2008 SUM U-17 Cup

[Napoli 10]

Tournament starts tomorrow July 4th. All teams except for San Jose will be sending a team. Colorado for some reason is sending 2 team? Does anyone know why?

SCHEDULE (http://ww2.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/schedule/)

STANDINGS (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/)

[Napoli 10]

Team Rosters

Chicago Fire (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=chi)

Chivas USA (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=chv)

Colorado Rapids A (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=col)

Colorado Rapids B (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=col_b)

Columbus Crew (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=clb)

D.C. United (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=dc)

F.C. Dallas (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=fcd)

Houston Dynamo (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=hou)

Kansas City Wizards (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=kc)

LA Galaxy (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=lag)

New England Revolution (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=ne)

New York Red Bulls (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=nyrb)

Real Salt Lake (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=rsl)

Toronoto F.C. (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/rosters/index.jsp?team=tfc)

[Stan Collins]

Tournament starts tomorrow July 4th. All teams except for San Jose will be sending a team. Colorado for some reason is sending 2 team? Does anyone know why? They did it last year too. I guess it just has something to do with the tourney being played there, combined with wanting an even number of teams.

One other note, the Fire and Crew will be busy beavers, since those two teams also made the USSF Development Academy final tournament: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=714578

That tourney will start 8 days after this one ends. SInce that's a U17/U18, I guess some of the players age eligible for the DAP tourney won't be eligible for the MLS U-17s.

[pwip]

http://worldcupway.blogspot.com/2008/07/fcd-juniors-at-sum-u-17-cup.html

[GKDaddy]

Not only does Colorado have two teams in the tournament, they also have a total of 20 players on each roster. Each other team has 18 - except L.A. which seem to have only included 16 players.

[Trevallion]

The FC Dallas Juniors program is set to make one of their first forays into the larger scale tournaments as a team made up of members of the FCD Juniors U16 and U18 squads will enter the SUM U17 Cup this weekend in Colorado. While we don’t know a ton about these players we can give you some notes on a few of them.

http://www.3rddegree.net/2008/07/fcd-juniors-in-sum-u17-cup/

[GKDaddy]

Is anyone from this board actually in Denver attending games? If so, can they/you provide game summeries for those of us not able to be there? Please and thanks!

[Stan Collins]

All I got is the scores and standings page:
http://www.mlsnet.com/mls/events/sum_u17/

[WJMarx]

Not only does Colorado have two teams in the tournament, they also have a total of 20 players on each roster. Each other team has 18 - except L.A. which seem to have only included 16 players.

What exactly is your point?

With an odd number of teams (13), San Jose does not have an academy program, what do you propose for match-ups? Asking the host to provide 2 teams is the only reasonable solution.

Also, 18/20 players in a short tournament gives absolutely no advantage. Unless the coaching staff, like the Fire, tries to get all of their players on the pitch, in which case 18 is an advantage!

Finally, the Rapids losing 2-0 & 3-1 in their two 1st round matches suggests quality prevails over quantity!

[asoc]

What exactly is your point?

With an odd number of teams (13), San Jose does not have an academy program, what do you propose for match-ups? Asking the host to provide 2 teams is the only reasonable solution.

Also, 18/20 players in a short tournament gives absolutely no advantage. Unless the coaching staff, like the Fire, tries to get all of their players on the pitch, in which case 18 is an advantage!

Finally, the Rapids losing 2-0 & 3-1 in their two 1st round matches suggests quality prevails over quantity!

Maybe its just an observation that Colorado has the ability to send two teams with 20 players each when other teams aren't even sending 20, and one is only sending 16.

[Stan Collins]

Also, 18/20 players in a short tournament gives absolutely no advantage. :confused: The shorter the tournament, the more advantageous it would be.

Finally, the Rapids losing 2-0 & 3-1 in their two 1st round matches suggests quality prevails over quantity! That I give you.

[WJMarx]

Is anyone from this board actually in Denver attending games? If so, can they/you provide game summeries for those of us not able to be there? Please and thanks!

I am attending select matches. I have posted a very sketchy evaluation of 2of them to the Rapids threads. I will repost that re-edited thread here. Also, I will be attending some matches Monday, Tuesday as well as the final on Thursday. If I have time, I will give similar, simple evaluations. I am in attendance to enjoy myself not scout players and don't intend to put in the effort to do so.


YES!...

I attended morning matches on July 4th and will attend others on Monday, Tuesday as well as the final on Thursday morning. Admittedly, all of the players are not good, all of the coaches are not good but by moving around the DSG fields you will find a match or a team or a player that catches your fancy. Attending the matches will be rewarding!

I viewed 2 matches, although mostly, I watched the Chicago Fire vs Houston Dynamo.

Chicago vs Houston

The Fire thoroughly dominated Houston in all aspects of the match. The Fire had technically superior players with a real tactical sense due to far superior coaching. In all the Fire played every member of their roster save for the 2nd goalkeeper, whereas, Houston, clearly wanting a victory, used only 3 substitutes. 16 of the 17 Fire players performed very well. One was below par.

