I don't really understand the whole Arriola discussion. He is who we thought/knew he was. An above average MLS player and fringe USMNTer. I don't get caught up in his salary. FCD had a ton of salary cap room plus GAM/TAM, and used some of it on Arriola. If they didn't use it on Arriola, it would just be sitting there unused. Or spent on somebody like Arriola. So far you'd have to say that virtually every move the FCD front office made this off-season has been a winner. Starting with Nico Estevez. Then giving Ferreira a DP salary and contract extension. The Hollingshead for Farfan swap has been a bigger winner. Velasco has been good. He's young and will grow into the club even more. Nanu has been fine (he's just there on loan). Paes has been sensational at times (he's just there on loan). The only complaint I could possibly have is that they had two of the first six draft picks. So far those guys have contributed little. I've been disappointed in the opportunity given to Parker in particular. But hell, I can't complain about the results. I'm just disappointed that I follow this club because I enjoy watching young players. I've had that in spades over the past 6 or so years. This year we have almost no time given to thread eligible players, but they're WINNING. So I'm conflicted. I'd argue 99% of the FCD fans don't care one iota about playing time to teens like Che. They want to be holding trophies like Sounders fans.
Eyestone still seems pretty agile for a kid his size. We'll see how he continues to develop. Great to be back with the boys! Some saves from the weekend 🧤⚽️@FCDallas #DTID @3rdDegreeNet @TopDrawerSoccer pic.twitter.com/idYo2movef— Eyestone (@eyestone_tx) May 19, 2022
Respectfully, I disagree. Compare him to players like Sulte or Valdez (young American GK’s of a similar size), and I would say he’s rather pedestrian for his size in his movements. Odunze is another I’d put in the Eyestone category.
Our Starting XI to take on @RealMonarchs 😤#SLCvNTX pic.twitter.com/HoTA4cIPPj— North Texas SC (@northtexasSC) May 21, 2022
Norris ar CB is interesting. Araneda is a really big midfield, just 19 years old, we speculated he would be moved to CB, and he gets the start at CB here.
FCD state media saying they’re converting him to CB full-time: The plan is to convert him to a CB. This’ll be the first time I see it in a game— Garrett Melcer (@GarrettMelcer) May 21, 2022 PS: “Morales” is Mikey Morales, a U19 that (I think) followed Javier Morales to Miami a few years ago then came back to FCD for this season.
North Texas won again and currently sits atop the Western Standings. For the moment anyway. Still early. Carrera with another shutout. Development more important than sheer results in this league anyway. This was a dull group last year, and at least there are some interesting prospects to watch this season. Maybe not high end, but interesting. [Still think Ferri should be with the first team. And Parker. But at least they're getting more game action here with NTSC.] 46' – 🚫🚫🚫#SLCvNTX | 0-1 pic.twitter.com/MU1M74Cr1n— North Texas SC (@northtexasSC) May 21, 2022 86' – La Muralla Carrera 🧤#SLCvNTX | 0-3 pic.twitter.com/K0eJgVhtTX— North Texas SC (@northtexasSC) May 21, 2022
FCD v SJ Earthquakes U15, GA Cup Showcase, D 0-0 Lineup (L-R where applicable): Wheeler; King, Rinaldi, Nicholes, Cortalessa; Zertuche; Luccin, Cavalcante; Outman, Dylan Hernandez, Mancia Subs: 41:20, Arboleda in for Luccin; 52:15, Mancia and Cavalcante off, McCloud on (at LCB, Rinaldi moves to CM) and Torquato on; Key Chances · 14:28 – Zertuche carries the ball in his half up the left halfspace in FCD’s buildout. He gets pressed, maybe not urgent enough on the ball, and pokes it across the middle to Cavalcante. Cavalcante’s under pressure and brain farts, gets stripped, and the SJE CM drives unimpeded at goal. Wheeler saves the shot over the bar. · 40:46 – FCD freekick from 26-27 yards (following a nice build-up keyed by a Nicholes pass into the pocket for Mancia). Cavalcante runs over it before Luccin hits a ball at the near post. GK is frozen to his spot but the shot’s just wide. Notes · Windy day. FCD playing against it in the first half. · More Rinaldi at LCB. He takes CKs alongside Luccin. Acquits himself quite well defending space in behind. Not sure if Guzman is injury-prone or something, but they sure seem to try new LCBs pretty frequently. · Haven’t seen Dylan Hernandez before. Quick, smallish player. Pretty well-rounded. Reminds me a bit of Michael Sosa. His two best opportunities of the game come off of CKs: jukes his guy at the top of the box and beats the defense to a near post cross. I think FCD’s front three might be the three shortest players on the field. · Seen this some with NTX recently too: when FCD gets into a high block it’s a 4-1-4-1 with the wingers as wide midfielders, and on a press trigger the two 8s go forward while the wingers pinch in to control space in the interior behind the press. I guess the idea is to force the ball wide rather than attack from the sideline? Seems like it could be exploited if the wingers aren’t quick enough to react. · I just don’t know what Cavalcante is thinking sometimes. Also, why is he lining up to take set pieces? He’s, like, 6 inches taller than everyone but Nicholes on this team. He does take them with either foot, which is cool. · Honestly, I see more stuff in Mancia’s tape that makes me think “he’s average physical tools away from being really effective” than I see with Outman. · They let the SJE GK wear hot pink when FCD was wearing red. SMH. Visually indistinguishable.
