Off the post! @Jon_lewis710 was inches away from giving #NYCFC the lead. #NYCvCHI https://t.co/yHRPnUGkRZ— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2017
Lewis was OK. The circumstances of the game were pretty unusual -- a pretty stifling combination of heat and humidity, and NYC going down a man early in the first half, for starters. Safe to say the game plan went out the window right away. He is fast and has some skill. You can see that he's green, and he sometimes seems to be thinking rather than reacting. If he gets chances, he'll outgrow that, and we'll see how good he can be.
Kid has talent. Needs experience. He is (yet another) an example of kids needing games and why each MLS team needs a reserve side. I know there was talk of NYCFC partnering with the Long Island PDL team to put a team in USL that would be their second team. Here's hoping that happens for the future Jonathan Lewises.
Ebobisse started his first MLS game and scored 14 minutes in. Apparently he missed a good chance before his goal, but I wasn't watching. Due to MLS "extreme hardship" rules, Harold Hanson and Augustine Williams are with the MLS club on short-term contracts and are available on the bench.
Nice backheel assist for Ebobisse. He also showed some nice hold up skill in the build up to the goal.
Ebobisse was subbed off in the 78th minute. No surprise - he took a beating throughout the game. He had some nice moments with the goal and assist and worked very hard off the ball. He definitely boosted his stock in Portland today, which means he might occasionally come off the bench for Adi instead of almost never coming off the bench. #PorterProgress.
Harold Hanson on in the 89th minute. He's only here because the Timbers are decimated by injuries, suspensions, and the Gold Cup, but still - this probably is not where he expected to be when he was toiling for FC Golden State U18 this past winter.
Jackson Yueill looking amazing again..... Tab! I watched Adams intensely he really lacks technical ability has a very limited ceiling
Turned on that game in the second half to watch TT and Yueill and the only player who looked amazing to me was Roldan. Seattle looked very good and San Jose looked very bad.
They signed Adi to a new contract one year ago, but I don't know how long that goes until. Transfermarkt can't be trusted on MLS contracts as so much is undisclosed. Of course Mattocks is away at the Gold Cup, and performing really well there. Its surprising to me that he's never really "taken off" in MLS. Maybe some team in Sweden or somewhere will swoop in for him.
@kevinminkus presenting "Improving Long-term #MLS Roster Management with Survival Analysis" #GLASC @MLS pic.twitter.com/1zt2xmZboe— Analytics Conference (@AnalyticsConf) July 13, 2017 slides https://github.com/kcm30/prospect-d...Improving_Long_Term_MLS_Roster_Management.pdf
Both starting fullbacks out this weekend for FCD. Opportunity for Cannon? No Maynor or Grana this weekend, but @CarterBaum says that's ok thanks to the re-emergence of @RMHollingshead. MORE: https://t.co/14o74txlP1 pic.twitter.com/zncplyRF2I— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) July 26, 2017 Opposite him, though, could be the debut of a youngster patiently waiting in the wings. Homegrown Reggie Cannon has started two U.S. Open Cup matches in his rookie year, but his MLS debut could come with right back mainstay Grana out. “It's another opportunity. Oscar may call on anyone to fill that position and if it's me, then I'll do the best I can and hopefully I can help get the three points,” the 19-year-old said. “You just always have to be ready for your chance, and if it's mine this week, then I'll take it.”
I'm hopeful for Cannon but expect to see Atiba Harris. I guess Harris could be a CB reserve option instead. Also hopeful for Ferreira and Pomykol on the bench but everyone is back and healthy with just a couple on cards and suspension. The teams still in the Open Cup will have more reason to play their kids. KC we're looking at you and EPB.
At this point, there is no excuse for Pomykal and Cannon not making the 18 every match. They don't need to just get matches when players aren't available, they should be treated as regular members of the first squad, and not kids who are called up to the first team when others are not available. As for EPB, I'd assume he plays todays. Opara is questionable for today's match, Besler played 90 midweek with the NT. I think its unlikely that both will be available. What will Vermes do when everyone returns? 3 CB's? EPB in CM? Besler at LB? Or does someone (probably still EPB) sit?