With two other players getting their first starts of the season I’d say we can put this in the coincidence column.
Red card -- McKenzie subbed on for Aaronson. I'm guessing he'll be starting while Trusty serves his red card suspension
I thought Araujo put in a good shift. He's still learning when to go, when to stay back, but that will come in time. He didn't try any difficult passes, but all the passes he made were crisp and accurate. I have to see more of him to see what his dribbling skills are like (Philly didn't pressure him much), but he shows enough right now where GBS won't hesitate to put him like tonight. He has good pace and a sturdy frame. Whether he'll ever develop into a USMNT-level player is hard to say, but he's still young (8/01), so there's time to improve. I think his versatility (he can also play CB in a pinch) will likely get him a roster spot on the U20 WC team.
If Paxton has an EU passport (I believe Czech heritage?), then he will have a lot of options. But yeah, BL would be ideal.
We're up to 53 U23 American (or soon to be) players who have played a regular season game in MLS so far this season. Aaron Herrera (97), D, Salt Lake - 7 games/7 starts, 630 minutes, 0 goals/0 assists Auston Trusty (98), D, Philadelphia - 7 games/7 starts, 616 minutes, 0 goals/0 assists Paxton Pomykal (99), M, Dallas - 7/6, 557, 2/1 Brooks Lennon (97), D,/M Salt Lake - 7/6, 544, 0/0 James Sands (00), M/D, New York City - 6/6, 538, 0/0 Reggie Cannon (98), D, Dallas - 6/6, 495, 0/0 Miles Robinson (97), D, Atlanta - 5/5, 450, 0/0 Jeremy Ebobisse (97), F, Portland - 6/5, 415, 2/0 Brenden Aaronson (00), M, Philadelphia - 5/5, 412, 1/0 Cole Bassett (01), M, Colorado - 6/5, 391, 1/1 ^Jesus Ferreira (00), F, Dallas - 6/4, 365, 2/2 Djordje Mihailovic (98), M, Chicago - 6/4, 360, 0/0 Edwin Cerillo (00), M, Dallas - 5/4, 322, 0/0 Jeremiah Gutjahr (97), M/D, Chicago - 3/3, 270, 0/0 Dani Acosta (97), D/M, Orlando - 3/3, 254, 0/0 Kyle Duncan (97), D, New York RB - 3/3, 244, 0/0 Gianluca Busio (02), M, Kansas City - 5/2, 238, 3/0 Jackson Yueill (97), M, San Jose - 5/2, 238, 1/0 DeJuan Jones (97), F/M, New England - 4/3, 220, 0/1 Sebastian Saucedo (97), F/M, Salt Lake - 5/2, 192, 0/1 Jonathan Lewis (97), M/F, New York City - 5/2, 172, 0/1 Omir Fernandez (99), M, New York RB - 2/1, 144, 0/0 Ayo Akinola (00), F, Toronto, 4/1, 121, 1/1 Chris Durkin (00), M, DC - 4/1, 120, 1/0 Justen Glad (97), D, Salt Lake, 1/1, 90, 0/0 Donovan Pines (98), D, DC - 1/1, 90, 0/1 Sam Vines (99), D, Colorado - 1/1, 90, 0/0 Tate Schmitt (97), F, Salt Lake - 2/1/, 80, 0/0 Santiago Patino (97), F, Orlando - 2/1, 76, 0/1 Thomas Roberts (01), Dallas, 2/1, 73, 0/0 Andrew Carleton (00), M, Atlanta - 3/0, 64, 0/0 Efrain Alvarez (02), M, LA Galaxy - 2/0, 61, 0/1 Emil Cuello (97), M, LA Galaxy - 1/1, 60, 0/0 Derrick Jones (97), M, Philadelphia - 2/0, 57, 0/0 Gedion Zelalem (97), M, Kansas City - 1/1, 56, 0/0 Justin Rennicks (99), F, New England - 1/0, 45, 0/0 JJ Williams (98), F, Columbus - 1/0, 36, 0/0 John Nelson (98), D, Dallas - 2/0, 32, 0/0 Niko Hamalainen (97), D, LAFC - 2/0, 30, 0/1 Julian Araujo (01), D, LA Galaxy - 2/0, 30, 0/0 Eric Calvillo (98), M, San Jose - 1/0, 28, 0/0 Sean Nealis (97), D, New York RB - 1/0, 26, 0/0 Josh Perez (98), M, LAFC - 1/0, 24, 0/0 Frankie Amaya (00), M, Cincinnati - 2/0, 21, 0/0 Ethan Zubak (98), F, LA Galaxy - 1/0, 15, 0/0 Keaton Parks (97), M, New York City - 2/0, 13, 0/0 Mark McKenzie (99), D, Philadelphia- 1/0, 12, 0/0 Benji Michel (97), F, Orlando - 1/0, 12, 0/0 Hassani Dotson (97), M, Minnesota - 3/0, 10, 0/0 Anthony Fontana (99), M, Philadelphia - 1/0, 9, 0/0 ^Handwalla Bwana (97), M, Seattle - 1/0, 7, 0/0 Luis Arriaga (01), F, Salt Lake - 2/0, 4, 0/0 Brandon Servania (99), M, Dallas - 1/0, 2, 0/0 ^Citizenship pending. Also, Gianluca Busio is good.
