Fansided

Every MLS teams’ best player aged 20 or under

By Harrison Hamm

May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 17, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Jackson Yueill (14) attempts to kick the ball against the Sporting Kansas City in the second half of the game at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 17, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Jackson Yueill (14) attempts to kick the ball against the Sporting Kansas City in the second half of the game at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

San Jose Earthquakes: Jackson Yueill

The notoriously youth-averse manager Dom Kinnear and his San Jose Earthquakes are pretty far off from RSL’s advanced level of development. They’re one of 11 MLS teams without a USL reserve franchise, and their aversion to playing young players is recognized around the league. Talented creative midfielder Tommy Thompson (21, just off this list) has consistently struggled to nab first-team minutes, and he’s one of just two Homegrown players on the roster.

Jackson Yueill, who at 20 is one of two U-20 players on San Jose’s roster along with rarely-used Brazilian midfielder Matheus Silva, deserves a spot as one of the best 20 and under players in the league despite the Earthquakes’ bad record with young players. He was drafted in the first round out of UCLA as a creative midfielder with an opportunity to grow into a starting No. 10 in MLS, and could have (or should have) been selected to the U.S. U-20 World Cup squad.

Minutes have been rare in MLS play — only a 15-minute cameo so far — but he did start their U.S. Open Cup victory against the San Francisco Deltas in mid-June, scoring in the fourth-minute. He’s played a lot on loan with USL expansion side Reno 1868 FC (yes, that’s their name), and hopefully Kinnear gives him more MLS minutes after his U.S. Open Cup goal.

The Quakes’ 4-3-3 formation lends itself to starting central attackers more than their 4-4-2 did, although given their logjam of defensive midfielders, Kinnear has been inclined to play them ahead of Yueill. Thompson’s presence backs up the depth chart as well. But Yueill is good enough to make a difference, and if it requires a roster move, so be it.

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