MLS NEXT Pro: Earthquakes II - LA Galaxy II (Sunday, 3/26) pre/in/postgame thread [R]

NEWS: Earthquakes II Announces Roster for 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Season

The club has signed seven players to @MLSNEXTPRO professional contracts with @EarthquakesII and seven returning amateur players from @QuakesAcademy. The roster will also feature young first team players.

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) March 24, 2023

 

Eric De La Cerda This kids ********ing solid!!!!!!!!

 

I love all the hispanics they signed.

 

Heard a rumor they offered a contract to Israel Carrillo and he turned it down to maintain college eligibility. They still like him enough to play him as an academy alum.

 

I was asked if I would guess at the starting line up for Quakes ii against Galaxy ll. I will take a shot based on how they played against USF and Cal recently. I have no idea if Luchi will want to loan down players to knock the rust off like Agren, Munie, Richmond, Skahan or even Bouda. I’m also unsure of the health status of a couple of guys that had to leave the Cal game so I will list their replacements if they can’t play.

I predict a 4-1-4-1


GK De La Cerda

RB Edwards (Carrillo)
RCB Cano
LCB Walls (Rodrigues)
LB Tingey

DMID Cilley

RW Hategan
RM Medina
LM Blancas
LW Ayon

CF Castro


I thought Blancas and Cano were the most impressive players in the games I saw. Cano against USF and Blancas against Cal. I was also very surprised by Medina’s game against Cal. He plays like that this season he will really blossom.

Also, if you are like me and use cleat color as an identifier, here are colors I saw:

Light blue-Walls
Green-Cilley
Red/Black-Blancas
White-Medina
Yellow-Carbajal

 

I'm really digging our prospects right now. Moving away from the big white Stanford kids to Hispanics kids.

 

Can never have too many Stanford dudes.

 

I’m very happy that these kids are also getting paid to play soccer. Most of them come from poorer families that had to make some significant financial sacrifices to allow their son to pursue the big dream.

Guys like Ayon, Blancas, De La Cerda and more took on part time jobs around practice schedules, games and traveling.

They have been VERY loyal to San Jose passing up college offers and other professional opportunities. They have intense pride wearing the colors since academy days.

 

And I hope they become our main guys and push other guys out. I'm very excited for our prospect pool right now. To be honest I think they'd give most of our team a run for their money.

 

Stanford soccer players sure, swimmers on the other hand....

 

Hopefully most of those Q1 guys you listed plus Emi Ochoa

 

I don’t expect DeGeer to start Sebastian Carbajal but I really hope he gets in with enough time to light up LA. His game is so thrilling to watch. Some players are just worth the price of admission and Carbajal is that guy for me. If Wondo teaches him one touch finishing he can be very special….

 

I think E2 will win. They've got some really good kids.

Is this game on apple?

 

I wonder if they will use commentators from tonight? or local guys?

 

It’s hard to tell how good they may be. I don’t think they lost or tied a single preseason game but I wished they had played a USL Championship side to judge how good they might really be.

I don’t see any replays for Next Pro games so watch it live on Apple.

 

The Next Pro highlights seem to indicate it will be like last year with better camera work. One single play by play guy with running commentary and probably one camera with that shows wide angles (and players look small). The framing looks better at least.

Here’s highlights that will give you an idea of what the Quakes ii match will look like.

https://www.mlsnextpro.com/competitions/mls-next-pro/2023/matches/atxvshou-03-24-2023/

Almost a college game feel to the broadcast.

 

Either DeGeer is an idiot or Luchi/Leitch told him who to start. 6 guys from first team and many have them have not practiced much with Q2. Probably ragged play to start.

 

https://www.mlsnextpro.com/competitions/mls-next-pro/2023/matches/sjvsla-03-26-2023/lineups

 

I wish the camera would just permanently zoom out.

 

Bouda is clearly the best player out there today.

 

Stanford 2-0 at midtiempo.