Disagree. He was terrible. Took too many players on and kept on losing the ball. He is one of the reasons why Maryland lost the game against ND. The Japanese player on the opposite flank is 10x better.
This sounds so promising ... http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...h-offer-homegrown-deals-college-cup-standouts
I think its more saying that there's no rush because they have a place in the squad down the road. I read it as saying "time isn't a factor." I disagree with this assertion because I would rather see them play against better competition with HCI.
My guess is both Madison and Steffen get signed after their respective junior seasons in college. No reason to rush Steffen at all, especially as a goalkeeper.
Where are we going to play either of them? We are stacked at both positions. We could loan them out to HCI, but consistent time on college teams plus PDL time isn't the worst thing in the world. If either were a CB, LB, or LM, I'd be pissed, but neither would see the field on this current team.
I feel ya, dawg. That spot is his to lose. Would be nice to have someone decent enough to both push him and be competent when/if needed. I don't think Konopka nor Harrison were that player. Nikolov seemed to have that result, but that could be coincidence as well.
Did Nikolov officially retire? I remember that was the rumor at the end of last season, can't remember if it was formally announced.
Zack Steffen and Zach Pfeffer both made the 36-player roster for the January training camp of the U20 MNT. Pfeffer is listed as a forward. http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-20-mnt/2014/01/140103-jan-camp-roster-rel.aspx
http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-17-mnt/2014/01/140107-residency-spring-roster-rel.aspx union academy kid called up to U-17 camp. interesting thing: Raheem Taylor-Parkes (Philadelphia Union Academy; Wesley Chapel, Fla.)
https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/raheem-taylor-parkes.1944303/ http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-player-profile/raheem-taylor-parkes/pid-10027631
According to the thread, he seems to be the journeyman of youth teams, having been with Brandon FC, Arsenal, Canada National Team, Toronto FC, US Residency, and Philly.
How does a kid in florida end up in the union academy? And why hasnt Sak been hyping him up? (Put in red if you see fit)
Look at all the affiliate clubs the Union has, like Cape Fear Soccer Club (in North Carolina). Some aren't quite in the Philadelphia metropolitan region. Perhaps it has something to do with the Bradenton Academy and Hack's connections?
He's from the Tampa area and not the Jacksonville area, right? I wonder if our partnership with Jacksonville gives us clout there.
ManCity 6 Chicago Fire U17s 1 Ouch \ http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club...ospects:-man-city-brings-in-u17-star_aid32399
3 month old video but figured I'd throw it up here anyway. I hadn't seen it yet so maybe some of you haven't either. Very cool look inside the academy including interviews with Tommy Wilson, just wish it was even longer. Makes us look legit, can't wait to see the results.
That video is fantastic. It's exactly what we need to keep up with clubs with vastly deeper pockets. I hope they don't keep the scope of their player targeting confined to the local area for too long. It's great that they want to invest in local players and eventually turn an eye overseas and to areas where there aren't MLS teams. Scout the southeast hard before Orlando City and Beckham FC get a foothold down there. My one criticism is that I think that looking overseas for players isn't the right approach. Any player showing any kind of skill is going to get snapped up by an English, Spanish, German, Dutch or Italian team. While our academy is great compared to the rest of our league, they've been doing it like this overseas for years. If we turn our focus overseas, we're probably going to be scouting the dregs I'm afraid.
Aren't the teams confined to respective areas for scouting American youth talent? I remember it being discussed on here some time ago. As for scouting overseas, you may find a player that other teams have passed on and bring him in here, granted its a long shot but not impossible.