While Clearwater cranked up the heat to 70+ degrees today, United turned it up even more. Tomorrow marks another preseason match, another chance to prove who belongs on the squad. And with the game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies quickly approaching, practice today was even more important to try and earn some minutes on the pitch, and a few players certainly made their case. The youthful talent in camp is a bright spot, and while United have been known for their strong veteran presence, some young guns are making some noise.
Miguel Aguilar continues to grow from his rookie season with United. His pace and aggressive play opens up space not only for him, but also for those around him. Miguel’s ability to break quickly into channels creates space for a lot of fluid movement on the pitch. He can then take space along the wing and beat defenders 1-on-1, which seems to be a consistent occurrence this preseason, along with his ability to finish. Miguel buried a screamer in the first preseason match v. IF Elfsborg and hasn’t stopped since, sending home quite a few goals in 6v6 today. Time will tell where he fits in with the 18, but he certainly has made his presence known in certain lineups.
While Miguel impresses in attack, Luke Mishu and Jalen Robinson impress in the backline. Another year with United, learning from a proven veteran defensive unit, has made its mark on the young defenders. There have been plenty of rotations and line-ups during preseason and both Mishu and Robinson have looked sharp. Mishu has been strong on the outside, able to both maintain his positioning and recognize when to attack. He can move up the flank with pace and is developing a nice in-swinger into the box. Learning from Taylor Kemp, who had 6 assists last season, definitely doesn’t hurt either. Robinson has also taken advantage of learning from experienced center backs like Bobby Boswell and Kofi Opare, and his confidence in the back is growing. Staying organized and being vocal is key at CB and Jalen is certainly developing those skills. Both Mishu and Robinson have added significant depth to the defensive unit this preseason.
Tomorrow will be an important preseason match. While the veterans need to gain their match fitness, it is still important to give the young players some minutes and see what they can do. If things continue as they have, there will be some tough decisions come time to determine the final 28. United face the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7 PM, and you can watch the game on dcunited.com via the Rowdies’ Youtube channel.
