Well, it’s finally officially official. Despite everyone knowing it was done a long time ago, MLS has announced that it’s expanding to St. Louis. The new team, whether it be St. Louis FC or another new brand, will begin to play in the 2022 season. That being said, it’s likely that there will be a few recognizable faces from STLFC that will make the jump to MLS. Here’s who I believe should be in the side come 2022. With MLS now official, Which St. Louis FC Players should make the jump to MLS?
Sam Fink
Well, you can’t really go up without your captain, can you? Fink was part of the inaugural St. Louis FC side five years ago, and aside from a short spell at Oklahoma City, has been with STLFC since. Fink wears the captain’s armband currently and is surely a guarantee to make the jump to MLS. His presence in the back is felt, he is dangerous from set-pieces and he is a natural leader, which will be pivotal for the artificially promoted side come MLS time. He will be 29 years old when the MLS team begins play, meaning that he will be on the back end of his prime.
But it will be important for the team to have someone like Fink to rally around. While he sometimes has lapses in judgment and isn’t a stranger to the odd mistake, leaving Fink in USL would be a catastrophe, and with MLS now official, he needs to make the step up.
Russell Cicerone
St. Louis FC’s most productive striker this season, it is shocking that Cicerone isn’t in MLS already. A forward that is capable of playing on either side of the wing. Cicerone is tricky on the ball and is a natural finisher. His play in the US Open Cup against all three MLS sides that STLFC came up against showed that is wasn’t just a flash in the pan in the first match. It was his real ability and potential. The fact that FC Cincinnati didn’t bring him up to MLS shows the lack of vision that they have suffered from so much in their first year, as he would be a valuable option for them.
There is no reasonable way that Cicerone should miss out on his chance again. Since he is only 24, he’ll be in his prime when MLS comes to town, and he should be in the plans.
Sean Reynolds
Tidy on the ball and strong in defense, Sean Reynolds is a player that should be on the list to go up. While he will be in his 30s by the time the MLS team begins play, his personality is one that would be a good one to have around the dressing room. A good relationship with the fans and a hard-working player, Reynolds would continue that legacy in MLS. While he does have a troubling history when it comes to injuries, with MLS now official, his abilities and personality should warrant him sticking around in St. Louis for a while longer.
Lewis Hilton
Arguably the most technically gifted player at the club. Lewis Hilton is always a starter for St. Louis FC. His ability to pick out a pass is unrivaled in the team and is arguably the best in the league. His delivery from set-pieces also provides a threat for any team that is defending against them. In a league like MLS, where there are few technically efficient midfielders and set pieces are incredibly vital to the success of a team, Hilton would make the transition smoothly. Being 25 years old means that, much like Cicerone, he will have many years in the top flight, and not bringing him up would be a major mistake. With MLS now official, Hilton should be right around the top of the list in terms of players that should make the jump.
Guy Abend
A sound midfielder, Guy Abend is a player that would fit the mold of MLS perfectly. Not a player that is going to make the 40-yard pass. But the one that is going to be a solid shield in front of the backline. Ever since he pulled up with a muscle injury against Swope Park Rangers, St. Louis FC have looked significantly worse. He is one of those players that you don’t really notice while he’s on the pitch. However, when he’s not there, it’s very visible.
A bit of the grittier type, Abend is someone that fits into the defensive midfield role perfectly. With how much of a difference he makes, leaving him off the MLS roster would be a big mistake. If that happens, he ought to feel wrong if he doesn’t make the jump up. He’ll turn 30 come the time MLS comes around, so he will be a good age to make the transition.
Tomas Gomez
Twice being USL Goalkeeper of the Year, Gomez should be a clear pick to make the jump up. A confident shot-stopper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, he would be a good pick to make the jump to MLS. Maybe he wouldn’t be the first choice. But he would be a more than capable backup. Being 26 years old, he is young for a goalkeeper, and when MLS arrives he will be a good age at 28. A keeper of that age should be given his chance.
Nichi Vlastos
One of the more exciting players to mention, Vlastos is still only a teenager and has bags of potential. Having just signed his first professional contract it is pretty likely that he will be in the MLS team. Like Hilton, he is a technically sound midfielder that is very good with the ball at his feet and can provide goals and assists. He may not stick around in MLS very long, with his potential being high enough that he could possibly find himself in Europe someday. But he will surely be on the St. Louis MLS team.
Anthony Pulis
Now for the manager. While St. Louis FC have gone on a torrid run as of late, it would be a mistake to blame the manager. He has shown his tactical prowess, navigating STLFC to the Quarter Final of the US Open Cup, beating two MLS sides along the way. The way that the team started the season showed that they’d bought into his system. It wasn’t until the injuries started piling up and the exhaustion from the Open Cup run that the league season started to fall apart. Being the only manager in club history to make the playoffs is also nothing to be scoffed at. Overall, Pulis is an excellent manager, stating that he wants to manage in MLS earlier this year. With MLS now official, it’s time that he makes that dream a reality.
