YNT-eligible MLS players: 2018/19 offseason thread

"Not everyone can be labeled a Homegrown player for an @MLS Academy. It's a special title that he wears proudly."

Learn more about @brandonservania's path to the First Team in Homegrowns, presented by @ElephantAutoIns. pic.twitter.com/1e9qJJDCqe

— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) December 6, 2018

 

The Galaxy have declined comment, but it seems they're waiting until next week to make an official announcement.

Dennis Te Kloese starts work as Galaxy's new general manager
https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-galaxy-gm-20181206-story.html

 

Some good stuff from @bshredder on Pepi, Richards and FCD's USL club.
http://www.americansoccernow.com/ar...llas-usl-and-columbus-highlight-huge-news-day

 

This is good for the Galaxy but perhaps equally good for the Us as he was instrumental in going after dual nationals for Mexico and now perhaps he becomes neutral on Galaxy players or even pushes them towards the US more.

 

Also an interview with RBNY2's John Wolyniec

http://www.americansoccernow.com/ar...he-new-york-red-bull-s-developmental-pipeline

How much better is RBNY2 than the rest of the league? Consider Aaron Long. Drafted by Portland in 2014, released June of that same year. He was with Sounders until 2015 and converted from MF to CB with them. NYRB2 signed him in 2016 and two years later he earns a NT call up.

 

To me its looking increasingly likely that this is going to be an internal hire...…….
There have been very few rumors about candidates other than Luchi Gonzalez, Marco Ferruzzi (long-time assistant), and Tab.

Boehm: Tab Ramos out of FC Dallas' search for new head coach #MLS https://t.co/kiUSNmHuvs Ramos out!! #FCDallas "Unlikely to reach an agreement." so money?

— 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) December 8, 2018

 

Looks like that "Reggie Cannon to Tijuana" narrative can be squashed...……..

No #FCDallas players will be sold to Xolos https://t.co/y7ctgvWDfJ Dan Hunt draws a line.

— 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) December 8, 2018

 

Sources tell me that FC Dallas are in serious talks to trade Maxi Urruti to an Eastern Conference club. Told it's likely he'll be moved during the half-da trade window on Sunday. https://t.co/oeGtxgYssM

— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) December 7, 2018

 

Yeah...……………..that one might impact Jesus Ferreira's playing time.

There are going to be A LOT of changes at FCD this off-season, though (in and out), and we'll see where everybody stands when the music stops.

 

Phew...…………...FCD appear to have dodged the bullet on this one.

By the way, this column says that Ramos was offered the job at FCD, but that an agreement couldn't be reached (saw that in the twitterverse in a couple places as well).

23 Thoughts: LA Galaxy closing in on Jason Kreis - sources https://t.co/sdRDe2QiOM

— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) December 8, 2018

 

With MLS now complete, we move quickly thru a series of transfer windows, drafts, etc. that can impact our youngsters.

There is a day, TODAY, for clubs to make trades within the league prior to the expansion draft. So do expect some activity today. For instance, that Maxi Urruti deal to Montreal is expected to go down today. And of course ATL and Portland need to make their end-of-year roster decisions today (options to pick up, etc.)

Expansion Draft Dec 11
Waiver Draft Dec. 12
Re-entry Draft Stage 1 Dec 14
Re-entry Draft Stage 2 Dec 20
MLS Superdraft Jan 11th

 

Fcd finally fully buying into playing the kids?

 

Bello is already better than Garza. Not as experienced, but much more talented and physically gifted, and that’s saying a lot because Garza was an all-star. Really hope this is our FO handing the keys over to Bello. He’s good enough and he’s ready.

 

Maybe, but it's too soon to say. Just because a club jettisons their mediocre veterans doesn't mean they won't go out and sign a new batch of veterans, most of whom will turn out to be mediocre.

 

Seems like tab would’ve gone for that

 

Apparently Carleton missed playing in the final because he posted videos of him partying the night before the final.

 

First reported by .@PaulTenorio, here are the terms of the Tesho Akindele deal. Orlando City sends FC Dallas $150,000 in TAM and GAM.

Read all about it here: https://t.co/G29qgcg5q7 pic.twitter.com/aURfeW9vA3

— Jordan Culver (@JordanCulver) December 9, 2018

Akindele officially moves.

 

Official now. $75k and a first-round pick for Urruti.

— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) December 9, 2018

And now Urrutti is gone too. Great news.

 

Worth noting that Tesho was probably gone anyway. He wasn't under contract. FCD traded his "rights" to Orlando. Urruti is/was a fantastic leader and locker room guy. But he wasn't producing at the level they were paying him.

There's no GM/TD or coach at FCD. So its hard to know what any of it means. Who is actually making these transactions? I have no idea...………………..

What I do know is that since the end of the season, FCD has cleared 2.6 million in salary cap room (Urruti, Figueroa, Akindele, Lamah, Aguilar, Chala, etc.) That doesn't even include everything they cleared when they sold Mauro Diaz/Nedyalkov last season, and traded Kellyn Acosta. [They've used some of those resources, but not all.] They have been stockpiling assets for a year now. On top of their salary cap space...……….they have a ton of allocation money as well as two of the top 10 picks in the draft! [Plus have their two first round picks in the draft from last year that they still like in Atuahene and Twumasi).

FCD was a playoff team last season, but also have a ton of assets with which to maneuver here. A team doesn't clear 2.7 million in salary cap space and then do nothing with it. I'm still expecting a lot of moves, both in and out. So I'll withhold a depth chart analysis until much later.

 

There's a first time for everything. With no GM or coach who would sign new players?

 

Unless I missed someone, here are the thread-eligible players available in the expansion draft:

Brandon Vázquez
James Murphy
Josh Pérez
Justin Vom Steeg
Tommy Redding
Pierre Da Silva​