MLS Next Cup And Showcase: Five 08 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the temperature turned up and the tournament reaching it's zenith for many of the higher age brackets, there's still plenty left to play for in Tennessee for the all the teams taking part in this event. Here are five players that showed up and showed out to finish off the U16 open play division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["12095"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":182125,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667280ece3603"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ceol is a boon wherever for his next club wherever you put him on the back line. A tall, powerful build lends to his presence taking on attacking players and allows a confidence needed from a top defender. He can win the headers he's supposed to, stick a foot in and place his body between ball and attacker, and find outlet passes to break lines and start counter attacks. His technical and scoring abilities were also on display this weekend, finding himself on the scoring end of a brilliant corner, sweeping a left foot through the ball and lashing it past the goalkeeper from 9 yards out. Attitude, fortitude, and aptitude pour from this young man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Tomas Garcia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_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":"Houston Rangers","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667280ece36b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Garcia kept the scoreline respectable during his time in net, showing off a range of saves in his locker that any coach would appreciate from a starting goalkeeper. While they were each to be appreciated, Garcia's basics led to him being able to make most of them. His positioning when the ball switches play is exceptional, and he tracks the ball on corners from post to post quickly and confidently. He displayed exceptional footwork in seeing out high balls and claiming his fair share. As for the saves, he showed a wide range, getting down quickly left and right and holding on to a high percentage of shots, as well as one handed parries to push the ball over the bar from long range and pacey efforts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172494"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":182126,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667280ece370b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Goncalves was asked repeatedly to make things happen, and he consistently answered the call. A willing central midfielder, he won the ball with strength and regularity in the midfield, turning those success into attacks with the help of his speedy wingers, playing them into channels in the attacking third and breaking lines with ease. His combination and bounce passes with defensive and midfield teammates did well to open up spaces for him to work, and he was happy to sit on the ball and possess when the moment called for it. His game intelligence and play speak to positive things for his playing future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":182127,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Anuar Contreras","_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":"5'9u0022","_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":"Excelsior Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Triangle United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667280ece378b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A sizeable forward with hidden pace, Contreras turned the tides for his side and made his efforts count from open play. He is more than capable of holding up ball in forward and central areas, but also has a propensity to turn and take on defenders with his dribbling prowess. This provided several moments of disarray for defenders as his size and pace make Contreras a difficult player to assess how to defend in the midst of a match moment. He would capitalize on this kind of indecision, scoring against the run of play from a deft touch and turn around his marker, faking the goalkeeper into a premature dive, and slotting home confidently into the empty net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":182135,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Vincent Takawira","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_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":"Greendale HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Bavarian United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667280ece3809"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">From the first moments of their match, Takawira continually asked questions of his opponents' backline, particularly down the left flank. His agile movement and decisive pushes forward made him incredibly difficult to guard against, specifically when he made to get around his defender. Once he finds himself in that advantageous position, he looks to find his teammates with cutting passes back in towards the spot, setting them up for quality opportunities in front of goal. In the build up, his positioning and spacing is fantastic, and when asked, he connects and creates with ease. 1-2 passes are his bread and butter and the more often you can run them with him, the more you'll wear down his opposite number. As he finds his voice with age, he will continue to make waves and improve on his own little island on the wing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->