YNT-eligible MLS players: 2021 In-season thread

Aidan Morris is an ‘01. He’s the youngest player they have signed to a contract. Are you telling me that 02’s, 03’s, 04’s aren’t good enough to even get a contract with a team that will sneak into the playoffs or miss it? The only US-based MLS teams without a player in those age groups are Nashville, Austin, and Houston, two new MLS teams just starting up their academy and a team that has had almost no use for their first team.

You are right about Portland, but I don’t know why we shouldn’t criticize their plan. They aren’t good this season either. Hopefully they struggle for a prolonged period of time and start to operate differently.

 

Expecting the Jack de Vries loan from the Philadelphia Union to Venezia to be announced soon

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) August 16, 2021

 

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I agree that they can do better. But the first team conveyor belt plan has been bottlenecked by Covid. They original plan was to move Rossi and Atuesta and replace with Ginella and Rodriguez with plenty of minutes for Duke, Torres etc to play a role. Now they don't want to sell those players for less than their valuation and its causing issues all the way down the squad. It wouldn't surprise me if they move Rossi, Rodriguez and Atuesta by the beginning of next season, at whatever value they can get. We can have opinions about Fall or Leone or Duke's capabilities. I will admit I have only seen 2 or 3 Lights games. It's hard to make the case Fall or Crisostomo are the wrong players to insert when they look good. If Leone and Duke look better in Vegas then you're right they should get more chances. Duke has looked too poor defensively to be more than a bit player this season. He plays small and doesn't have the Blessing agility/tackling to make up for it.

Especially in the case of Torres, I think they are trying their best to showcase Rossi and Rodriguez and I think he will get his chance. For context Rossi was brought in at 19 and was an immediate starter. Rodriguez was brought in at 19. If they bring in another Uruguayan to play over Torres when he's 19, I will agree they need to believe more in their academy. But selling Rossi/B-Rod will set the valuation for future LAFC LW's. If they bench them now and crater their valuation that's just another way to end up losing money on these players. Now it might not work out but to me the clearest path to minutes for Torres is to sell one of the Uruguayan. LAFC is cheap enough with their roster spots 22-30 that as their academy matures they will be playing Dueñas or Torres instead of Raheem Edwards or Farfan.

Not sure what to say about Gaines. We have Moon, Farfan, Blackmon and a former college player Quezada (one year contract) at RB. Gaines will probably get signed next year when they can get the HG tag.

 

PLAYER: Cole Bassett (@colebassett19)

WEEK: 17 (8/14/21)

GAME: #HOUvCOL#Rapids96   #USMNT🇺🇸
pic.twitter.com/gkJoRncQ7g

— MLS Comps (@MLSComps) August 17, 2021

 

Atencio-Leyva central midfield pairing. https://t.co/IzS4WFZn6Q

— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) August 18, 2021

 

1428157803479257091 is not a valid tweet id

 

His first start, his second goal for the club 🔥

Indy Vassilev gives #InterMiamiCF the lead at #DRVPNKStadium! pic.twitter.com/fsvBV4WUvC

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 19, 2021

 

I thought they and Cerrillo all looked competent which is a compliment in central midfield for very young players. Usually teams don't give out those minutes until you're in your 20's but it's becoming normal for young Americans. pepi and Ferreira also looked good and FCD surely missed Pomykal as Obrian is like playing down a man. Might even be worse as he teases you into passing to him and maybe one out of ten times he doesn't lose it. LOL as Seattle brought in their big guns and FCD responded with Jara who missed an open look from 10 feet. All are DP's and highly paid yet only Seattle's fit the bill.

 

NEWS: #SportingKC sign 19-year-old Academy product Jake Davis.https://t.co/x0S7QTN3qr

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) August 19, 2021

 

Julian Gaines is Black & Gold.@lvlightsfc ➡️ #LAFC

— LAFC (@LAFC) August 19, 2021

Gaines signs with LAFC.

