2018 Offseason Thread

[LionNYC]

January 31, 2018: NYCFC vs. Jacksonville University – Jacksonville, FL (behind closed doors)
February 9, 2018: NYCFC vs. LAFC – UCLA, CA
February 10, 2018: NYCFC vs.LA Galaxy – StubHub Center, CA
February 13, 2018: NYCFC vs. Club Atletico de San Luis – Estadio Alfonso Lastras, MX
February 22, 2018: NYCFC vs. Real Salt Lake – Orlando (behind closed doors)
February 24, 2018: NYCFC vs. Montreal Impact –Al Lang Stadium, St Petersburg

New York ---> Florida ---> LA ---> Mexico ---> Florida ---> New York

More specifically, it's New York --> Jacksonville --> Los Angeles --> Carson --> Mexico --> Orlando --> Tampa Bay --> New York

Definitely our busiest preseason in terms of travel. The amount of games (4 matches, 2 closed scrimmages) is typical.

The back to back games in LA and the back to rest to back games in Florida will see heavy roster rotation.

 

[The Toe]

I wonder how much pickup soccer these guys play during the offseason. I imagine they love the sport and play with a ball almost every day, but there must be an itch to play, even just half-assing.

 

[LionNYC]

A big question I have is what academy players will be brought on the preseason tour. I don't think Gio Reyna will be invited but some 16/17 year old players will be...

 

[Fantazma]

A big question I have is what academy players will be brought on the preseason tour. I don't think Gio Reyna will be invited but some 16/17 year old players will be...

probably and will play jacksonville U

 

[Kjbert]

A big question I have is what academy players will be brought on the preseason tour. I don't think Gio Reyna will be invited but some 16/17 year old players will be...

I think you see two players invited to tag along to Florida. I don't think they will join the team beyond that.

James Sands is a special talent and he is the exception and not the rule. Not an indictment of our Academy, but Sands is the best player in bjs age group in US Soccer

 

[LionNYC]

I think you see two players invited to tag along to Florida. I don't think they will join the team beyond that.

James Sands is a special talent and he is the exception and not the rule. Not an indictment of our Academy, but Sands is the best player in bjs age group in US Soccer

Sands wasn't supposed to go beyond the first stop in Florida either. And what's the harm of giving 1 or 2 guys a taste of professional football in a controlled environment.

 

[Kjbert]

High school classes? Sands was unique in that he was in a high school for sports anyway.

 

[adam]

https://twitter.com/x/status/951106364729888771

Can’t wait to pay for it to be steamed from someone’s phone.

 

[rbose14]

I happen to (kinda) support that team, as my family originates in the city of Kolkata. They've been pure shite ever since the Atleti partnership ended. They did sign Keane tho...

That's pretty much exactly what it is. Atletico Madrid owned a team in India until recently, too, but they sold their share about a year ago because (IIRC) they thought that their Indian partners weren't willing to run the team in a way they were happy to be a part of.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I just went to LAFC's website to see if they had a time for the preseason game on Feb. 9 ... they have it as being played the previous day.

They list the game as being on Feb. 8 at 6pm ET.

Also, odds are we're not getting a video stream of that one -- all of LAFC's preseason games are closed to the public: https://www.lafc.com/post/2018/01/10/lafc-announces-2018-preseason-schedule

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Sands is the best player in bjs age group in US Soccer

wait whut?

Sargent, Carleton, Weah, Gosling, Durden at a minimum have something to say about that.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Sands wasn't supposed to go beyond the first stop in Florida either. And what's the harm of giving 1 or 2 guys a taste of professional football in a controlled environment.

Are you referring to that statement at the beginning of camp last year?

Because that's bullshit. As I said at the time, it was only cover in the event he didn't prove to be as good as they expected.

 

[Kjbert]

wait whut?

Sargent, Carleton, Weah, Gosling, Durden at a minimum have something to say about that.

Not his age group.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Not his age group.

How so? They were all together at the U17 WCF.

 

[Kjbert]

How so? They were all together at the U17 WCF.

I think he is a year below them but has played up.

You and I agree that Weah and Sargent are better players right now than Sands. Hopefully, they are better players long term than Sands too for USMNT purposes

 

[Fake Jew]

I think he is a year below them but has played up.

You and I agree that Weah and Sargent are better players right now than Sands. Hopefully, they are better players long term than Sands too for USMNT purposes

You don't know shit about Youth Soccer do you?

 

[Kjbert]

You don't know shit about Youth Soccer do you?

Nope.

 

[Fake Jew]

Nope.

Fair. This was the oldest Sands could be for a u17 world cup. Sorry I came off harsh.

 

[The Toe]

I have a prediction that Barco will still be outshone by Martinez and Almiron.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I have a prediction that Barco will still be outshone by Martinez and Almiron.

You guys will eventually all realise Villalba was the best of them.