Again, I'm desperate for someone to find some minutes-weighted average age statistics because I'm pretty sure it's Philly that are the outliers here, not NTX. They should be commended for fielding a team with an average age of, like, 18 and being super competitive in a league where it seems like most of the other teams, like NTX, have average ages of about 21-22 (eg: happy to be corrected if I did the math wrong, but I think NTX fielded the younger lineup in each of their first three playoff games). **forever making the point that playing Red Bull press-and-chase football at the youth level juices results at the expense of developing pros, but whatever**
Your point is well taken, and I’ve seen the same sort of debate on Twitter. Philly is not doubt the outlier, which is what makes it the more impressive feat. If you look at Philly’s team, they utilized kids that they feel could end up being first team players one day. The NTSC (and others) approach of fielding 21/22/23 year olds that most likely have no MLS future is fine, but it’s just not as impressive. In reality, each club is going to have their own identity and it should be left to them to decide how they want to run the team playing in MLSNP. The bottom line is NTSC fielded 2 players in their XI that went through their Academy system, Norris and Collodi. Garcia could be debated, but he was signed straight to NTSC when he arrived. Philly fielded an XI using many more locally developed players. I think it speaks to where each of these clubs Academy system has been over the past 3/4 years. Philly has taken the crown from FC Dallas as the best Academy system. FC Dallas has fallen off massively over that period of time. More pressing is which direction is this league going to go? Is the model going to be more Philly or more NTSC and independent teams? Neither is right or wrong, but it has the potential to form a gulf within the league much like MLS reserve teams had in USL Championship. The formation of this league as a legitimate D3 pro league was nothing more than a marketing ploy by MLS. They would have been better off being able to pay players and just formed a U23 division of MLS Next. That’s essentially what it is, with different branding.
Unrelated points: 1. NTX's starters held up a "Scabin" jersey for the lineup photo. Scabin was on the field afterward in a boot. Not sure how long-term that injury is. Good opportunity for either Saul Guzman or Judah McCloud. 2. I'm not exaggerating a ton when I say it's reprehensible that the Hunts took the trophy first. Soccer leagues around the world give the captain the honor of lifting the trophy first. The NFL gets this categorically wrong and should be learning from soccer, not the other way around.
That is reprehensible. But equally reprehensible is what they did to Tarik Scott during the entire playoffs. Do not downplay how they handled his situation. Equally weird is how Carrera was handled this season. Collodi was fantastic all year (as evident in his awards), don’t get me wrong, but their first team player could barely get at game at the MLSNP level. Did they get their scouting wrong? If they were willing to drop Scott for Farrington, what kept them from doing it with the GK’s? FC Dallas has been doing weird things like this recently, even down in their Academy teams, which is a bi g turn off.
I don’t have a big gripe with NTSC this season. I wanted Philadelphia to win, but I don’t like hate NTSC, even if they played the villain role here in this game. They also probably weren’t that old of a team overall, as stated. My issue is a few things: 1. How Scott lost playing time to a first team player pretty much only during the playoffs I believe. You shouldn’t have to bring in ringers for a reserve league (Farrington as a good MLS player is a very much a ringer) 2. Whatever the deal with Carrera was. That’s not even really a young player vs. veteran thing. Probably just that they’ve soured on him, but if you’re gonna waste his offseason with this reserve league he believes he’s beyond at least put him on the field. 3. That they didn’t play very many players younger than ‘06 this year. The average age probably isn’t outside of what it was for other teams, but that’s mostly because they gave significant time to 05’s and 06’s. I’m not against that. Those players absolutely should get that if they’re not yet first team players, but you probably should be giving some minutes to some younger kids as well.
