Who knows, was just throwing out an example. And 3 USLPro clubs have USSDA teams: Charleston, Orlando, Richmond. I'd hope all USLPro clubs eventually have their own youth academies. Maybe form with the current USSDA team in the area (if there is one) like Orlando and Charleston did.
Sorry should have been more clear. Seaton has signed a HGP deal. A kid like Seaton who has not signed a deal yet (talented but younger than college-age) would now be able to play at the level they were likely to under the new agreement anyway (USL rather than rot on the bench for the MLS club). However, they can remain an amateur and not give up college eligibility to do so. What I'm saying is this move is a rather innovative and ingenious way to get kids into a pro setup while still giving them the college option.
Yup. I think after trying to wrap my head around this initiative............................its designed as a way for USLPro teams to develop their own players. Which is fine by me. If you were a kid getting regular playing time with FC Dallas' U18 academy and reserve team (or any MLS team).............would you really have an interest in going "on loan" to Phoenix FC? Why would you do that? You can train/play at a high level the FCD coaches, facilities, players, etc. while living at home. Why would you go somewhere else to sit on the bench? And if FCD is serious about training its youth players in the "FCD way" why would they outsource that job to Phoenix FC? Makes no sense really. But hey, any rules out there being initiated in an attempt to get youngsters experience at higher levels is fine by me. And this certainly provides clubs like Charleston and Orlando an opportunity to get their youngsters some experience. Then again Orlando FC is one of the weakest DA teams this season. Do they have any players worthy of game time at the USL Pro level? We're going to see formal loans of MLS homegrown players like perhaps the Ernest Gulley's and Victor Ulloa's of the world go on loan to the USLPro........not unsigned academy players.
Does anybody know what happened to this? http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2013/02/two-new-trialists-join-rapids-preseason-trip-california Former US U17 and current U20 pool player Matthew Dunn has been trialing with the Rapids. As people will recall, he was at OFK Beograd in Serbia.
So I just wanna say that DeAndre Yedlin has looked strong for Seattle in preseason games I've seen and if the US qualifies he needs to be given greater consideration for a spot on the team. Not handed a spot, but given a look from Tab to beat out the current RBs.
Its funny....everyone was hating on Sarkodie and saying he didn't deserve to start on the U23 team. Now his clone is getting all the love saying he should be the starter for the U20's.... Hurts my head.
Two different players. Two different circumstances. And no one - at least I'm not - saying Yedlin should start for the 20s. I am saying he has earned a chance to compete for a spot on the roster (if the US advances) at RB based on his play.
Might have a chance to see Yedlin tonight. The RSL/Seattle Desert Diamond Cup final is on NBCSN at 8et.
He started for Seattle last night vs Veracruz with their first team (Johansson is injured), so I doubt he plays much tonight.
Porter was Akron head coach and Kofi was former Akron player. People thought Sheanon Williams was more deserving and Porter was playing favorites.
I know why it was. And there is a good chance if the team was picked now people wouldn't have this problem as Sarkodie is now a starter (as of the end of last season). Or maybe they would cause this board always needs something to complain about and nepotism and conspiracies being the favorite....
Regardless of how anyone feels about Sarkodie (I thought he belonged), the criticism that Porter over-relied on Akron players seems well placed. In particular, Bunbury was in nightmarish form, and Kitchen was half of a very poor CB combination. Of course, we don't know how Porter would've done if the USSF hadn't been ridiculously slow to hire a coach. He didn't have enough time to properly assess the pool of players who were available. In such a context, it's natural to rely on the players you know.
Hold on a sec. I'm not aware of a rule against training with the pro clubs, and if there is one, it is widely violated.
Practice appears to be okay; competition (even reserve games if the players are paid) is not: NCAA Bylaw 12.2.2.2.2 After Enrollment. In sports other than men’s ice hockey and skiing, after initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team, provided such participation meets the requirements of Bylaw 12.2.1.3 and the individual does not: (Adopted: 4/13/10 effective 8/1/10) (a) Receive any compensation for participation in the practice sessions; (b) Enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization; or (c) Take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.
