30-man rosters next season: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/socc...-to-expand-rosters-to-thirty-players-for-2011
... and I know that you knew that he knew that you knew that I know that he knew that you knew... ... what were we talking about?
I know Hyndman had hinted at this, but I'll wait to hear it from MLS officially. I imagine that'll come at MLS Cup. I'm looking forward to the reserve league coming back. Hope that happens too.
Given the recent successes of DC's academy, I'd look forward to some of the prospects emerging from the reserves.
Not to mention with the 30 man rosters next year, any promising draft picks the team drafts. This appears to be a deep draft so any young help United can get through both the draft and academy, might do the team wonders next year.
Yeah, some of the stuff I've read talks about how the reserve league, expanded rosters and the academy system would all work together. We're becoming a real league!
The drafts will get "deeper" as time goes on. I think over the last couple of years and going forward we can now expect the 1st/2nd round draftees' to possibly be impact players within 1-3 years - by impact, I mean pushing for starting positions. I still think 3rd=rounders and beyond can be surprises. I've got to believe the draft will extend to 5 or 6 rounds. Even at the end of 2008, before the 2009 draft, I'd been emailing with someone in MLS that the league was going to do that. Yes, academies are the natural resevoir of talent, particulary for the established areas throughout the US - S.Cal, TX, Mid-Atlantic. I suppose, somehow the league is going to have to deal with the Federal Youth work laws in order to maximize the potential of the very young players. However, the college ranks will always be a source of players. If you watch FSC college nites, you'll see that the playing skill level is increasing. I'm looking forward to JoeSF and SMBut's input in the next couple of weeks on the teams and players.
And it points to what could be a valid strategy for DC: putting money/effort into their youth teams and growing good players from that, rather than "buying" more expensive designated players. Oh, wait - that would assume the DC United FO has a strategy. Never mind.
About the college players... I respectufully disagree. I remain unconvinced that those players get enough games against high calibre opponents to produce the number of quality players you suggest here. Also, as the number of teams participating expands to 18, the talent pool is spread 11% thinner. In the meantime, nothing I see in the college game has changed to alter the developmental character of that system - especially as emerging high school players exercise options for professional environments in the US, Mexico and Europe. In other words, unless you get a high first-rounder in the draft, you probably have a "project" on your hands.
You're being absurd. Of course they have a strategy. They got Najar, didn't they? I mean, near as I can tell that was an accident while they were watching a high school cheerleading practice or something, but they did find him.
What kind of money do players signed from academies get? Is it similar to GA deals? not every deal is the same, correct?
It very much depends upon the candidate, but in 2010 according to MLS Players Assn., Andy Najar had a base salary of $39K, $58,995 guaranteed; and Bill Hamid had a base of $35.7K, $42,336 guaranteed. A lot depends on position, demand, etc.
An article on Jalen Robinson contained this comical gem. http://www.csnbaltimore.com/08/08/10/Mount-St-Joe-Soccer-Star-Jalen-Robinson-/landing.html?blockID=285873&feedID=6772
Was looking at the USMNT U-15 call ups and noticed several players in DC metro area not attached to DC United Bruno Scodari (Olney Boys and Girls Club; Silver Springs, Md.) Herber Mejia-Flores (GFA Rangers; Manassas Park, Va.) Jorge Calix (Team America; Alexandria, Va.)
+2. Would love more coverage of the academy teams. Rosters, results, and upcoming matches would seem to require next-to-no effort.