Catching the Next Baby Blue Wave
With the next generation of homegrown academy stars finally on the edge of the first team, Paul Harvey dives into who's who on NYCFC II.
The New York City FC Academy was once considered one of the best in the entire league. The starting XI of the team that won the 2018 U19 Developmental Academy Championship produced nine players who went on to become professionals. Among the successful graduates of this team include four current NYCFC senior roster players, namely Sands, Justin Haak, Andres Jasson, and Samuel “Kwaku” Owusu. Furthermore, Sands, Joe Scally, and Gio Reyna went from the same U19 NYCFC academy side to starting games for the US Men’s National Team.
Although NYCFC has continued to produce college players since that season, only a few have successfully made the jump to being professional players even at lower levels. In contrast, local rivals such as the Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls have had greater success in bringing in players to their first teams and youth national teams. This has put NYCFC at a disadvantage relative to their league peers, as they must rely on outside sources for depth in the first team.
A New Horizon for Development
Five years after the DA Championship, there is now hope that the academy is back on track with a new wave of talent. The last three homegrown signings have all been extremely young prospects, which reflects the multiple-year gap in producing prospects of immediate professional quality. Nonetheless, these signings are a positive step forward for the NYCFC Academy, and there is optimism that the academy will continue to produce more talented players in the future.
Maximo Carrizo, the crown jewel of the NYCFC academy, is an extraordinarily gifted player. He has been called up by both the USA and Argentina at the youth level, and for Argentina, he has participated in their U17 camps with players who are three years older than him. Among all the bright and talented players that have come through the NYCFC academy, Carrizo may be the greatest. In fact, it’s not unreasonable to argue that he might be the most talented player to ever come through an MLS academy.
At just 15 years old, this left-footed maestro-in-training exhibits a play style akin to that of a classic attacking midfielder or Argentinian “enganche”, such as Maxi Moralez or the great Lionel Messi. Despite his smaller stature in comparison to the older players he faces, Carrizo possesses a strong build and impressive athleticism for his age. His incredible vision and technical ability allow him to slice through defenses on the dribble or maneuver his way into pockets of space. While his role may not demand as many defensive responsibilities, he has demonstrated a willingness to put his body on the line in challenges and duels during his brief cameos for NYCFC II last season. If he can make a leap as a professional while being the point man for NYCFC II, a first-team debut and meaningful minutes are not out of the question. In fact, his prospects as the future of NYC’s midfield may have led to Richie Ledezma’s loan being only temporary.
When fit, Christian McFarlane is remarkable. At the time he was the youngest signing in NYCFC history and the third youngest in the history of MLS. After gaining the interest of many English teams, NYCFC preemptively signed McFarlane in an attempt to head off that interest. Despite his height, he is effortlessly smooth on the ball, and can comfortably dribble past defenders, especially on his preferred left foot. Unfortunately, he has been plagued with injury problems that have kept him out of academy competition and even missed the U17 CONCACAF Championships in February. If he can find the fitness for regular game time, he will likely be called up by either the United States or England for the U17 World Cup. His final position is still up in the air, as he has the size to be a center back with the athleticism and ball skills to play on the wing. So far, he has played mostly as a left back for both the US and England.
The most recent Homegrown signing, Jonathan Shore, doesn’t come in with quite the same level of fanfare despite being an accomplished player in his own right. He has made multiple appearances with his age group in the US Youth National Teams. His signing announcement revealed that he was eligible to play for Mexico through his mother, and as he gains prominence he may get further attention as a dual-national prospect. He projects as a midfield partner to Carrizo as the two have played alongside each other for years in the academy. He is technically gifted, as seen in his ability to create chances for himself and others versus the first team in the preseason:
The three young homegrowns are unquestionably the next crop of jewels in the academy, all standing out on the international youth level. Although all three played limited minutes for NYCFC II in the previous season, the upcoming 2023 season will be a significant opportunity for them to step up and show they can compete at the professional level. All eyes will certainly be on them.
The Coming Season
The start of the MLS Next Pro Season was shrouded in mystery, mainly because of the delays caused by Rochester NY FC’s late collapse and dissolution. The uncertainty resulting from the sudden shutdown caused delays in the schedule, as an entire organization ceasing to function meant that holes needed to be fixed.
Meanwhile, NYCFC II has been diligently working away in preseason and recently concluded a three-game preseason stand in North Carolina. Their opponents included North Carolina FC, a USL League One team, Duke University, and Crown Legacy FC, which is Charlotte FC’s reserve team and future MLS Next Pro opponent. After playing a few more friendly appearances, they are now ready to kick off the season. Unfortunately, the season begins with a bye because Rochester was slated to be their opening opponent.
