In many press reports about our club, the point is made that we are building a roster through splashy signings of aging but quality European stars. The subtext is that we are doing this at the expense of building a roster through finding and developing young talent.
But, why are these two things mutually exclusive? Can't we spend real money on quality DPs while simultaneously developing young guys for the future. Indeed, isn't it wise to buy existing talent that can produce today as younger players evolve to become our core in future years?
One would think the emergence of young Kwadwo Poku would be enough to dispel the assertion that we are nothing more than a big wallet. But, a closer look at our roster shows that our young core goes a lot deeper than just the young Ghanan-with-a-Green-Card. Let's review.
Jefferson Mena - 26 - Acquired from Independiente Medellín mid-season. Has appeared in 3 games, starting 2. Makes $200K.
Jeb Brovsky - 26 - Acquired in a trade with the Montreal Impact. Has started 12 games, but none since being displaced by Angelino (see below). Makes $129K.
Tony Taylor - 26 - Acquired from NE in the expansion draft. Made 2 appearances with 1 start before tearing his ACL. Makes $84K.
RJ Allen - 25 - Acquired mid-season. Has started 7 games. Makes $60K.
Mix - 24 - USMNT regular acquired on a free transfer from Norway. Makes $750K and is basically a TAM player. A regular starter when not on USMNT duty.
Tommy McNamara - 24 - Acquired from DC in the expansion draft (and made them pay yesterday). Has come on strong this season starting last 11 games and notching 5 goals and 3 assists. Makes $71K.
Javier Calle - 24 - Acquired from Independiente Medellín on a season-long loan. Has made 11 appearances and 6 starts, scoring 1 goal. Makes $225K.
Kwadwo Poku - 23 - Acquired from the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL, where he scored 2 goals in 25 appearances. Prior to that, spent 3 years in the 4th division of American soccer. Has played in last 12 games, starting 4, with 2 goals and a team leading 7 assists. We have won every game he has started. Makes $63K.
Patrick Mullins - 23 - Acquired from NE in the expansion draft (and made them pay in Game 2). Has appeared in 16 games, starting 9, with 4 goals and 3 assists.
Khiry Shelton - 22 - Drafted out of Oregon State. Has appeared in 12 games, starting 6, with 1 goal and 1 assist. Has game changing speed. Has been out since early June with an MCL sprain. Makes $88K.
Shea Facey - 20 - On loan from Manchester City. Expected to continue to play for NYCFC as he develops. Makes $120K.
Angelino - 19 - On loan from Manchester City. Considered to be close to ready for a call up to Man City's senior club or to be loaned out in Europe, but may stick with NYCFC for another term. Makes $60K.
Looking at the above, 12 of our outfield players are 26 or younger and 8 are 24 or younger. All of them have started at least 1 game, and over our last 4 games, half our outfield starts have come from this group. Even if you assume we don't hang onto the 3 players that we have on loan, we still have a wonderful core that we are building here.
How about the following being part of the starting lineup in 2-3 years?
- Shelton and Mullins at forward
- Mix, McNamara and Poku in midfield
- Mena, Allen and Brovsky in back.
They will all be mid-to-late 20s - presumably in the peak of their career.
But, why are these two things mutually exclusive? Can't we spend real money on quality DPs while simultaneously developing young guys for the future. Indeed, isn't it wise to buy existing talent that can produce today as younger players evolve to become our core in future years?
One would think the emergence of young Kwadwo Poku would be enough to dispel the assertion that we are nothing more than a big wallet. But, a closer look at our roster shows that our young core goes a lot deeper than just the young Ghanan-with-a-Green-Card. Let's review.
Jefferson Mena - 26 - Acquired from Independiente Medellín mid-season. Has appeared in 3 games, starting 2. Makes $200K.
Jeb Brovsky - 26 - Acquired in a trade with the Montreal Impact. Has started 12 games, but none since being displaced by Angelino (see below). Makes $129K.
Tony Taylor - 26 - Acquired from NE in the expansion draft. Made 2 appearances with 1 start before tearing his ACL. Makes $84K.
RJ Allen - 25 - Acquired mid-season. Has started 7 games. Makes $60K.
Mix - 24 - USMNT regular acquired on a free transfer from Norway. Makes $750K and is basically a TAM player. A regular starter when not on USMNT duty.
Tommy McNamara - 24 - Acquired from DC in the expansion draft (and made them pay yesterday). Has come on strong this season starting last 11 games and notching 5 goals and 3 assists. Makes $71K.
Javier Calle - 24 - Acquired from Independiente Medellín on a season-long loan. Has made 11 appearances and 6 starts, scoring 1 goal. Makes $225K.
Kwadwo Poku - 23 - Acquired from the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL, where he scored 2 goals in 25 appearances. Prior to that, spent 3 years in the 4th division of American soccer. Has played in last 12 games, starting 4, with 2 goals and a team leading 7 assists. We have won every game he has started. Makes $63K.
Patrick Mullins - 23 - Acquired from NE in the expansion draft (and made them pay in Game 2). Has appeared in 16 games, starting 9, with 4 goals and 3 assists.
Khiry Shelton - 22 - Drafted out of Oregon State. Has appeared in 12 games, starting 6, with 1 goal and 1 assist. Has game changing speed. Has been out since early June with an MCL sprain. Makes $88K.
Shea Facey - 20 - On loan from Manchester City. Expected to continue to play for NYCFC as he develops. Makes $120K.
Angelino - 19 - On loan from Manchester City. Considered to be close to ready for a call up to Man City's senior club or to be loaned out in Europe, but may stick with NYCFC for another term. Makes $60K.
Looking at the above, 12 of our outfield players are 26 or younger and 8 are 24 or younger. All of them have started at least 1 game, and over our last 4 games, half our outfield starts have come from this group. Even if you assume we don't hang onto the 3 players that we have on loan, we still have a wonderful core that we are building here.
How about the following being part of the starting lineup in 2-3 years?
- Shelton and Mullins at forward
- Mix, McNamara and Poku in midfield
- Mena, Allen and Brovsky in back.
They will all be mid-to-late 20s - presumably in the peak of their career.