Who are the top players for the FC Dallas U-17s?

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The FC Dallas U17 team is one of the most improved in MLS Next this year. They struggled earlier in the year, but thanks to some development they have become a very competitive team. They didn't have the toughest road, but they reached the finals of the Generation adidas Cup this year, losing to Philadelphia. FC Dallas is one of two MLS clubs that deploys a U16 team, so many of their 2007 players do not play with the U17 very often, including: [player_tooltip player_id='16480' first='Luke' last='Munson'], Michael Cortellessa, [player_tooltip player_id='59925' first='Caua' last='Scabin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='56091' first='Bryce' last='Outman']. [player_tooltip player_id='15928' first='Caleb' last='Swann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='86692' first='Ian' last='Charles'] are the two 2007 players that play with the U17s the most. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">My grading system</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I use a numerical scoring framework to grade players. I look at what I consider to be the most important traits and skills for each position and apply a numerical value to each of those categories. I take into account the age of the player when grading for each category. The categories include physical traits, technical ability, intellectual understanding of the game and their mentality in how they approach the game. I average those individual scores in order to generate a holistic grade of the player. The score helps me identify what tier of prospect a player is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tier 1:</strong> A high impact player with all the tools to be a first choice youth national team selection and an obvious homegrown contract candidate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tier 2:</strong> A very good youth prospect that should likely get youth national team consideration and a potential homegrown contract candidate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tier 3:</strong> A solid youth prospect that should get a look in MLS Next Pro or is likely getting recruited to play high level college soccer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">RB/RW, [player_tooltip player_id='56119' first='Malachi' last='Molina'] (2006)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What kind of player is he? </strong>Molina is a dynamic outside player that can play as right-back and on both wings. Molina is a speedy and athletic player that I believe can become even more coordinated and athletic as he continues to grow into his body and adds strength. Molina has a good technical skillset with a nice touch, good ball control and above average technique with his shot — he is the primary set play taker. He is a good decision maker on the ball and has a good feel for dribbling past defenders. Off the ball, I think he could be more dangerous as an overlapping player. Defensively, he is solid in one on one situations and he is responsible at covering the far post. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Molina is a Jamaican-American that played for the Jamaica U17s at the Concacaf tournament and he was one of their best players. I think Molina is also good enough to be a United States Youth National Team player and is one of the best U17 right-backs in MLS Next. He has taken a big jump forward this year and is already getting a lot of minutes for North Texas SC in MLS Next Pro. He looks like a player that is on the fast-track to a professional contract. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">GK, [player_tooltip player_id='16397' first='Julian' last='Eyestone'] (2006)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What kind of player is he? </strong>Eyestone is a very intriguing goal keeper prospect because of his combination of size — he is 6'5" — and athleticism. Eyestone has decent mobility in the box and good enough flexibility for his size to get to low shots. His length and reflexes make him very difficult to score on when shooting high. Eyestone isn't just a very good shot stopper, he is also an above average distributor for his age and he handles the ball well. The biggest area for improvement is his decisiveness and aggressiveness in leaving his line and controlling the box. The best keepers are a little crazy and Eyestone might be a little too passive. FC Dallas has a very good young keeper signed to a homegrown deal in Antonio Carrera, so I am not sure if Eyestone will get a deal right away, though I do think he is deserving. He finished high school a year early and is committed to Duke University and I think it is likely that he goes there for at least a year or two before signing a pro deal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">CM/DM, Ale Urzua (2006)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What kind of player is he? </strong>Urzua is a 6/8 type and of all of the FC Dallas 2006 players, he is being pushed through the development pathway the most aggressively, though I am not sure he has the highest potential of the group. Urzua has signed with North Texas SC for the 2023 season. Urzua has grown a bit this year which has made him a more intriguing prospect. Technically, he is very good on the ball and is very good at controlling the ball in tight spaces. He has the capability of being more progressive and dynamic as a passer and chance creator. On the ball, he has the ability to process quickly and does a great job of checking his shoulders for danger, but he has been prone to mental lapses and costly turnovers in MLS Next Pro, something he will need to clean up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Urzua is a player that could get a late look by the United States U17s who are looking for more box to box options in the midfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 3, Tier 2 Upside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">CF, [player_tooltip player_id='16562' first='Nayrobi' last='Vargas'] (2006)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What kind of player is he? </strong>Vargas is target number 9 with a great physical presence and skill on the ball. He has a very strong frame and he plays quicker than he looks. While his strong frame is very useful in hold up play, I wouldn't mind seeing him tighten up his fitness a little bit. Vargas is very advanced with his first touch and he is capable of creating his own shot or shots for others by beating defenders off the dribble. As a finisher I have found him to be most danger in the air. Vargas has improved this year in finding the ball and mixing up his runs in the box, but I think this is an area he can still improve on. Vargas used to have a problem with fading or at times completely disappearing in games, which is happening less often this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vargas was the starting striker for the Honduran U17 Youth National Team in the Concacaf Championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 3, Tier 2 Upside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">AM/CM, [player_tooltip player_id='15928' first='Caleb' last='Swann'] (2007)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What kind of player is he? </strong>Swann is the most promising 2007 born player that has earned time with the U17 team. Swann moved from Solar to FC Dallas last fall and has been a very good player for both the U17s and U16s. Swann is a 8/10 midfielder with an average physical profile, but a very nice technical profile. He is a really well-rounded game on offense. He is smooth on the half turn, he controls the ball well and makes good decisions when the ball is at his feet. He makes smart and incisive passes and he is effective as a scorer and chance creator in the final third. I also like the way he finds pockets of space off the ball. If Swann can develop more on the physical side he could be a player that the Youth National Team calls on at some point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 3, Tier 2 Upside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->