The RSL USL team isn't going to be so important in the development of players as it will be in just being able to keep them.
Interesting. I hadn't seen LA's jacket, but it's identical to RSL's, with the yellow and blue bands reversed. FC Dallas has red and blue, but I don't think that looks better. Red and yellow might have been a good option.
With a design like that there's no way all 19 teams could have a unique jacket. If more changes were allowed, like not restricting the main color to black for example, than you could see a little more variety. Either way I think they're great, but I got the other jacket instead.
My wife suggested by like the 2nd or 3rd match that all the teams are in black jackets with different colored striping. It looks like she was correct.
I love the adidas deal in that it makes it so RSL doesn't have to shop around and end up with a kit like Liverpools... but for the love of god, it's getting ridiculous how little difference there is between designs.
And then use the same template for the rest of the world! Genius! Seriously, I've never understood this whole argument. The only reason that you can see less of a difference between kit designs is because the whole league is Adidas. If we were sponsored by Nike, we'd have the same problem (see the J-League for example). Puma would be even worse! Adidas only makes around 10 templates per year, and then the whole world uses them. It's not just an MLS thing. Spain has used the same design as Houston, Chelsea has used the same design as NYRB, etc. At least this year there aren't really any jerseys that are identical like there were in the 2010-2011 designs. Yes, every kit has the arc across the back, but otherwise they all look different. Adidas has made strides to let each team have more input in their kit design. Heck, the closest design to RSL is Mexico.
So RSL will have its first academy team in Utah. A u-12 team coached by one Bill Manning. That's awesome on multiple levels.
Maybe Bill wants to get into professional coaching at some point and this will help him in his quest. Whatever the reason, like Prime said, this is totally awesome.
Before everyone starts thinking that this is the start of an actual Utah Academy, take a step back. My guess is this is a one shot deal. If you have a 10 year old, and you are thinking "sweat, I'll have my kid try out for 2015's U12 team" think again. This is one team, there is no U11 team or U13 team. So in 2015 the team will be a U13 team. Bill's son is on the team. That should say enough. Trust me, I hope this is the start of a local Academy. Other club's would not like it, but I think it would be a good step. There are a lot of local kids who should be in Casa Grande but can't come close to covering the costs. Scholarship or not.
Yeah, this will be fun to watch develop. I like that it very specifically lists this age group in the release and doesn't make any mention of it going forward. How old is Javi's kid? We should have an academy team that age, too
Agreed. Maybe they're testing it on this age group to see how much of a demand there is for an academy here. It's also easier to get Bill to run it if his son is there. I think the real interesting thing will be how many of the players from his Sparta team make the academy team. It'll be easy to justify that they are better because they have been coached by him already, but it also might be easier and more comfortable for Bill to find success with kids he's already familiar with.
This team currently plays a year older in the U12 D1. They do OK, but don't dominate even when they play tournaments at their own age group.
so why do they play up? sounds like an ego thing and this push to become a RSL branch of the academy slightly confirms it.
The press release said the RSL Utah and RSL AZ u12s would play separately until they are merged at the u14 level.
Fito is a great kid and could play for Chile or USA. It would be his decision. He is commited to Maryland but could also go pro before that . He has high aspirations and with his dad knowing so many people in the soccer world Fito could play pro soccer in a variety of countries if he wanted.
Also as a side note he played with Lucas on La Roca and their U-13 team won the state cup. That club team had Lucas , Bofo, Fito, Joe Wheelright, and several other great players. Looking at the team roster you will quite likely have 4 players from that team play pro soccer and another 4 or 5 playing Division 1 college soccer. Still think Utah does not have enough talent for an MLS academy team ?