YNT-Eligible MLS Players, 2024 In-Season Thread

Best US-eligible U-22 MLSer NOT on the list? Or if not best, most deserving to be on the list?

Right now I might have to go with Gavin Beavers

 

Three of those six are with Inter Miami yet that club still manages to place two local players on the same list. That should tell us all we need to know if there are enough spots or not for Americans.

 

Per Joe Lowery, its Julian Hall.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/22-under-22-which-rising-stars-missed-the-cut

 

I never understand the 22 under 22.

What is even the clearly stated criteria? Are these the best current players? The best long-term prospects?

Are you seriously telling me Daniel Edelman is a better long term prospect than Cavan Sullivan? Is Cavan Sullivan really better than guys who are in their early 20's and MLS starters?

So the criteria doesn't really make sense to me.

If it's upside, Carrizo has to be there. He's the best not on the list.

If it's current ability, someone like Noah Allen seems like he really should be on the list.

 

Like any media generated list, the criteria is intentionally vague so as to create these kind of questions.

It's basically whatever mix of current production and future potential the voter wants it to be.

 

I'm sympathetic to that this stuff is generally going to not be especially clear. As you say, that's kind of just the nature of forming an opinion. There's a degree of "I just got a hunch" to whatever an opinion constitutes.

At the same time, I feel like it shouldn't be so hard to state a criteria. Every time I make a list I state what my criteria constitutes, whether it's easy for people to conceptualize or not (probably not because opinions are subjective), but anyway I try to at least state it. I went to the MLS website to try to find one, and they don't even list one. It's just "best 22 under the age of 22", which is essentially no criteria.

I feel like the criteria probably amounts for most people when they come up with their own to be "whoever is the best prospect" and with that probably upside matters more than current ability, but you look at that list and I don't think leaving players like Carrizo, Hall, Berchimas, Akinmboni off and putting dudes on it like Daniel Edelman suggests everyone is on the same page about applying a uniform consensus criteria in the absence of a stated one.

 

I guess my point is that the point of the list is to generate discussion and clicks and hype certain players; I think the lack of clarity on the list helps with that. It's the same with power rankings -- what the hell does that mean?

A bunch of the people who vote talk about it on podcasts -- I don't remember if they get more specific instructions, but it's always a mix of production and potential. The podcasters tended to be more potential and the ex-players or more established guys tended to be more potential. I think this is the first time I've seen someone like Cavan make it, who has barely any MLS time. That's a rarity.

I also suspect a number of voters don't take it very seriously.

 

It shouldn't be long time anything, but just purely based on MLS performance. Cavan with his 20 minutes of play, has no business to be ahead of anyone and particularly Miller, who should be way higher than 22 anyway.

 

I picked Beavers because he plays fairly regularly, I would put Julian Hall in the Cavan/Carranza pile of not eligible because they don't have enough MLS minutes to qualify...

 

IMHO, it should be the current ability right now and not a simple prediction of how things will be in the future. Don't devalue the current season and current performances in favor of getting involved in the hype machine.

Everyone should have to earn their way onto the list by actually doing something substantive.

Cavan should get on the list when he does something in real games for the Union. If he's as good as people say he is, it shouldn't be a problem. Why gift him something?

 

don't hear much about him...

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He wasn’t doing much the 1st half of the season. Then showed a glimpse of potentially being good enough back in Jul-Aug maybe for a few games, but has regressed back in form again.

 

18yr old Beaudry started for Colorado last night. Had one amazing save but perhaps one Steffen would have done better on.

 

The thread naming in this board is such a complicated mess I don't even know where this goes...

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Fingers crossed he’s ready for MLSNP next season. NYRB could compete with Philly as a top youth development team. Tolkin likely leaves this winter or next summer, Edelman is still developing, and Ngoma/Hall may unfortunately be competing for minutes with one another. Midfield, CB, and goalie are harder to find minutes in MLS at a young age.

 

I think Mehmeti will likely play some minutes next season, but 2026 seems more likely for when he could become a starter, for instance.

 

Unless he has access to another passport, Albania wouldn't work for a move at 16. They aren't European Union members presently

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/sporting-kansas-city-signs-homegrowns-ian-james-jack-kortkamp

16 year old homegrown CB and GK signings for SKC

 

He was (maybe still is) working on a non-Albania passport.

 

LAFC and DC cleaning house

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2025 thread?

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This kid is fun.