MLS

2022 - 6 - 30

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MLS midseason awards: 2022's best players and coach so far (MLSsoccer.com)

As MLS Week 17 comes to a close, we're at the halfway point of the 2022 season. And boy has it flown by. This juncture, among other things, ...

For a club that narrowly missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs a year ago, that’s significant progress. Whether it’s Thiago Martins or Maxime Chanot alongside him, Callens is the ever-steady force whom forwards hate to go against. Here in MLS, Johnson has a league-leading eight clean sheets and is getting some much-deserved recognition after leading the Cityzens to an MLS Cup 2021 title. But a small advantage went Johnson’s way, and it comes as he pushes to make the USMNT’s World Cup roster, possibly featuring alongside MLS exports Zack Steffen and Matt Turner. That breakout year helped springboard Pepi’s club-record outgoing transfer (reported $20 million) from FC Dallas to German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, another moment on the forward’s hype train. An important note: Summertime moves could change the Newcomer of the Year landscape dramatically. Surely, Inter Miami are thinking of securing Campana’s services long-term. That’s an Argentine legend who’s played for the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Juventus – some of the biggest clubs in the world. Quick note: There’s a growing number of young talents across the league, which meant Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, Orlando City SC winger Facundo Torres and more didn’t crack the top five. Individuals recognized are a byproduct of said votes, granting an early frontrunner and four runner-ups (listed in sequential order, five total). He’s on seven goals and four assists across 14 matches, figures that aren’t higher only because of an ankle injury that painstakingly ruled him out of the US men’s national team’s June window. There are plenty of questions still to be answered, and league dynamics could change drastically this summer and fall.

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Transfer possibilities: DP, U22 Initiative check-in for every Eastern ... (MLSsoccer.com)

The Secondary Transfer Window opens next week. Where do all 28 clubs stand in terms of Designated Player and U22 Initiative flexibility?

Carlos Salcedo cannot be bought down but Alejandro Pozuelo is in the final year of his contract. Uhre, their club-record signing, hasn't found his top form just yet, but he has had to deal with some minor injuries following visa issues that delayed his travel to the United States and cost him all of preseason. Orlando are using all three U22 Initiative slots, including Uruguay youth international Cesar Araujo, who immediately won a starting spot. The move still went through and he's been placed on the season-ending injured list. RBNY have all three U22 Initiative slots taken up, though it's possible they could do some maneuvering to open another up if they so chose. So far, New England's first U22 Initiative signing has been extremely successful. Luquinhas is a midseason favorite to win Newcomer of the Year, a fantastic start to life in MLS after a winter move. Hernandez was signed as a Young DP, so the Crew could add another two U22 Initiative players. Will the third DP be another center forward (like Buksa) or will they look for a different position? Greek international Taxi Fountas was signed this spring, joining earlier than the originally planned July 7, as United reached a compensation agreement with his former club, Austria's Rapid Vienna, allowing him to join immediately. Clubs value flexibility, so there are several players who could be moved on or off DP/U22 Initiative slots during the season. The Columbus Crew took another big swing this spring, likely wrapping up their key summer shopping with the club-record acquisition of Cucho Hernandez from Watford on a deal worth around $10.5 million.

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The blueprint: How MLS NEXT is bridging the gap from youth to pro (MLSsoccer.com)

FRISCO, Texas – What's more important in the youth game: development or winning?

While analyzing an Under-15 Real Salt Lake academy match, I was fortunate to speak with one of the U-19 USYMNT coaches and it was refreshing to hear that one of the main qualities they look for in players is their determination. The reward of this hard work will be all worth it this weekend when a new MLS NEXT Cup champion is crowned. It’s all about building from their mistakes and allowing the player to feel comfortable enough to have the desire to stand up and have the confidence to try harder passes, such as those in between the lines or making diagonal runs in between defenders. He made a crucial point that some players are just okay, while some others truly have a grasp for what the game is really about. The level is now more demanding and tactically it requires a high level of concentration. Let’s not forget that these are still young people who are still in the development stages of their careers and lives. Their stories offer a reality for these players in MLS NEXT because, just like Weston made it out of Dallas to Germany and now Juventus, it sends the message that reaching the game at the highest level is attainable and not impossible. The styles and philosophies might differ, but all of these kids have a unique opportunity in front of them. The question is, what can these young players do to give themselves the best opportunity to grow into young professionals? Some academies come from an already existing style of play molded by their first team in Major League Soccer. Other historic clubs not affiliated with Major League Soccer such as BW Gottschee, Baltimore Armour and Solar FC are part of an elite group of young talent, with the same hopes and dreams to be seen by these MLS academy programs. It wasn’t too long ago that the US men's national team standout was playing on the same fields as these kids with his home state's FC Dallas academy and not, like he is now, playing for Juventus in the Italian Serie A as one of their biggest stars. I’ve had the privilege to compete, win, and lift trophies on these fields at various stages of my career.

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