I think the draft has some good keepers, center backs and center forwards as they are late developing and actually get needed playing time in college while finding it very difficult on first division teams around the world. I would actually counsel keepers to go that route as they just disappear in Europe. There are a few others at other positions who sneak through but those three maybe better off going that route than any other unless absolutely elite.
Then again.................NCAA midfielders that went thru MLS like Morris, Roldan, Berhalter, etc. have a chance of making this World Cup roster. A fullback like Max Arfsten was one our most capped players last year. When we look at former NCAA players that have been capped over the Pochettino tenure, they're all over the field. But when we look at every draft, there are just a very small number that end up rising to the point of getting one USMNT cap. These are the exceptions and not the rule. Much of the draft is to fill out squads for MLSNP teams now with the hope of finding a diamond in the rough for the first team. Like.......................Patrick Agyemang. Patrick was 2023 draft. 1st overall pick in that draft was Hamady Diop. In the USL with Rhode Island a few years later. 2nd in that draft was Shak Modammed, who is currently with Huntsville in MLSNP. #9 overall in that draft, ahead of Agyemang, was Owen O'Malley to St. Louis. who is now with the Richmond Kickers. The list goes on in that draft. There are only a couple of real hits every draft. In 2023. Mombito at #2 to Colorado. Duncan McGuire at #8, Agyemang at #12, Max Arfsten at #14. Emeka Eneli at #25 is great value. Some other guys who might make it five years (Munie of San Jose, for instance). But so far in terms of REAL HITS its 4 or 5 guys out of 88. That's just how the draft is in 2026. So even getting a rotation contributor is a win. So clubs have to explore ALL avenues for player acquisition. San Diego by god started off right away with great hits from all sorts of avenues. Drafted great. Traded within MLS well for veterans and young talent. Foreign hits. Even Duran Ferree, technically their first ever signing. Not technically a homegrown player, but a local San Diego Loyal guy they identified early.
For the past couple of years I've been taking Individual Eleven's FotW TotW and identifying which guys played 2 or more years in college. It has worked out to be almost half of the guys in the TotW played college ball. And, there have been forwards that appear regularly. The hole is in midfield. I think college is probably not a great path to the NT (though Poch seems to be interested in some post-college guys), but it does not seem to be a killer of pro careers. I looked at the most recent one, though. And, there were only 2 guys w/ college experience (and several very young academy products). So, maybe this year is the real turning point, where academy guys squeeze out the college guys.
That is a team of grinders. I was at the game..... ugly as all hell. Timo's pass on the goal was sublime though. I think San Jose will make the playoffs, not sure how far they can go without picking up more attacking players. Not sure they have enough goals in them as they are currently constructed to compete for the top of the West. They are very organized defensively, and play a very physical pesky style.
I love that Ethan Horvath struggles to hold a starting job in the Championship, shows up in New York, iinstantly becomes the best keeper in the league.
Two thing I didn't expect to say: Dallas might be worth watching and Colorado might be a fun team. Collodi and Farrington look good.
Also, does FC Dallas start stadium construction projects every few years so that you ca no longer criticize their attendance?
San Diego on another hand is totally opposite, not much organisation on defence, but may be the most beautiful attacking game I've ever seen in MLS.
Vancouver beat the snot out of Portland. Brian White, Tristan Blackmon, and Sebastian Berhalter all scored. White with a brace.
Dallas was worth watching last year. They're not at the level of LAFC, though. LAFC is a problem. LAFC, San Diego, and Vancouver.........................
They had surprisingly sold out for a few years before the construction. I think they found someone who knew what they are doing. Shocking I know.
They have two open DP slots. I'm not sure they will use them well but word is they intend to use at least one. I know Bouda scored, but that's where I'd be looking to improve. Yes, a top flight target striker and Timo would be amazing, so I guess that works, but I think Judd and Niko are both pretty good at their position. Bouda is frustrating. He's been the prime beneficiary but seems to make the wrong decisions more than half the time.
He's the best keeper in the league? He looks like the same Horvath to me -- same strong reactions and athleticism, pretty bad at balls in the air and command of the box, a little shaky at times. He just hasn't been burned.
Gozo goal AN ABSOLUTE BANGER FROM ZAVIER GOZO ☄️The @realsaltlake talent is only 18-years-old 😱🎥: @mls pic.twitter.com/7viKjsgMdK— Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 8, 2026
Yeah, there are bangers that don't feel like they are going to be repeated much ... and then there's ones that feel like the player practices them over and over and over and it might just become a problem. That feels like the latter.
Durran Ferree was great for SDFC last night as well, saving the game a couple of times: https://www.reddit.com/r/ussoccer/c...assive_saves_from_duran_ferree_19_to_win_the/ Berhalter was absolutely dominant. I didn't think that dude necessarily had upside, but he's playing like a man possessed to start the season.
Story of Horvath's career is consistency, you either get a guy who will stand on his head or a guy that will have some of the worst howlers you've ever seen. There's no in between
Berhalter's free kick non-assist to Blackmon, who got punched in the nose by his skinny white friend, was, once again, perfect. He's so consistent in his technique. His goal, too. If he makes the WC roster, goals will be borne of his foot.