FC Dallas & North Texas SC Roster Rankings – July/Aug 2024

How’s this for some midseason break content, another roster ranking?!

We took a gamble that FCD wouldn’t go too far in Leagues Cup and held the “end of July” roster rank till the lull when FCD was eliminated. So the next ranking will probably come at the end of September.

With ten days until the return of MLS action, we took a look at all 56 contracted players for FC Dallas and North Texas SC in a good old-fashioned power ranking. We look at who is playing well or playing at all, and the names mentioned in the media and by the fan base.

Starting XI

Rank				Trend	Comments
1	Paes, Maarten FCD (G)	High: 1	Low: 2	— 0	MLS All-Star and linked with Empoli in July. – Dan
2	Musa, Petar FCD (F)	High: 2	Low: 12	▲ 1	FCD’s leading scorer with 13 goals and 2 assists in all comps. Started July with 5 goals in 5 games in league and Open Cup. The real deal. – Buzz
3	Illarramendi, Asier FCD (M)	High: 1	Low: 4	▼ 1	Illarra has been gone since the Galaxy win but the hole he leaves in the midfield may show his value best. – Dan
4	Tafari, Nkosi FCD (D)	High: 2	Low: 6	▲ 2	Started 7 of 8 over the last month+. Occasionally captain, always a leader. – Buzz
5	Ibeagha, Sebastien FCD (D)	High: 5	Low: 10	▲ 3	Played 660 of the 750 available minutes since our last ranking, and is minutes-wise CB1. Sebas is on course to play the most minutes in a season of his career even without the playoffs. – Dan
6	Lletget, Sebastian FCD (M)	High: 5	Low: 15	▲ 4	With the pieces missing in midfield, he’s become invaluable with 6 starts in his last 7 appearances (and 3 assists). FCD really needs him right now. – Buzz
7	Arriola, Paul FCD (F)	High: 3	Low: 11	▲ 2	Both coaches this season have relied on Paul Arriola in several roles, and the captain is delivering his best soccer in a long time. Featured in all eight games in July, chipping in two goals and two assists. – Dan
8	Ferreira, Jesus FCD (F)	High: 4	Low: 11	▼ 4	Hasn’t played since June 22, but is still FCD’s 2nd best goal scorer with 4. Does that say more about him or the team? He should be lower ranked with the injuries but he’s just too good. – Buzz
9	Farfan, Marco FCD (D)	High: 7	Low: 17	▼ 2	Another player Peter Luccin is trying to ensure is in the lineup in some way, Farfan has started in three different positions in July. Grabbed a goal against Austin too. – Dan
10	Ntsabeleng, Tsiki FCD (M)	High: 10	Low: 24	▲ 1	With the state of things, Tsiki is also a lock starter. 8 straight starts in July (10 going back to June 19th). Luccin clearly values him. – Buzz
11	Farrington, Logan FCD (F)	High: 11	Low: 16	▲ 2	Started each of the last seven games, contributing a goal and two assists. Can we bring back the MLS Rookie of the Year award? – Dan

