weight room, he seems to have put on some upper body muscle. He's looking strong.

Dante Sealy remains on loan with North Texas SC, where I expect him to train and play all season.

From my observations and the playing time he has gotten, I think John Nelson has put himself in contention at left back and is challenging Marquinhos Pedroso for the backup spot there.

Ryan Hollingshead continues to excel in training as well as in games. He's playing the best soccer of his career.

Again based on games and training, midfield seems to be a direct completion for places each and every week between 5 players: Paxton Pomykal (perhaps the only lock right now?), Carlos Gruezo, Bryan Acosta, Edwin Cerrillo, and Jacori Hayes. Just on the outside of that groupwatched the North Texas SC game on replay and liked the overall performance except for the let down at the end. He did offer one funny quip about it. "Really happy for Pepi. He scored three, could have scored five. So that's my message to him. Cause that's the relationship I have with him." That tongue-in-cheek statement earned a good chuckle from the assembled media.

Catching up with Luchi Gonzalez

I was as big a fan as anyone of Edwin Cerrillo coming out of the Academy last season. But he's further ahead in the depth chart than even I expected. What's he doing to put himself so high up the chart and in your thinking for selection?

That's one where we were just taking steps. But there was a circumstance with