Here are quick notes from the youth academy coach about the progress of each player:
Ed Gaines (GK) - Ed has been a stalwart performer for the team. He's one of a very small group of our players who I think have a very good shot at having a permanent spot on the senior team. He's just turned 17 and I think his chance will come sooner rather than later. When he does move on he will be very missed. Hopefully we can keep him with us for our 4 remaining league games.
Mauricio Guajardo (WB) - A nice versatile defender who is equally comfortable in the middle or outside. Mauricio had a nasty habit of picking up too many yellow cards but he seems to have calmed down in that regard. His prospects of going on to a pro career are really up to him. It could go either way with him.
Jeffrey Parrish (WB) - Right at the point where Mauricio stopped picking up silly yellows it seems that Jeffrey started. Jeffrey is a good defender and at present is justifiably proud of his two goals in our big win over F.C. Olimpic Youth Bucharest. But he doesn't read the game as well as Mauricio or John do. His chances to make the senior side are slim, but for the time being he's a solid member of our team.
Denny Dorsey (IM) - This 15-year old has just arrived to our program but he looks a very good prospect. We haven't seen him in a real match yet but he's looking good in training. He will be getting playing time very soon.
John Ewing (CD) - John has been Mr. Consistency for our defense. He's contributed 8 goals as well which is fantastic for a defender. His defensive skills are very solid but perhaps not spectacular enough to warrant the jump to a pro career. But like a lot of our players he could push himself over the tipping point with a bit more work.
Sean Polanco (IM) - In his relatively short time with the club Sean has come a long way. He's made one of the starting midfield jobs his own and has elevated his game to an impressive level. He's not a fantastic goal scorer, but his passing abilities are fantastic. This is one of the players coach Whittington has his eye on.
Brent Hewitt (W) - Brent's been with us for a long time and it took us a lot of time to find his best spot. Once we saw his potential on the wing he had to bide his time until Tackett and Escandon moved on before he got to start on a regular basis. Brent's a good kid, but winger remains a problem position for us. We're looking for an upgrade here.
Ben Felton (FW) - Ben isn't the most technical player, but that doesn't seem to matter much since he is a born goal-scoring machine. He's scored 20 goals in all competitions in his time with us and I'm pretty sure no one can match that. I'm not sure his game transfers to the pro game, but as long as he scores goals it's hard to argue against him.
Ed Hinson (FW) - Ed is a brilliant player but can be erratic. He's scored 18 goals and has often been our best player. But he picks up a lot of silly cards and can disappear for some games. If Ed can calm down and develop some consistency I think he has a pro career ahead of him. If not he may remain a youth academy legend.
Adolfo Navarro (IM) - Adolfo is one of our players who I think is a lock to progress to the senior team. What's amazing is that he continues to improve. Adolfo is our prodigy and his time with us is limited. I'm also trying hard to keep him with our squad for the rest of the season.
Ted Stoner (W) - Ted is the best of our winger and can play well inside also. He's our captain and his presence on the field is a big asset for us. He's another one of those quality players who might go on to a pro career but might not.
Milan Olson (FW) - We were very excited about Milan when we first discovered him. But over time he's been outplayed by the other forwards on our team. He is a good squad player for us but will not be able to progress to the pros.
Paul Denson (WB) - Paul can fill in in any position on the field, but he doesn't truly excel at any of them. Every team needs a guy like that, but to get a professional contract you need to specialize a bit more.
Wallace Machado (S) - Wallace and Paul are very much in the same boat. Wallace is a versatile player but has never managed to claim a starting spot on the team. His chances of promotion are very slim.
Gus Longoria (W) - Gus has stepped in and played well during a critical portion of our season. He's got a starting winger position for now but I'm not sure if he's a prospect for the long term. If he has the capacity to learn and improve that evaluation might still change.
Agustín Adrián Pérez (IM) - His first and thus far only match with us was our fantastic victory over F.C. Olimpic Youth Bucharest. Agustín played a fine match and scored a goal for us. He's at a high level for a 16-year old but it's still too early to tell how good he could end up being. He should get consistent playing time over the course of next season.
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Neil Benoit - Didn't spend much time with us and never played up to the level our club expects.
Nathaniel Tackett - Despite his promotion to the senior team Nathaniel had a spotty record with the youth academy. He showed some talent but was never a real standout. He was primarily an inner midfielder for us though Coach Whittington has tried him on the outside.
Chad Jones - Didn't spend much time with us and never played up to the level our club expects.
Leonardo Escandon - Another promoted player who had only an average youth academy career. He was a decent winger for us, but never a gamebreaker.
Frank Whaley - A very good midfielder in his time with the youth academy. Like Tackett and Escandon he wasn't a prodigy but was good enough to earn a callup to the senior squad. He started his youth academy days badly but developed into a very consistent inner midfielder.
Francis Wilson - We played Francis in the middle of the field for a long time and didn't discover until very late that his real talent was on the wing. That talent earned him a well deserved callup to the senior squad where I think he might hold his own.
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