I would add mentality. There is some immeasurable quality that the best players in any sport have that allows them to excel, not only at the highest levels, but at the most important moments in those highest levels. I don't know what it is, but a few of the ingredients are supreme confidence, competitiveness and a very short memory that doesn't fade when the pressure is at it's greatest. Just think of "he tries shit" Dempsey. If he tried something and if failed, it didn't affect his confidence on the next play where he very well might try shit a second time in a row. Look at Messi, how upset he gets during an MLS game when things don't go his way or they lose...that is pure competitiveness (and of course he has all of the others as well). For me, Ferreira has skills, soccer IQ and the physical tools but hasn't yet shown that last intangible quality when the stakes are the highest. Maybe it will come.
Ferreira had simply plateaued at striker. This was amply demonstrated in his international career. He then went through an injury-riddled period before finding his way forward at wing and amid. A player changing position to take his game to another level is a fairly common career arc. For example, Tim Weah is finding his way as a wingback/fullback after having plateaued at striker/winger. McKennie will transition to full-time attacker after having plateaued at CM and been used as a utility player.
Jesus hadn’t plateaued. He played striker for 2 years and scored a ton of goal for club and country and then had a nagging groin injury.
I disagree and we’ve gone over this before. He scored against good teams too . You’re trying to draw a big conclusion from a tiny sample. It’s wiser to say you have doubts than to make a claim on flimsy evidence.
We talked all the time in Dallas of the "Ferreira conundrum." How did he fit into the squad? What was his best position? We used him everywhere. Center forward, Support striker in a 3-5-2, winger, central attacking midfielder, even as a #8 after Pomyka's injury. He had good seasons as a center forward, but then a better center forward seemed to always be sought (see Ricardo Pepi). He had good seasons on the wing, but never an elite season. When we think of Ferreira with the USMNT, he's not getting in there as a center forward with the likes of Balogun and Pepi at the top of the depth chart. The likes of Wright, Agyemang, Sargent, etc. going thru cycles of production. The staff even called up somebody like Damion Downs, who hasn't scored a goal in the 25/26 season, instead of Ferreira? Why? Tools. Ceiling. So now that he's more of a playmaker, is he in that top group of Euro contenders? No, you wouldn't say that either. HOWEVER, could he compete with the Zendejas, Luna, level of players for a spot? Sure, he could. There are others who could too. Not for this cycle, but for the next. Fighting for those chances on the fringes. Depends on who the next coach is and how he wants to play. Jesus turned 25 this past December. He has passed 100 goal contributions for MLS clubs across all competitions. That doesn't happen by accident. A playmaker and stat-collector like Mihailovic doesn't get into the USMNT either, though.
His record against good teams is probably no better than any of our other players. They all struggle against the best teams and a lot of it is they don't get good service because their teammates also struggle.
I think his best position from watching him a lot is a second forward/pressing ten like Brenden Aaronson played for Leeds or Philly. He's very clever around the box and can control and shoot around goal about as well as anyone in the pool. I wish he'd developed more as a striker, as far as making the runs but he got hurt and replaced in Dallas and Schmetzer likes him as the right pocket attacker spot, oh well. As for Djordge, I can't explain why he isn't called and played more. He's a better player than Luna but coaches can only call so many.
Ricardo Pepi has never scored against a non-CONCACAF team currently within the top 50 of the FIFA rankings. Neither has Patrick Agyemang. Neither has Josh Sargent. But anyway............................... [The guys who have? Balogun and Wright] I think Ferreira would be pretty good as one of the guys playing behind a center forward in our 3-4-3 setup. But who you dropping amongst the guys currently in that group to make room for Ferreira? Ferreira might end up making a later career resurgence in the minds of posters....................in a Roldan sort of way. its like at some point in the past year, 99% of the board woke up to the fact that Roldan is pretty damn good. Three years from now that could be Ferreira. [I'm here for a Ferreira versus Luna versus Zendejas debate.....................but its too late.]
Anyway, when we think of this cycle and Ferreira...................one thing comes to mind. He had a subpar 2024 season right in the middle of the cycle. FCD had decided to sell him to Europe. As such they purchased Peter Musa and drafted Logan Farrington to solidify the center forward position. But then the Ferreira sale to Europe fell thru. Ferriera was stuck. There were seemingly bad feelings with the Dallas front office as the sale didn't happen, he'd lost his center forward role to Musa (who had an outstanding season), and had injuries. He was sold to Seattle, and his 2025 season was good. Not great. Across all competitions he had 5 goals and 12 assists. That's good. He had 3 assists in the playoffs. Maybe a sign of things to come. So with the national team, its not like he'd WON an opportunity with his play in MLS since Poch took over. He is a guy we know can impact bunches of goals when he's healthy. So hopefully he's back on track, and can give the next coach something to think about.
