YNT-eligible MLS players: 2022 In-season thread

Unless I'm missing someone, it doesn't seem like the guys who reach MLS at a really young age usually do much at age 16. I'm thinking of everyone from Diego Fagundez to Cade Cowell. Usually they're just getting a taste at 16, and that's enough (many never get beyond that, the Zach Pfeffers). Given the Joao Paulo injury has basically handed Obed Vargas a starting job for a stacked MLS team, it looks like he could be the exception, if he can keep it.

 

In fairness, 16 year olds in ANY league are not generally doing much beyond getting a taste. MLS is not an outlier.

 

Oh I know, my point was that Vargas could end up being the outlier.
And even that based on an injury, but hey we'll take it... it will be an interesting data point to see how a 16 year old handles a full MLS season as more than a bit player, potentially a lot more.

 

It would be one thing if 16-year old Vargas was playing this much on a mediocre or bad team. Seattle is a team with trophy ambitions and Vargas has been a constant. I don't know what his ceiling is, but his floor is long-time MLS regular. And that's nothing to sneeze at after all...................

Of all the homegrown players that FCD has signed, very few were getting regular minutes at 16. Of course, back in the day those 16 year olds would have been at Bradenton (Kellyn Acosta, etc.). But Paxton Pomykal, Jesus Ferreira, Bryan Reynolds, and friends were not regular starters at 16. And when those guys first signed deals, FCD had trophy ambitions like Seattle does now.

If Vargas holds up phycially over the course of the whole season, that'll be really impressive.

 

Vargas plays just like Xavi, no? Not about his ability, but his general style.

 

More like Jonathan Gonzalez, and that’s not meant offensively. Gonzalez didn’t pan out so far, but could’ve. He’s not technical enough to be compared stylistically to a Xavi-style player.

 

Vargas just seems to do his job consistently. He seems to do what the coaches ask. He looks to have the trust of his mates.
I don’t know what he will be but that’s pretty damn good for 16.

 

Tolkin with an assist on a corner tonight. Making up for his bad game last week?

 

I love this kid. I’m probably overestimating him, but I think in general he is underestimated.

I think he is better than Bello already. While I like Vines I think he is more dynamic. I am probably being a bit bias.

Didn’t GB say he was close to being called in already, or am I making stuff up?

 

The assist.

Lewis Morgan heads us in front early. We lead 1-0.@Audi | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/B1KufRsb2r

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) June 18, 2022

 

I thought Wolff on ATX had another decent game. He’s not overly flashy (for his age), and does a lot of the little things right. Similar in this sense to Vargas even though one is a winger and one is CM.

 

Wolff is actually a central midfielder normally. They’ve been using him as a winger because that’s where minutes are available.

 

Bruce Duke’s game reminds me a lot of Jackson Yuiell.

 

I’m not suggesting it’s good that Robinson has a serious injury, but I think the increased playing time opportunities it created will be big for Campbell’s career.

🇺🇸 FotMob's Team of the Week for MLS.

Three @ATLUTD players make the cut after their win over Inter Miami including Venezuelan international Josef Martínez.

Our top rating (8.91) went to Orlando's Ercan Kara. The Austrian import scored both as they beat Houston. #MLS pic.twitter.com/fXii1ESeeX

— FotMob (@FotMob) June 20, 2022

 

Gabriel Slonina deal situation. Board changes with Marina Granovskaia set to leave are slowing down the deal - but Chelsea are on it as they want Slonina, waiting for official bid to be submitted. 🔵 #CFC

Other clubs exploring the situation in case Chelsea deal won’t go through.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2022

 

Fire didn't accept a bag of roubles?

 

Lol, Chelsea didn't even make a bid yet. Too much smoke, no fire.

 

Cam Harper with an assist in the US Open Cup. Mostly via running very fast into empty space. But he did have a nice first time cross. Very British player.

 

I think his parents are Scottish.

"𝓗𝓮'𝓼 𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓞𝔀𝓷!"@NewYorkRedBulls Academy product Omir Fernandez gets the third!

3-0 | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/7AyoiZKzvZ

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 23, 2022

 

Omir Fernandez is a very solid player whom nobody likes. 0.75 G+A per 90'.

 

I think a lot of people like him! (I like him, which is what matters most, obviously.) It's his first season as a first-choice starter and he's done well.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/discussion-of-97’s-00’s.2114711/page-3#post-40060143

 

Just to confirm the report by @ksteurbaut, the Griffin Yow, 19, transfer from DC United to Westerlo is now agreed. He will fly to Belgium tomorrow for a medical and final signatures. He will be a teammate of fellow American Bryan Reynolds on the newly promoted club

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 23, 2022