Salazar coming up big in a big game? [insert yawning emoji] #FCDallas U17s won 3-2 at Sporting KC today to clinch a playoff spot. Jared Salazar brace.Kris Kelley the game winner.#DTID #SomosFCD pic.twitter.com/86qGzXEXDn— 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) May 21, 2022
'02 Beni Redzic MLS debut while FCD was chasing the game. He was...okay. Had one really nice reverse pass on the ground into the box. 86' Here comes Beni. pic.twitter.com/Urm4gYy0Tw— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) May 23, 2022
US Eligibility Klaxon!!!!!! (But also they’ve talked about getting Bernard in contact with the Tanzanian FA, so maybe he’ll want to play for them) A very special day for these two! 🇺🇸#NewUSCitizens pic.twitter.com/276qmpif1R— North Texas SC (@northtexasSC) May 24, 2022
Really hoping to see Bernard get a chance with FCD next season. He's been sensational for NTSC. Proud the Tanzanian kid got his chance and is now a citizen. Hoping the best for his career cause I think he's got a least a decent MLS career in front of him.
Norris gets the call-up. Neither Pickering nor Ramirez made the cut from the last camp. Summer of ⚽ incoming!The #U19MYNT is headed to Spain for friendlies vs. England & Norway ⤵️https://t.co/t8D2LXDkja— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) May 27, 2022
Wilson's been injured recently. If Carrera goes to Honduras with the U20s this month we might see Eyestone get a look with NTX or make a bench.
Sweet goal by Pablo Torre. I see Jared Aguilar, Mason Grimm, Mikey Morales, Nolan Norris, and Tarik Scott here. Don't recognize the short kid with the shaved head that gets to the celebration huddle second after Santi, though I've seen him before. Also, Santi Ferreira wears the armband for Team White. Pablito > CR7 👀Check out this beautiful goal from last week's intrasquad friendly. Come for the goal, stay for the celebration 🔥 pic.twitter.com/y1psNB9WtK— North Texas SC (@northtexasSC) May 31, 2022
👏🏽 La Sub12 de FC Dallas 🇺🇸 quedó 5to en el torneo AROUSA Un certamen que reúne a los mejores clubes del mundo Vencieron 1-0 al Real Madrid 🇪🇸2-1 vs Girona 🇪🇸 2-0 GENK 🇧🇪3-3 Man City 🏴1-1 Sporting Lisboa 🇵🇹Perdieron frente al FC Barcelona 🇪🇸— Alonso El Inca (@alonso_inca) June 1, 2022
'06 Ale Urzua is in the background of the second photo here. He was rostered with NTX for the first time a few weeks ago in the home game against Tacoma, but hasn't made his debut yet. ☀️😎 pic.twitter.com/bKQkVO4MDU— North Texas SC (@northtexasSC) June 1, 2022
Between 2:00 and 3:00 of this interview (worth watching on its own merits) with Bernard Kamungo, they have some footage of NTX training and lo and behold the first 2007 confirmed training with NTX is new kid LB/LCB Judah McCloud (white headband and longish blonde hair).
None of these kids are Pepi or Gomez level talents, but that’s a lot of contributors who are making important contributions for NTSC this season and probably will make up a strong next young crop for the first team within a few years (Parker, Kodzo, Kamungo, Smith, Carrera). Avayevu keeping the hope alive for @northtexasSC with the equalizer! 💪 pic.twitter.com/82AUFCLyD4— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 4, 2022 🧱 Antonio Carrera 🧱 pic.twitter.com/Ol1g68AieB— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 5, 2022 Kamungo converts the shot from the penalty mark for his sixth career goal! 👊 pic.twitter.com/NPNPsVuRWt— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 4, 2022 WHAT A STRIKE! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/j27vdNkNyJ— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) June 4, 2022
@northtexasSC’s Nolan Norris starting for the U17 nats against England (currently down 1-0) #dtid https://t.co/7clpWrtU1E— Sewall Mayr (@DTIDnewera) June 6, 2022
Sounds like England is down to 10 and US has come back late. El atacante del Atlético de Madrid, Rodrigo Neri (2005), anota el 2-1 con el que el #USMNT Sub-19 remonta el partido contra Inglaterra. Ha marcado apenas 2 mins después de ingresar al campo (81’). Gol de cabeza en el 1er balón que toca. Inmejorable forma de hacerse notar. #USYNT— Jaime Ojeda (@jaimeor96) June 6, 2022
‘05 Anthony Ramirez popping up in FCD training again (gets on the ball at 0:09 here). Back to work pic.twitter.com/YtGeSqI9Zn— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 7, 2022