Tracking U.S. prospects

Below is a list of players who are loosely deemed as U.S. prospects. The cutoff date for this informal grouping is 1989, given it is the age for the next Olympic team. Players in bold have already received a CAP with the full national team.

Birth year:
1989 1990 1991
1992 1993 1994
1995 1996 1997 
1998

List compiled by Joseph Anthone.

 1989

GK 

• David Bingham San Jose Earthquakes
• Sean Johnson   Chicago Fire
• Brian Perk  LA Galaxy 

LA Galaxy unaware of interest in Raul Mendiola

Earlier this week, rumors swirled that Manchester City had taken an interest in 2009-2011 Development Academy U-16 Player of the Year and current Los Angeles Galaxy academy member Raul Mendiola, or more commonly called Guero.

After the Galaxy's victory today over Chivas USA in the mini-SuperClasico on Saturday, I asked Academy Director Chris Klein about the rumors surrounding the nifty playmaker.

"Not that I am aware of," Klein replied regarding Manchester City taking any interest in the player.

The reason this is significant, beyond the obvious ones, is the the unwritten rules of the Development Academy. Trials with professional clubs are supposed to be passed up the ladder so the federation is aware of any activity. Another California academy violated this rule last year, and received a phone call about proper procedure. I doubt many academies would toe that line again, especially an MLS academy.

That said, Mendiola is a special case because he already has an agent (and no intention of playing college soccer). So, there could be a plausible situation in which LA has yet to be informed about his (or perhaps more accurately said, his agent's) intentions, but it does seem unlikely.

Regarding Mendiola's citizenship, Klein offered no new details. 

Mendiola's coach at Arsenal FC, P.J. Brown, was the one who was pushing the agenda with citizenship. I am not sure if Brown is still involved considering Mendiola's shift to a new team, but he is the one who told me that there were three people working on it last spring.

As for the actual game, both teams looked like they were still getting adjusted to new coaches and systems. Neither team had many returners from the year before.

U.S. U-17 veterans Mario Rodriguez (LA Galaxy) and Stevie Rodriguez (Chivas USA) did well. Stevie was the most dangerous player on the field for Chivas USA, but it looked like he could use some other options around him in the attack. The Rojiblancos were too eager to force the issue down the middle and rarely had anything in the wings.

Mario played out wide in a 4-3-3 formation, which does not seem like his strongest position, but Jack McBean occupies the center forward role so Mario is adapting. He had some good moments in the first half and set up McBean a few times, but he was winded in the second half and eventually replaced by Pedro 'Peter' Velasquez.

McBean, who ended up with the game-winner, had an off day. His touch was off and he just couldn't put it together for any stretch of the morning. He also had a lot of trouble linking with Mendiola.

Development Academy U-16 playoffs scenarios

The younger age bracket at the Development Academy playoffs is still wide open after two games. Out of the 32 teams at the event, only nine have been mathematically eliminated before Tuesday's finale. Thus, almost every game Tuesday morning could be for a spot at Finals Week in Milwaukee from July 9-16. Here is a breakdown of the potential scenarios for which teams could book their trip to Wisconsin.

Group 1:

Remaining games:

9:00 a.m. (CT)

Empire United v. Crew Soccer Academy, Field 12

Seattle Sounders v. D.C. United, Field 9

Standings:

Sounders 6 pts. +4

Empire United 3 pts +2

Crew 3 pts 0

D.C. United 0 pts -6

Scenarios:

Seattle advance with win or draw. Could advance with 1-goal loss unless Empire United win by more than 2 goals. Or Crew win by more than 4 goals.

Empire United advance with win and Seattle loss combined with margin of victory to overtake Seattle.

Crew advance with win and Seattle loss combined with margin of victory to overtake Seattle.

D.C. United is eliminated. 

Group 2:

Development Academy U-18 playoff scenarios

Only one more day remaining in the Development Academy playoffs for the U-18 bracket, and in some groups, a clear front-runner has emerged while in other groups, the picture is a little bit murky. Here is the rundown of the teams with the potential to book a spot at Finals Week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in two weeks time. 

Group 1:

Remaining games:

Monday, June 27, 9:00 a.m. (CT)

Empire United v Pateadores, Field 12

D.C. United v NC Fusion, Field 9

Scenarios:

Pateadores advance with win or draw over Empire United.

D.C. United advance win over N.C. Fusion [and overtake Pats on goal difference] and Pateadores loss.

N.C. Fusion advance with win over D.C. United [and overtake Pats on goal difference] and Pateadores loss.

Empire United is eliminated.

Group 2:

Remaining games:

Monday, June 27, 9:00 a.m. (CT)

New York Red Bulls v RSL-AZ, Field 15

Cal Odyssey v Sockers FC, Field 16

Scenarios:

RSL-AZ advance with win or draw against NYRB.

NYRB advance with win against RSL-AZ.

Cal Odyssey and Sockers FC are eliminated.

Development Academy U-16 playoffs standings

After day one, here are how things stand in the U-16 bracket for the Development Academy playoffs:

Pool A

Teams	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
Seattle Sounders	1	0	0	3	3	0	3
Empire United	1	0	0	3	3	0	3
D.C. United	0	1	0	0	0	3	-3
Crew	0	1	0	0	0	3	-3

Pool B

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
Dallas Texans	1	0	0	3	2	1	1
Vardar	0	0	1	1	2	2	0
Albertson	0	0	1	1	2	2	0
Concorde Fire	0	1	0	0	1	2	-1

Pool C

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
IMG	1	0	0	3	3	1	2
LA Galaxy	1	0	0	3	2	1	1
Sporting KC	0	1	0	0	1	2	-1
Houston Dynamo	0	1	0	0	1	3	-2

Pool D

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
Solar	1	0	0	3	3	1	2
Real So Cal	1	0	0	3	2	1	1
FC Delco	0	1	0	0	1	2	-1
De Anza	0	1	0	0	1	3	-2

Pool E

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
NE Revolution	1	0	0	3	2	1	1
Pateadores	0	0	1	1	1	1	0
Texas Rush	0	0	1	1	1	1	0
NC Fusion	0	1	0	0	1	2	-1

Pool F

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
RSL-AZ	1	0	0	3	4	1	3
FC Westchester	1	0	0	3	2	0	2
Charlotte SA	0	1	0	0	0	2	-2
BBC	0	1	0	0	1	4	-3

Pool G

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
North Meck	1	0	0	3	2	1	1
PA Classics	1	0	0	3	1	0	1
South Carolina	0	1	0	0	1	2	-1
Chicago Fire	0	1	0	0	0	1	-1

Pool H

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Points	GF	GA	GD
CASL	1	0	0	3	2	1	1
StLSG Missouri	1	0	0	3	1	0	1
FC Dallas	0	1	0	0	1	2	-1
Sockers	0	1	0	0	0	1	-1