https://yscofficial.beehiiv.com/p/2425-preseason-academy-rankings 1. Philadelphia Union The Union are on top of the academy game right now. They have arguably the best group of 2004-2006 graduates in the country, and they have a loaded 2007-09 group. Notable names go from Jack McGlynn (2004) to Cavan Sullivan (2009). The Union have been dominate winning three trophies in the past two years including back to back U17 Ga Cups. The 2007 group boasts the likes of Neil Pierre, Zach Mastrodimos, Diego Rocio and talented center back Andrew Craig. 2008 group has many names as well Jamir Johnson, Peyton Presson, and Anisse Saidi. All are highly rated prospects. This group of players is also supported by fantastic prospects who would all be top names at other academies. The 2009 group is headlined by Cavan Sullivan, Malik Jakupovic, and recent addition Marcelo Alvalos. Alvalos just joined from the San Jose Earthquakes who you will read more about later down on this list. The Union are clearly doing something right from the directors to the coaching staff. Rating: 9.7/10
Pierre is the #2 prospect im the Union academy. Here are some highlights from his match with the u18 national team vs Peru 1836095701488669043 is not a valid tweet id
He's tall & rangy, so that's good. His ball skills look decent but not top notch. He timed a few tackles well so there's that. Obviously he's a work in progress and especially with tall, lanky players their coordination takes longer to kick in, but he's someone worth following.
Nobody needs me to say this, but Saudi and Rocio are Next Pro Pros on most other academies in MLS. The log jam at Philly is ridiculous. I’ve been surprised that one of the talent poaching USL teams haven’t taken on player from them.
Did any of the team owners get their little feelings hurt? I think the reaction will be very different if anybody from MLS tries to ******** with USMNT again.
Union are hanging by a thread going into decision day, they need Montreal or DC to lose and for them to win and they still might not make it into the playoffs. I wonder if Curtin's job is in danger if they miss out. Unfortunately that means it's pretty unlikely Cavan will play at all or anyone else from NextPro
As long as Ernst is still here we'll play with 2 strikers and a very direct style that most teams have seemed to figure out. What I'd like to see is McGlynn get a run out as a play making #6. His switching of play and distribution are just too good, but he lacks the athletic/ ball-winning aspects you need to play as a DM in this league. In order not to expose the defense, you'd have to keep the outside backs at home or play with 3 CBs in a 3-5-2. Wagner and Harriel need to be involved in the attack, so I would go with something like this: ---------------Uhre---Baribo ----------Gazdag--------Quinn Wagner-------McGlynn-------Harriel ---------Elliot-Jacques?-Glesnes Blake
Both of these moves are confirmed now. I realize Philly can only keep so many players, but these two should have been a priority.
Tough road loss for Philly last night. This wasn't the game that cost them the playoffs. [They had a brutal stretch in June and July.] Lots of exciting young American talent, but on the whole the roster construction wasn't good enough. [It's like Dallas in the Luchi era.] This Philly team finished 12th and had a +7 goal difference. The teams above them had -18 and -21. This team was good enough to make the playoffs and do damage in the playoffs. If I'm a team at the top of the East I'm breathing a sigh of relief. Philly would have been a difficult early playoff round assignment. Now the challenge. Can you hold on to these young Americans like McGlynn and Quinn thru the next transfer window. And, by the way, kudos to Philly for releasing players to USYNTs whenever they were called upon this season. I haven't done the analysis to see if there are certain games in which the absence of USYNTers cost them. They missed the playoffs by a hair. We know they were calling up players on MLSNP contracts to fill bench spots due to international callups. But I don't know if there are specific stretches in the season when we can say "yeah, that cost us points." That definitely was the case with some of those Dallas teams. 1847765193088258441 is not a valid tweet id
Philly did have a far better goal differential than quite a few teams in front of the. Probably deserved to make the playoffs.
They lost at HOME last night..... Also, they had a tough stretch from April-July. This Philly team also scored 62 goals this season....... If you told anyone in February that Philly would score 62 and have a +7 GD... they'd all assume that they were near the top of the standings. Instead they found ways to lose games when leading 2-0, 3-1, 1-0, etc. Found ways to lose games when being up a man.... Backup keepers gave up howlers and half field goals.. And well.... when you make too many mistakes and get punished for them, you miss the playoffs. I'd be very surprised if McGlynn is still with them come Feb. They need to sell him to raise some funds to bring in more players. Quinn will likely stay, unless they get a can't refuse offer for him. Though I have a feeling that he'd want to play at least one season with his little brother in MLS. Biggest needs: Need at least one starting caliber CB that is 23-25. Ideally two, though I can't see them letting go of BOTH Elliott and Glesnes. This fan is sure sick and tired of the blind backpasses, underhit passes, and blind clearances into the middle of the field...... Resign Flach and Bedoya. Bedoya for his leadership, and Flach for his versatility (and he's a legit elite Defending Mid in MLS). Plus he can LB in a pinch. They need a ground covering DM/LM that they can partner with Danley, Quinn and Gazdag in MF. Speaking of Gazdag.... they need Cavan and/or Vasquez to step up and be able to be a legit backup option to Gazdag. This team struggled mightily whenever Gazdag wasn't on the field (see last night after he exited due injury). If that doesn't happen, they need to find a backup at a reasonable price. A third striker option. Adeniran ain't it, neither is Donovan. That's this fan's wish list anyways.