McBean came off the bench and scored for the Galaxy yesterday in their pre-season game against the Rapids: http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2013/02/la-galaxy-close-out-preseason-2-1-win-over-colorado With Zardes out with a foot problem, and Donovan's absence..............it sure looks like there's going to be plenty of opportunities for Villarreal and McBean at the start of the season. Jonathan Top came off the bench, but was largely anonymous in FCD's pre-season game against San Jose: http://www.fcdallas.com/news/2013/02/match-recap-san-jose-earthquakes-2-fc-dallas-1 Acosta didn't get off the bench, and Zimmerman still isn't playing. His injury has put him at the back of a crowded centerback group to start the year for FCD. [John, Hedges, Keel, Woodberry, maybe Ihemelu]
thats what i been saying for awhile, Japan is ahead of us by miles. they have more players in top leagues that US by far. Even some bonafide world class stars (i can hear the clamoring, dempsey is not a world class star).
And what's even more depressing is that we can't use the shopworn argument that because country X has a more developed and passionate soccer culture along with their pro leagues we can't be expected to be as far along as they are in producing quality players. Japan is proving that you can start from far behind if you put into place the right elements.
Actually, I think that Japan can invoke the "more developed soccer culture" argument. It's the #2 team sport behind baseball, and some would say it's #1 among the young. There's a big difference between #2 and #5. Japan also undoubtedly benefits from its population density. On the other hand, their lower total population compared to the USA is a disadvantage, as is the absence of large immigrant populations from soccer-loving countries.
Although you have to figure in the economic health of the J-League and MLS during their early years. Soccer Specific Stadiums were #1 on MLS's radar, and even the 3rd SSS (Frisco, TX) didn't open until the league's 10th season. This league nearly folded and youth development wasn't exactly an urgent issue (and I don't doubt the Kroenkes and Krafts of MLS wish there wasn't even an academy system). Having said that, Japan is doing a great job and better than us right now. They seemed unified as a whole with what they want to do with development, where we have a million different arms trying to pull development in each direction. Some of that due to the ethnic diversity of this country, and lots of egos of youth clubs who think they're doing it right. Does anybody actually know when J-League youth academies were formed? Around when the league started?
I started a thread elsewhere about this, but you guys may find it interesting. Aside from the article, one big difference between us and Japan is they realized their coaching was a problem, and to solve it they went and got some Eastern Euro's who specialize in development. One of our biggest problems is even with all the money we're investing in development and facilities, we largely ignore our coaching problem. We're still promoting from within the US fraternity far too much. We don't have coaches with a good track record of developing younger soccer players, and when I say that I'm looking mainly at soccer IQ and do the players understand how to play the game. The technical ability is improving but the improving of soccer IQ has pretty much hit a cement wall. We can either wait for US coaches to become educated, then pass on new knowledge, which would take years, many years, or we can do what the J League did and start hiring Eastern Euro coaches with a proven track record in player development, of Brazilian coaches, Argentinian coaches, and put them in MLS academies. Anyway, the article. http://footiebusiness.com/2012/11/20/what-american-soccer-can-learn-from-japan/
This article had an interesting point, which was that Byer is moving on to the Chinese League. For some reason no one in USSF or MLS saw any use for this guy, but the Chinese League did and went after him. And I bring that up because the Chinese have learned from Japan and are following their blueprint somewhat. They're not just sitting there hoping that coaches from within their structure suddenly figure out how to better develop and teach the game, like we are. No, they're hiring foreigners. Of the 16 clubs in the Chinese League, 13 have foreign coaches. Two are names many know, in Marcello Lippi and Sergio Batista. It's arrogance on MLS's and USSF's part to think the same coaching structure which has struggled teaching the game for decades will suddenly figure it out as they keep hiring from within. And we have the money. Wasted about 14M alone last year on Frings/Boyd/Rafa/JPA. After guys like Sigi, Kries, Arena, Olsen and Kinnear, that's enough money to get either get a pretty good coach for the rest of MLS teams or instead get a pretty damn good coach/technical director for the majority of MLS academies. Currently, the Chinese domestic league has 13 foreigncoaches among its 16 clubs, with some top international names including World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and former Argentine national coach Sergio Batista at the forefront. Lippi, 64, replaced South Korean Lee Jang-soo in Mayto take the managerial position with big-spending Guangzhou Evergrande and Batista signed an annual 1.5 million euro ($1.86 million) contract with Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday. "In other sports, China has reached the top level in the world. But you know it has lagged behind in soccer over the past few decades," he said. The 45-year-old said China's efforts to develop soccer over the past few years were similar to what happened in Japan two decades ago. "What's happening now is like what occurred in Japan 20 years ago. It is the same approach. And now you know that Japan is capable of competing against top international teams," he said.