Re: KCW Juniors Update I watched the U18's play St. Louis a few weeks ago and a couple players stood out. It was only one game so it may have just been a good game for them but I was a little surprised when I saw neither name on the list. Then I realized they were both from the Missouri side. This is not to start any state battles, just thought it was interesting and good to have that amount of talent from both sides of the state line.
Re: KCW Juniors Update Juniors blog has three posts up today -- KCW Jrs on the Star's All-Metro team (4 1st teamers), former Junior's accolades at SLU as a freshman, and our juniors goalkeeper who is with the U18 MNT camp in Carson.
Re: KCW Juniors Update Rideout goes 0-0-3 for the trip and you want to make him head coach??!! His teams have always had the pick of the litter of KC youth players, yet the teams still struggle to win. Isn't 50% discount on youth club play costs a huge recruiting advantage?? How can he not completely dominate? Of course, when Peter Vermes coached Blue Stars Boys with the 92, 93, etc age groups, he did much worse. Why would an MLS team select someone as coaching director or head coach who cannot even compete with the local youth club coaches??
Re: KCW Juniors Update I'd prefer if they win, but I won't judge any youth coach based on that. I care about what kind of players they produce for the senior team or elsewhere. I'm not informed enough either way, but all I care about is if they're prepping these kids for what it's REALLY going to take.
Re: KCW Juniors Update Clearly there is a problem with evaluation when Sean Latz is chosen as the MVP of KC high school boys soccer ("All Metro Player of the Year"). Nice boy. But certainly if an anonymous survey were taken of the KC Wizards 18s players OR the St T Aquinas varsity players, Latz WOULD NOT be selected as their best player by the players of either squad. When you watch the games, he does not even stand out. On Wizards Jrs 18s, he is no better than the 3rd or 4th best defender. Certainly, a scout who did not know of these awards would not even notice him on the field. How does KC Star even make these selections? I have noticed that an Aquinas player is selected as All Metro Player of the Year AND as regional All America exactly every alternate year. Odd pattern. Could it be Coach Ewing's position in NSCAA is the reason? And why would Ewing even pick Latz?? If he is his best defender why is he wasted playing at Left Back?? He is only starts 1/2 the time for KC Wizards Juniors 18s. Why would that be if he is the KC metro area's top player?? If you know soccer, you know it would be extremely rare to play the best player on the team at Left Back. And even more unlikely is that player to be the top player in a major metro area.
Re: KCW Juniors Update Both the prior and current KC Wizards management seem to keep looking for some magical foreign player who will lift the team to amazing levels. So they keep contracting these foreign players for low pay, by international standards, instead of seeking top U.S. players, who would think the same pay is super for a soccer athlete. The KC soccer fans don't even know who any of these foreign players are, and so they do little to increase attendance. And Wizards don't win with them, either. Internationally, leagues at the competency level of MLS use 80% players from their own countries, and even from their local area. This gives local youth players a target to strive towards in their dedication to their football development as a youngster. KC Wizards, with rare exception, won't even consider a player who developed up thru the KC youth system. And now, the new distortion will begin, since they started up the Wizards Juniors, is that only a W Jrs player will be considered for their senior team, so W Jrs organization will get the development credit. And not necessarily because their player is bettter. Just wait a few more years and this will become obvious. Yet their Wizards Juniors 18s cannot even beat other typical premier club teams. Teams that are not even related to any MLS pro club. MLS junior club teams at this time show being no better than a typical top premier club team like Michigan Wolves, Scott Gallagher, Dallas Texans, etc. Just take a look at the MRL Region 2 league games last year and it is obvious. KY Javanon won U17 Boys Region 2 regionals, not an MLS junior team.
