Austin FC 2021 Season Thread

30,969 Views | 486 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by fig96
fig96
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AG
We've got a season coming y'all!

Let's gooooooo...
fig96
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AG
Unlike most MLS clubs this will actually be a really interesting time as we'll see the roster built over the next few months. Five players were added during the half day trade window and the expansion draft list comes out later today.

No one especially of note added in the half day window though a few interesting pickups, Nick Lima is probably the most accomplished with 9 US caps.

Ferg
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Any idea or even guesses as to which TV station the home games will be on?
AgRyan04
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Expansion draft results....

https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1338989756550668291/photo/1
fig96
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Haven't heard anything on tv yet, I'd assume a local station but I genuinely don't know what the local stations are here
fig96
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Minus one trade. I like the Corona pick a lot and seems like Hoesen has some potential.

Ferg
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fig96 said:

Haven't heard anything on tv yet, I'd assume a local station but I genuinely don't know what the local stations are here
The worst would be the local fox affiliate. They have a weak signal.

I'm hoping CW or KBVO which i can get with an antenna in 1080.

(Not that i can't stream fox, but I'd like the option to go antenna between College Football seasons if i wish)
lamivudine
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SOmos listas!!! LOL
512Ag
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I haven't followed MLS until the team came to town, and I definitely don't know many of the players in the league...Are any of these guys good, or will we be Ted Lasso's AFC Richmond of the MLS?
fig96
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Several are really solid quality. Joe Corona has 20+ appearances with the US national team and Nick Lima is one of the better defenders in MLS. A few of the others are at least solid MLS players, and a few are younger guys that look promising.

We also just made a big signing.
fig96
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Just announced that we've signed Alex Ring, NYCFC captain and MLS All Star in 2018. Really good quality player.



AgRyan04
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Signed defender Johan Romana and midfielder Hector Jimenez,

And rumors are that the club did not come to terms with Corona.
Ferg
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Signed Goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
CedarAg
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I'm going to join y'all on this ride. I don't know much about MLS but cannot wait to get into my hometown team. Listo!
fig96
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Welcome aboard! Feel free to ask about anything you're curious about.

Had one other big signing last week, another goalkeeper who I'd bet on being our opening day starter. Definitely the most experience on the roster:



CedarAg
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Hey, thanks Fig. I'm sure I'll have questions as we get going. I passively followed Orlando's team since they were once an Austin team. I mostly follow Man U for the past 20 years, but want to really get into Austin FC since it is my local team. I've waited a long time to have an Austin professional team in something. I didn't grow up playing soccer because it wasn't popular around here back in the day, but I've grown to love it.
JW
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What youth system are they building? Will it rival dallas.
jeffk
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It already rivals the Dynamo's.
fig96
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Dallas has the best academy system in MLS so that's a tall order, but by putting Claudio Reyna in charge of personnel they're taking a step in the right direction.

I actually know the academy coach (former MLS player), they've now got 3 teams who have been very competitive and all finished with winning seasons. Details on the season here if anyone is interested.
CedarAg
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fig96 said:

Dallas has the best academy system in MLS so that's a tall order, but by putting Claudio Reyna in charge of personnel they're taking a step in the right direction.

I actually know the academy coach (former MLS player), they've now got 3 teams who have been very competitive and all finished with winning seasons. Details on the season here if anyone is interested.
I see that the academy system played in the all-Texas division of MLS NEXT. How does the talent in Texas stack up compared to the rest of the country? Can we home grow a talent pipeline to put our teams at the top of MLS?
fig96
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So sort of two different things there.

There's absolutely world class talent in Texas, we have some of the most developed youth programs in the country with a massive population playing soccer and we produce tons of college and professional players. The FC Dallas academy has produced several young players that have gone on to play in Europe, and they've got more regular players from their academy than any other team in the league (12 on their roster in 2020).

On the other hand, the percentage of academy players overall that play in MLS isn't huge, most teams only have a handful of "homegrown" players from their academy (average is 4-5 players on a 30 player roster). Most players will come from intraleague trades/free agents and acquisitions from leagues in other countries with a handful added in the draft.

But all that being said, I don't think Austin has quite as developed a soccer culture as cities like Dallas and Houston do, so I think there's definitely an opportunity to become the program to play for in the area and develop young players to move into the first team or at least go on to play in college.
CedarAg
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Yeah, I get it. I didn't mean to imply we could fill a team with only local talent. Was thinking more along the lines of developing a local talent to be a great Austin FC player. Thinking like how Manchester United found Marcus Rashford as a youth and developed him to be a star.
fig96
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Can definitely happen, just has to be the right mix of player and coach. Though unfortunately for the club, if a player in MLS is young and really good they'll most likely be headed off to Europe sooner than later.
fig96
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This signing could be huge. ***undez had 13 goals one season early in his career and scored 9 as recently as 2018, and he's still really young at only 25.

He's fallen a bit out of favor in New England and hasn't gotten as many minutes the past season or two, could be a situation where a change of scenery pays off big. Fingers crossed.

CedarAg
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New team new beginnings for this new guy. Hopefully this is just what he needs. Sounds like he was productive a couple years ago.
jeffk
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Wow. They signed Besler too.

jeffk
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The "Matt is Verde" repeating tagline makes me laugh for some reason. Sounds like we're taunting him for some unknown elementary school mishap.
fig96
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That's hilarious.

But for sure, really solid signing and with the added bonus of making SKC worse This team is starting to have some real potential, now we just need to have a season.
fig96
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More details on Besler for anyone not familiar, he was a national team regular and made the US World Cup squad in 2014. He's a little older at 33 but still one of the better centerbacks in MLS, great addition as far as experience and leadership.

jeffk
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Lol. This is incredible.

CedarAg
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jeffk said:

Lol. This is incredible.


Love it! Besler coming in hot. He is one I remember from the USMNT. Cannot wait to get this thing kicked off. Wishing I would have bought season tickets when I had the chance. Kicking myself for not doing it.
Sugarwater
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Love it! Besler is a vet that will help this team.

Being new to Austin (2.5 years), I already feel more affinity for AustinFC than I do for FCDallas (longterm in Dallas). Other than rooting for Manchester United, I am an MLS homer for sure. I can't wait for AustinFC to start playing, especially since the stadium is just 5 minutes away from me.


Do you want to sell sugar water the rest of your life or change the world?
Mike Elko
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SuperDraft at 1:00. Sounds like Mayaka will go #1.
CedarAg
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We got two first round picks today. 1 and 11. Hopefully we build a future today.
fig96
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The Superdraft is usually pretty hit or miss, but with the #1 pick you'd hope we're getting a player who can slot in as an early contributor.
 
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