By the way, just as an aside (and I'll shut up about FCD for the rest of the day)……………………...the average age of the 30 players under first team contract at FCD is 23. They now have 11 homegrown players under first team contract. They're listed below with their most recent international selection. Jesse Gonzalez (USMNT) Reggie Cannon (USMNT) Paxton Pomykal (US U20) Edwin Cerrillo (US U20) Brandon Servania (US U20) Moises Hernandez (Guatemala MNT; former US U20) Dante Sealy (US U16) Thomas Roberts (US U19) Ricardo Pepi (US U17) Jesus Ferreira (US U20-not eligible yet, but called up anyway) Bryan Reynolds (US U19) And of course they had Chris Richards under contract, until he was officially sold in late January. This doesn't count 20-year old GenAd John Nelson, who seemed like he'd won the left back spot. He's been out a while with an abdominal injury, and is listed as out again for this weekend's game against TFC. I'm just taking a step back. I wonder what the youngest average age is for a first team roster amongst say...………...the top 25 leagues in the world? You'd be hard pressed to find a younger first division team out there. There are some South American clubs that solely exist to develop and sell players. A club like Independiente del Valle in Ecuador for instance. Maybe some clubs like that. But seriously, this is getting nuts.
I agree 100% with your overall point (as I interpret it) that it is important that the player (and team) are competitive at the level. Just as competition that is too far below the player's level doesn't help, it is also counter productive for the player to be exposed to a level that is too high. Putting a player on a team that can't compete at the level, regardless of whether the player is ready for that level can be harmful (or at least, not helpful) for development. I also agree that it will take a while for the levels of play to shake themselves out. As far as being able to compete at USL 1, I agree that it would be meaningless to have a team just to have a team. If it means having 23 (or whatever) journeymen and veterans than why bother? At the same time, if and when the levels sort themselves out so that there are 3 distinct levels (MLS, USL 1, USL 2), than USL 1 could be an important part of the development path for certain players. I could see a USL 1 team made up of a combination of vets/journeyment and youth players. The youth path could be USL2 to MLS, USL2 to USL1 to MLS, USL1 to MLS depending upon different factors and where the player is physically and developmentally. This type of setup would, in some ways, be similar to Europe where some players go directly from U19 to the first team, some go U19 to second team and then to first team or loan etc. I do think that having that intermediate option is important. As you say, no matter what, defending against Zlatan will not be learned in USL1, USL2...it has to be learned at MLS.
FC Cincinatti is losing but Amaya is definitely improving. His first touch, vision, passing, and quick/confusing changing in movement is great. Just a bit limited speed wise. At the beg. of the season I can see why Amaya upset some here as a possible U20 WC selection. He’s improved considerably this game from what I remember at the beg. of the season.
I'm sure we were all watching the USMNT but Dallas beat Toronto 3-0 starting Pomykal, Ferreira (2 assists), Servania, and Cerrillo, with Reynolds and Pepi!! coming off the bench. I'm gonna go watch it rn. I personally think Luchi has just gone mad with power. He's just saying, "Look! I'm winning playing babies! Look how easy this is!"
Awesome stuff for the young man! Welcome to the League, @Ricardo_Pepi9!The 16-year-old Homegrown makes his MLS debut. pic.twitter.com/y8I7EhAHbb— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 23, 2019
Didn’t watch, but many people in the Twitterverse saying Pomykal was MOTM. Not only specifically because of his play, but how much better Dallas looked with him back in the XI.
If they had been equally accessible on my tv, no doubt I would have been watching either FCD or LAG with Araujo over this current national team.
Ferreira could have easily had a hat trick tonight. He put an easy one right at the keeper, almost placed another inside the back post, and Badji stole the last one.
Ferreira had two assists and Pomykal one. Ferreira’s end product rate for the season isn’t all too bad (145).
