Fun with numbers – 2020 FC Dallas jersey number predictions

Most of y’all know how I feel about jersey numbers, they are important and have meaning.  Many players take them quite seriously as well, sometimes going so far as to pay to get their coveted number off of another player. Each year, a few FC Dallas kit numbers change.

So let’s have some fun and make some FC Dallas jersey number predictions for 2020…

Thiago Santos wore 5 at Palmeiras and 5 is open. So easy peasy, 5 it is.

Jesus Ferreira wore 7 in the Academy and is 27 with FCD… so I predict he asks for the 7-jersey and gets it. Maybe 10 like his dad? But I think 7 is his number. When you give a guy a phat raise he gets to pick his number.

Paxton Pomykal has allegedly told people he wants to stay in the no. 19.  So even though the 10 he wore in the Academy is open, I think he stays in the 19.

Side note: With Pablo Aranguiz on season-long loan his number is open. It’s highly, highly unlikely he would ever be back anyway.

Pomykal and Ferreira are the only two players on the roster right now who can have the 10 if either wants it. And Michael Barrios. But I doubt he’ll change from 21 at this point.

No, Thomas Roberts can’t have the 10.  Not yet.

Will Jimmy Maurer go back to 14?  He only swapped out of it because Dom Badji wanted it. Although Maurer didn’t care all that much about the 14 anyway.  I’m sure Maurer will stay in the 20. Unless someone new is crazy about the 20, I suppose.

Update: Jimmy Maurer posted an Instagram pic with a box of new keeper gloves for the season. They all say JM20 on the straps, so no number change for Jimmy is seems.

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Fafa Picault has often worn the 9 in his career… but he’s not really a 9. Has Cobra asked for the 9? I bet both asked for 9 and instead of handing it to either, FCD will hold it open for a big signing. So I’m giving Picault the 14 – he doesn’t fit the franchise history of the 14 but it’s a solid number – and leaving Zdenek Ondrasek at 13.

And no, Ricardo Pepi can’t have the 9 either. It’s way too early and that’s too much weight for a 16-year-old. Bang in 20 in the show and you can have the 9.

Brandon Servania is a linking-8 and he wore 8 in the Academy and 18 now. So while 6 is a good number, I think Servania waits for the 8 to someday come open and stays in his 18. 

Edwin Cerrillo is positionally worthy of a 6 jersey and he wore either 6 or 7 in the Academy. Arguably, it’s a bit early in his career for the 6 but dang it, I really have faith in this kid. So, yeah, he can have the 6.  (He could be an FCD 14 as well in the tradition of Leonel Alvarez and Ted Eck.)

Dante Sealy will take no. 31 as it’s his dad’s number and Dante wore it with NTXSC last year. He’s not getting the 7 he wore in the Academy.  Not yet anyway.

All the other new players will be assigned high squad numbers 28 and up.  While players can usually pick a number in this high range if they feel strongly about it, most just take what is assigned.   Preseason numbers aren’t locked in stone until the season starts anyway so any of these players that make the final roster might switch to something else.

A few guesses…

Eddie Munjoma – 32 (he wore 12 in college)
Nkosi Burgess – 27 (17 in college)
Cal Jennings – 33 (3 in college. Be happy with 33, you’re not getting 3. See Cooper, Kenny.)
Manuel Ferriol – 28 (he’s an 8/10 type)
Derek Waldeck – 34 (4 in college)
Anders Engebretsen – 35
Aidan Megally – 36

I also predict Brecc Evans, Ronaldo Damus, David Rodriguez and Arturo Rodriguez will get invited to FCD camp. In which case they will be given high numbers for any scrimmages they play in.

Want to know how these players fit – or don’t – into the MLS roster? Check out the Roster Dance feature.

Buzz’s Preseason FC Dallas Numeric Roster Prediction

Changes and new players in BOLD.

Number	Player
1	Jesse Gonzalez
2	Reggie Cannon
3	Reto Ziegler
4	Bressan
5	Thiago Santos
6	Edwin Cerrillo
7	Jesus Ferreira
8	Bryan Acosta
9	Open
10	Open
11	Santiago Mosquera
12	Ryan Hollingshead
13	Cobra
14	Fafa Picault
15	Jacori Hayes
16	Ricardo Pepi
17	Francis Atuahene
18	Brandon Servania
19	Paxton Pomykal
20	Jimmy Maurer
21	Michael Barrios
22	Ema Twumasi
23	Thomas Roberts
24	Matt Hedges
25	Callum Montgomery
26	John Nelson
27	Nkosi Burgess
28	Manuel Ferriol
29	Bryan Reynolds
30	Kyle Zobeck
31	Dante Sealy
32	Eddie Munjoma
33	Cal Jennings
34	Derek Waldeck
35	Anders Engebretsen
36	Aidan Megally
37	Brecc Evans
38	David Rodriguez
39	Ronaldo Damus
40	Arturo Rodriguez