In The Mix

Rank				Trend	Comments
12	Delgado, Patrickson FCD (M)	High: 5	Low: 32	▼ 7	Out since June 22nd but had 4 goals in May/June. Who would have thought FCD needed him so much? – Buzz
13	Junqua, Sam FCD (D)	High: 5	Low: 14	▲ 1	Junqua’s attacking side is really starting to show. The scorer of FC Dallas’ only goal in Leagues Cup this year. – Dan
14	Ruan FCD (D)	High: 14	Low: 14	— 0	New guy from Montreal, right back or wingback. Another rent-a-player? If he’s not at least worth this ranking, what’s the point? – Buzz
15	Sainte, Carl FCD (M)	High: 15	Low: 29	▲ 3	Remember Carl Sainte the center back? He’s started at the 6 for the past three games. – Dan
16	Kamungo, Bernard FCD (F)	High: 8	Low: 16	▼ 1	He’s getting games but is not having an impact. 5 starts, 3 subs in July, 0 goals, 0 assists. – Buzz
17	Twumasi, Ema FCD (D)	High: 12	Low: 19	— 0	Pro: Fighting through injury to play. Con: The team brought in another RB to play ahead of him. – Dan
18	Fraser, Liam FCD (M)	High: 5	Low: 18	▼ 6	His 3 weeks out is looking more like 2 months as he hasn’t played since June 29. His replacements are playing about the same level- Buzz
19	Gonzalez, Omar FCD (D)	High: 16	Low: 22	▼ 3	Two starts and a couple of late-game cameos. Gonzalez is a locker room leader who has been able to fill in with limited success. – Dan
20	Scott, Tarik FCD (F)	High: 20	Low: 26	▲ 1	Scott was with FCD through July with 2 sub run-outs, when he plays you can see the special. Got a refresh start for NTX on August 2nd. Still NTX’s leading scorer despite not scoring for them since June 22nd. – Buzz
21	Norris, Nolan FCD (M)	High: 21	Low: 25	▲ 2	Captained and played every minute for the US as they took the Concacaf U-20 Championship final to extra time. While a LB for the national team, his start in Kansas City came in his more typical FCD role in the midfield. – Dan
22	Ansah, Eugene FCD (F)	High: 13	Low: 22	▼ 2	Ansah has played just 111 minutes in 7 games since our last ranking. Only one run out of 20 minutes or more. – Buzz
23	Maurer, Jimmy FCD (G)	High: 17	Low: 23	▼ 1	Still the regular bench option, and he’s said he feels great after a small foot procedure earlier in the summer. – Dan
24	Pondeca, Tomas FCD (M)	High: 24	Low: 34	— 0	With all the FCD injuries he got just 2 starts in MLS play and two 32-minute sub run-out in Leagues Cup. He’s bounced back to NTX a few times. – Buzz
25	Ramirez, Anthony NTX (M)	High: 25	Low: 42	▲ 17	An emergency signing for the big club, Ramirez made his MLS debut late in the 1-1 draw at New England before getting a spot on the bench for both Leagues Cup games. Back with North Texas, he’s had back-to-back 90-minute run outs including a goal in the 2-0 win over SKC II. – Dan
26	Sealy, Dante FCD (M)	High: 7	Low: 26	▼ 7	Made just 3 appearances in July. 57 minutes vs Sporting KC and 8 minutes combined in two games since. Going the wrong way. – Buzz

Second Team

Rank				Trend	Comments
27	Endeley, Herbert FCD (D)	High: 16	Low: 28	▲ 1	Herb kept up his run of Open Cup games early in July, but has only featured for NTX since. Grabbed his first goal of 2024 in the shootout loss to Austin FC II and assisted both goals in last week’s win over SKC II. – Dan
28	Sali, Enes FCD (F)	High: 26	Low: 33	▲ 5	Made his FCD debut in Leagues Cup, but still very inconsistent at NTX with only 2 starts since our last ranking. Yet he tied Scott for NTX goals lead in the former’s absence. – Buzz
29	Garcia, Diego NTX (M)	High: 23	Low: 29	▼ 4	Buzz can’t stop raving about the 17-year-old as North Texas SC’s best player leaving only the question of when his MLS chance may come with an injury-hit FCD midfield. – Dan
30	Collodi, Michael NTX (G)	High: 26	Low: 35	▼ 4	A leader on and off the field and a superb shot-stopper. Took part in MLS Next Goalie Wars. Can he make it to MLS? – Buzz
31	Pedrinho NTX (M)	High: 27	Low: 42	▼ 4	Injury sat the Brazilian through July, although he did notch a goal on his first start back this past week. – Dan
32	Carrera, Antonio FCD (G)	High: 23	Low: 32	▼ 3	The loan didn’t work out. Carrera can’t get an MLS game since his loan ended. Just 2 starts for NTX this season. – Buzz
33	Gordon, Nico FCD (F)	High: 29	Low: 33	▼ 3	The captain is solid for North Texas, but as a young player who has previously played at an equivalent level to MLS, is there a next step towards FC Dallas? – Dan
34	Westergren, Mads NTX (D)	High: 32	Low: 47	▼ 2	Fantastic game reader if he was a step quicker he might be in MLS already. One of the best all-around soccer players at NTX as shown by the starts he’s getting as a 6. – Buzz
35	Korca, Amet FCD (D)	High: 27	Low: 35	▼ 1	Missed a couple of games through injury. If the ranking hadn’t given it away, the MLS loanee is slipping behind Nico Gordon and Mads Westergren. – Dan
36	Show FCD (M)	High: 36	Low: 36	— 0	Another new guy for FC Dallas. Gotta start somewhere. No idea what FCD is getting but at least he’s in town now. – Buzz
37	Urzua, Alejandro FCD (M)	High: 30	Low: 44	▲ 6	Urzua saw consistent minutes with NTX in Nolan Norris’ absence. He’s making improvements, but how will his minutes be impacted by a more rested FC Dallas midfield? – Dan

