YNT-eligible college players -- *2019* thread

Yup. I mean, the guy's career is over. The results had been so mediocre over the past several years that I thought his seat was already getting pretty hot.

By the way, for us old-time USYNT watchers.................we remember when Jorge Salcedo was the captain of the U17s and U20s. We're talking about an elite youth player (Parade All-american and all that jazz which was important before MLS/DA existed). He's been in the US establishment for a long time. In fact, his father Hugo has spent a lifetime in the US soccer establishment (even working with FIFA directly for a while).

The last time I watched a whole UCLA game was the 2014 Colleg Cup. That was arguably the worst College Cup final I've ever had the misfortune of sitting thru. That was the unwatchable one against Virginia. If you ever want a kid to head to the USL/MLS/pros instead of playing NCAA soccer, put on that 2014 College Cup Final. And then talk about how many of pro prospects there were on those teams (or so we thought), and where they are now 5 years later.

 

I've always thought that the Salcedo hire was a case study in what not to do. Instead of judging him on his actual soccer coaching UCLA apparently decided that he checked off all the boxes. Good playing background, check. Converts winning PK for UCLA's 1990 championship, check. Good pedigree, with dad Hugo connected with FIFA, check. Decent pro resume in MLS, with a short stint at Morelia for good measure, check. Yes, he checked off all the boxes, or so they thought.

 

Last but not least, we're happy to introduce Houston Dynamo Academy product Jaden Servania!

The forward also competed with the Puerto Rico U-20 National Team. You may recognize his last name - he's the brother of a 2017 Deacon, Brandon Servania. #GoDeacs pic.twitter.com/eGBJaHOEzX

— Wake Forest Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) February 20, 2019

Jaden Servania, Brandon's brother, will attend Wake Forest

 

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You mean he could be one of the students that Salcedo bribed?

 

It's the fake athletes who were swept up in the scandal, not the real ones.

It's very typical for recruits to look elsewhere when the coach who recruited them leaves before they even arrive on campus. It's even more expected when the program is in total shambles like UCLA right now.

 

Sebastian Berhalter '01 will attend UNC. We have to pay attention to Tar Heels, he's recruiting good freshmen.

You know what they say.

Like father, like son.

Welcome to the #CarolinaFamily, @seabass1860. pic.twitter.com/DgXzEMbdsI

— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) April 24, 2019

 

.@brayanpadilla_ que golazo 😱

The boys are in midseason form in the spring 😈 pic.twitter.com/rcnaE4nJYL

— Maryland Men’s Soccer 🐢 (@MarylandMSoccer) April 30, 2019

Brayan Padilla '00 scored a great goal against Bethlehem. Last season he did not play much, but will be good to see how he will do this season.

 

My son and I saw this one in person - very nicely struck. Thanks for the replay, which makes clear why the game was delayed for so many minutes afterward. Bethlehem's GK crashed into the post very awkwardly and went through the full concussion protocol afterwards. He did return to action, happily.

 

Northern Illinois is one school that's really trying to ride the Texas train. They must have 6 or 7 players from Texas. Good plan...................!!

 

Players to follow this season:

-Andrew Thomas '98: Very good goalkeeper. He is good with his feet and also has good reflexes. His good performances last year made be called to U23 MNT.

-Carlo Ritaccio '00: He has a great physical and an excellent height, that makes his job much easier in defense. He is also good at aerial duels. He was considered the best freshman last year.

-Giuseppe Barone '98: Classic # 10. Very technically gifted player and a great passer. He has a great long shoot, and he's a pretty decent athlete.

-Zach Ryan '99: Top Scorer at Stanford last year. He is a classic # 9, He has a great shoot and he is good at aerial duels.

-Jack Lynn '00: He was important for the last Notre Dame season. Player with a great technique. He is a player with a very good skill and knows how to complement that good skill with great athleticism. His numbers like freshman are not great, but I think he really has talent and could become professional player.

 

Thanks for introducing me to a new player I didn't know about -- the current lifestyle doesn't leave much time for NCAA ball. I watched some video and you're right, he's interesting. There's a HS/youth video on YouTube where he looks and plays much smaller, in a good way, than his ND-listed 6 ft. 2 in. would suggest -- quick, incisive, coordinated, heads-up, range of skills.

I don't want to take it too far, but he reminds me of what I used to think playing (in my case, pretty poorly) intramural basketball at my mid-major D1 college: There are a lot of guys with body types like this in the U.S. who I figure would make pretty darn good soccer players. Some of the best all-around athletes at my school played varsity baseball, but I suspect could've been good no matter what they'd tried.

Think, I dunno, a guy like Krisztián Németh. He's a good player, but it seems to me the U.S. should be able to produce guys like this, if they weren't playing other sports, in number -- guys around 6 ft., good all-around athletes, aggressive, smart. Lynn kinda looks to me like a guy who chose correctly, though since it looks like his dad played for SLU, maybe he didn't have a choice.

 

I've seen those videos and I must say that compared to what I've seen of him in some Notre Dame games, he really has improved in all aspects last year.
We will have to see how his development continues, but it is good to know that there is still talent in colleges.

 

Jacobo Reyes

It looks like Reyes has left Monterrey and is attending University of Portland in the fall.

— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) June 23, 2019

 

Shame no MLS team takes a chance on him. If Amaya is a starter then Reyes could easily make the bench somewhere.

 

Speaking of which, Portland's season starts tonight against Colgate at home. Reyes, among other potentially interesting Pilots, could make his NCAA debut.

 

Thanks, Dave. Would you happen to know if Colgate has any freshly minted players?