YNT-eligible MLS players: 2021 In-season thread

Philly developed an integration and sale rep last season. Thus i don't think a kid like sullivan would prefer to go to someone's reserves in the interim. And from union's perspective they'd get a much worse r.o.i. in a couple ways. So i think it's very unlikely this was the motive.

Occam's razor is they looked at the numerical age, performance in that one start, and red in celaya; then adjudged him unready for a playoff run.

 

I don't believe in conspiracy theories.
The playoffs aren't about playing guys with the higher ceilings or to increase transfer value. The only consideration is who helps you win games TODAY. Who do you trust more to deliver TODAY? And with the way MLS teams seem to play in the playoffs it's more like..................Who do you trust not to make the big mistake TODAY?

Quinn Sullivan has played a lot of minutes this season as a 17-year old on a good team. Second most minutes for a 2004 this year after Slonina? Sounds right.

 

Kids form goes up and down, I wouldn't worry here.

 

I started this discussion, and I think it’s veered in a direction I wasn’t trying to take it. I should make clear that I’m not saying Curtin should be sacked or is doing a bad job. My comment was a very tame criticism of some of his recent managerial decisions.

On the larger picture of these young players, one thing I always say is that not all players are equal. Raw minutes totals should not be what we are looking at. Pro soccer is a competitive business. If we want to improve as a National Team, we need to maximize player development from the pool of players we have. The development of the guys with realistic USMNT potential matters more than that of the guys who have less potential.

I will root for all these kids, but there is a group whose development I feel is more important than others. I think I look at it this way more than others do because I have an idea of their potential before they hit the pro game. For a lot of people they are all starting at the same point. I know the points each are starting at, although I think it’s important that all fans mindset evolves this way.

With regards to this Union crop, Sullivan’s development is very important. Craig’s development is very important. Sullivan has played more than I expected this season, but I think that’s because I underestimated his level after his USL stint a year ago. I didn’t consider his prior play enough and the mitigating circumstances enough with that stint. He was more MLS ready than expected. That’s a lot more about the player than coach.

Craig played less than I expected. I wasn’t expecting too many minutes because he’s a defensive player, but he played none. Next season he must play more. With the other kids, I root for their development, but do credit Chicago so much for Gutierrez development or Orlando for Halliday’s development? No one mentions it much, and I don’t feel like what happens with the lesser prospects should be a replacement for the better prospects. It was a mixed bag IMO for Curtin with their youngsters, considering the full picture.

 

Tayvon Gray assist

What. A. FINISH!

Santiago Rodríguez gives @NYCFC the lead in under 3 minutes. 😱#NEvNYC // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/NQRadI4xhb

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 1, 2021

 

Looks like a bunch of young guys getting a call up

Berhalter Calls 26 Players ahead of USA-Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 18 in Carson, Calif. (ussoccer.com)

 

Interesting that P. Aaronson was in line to get a callup:

Paxten Aaronson had been earmarked to get called in to this window. Aaronson still going in MLS playoffs with Philadelphia Union

— Megan Swanick (@Meg_Swanick) December 3, 2021

 

From a short term point of view, only considering USMNT, the bolded statement is true imo. Taking into account the long term, the development of all the players with potential to be quality MLS players or better is critical. I don't really believe that one is more important than the other.

It is critical to development of future USMNT players that they have plentiful opportunities to play and develop at the highest level possible. MLS (and USL) are critical for this development. The development of guys that will develop into solid pros and become important cogs in MLS teams but a level or two below USMNT will be important in raising the level of MLS. Ideally, a strong MLS with 2 levels of USL spread across USA could be a huge benefit to USMNT. Imagine an MLS at a top 10 league level (maybe we aren't that far off now?) and a USL at a level somewhat below B2 standards. Players transferring from MLS would be far better to seamlessly integrate into top level teams in Europe. If we had that level of play in MLS right now, a guy like Aaronson might wait until 21-22 before transferring this year directly to PL or B1 or la liga..... Instead he transferred at 20 and has been playing for a quality team in a relatively weak league. wouldn't it be better for him to be playing for a quality team in a strong league? If we continue to improve the development of ALL the young players with potential for MLS and above, we have a better chance to reach the point where the top teams in MLS will clearly be quality teams and MLS will clearly be a strong league. We are getting there, but we still have a ways to go.

