2021 Roster Discussion

What is everyone's take on homegrowns being projects as opposed to players who can possibly contribute this next season?
Petkovic, and Polvara both roughly 19-20 who are easily some of the best players in college (both on All American lists) could most likely provide midfield coverage vs a 14 year old who will probably play in MLS 2 until 2023-2024?

or am i just out of touch, which certainly could be the case!
In what scenario would Petkovic or Polvara contribute in a game this season (that means, isn't getting late minutes in a game that is out of reach in either direction)
 
to be fair, I said next season! And by no means am I saying they are the 2nd coming of messi. I am just asking if the idea of signing a 14 year old who is probably 3-4 years from "contributing" as you say, is worth 2 years of a more first team ready player. I am being serious with my question, like the kid i'm sure is very good, but even they say he's going to still play with the 17s for at least the next year!
 
What is everyone's take on homegrowns being projects as opposed to players who can possibly contribute this next season?
Petkovic, and Polvara both roughly 19-20 who are easily some of the best players in college (both on All American lists) could most likely provide midfield coverage vs a 14 year old who will probably play in MLS 2 until 2023-2024?

or am i just out of touch, which certainly could be the case!

it doesnt mean they cant contribute when they graduate, but you if you want them next year you have to convince them to give up that scholarship. i mean it took convincing to get jasson to sign and not play for Yale any more ( i think they cut a deal to pay for some of his online classes). i get this signing feels off, but if a kid is going to go to college ( which is more than fine) then you cant expect them to contribute until they graduate or ready to give up college.
 
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to be fair, I said next season! And by no means am I saying they are the 2nd coming of messi. I am just asking if the idea of signing a 14 year old who is probably 3-4 years from "contributing" as you say, is worth 2 years of a more first team ready player. I am being serious with my question, like the kid i'm sure is very good, but even they say he's going to still play with the 17s for at least the next year!

i think its more to not have a case of gio reyna where he leaves for free from academy. simple as that.
 
“Christian initially came into our U-12 group and he has developed quickly through the Academy. He is at an earlier stage of his development than our previous Academy signings and initially will continue to train and play with our U-17 team, but we are excited that he has committed to become a professional at this young age. There is a development plan in place for him over the coming years and we are looking forward to supporting his development to maximize his potential.”

And just in terms of the copy, I count 5 missing spaces.

im assuming they offering contract so he dont leave for free? maybe he already had interest from abroad?
 
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In what scenario would Petkovic or Polvara contribute in a game this season (that means, isn't getting late minutes in a game that is out of reach in either direction)
Right, even assuming Sands leaves and Maxi retires/leaves (Maxi leaving almost certain to happen), that leaves us with midfield options Santi, Parks, Acevedo, Morales, Jasson, Medina, Rocha, Zelalem and possibly Haak and Torres returning from loan.

Would also assume the club makes at least one midfield signing.

Still having trouble seeing where Petkovic or Polvara get minutes without playing professionally at all over guys like Haak or Torres, let alone the rest of the roster.
 
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Right, even assuming Sands leaves and Maxi retires/leaves (Maxi leaving almost certain to happen), that leaves us with midfield options Santi, Parks, Acevedo, Morales, Jasson, Medina, Rocha, Zelalem and possibly Haak and Torres returning from loan.

Would also assume the club makes at least one midfield signing.

Still having trouble seeing where Petkovic or Polvara get minutes without playing professionally at all over guys like Haak or Torres, let alone the rest of the roster.

Hey man if you're advocating for Rocha to get minutes over an academy grad 20 year old thats on you. I am simply saying that a 14 year old who will not play in any meaningful way for over 3 years (and who will continue to play and practice with the exact same team he would be playing for sans contract for at least another year) seems silly to me! Especially when several more pro ready players are probably desiring that contract. The EU passport thing makes sense, that sure would explain the age at least.
 
to be fair, I said next season! And by no means am I saying they are the 2nd coming of messi. I am just asking if the idea of signing a 14 year old who is probably 3-4 years from "contributing" as you say, is worth 2 years of a more first team ready player. I am being serious with my question, like the kid i'm sure is very good, but even they say he's going to still play with the 17s for at least the next year!