Roster decisions by FC Dallas. Highlighting players that were eligible for our forum this year. Some of these U23s age out in a couple of months. No real surprises here. Isaiah Parker, a #3 overall pick, just never seemed to gain any momentum. He, Dante Sealy, and Malik Henry-Scott will likely be able to find another other opportunity out there. There's just no path forward for them in Dallas. Partiucularly forwards if the club is retaining Musa, Farrington, and Ferreira. That might be the best top 3 forward depth chart in MLS at the moment. Carrera is one we were talking about with regards to his option. Maybe this will be a "sign and sell" situation. We'll see. He should be at a point where he's thinking about first team soccer. He's blocked by Paes. Now that Paes is playing internationally for Indonesia, the club does need to ensure they have a #2 that they trust. [Dallas is kinda like Philly. They scored plenty of goals. Conceded way too many. And have even more in the tank offensively with a healthy Velasco and Ferreira. Need some help in the backline. Need some help in central midfield if Pomykal is just a lost cause.] FC Dallas Announces Roster Decisions for 2025 Season | FC Dallas Twenty-four players remain under contract for the 2025 season with the club picking up the contracts for seven players. Dallas exercised contract options for Antonio Carrera, Herbert Endeley, Logan Farrington, Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Sebastien Ibeagha, Sam Junqua and Nkosi Tafari. Players already under contract for the 2025 season include: Paul Arriola, Marco Farfan, Jesús Ferreira, Geovane Jesus, Sebastian Lletget, Bernard Kamungo, Petar Musa, Nolan Norris, Maarten Paes, Paxton Pomykal, Tomas Pondeca, Carl Sainté, Enes Sali, Tarik Scott, Show, Alejandro Urzua and Alan Velasco FC Dallas has declined the 2025 contract options of Liam Fraser, Omar Gonzalez, Dante Sealy, Ema Twumasi, Eugene Ansah, Isaiah Parker, Amet Korça and Malik Henry-Scott. The club is currently in negotiations with midfielder Patrickson Delgado about a new contract with FC Dallas. Ruan, Asier Illarramendi and Jimmy Maurer are out of contract and there are ongoing conversations with the players.
Conference tournaments are finishing up, so it's time for our annual look at players that are playing in college and FCD HG-eligible. No players in the mold of Julian Eyestone last year or others in years past that are dominating the level relative to their class year, but I think there are some players of real interest. Graduating soon (either this winter or in the spring): the two worth calling out are Josh Ramsey and Grady Easton, CB partners for FCD's U19s back in 2020/21. Both have played a lot of soccer for good defenses the last four years. One year NTX tryouts would be appropriate, I think. Eligibility left: Timmy Ospina and Danny Elizalde continue to get a bunch of time with UIW - reminds me of the NIU cohort from a couple of years ago. Slade Starnes and Aaron Salinas (recently named SoCon GK of the year as a true sophomore) have been really good for Furman, and Seth Wilson finally landed on his feet with a (defensively) really solid UNC-Greensboro team. Will Baker's still playing a bunch of minutes at a young age for a not-very-good Michigan team. True Freshmen: Not much to write home about. Ish Nieves has gotten quite a bit of run for Loyola Marymount, and Aaron Pondeca was named to the SoCon All-Freshman team.
I've always liked Ramsey. Think he could end up a decent pro, even in MLS, although admittedly I haven't seen much of him since he went to college. Seth Wilson is another that I think has a lot of potential, even though I haven't seen him play in a few years. Goalkeepers develop later. Wouldn't surprise me if he puts it all together at some point.
Fantastic goal from '06 Isaac Romero here at 1:52:45. FCD's into the playoffs, and I'm likely to cover those games.
A USL-C side is coming to the east side of the metroplex in 2027. Gonna become more difficult to keep the Academy kids in house if they don't even have to move to jump to USL.
Luccin won't be back. This is a surprise to me. Eric Quill is back. FC Dallas taps Eric Quill as the club's 9th head coach - 3rd Degree
Is it confirmed that Luccin is leaving? Like, obviously he's out as head coach, but is he staying on the staff?
We'll see what his kids do. Not super nervous about Marlon, the 2007, going elsewhere, but Lenon, the 2011, looks like one of FCD's better players in his age group.
Details can be found here. Barca, Bayern, Dynamo Zagreb, and a couple of local teams on the schedule. They're bringing Tito Salas (GK), David Jaimes ('11 playing up a year, GK), Patrick Arne (CB), Justus Jones (LB), Christian Guillen (CB), Alex Soria (CM), Johan Padilla (CM), Angel Monsivais (FW/RB), Sammy Guevara (CM), and Theo Hallie (AM/FW).
Lost to Barca, drew Bayern and Dinamo Zagreb, beat the two local teams. They got sorted into a next group with Chelsea, Frankfurt, and the other Barcelona squad.