Monday rundown
Good weekend for American teens in MLS, Villafana wins title, Adams & Gall watch
Hope springs eternal and life goes on for the U.S. national team with a very young team and in MLS, teenagers are performing well. The silly season is upon us and Americans are involved in substantive transfer rumors. It's been a tough winter but there is finally positivity.
MOST OF THE European leagues are over and the World Cup tournament begins to dominate the global headlines. Even without the U.S. team heading to Russia, there is still plenty to talk about in American Soccer.
Of course the national team is always a big story and Dave Sarachan has assembled a very young roster in camp in Philadelphia and you can read ASN’s thoughts on that here.
But here is some other big news to chew on.
It is very good news to see more domestic teenagers getting a look in MLS and this past weekend was particularly noteworthy. Here are the highlights:
Reggie Cannon’s first professional goal for FC Dallas was special as the right back showecased a strong left foot in a 2-2 draw against Vancouver. He has had some bumps along the way but the 19 year old FC Dallas homegrown continues to progress and looks like a good candidate to be the starting right back for the next U.S. U-23 team.
The Philadelphia Union crushed Real Salt Lake 4-1 and won its second straight game while starting a pair of local central defenders in Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie – both 19. Now with allowing just one goal over the last 180 minutes, the Union are seeing some rewards after playing two young defenders.
Chris Durkin, 18, had his best professional game so far as DC United defeated a woeful San Jose team 3-1 on the road. Despite the poor opponent, Durkin completely controlled the midfield and is showing steady progression as a professional.
U.S. international Tyler Adams, 19, got the usual start for the Red Bulls against Atlanta in the weekend’s most high profile game. After a few shaky moments early, Adams was very good once again until he left late in the game with knee pain (which head coach Jesse Marsch added that he believed Adams was going to be okay). Despite that, it was another good moment for the league over the weekend.
It was a mixed trip to Honduras for the United States U-20 team which split two games against the host nation – losing the first game 2-1 and winning the second on Sunday 3-0.
Two goals were scored by Indiana’s Justin Rennicks and the other was from NC State right back Manny Perez. Andrew Carleton had two assists in the win. It was a good camp for Carleton who also scored in the 2-1 loss.
Weah makes first PSG Start
U.S. national team forward Tim Weah made his first start for French champions Paris St. Germain on Sunday and went the distance in a 0-0 draw against Caen. It was an exciting moment for Weah who nearly had an assist in the first half.
Overall, however, Weah did not get on the ball that much and did not muster a shot. Still it was a positive second half of the season for Weah who had some impressive moments for PSG and should have more opportunities in 2018/19 – perhaps on loan.
American attacker Romain Gall’s success at GIF Sundsvall is not going unnoticed as numerous clubs continue to show interest. Last week, a Dutch report revealed Heerenveen was scouting the French-born Gall.
On Monday, a new Swedish report came out saying a Copenhagaen, Freibug, and Hammarby have also sent scouts. If Gall can continue to play well, it seems likely he'll be on the move sooner than later.
On Saturday, Metro dropped the report that Tyler Adams was closing in on a move to RB Leipzig which could be finalized this summer or after the MLS season. It could also be followed by a loan to Red Bull Salzburg – the Austrian champions.
It was only a matter of time before Adams was sold but the fact that he is being sold to a club with common ownership makes this less interesting. Adams has the talent to make it in the Bundesliga but him going in house won’t really reflect a true free-market negotiation. MLS is single entity but its clubs are allowed to now keep most if not all of the money for the sale of a homegrown player.
It is one thing to be a selling team and a selling league. That is necessary and healthy. But it is another for teems to be a direct feeder to parent clubs. It is the same as the Jack Harrison deal from NYCFC to Manchester City. In the end it all balances out on Red Bull’s accounting books.
Jorge Villafana will arrive at the U.S. national team camp as a Liga MX champion after playing the final 35 minutes of Santos Laguna’s 1-1 draw against Toluca in the second leg of the final. That was enough for a 3-2 aggregate win.
Villafana, 28, now has both an MLS title and a Liga MX title to his tame.
Of course it was also a frightening weekend for the California native who was robbed at gunpoint of $20,000 in between the two legs of the final. But at least the story had a happy ending.
Of course the national team is always a big story and Dave Sarachan has assembled a very young roster in camp in Philadelphia and you can read ASN’s thoughts on that here.
