2020 Roster Discussion

The problem is that there’s a small gap in the Pan-American Highway between Colombia and Panama. It’s called the Darién Gap and is about 60 miles or so. There’s no actual road connection between the two. I’ve on and off entertained the idea of driving the whole highway one day but when I did some actual research a year or two ago I found out about the gap, so unfortunately it’s just not (currently) possible.
Maybe that’s why this world wide train map that was all over Twitter this week sends all trips between North and South America through Europe.3B4C24C0-4AE8-4B21-A5DA-71BE60E90624.jpeg
 
The problem is that there’s a small gap in the Pan-American Highway between Colombia and Panama. It’s called the Darién Gap and is about 60 miles or so. There’s no actual road connection between the two. I’ve on and off entertained the idea of driving the whole highway one day but when I did some actual research a year or two ago I found out about the gap, so unfortunately it’s just not (currently) possible.

i looked it up on google maps just now and the end of the road is called “the end of safety”. The comments are pure gold!


The End of Safety
Unnamed Road, Panama
 
Official MLS roster page for NYCFC

In 2020, we're currently only using 6 of our 9 international roster slots (We acquired one through the 2020 season for the trade with COL for Jonathan Lewis)

 
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Official MLS roster page for NYCFC

In 2020, we're currently only using 6 of our 9 international roster slots (We acquired one through the 2020 season for the trade with COL for Jonathan Lewis)


This roster could be so much better if we could just swap out Jesus for a real DP. I really like how they've broken it down this year though. They took to heart how fans care about roster construction and cap room. All my bitching on those SUM surveys echoed somewhere.
 
Haak is officially on loan to Hartford Athletic for the remainder of the 2020 season.

 
Haak is officially on loan to Hartford Athletic for the remainder of the 2020 season.


Glad he's going to get some game time.
 
Haak is officially on loan to Hartford Athletic for the remainder of the 2020 season.


not bad...they have multiple games coming up in the next three weeks im sure he can see some minutes.
 
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iirc sands was loaned here before his spell with the first team right? I wonder if we'll see Haak here soon in the first team then? :O
Tayvon I don't understand why they wouldn't put him on loan too.

because we are short CBs until ibby is fully healthy. that pretty much sums it up, i think.
 
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iirc sands was loaned here before his spell with the first team right? I wonder if we'll see Haak here soon in the first team then? :O
Tayvon I don't understand why they wouldn't put him on loan too.
Sands was loaned to Louisville.

I'm guessing Tayvon isn't loaned out at the moment as if there was an injury to Chanot or Callens, he may be called upon to at least the bench with Ibeagha injured.
 
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Sands was loaned to Louisville.

I'm guessing Tayvon isn't loaned out at the moment as if there was an injury to Chanot or Callens, he may be called upon to at least the bench with Ibeagha injured.
How hard is it to make a loan with option to return immediately if needed? It's not like he's playing across the globe
 
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How hard is it to make a loan with option to return immediately if needed? It's not like he's playing across the globe
Very true. You just need to have it lined up from a geographical standpoint, as well as in a situation which will get them playing time.

One thing I don't have full comprehension of is how willing some of these USL teams are willing to immediately give minutes to young MLS players, over their current squad.
 
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One thing I don't have full comprehension of is how willing some of these USL teams are willing to immediately give minutes to young MLS players, over their current squad.

Seems like a straightforward question of quality, to me. With all due respect to the USL teams/players, you expect the standard at a lower level to just be below that of the teams in higher leagues. So, it's possible that Haak at 18, already possesses more quality (and has trained and been coached at a higher standard) than any guys still toughing it out in USL in their mid-late 20s.

To take it to an extreme comparison, if me and my other fat unfit mates in a pub league had the chance to borrow 17-year-old Messi for a few weeks, he'd be the first name on the team sheet.
 
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Seems like a straightforward question of quality, to me. With all due respect to the USL teams/players, you expect the standard at a lower level to just be below that of the teams in higher leagues. So, it's possible that Haak at 18, already possesses more quality (and has trained and been coached at a higher standard) than any guys still toughing it out in USL in their mid-late 20s.

To take it to an extreme comparison, if me and my other fat unfit mates in a pub league had the chance to borrow 17-year-old Messi for a few weeks, he'd be the first name on the team sheet.
I get that, but feel there are still several other variables to consider.
  • Familiarity with system and rest of squad - even if a player is more talented, not all of them will immediately be able to demonstrate that in a completely new system and squad.
  • Relationships with current squad - as much as you want to play the most talented players, how will the regular squad members feel if there is a player who is loaned in for very short amounts of time. i.e., with our current CB situation, perhaps Gray could be getting minutes in a few USL matches, but what if Chanot gets injured in training ahead of Saturday? Gray needs to be recalled and hopefully he can get up to speed with the upcoming gameplan.
  • To what extent do USL teams have their own young guys they are looking to get minutes and develop?
All I really mean by it, I just don't think its as easy as just, "loan him out". It has to be a good fit system-wise, playing time-wise, geographically-wise, and roster need-wise (what is the likelihood of us needing to recall?)
 
I get that, but feel there are still several other variables to consider.
  • Familiarity with system and rest of squad - even if a player is more talented, not all of them will immediately be able to demonstrate that in a completely new system and squad.
  • Relationships with current squad - as much as you want to play the most talented players, how will the regular squad members feel if there is a player who is loaned in for very short amounts of time. i.e., with our current CB situation, perhaps Gray could be getting minutes in a few USL matches, but what if Chanot gets injured in training ahead of Saturday? Gray needs to be recalled and hopefully he can get up to speed with the upcoming gameplan.
  • To what extent do USL teams have their own young guys they are looking to get minutes and develop?
All I really mean by it, I just don't think its as easy as just, "loan him out". It has to be a good fit system-wise, playing time-wise, geographically-wise, and roster need-wise (what is the likelihood of us needing to recall?)
Your points are valid but I don’t think it matters much how the USL players feel about things. If Aaron Judge needs a few games to get up to speed after time on the IL he’s going to play for the AAA Yankees no matter who they have on the team. That’s just how the minor leagues work. However, on the other hand we don’t own the USL teams. That’s also a factor too I suppose but I think that’d be a secondary consideration.
 
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