YNT-eligible NASL/USL players: 2017/18 offseason thread

It isn't going to be easy getting minutes on ATL2 at Forward.

Your forwards are Patrick Okonkwo (HGP), Josef Samuel (can also play MF), Diego Lopez, most like Jon Gallagher (1st Rd Pick).

I like what they are doing with the signing though and most 16 year olds are not expected to play a lot right off the bat. Better to get Lopez in a much better environment even if he plays with the DA a lot.

 

Also, FC Golden State is actually a DA club.

http://fcgs.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=1655496&player=79742427

 

Their '02 year is looking pretty bad, besides Bello, so this was a nice add for them.

 

The only mechanism where an MLS club could sign a YNT player in the past is through the Superdraft or the allocation ranking. Clubs are not allowed to put YNT players on their discovery lists.

But, I think Atlanta has beaten the system by getting him onto their USL team. Now that word is out that you can apparently skirt MLS rules and sign YNT players directly to your USL team, I wonder if this is going to start a run on these players.

 

Atlanta is not the first to do this. Portland signed Harold Hanson, a player from the very same club (FC Golden State) to a USL contract last year. Orlando signed a player from Sacramento's DA team (Ryley Kraft).

Thus far, nobody of sufficiently high YNT name recognition has been signed using this method, thus allowing MLS to ignore the issue. No doubt a rule made on-the-fly will be created in controversial fashion when this starts to spiral out of control...

 

I could be crazy here but isn't the MLS rules about US U17 or U20 players who have been capped in an official FIFA game/tournament? I mean Nike Friendlies are friendlies. Of course he's out of their development range but, idk, maybe since he moved down there for non MLS (an MLS reserve team is a stretch for this but who knows) related reasons he could be signed as an actual HGP next year. Seems like some crazy games being played but is it any crazier than Portland signing Harold Hanson last year to T2?

EDIT: Just saw Balerion's post.

 

Don't think he could get HGP status, but he could be signed as a USL priority player now. He won't get the HG tag, but they still get him without having to trade up in one of the many drafts.

Since this loophole apparently exists, I'm kinda surprised it isn't being used more.

 

Part of the Academy kids signing contracts with S2 is that they get help with continuing their education.

And its a continuation of what they were working on with the Academy with respect to making sure players have every opportunity to continue their education.
https://www.soundersfc.com/post/201...inues-investment-its-players-through-enhanced

 

Here is the article that more specifically talks about using tuition incentives to sign Academy players to USL contracts for S2.
https://www.sounderatheart.com/thef...s-using-tuition-incentive-as-development-tool

 

South Georgia Tormenta FC of the PDL is “moving up” to USL D3 next year.

 

Is that the first confirmed D3 team?

 

Nelson Blanco has re-signed for NCFC. He’s a DC United product and Salvadoran dual national. He’s probably below YNT standard but if he’s getting first team minutes for NCFC he should be on the radar.

 

Is there confirmation that he's a US citizen? I see Transfermarkt lists him as a dual national, but they aren't always 100% on that.

 

S2 fielded a few teams last summer that were fairly close to the U19 academy team. I guess they won't be able to do that in the future.

Five amateurs per game-day roster shouldn't be too restrictive, though.

 

That academy player rule is a bummer. Hope that MLS pushes as hard as it can to keep these MLS II teams in the league, better yet every MLS club should have a II team. The EPL method of breaking off "II" teams into their own dev league doesnt work near as well. Even if it's just an optics thing these teams should prolly avoid calling themselves (x) 2 and create their own name/identity, maybe that'll help ease the tension

 

Meh any more than 5 and I doubt the team is good enough for any real development to be happening.

 

The Steel had seven once last season in the 18 but only four of those saw any minutes.