Fire #47 - Trevor Wheeler, although below average in size was the dominant player I saw on the day. He is a central midfield player with great technical skill and a maturity and awareness uncommon in young players. The other CMF # 27 Bryan Cievsiluka is very small but he is also very good. Other Fire standouts include: # 26 Ian Christianson MF, # 31 Marco Guitierrez F & # 39 Kyle McCrudden CB. Indeed, the entire Fire squad played a mature game of short triangles, occassional 1-touch passing, smart running off the ball, good support in attack and defense and overall total team play. However, most impressive to me was that I had seen these same boys play in Bradenton, FL in March and notably they had ALL improved skills, tactics & maturity since. A tribute to the Fire coaching staff!

In contrast, Houston tried to rely on physicality. They had 3 very good players, # 10 Mario Perez attacking MF, # 17 Mitchell Cardenas holding MF and # 3 Mateo Jimenez LFb, playing in the wrong system. These boys had the quality to have played the Fire's style but were forced into a rough/tough, kick and chase tactic. Moreover, these players burdened themselves with too much responsibility. Whereas, the Fire played calmly & purposely, Houston seemed to be chaotic. Lotsa long balls, individual challenges without back-up, unnecessary rough play, etc.

Result: Fire 3 vs Houston 1 (Houston's goal, a deserved penalty kick, in minute 2)

NE vs KC

Viewed only briefly, NE was overmatched by bigger, stronger, faster KC players. KC, with its uncontrolled English coaches yelling conflicting instructions throughout, were dominant. However, I saw no future in any of their players nor their coaches. At some point bigger is no longer better. A team like this can win a one off, but the point of these teams is to produce quality players. Maybe even one player that can make the 1st team.

Maybe more later!

[Stan Collins]

Very good, thanks!

[WJMarx]

Maybe its just an observation that Colorado has the ability to send two teams with 20 players each when other teams aren't even sending 20, and one is only sending 16.


Colorado Rapids U-16 Development Academy has compiled an unenviable record of 2 wins, 19 losses & 4 draws in 2007/08. Clearly, they cannot field 18 good players let alone 40.

While I am fully aware and fully supportive of the Development Academy goal of individual player training and development, Colorado Rapids have missed the mark.

In Denver, Real Colorado & Colorado Rush are the cream of the youth crop. The Rapids have lotsa work ahead of them to become competitive.

There are coaches in Denver with the knowledge, temperament and skill to train Academy players but Rapids have not found them yet. Perhaps, they need to call me for some recommendations!

[monster]

Colorado Rapids U-16 Development Academy has compiled an unenviable record of 2 wins, 19 losses & 4 draws in 2007/08. Clearly, they cannot field 18 good players let alone 40.

While I am fully aware and fully supportive of the Development Academy goal of individual player training and development, Colorado Rapids have missed the mark.

In Denver, Real Colorado & Colorado Rush are the cream of the youth crop. The Rapids have lotsa work ahead of them to become competitive.

There are coaches in Denver with the knowledge, temperament and skill to train Academy players but Rapids have not found them yet. Perhaps, they need to call me for some recommendations!
I think it's a bit hasty to write an obituary in the program's first year, don't you?

[GKDaddy]

What exactly is your point?

With an odd number of teams (13), San Jose does not have an academy program, what do you propose for match-ups? Asking the host to provide 2 teams is the only reasonable solution.

Also, 18/20 players in a short tournament gives absolutely no advantage. Unless the coaching staff, like the Fire, tries to get all of their players on the pitch, in which case 18 is an advantage!

Finally, the Rapids losing 2-0 & 3-1 in their two 1st round matches suggests quality prevails over quantity!

My point (a) was just to concur with Napoli 10 that Colorado did have two teams in the tournament. Having organized youth tournaments myself that included over 120 teams ranging in age from 8 - Sr. Ladies, I fully appreciate them being able to field a second team to even off the numbers.

(b) This was a statement of observation in perusing the rosters. Our academy has approximately 23 members in its U16 age group and I know some were not selected to make this trip as it was my understanding that the team could only register 18 players.

I do agree with you regarding quality vs. quantity.

Please know that I was in no way trying to use (a) or (b) above as a means to suggest the Rapids were trying to do some sort of manipulation to better their chances at winning the tounament. I fully support the development aspect and hope our boys perform to the best of their abilities, face decent competition and learn from this experience. I also hope they have some fun off the pitch and enjoy the trip - they are still boys after all!

Cheers!

[Stan Collins]

I noticed there are highlight reels and coach interviews on the league's site:
Chi v Hou
mms://a1503.v115042.c11504.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/11504/v0001/mlbmls.download.akamai.com/11504/2008/requests/mls/040708_sum_u17_chi_v_hou.wmv
DC v Col
mms://a1503.v115042.c11504.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/11504/v0001/mlbmls.download.akamai.com/11504/2008/requests/mls/040708_sum_u17_dc_v_col.wmv

Chicago looked very good. DC looked pretty good as well, but the biggest difference between them and Colorado was in goal.

[TFC07]

TFC U-16 team highlights: http://torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/console.jsp

They won 2 straight games now. :)

[ATLGunner]

Why can't other teams have stuff like that? And how come MLS is now a day behind on even the results.

[gabola71]

The Toronto Teams don't celebrate the 4th of July? I've been waiting for the updates all day and thats the only thing I can come up with. Its weak but that might be whats going on.