Lucas Melano |
Portland Timbers |
20 |
Kelyn Rowe |
New England Revolution |
21 |
Matt Polster |
Chicago Fire |
22 |
Alvas Powell |
Portland Timbers |
23 |
Tommy Thompson |
San Jose Earthquakes |
24 |
Erik Palmer-Brown |
Sporting Kansas City |