While over 50 USYNT-eligible players have played in MLS, there could still be a whole lot more as, counting kids out on loan, there are over 40 players on the MLS books who are U23-eligible who haven't played in MLS this year. Jacob Akanyarige (01), D, San Jose Sebastian Anderson (02), D, Colorado Isaac Angking (00), M, New England Lamar Batista (98), D, LAFC Shaft Brewer (99), M, LAFC Antonio Bustamente (97), M, DC George Bello (02), D, Atlanta Cade Cowell (03), F, San Jose Pierre Da Silva (98), M, Orlando Griffin Dorsey (99), M, Toronto Phillip Ejimadu (99), GK, LAFC Marco Farfan (98), D, Portland Tyler Freeman (03), F, Kansas City Matt Freese (98), GK, Philadelphia Gilbert Fuentes (02), M, San Jose Chris Goslin (00), M, Atlanta Justin Haak (01), M, New York City Siad Haji (99), M, San Jose Matt Hundley (00), M, Colorado Aboubacar Keita (00), D, Columbus Lagos Kunga (98), F, Atlanta Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (98), M, Kansas City Danny Leyva (03), M, Seattle Cam Lindley (97), M, Orlando Jaylin Lindsey (00), D, Kansas City JT Marcinkowski (97), GK, San Jose Tommy McCabe (97), M, Cincinnati Erik McCue (01), D, Houston Ben Mines (00), M, New York RB Trey Muse (99), GK, Seattle David Ochoa (01), GK, Salt Lake Sam Raben (97), D, Colorado Matt Real (99), D, Philadelphia Andre Reynolds (01), D, Chicago Bryan Reynolds (01), D, Dallas Gabriel Slonina (04), GK, Chicago Mason Toye (98), F, Minnesota Brandon Vasquez (98), F, Atlanta Julian Vasquez (01), F, Salt Lake Joe Scally (02), D, New York City Mason Stajduhar (97), GK, Orlando Justin Vom Steeg (97), GK, LAG Eryk Williamson (97), M, Portland Griffin Yow (02), M, DC
Here's how those who've played break down by year and, for those who cared, how much college soccer they played and where. Aaron Herrera (97), D, Salt Lake - 7 games/7 starts, 630 minutes, 0 goals/0 assists Brooks Lennon (97), D,/M Salt Lake - 7/6, 544, 0/0 Miles Robinson (97), D, Atlanta - 5/5, 450, 0/0 Jeremy Ebobisse (97), F, Portland - 6/5, 415, 2/0 Jeremiah Gutjahr (97), M/D, Chicago - 3/3, 270, 0/0 Dani Acosta (97), D/M, Orlando - 3/3, 254, 0/0 Kyle Duncan (97), D, New York RB - 3/3, 244, 0/0 Jackson Yueill (97), M, San Jose - 5/2, 238, 1/0 DeJuan Jones (97), F/M, New England - 4/3, 220, 0/1 Sebastian Saucedo (97), F/M, Salt Lake - 5/2, 192, 0/1 Jonathan Lewis (97), M/F, New York City - 5/2, 172, 0/1 Justen Glad (97), D, Salt Lake, 1/1, 90, 0/0 Tate Schmitt (97), F, Salt Lake - 2/1/, 80, 0/0 Santiago Patino (97), F, Orlando - 2/1, 76, 0/1 Emil Cuello (97), M, LA Galaxy - 1/1, 60, 0/0 Derrick Jones (97), M, Philadelphia - 2/0, 57, 0/0 Gedion Zelalem (97), M, Kansas City - 1/1, 56, 0/0 Niko Hamalainen (97), D, LAFC - 2/0, 30, 0/1 Sean Nealis (97), D, New York RB - 1/0, 26, 0/0 Keaton Parks (97), M, New York City - 2/0, 13, 0/0 Benji Michel (97), F, Orlando - 1/0, 12, 0/0 Hassani Dotson (97), M, Minnesota - 3/0, 10, 0/0 ^Handwalla Bwana (97), M, Seattle - 1/0, 7, 0/0 Auston Trusty (98), D, Philadelphia - 7 games/7 starts, 616 minutes, 0 goals/0 