It's not an either/or, though. They can loan these guys out and get them off the 30-man active roster like they've done with a few of the reserve players. for me, there's no harm in signing a guy early and letting him develop. This is what the homegrown roster spots are for.
 
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Hey man if you're advocating for Rocha to get minutes over an academy grad 20 year old thats on you. I am simply saying that a 14 year old who will not play in any meaningful way for over 3 years (and who will continue to play and practice with the exact same team he would be playing for sans contract for at least another year) seems silly to me! Especially when several more pro ready players are probably desiring that contract. The EU passport thing makes sense, that sure would explain the age at least.

What's the problem with signing a prospect player? he probably signed for dirt cheap and if he develops into a hot commodity that can be sold to europe for big bucks, that's just good business by the club. I don't think this is about seeing whether he will fit in with the first team to get minutes or not, this is about protecting their investment in a kid who could develop into a multi-million transfer.

plus - this kid would play in the left CB, left back role, where we are not very deep.
 
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What's the problem with signing a prospect player? It probably signed for dirt cheap and if he develops into a hot commodity that can be sold to europe for big bucks, that's just good business by the club. I don't think this is about seeing whether he will fit in with the first team to get minutes or not, this is about protecting their investment in a kid who could develop into a multi-million transfer.

plus - this kid would play in the left CB, left back role, where are are not very deep.

Again I have no intrinsic problem with this signing, I was just curious what the thoughts of the FO prioritized this newest signing vs prior academy products. EU passport provides a big clue! Plus I found it interesting that they included the fact that he would continue to play with the 17's signaling he is not yet likely at the first team level. That is all I wanted to discuss. At the end of the day, congrats to the kid I hope he's a rockstar! Just wanted other peoples thoughts that's all
 
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Hey man if you're advocating for Rocha to get minutes over an academy grad 20 year old thats on you.
Yes, I would rather Rocha get first team minutes over an academy player that currently has 0 professional minutes at the moment.

But I'm not against signing those guys and loaning them out! Those aren't mutually exclusive things! Or against signing them and having them in training!

I'm also not opposed to having those guys come into preseason camp beforehand and if they balled out, then having them get first team minutes over Rocha. I just haven't seen anything to suggest that the guys currently playing in college should deserve meaningful minutes in a competitive match over Tony Rocha, among others, at the moment. But I am definitely open to changing that opinion if those guys come in and show quality.
 
Again I have no intrinsic problem with this signing, I was just curious what the thoughts of the FO prioritized this newest signing vs prior academy products. EU passport provides a big clue! Plus I found it interesting that they included the fact that he would continue to play with the 17's signaling he is not yet likely at the first team level. That is all I wanted to discuss. At the end of the day, congrats to the kid I hope he's a rockstar! Just wanted other peoples thoughts that's all

so he dont leave for free like gio
 
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I don´t understand the conflict. If he continues to train with U17 he doesn't take up a roster spot, right? He´s not on the first team. So he wouldn´t interfere with other people being signed as homegrowns to the 1st team. Or is there a limit to homegrowns in the roster and it is particularly low? Obviously a guy like Rocha, low ceiling and everything, is more useful right now that a 14 y.o. but probably also than guys who are excelling in college soccer, even if they could theoretically have a higher ceiling.

I mean, if we're talking about assessments of somebody´s ceiling as a pro soccer player at a young age, let's remember that Gedion Zelalem was Arsenal's youngest ever to debut in the first team at FA Cup, age 16. Now he's our reclamation project at 24 (which I think could still turn out pretty good for us). He has lots of talent.
 
also, when are they going to announce that nycfc 2 team. i recall glen crooks saying in august but here we are and no announcement.
 
