2026 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[gbservis]

When Perea is back and we have O'Neill, Parks, Perea, and Trewin for basically 3 spots that's going to be interesting. Wonder how Pascal handles that because we have some serious players for the D-mid/CB spots.

It's a good problem to have. My prediction assuming everyone is healthy is that Parks and O'Neil continue to start at CM. Trewin settles in as the starting CB next to Martins. Gustavo still sees plenty of time as the first choice backup for both CB and LB. Perea will be a super sub as has been his role for the majority of his time with the club. He can fill in on the wing and CM spots.

I'm most concerned about what this means for Shore. Of the young guys (Shore, Reid, Carizo, and Baiera) Shore is by far the most game ready right now yet he's buried the deepest on the depth chart. He's not good enough yet to push Keaton or O'niel for a starting spot but it would be nice if he continued to get some first team time to help with his development.

 

[moogoo]

It's a good problem to have. My prediction assuming everyone is healthy is that Parks and O'Neil continue to start at CM. Trewin settles in as the starting CB next to Martins. Gustavo still sees plenty of time as the first choice backup for both CB and LB. Perea will be a super sub as has been his role for the majority of his time with the club. He can fill in on the wing and CM spots.

I'm most concerned about what this means for Shore. Of the young guys (Shore, Reid, Carizo, and Baiera) Shore is by far the most game ready right now yet he's buried the deepest on the depth chart. He's not good enough yet to push Keaton or O'niel for a starting spot but it would be nice if he continued to get some first team time to help with his development.

I think gustavo and perea will get plenty of minutes. Not just as super subs or backups for injury, but also when Jansen wants to change up tactics. Gustavo and Perea bring different things that none of the other guys have.

Shore is the biggest concern. I hate to see his time wasting away on the bench and playing with the IIs. He's only 18 though and I think he'll become a larger part of the squad in the next few years.

 

[Joe_Cos]

I do enjoy home playoff games though.

The team attempting to sign Sylla makes my following point moot.
I was wondering if the team itself loses money on hosting games so it treads water until the 2nd window so the team makes the playoff but doesn’t do to well where it’s losing money to rent either YS/Citi

 

[Gotham Gator]

I’ve been pleased with O’Neill as well. One thing that helped me to rate him was his match for Australia against the U.S. last fall. He showed well. Amusingly, he seemed to have it in for James Sands, who he abused with two very hard fouls.

 

[gbservis]

15 days before the transfer window closes, if they are going to wait on the DP until the second window they need to sign a TAM level attacker now. Banking on going 2/3rds for the season with 39 year old Maxi as the full time starting CAM is insane. Our only attacking depth right now consists of an out of shape and disinterested looking Magno and two promising but not quite ready looking teenagers. The rest of this team is too good to gamble 2/3rds of the season on that little attacking depth.

 

[ZYanksRule]

15 days before the transfer window closes, if they are going to wait on the DP until the second window they need to sign a TAM level attacker now. Banking on going 2/3rds for the season with 39 year old Maxi as the full time starting CAM is insane. Our only attacking depth right now consists of an out of shape and disinterested looking Magno and two promising but not quite ready looking teenagers. The rest of this team is too good to gamble 2/3rds of the season on that little attacking depth.

This x100.

Though I get the sense Maxi is going to start no matter what we do. He's started literally every single game since last season, and a player who starts every single game isn't suddenly being plastered to the bench because of one signing.

At this point I think a striker signing moves Nico to the wing with Maxi continuing to start at the 10.

 

[Kenny]

I'm not expecting any more additions until after the World Cup.

 

[BxLio91]

Maybe they're waiting to see who retires from international play or who from smaller countries shines this summer.

 

[ezbeezy214]

This x100.

Though I get the sense Maxi is going to start no matter what we do. He's started literally every single game since last season, and a player who starts every single game isn't suddenly being plastered to the bench because of one signing.

At this point I think a striker signing moves Nico to the wing with Maxi continuing to start at the 10.

If Ojeda keeps this form up maybe it eases the pressure for Maxi. Helps Pascal go to Reid. Chance Perea can play that role as well when he is back.

 

[ZYanksRule]

If Ojeda keeps this form up maybe it eases the pressure for Maxi. Helps Pascal go to Reid. Chance Perea can play that role as well when he is back.

Lots of MLS pundits thought Ojeda was due for a breakout last season. Maybe it happens this season.

 

[gbservis]

If Ojeda keeps this form up maybe it eases the pressure for Maxi. Helps Pascal go to Reid. Chance Perea can play that role as well when he is back.

I was hyped for Reid but I don't think he's ready and I don't think Pascal trusts him for anything more than sub appearances.

 

[FootyLovin]

Lots of MLS pundits thought Ojeda was due for a breakout last season. Maybe it happens this season.

If he keeps up (not improve upon, just keep up) what he has done in the first 3 matches I think he ends the season with 10+ assists and 6-10 goals. The critiques in the past have been justified. But right now he looks like a legitimate starter in that role.

 

[gbservis]

Assuming we get a starting caliber striker at some point of this season I think the other missing piece in attack is a veteran scoring winger off the bench, someone like ITS. A guy that can come in and be a threat to score but also has veteran level experience to have a presence of a player that has been there before. Last year our subs were Ojeda and Fernandez, this year we have Reid, Carrizo and possibly Jones. All exciting players and I'm not trying to take anything away from them but sometimes a game just needs an attacking sub that's not in the process of development or pressing to prove themselves, just a solid veteran that knows their role and plays with the required composure of the moment.

