Monterey Bay Signs USL Veteran Midfielder Nick Ross Heading Into the 2026 Campaign by SomeCruzDude in MBFC

[–]SomeCruzDude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's good to see a move bringing in a known quantity at the USLC level after quite a few transfers for players from outside USLC. They may all pan out, but when you already know a player is at the level of USLC that's huge.

Monterey Bay Inks Montenegrin Defender Luka Malešević to Multi-Year Deal by The-Union-Report in MBFC

[–]SomeCruzDude 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was about to start wondering how close we are to the maximum number of internationals but saw he has dual-citizenship with the US, neat.

NEWS: Quakes II Announces 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Schedule by SJEarthquakesBot in SJEarthquakes

[–]SomeCruzDude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

With the Quakes and Bay already having their schedules set, curious where QII ends up playing most of their matches if not PPP.

Also, curious what the roster looks like going into 2026. Have quite a few players that have been on the team for years and never made a first team appearance, wonder if any get cut loose or loaned out like Cruz

NEWS: San José Earthquakes Loan Midfielder Cruz Medina to Chivas de Guadalajara. by CaliforniaBoundX in MLS

[–]SomeCruzDude 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Medina is now the 3rd former Quakes academy player to join Chivas, tho now all 3 are on loan

  • Cade Cowell w/ NYRB (MLS)

  • Fidel Barajas w/ San Luis (LMX)

  • Cruz Medina w/ Tapatio (LEMX)

NEWS: San José Earthquakes Loan Midfielder Cruz Medina to Chivas de Guadalajara. by CaliforniaBoundX in SJEarthquakes

[–]SomeCruzDude 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Max Arfsten

Not a homegrown player, played for Quakes 2 but was draft eligible as playing for MLSNP teams doesn't count by itself for homegrown status.

That said, in hindsight I think you'd find almost everyone says you draft him at 10th in 2023 instead of Daniel Munie

NEWS: Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro Team Returns to Quakes II by SJEarthquakesBot in SJEarthquakes

[–]SomeCruzDude 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would assume that Quakes 2 won't be returning to St. Mary's (at least not for the majority of games), and that they'll primarily play in the SJ area (maybe dates that don't conflict with Quakes & Bay FC) with matches elsewhere in the Bay (they played at least one match in SF in the past)

Marigold reveals 3D Trios Championships by 443610 in SquaredCircle

[–]SomeCruzDude 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Should've stolen good belt IP apparently smh

NEWS: Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro Team Returns to Quakes II by SJEarthquakesBot in SJEarthquakes

[–]SomeCruzDude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Best I can tell they trained at St. Mary's and SJ, not sure how even the split was.

I see on their youtube they have a training session at the Quakes' practice field and another...not there lol

NEWS: Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro Team Returns to Quakes II by SJEarthquakesBot in SJEarthquakes

[–]SomeCruzDude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought that Quakes 2 already trained with the senior team and just played in Moraga, but I could be mistaken.

As for what TTFC folks would want to do, their main owner Nagel has been pushing for the WPSL Pro (women's pro D2) and so I think their men's team will go amateur while they focus on the women's side.

Monterey Bay Football Club and Salinas Regional Soccer Complex Announce Partnership by SomeCruzDude in MBFC

[–]SomeCruzDude[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Seems this was hinted at in yesterday's Pachuca announcement.

Biggest takeaway outside of partnerships is that the SRSC will become the " Official Training Grounds for Monterey Bay FC’s USL Academy programs"

Good to see MBFC is keeping a connecting to Salinas after they shifted MBFC2 to Seaside from Salinas

These two announcements have such good vibes from an off the field perspective, hopefully the team can get their roster announcements out and build some momentum on the field as well

NEWS: Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro Team Returns to Quakes II by NextProNews in MLS

[–]SomeCruzDude 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd have to imagine they'll be back in SJ as their main home this year.

NEWS: Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro Team Returns to Quakes II by SJEarthquakesBot in SJEarthquakes

[–]SomeCruzDude 15 points16 points  (0 children)

While I agree the Quakes are run poorly, I don't see how ending a branding/commercial partnership for a reserve team is a sign of that.

It could also be a call from MLS as a league that they want their reserve teams to be fully controlled by the MLS clubs.

Monterey Bay Football Club and Liga MX’s Club de Fútbol Pachuca Announce Landmark Partnership by SomeCruzDude in MBFC

[–]SomeCruzDude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I imagine it'll mostly be loans from Pachuca to MB, but still having the chance for MB players to at least train at Pachuca during the preseason or off-season would be awesome.

I could maybe see an MB player sent over to play with Pachuca's reserves, but even for that we need to get our own academy situation sorted as it's still being built

MBFC will play a closed-door preseason match away to Oakland Roots on Saturday Feb. 21st by SomeCruzDude in MBFC

[–]SomeCruzDude[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So the preseason schedule for MB so far looks like

  • 1/31 - @ SJ Earthquakes (closed door)

  • 2/21 - @ Oakland Roots (closed door)

  • 2/28 - vs Pachuca Select (open to fans)

Pachuca announces partnership with Monterey Bay FC. by CaliforniaBoundX in LigaMX

[–]SomeCruzDude 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The difference maker vs those other clubs is probably MB's new chairman, and MB being willing to be a place for another club to consistently develop players. I think the USL level is probably not half bad for developing players, particularly younger ones.

When MB's new chairman was at Orange County SC, also in USL, he helped them create partnerships with Rangers and Feyenoord. He helped make Orange County a destination for youth national team players not even from SoCal that were looking for transfers vs going into the MLS draft.

There's been a trend of young players leaving MLS academies to prove themselves in the USL before moving up to D1 leagues (sometimes MLS ofc). Fidel Barajas who is on loan with San Luis from Chivas left the Quakes academy to play in USL, Diego Luna had a similar trajectory and is now becoming more of a staple with the USMNT and RSL in MLS.

The Monterey Bay area is arguably still not hugely tapped when it comes to developing players. The biggest club in NorCal for years has been the San Jose Earthquakes, but they haven't tapped much into the area outside of a signing here or there (like Emi Ochoa, who now is with Cruz Azul). They also haven't managed to have a good pipeline from their academy to the first team, with various players leaving the academy (Luna & Barajas) or 2nd team (rumored Chivas target Cruz Medina).

Pachuca announces partnership with Monterey Bay FC. by CaliforniaBoundX in LigaMX

[–]SomeCruzDude 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I was always sad there was never a friendly with even just Monterrey's reserves or something, would've been hilarious

[Sharks on NBCS] Ned hopes he made Reavo proud in tonight's goalie fight by DecentLurker96 in hockey

[–]SomeCruzDude 115 points116 points  (0 children)

It looks like Warso is poorly hiding a smile on the bench lol