 

Gaines is going to be a big difference maker once he gets first team playing time. He’s on that Reynolds/Smith converted attacker tree, and I think he’s going to be the best of the three because he has similar attacking skills to Reynolds, and defends much better.

Davis is exactly what the press release says. Hard working and versatile. One of the most boring players you’ll see because nothing he does gets attention, but he’s effective enough. We won’t be mentioning him for his USMNT potential or probably not even YNT potential, but he will have a long career as a hard working and versatile player. Press-release got it spot on.

 

PLAYER: John Tolkin (@TolkinJohn)

WEEK: 20 (8/19/21)

GAME: #RBNYvCLB #RBNY  #USMNT🇺🇸 https://t.co/Zi24pcxSZ9

— MLS Comps (@MLSComps) August 19, 2021

 

Matko Miljevic, once thought to be one of the top players on the 2021 U.S. U-20 teams, hasn't played since Feb 2020 due to a club dispute with Argentinos Jrs. The Galaxy passed on him in June. Today he signs with CF Montreal and looks to get his career back on track.

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) August 20, 2021

 

june is a few months ago now, what took so long?

 

Duke starting for SKC

 

MLS debut for Damian Rivera '02 of the Revs after 28 games for the reserve team over the last couple of seasons.

— Jamie Hill (@_jameshill) August 22, 2021

 

Finally gives me a reason to root for my local team (when he’s playing), and from a town I lived in for just a year.

 

D.C played Atlanta this weekend, I was pretty excited to see Paredes and Bello. Paredes clearly looked talented, but Atlanta just bodied him and took care of him pretty easily. He also had a clear scoring chance in the 1st half and shot it right at Guzan, not the easiest chance in the world, but should've done better. He had some nice moves like nutmegging Lennon and glimpses here and there. Overall, he clearly has a lot of talent, but needs to do better with the physicality in MLS.

Bello had a really rough game. Positionally he seemed great, but his first touch was really bad, his passing was wayward, and lost his mark at key points. He settled in a little bit as the game progressed, but overall was not great. I think people should use this as a data point, but also be willing to chalk it up to a one-off.

 

Bello is actually quite inconsistent like this. He'll have some great games and then some stinkers.

Its why I still have Vines ahead of him for the moment. Vines may not have the ceiling that Bello does, but he's more consistent right now. He's also 3 years older than George, so...........................

 

A lot of the young guys in MLS are pretty inconsistent, even Paredes.

The one I’ve seen positive consistency from is Tolkin. He makes mistakes, but each game I’ve seen from him is positive overall.

I still think Paredes has a higher ceiling, but will be interesting to see whose doing better 3-4 years from now.

 

Being tied for the most points after 22 games with 2019 LAFC isn't enough?!

 

I was about to say that. Supporting local soccer is very necessary for the future of soccer in this country. I encourage everyone to support their MLS/USL team.

But being one of the best teams of recent times and statistically ever should make it easier.

 

Haha very true. I’m sure it’s better this year given how well they’re doing but Gillette stadium for Revs games is one of the saddest atmospheres in MLS. Add to the fact that they haven’t contributed any decent USMNT players since Dempsey and Twellman besides Turner and I have a hard time getting myself to watch.

I do watch some or all of a few of the other MLS games that have good USMNT prospects because that’s one of the things that’s exciting for me. The idea of some great prospect starting in MLS, then making it over to Europe and playing in a top 4 league.

I’d hope the fact that I watch several games each week adds to the # of MLS viewings on ESPN+ to bump up the out of market/no national coverage deal for the next time it renews. Hopefully I’m doing my part on your first point.

 

As of today, we are up to 50 '01 or younger American players earning minutes in MLS. Damian Rivera, welcome to the club. Cole Bassett is the big story here as he continues to shine - at this rate, this will be an all time season not just for American midfielders but any MLS mid. pic.twitter.com/6HAwCW1GZ8

— Paul Harvey (@Thundering165) August 24, 2021