Silky goal by Ebobisse. He's actually looked pretty competent at the wing lately. The versatility will only help his chances with the 2 national teams he's still eligible for. JEREMY EBOBISSE!Side netting. 4-0. #PORvHOU pic.twitter.com/UEnQNsPK1Q— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 23, 2019
Here is the goal Badji goal Ferreira and Pomykal assisted on. Link to more of the build up. 58' | Beautiful sequence, beautiful finish 😍Make that @dbadji14's first brace as an FC Dallas player for a 3-0 lead 😎 #DTID#FCDvTOR pic.twitter.com/9Zjq0UYmZv— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 23, 2019 Linked is Ferreira's first assist, which is a goal bound shot that Badji taps in. 12' | CHANCE@PaxiPomy finds @Jesusfcd27 in the box, and Jesus ALMOST finds the back of the net early on in this one! #DTID#FCDvTOR pic.twitter.com/mxuxuVkn5m— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 23, 2019 Link: Nice run leads to a half volley by Ferreira that is at the keeper 35' | He knows a thing or two about gólazos 😏@brandonservania ALMOST fires another missile into the back of the net from outside the box 😱 #DTID #FCDvTOR pic.twitter.com/9zYoO3PCux— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 23, 2019 MLS website highlight of the above 43' | CHANCE@Jesusfcd27 ALMOST puts another one on the board 😱 #DTID #FCDvTOR pic.twitter.com/1xIIajQ92h— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 23, 2019 MLS website highlight of the above 46' | CHANCE@PaxiPomy intercepts a pass at the back, and he almost doubles our lead! #DTID#FCDvTOR pic.twitter.com/P6pq1wCpww— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 23, 2019 Link: Sequence Ferreira starts and almost finishes.
I watched this game on replay after the USMNT game. Pomykal has really become so much better physically. In my mind there’s no way he’s not a USMNT player within the next 12 months, and honestly he could be one now.
He was. I saw a note this week about how FCD scores so much better when he's in the game and this sure didn't hurt those stats. I'd really like to see him start scoring the occasional goal because he actually has a great shot especially with his left foot. I think that's the final piece for him as he becomes more comfortable as a pro.
Keita is on the bench for Columbus. Not sure if it's kind of emergency backup situation or they've terminated the loan with Richmond.
USYNT eligible appearances in MLS Week 16 (6 games)2019 U20: Amaya, Pomykal, Servania, Cerrillo, Ferreira, Vines2021 U20: Araujo, Reynolds2019 U17: Anderson2023 U20/2019 U17: Pepi 2020 U23: Glad, Saucedo, Herrera, Gutjahr, Lennon, Ebobisse, Williamson, Zelalem, Williams— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 24, 2019
He played well from my perspective. He did quite well offensively. Did alright defensively. Commentators were raving about Amaya more but there were a couple instances they were praising both being such impactful players for their age.
The question for FCD fans is how long they'll be able to hold onto him. I mean, surely offers are going to come in this transfer window. Surely. And FCD can be fine with a midfield rotation of Grueso, Acosta, Hayes, Cerrillo, and Servania. [I suspect Roberts is going to Bayern, but we'll see about that one when the window opens.] If the right deal appears, I don't think any FCD fans would mind selling him on. [THen we can sign Tessman or Almaguer or Rodriguez to a first team deal.] We'll just have to see about the USMNT. First, he's probably going to be heavily involved with the U23s as they prepare for qualifying. If he doesn't move to Europe, then he's a shoe-in for that team. Then maybe January USMNT camp.
Gruezo to Germany. Team not named yet.Cerrillo just became the starter at the #6. Good, the national teams 5-10 players of national team caliber playing that spot to choose from.
Yeah, Grueso's in the last year of his deal..............right? So they're going to sell if they get an offer. I heard twitterati speculating that he'd be going to Tijuana with Pareja. That makes a lot of sense to me too. Cerrillo and Servania can cover for his loss, although I think he's pretty undervalued by FCD fans. I also won't be surprised if FCD brings in a veteran midfielder.
Gruezo came from the Bundesliga and is now going back. I've always used him as a measuring stick for younger #6's and #8's in MLS. If he could play in Germany and they play equivalently maybe this guy could too.