MLS worthy players

None. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see all of them make it to their dream...but historically, it doesn't bode well.

 

It's actually really hard to say, because most of the current players are in their early 20s and will be in their primes in 2022. I can see about half of the players as possible future MLS players if their development continues well, but most are longshots and I don't see any individual player as being likely to make our MLS roster in 2022.

Best chances in my opinion, if they stay through 2021: Werner, Barahona, Villarreal, Formella, Taintor, Iwasa. All except Iwasa are on potential rather than current ability; they have the technical and physical tools to play in MLS but need to improve their tactical awareness and decision-making. Iwasa is closer to his ceiling, and will probably never be a first-choice starter in MLS, but could be a useful squad player -- he's better than some of the attacking players getting regular substitute minutes in MLS right now. I predict that two of them will be on our MLS roster, but I wouldn't be able to guess which ones.

I think the most likely 2019 player to be on the MLS roster is the one who is not currently on the roster: Josh Cohen. The word is that, if he doesn't move to a bigger club than Maccabi Haifa, he would be interested in coming back to Sac to play in MLS.

 

My list is much shorter. Taintor and Gomez. Shannon is only 23 and if he develops well over the next two seasons then you still get several good years out of him. Taintor is the closest to MLS caliber right now. However, both are at the end of their contracts. Taintor needs to find an MLS club to take a trial this offseason. If he doesn't catch on, then maybe we're a good fallback plan. Since Gomez is recovering from injury, I can see him resigning.

Enevoldsen turns 35 in 2022. He won't be with Republic after next season.

Aleman, Villareal, and Iwasa are also at the end of their contracts. They need to find trialist opportunities at a higher level, too. If they can't catch on somewhere, I don't see much of an opportunity for them in Sac in 2022.

For most of these guys, the window of opportunity is NOW.

I'm more curious about whether we have U.S. rights to Cohen or any of the academy kids who are currently overseas.

 

I'm curious, too. When Hategan left for Nurnberg I remember a statement that they had "mutally agreed to part ways." Doesn't sound like SRFC has any rights to him going forward.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable of the academy contracts can chime in....

Re: Cohen - When he left, both sides expressed a desire to see him back in Sacramento if the MLS bid was awarded. Wouldn't surprise me to see him here in '20 or '21.

 

Now that I think about it, I can't imagine we would hold any rights to Cohen. Maybe the academy kids under some developmental rights.