assists Reggie Cannon (98), D, Dallas - 6/6, 495, 0/0 Djordje Mihailovic (98), M, Chicago - 6/4, 360, 0/0 Donovan Pines (98), D, DC - 1/1, 90, 0/1 JJ Williams (98), F, Columbus - 1/0, 36, 0/0 John Nelson (98), D, Dallas - 2/0, 32, 0/0 Eric Calvillo (98), M, San Jose - 1/0, 28, 0/0 Josh Perez (98), M, LAFC - 1/0, 24, 0/0 Ethan Zubak (98), F, LA Galaxy - 1/0, 15, 0/0 Paxton Pomykal (99), M, Dallas - 7/6, 557, 2/1 Omir Fernandez (99), M, New York RB - 2/1, 144, 0/0 Sam Vines (99), D, Colorado - 1/1, 90, 0/0 Justin Rennicks (99), F, New England - 1/0, 45, 0/0 Mark McKenzie (99), D, Philadelphia - 1/0, 12, 0/0 Brandon Servania (99), M, Dallas - 1/0, 2, 0/0 Anthony Fontana (99), M, Philadelphia - 1/0, 9, 0/0 James Sands (00), M/D, New York City - 6/6, 538, 0/0 Brenden Aaronson (00), M, Philadelphia - 5/5, 412, 1/0 ^Jesus Ferreira (00), F, Dallas - 6/4, 365, 2/2 Edwin Cerillo (00), M, Dallas - 5/4, 322, 0/0 Ayo Akinola (00), F, Toronto, 4/1, 121, 1/1 Chris Durkin (00), M, DC - 4/1, 120, 1/0 Andrew Carleton (00), M, Atlanta - 3/0, 64, 0/0 Frankie Amaya (00), M, Cincinnati - 2/0, 21, 0/0 Cole Bassett (01), M, Colorado - 6/5, 391, 1/1 Thomas Roberts (01), Dallas, 2/1, 73, 0/0 Julian Araujo (01), D, LA Galaxy - 2/0, 30, 0/0 Luis Arriaga (01), F, Salt Lake - 2/0, 4, 0/0 Gianluca Busio (02), M, Kansas City - 5/2, 238, 3/0 Efrain Alvarez (02), M, LA Galaxy - 2/0, 61, 0/1 ----- Jeremiah Gutjahr (97), M/D, Chicago - 3/3, 270, 0/0 - Indiana, 4 DeJuan Jones (97), F/M, New England - 4/3, 220, 0/1 - Michigan State, 4 Tate Schmitt (97), F, Salt Lake - 2/1/, 80, 0/0 - Louisville, 4 Santiago Patino (97), F, Orlando - 2/1, 76, 0/1 - Florida International, 4 Emil Cuello (97), M, LA Galaxy - 1/1, 60, 0/0 - Southern Methodist, 4 Sean Nealis (97), D, New York RB - 1/0, 26, 0/0 - Hofstra, 4 Hassani Dotson (97), M, Minnesota - 3/0, 10, 0/0 - Oregon State, 4 Aaron Herrera (97), D, Salt Lake - 7/7, 630, 0/0 - New Mexico, 3 Donovan Pines (98), D, DC - 1/1, 90, 0/1 - Maryland, 3 JJ Williams (98), F, Columbus - 1/0, 36, 0/0 - Kentucky, 3 Benji Michel (97), F, Orlando - 1/0, 12, 0/0 - Portland, 3 Miles Robinson (97), D, Atlanta - 5/5, 450, 0/0 - Syracuse, 2 Jeremy Ebobisse (97), F, Portland - 6/5, 415, 2/0 - Duke, 2 Jackson Yueill (97), M, San Jose - 5/2, 238, 1/0 - UCLA, 2 Omir Fernandez (99), M, New York RB - 2/1, 144, 0/0 - Wake Forest, 2 Justin Rennicks (99), F, New England - 1/0, 45, 0/0 - Indiana, 2 John Nelson (98), D, Dallas - 2/0, 32, 0/0 - North Carolina, 2 ^Handwalla Bwana (97), M, Seattle - 1/0, 7, 0/0 - Washington, 2 Reggie Cannon (98), D, Dallas - 6/6, 495, 0/0 - UCLA, 1 Jonathan Lewis (97), M/F, New York City - 5/2, 172, 0/1 - Akron, 1 Frankie Amaya (00), M, Cincinnati - 2/0, 21, 0/0 - UCLA, 1 Mark McKenzie (99), D, Philadelphia - 1/0, 12, 0/0 - Wake Forest, 1 Brandon Servania (99), M, Dallas - 1/0, 2, 0/0 - Wake Forest, 1 Sign of how far we're coming when only 23 of 53 of the YNT kids who've played in MLS this year have played college soccer and only 11 of them played more than 2 years of college ball.
