Union Youth Development Thread [R]

Union's new youth development angle

Neat look in to their youth development, While the club fields a team in certain youth competitions, each of the players remain with their existing area youth club, a distinct feature for Philadelphia compared to most MLS sides.

Philadelphia Union's new youth development angle

 

This is from the US Soccer Academy Eastern Conference Starting XI. We have three kids with affiliations to the Union in Hernandez, Jeffrey and McLaughlin. Hernandez actually made the U17/18 Academy Starting XI as well. I wonder if we will see all three against Everton? It will be great to see the future kids gunning for a contract. Like I said before, the Union should reach out to the Bays as well for an affiliation.


East Conference Starting XI
GOALKEEPER: Andrew Harris (Baltimore Bays Chelsea)
DEFENDERS: Tim Parker (Albertson SC), Taylor Washington (FC Westchester), Bryan Gallego (New York Red Bulls), Matt Jeffrey (PDA)
MIDFIELDERS: Jimmy McLaughlin (FC DELCO), Marcos Ugarte (FC Greater Boston), Christian Hernandez (PDA)
FORWARDS: Brandon Allen (New York Red Bulls), Alex Swanger (Empire United), Hiroki Kobayashi (FC Westchester)
Coach of the Year: Tom Garigen (Empire United)

 

Bays just won U19 eastern regional and had a bunch of other teams in the tournament. they would definitely be a great club to affiliate with

 

And Christian Hernandez (PDA) named player of the year. Sign him to a Home Grown!

 

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/sites/default/files/u-18-roster.pdf

Here is the link for the U18 roster for the Everton game (players are noted with an *) as well as other players who have played for the team in the past. The Union brought in a Bradenton IMG Soccer Academy player (Colton Storm - M - born in PA) for this game.


U18 ACADEMY ROSTER (including Fall 2011 College Team/Club Team)
* Goalkeepers – Zack Steffan (-/FC DELCO)^*, Jacob Schenk (-/PDA), Thomas Bull* (-/PDA)
* Defenders – Ryan Bertrando (-/PA Classics), Benjamin Kennel (-/PFSA), Christian Kaschack* (-/PA Classics), Nick Hutchinson (-/Lehigh Valley United), Troy Barr (-/PA Classics), Jonathan Wenger* (-/PA Classics), Jonathan Kumher (Bowling Green University/PA Classics), Shane Campbell* (-/FC DELCO), Todd Pratzner* (-/PA Classics), Quincy Thomas* (-/PA Classics), Matthew Jeffrey* (-/PDA)
* Midfielders – Jimmy McLaughlin^ (Colgate University/FC DELCO), Mike Gonzalez^* (Lehigh University/FC DELCO), Colin O’Neill (-/FC DELCO), Darius Madison^* (-/PSC Cobra), Connor Ryan (-/FC DELCO), Joseph Raymond (-/FC DELCO), Christian Hernandez^* (-/PDA), Keegan Rosenberry* (-/PFSA), Colton Storm* (-/IMG Soccer Academy – HMMS FC Eagle), Cam Alexander* (-/HMMS FC Eagle)
* Forwards – Melvin Snoh* (-/PFSA), Ryan Dodds (Lafayette University/FC DELCO), Zach Shiposh (-/FT Braunschweig), Chris Somerville (University of Virginia/Baltimore Bays), Christiano Francois^* (-/PDA), Birnis Adames# (-/-), Connor Maloney* (-/PA Classics), Kyle Bitterman* (-/PA Classics)
* Coaches – Brendan Burke, Jim Curtin; YSC Union Academy Director - Iain Munro
Notes:
^ - member of Union reserve gameday roster(s)
* - member of U18 gameday roster versus Everton – 7/20/11
# - 2011 Sueno MLS winner
PSC = Philadelphia Soccer Club
PDA = Players Development Academy
PFSA = Penn Fusion Soccer Academy

 

Union Academy drop a 2-0 decision to Everton's Academy team in a game comprised of 3 30 minute periods.

Although the team provided a roster card, it did not contain jersey numbers but here is what I was able to gather in terms of jersey #'s and the player's main positions during the game:

1 - Zack Steffen - G
2 - Conner Maloney - RF
3 - Colten Storm - RM (Guest Player - he attended IMG Academy in Bradenton)
4 - Matthew Jeffrey - LCB
5 - Mike Gonzalez - CM
6 - Keegan Rosenberry - LM
7 - Melvin Snoh - RM
8 - Cameron Alexander - LB
9 - Cristiano Francois - LF
10 - Darius Madison - RF
11 - Kyle Bitterman - LF
12 - Todd Pratzner - RCB
14 - Quincy Thomas - RB
15 - Jonathan Wenger - RCB
16 - Christian Kaschack - DM
18 - Thomas Bull - G
20 - Shane Campbell - LB
27 - not sure who he was - he must have been a late addition as he was not on the roster card

1st Period Line-Up:
[LINEUP-4-4-2]Bitterman, Madison, Rosenberry, Gonzalez, Kaschack, Storm, Campbell, Jeffrey, Pratzner, Thomas, Steffen[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

