2026-03-06, 10:41 PM - Word count:
With the next draft occurring in a few weeks, prospects are beginning to feel nervous about which teams might draft them. Nerves are getting frayed as prospects worry over answering scouting questions correctly. The wrong answer could cause interested teams to second guess which players are a good fit for their team. This article is a dive into which team's are ideal situation for a young new striker. In a draft class of 35 players, 20 of them, nearly 60%, are experienced forwards and attacking midfielders. Of those 20 players, only 3 are true strikers with 20 points of positional experience. For any team looking to add a new young striker to the organization, the options are rather limited.
Even when expanding the player pool to those who are able to play striker as a secondary position, the list only increases from 3 to 5. We have Vincent Haye, Armero Staple, Vivi Nefertari, Alejandro Hunt, and Zahir Wicker. There are rumors that Vivi Nefertari is already associated with Tokyo. If so, that leaves only 4 rookies who can play striker, and only two of them who consider it their primary position. The position gets even thinner when compared to the class's average tpe level, two have stayed above the average, and two have fallen behind the average.
The league's organizations have been organized in reverse tiers of which ones would be an ideal situation for a rookie striker.
Tier 3
These organizations have acquired significant depth at the striker position, and any additional rookies would have a long road before they may see significant play time, even on the minor league teams.
TENOCHTITLAN & KRUNG - Only 5 players capable of playing striker are on the roster. While there are several organizations with more strikers, the unique situation here is 4 of the 5 have max position xp, all are S20 or younger, and all are earning tpe at a healthy rate.
XELAJU & MASQUES - has the league high 8 players capable of playing striker, with 5 having full xp. Four of those players are S22 or younger, though a few of them are behind in tpe compared to their class average. Getting another young striker on the team is probably not high on the team’s priority. Trying to carve out significant playing time would be difficult for any potential rookie.
Tier 2
These organizations have room or a need for a new striker on their minor league team, but the path for the player to get up to the majors is crowded and unclear.
TOKYO & CAIRO - has three players total who can play striker. A new young striker would easily carve out their own roster position in Cairo, but it would be a long journey to get up to Tokyo because the org has two brilliant looking young talents who should be Tokyo’s star striker pair for a long time. And don't forget the rumors that one of the strikers in this draft is already connected to the team.
SHANGHAI & MAGYAR - They have 7 players capable of playing striker, but only 3 with max xp. However, all 7 have multiple seasons before regression. They have a need for a second true striker for Magyar, but such a player would be waiting a long time behind their S21 and S22 strikers to join Shanghai.
HOLLYWOOD & CAPE TOWN - The organization has found a near perfect balance at the striker position with two players regressing out as two younger players grow stronger, with two additional players who could play striker out of position. The two younger strikers are both S20, though one is falling behind compared to the class tpe average. For any new addition joining the team, initial play time would be competing with regressing players, and continually chasing after the S20 players to get on to Hollywood in the majors. While not the worst situation for a new striker, the journey is not as straight forward as other organizations.
ROME & LONDON - When in Rome. The organization has only four players capable of playing striker, and only two with full xp. A striker drafted this season would be the goal scoring star for london for a long time. However It might be longer than preferred to play in the Majors for Roma as their two strikers are young S20 and S21 players.
BUENOS AIRES & ATHENAI - The organisation has 7 players capable of playing striker, but only 2 have max xp for the position, and both players are regressing. The other 5 players are all S20 or younger, but only one of them is above their respective classes tpe average. This organization is desperate for a true striker who can keep pace with the most active players. The opportunity is there for a lot of playing time if the managers are willing.
Tier 1
This final tier are the teams who are in need of a new striker, and the progression from minors to majors is straight forward. These teams have been organized by how strong and active their younger classes are, which is desirable for a long window to compete for league titles at the peak of a new rookies career.
REYKJAVIK & NORTH SHORE - has spread out their strikers fairly evenly over many classes. They have a striker from S13, S17, S19, and S21 draft classes. Taking a striker in this draft would be ideal for future roster planning.
CATALUNYA & SEOUL - This organization has only four players capable of playing striker, but none have max xp. Their roster flexibility would improve a lot by adding a player with full striker xp. A new striker would be an immediate boost for Seoul, and wouldn’t have to wait long before joining the Catalunya in the Majors.
BLACK FOREST & MONTREAL - has five players with max xp, but two of them are near the end of regression, with another two on the cusp of starting regression and well underdeveloped. They do have a young S23 striker who could use a quality partner, and the progression from Montreal to SFV in the Majors is pretty clear.
SAO PAULO & PARIS - Have 6 players able to play striker with 3 players at max xp. The three max xp players are all S18 or older. The team really needs to consider who their future primary striker will be before all three are regressing.
