Discussion of 97’s-00’s

I'm surprised inputting a semi-interesting CB prospect as a 2001 didn't cause your spreadsheet to crash from the sheer improbability of it all!

 

It does explain why he never was in the YNT discussions

 

Yueill has had a monster start to the season

 

Did we (well, I...) miss any pro contracts from this group of 2017 U20s?

Borges Marcello
Burns David
Jones Malcolm
Lopez Leonardo "Leo"
Martin Henry
Morris Jake
Pelaez Pablo
Popovic Nebojsa "Nash"
Salas Martin
Suddoth Toni
Terwege Brandon
Wilson Sean
Winter Abu
​

If I did, don't think it's many...

 

I wonder if some of the NCAA guys are finishing their NCAA year, and then signing with MLS/USL.
Well, finishing their degrees anyway.
Brandon Terwege (drafted by Houston) and Martin Salas (drafted by Dallas) stand out to me as the guys I know.

 

Could be. Along those lines I looked up Jake Morris and it turns out he's a Jr. at Campbell (and playing there). And... did everyone else know he's Aidan's big brother?

 

Did you mean Mark Salas in your list, and not his brother Martin?
Mark is a senior at UNC, and they're still in the NCAA tournament.

 

Nope, I mean Martin, the '97, in this case.

 

Borges signed with NY Cosmos last year.

 

Ah................got confused.
No evidence Martin has signed a contract.
He's not on Buzz' list of former FCD academy players to get pro deals.

 

Martin's LinkedIn makes it look like he's done with soccer.

 

Here's that list of former FCD academy players to sign pro deals. Buzz updates it from time to time when details come in.

This list came up in a conversation today and I still find it remarkable.https://t.co/ULkaMcy0U4

— 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) April 26, 2021

 

Hmm -- OK. It does look like he was on their NISA roster for the 2020/21 season. Thanks!

 

One of the fishier things in soccer to me recently (aside from all the blatant corruption in the sport) has been Santiago Patiño’s career path. He was actually pretty good for Orlando City, then sent on a weird loan to a place where careers go to die, then waived when Orlando has little CF depth and a massive Dike sized hole in the roster.

Now he’s tearing it up for San Antonio.

🏁𝖆 𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗 🏁

Your #thestrikertxpotw is......@SPatino_9 @checkjfooty tells us why 📰⤵️https://t.co/huqHXUNvCj pic.twitter.com/LfYB0kN6l1

— The Striker (@TheStrikerNews) May 3, 2021

I just feel like this is a situation where we’re not getting the whole story.

 

"It's a dream come true to officially sign my first professional contract with Crystal Palace"

Congratulations to 22 year old American Jacob Montes, who played four years of college soccer at Georgetown. pic.twitter.com/JS6EsO2UlZ

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) May 25, 2021

 

Its a weird one, right?
A one year deal for a player that doesn't qualify for a work permit.
It would be one thing if Crystal Palace could have him with their U23s and evaluate him for a season.
But what are the chances that he actually becomes eligible for a permit in the next year? Zero?
I don't get it...................................

[Sometimes I see moves like this and think that clubs are doing agents a favor so that when a player they actually want comes along.........they'll be in that agent's good graces.]

This Washington Post article does a good job on his situation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/25/jacob-montes-signs-with-crystal-palace/

He said the Timbers did not extend a formal contract offer.

“They wanted to see me in preseason and make a decision off that,” Montes said. “But for me, I’ve been part of your program and I felt it would’ve been fair of them to give me an offer before going into camp. I wasn’t upset. I just thought it would be a better decision to stay in school, and when the Palace opportunity came up, I couldn’t say no.”

Because they didn’t make an offer, the Timbers relinquished his MLS rights. The New England Revolution claimed them Monday in a waiver draft, two people familiar with the draft said. Should he return stateside, Montes would belong to the Revolution.

 

IIRC, he also declined a call up to El Salvador. Don't know if it was because he feels he has a shot at the USMNT or to have a shot at the LAFC GK spot.

 

This from the Salvadoran fed says he declined it to maintain the chance to play for the United States. Which makes sense since we are the bigger NT and he was born and raised here, and maybe the USSF contacted him and said they like what they see and are aware of him. Though perhaps part of it was also because there was a good opportunity with LAFC.

https://www.fesfut.org.sv/actualizacion-convocatoria-seleccion-nacional-mayor/

Long-term I'd say there's not much reason to bet against him eventually being in the *broader pool* of the US if he wants. He's arguably done better than David Ochoa at club level this season, and certainly better than Odunze, both players named to multiple MNT camps. If Romero keeps this up (not a sure thing) then there's no reason he can't be at January 2022 USMNT camp and be a pool option or backup for the long run if he files a switch to the US. However, regularly playing for the USMNT will be more difficult and, experience notwithstanding, Romero might already be El Salvador's #1 today if he wants. He'll need to decide if being a pool backup or maybe future B-side Gold Cup option for a national team that looks to become really good (not to mention where he has lived his whole life) is better or not than being the #1 for a smaller team that may not do much internationally.

 

It's also not like he was guaranteed the #1 spot for El Salvador, especially at the time of the announcement -- though that could certainly change if he has a big season in MLS.

 

Ah a former Atlanta player landing in... Slovakia.

Any word on Carleton? I wonder if his involvement in the Jan 6th insurrection has affected his chances at playing at a higher level than whatever the Georgia storm is.