2nd Period Line-Up:
[LINEUP-4-4-2]Francois, Madison, Rosenberry, Gonzalez, Kaschack, Storm, Campbell, Jeffrey, Pratzner/Wenger, Thomas, Steffen[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

3rd Period Line-Up:
[LINEUP-4-4-2]Madison, Maloney, Francois, #27, Kaschack/Storm, Snoh, Alexander, Campbell, Wenger, Thomas, Bull[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

Player Notes:
* in the midfield - IIRC, Storm coughed up the ball which lead to the first Everton goal but his skills made him stand out for the Union. Gonzalez played a solid game. Kaschack is on the short-side but does the dirty work in the midfield.
* Madison and especially Francois showed some flash up top - Maloney did not play much but he did blast a shot off the post late in the game.
* in terms of the backline and goalies, Jeffrey is a huge defender while Campbell was having his troubles early with the speedy Everton RM but then he settled down and played well -he also played LCB. Steffen's best play was a sliding tackle 25 yards or so from the goal line to stop a potential breakaway.

On a related note, the Generation Adidas (formerly SUM) U17 Cup starts next week at Pizza Hut Park. Union is in a Group with Seattle, Dallas and Kansas City. If Hernandez and McLaughlin play like they did in the 1st team game, the Union could make some noise in this tounament.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/GACup

 

Good stuff. Where was the Sueno winner Birnis Adames?

 

I dont believe Hernandez or McLaughlin are eligible. Both are 93s and my understanding is the tournament is for 94s and 95s.

 

Hopefully we can get Brett Campbell called up as well in addition to his brother Shane. Brett scored 21 goals for the Delco U16s this year.

And McLaughlin is 18 so he wouldn't be able to play in the GA U17 Cup. Hernandez is only 17 though, so he should be fine. Pfeffer can play as well.

 

And BTW Zman, Matt Jeffery is headed to Monmouth U in the fall so you can add that to your list.

 

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/07/ga-cup-union-u-17s-kick-tournament-win

Union beat Seattle 1-0 in first game of Generation Adidas U17 Cup in Frisco, TX. Goal scorer was Darius Madison - who scored in a reserve game match against DCU. Next games are against Dallas and Kansas City.

The above link also has the tournament roster which includes Zach Pfeffer - some players played in the Everton game (Steffen, Thomas, Wenger, Pratzner, S. Campbell, Storm, Kapschak, Madison, Bitterman, Maloney, Alexander - reserve: Bull) while others did not (Arnold, Ryan, B. Campbell, McConnell, Wheaton, Hiltwine, Morrison, Hambelton - reserves - O'Neil, Azzinarri, Farrell, Herstek).

 

Is Christian Hernandez too old for this tournament?

 

http://ussda.demosphere.com/teams/27484436/27485052-27484530/12290205.html

yes - he is too old - born in 1993. U17 Tournament is for 1994 and 1995 players.

 

McLaughlin and Hernandez are both 93s.

 

I heard they started and played most of the Pa Classic kids last night. That team went to the U16 academy finals. Sprinkle in some Storm and Pfeffer and they may be formidable. Tonight is a big test - FC Dallas.

 

Have we heard anything about this kid post-Sueno?

 

There's literally nothing on him after late May.

 

Union tie FC Dallas 0-0 in 2nd game of Opening Round of GA U17 Cup, Both teams are tied atop Group B with 4 points with FCD having the edge on goal difference. Kansas City is up next for the Union.

 

Just to note, they lost 5-3 on PKs in that game. Dunno if it affects the points.

 

Any details.??

 

I am not sure if they use PK tiebreakers instead of goal difference to break ties in Group Play or whether Dallas is given credit for a win. KC beat Seattle in a PK tiebreaker - so the Union sits in 2nd place behind Dallas in Group B (regardless of whether goal difference or PK tiebreakers are used) - have to wait until mlssoccer.com updates its standings to known how those PK tiebreakers are used.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/generationadidascup

Once all of the Group Play games are done, the four group winners are paired in the Cup semi-finals (Group A winner plays Group B winner - that winner plays the winner of the Group C/Group D game). The same is done with the 4 2nd place teams, 3rd place teams and 4th place teams. At the end of the tournament, the teams will essentially be ranked #1 - #16.

 

Philly vs. Dallas game report (no line-ups):
http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/07/ga-cup-union-u-17s-impress-vs-fc-dallas-fall-penalties

It looks like teams that win a PK tiebreaker gets 1 extra point in the standings so Dallas has 5 points, Philly has 4 points, KC has 2 points and Seattle has 1 point.

To win the group, Philly needs to beat KC (which would give them 7 points) and Dallas can not beat (i.e. need to lose in regulation or PK tiebreaker) Seattle.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/generationadidascup/standings

 

Just saw that an incoming freshman at my school played for you guys against Everton and Real Madrid. His name's Jimmy McLoughlin. Do any of you have any insight into what type of player he is or his abilities?

http://gocolgateraiders.com/news/2011/7/24/MSOC_0724112227.aspx