26 USYNT eligible players played in MLS during Week 7 2019 U17s: Busio 2021 U20s: Bassett, Araujo 2019 U20s: Sands, Cerrillo, Pomykal, Ferreira, Akinola, Durkin, Vines, Aaronson, McKenzie, Amaya 2020 U23: Ebobisse, Cannon, Yueill, Mihailovic, Gutjahr, Robinson, Herrera, Glad, Pines, Trusty, Lennon, Perez, Jones Lots of positives beyond just quantity. Exactly half (13/26) are 1999 and younger. Busio scored in his thirds straight game. Pomykal and Ferreira are among the most exciting young duo in recent years in MLS. When was the last time two teenagers on the same team were this much fun to watch? Durkin showed he deserves to start. Cerrillo had his best FCD game yet. Among the U-23s: Yueill had a very nice goal. Pines was solid. Gutjahr was also good again for Chicago.
Just looking at Busio's playing time and I have to say that I think that development is being handled very well. He is getting a good combination of minutes and appearances. For a young kid like him (2002 and still growing) I think it is important that he doesn't get overworked. It makes us feel better when he is starting and going 90 every week but it probably isn't best for him. In addition, I don't think that going 90 adds enough to his development to justify the extra strain on his body. An occasional 90 or extended runout of 60+ minutes is probably a good thing but not as a regular occurrence. So far, he has 5 MLS appearances and 248 minutes (on pace for 125ish minutes). Only one 90 in that time and a 78 with a couple around 30ish plus a few games in CCL. I think that is a very good prescription for his future.
For the 7th consecutive week, the minutes played by 98's and earlier increased (although it was the smallest increase since the beginning of the season): 502, 549, 619, 729, 772, 1041, 1080 Out of the 5292 total minutes played by 98's and younger, FCD players have logged 1846 minutes or 34.9% The increase week to week is still going exponential. It can't keep this growth much longer so enjoy it while you can...pretty soon we may have to settle for "just" linear growth for a while before it plateaus. We'll see.
Been the best player so far this year. He’s greatly exceeding what I expected of him. I am starting to agree with @don Lamb that he has a higher ceiling at CB, especially if he adds a bit more muscle. That said, I am not sure that he couldn’t play the 3G WT/MB90 as or more effectively than either incumbent in another year. He’s a very, very good passer and plays a lot of line splitting passes when the opportunity is there.
Aaron Herrera got a secondary assist on RSL's second goal, which is actually the first time he's recorded a goal or assist in MLS. It was his 23rd first-team appearance, but notably the first one where he didn't play left back.
He does have Czech heritage (which there is a lot of in central Texas). However, I've never heard anything definitive in terms of his eligibility for a passport. The Czechs and Germans came to Texas a loooooooooong time ago. Hence all of the German and Czech town names in central Texas (Praha, Frydek, Hostyn, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, etc. etc.). So Pomykal's heritage could be from so long ago as to be irrelevant............................. Of course, if Paxton doesn't have access to a Euro passport....................Germany becomes the best option. I don't know if Dallas' partner Bayern Munich is paying attention or not. And at this point we don't want Pax going to Germany to play for Bayern II anyway. No point in that.