YNT-eligible MLS players: 2019/2020 Offseason thread

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'97 Drake Callender has signed with Inter Miami.

'01 Teddy Ndje, Baltimore-area native previously with Banfield in Argentina, is apparently signing with Orlando City.

 

They acquired his rights back in November but I don't see an announcement on their site that they've signed him yet.

 

He announced it on Instagram yesterday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6UHgpvhArS/

 

Was it December last season when we saw a flurry of HG signings, or January?

 

December-February is homegrown season

 

With Wicky getting hired in Chicago are there Chicago academy prospects he coached with the U17 team that could see playing time next season?

 

They had one product on the U-17 WC team, but he's playing at Fulham now (Damian Las).

Aside from Mihailovic, they have a few quality younger players that could receive playing time this season. Mauricio Pineda ('97), a CB, was one of the best players in college soccer this season. He's a former YNT international, and should sign with them as a homegrown signing. Andre Reynolds ('01), a LB, could start getting some minutes. I don't know if he's good enough to instantly be a starter, but there are plenty of players in MLS who play more than I think they should and plenty who play less than I think they should, so I don't know what they'll decide with him.

They also recently signed Nicholas Slonina ('01). He's a CB. I haven't seen him play in a while, but he's not been playing football this season because Chicago decided they didn't need a U-19 academy team this season. I would not expect him to be a contributor this season, but maybe I'm wrong. I think him signing with Chicago was more of a favor they did for the family after his brother agreed to him. His brother was on his way to Europe from what I was told until being offered a first team contract at the last minute.

His brother, Gabe Slonina ('04), is a GK, but he's not ready to play professional soccer this season. He's only signed because Chicago didn't want to get nothing for him with the European interest he was generating.

They don't have any other '01 or '02 prospects anymore because they got rid of their U-19 academy team. They lost some good players to other academies. Javier Casas ('03) is a potential HG signing. He's a well-rounded CM and a regular US youth international. They have a pair of good keepers in their U-17's. The aforementioned Slonina, but also Chris Brady ('04). Brady is the better keeper from what I've seen, but he doesn't come with the fanfare of Slonina. Neither is all too likely to impact the first team anytime soon though.

They also have Justin Reynolds ('04), who is a RB. He's the brother of Andre. Andre is a good player, but Justin is a lot better, and will be signed soon enough by the first team if he doesn't decide for Europe. IMO, Justin is the best prospect left in their academy.

There are some other names who could be signed eventually (Brian Gutierrez, Alex Monis, Allan Rodriguez, Sergio Oregel, Amari Fowlkes), but I'll stop there because all these players would be far off first team playing time.

 

Chicago loses a lot of their prospects to the other local teams like Sockers and FC United. With the size of their area and the lack of other clubs they should be significantly out producing every other club by a wide margin but they’ve never put full support into the academy unfortunately. They have a great 2004 class and a pretty good 2003 class who could use USL minutes but have no team to play.

 

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Thats not a terrible idea with Ramos as the coach. He seemed to have a tough time catching on in Europe, but I think he's a good player.

 

For some reason the Portugal move just never materialized even though he had major interest over there. He’s a quality player who could easily break into the u-20 cycle if he gets minutes in MLS this season.

 

At this point it's quite unlikely any of these guys will affect the Olympic cycle but for the record, these guys have signed with MLS in advance of the draft:

RB Dylan Nealis '98
CB Tanner Beason '97
CB Henry Kessler '98
CB Jack Maher '99
FW Robbie Robinson '98

 

This could also effect Sands, Haak, Gray, Torres, although I think all of them are better defensively than Zelalem, and I think using him as a deep-lying playmaker is asking for trouble.

Anyone care for some #NYCFC news?

Hearing that Gedion Zelalem is bound for NYCFC after a disappointing year with #SportingKC.

Has ties to NYCFC academy coach Matt Pilkington.

Signs of life in my chest cavity...

— nobuhojimichaan 🔴🟩 ' (@nobuhojimichaan) December 31, 2019

 

We got new Freddy. Though Adu did perform well on youth teams.

 

Does NYCFC even have a coach....

 

Also worth noting that '98 fullback Eddie Munjoma posted a "goodbye letter" to SMU thanking them for everything they've done for him. Whether its to go to FCD or sign elsewhere is unknown.

Dear SMU...

A letter from Eddie Munjoma.

📰 | https://t.co/Co5xZbbxDm pic.twitter.com/w1lo1YkOm7

— SMU Men's Soccer (@SMUSoccerM) December 21, 2019

 

Well, he is a senior, so I'm pretty sure it means he ain't stayin'.

Can't see FCD giving him big money unless Cannon moves. Between Reggie, Reynolds and even Nelson, who can play on either side, FCD isn't exactly hurting for right backs right now.

 

Oh.................I thought he was a junior. Screwed that up.

I see a player like Eddie signing a first team FCD deal, but spending most of next season with North Texas. He can play on the right or left, just like Nelson.

I'm gonna wait until all of the off-season and transfer window moves are done before figuring out the depth chart.

Even if Reggie's not sold, he's potentially gone a lot with the USMNT and US U20s in 2020. Need depth there.

 

Isn't FC Dallas already at their maximum HG allotment? They might need to clear some space.

 

I think I read that they had maxed out their supplemental roster (which includes many HGs), but since then Ferreira signed a new contract that probably bumps him to the "senior" roster.

 

Hearing that there is still a chance Keaton Parks stays with #NYCFC - he hasn't gone to Portugal yet #Benfica #MLS

— Glenn Crooks (@GlennCrooks) January 2, 2020

 

#NYCFC has agreed to a permanent transfer with Benfica for midfielder Keaton Parks and will sign the 22-year-old to a long-term deal, per multiple league sources with knowledge of the deal.

— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) January 3, 2020