EPB is a very good get for City. Will he become an every match starter for the side? I doubt it. However, having watched him in person on 2 of his 4 first team starts and on TV for every other appearance he's made since getting called up to the senior squad, the kid is very good. He is a product of the SKC academy which is one of the better academy systems in the USA. A few weeks ago I heard that SKC was trying very hard to sign him to a long term deal but they were in big competition from clubs around the world. There was also talk about a sign and sell deal so that SKC could get some benefit from developing him to this point.
His biggest weakness is experience at higher levels. But the way scheduling happens here in the US for soccer, it is a very rare thing to see a teenager climb to the top flight in any league. When he's played in the first side for SKC, he's arguably the best defender on the pitch, NOTE that I didn't say the most gifted, but he's amazingly consistent. He has a good natural feel for the game, he has a knack at making plays before the ball gets too deep, etc. My expectations are that he will join MCFC in January, then he will practice with the senior team as well as the youth teams for a couple weeks before being loaned out until the summer. I could see him out on loan for two or three seasons where he goes away to play and then comes back to see how much he's developed.
I'm not saying he will ever be MCFC starting caliber, but I will not write him off. After the next World Cup, I expect him to be a constant call up for the US internationally as there are several players that will end their international careers after Russia and he's as good as any US defender that is waiting for their chance.
