With the regular season starting up, time for a new in-season thread. Should be a fun year for YNT-eligible MLS players.
Starting in the 7:30et matches Wiley (Atlanta), Cowell (SJ) Buck and Rivera (NE) Akinmboni (DC) Halliday (Orlando), Tolkin and Harper (NYRB)
Wiley is actually starting at LW and Jackson Conway at striker for Atlanta. GG is stuck with visa issues so Conway may get a start or two. But the Wiley as LW is kind of interesting.
I think it's more just to get Wiley on the field (which is positive), because Gutman is a top 5 LB in MLS.
Watching Wiley for probably the first time in a live game, he appears to be a very good athlete for his age and has a good cross, but his on ball skills are very limited, to the point where he isn't even trying to go 1 on 1 when there's no other defenders around in the box.
Cremaschi got a couple minutes for Miami, and 2-days-away-from-an-05 Owen Wolff started for a very good Austin team, should this be bigger news?
Didn’t watch all the match because so many going on at the same time, but thought Buck was impressive. Won the ball that led to the game winning goal and almost had a really good assist. #NERevs fans continue to hate the woodwork. Good ball by Noel Buck pic.twitter.com/KSZk1IRpKN— Seth (@SethMan31) February 26, 2023
Ted Ku-Dipietro wins it for @dcunited in the 98th minute with his first-ever MLS goal. 😱 pic.twitter.com/nlOMtg1chH— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 26, 2023
17 year old Miguel Perez has come for St Louis City in Austin. Midfielder, kind of came out of nowhere.
Yea I watched a bit of that game last night. He stood out as a player that will definitely get time on a new team. Hopefully not one that if he develops we could lose to Mexico, but I have no idea about his background. Separately, did that 16yr old CB for DC United get subbed out after he gave up the penalty? 16yrs old is very young for a CB to start but would be great if he can continue to get time. Unsure if he made other mistakes, didn’t see any that showed up on the highlights.
In a general way, Fletcher looked pretty comfortable and expressive, as well as physically up to the task, certainly at his age, for DC last night.
It was not long after, but that wasn't the only big mistake, even around that time. He played a hospital ball to the keeper which just averted injury to him or another goal allowed. And the penalty was just reckless. He was in position to just stop any danger with solely his presence, but he clattered through the guy anyway. Akinmboni has looked green both times I've seen him, as you'd figure a 16 yr old CB would be. IMO it's too soon for this. And Rooney's pushing of him + Hopkins, while backburnering TKDP and Fletcher continues to be inexplicable. It's especially true when you consider they play more positions that can't hurt you as badly when they do make mistakes. But I guess they got to play their attacking DP/TAM guys, at least initially. TKDP and arguably Fletcher already look better than Klich & Robertha. Rooney needs to take the training wheels off the aforementioned duo instead, and DC could be a fun watch, who maybe could compete for the playoffs. Instead of a frustrating one, which flatters to deceive prospect-wise, and finishes near the bottom of the standings again. Ya know, like last year. They did their best work competitively and financially by taking the handcuffs off Paredes early, while deservedly better dealing Nyeman.
Another draft pick signs. Ousman Jabang, an 01 6-2 D from Georgia who played at Mercer has signed with Montreal. He was selected in the third round 75th overall. He is one of just 4 picks taken after the first round to have signed a first-team deal.
The #LAFC Starting XI vs. @TimbersFC. Today's lineup is presented by @FLEXpowerna. #LAFCvPOR pic.twitter.com/lfOgdPfBKX— LAFC (@LAFC) March 4, 2023 Homegrowns, Torres, Duenas, and Ordaz on the bench for LAFC (and the older Tillman)
Quiet night for our prospects thus far. Buck got another start but subbed out in a yellow. No idea how he did.
90’ for Yapi, who scored a goal ruled out for offside, but was very close. 90’ for Owen Wolff, but I didn’t catch this one. 78’ for Cowell, who was a menace and could’ve scored a couple. Atencio, Neal, and Luna made their first appearances of the season off the bench. Disappointments for me include: - Akinmboni loses his spot after a rough first week. - Fletcher DNP (who I consider one of my favorite prospects). - Philly not starting any of their youngsters.
FWIW, Rooney's quote about Akinmboni suggested the change was more about overworking than performance. (something like "he's 16, he can't play every game.") Of course coaches do fib in these types of situations, but I don't think Akinmboni's stock is down in Wayne's eyes.
He has great ball skills as a LB, he's not a LWB, despite being temporarily mis-assigned as one. He's not one, never will be a good one, and shouldn't be playing one now. He's not a one on one tricky ball skill player.
Was really disappointed to see Yamil Asad come on instead of Fletcher. Didn’t realize they’d re-signed him, and he looked washed.
#LAFC’s first injury report of the season for #LAFCvPOR 🚑:Questionable:M - Daniel Crisostomo - L LegD - Tony Leone - L LegOut:GK - Maxime Crepeau - R Leg— Araceli Villanueva (@Aracelv1) March 4, 2023