YNT-Eligible MLS Players: 2018 In-Season Thread

Also, I think Lennon is playing some malformed version of right wingback in a back two? He's definitely not playing as a forward though, which is just another reason to like Petke, even if that side of RSL is getting absolutely destroyed right now.

Saucedo has had one touch, shimmied away from a defender, and played a great ball into the box that should've resulted in some sort of good chance.

 

Never mind, Lennon is actually playing right back in a back four. He's just so terribly out of position at all times that I couldn't tell before.

Anyways, I was one of the guys that always wanted to see Lennon at right back (especially during the U20 WC) but he's probably put in the worst 20 minutes at that position I've ever seen. Dude has no idea how to defend at all. Maybe he just doesn't have it. Even his crosses, which was his most redeeming quality last year, seem pretty average now.

Alternatively, Saucedo has been awesome. Really incisive passing and good movement/decisions on the ball.

 

Yeah, it looks like Saucedo is learning to be a passer/possession player, operating more in midfield than in the attack. It's a necessary adjustment because he just doesn't have the speed to exploit space or beat defenders one-on-one.

 

Farfan and Ben Mines starting. I love Jesse Marsch.

 

And announcers said that Saucedo had been called to Mexican U-20 team BTW.

 

Kyle Duncan too

 

And Mines scores. Absolutely awesome.

 

Mines and Duncan have been doing pretty well so far, even before Mines scored.

 

Start the hype train! 🚆

17-year-old Ben Mines scores in his MLS debut for @NewYorkRedBulls! #RBNYvPOR https://t.co/ijhwBOVpz7

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 11, 2018

 

Apparently I paused at some point and am on a delay... there is the goal.

Anybody got a quick summary on Mines? Strengths/weaknesses, YNT experience?

 

Marsch not only has called out other teams for not playing youth but he's backing it up.

Good on him.

 

Mines has been very good. Call him up to the next U-20 camp.

But I'm not going to praise Marsch after how he's dealt with Redding so far. Redding has proven no worse than a #3 CB, and he really should be starting, yet he's the fifth CB for NYRB.

 

There's gotta be more to the story than this. They signed Duncan yesterday and he's starting today. I'm betting it's something about the system or something like that that Redding still hasn't adapted to.

 

Cam Lindley got the start for Orlando. Toye is on the bench for Minnesota.

Also, Adams on in the 64th while Redding is on the bench for NYRB.

Finally Lindsey was an unused sub as SKC beat Chicago 4-3 earlier.

 

Toye gets a secondary assist with a beautiful flick on.

 

fun watching rbny run rings around the timbers. more rbny New Jersey kids than timbers Americans

 

Duncan looked pretty good. Played a nice part in the buildup for the 4th goal. Mines had a number of misplaced passes in the second, but, did bring a lot of energy. Debut goal is never a bad thing. Time with RB2 with sporadic A team time should be good for him.

Farfan wasn’t really noticeable. Didn’t appear to be directly at fault for the goals, Portland was absolutely putrid all night.

 

By the way, Ben Mines targeted 12-14 goals in USL for himself at RBNY Media Day.

 

I didn't see the full NYRB game, but I thought Mines was pretty good from what I watched. He had some ideas on the ball, and scored a debut goal. I know people above are talking about him playing in USL, and I assume he'll play most of the season in USL, but if he belongs at the pro level, why not give him some games with the first team? I think he might be able to beat out Etienne, Muyl, Rivas for playing time.

Duncan looked decent, another player who could play a role this season with the first team. He's not a young kid. If he's 2-3 years away from the first team, he's probably not going to be a first team player. Very few players out of a team's academy break through at 23, 24, 25, most do so from 18-20, a few a year or two earlier, a few a year or two later. I realize it works differently in MLS a lot of the time, but there should not be an emphasis to consider this guy as a development type of player. If he's good enough, he should be a first team consideration. I'm not saying he'll even be good enough, but if he is, he should be considered a first team player.

Timbers lost their first two games. The two Americans from the U-20 WC team (Ebobisse and Williamson) were not in the 18, which I find to be ridiculous, but its expected from this team that routinely doesn't play many Americans. Farfan has struggled both games. He's playing because the starter is injured.

 

The USYNT day in MLS...

Kyle Duncan (97), NY Red Bulls – 90
Marco Farfan (98), Portland – 90
Justen Glad (97), Salt Lake – 90
Cam Lindley (97), Orlando – 90
Ben Mines (00), NY Red Bulls – 90, goal
Brooks Lennon (97), Salt Lake – 33
Tyler Adams (99), NY Red Bulls – 26
Mason Toye (98), Minnesota – 18, assist
Sebastian Saucedo (97), Salt Lake – 13

 

In today's games:

Atlanta vs DC @ 3:
Even typing about Atlanta is a chore a this point. Expect Carleton and Vazquez on the bench. For DC, expect the same for Durkin.

NYCFC vs LA Galaxy @ 5:
Neither Lewis nor Sands were on the bench last week, which was quite surprising. I don't think that's going to be normal, especially for Lewis, but who knows. There's not much to watch for LA, as Vom Steeg is seemingly 2nd string and Arellano isn't much of an option anymore.

 

Vazquez has a muscle injury.

 

Goslin might make the bench for ATL.

 

I hope so, but I think AWO comes before Goslin in the pecking order and potentially also Shannon.