Who I'm Excited To Watch - Covid Cup 2020
As of the day this blog is released the MLS Is Back Tournament (or as I’ve called it on the MLSAces Podcast) “Covid Cup” is still going on for July. Even with confirmed cases of Covid-19 rising in Florida and within MLS teams, the tournament will go on. We still don’t know a schedule or what players will opt out of the tournament, but I’ve decided to create a starting XI for each group. These starting XI’s are the players in each group that I am excited to watch:
Group A
Group A had the most teams in the tournament to pick from so to be honest, it was the easiest XI to create. I won’t go through each player on all of these XIs but I will go through the really interesting ones to me. On that backline the center-back pairing are two players that I am so excited to potentially watch. I know I cheated a little bit and am considering James Sands a center-back but I think both of these guys will need to be used and get a good amount of minutes. The 19 year old Sands was CRUSHING it for NYCFC last season before getting injured. With almost 30 games for NYCFC under his belt I’m expecting him to be a big time player at either CB or DM (and at DM falling back in between Callens and Chanot). I have a similar feeling about Christian Makoun. Makoun will not be the first choice center-back behind Jorge Figal and the soon-to-be Inter Miami defender, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. But with Roman Torres on his last career legs at 34 years old, there are going to be some expected minutes on the legs of Makoun. Makoun has a ton of expectations behind him, as he is a former Juventus youth product. I also want to see what Djordje Mihailovic can bring to the Fire. Now that he is over a year out from ACL surgery this is the time where we are going to see Djordje BALLING to where he was two seasons ago. I truly think he could be the complete game changer on the field for the Fire and getting them out of Group A. Its time for him to step up his game and prove that he can be an impact on the field in MLS and potentially for the USMNT soon! Finally, I want to touch on OCSC striker Dom Dwyer. Dom has been highly successful in MLS, but not truly with Orlando City. I feel that in a tournament like this, in a climate that he is now used to, we could really see the renaissance of DD. 82 career MLS goals don’t just disappear and I’m a big believer in that.
Group B
I have less to truly dive into on Group B but there are a few guys who I feel need to step up completely for their teams to make it out of this group. Yeimar Gomez will have to play HUGE for Seattle with their lack of center-back depth. But I’m not overly concerned with Seattle not making it out of the group. If San Jose want a shot I’m really looking at youngsters Marcos Lopez and Carlos Fierro. Lopez is going to have to step up and get some major minutes especially since it looks like the only true full-back talents are going to be Nick Lima, Tommy Thompson, and Lopez. For Fierro, I want to see if he is fully adjusted to MLS yet. Can the 25 year old bring his 24 goals and 23 assists from Mexico to San Jose. Finally, the FC Dallas duo of Tanner Tessman and Reggie Cannon could be huge for the Texas side. Reggie Cannon is going to be sold to Europe sooner rather than later and this tournament may be the last we see of the talented American in MLS. Cannon could be a major impact here and get himself signed to a Freiburg or Augsburg in the Bundesliga. As for Tessman, we saw the youngster THRIVE in his two MLS appearances pre-Covid. I want to see the former Clemson football kicker take his talents and allow them to continue to shine in this tournament. Dallas’s midfield is crowded and if he can stand-out in it… that would be very impressive!
Group C
Maybe a little similar to how I felt about Group A but the young center-back duo is interesting to me here. First, Luis Binks for the Impact will be one that Thierry Henry will be relying on. The 18 year old has played pretty well between his time in MLS and CONCACAF Champions League. I want to see how Henry uses him in this tournament and I have a good feeling he could lead all Impact defenders in minutes played this group stage. My other young center-back is Donovan Pines who I LOVE for D.C. United. If D.C. and Olsen continue to use a 3 man back, then Pines will have to play a ton of minutes. At only 22 Pines can show out a lot in this tournament and really help out on the minutes that are going to be put on Steve Birnbaum and Frederic Brilliant. I’m also interested in some guys who have been known to be spark plugs; Nick DeLeon and Maxi Urruti. DeLeon showed out in last season’s MLS Cup Playoffs as he was the super-sub off the bench. I’m sure that Nick will have to start some in this group, but I’m excited to see what he can bring to TFC in Group C. With Maxi, who is arguably the most hot and cold player in MLS history, he could really push the Impact out of Group C. Urruti started this season with 3 goals in 2 games and if the Impact want to advance, a hot striker can really help with that!
Group D
I have a lot of Colorado Rapids in this group and for good reason! The Rapids have a lot of interesting characters that could help them advance from arguably the toughest group in the 2020 Covid Cup. Im really looking at Sam Vines and Cole Bassett however. Vines got his first chances with the USMNT in January and I feel we could see a big tournament here from Vines. He is a kid who I feel that can play in Europe one day, and I feel this tournament could spotlight that for Sam. I have a similar feeling about Europe for Cole Bassett as well. Training with English teams and having almost 30 professional games under his belt at 18, Bassett could be special. With a lot of minutes needing to be played, I’m excited to see how Robin Fraser gets him on the field. I think that a spotlight needs to be put on Gianluca Busio too. I dropped a blog post on mlsaces.com about potential Felipe Gutierrez replacements so definitely check that out here ( ) for my takes on Busio. The last player I wanted to touch on was Corey Baird. Barid definitely has had his chances and even some games under the USMNT, but he has fallen back on the field. I like Baird’s game, and I think he can bring a lot to a club like RSL. The former MLS Rookie of the Year and needs to find that 2018 form again. I want to see Corey push himself and be that catalyst on the RSL attack and maybe have a Jordan Morris type effect on a less talented team.
Group E
Oh Group E… this was easily my toughest group to get a XI out of. So I want to focus on two main things in this group. First, the return of Siem de Jong and Jurgan Locadia on a field together. These guys were able to play on the 2016/2017 PSV team together and had some pretty good success on the field. We’ve been able to see Jurgen Locadia score some goals in MLS already, but how will the impact of a talented attacking midfielder like de Jong, add to Locadia’s scoring ability? We will see for sure! The other thing I focused on in this group was Derrick Etienne Jr. I am such a HUGE fan of the Hatian Messi and I really feel that he is fueled and primed for a major group stage. Derrick has played for three of the four teams in this group. Came up with and played for the Red Bulls, then had an interesting loan spell with FC Cincinnati, and now he’s with the Crew. I feel that with the way that his time at RBNY and Cincy ended… Derrick could be fueled to put a few away against them!
Group F
Group F has a lot of LAFC players because… I mean… duh? LAFC are so talented in so many spots and have so many storylines. Does Vela come and play? How does Andy Najar translate back into MLS and fit in with Bob’s ideals? Does Tristan Blackmon push inside? But my main focal point for LAFC is midfielder Bryce Duke. If you follow me on Twitter you will know my love for this kid. The 19 year old Duke only has 3 appearances for LAFC but between his appearances in CCL and his two in MLS… I really like what he brings to a game. Let’s move to another talented midfielder in LA and that is Efrain Alvarez. Efra has been talked about for so long and even got a good amount of love from former teammate Zlatan. The 18 year old attacking midfielder is super talented and we’ve seen that between his small shots at MLS action and USL Championship. I really want to see him get a chance to provide opportunities to Chicharito and Pavon. Lastly, my guy Eryk Williamson. Another one who has gotten a ton of USL Championship chances but for some reason not at the first team level. I love what Williamson could bring to the Timbers. I feel he is a complete midfielder, he makes the smart passes, and really can set up teammates well. I need more minutes for him this summer… like now Gio.
