Training was scheduled for 9:30 am, but the players didn't come out till 10. That usually means some kind of video session was taking place. Temps on the swing from 60 degrees at the start up to 70 degrees at the end.

For the most part, Tuesday's session seemed to be a carryover from last week. Take the possession (aka Luchi-Ball) and build into the final third and then break down the defense. Use some changes of pace and moves into a more vertical style to catch the defense off balance.

News and Notes

Jacori Hayes is back in training going full out. He looks good. I checked with him afterward and he said he feels great. That's good news for him and the squad. Hamstrings can be tricky, rush back too soon and you risk tearing it... then you are out for months.

Jesse Gonzalez, Bryan Acosta, and Carlos Gruezo are all expected back from international competition on Wednesday and will resume training on Thursday. Acosta played 90 minutes for Honduras last night, Gruezo was a 67th-minute sub.

Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez says Acosta and Gruezo will each be integrated back at the pace necessary for each individual and indicated Gruezo, having been in the FCD program for a couple of years, would probably be ready quicker. (You can see his answer when I asked about this at the end of the video down below.)

Cristian Colman (ACL) and Francis Atuahene (pectoral tear) are still a long way from recovery. Ema Twumasi (back) is also still missing, it's been a couple of weeks since I've seen him.

North Texas SC, I learned today, has international roster limits too. 7 to be specific. They can trade for them just like an MLS team can. That will be a factor if they get MLS players coming down on loan for PT for development, fitness, or rehab.

North Texas SC Players

Two different groups of NTX players got invited over to join training after their session was done or nearly done.

The first group was players still on trial with NTX. They got involved in some of the drills early in the FCD session working as defenders against FCD. This group consisted of Hector Montalvo, Mohamed Sesay, Alex Radilla, Cesar Murillo, Angel Paita, and a newer trialist named "Fiero" that I have no info on yet.

About halfway through the FCD session, another group of North Texas players came over. The foremost name among this group was Ricardo Pepi who got to take part in the last hour, or hour and a half maybe, of training with FCD. This is the first time I've personally witnessed him training with FCD.

Along with Pepi came a couple of others who were incorporated in the final two drills (final 30 minutes?). These were mostly players under contract to NTX and not trialists: Arturo Rodriguez, David Rodriguez, Alfusainey Jatta, Bicou Bissainthe, Oscar Ramero, Carlos Avilez, and (trialist) Kyle Parks.

North Texas SC head coach Eric Quill said in the extended podcast interview I did with him that you can expect a couple more signings this week before their inaugural season opener.

Training Observations

It was fun, for me anyway, watching 16-year-old Ricardo Pepi training with the big boys. He was, not surprisingly, caught a step behind in the game reading a couple of time, reacting late. That's to be expected. But there were many other times where he looked great and had some fantastic moves. I've been saying that if Jesus Ferreira makes the U20 World Cup, FCD should bring Pepi into their camp full time while Ferreira is gone. If it goes well, loan Pepi up to FCD short term. Let him make a bench or two, maybe a late game sub. FCD does have one open roster spot.

Arturo Rodriguez is, for my money, the most developed and furthest along NTX player right now. That doesn't mean he's the best prospect, but it means if FCD for some reason needed a midfielder tomorrow he would be the one called upon.

Coach Gonzalez called a couple of people "Papi" today, that's the first time I've heard him do it (he was standing closer to me than usual) although I'm sure it's something he does frequently. Given his background, I'm sure that's not surprising, but it's also a sign of Oscar Pareja's influence I think. Pareja called everyone Papi, even me.

Pretty much every day John Nelson does something that impresses me. Sometimes, like today, it was just a "man, I can't believe this kid's a rookie" kind of thought that went through my head.

Speaking of young defenders, Bryan Reynolds got some reps today paired with what one might call the defensive first unit at right back. Making progress? Coach Gonzalez taking a closer look? Pure coincidence in making even teams? We'll see.

I constantly have to remind myself how young some of these guys are. Edwin Cerrillo 18, Jesus Ferreira 18, Paxton Pomykal 19, Brandon Servania 20, Thomas Roberts 17, Bryan Reynolds 17 (and he's in his third season as a pro!), John Nelson 20, Callum Montgomery 21, and Reggie Cannon 20. Even Pablo Aranguiz 22, Ema Twumasi 21, Francis Atuahene 22. Heck, Carlos Gruezo and Jesse Gonzalez are only 23. It's crazy how young this team is.

The final drill of the day was 6v6 half field games with full goals (hence the 2 NTX players & keepers taking part). 4 teams played each other once, then there was a championship game. Arturo Rodriguez scored the title-winning goal. And your winning team was...

Back row (L-R): Carlos Avilez, Reggie Cannon, Callum Montgomery, and Bicou Bissainthe.

Catching Up with Luchi Gonzalez

Front Row (L-R):, and

Oddly, I was the only outside media at training on Tuesday. So the media session with coach Gonzalez was combined into the team's digital media group's interview. Carter Baum went first and asked almost all the questions I was going to ask. I had one extra at the end. Since it's all on the video you can just watch it rather than have me bother to type it all out.

Michael Barrios does an interview for the FCD media team. (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)