Not to the extent that would merit additional caps at striker, which had always been the claim. Teams Ferreira has scored or assisted against-- Trinidad El Salvador Panama Grenada St. Kitts Panama Mexico All the other teams Ferreira has appeared against-- Costa Rica Bosnia Honduras Morocco Uruguay Japan Saudi Arabia Holland Colombia Canada Jamaica
The thing is you have to show something. Ferreira hasn't. For example, the teams Haji Wright has scored or assisted against--- Morocco Netherlands Jamaica Panama Australia Trinidad he teams Balogun has scored or assisted against--- Canada Oman Germany Ghana Trinidad Bolivia Panama New Zealand Japan Ecuador Paraguay Pepi at least has his Champions League performances, which gives some hope he will eventually likewise perform at international level.
Zendejas is damn good but he's little and not all that fast, he's one of our small handful of guys who are lead dogs on their teams. I need to watch him more to have a strong opinion.
You're giving a box score scouting report. I don't think you could have watched Jesus play and come back with "He hasn't shown anything" unless you're letting confirmation bias drive your thinking.
For strikers, the 'box score' is almost all that matters. And yes, I've seen him play. He was a very promising young striker at league level. Great. He seems to have moved on to find his place at wing and amid. Seattle has moved on. The league has moved. I've moved on.
It'll be fascinating to see how much leash Carnell has with Philadelphia. He did with the Supporter's Shield last year after all. Vanney got that leash last year with the Galaxy. ......................Oscar Pareja is now available. He'd be a match made in Heaven for Philadelphia.
He's got plenty of leash considering the current structure down on Seaport Drive in Chester. They just played the youngest starting 11 in CCC play. Fans and outsiders need to realize that last season was the last hurrah for that core group of players. 2025 started the rebuilding/refreshing process. By June 2025 the Union had gotten rid of: Carranza, Jose Martinez, Jack Elliott, Jack McGlynn, Gazdag. This offseason they bid adieu to Uhre, Baribo, Glesnes, and Wagner. Take Bedoya and Blake out, and they have ONE player older than 26 on the roster (MBaizo is 28). It's going to take time. They also need to find someone to fill Uhre's role, as they currently have NO ONE that can stretch the field and get in behind a defense. Also, Papi is NOT a match made in heaven. As the Union are currently setup, his playing philosophy does not match. So unless ownership jettisons Ernst and everyone else again...... not happening. At this ;oint, Ernst is likely not coming back. Rumors from Seaport Drive were that 2026 was going to be his last year in the states prior to the Guardian article (his contract is up at the end of this year). The Union were already planning for a future with a new Sporting Director. Oscar would actually be a good hire for Portland, Houston or Minnesota, three org's that need to actually BUILD functioning pro academies. He'd be good for LAFC too.
People wanted too much too soon but this is the season he should be a regular. Shown exceptionally well at the youth level and there’s a bunch mediocres playing instead of him while Philly struggles.
Yeah... some of the guys that are getting minutes ahead of him have mediocre ceilings at best. Why give them all the minutes if they are not producing?
I suspect there is influence from Man City keeping him on a minutes restriction because he is such a young player.
I totally hear you...................but also, they're the worst team in the league. In a league of 30 teams, they're the only one with 0 points after 4 games. [The Revs have only played 2 due to field challenges. They play their home opener today against Cincinnati. They'll be lucky if its 40 degrees for that one.] Who is always the fall guy? Who is going to be the scapegoat in situations like this? It's always the manager. That's the easiest position to change in order to shake things up. Particularly if Tanner is already out the door. We've already had one coaching change in the league. They'll give Carnell some leash, the question is how much. The whole season? Vanney got a long leash in LA last year, but they also had a ton of injuries. Particularly to DPs. Yes, Philly has had a lot of turnover. They've also brought in replacements. Its Carnell's job to integrate them, and get the new group firing. Unlike others on the board, I don't think the solution is n necessarily playing Cavan more. He started midweek in CCC against Club America. He's playing plenty. Already at ~200 first team minutes. He'll keep getting time.