As FC Dallas moves on to its MLS phase of the preseason, we wanted to start off the season the right way – with a power ranking!
Let’s kick off the fourth season of our ranking of all 41 players under professional contract with FC Dallas or North Texas SC. There’s no scientific formula beyond who is playing well – or at all – in addition to who is being talked up or down by coaches, media, and fans.
So without further ado:
Starting XI:
| 1 (-) | Andres Ricaurte High: 1 | Low: 1 | The Magician, at this point this is pretty much his team. He may have to do some heavy lifting this year. – Buzz |
| 2 (-) | Matt Hedges High: 2 | Low: 2 | It’s been good to see D’GOAT back with the captain’s armband in preseason. – Dan |
| 3 (-) | Ryan Hollingshead High: 3 | Low: 3 | He’s the guy at right back for now. Even though we don’t like him at right back. – Buzz |
| 4 (-) | Jimmy Maurer High: 4 | Low: 4 | No goals conceded so far in preseason. – Dan |
| 5 (-) | Bryan Acosta High: 5 | Low: 5 | Until proven otherwise, “Moon-shot” Acosta is the starter next to Ricaurte. – Buzz |
| 6 (-) | Jose Antonio Martinez High: 6 | Low: 6 | Everyone at the club is talking the Spaniard up as a player and a person. Looks like that gap we worried about last year got a pretty sturdy fix. – Dan |
| 7 (-) | Franco Jara High: 7 | Low: 7 | Holding down the 9… for now. – Buzz |
| 8 (-) | Freddy Vargas High: 8 | Low: 8 | He’s been the name in preseason. Scored a nice free kick and had another to assist Ho’Head against San Antonio. Are set pieces going to start happening again? – Dan |
| 9 (-) | Jesus Ferreira High: 9 | Low: 9 | Big National Team bump coming off the back of 2020’s low ranking. Can he carry it over to 2021 MLS play? – Buzz |
| 10 (-) | Jader Obrian High: 10 | Low: 10 | Two goals against SAFC. Not the prettiest but it shows he can fight through a challenge and find the net. – Dan |
| 11 (-) | Johnny Nelson High: 11 | Low: 11 | The best outside back defender in the team has held off Munjoma so far. – Buzz |
In The Mix:
| 12 (-) | Ricardo Pepi High: 12 | Low: 12 | Jara is finally getting some competition from the young striker. – Dan |
| 13 (-) | Tanner Tessmann High: 13 | Low: 13 | Fantastic minutes with the Olympic team. Can he beat out Acosta? – Buzz |
| 14 (-) | Edwin Cerrillo High: 14 | Low: 14 | The number six jersey and the team just sold his biggest direct competition. Did Cerrillo make Thiago Santos expendable? – Dan |
| 15 (-) | Bressan High: 15 | Low: 15 | Got the first start out of respect for time served but has lost out to Martinez since. Is the 3rd CB in a 3-man back line. – Buzz |
| 16 (-) | Phelipe Megiolaro High: 16 | Low: 16 | Not conceded a goal in preseason, saved two penalties and scored one in the shootout against SAFC. – Dan |
| 17 (-) | Nicky Hernandez High: 17 | Low: 17 | A fantastic 2nd half of 2020 got him drafted then a good camp got him signed. He’s seen minutes while Acosta and Tessmann were gone. – Buzz |
| 18 (-) | Eddie Munjoma High: 18 | Low: 18 | Eddie is second choice at both fullback positions but big obstacles on both sides. – Dan |
| 19 (-) | Ema Twumasi High: 19 | Low: 19 | Injuries derailed his expected run at right back. Will have some work to do to get back into the mix. – Buzz |
| 20 (-) | Brandon Servania High: 20 | Low: 20 | Getting starts and just completed his first 90 mins with SKN St. Polten. – Dan |
Second Team:
| 21 (-) | Thomas Roberts High: 21 | Low: 21 | Roberts was having a really good spring by all reports until he got injured. Should be back in time for the season. – Buzz |
| 22 (-) | Paxton Pomykal High: 22 | Low: 22 | Paxton’s health is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Now the covers are coming off so it’ll be easier to tell if he’s really playing and training. – Dan |
| 23 (-) | Justin Che High: 23 | Low: 23 | On loan to Bayern, playing with Bayern II it seems. – Buzz |
| 24 (-) | Kalil ElMedkhar High: 24 | Low: 24 | A stunning goal in the first scrimmage but those wing spots seem to be locked up right now. – Dan |
| 25 (-) | Dante Sealy High: 25 | Low: 25 | Mostly late minutes this spring and some NTX scrimmage time. – Buzz |
| 26 (-) | Kyle Zobeck High: 26 | Low: 26 | Shutler came in to challenge for third spot on the depth chart and Zobeck seems to have won that battle. – Dan |
| 27 (-) | Derek Waldeck High: 27 | Low: 27 | The sole NTX contracted player still in FCD camp, that we know of. FCD might be in need of a cheap depth piece at 6. Does he have a shot? – Buzz |
| 28 (-) | Nksoi Burgess High: 28 | Low: 28 | Needs games. – Dan |
| 29 (-) | Hope Kodzo Avayevu High: 29 | Low: 29 | Handed the North Texas 10-shirt and maybe the keys to the bus. Expectations are rising fast. – Buzz |
| 30 (-) | Colin Shutler High: 30 | Low: 30 | Impressed enough to be signed by NTX in a timely manner. Presumably the first choice USL-1 keeper. – Dan |
| 31 (-) | Gibran Rayo High: 31 | Low: 31 | A solid second half to 2020 gets him another go in 2021. Needs consistency. – Buzz |
| 32 (-) | Bernard Kamungo High: 32 | Low: 32 | A trialist signing, the NTX folks seem very excited about him. – Dan |
In Reserve:
| 33 (-) | Thibaut Jacquel High: 33 | Low: 33 | 24-year-old from France and Campbell U signs a USL-1 deal and has been scoring. Where does he fit in the FCD/NTX system? – Buzz |
| 34 (-) | Alisson High: 34 | Low: 34 | One of the few retained players, it’s a good time for Alisson to really kick on and show more than begin dependable at the USL League One level. – Dan |
| 35 (-) | Imanol Almaguer High: 35 | Low: 35 | Too often injured, need to see some progression soon. – Buzz |
| 36 (-) | Alex Bruce High: 36 | Low: 36 | Injuries did Bruce a disservice in 2020. He needs to stay healthy. – Dan |
| 37 (-) | David Rodriguez High: 37 | Low: 37 | On loan to Atlético San Luis. Needs more consistency with NTX and greater impact. – Buzz |
| 38 (-) | Mikey Maldonado High: 38 | Low: 38 | Another open trialist signed. A versatile defender off the back of a solid season in the 5th tier UPSL. – Dan |
| 39 (-) | Kazu High: 39 | Low: 39 | Just arrived in DFW in the last day or so. – Buzz |
| 40 (-) | Alejandro Viniegra High: 40 | Low: 40 | He’s here but little is known. – Dan |
| 41 (-) | Juan Parra High: 41 | Low: 41 | As far as we know, not here yet. – Buzz |
As we’ve talked about an offensive rebuild, Andres Ricaurte is the man of the moment at Toyota Stadium. Agree or disagree with us, let us know.