Re: KCW Juniors Update And when we brought in Raybould, Vermillion, John, Barber, Besler, etc. they did increase attendance? What player developed in the KC youth system has gone on to prove the Wizards wrong for not considering him? The Wizards have fairly regularly drafted local players, and only one has really made an impact with the team, Diego Gutierrez. And he wasn't even technically developed in the KC youth system. Guys like Barber, Raybould, Vermillion, and John who were developed in the KC youth system, 3 are out of the game, and one has been jumping around 2nd class European leagues. Guys like Cole are out of the pro game, Gruenebaum has shown flashes at time but has yet to prove to me that the Wizards were wrong for not taking him. Please post examples of players developed in the KC youth system that have gone on to prove the Wizards should have taken him. You don't draft players just because they're local. Did you expect all the MLS Juniors teams to automatically become the top teams in the US immediately? I know I didn't, it takes years to build a successful club, the Wolves, Gallagher, Texans, and Javanon have many years head start on the MLS Juniors system. The current Juniors teams all over the league have to pull kids that have already been playing with their clubs for years and have developed strong ties with that team making it harder to leave. Yes the Juniors have the monetary advantage, but parents and players aren't going to always be interested in leaving a known strong club for an unknown club that hasn't proven their worth yet. Personally, judging by your posts you have some grudge against Rideout, Vermes, the Juniors, the Wizards, or a combination of all of them. These rants sound a lot like what I read on the World Class Coaching forums when the Juniors were founded.
Re: KCW Juniors Update The Wizards Juniors are in their third year. The first two years the juniors played in local and regional leagues where the level of competition is limited. This year the U16 and U18 Juniors are playing in the U.S. Development Academy where every game is meaningful and challenging. Those that have the opportunity to participate in the Academy for four or more years will have better chance of making the First Team. But as you can see this is still a few years away.
Re: KCW Juniors Update The U-16 played a scrimmage against IA ODP. They Won 3-1... they controlled the whole game.
Re: KCW Juniors Update Anyone up for checking out a juniors game at the OP sports complex at 137th and Switzer tomorrow? http://kcwjuniors.blogspot.com/2010/03/all-teams-in-action-this-weekend.html
Re: KCW Juniors Update Yes. I think I will be there for at least the second game. Probably part of the first as well...
Re: KCW Juniors Update http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-18-M...e-Craven-on-U18-MNT-Training-Camp-Roster.aspx Kempin was called into the US U-18 camp.
Re: KCW Juniors Update The U-16 Juniors qualified for the US Developmental Academy playoffs http://www.kcwizards.com/news/2010/06/kansas-city-wizards-weekly-update-june-9
Re: KCW Juniors Update http://mls.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?catid=112&id=6040 U-17 SUM Cup draw, will be held in conjunction with the All Star Game in Houston, KC is in group D with LA, RSL, and New York.
Re: KCW Juniors Update http://kcwjuniors.blogspot.com/ Juniors finished 2-1 at USSDA, beating the Dallas Texans and Chivas USA, but losing to the Baltimore Bays and are going home.
Re: KCW Juniors Update KCW U19 in the Regional Final tomorrow morning against Columbus Crew Juniors http://tournaments.usyouthsoccer.or...I-Championships/Schedule/U19-Boys/Division 1/
Re: KCW Juniors Update http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2010/07/sum-u-17-cup-day-1-recap Juniors won their first game at the SUM Cup beating the Galaxy 2-1 in a 60 min game.
Re: KCW Juniors Update http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/06/2133267/three-kcw-juniors-get-a-chance.html Goalkeeper Jon Kempin, defender Konner Knoll and forward Jordan Rideout are all going to train with the first team.
Re: KCW Juniors Update Juniors US Soccer Developmental Academy started again today against FC Dallas. Juniors went 0-1-1, the 18's lost 3-1, Rideout had the goal. The 16's tied 1-1 Tarlue Doe got the goal. They play Andromeda tomorrow.
Re: KCW Juniors Update The Juniors went 1-1 yesterday down in Dallas again, 18's beat Solar 3-2, 16's lost 3-1. They play the Texans today. And in the MO state soccer final all 3 goals scored by Rockhurst were scored by Juniors players.
Re: KCW Juniors Update It's winter showcase weekend for the 16's and 18's. http://ussda.demosphere.com/Schedules/2010-2011/27484529.html http://ussda.demosphere.com/Schedules/2010-2011/27484530.html Both teams play the New York Cosmos East Academy, South Central Premier from CT, and the Revolution's academy.