I guess that player could possibly be Maxi if at some point he starts coming off the bench or Perea when he returns but neither are much of a goal scoring threat. Some will say Magno but I'm past the point of believing he's going to become a reliable MLS player.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Assuming we get a starting caliber striker at some point of this season I think the other missing piece in attack is a veteran scoring winger off the bench

I think this is the complication in our search. We're not looking for a fox in the box. We want someone who can play either as a striker or a winger. I'm further convinced they need to be around age 25.

Moussa Sylla fit the bill perfectly (which is why Schalke is all wet with their whining), but alas ... So, the search continues.

Side note: Sylla hasn't played much since his return to Germany. His latest appearance was a 3-minute late sub. We may have indeed dodged a bullet there.

 

[gbservis]

I think this is the complication in our search. We're not looking for a fox in the box. We want someone who can play either as a striker or a winger. I'm further convinced they need to be around age 25.

Moussa Sylla fit the bill perfectly (which is why Schalke is all wet with their whining), but alas ... So, the search continues.

Side note: Sylla hasn't played much since his return to Germany. His latest appearance was a 3-minute late sub. We may have indeed dodged a bullet there.

They have certainly hinted at this winger striker hybrid requirement reportedly so that Martinez could slot back in as striker when he returns. If that's the case I think they are needlessly over complicating the search. There is no certainty that Martinez will be back this season and even if he returns there is no guarantee that he will be able to perform at his pre-injury level. Martinez is also a converted winger so we already have a striker winger hybrid, have him player winger if the new DP is more of a pure striker. Just go get the best striker you can and sort of the Martinez situation once he returns.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I think this is the complication in our search. We're not looking for a fox in the box. We want someone who can play either as a striker or a winger. I'm further convinced they need to be around age 25.

Moussa Sylla fit the bill perfectly (which is why Schalke is all wet with their whining), but alas ... So, the search continues.

Side note: Sylla hasn't played much since his return to Germany. His latest appearance was a 3-minute late sub. We may have indeed dodged a bullet there.

Schalke signed his replacement when they thought he was leaving so that might also be why he isn't playing much; I imagine they try to sell him again in the winter.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Schalke signed his replacement when they thought he was leaving so that might also be why he isn't playing much; I imagine they try to sell him again in the winter.

I thought of that, although if they were looking to move him, I'd imagine he'd get some showcase time. He got 20 minutes in his return, just three minutes his last appearance. It seems a strange way to go about it.

And if his replacement is Edin Džeko, that's odd too. He turns 40 in five days.

I just can't figure them out.

 

[Revfugee]

Assuming we get a starting caliber striker at some point of this season I think the other missing piece in attack is a veteran scoring winger off the bench, someone like ITS. A guy that can come in and be a threat to score but also has veteran level experience to have a presence of a player that has been there before. Last year our subs were Ojeda and Fernandez, this year we have Reid, Carrizo and possibly Jones. All exciting players and I'm not trying to take anything away from them but sometimes a game just needs an attacking sub that's not in the process of development or pressing to prove themselves, just a solid veteran that knows their role and plays with the required composure of the moment.

I guess that player could possibly be Maxi if at some point he starts coming off the bench or Perea when he returns but neither are much of a goal scoring threat. Some will say Magno but I'm past the point of believing he's going to become a reliable MLS player.

I would love an ITS type but it’s been a long time since we’ve carried a pure sniper like that. As for Maxi insurance, my bet is that the club thinks that between Nico and Carrizo they already have that in the house. Personally, I think Carrizo is further along than most us us give him credit for. In his brief appearances he’s appeared very difficult to dispossess.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I would love an ITS type but it’s been a long time since we’ve carried a pure sniper like that. As for Maxi insurance, my bet is that the club thinks that between Nico and Carrizo they already have that in the house. Personally, I think Carrizo is further along than most us us give him credit for. In his brief appearances he’s appeared very difficult to dispossess.

Nico, I'm almost positive, was signed to be the new No. 10 but Maxi has continued to play well enough, and his on-field leadership skills are so high, that Pascal can't take him off the field.

Frankly, we've seen that the team isn't nearly as good when Maxi is off the field and he's so good that it's impossible to take him off the field. While I agree that he's lost a step, he is obviously providing enough that Pascal can't take him off the field.

 

[mgarbowski]

Frankly, we've seen that the team isn't nearly as good when Maxi is off the field and he's so good that it's impossible to take him off the field.

Have we seen that? I'm not sure we've seen enough to judge one way or another. After Nico arrived Maxi still played 80 minutes per game last year. This year it's 75 per game, and it's only that low because last week vs. Orlando Maxi was taken off after 67 minutes winning 5-0 with a man advantage.
Now your other conclusion which I didn't quote must be correct: Pascal thinks we're better with Maxi on the field. That's why he plays him. But I don't think he's basing that on what he has seen in games because there is so little to go on. I also suspect the issue is not that Maxi right now is a better 10 than Nico but that moving Nico to 10 further exposes the thinness of our striker and winger depth.