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I don´t understand the conflict. If he continues to train with U17 he doesn't take up a roster spot, right? He´s not on the first team. So he wouldn´t interfere with other people being signed as homegrowns to the 1st team. Or is there a limit to homegrowns in the roster and it is particularly low? Obviously a guy like Rocha, low ceiling and everything, is more useful right now that a 14 y.o. but probably also than guys who are excelling in college soccer, even if they could theoretically have a higher ceiling.

I mean, if we're talking about assessments of somebody´s ceiling as a pro soccer player at a young age, let's remember that Gedion Zelalem was Arsenal's youngest ever to debut in the first team at FA Cup, age 16. Now he's our reclamation project at 24 (which I think could still turn out pretty good for us). He has lots of talent.

If he's signed to the first team, presumably he will be counted against the 30-man limit unless he is officially loaned out to another team. No limit to the amount of homegrowns, just the 30-man limit on the active roster. But we're not particularly close to that limit since already there are a number of guys away on loan.
 
If he's signed to the first team, presumably he will be counted against the 30-man limit unless he is officially loaned out to another team. No limit to the amount of homegrowns, just the 30-man limit on the active roster. But we're not particularly close to that limit since already there are a number of guys away on loan.
I believe that you can only reclaim one spot on your 30 man roster via loans but thats just my understanding of the rule.
 
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We need to start seeing the big questions asked in press conferences. Hearing more from David Lee and Ronny.

Medina can be bought off his DP slot. Maxi is leaving at the end of the season. We have a third spot presumably we will be giving up with Mitrita. With potentially three DP slots open, what are we doing to bolster a) the leadership in the team, b) the midfield, and c) the defense? Offense we clearly see doesn't need any more bolstering. Defense and midfield are clearly shaky. And we're missing that leader. Chanot and Johnson are great and all but they're not what we need on the field to guide everyone.

-ETA-
I'm not just saying this in a response to that Chicago game. I've been thinking this for a few weeks now, regardless of if we had been winning or not. These are things that could make or break our next season. We don't want another rebuild season.
 
We need to start seeing the big questions asked in press conferences. Hearing more from David Lee and Ronny.

Medina can be bought off his DP slot. Maxi is leaving at the end of the season. We have a third spot presumably we will be giving up with Mitrita. With potentially three DP slots open, what are we doing to bolster a) the leadership in the team, b) the midfield, and c) the defense? Offense we clearly see doesn't need any more bolstering. Defense and midfield are clearly shaky. And we're missing that leader. Chanot and Johnson are great and all but they're not what we need on the field to guide everyone.

-ETA-
I'm not just saying this in a response to that Chicago game. I've been thinking this for a few weeks now, regardless of if we had been winning or not. These are things that could make or break our next season. We don't want another rebuild season.

pretty sure talles is a DP (taking mitri's spot). so at best, we have 2 DP spots with maxi leaving and a medina buyout.

We definitely need CB bolstering. We need better midfield bolstering. We have a lot of midfielders on the roster now, but morales is bad and acevedo is super inconsistent.. and super slow. We are missing a true destroyer type midfielder who can cover a LOT of ground and break up plays. Sands CAN play that role, but he's still not a destroyer like Ring was.

All that being said, this roster is still a great roster. Ronny's inability to use the players he has in a proper formation with a proper strategy is what sticks out as the problem, to me.
 
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pretty sure talles is a DP (taking mitri's spot). so at best, we have 2 DP spots with maxi leaving and a medina buyout.

We definitely need CB bolstering. We need better midfield bolstering. We have a lot of midfielders on the roster now, but morales is bad and acevedo is super inconsistent.. and super slow. We are missing a true destroyer type midfielder who can cover a LOT of ground and break up plays. Sands CAN play that role, but he's still not a destroyer like Ring was.

All that being said, this roster is still a great roster. Ronny's inability to use the players he has in a proper formation with a proper strategy is what sticks out as the problem, to me.
A great roster? I really need people to lay out in some kind of detail how this roster is “great” or is a”Formula 1 Race car”. I am not convinced that this team is anything more than good and if you look at the last 12 games I’m not sure they are even that good.