 

I agree that both matter, and I see where you are coming from about the larger product in the long-term, but I don’t think a theoretical product in the long-term matters more than short term results towards the USMNT. The product you are mentioning isn’t the biggest factor in this country improving. It’s one (of many) important areas that will help us improve. The players we see on the USMNT is a lot more immediate and it’s easier to quantify the impact.

 

I think there's one more aspect to it that @Mahtzo1 and @ussoccer97531 are not exactly ignoring but not highlighting. Was the DA and now MLSNext making lifers out of these kids that play? We all know the vast majority of even kids on free to play academy teams never make it to even college ball. But did they love their experience? Do they still love the game after they realized they couldn't go pro or had to walk on to a D3 college team?

If we make the experience worthwhile that they love the game and in turn push their kids to love to game and put the ball at their feet at 3 years old then that's huge. How many of those guys are going to go on to coach? In a me generation that's become more and more about virtual reality, gaming, inside on the computer, etc., guys who played DA ball who have kids and putting them on the field knowing a metric ton more about the game than their dads did is massive.

We've seen a huge leap forward in the quality of coaching these kids have now compared to a decade ago, let alone 30 years ago. That growing pool former players who are more knowledgeable about soccer and still loving the game long after they can't play themselves can do just as much if not more for USL, MLS, and eventually the USMNT.

 

This stuff means very little, but three of the top ten, including one and two.

1467573473564250112 is not a valid tweet id

 

Dewsnup and Brady are going to be stuck behind Ochoa and Slonina for a while.

 

I get the feeling Ochoa could move to LigaMX within 1-2 seasons, based on nothing but LigaMX overpaying for Mexican players in MLS in the past.

 

That and he keeps saying he wants to. Hasta la proxima.

 

I'm not sure why folks are worried about the Ricardo Pepi sale. The transfer window isn't open.
They have a month to negotiate and get their best deal.

🇺🇸 More on the Ricardo Pepi front. Am told that 🇪🇸 Atletico Madrid have shown recent interest. FC Dallas continue to play hardball and seem to expect more for him. Seems crazy to not take that type of transfer fee considering how high his stock is.

— Roger Gonzalez (@RGonzalezCBS) December 6, 2021

 

A dream and reality in one. Look at her, so beautiful!! #MLSCupPlayoffs next stop Portland. pic.twitter.com/VOg6TnJ00K

— Tayvon Gray (@tayvongray4) December 6, 2021

 

From the player side he probably wants to be signing a deal Jan 1 so he can be ready to play right away. If Dallas waits to the last moment he will miss out on a month to game time. Perhaps he feels like that could open the door for others to stake their claim to the forward role for Gregg

 

I have very little faith that Roger Gonzalez knows what's going on.

Do people remember his tweets during the Bryan Reynolds saga?
It was months and months of gobbledygook.
I'm not implying that Gonzalez was lying. Simply that he's part of the machine that reports every little tidbit of gossip as exciting information during the silly season. He said above that "Athletico Madrid have shown interest." That can mean anything. I have an interest in Beyonce. So what?

Heck.........................why do people say that FCD's "asking price" is 15 million? Where does that number come from? I've certainly never heard anybody at FCD say that. Why would they make that number public?

 

What we've seen with Roger Gonzalez is that he does have sources, but he does not bother to verify anything or take into account the source's motivation.

Which is why he's sometimes right but is so often, very, very, wrong. But he's always very certain.

I am willing to bet significantly that Roger's source is Pepi's agent.

 

The best thing that will come out of this run for NYCFC is that Gray will likely have convinced the coaching staff that he's ready for a starting role next season. If that comes, he can then focus on playing well enough to get a transfer to Europe within two seasons.

 

Luckily Brooks Thompson and Pulskamp can't get in each others way anymore I guess

 

Tayvon Gray won MLS Cup. He played every minute of the playoffs for NYCFC at RB.

 

Tayvon Gray will be the second-youngest starter in #MLSCup history.

Aidan Morris -- 19 years, 27 days
Tayvon Gray -- 19 years, 114 days
Landon Donovan -- 19 years, 231 days

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) December 11, 2021

 

Trayon Gray matched up well with Tajon Buchanan in their playoff matchup. Saw him shut him down fairly well imo.

 

Getting word that D.C. United is preparing to sign Ted Ku-DiPietro, a 19-year-old midfielder at Loudoun United, to an MLS homegrown contract. #dcu

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) December 16, 2021