LIFFEYSIDE & ROVA - have a top tier striker from S19, but their other strikers are young and have fallen behind their respective classes tpe average. The organization could use another young player who was a true striker and earning max tpe. A new striker would probably be the organization's future goal scoring star.
Even when expanding the player pool to those who are able to play striker as a secondary position, the list only increases from 3 to 5. We have Vincent Haye, Armero Staple, Vivi Nefertari, Alejandro Hunt, and Zahir Wicker. There are rumors that Vivi Nefertari is already associated with Tokyo. If so, that leaves only 4 rookies who can play striker, and only two of them who consider it their primary position. The position gets even thinner when compared to the class's average tpe level, two have stayed above the average, and two have fallen behind the average.
The league's organizations have been organized in reverse tiers of which ones would be an ideal situation for a rookie striker.
Tier 3
These organizations have acquired significant depth at the striker position, and any additional rookies would have a long road before they may see significant play time, even on the minor league teams.
TENOCHTITLAN & KRUNG - Only 5 players capable of playing striker are on the roster. While there are several organizations with more strikers, the unique situation here is 4 of the 5 have max position xp, all are S20 or younger, and all are earning tpe at a healthy rate.
XELAJU & MASQUES - has the league high 8 players capable of playing striker, with 5 having full xp. Four of those players are S22 or younger, though a few of them are behind in tpe compared to their class average. Getting another young striker on the team is probably not high on the team’s priority. Trying to carve out significant playing time would be difficult for any potential rookie.
Tier 2
These organizations have room or a need for a new striker on their minor league team, but the path for the player to get up to the majors is crowded and unclear.
TOKYO & CAIRO - has three players total who can play striker. A new young striker would easily carve out their own roster position in Cairo, but it would be a long journey to get up to Tokyo because the org has two brilliant looking young talents who should be Tokyo’s star striker pair for a long time. And don't forget the rumors that one of the strikers in this draft is already connected to the team.
SHANGHAI & MAGYAR - They have 7 players capable of playing striker, but only 3 with max xp. However, all 7 have multiple seasons before regression. They have a need for a second true striker for Magyar, but such a player would be waiting a long time behind their S21 and S22 strikers to join Shanghai.
HOLLYWOOD & CAPE TOWN - The organization has found a near perfect balance at the striker position with two players regressing out as two younger players grow stronger, with two additional players who could play striker out of position. The two younger strikers are both S20, though one is falling behind compared to the class tpe average. For any new addition joining the team, initial play time would be competing with regressing players, and continually chasing after the S20 players to get on to Hollywood in the majors. While not the worst situation for a new striker, the journey is not as straight forward as other organizations.
ROME & LONDON - When in Rome. The organization has only four players capable of playing striker, and only two with full xp. A striker drafted this season would be the goal scoring star for london for a long time. However It might be longer than preferred to play in the Majors for Roma as their two strikers are young S20 and S21 players.
BUENOS AIRES & ATHENAI - The organisation has 7 players capable of playing striker, but only 2 have max xp for the position, and both players are regressing. The other 5 players are all S20 or younger, but only one of them is above their respective classes tpe average. This organization is desperate for a true striker who can keep pace with the most active players. The opportunity is there for a lot of playing time if the managers are willing.
Tier 1
This final tier are the teams who are in need of a new striker, and the progression from minors to majors is straight forward. These teams have been organized by how strong and active their younger classes are, which is desirable for a long window to compete for league titles at the peak of a new rookies career.
REYKJAVIK & NORTH SHORE - has spread out their strikers fairly evenly over many classes. They have a striker from S13, S17, S19, and S21 draft classes. Taking a striker in this draft would be ideal for future roster planning.
CATALUNYA & SEOUL - This organization has only four players capable of playing striker, but none have max xp. Their roster flexibility would improve a lot by adding a player with full striker xp. A new striker would be an immediate boost for Seoul, and wouldn’t have to wait long before joining the Catalunya in the Majors.
BLACK FOREST & MONTREAL - has five players with max xp, but two of them are near the end of regression, with another two on the cusp of starting regression and well underdeveloped. They do have a young S23 striker who could use a quality partner, and the progression from Montreal to SFV in the Majors is pretty clear.
SAO PAULO & PARIS - Have 6 players able to play striker with 3 players at max xp. The three max xp players are all S18 or older. The team really needs to consider who their future primary striker will be before all three are regressing.
LIFFEYSIDE & ROVA - have a top tier striker from S19, but their other strikers are young and have fallen behind their respective classes tpe average. The organization could use another young player who was a true striker and earning max tpe. A new striker would probably be the organization's future goal scoring star.
