Lets keep in touch i might actually be there. I take it game by game and my next trip is planned for mid-Feb against Patedores. Lucas will call me after the game against De Anza this Saturday and I will let you know his thoughts on the game.
Also on a Utah note one of Lucas fellow Utah ODP teamates is heading down to RSL Arizona for the next six months. His name is Noah Jackson. Best of luck to him! As expected a few boys left the team at the winter break. This is mainly due to the high talent level which exists down there making those players look at different options that would allow them some more playing time during games. Not uncommon among some of the MLS academies. It is very hard for a boy to know that at RSL he might be coming off the bench or starting half the games when at other very good academies they would be a for sure starter for every game.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150537342097643.376420.18990822642&type=1 From these pics it looks like only academy players in the camp this week in Phoenix are Jordan Allen ('95 YNT player from NY) and Carlos Salcedo ('93 who spent time with Tigres). Presumably more academy players will get first team looks at the camp in Casa Grande.
I did not get a chance to report on the De Anza game for the U-16s but Lucas said it was very well played. He felt like RSL did control possesion. The winning goal was a short corner given to Lucas who then crossed it to John Stadler for the goal in a 1 to 0 game. Also of note is that RSL u-16 is now ranked as the the number 1 team based on points per game of 2.33. They have a big ask this weekend traveling too southern California to play Arsenal and Real So Cal.
BTW I noticed that Jordan Allen tweeted that he has nothing against RSL and playing for them, its the MLS HG contracts he didn't like. Sorta better.
Its a complex algorithm that subtracts their current age from the current date. The other numbers are for the two academy teams (under-18 and under-16)
What a great weekend for the RSL-16 team. After being ranked number 1 in the country by a website they backed it up with two strong wins on the road and are now comfortably in first place in the So Cal division. The 4 to 0 win over Arsenal followed by a 2 to 1 win on the road over Real So Cal are two quality wins. The match reports I received were nothing less than glowing about the style and way the team played. Lucas of course said the team played great and he felt deserved both of the wins.
4-0 over Arsenal? wow how things have changed. Arsenal from my age group (89) was untouchable. They regarded that club team as one of the best not only for my age group but in the country for a little bit as well. Well done RSL boys. Well done!
What is weird is that Arsenal still are one of the best teams in the country this age. They tied LA Galaxy the week before They have only two losses the whole year and they both are to RSL 16 . I think our passsing possesion style is hard for them to play against. Our u-16 team is very much like the Barcelona of this age group. The only teams that play them close are the defend and counter attack teams. Here is an article from TopDrawer on the Sunday game against Real So Cal. The only correction I would make is that Lucas Cawley had both of the asssits in this game and reporter gave him only one. Lucas said that Real So Cal was a big strong team but RSL had most of the possesion and deserved to win. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club.../U18s-scoreless-draw-RSL-AZ-U16-still-perfect
Also interesting to read in that article that Jordan Allen was the most dangerous player on the field for the U-18's considering that he's playing up. Coming into this season, it was widely thought that the 18's were the club heavy with talent, but it seems that the 16's are really making their mark.
Not really a surprise to me because i knew that the 16s were loaded. I think the 18s will get it going they play well in the games i have seen just not getting the goals. Having said that I am surpirsed that the 16s are undeated in the So Cal division as every team in there is pretty good and one bad game and you lose. Now what will be fun is that the 16s will have a nice big target on their back and will need to bring it every single game because they will get the very best from every opponent now. I will tell you one thing that midfield of Lucas, Trevor, and Brody is very hard to get the ball from. I love that they play possesion futbol like the adult team.
It's awesome that the RSL academy teams are not only sticking closely to a possession game, even when against more physical teams, but actually beating them, too. I'm excited to see what the academy can accomplish in the next 5-10 years. Seems like it's off to a great start.
Agree 100 percent ! The key to a successful academy is to produce players that fit your system. I think RSL is doing a great job of that in style of play now we will just see how many of these players can make it to the next level.
It's interesting to see that RSL added Tony Bruce to the academy staff. He was the long time coach/director of San Diego Surf. He's likely there to supplement and maybe even replace Vasquez. San Diego is loaded with talented players like Cherundolo, Hejduk, the Farfan brothers, AJ Soares, Joe Corona, Alejandro Guido, etc. If RSL can make inroads there recruiting players and maybe even set up an affiliate, it would give the teams even more talent. Benji Lopez, one of the better U16 players, recently joined the team from there. Casa Grande is a really nice location because San Diego, Vegas, Albuquerque, and El Paso are all within 6-8 hours. Add in Phoenix, Tucson, and SLC and RSL should have one of the strongest talent bases among MLS teams.
I could not agree more with your perception. I am always excited to see more coaches added as well. I have heard good things about Tony and I am sure he will only add to Lucas and the other players growth.
Good article on HG Rule: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/play...3763/MLS-Home-Grown-rule-is-not-for-your-eyes
To me this part is new information. I knew there was a list, but didn't realize that it was by age group. Also didn't know that the key was 80 training days.
Lucas asssist and Benji Goal against Real So Cal. Notice how we have the ball almost the whole time on this clip. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbgDoSmFDHc&context=C382aed2ADOEgsToPDskKRt9DF0bXmZQ4Uynaniw25"]Real Salt Lake-Az U16 v. RealSocal Goal #1 - YouTube[/ame]
they're in southern California, why the hell are they playing on turf? with that said, wonderful ball movement. and way to punish the mistake of their outside back. Your kid has some wheels on him.
Really awesome to see the young guns playing that possession style. It's encouraging to see them spread the field and then punish a team. The run that Lucas made was amazing. Great speed with a great pass. Can't wait to see more of them all.