Scouting the hottest team in the MLS Next Southeast

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Queen City Mutiny U16 MLS Next has been plenty busy in 2024 already. The North Carolina team is 11-1-1 in 13 games this calendar year, which includes a win over MLS Academy competition.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The successful run of play has Queen City Mutiny in fine form heading into the upcoming MLS Next Flex in Maryland this month.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the whole team has been playing at a high level, there have been a few standouts among the individual performances for the team. Below is a scouting report on a four of the players to know from this group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Xavier Krause","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Queen City Mutiny 08 MLS Next","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Krause is the top talent on the Queen City Mutiny. He is the captain of the squad. He plays as the center forward. He often ends up on the scoresheet or making the play that results in the goal. There is a lot to love from the game film when watching Krause. He is a menace in the press and his tackling is the best I've seen from a forward at the youth level. He dictates where the game is played with his work rate. His engine has an endless supply of fuel, and he is diligent about keeping the opposition on one side of the field with the angle of his run when pressing center backs. He is excellent in the build-up and can hold up play to get his side to get forward. His vision and creativity on the ball are a strong point of his game. He is a superb passer. I think he could improve on his efficiency as a finisher, as he creates a decent number of chances for himself but doesn't always put the best look on goal. Krause has a very high ceiling and will be one to watch for the future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Bryan Gonzalez","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Queen City Mutiny 08 MLS Next","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Queen City Mutiny, as a team, is very calm on the ball, and a lot of that confidence and composure comes from the center back Bryan Gonzalez. He is a right footed center back who often lines up on the left side. He is often looking for ways to beat press with his passing as he rarely goes long unless there is an obvious diagonal switch on. He doesn't rush his decisions and puts a purpose behind every pass. Gonzalez's quality in possession sets the tone for his side and is key to the successful run for the squad. Defensively, he likes to be the last defender. He reads the game in front of him and does well in the timing of when to step and when to drop off. He can match up with center forwards, but he does better with more freedom. Gonzalez should be on the radar for scouts as his soccer intelligence is going to make him a standout in the sport for a long time.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["14299"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Salazar is an impactful player at the MLS Next level. He plays left back for Queen City Mutiny 08. He offers quite a bit in the attack. He is left footed and delivers a great set piece from dead-ball situations. He also has the capability to rifle a shot from distance as he showed recently in the game against Hoover Vestavia. Salazar's defensive traits are good as well. He is a strong 1v1 defender and shows good physical toughness. He needs to improve on his positioning off the ball in terms of tactical awareness and his aggressiveness in aerial duels. He has the quality as an-ball striker and distributor to be a top recruit for the next level from this group.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6633f6f6056d9"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://streamable.com/y58ytn","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"streamable"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-streamable wp-block-embed-streamable"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://streamable.com/y58ytn </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='14299' first='Mateo' last='Salazar'] Goal</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14093"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Ellis is a center midfielder for Queen City Mutiny has really emerged as one of the top midfielders in the division this season. He plays as No. 8 as he can do just about anything. He has a good first touch, quick feet, and good vision. Ellis has been a difference-maker this season for QCM with his play in the center channel and the attacking third. He has provided goals in key matches. I'd like to see him be more physical in the tackle and less reliant on his foot speed to win duels. He has the capability to take over the game at this level and could show that more consistently. Ellis is a name to know from this group.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6633f6f6057c4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->