Sebastian Saucedo in Mexico

Hopefully this isn't Jose Villarreal part 2

 

Getting closer and closer to a Yank per team. Makes the league a lot more interesting from a northern neighbor standpoint, which is cool because their games are rather accessible here (in Spanish at least) and it's the MLS offseason.

Speaking about Saucedo specifically, I think this is a no lose situation for him. The style probably suits him better, and he'll have a year to make an imprint at a little bit of a higher, more respected level. If he doesn't, he's still only 19-20. Gil is the one I'm worried about, because if he continues to not play, there's something to lose at this stage in his career.

 

I disagree that it's a no-lose situation and I think @ussoccer97531 succinctly described the downside as "Villarreal Part 2". Young players need to be in environments in which the club is invested in their development. If Veracruz finds that Saucedo isn't ready to contribute in Liga MX - which honestly is pretty likely - will they give him lots of U20 playing time? Or will he just twiddle his thumbs? The latter is what happened to Villarreal.

It'll be a lost year if Saucedo isn't ready for Liga MX and Veracruz doesn't like his potential enough to exercise their option to buy (and thus be invested in him and give him U20 playing time). Fingers crossed.

 

Villarreal is in the position he is in now because of injury and the Galaxy's insistence on buying a bunch of overpaid, attacking DP's. None of their promising academy players are truly being integrated. He played as much if no more so than Romney, and they aren't acquiring DP's in central defense to block him.

 

I'm referring to his misbegotten loan to Cruz Azul.

 

i dont think it will be, veracruz is a thin club that plays two cups. if El Maetro sees something in him he will play alot.

 

But my general point was it's a virtual no lose situation. What did Villarreal ultimately lose from that? An opinion that he lost something would stem from his current unsatisfactory situation, but I pointed out other, more influential reasons for it.

Saucedo wouldn't exactly have a good situation at RSL either. They're bleeding talent. He's more a possession player, and I don't think he'd have much there.

 

Villarreal lost a year of development time, during which he had no games.

What if Matt Miazga had been loaned to Real Madrid in 2015? He wouldn't have played and they probably would have opted to give their own prospects playing time for their B team. Would he, returning to NYRB in 2016, be as good today as he is in reality?

For Saucedo, he'd have plenty of USL games if he's not ready to contribute to RSL. And since RSL owns his contract, they are highly motivated to develop him. When a youth player goes on loan, there's always a risk that the new club won't be highly motivated to develop him.

I hope it works out for him.

 

Yup. RSL has purged some players, and they're fairly thin in attacking positions. It looked to me like Saucedo was in line for playing time. So I don't really understand why RSL loaned him out. Why not give him a chance in their 18?

They have this supposedly great academy, but sell off or discard their signed homegrowns before they can really contribute. I don't get it. Maybe Jordan Allen gets more of an opportunity this upcoming season........................

 

is there a notable example of a development loan up to a better league actually working out in soccer?

 

Tevez to West Ham probably doesn't count because it was third party ownership.

 

Better league, but Boca Juniors with Tevez would have beaten West Ham like a drum at that time.

 

also not sure that was development, he was a full Argentine international at that point.

 

Saucedo made his debut for Veracruz last night in Copa MX.

 

On the bench for Veracruz tonight in a league match. I have to admit, I thought he'd spend most of his time with their U20s, but he's getting a first team shot.

 

I agree, but that should be his expectation. Last season with RSL, he made the 18 a number of times and got some minutes. The objective should be no different with Veracruz, its not like he's moved to Barcelona.

 

Saucedo is on for his debut. From reading, making a good first impression, but I can't tell which one he is yet.

 

I was trying like hell to find him, and I couldn't, because apparently he got subbed 20 minutes after he came on. Usually not a good sign, but Veracruz was down 1 when he appeared, and then he came off soon after they scored. Also, the commentary wasn't negative. So it's likely either it was a tactical offense/defense (often a central attacker is getting sacrificed) or he took a knock.

 

He was subbed for a defender because of the red card.

 

It somehow went unnoticed here that the Little Ragu started and scored the game winning goal on Tuesday in CopaMX against Jaguares. Stole a pass at the back and slotted it home.

Veracruz plays tonight and I think he's about to move into the starting lineup for them. They looked slow and uninventive in their last league game when they were blasted by Monterrey. How much he plays in this one, if at all, I think is a matter of trusting his fitness w/ some fixture congestion, and also game situation. I don't think he played against Monterrey because they were getting beaten so badly and he's just on loan with them. But it's a loan that's worked out for both sides because he's shown he can help them now w/ their quickness and creativity, which they can use in league currently sitting in the drop zone.

 

This one will be tough to lose. He's going to be a real player.

 

You mean it would be. There are no indicators he wouldn't accept U.S. call-ups from this point forward. Brooks started with U.S. youth teams, played a one off for Germany, then of course committed to the U.S. And Saucedo grew up in the States. Young players do this for leverage or because of the team o' the day. Mexico had a better year than the U.S.

 

From what I understand, it's a total toss up. He's actually wanted by both.

But, I agree that he'd be a good player for either the US or Mexico

 

Everything the player has told me leads me to believe he's not coming back. But people change their minds, right? Particularly at that age.