Final preseason check on the 2023 FC Dallas roster build

We’re one week out from the start of the 2023 MLS season so it seems a good time to do a final check-in on the roster build. Back in November, I started with the same build setup I’ve used for a couple of years. This table should be familiar to long-time readers.

Right now there’s only one hole left for Andre Zanotta and Nico Estevez to fill.

Edit (2/20/23): rather than re-posting this chart just three days later, I am doing an edit after the Jesús Jiménez trade.

Edit (2/23/23): They did it again, another trade to get the rights for and then sign Sam Junqua.

Roster	Pos.	Start of Offseason	Current Status
1	9	Jesus Ferreira	Jesus Ferreira
2	9	Franco Jara	Jesús Jiménez
3	9	Young reserve	Jose Mulato
4	Wing	Paul Arriola	Paul Arriola
5	Wing	Alan Velasco	Alan Velasco
6	Wing	Jader Obrian	Jader Obrian
7	Wing	Bernard Kamungo	Bernard Kamungo
8	Free-8	Sebastian Lletget	Sebastian Lletget
9	Free-8	U-22 initiative?	Still need?
10	Linking-8	Paxton Pomykal	Paxton Pomykal
11	Linking-8	Brandon Servania	Tsiki Ntsabeleng
12	6	Edwin Cerrillo	Edwin Cerrillo
13	6	Facundo Quignón	Facundo Quignón
14	LB	Marco Farfan	Marco Farfan
15	LB	Isaiah Parker?	Sam Junqua
16	CB	Nkosi Tafari	Nkosi Tafari
17	CB	Jose Martinez	Jose Martinez
18	CB	Starter caliber	Sebastien Ibeagha
19	CB	Veteran depth	Amet Korça
20	CB	Young reserve	Nolan Norris
21	RB	Ema Twumasi	Ema Twumasi
22	RB	Collin Smith?	Geovane Jesus
23	GK	Maarten Paes	Maarten Paes
24	GK	Jimmy Maurer	Jimmy Maurer
25	GK	Antonio Carrera	Antonio Carrera
26	Extra	Tsiki Ntsabeleng	Collin Smith (RB)
27	Extra		Herbert Endeley (RB)
28	Extra		Isaiah Parker
29	Extra		Leave Empty
30	Extra		Leave Empty

Comments

Based on his career, I had projected Sebastien Ibeagha as veteran depth but Coach Nico Estevez has talked about him as one of the three prime CB starters he has. So I elevated Seba.

While Nolan Norris can play LB, his conversion to LCB is basically a full-time go and he’s the 5th CB on the roster. I still expect Norris to mostly play with North Texas SC in 2023.

I moved Tsiki Ntsabeleng from “extra” to “free-8” even though I don’t think he has the same profile as Sebastian Lletget. For now, FCD has been using Tsiki in a second-choice double-8 combo with Brandon Servania.

Edit 2/20/23: Trading Brandon Servania ended the linking-8 overload and partially restores the need for a free-8 backup, a.k.a replacing Thomas Roberts. Granted, Jesus Ferreira can also fill this free-8 role.

I removed Tarik Scott from the build because he’s out for the year and FCD will almost certainly place him on the injured list for 2023.

Dante Sealy and Justin Che remain on loan through June and both in theory could come back. At this time, the chance appears greater that Sealy will return than Che. Both loans do have buy options.

Herbert Endeley (24th overall, Indiana University) made the roster as a right back and right wing option. His signing really puts the squeeze on Collin Smith as Endeley will probably be with North Texas a lot and they have another RB as well. Keep an eye open for a Smith loan this year.

There is still some discussion Isaiah Parker may go on loan as well. Stay tuned on that one.

Edit 2/23/23: There’s no way the club goes for Sam Junqua if there isn’t a loan coming.

FCD is actively looking for a depth 9 option for now. But they do have an open DP spot, and an open international spot open. Expect them to evaluate the club with an eye on a midseason bigger signing.

Coach Nico told me FCD will only have a 28-man roster at the start of the season hence the two extra open spots.