The beginning of NYCFC II’s 2022 season showed great promise, with the team firmly in playoff position and playing like one of the best teams in the league through 16 games. The squad was led by playmaker El Madhi Youssoufi, who clearly was head and shoulders above the rest of the league. Meanwhile, John Denis was scoring for fun, and the back line was anchored by first-team Homegrown signings Nico Benalcazar and Kwaku Owusu, forming the best center back tandem in the league.
Regrettably, NYCFC’s fortunes took a hard turn for the worse after Week 17. Injuries to key players, including Youssoufi, Denis, and Benalcazar, resulted in a significant part of the team’s core missing for the final stretch of the season. Over the final five games, the team lost 4 and drew one, which pushed them completely out of the playoff picture. Although the playoffs were still within reach on Decision Day, a draw against Inter Miami II ended their season.
MLS Next Pro is a league of chaos, where starting XIs can vary wildly from week to week. One week, a team might face a rehabilitating DP striker, and the next, a 16-year old making his professional debut. Despite this uncertainty, the team’s style of play and goals remained clear throughout. Ultimately, it was a lack of cohesion and experience that proved costly when it mattered most.
What to Watch for in 2023
In season 2, a great deal has changed. Youssoufi is no longer with the club, and homegrown signings Owusu, Benalcazar, and Jonathan Jimenez are more entrenched with the first team, which means that they may spend less time with the reserves. Additionally, their replacements have skewed younger as talented players from the academy are moving up to the reserve team.
The NYCFC II team will aim to mirror the style of play of the first team with a 4-3-3 shape. Here’s a selection of videos showcasing some of the brighter plays from NYCFC II in possession last season:
The core of the team returns largely intact, with team captain and flex FB/DM Steven Bednarsky returning among a group of experienced players. Piero Elias, the 21 year old Peruvian American from Queensboro FC, is one to keep an eye on in the midfield. The powerfully built central midfielder has shown the ability to progress play with deft passing and carrying, while also making solid defensive contributions. His usual midfield partner Jack Beer is also returning to the lineup as well. The two provide confident possession play through the double pivot and will strengthen the spine of the team.
At the top, NYCFC draft pick MD Myers will play as a more traditional striker, something the team lacked last year. John Denis will continue to play as a left forward, cutting in onto his right foot to contribute goals and assists. He recently reached a major career milestone as he was called into the Honduran national team squad. Gabe Segal will likely join up with the second team to get reps as a starting forward, and will compete directly with Myers for minutes at the 9.
A few talented young players have yet to earn a homegrown contract but will be major players on the reserves this season. Klevis Haxhari, a center back born in 2005, has already spent two preseasons with the NYCFC first team and is likely to see significant minutes with the reserves this year. Meanwhile, Andrew Baiera, a talented right back, has represented the USA with the U16 Youth National Team and has also played in preseason with the second team.
In 2023, the biggest source of concern and excitement is the fact that Maximo Carrizo will start the season as the undisputed attacking focus of the entire team. For a player who just turned 15, this is an extraordinary level of responsibility. By all accounts Carrizo is a player beyond his years, with the ability to impact a game at a high level, but this will be a different sort of test. To carry a team of professionals and be the focal point of an organization is a challenge for older, more mature players, let alone someone who just recently graduated middle school.
Any Time You’re Ready
There is a tremendous amount of potential on this NYCFC II squad, but the challenge will be to maintain continuity in a league where uncertainty is the norm. Head Coach Matt Pilkington will need to guide his players and work extremely green youth into a squad that can compete for trophies. As always, making the playoffs should be the goal in this league.
NYCFC II will face significant tests along the way with tough opponents like MLS Next Pro newcomers New York Red Bulls II, who have a longstanding structure of development and a loaded roster used to higher levels of competition, and Crown Legacy FC, who have been spending like they are a senior MLS team. Additionally, established MLSNP clubs like Columbus Crew 2 will present formidable opposition.
There are a number of interesting twists to MLS Next Pro, such as the fact that matches cannot end in a draw and immediately go to penalties with an additional point at stake. For the playoffs, seven teams from each conference will advance and the Division champions will get to choose their opponents in the first round. The best change for 2023 is the viewing experience; games will always be on Friday and Sunday, never competing with the senior team, and Apple TV has replaced the soulless robo-camera that plagued the first season with a much-improved camera crew. All games will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass, though at this stage there is no option available for replays.
In the end, success for NYCFC II is going to be defined by the kind of players it can produce for the senior team. If all goes well, the team will provide a platform for players like Carrizo or McFarlane to debut soon with the senior team. It will show that these young stars can stand on the stage, no longer understudies but the main event. ❧
Image: Florence and Margaret Hoopes, Beowulf & Wiglaf vs Dragon