But here is some other big news to chew on.
Good weekend for MLS American teens
It is very good news to see more domestic teenagers getting a look in MLS and this past weekend was particularly noteworthy. Here are the highlights:
Reggie Cannon’s first professional goal for FC Dallas was special as the right back showecased a strong left foot in a 2-2 draw against Vancouver. He has had some bumps along the way but the 19 year old FC Dallas homegrown continues to progress and looks like a good candidate to be the starting right back for the next U.S. U-23 team.
What a first professional goal from Reggie Cannon, 19, who I think has a great shot to be the starting right back for the U.S U-23. This goal showcases a strong left foot https://t.co/H55Rvepidx
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) May 19, 2018
The Philadelphia Union crushed Real Salt Lake 4-1 and won its second straight game while starting a pair of local central defenders in Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie – both 19. Now with allowing just one goal over the last 180 minutes, the Union are seeing some rewards after playing two young defenders.
Chris Durkin, 18, had his best professional game so far as DC United defeated a woeful San Jose team 3-1 on the road. Despite the poor opponent, Durkin completely controlled the midfield and is showing steady progression as a professional.
U.S. international Tyler Adams, 19, got the usual start for the Red Bulls against Atlanta in the weekend’s most high profile game. After a few shaky moments early, Adams was very good once again until he left late in the game with knee pain (which head coach Jesse Marsch added that he believed Adams was going to be okay). Despite that, it was another good moment for the league over the weekend.
U.S. U-20s split in Honduras
It was a mixed trip to Honduras for the United States U-20 team which split two games against the host nation – losing the first game 2-1 and winning the second on Sunday 3-0.
Two goals were scored by Indiana’s Justin Rennicks and the other was from NC State right back Manny Perez. Andrew Carleton had two assists in the win. It was a good camp for Carleton who also scored in the 2-1 loss.
Weah makes first PSG Start
U.S. national team forward Tim Weah made his first start for French champions Paris St. Germain on Sunday and went the distance in a 0-0 draw against Caen. It was an exciting moment for Weah who nearly had an assist in the first half.
Overall, however, Weah did not get on the ball that much and did not muster a shot. Still it was a positive second half of the season for Weah who had some impressive moments for PSG and should have more opportunities in 2018/19 – perhaps on loan.
Gall continues to be scouted
American attacker Romain Gall’s success at GIF Sundsvall is not going unnoticed as numerous clubs continue to show interest. Last week, a Dutch report revealed Heerenveen was scouting the French-born Gall.
On Monday, a new Swedish report came out saying a Copenhagaen, Freibug, and Hammarby have also sent scouts. If Gall can continue to play well, it seems likely he'll be on the move sooner than later.
Adams on the move?
On Saturday, Metro dropped the report that Tyler Adams was closing in on a move to RB Leipzig which could be finalized this summer or after the MLS season. It could also be followed by a loan to Red Bull Salzburg – the Austrian champions.
It was only a matter of time before Adams was sold but the fact that he is being sold to a club with common ownership makes this less interesting. Adams has the talent to make it in the Bundesliga but him going in house won’t really reflect a true free-market negotiation. MLS is single entity but its clubs are allowed to now keep most if not all of the money for the sale of a homegrown player.
It is one thing to be a selling team and a selling league. That is necessary and healthy. But it is another for teems to be a direct feeder to parent clubs. It is the same as the Jack Harrison deal from NYCFC to Manchester City. In the end it all balances out on Red Bull’s accounting books.
Villafana comes to USMNT camp a champion
Jorge Villafana will arrive at the U.S. national team camp as a Liga MX champion after playing the final 35 minutes of Santos Laguna’s 1-1 draw against Toluca in the second leg of the final. That was enough for a 3-2 aggregate win.
Villafana, 28, now has both an MLS title and a Liga MX title to his tame.
Of course it was also a frightening weekend for the California native who was robbed at gunpoint of $20,000 in between the two legs of the final. But at least the story had a happy ending.
Jorge Villafaña has had quite a successful career since being the 1st Sueño MLS winner in 2007.
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) May 21, 2018
Broke through at #ChivasUSA, won 2015 #MLSCup with #PTFC, won 2017 #GoldCup with #USMNT (16 caps), and now won #LigaMX #Clausura2018 title with #SantosLaguna.#MLS #LigaMXEng ???????????? pic.twitter.com/gqVkcvQ5qq