In Reserve

Rank				Trend	Comments
38	Humphrey, Turner NTX (D)	High: 29	Low: 40	▼ 2	In and out of the lineup, he could use a consistent run. Behind Westergren in game development but perhaps more upside. – Buzz
39	Henry-Scott, Malik FCD (F)	High: 36	Low: 39	▼ 1	He’s locked down that starting 9 role for North Texas SC, playing every minute since the last ranking. – Dan
40	Rose, Tyshawn NTX (D)	High: 40	Low: 52	▲ 11	Rose is back from the ACL with 1 sub appearance then 3 starts… But missed the last one. Hopefully, it was for rest and not a recovery setback. – Buzz
41	Velasco, Alan FCD (M)	High: 41	Low: 51	▲ 9	FC Dallas loves a good Alan Velasco social media clip. A few more transfer rumors about a return to Argentina too. A lot of buzz for a player recovering from a long-term injury. – Dan
42	Mendonca, Nick NTX (M)	High: 30	Low: 42	▼ 5	Relegated to a sub role behind Garcia and Urzua. In years past his level of play would be a lock starter, but not in this year’s North Texas SC. Just 1 start in July, 3 sub appearances. – Buzz
43	Molina, Malachi NTX (D)	High: 35	Low: 45	▼ 8	Two starts from the last five games. Molina missed out on the U20 Concacaf Championship with Jamaica, and it wasn’t that FC Dallas prevented a call-up. – Dan
44	Zanne, Abdoul NTX (M)	High: 34	Low: 44	▼ 5	In and out of the XI. When he does play – as a fill-in mostly – he hesitates and seems lost tactically. – Buzz
45	Lacy, Dylan NTX (M)	High: 39	Low: 45	▼ 1	Finally stringing together some sub appearances, featuring in three of the last four NTX games. – Dan
46	Pepi, Diego NTX (F)	High: 31	Low: 46	▼ 5	Is he injured or just fallen out? His last game, a start, came on July 21. One other sub run-out in July. – Buzz
47	Jaidyn Contreras FCD (M)	High: 47	Low: 47	— 0	The latest academy signing for North Texas SC, the 16-year-old made a sub appearance for NTX prior to the announcement of his signing a one-year deal with the MLS NEXT Pro side. – Dan
48	Taboada, Lautaro NTX (F)	High: 38	Low: 48	▼ 3	2 sub run outs for 27 minutes total in July. It’s not looking good for the 20-year-old. – Buzz
49	Darub, Victor NTX (G)	High: 40	Low: 49	▼ 9	Dev team backup can be a lonely job. – Dan
50	Orejarena, Leonardo NTX (M)	High: 38	Low: 50	▼ 3	No playing time since April’s 1-minute debut. Not much to say but to remind people he’s basically a paid Academy player (about to be U18). – Buzz
51	Isaiah Kaakoush NTX (M)	High: 48	Low: 51	▼ 3	Kaakoush made his first bench of 2024 in July. The 16-year-old is effectively a professional academy player at present. – Dan
52	Kaka Scabin NTX (D)	High: 52	Low: 52	— 0	One of the two new North Texas signings. An FCD Academy player, about to be a U18. A 2007, center back or outside back. – Buzz
53	Londe, Leonard NTX (F)	High: 44	Low: 53	▼ 7	The open trialist hasn’t made the bench since April. – Dan
54	Parker, Isaiah FCD (M)	High: 31	Low: 54	▼ 23	Parker started 12 of 13 on the year and was having a terrific season before going out for the remainder of the year on July 3. – Buzz
55	Jesus, Geovane FCD (D)	High: 46	Low: 55	▼ 6	We’re a couple of months out from a scar tissue cleanup, but there must have been further setbacks for Geovane Jesus to have been named to the Leagues Cup roster without making a game-day roster. – Dan
56	Pomykal, Paxton FCD (M)	High: 11	Low: 56	▼ 4	Out for the year. We miss Paxton, the team misses Paxton. We just hope the career can be salvaged. – Buzz

Thoughts and Comments

There were three players making double-digit moves coming into August. Anthony Ramirez is the big winner with his emergency signing to FC Dallas producing his MLS debut, even if it was a minute. The young midfielder settled straight back into life with North Texas SC with no negative impact on his performance. Ramirez leaps 17 spots into the top-25.

Tyshawn Rose jumped up 11 places after making his return from an ACL injury. The Boston College graduate made three starts but missed the last North Texas SC game – hopefully just for rest.

Isaiah Parker drops 23 spots on the back of a season-ending injury. The Generation adidas signing seemed to finally find his place with the club, racking up 12 consecutive starts before a patellar fracture shelved the 21-year-old for 4-6 months.

Do you agree or disagree, answers on a postcard addressed to Mr. A. Zanotta C/O FC Dallas!