Chicago Fire Super 20s

[bunge]

Great blog on the Chicago Fire Super 20s:

http://www.section8chicago.com/jm3/component/option,com_myblog/show,Super-20s-Triumph.html/Itemid,96/

It’s hard to say who was happier about our victory, the hotel or us. Apparently the D.C. boys were real thugs around the hotel. After we sent the District of Convicts packing, we ate dinner and headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest. We went to sleep with rings, medals, and trophies dancing through our heads.

Not sure if how many around here follows the Chicago Fire Youth system but we've been doing some articles over at www.section8chicago.com. We promise to try and continue to do more.

[phillypride]

That made for a very interesting read. Do any other teams have such reports from their developmental teams?


From: Greg Klazura
...The ball was laying several yards in front of the fallen player and as Klazura jogged back into position he gently flicked the ball back to Toronto’s left midfielder. The ball lightly hit the Toronto player on the shoulder and Klazura continued to jog back.Already referring to himself in the third person? I guess they really are developing future pros!:D

I love to see the evident loyalty to the senior team and trash-talking about the crew, DCU etc. I wonder how much developmental programs will increase local allegiance to senior clubs. It seems they would help make players, their families, and their extended networks much more likely to support the club even after the player exits the program.

[usmls]

Sorry to disapoint you gentleman, but non of these players played for Fire youth teams. They are college players who as youth (U8 to U18) played with anyother but Fire teams. Two examples, two of the key players: M. Stivens Sockers FC Chicago and USYNT, B. King Chicago Magic and USYNT. It takes years to develop a player, not a month in the summer with a red uniform.

[bunge]

Sorry to disapoint you gentleman, but non of these players played for Fire youth teams. They are college players who as youth (U8 to U18) played with anyother but Fire teams. Two examples, two of the key players: M. Stivens Sockers FC Chicago and USYNT, B. King Chicago Magic and USYNT. It takes years to develop a player, not a month in the summer with a red uniform.

And apparently the Sockers FC and Chicago Magic aren't good enough to develop players of MLS caliber. Big deal. They're now playing for the Chicago Fire and we're proud to have them on our squad.

[usmls]

And apparently the Sockers FC and Chicago Magic aren't good enough to develop players of MLS caliber. Big deal. They're now playing for the Chicago Fire and we're proud to have them on our squad.

Fire coaches have the opportunities to choose anybody they wont, including players from Fire Juniors. Since 2003, when they started in Wheaton, one will thing that there must be two, three or more players who have reached that level. Unfortunately many of the youth Fire players got lost down the road. It is not easy to go through the Fire unique pyramid of player development, the best out there as they claim. I wish the Fire have hired Indiana Jones to help these kids, Larry and his staff to get out and see the light.
However, the fact that Sockers and particularly Magic have many and key players on that team is evidence of what these clubs have done with their youth players up to the age of U18, and what Fire Juniors' coaches have not done.
When the day come and most of the players on the U20 are former Fire Juniors players and not former Magic and Sockers players, I will say you are right.

By the way, there are over 20 present and past MLS players from these two clubs and some US internationals as Bradley, Spector, DeMerrit, Guzan and Canada international Jhonson.

Within their limitations in personnel, facilities, training methods, selection process, pay to play system, and without MLS team on top, fancy developmental pyramid, flashy uniforms, ticket sales and coaches telling a lot of fairy tails to naive parents, these two clubs have done not so bad. Hopefully the Fire can do better in the future. With pro team on top and money to spare they have to become the leader. At the moment they are not what they claim.

[bunge]

Fire coaches have the opportunities to choose anybody they wont, including players from Fire Juniors. Since 2003, when they started in Wheaton, one will thing that there must be two, three or more players who have reached that level. Unfortunately many of the youth Fire players got lost down the road. It is not easy to go through the Fire unique pyramid of player development, the best out there as they claim. I wish the Fire have hired Indiana Jones to help these kids, Larry and his staff to get out and see the light.
However, the fact that Sockers and particularly Magic have many and key players on that team is evidence of what these clubs have done with their youth players up to the age of U18, and what Fire Juniors' coaches have not done.
When the day come and most of the players on the U20 are former Fire Juniors players and not former Magic and Sockers players, I will say you are right.

By the way, there are over 20 present and past MLS players from these two clubs and some US internationals as Bradley, Spector, DeMerrit, Guzan and Canada international Jhonson.

Within their limitations in personnel, facilities, training methods, selection process, pay to play system, and without MLS team on top, fancy developmental pyramid, flashy uniforms, ticket sales and coaches telling a lot of fairy tails to naive parents, these two clubs have done not so bad. Hopefully the Fire can do better in the future. With pro team on top and money to spare they have to become the leader. At the moment they are not what they claim.

The system is messed up, because the Fire started a system long before MLS forced teams to have academies. It's going to take some time, but the Fire are pulling it all together. To say they have nothing to do with this is silly. True, the people are from a wide variety of teams but the fact that the team even exists for people of this age group is because of the Fire.

[usmls]

The system is messed up, because the Fire started a system long before MLS forced teams to have academies. It's going to take some time, but the Fire are pulling it all together. To say they have nothing to do with this is silly. True, the people are from a wide variety of teams but the fact that the team even exists for people of this age group is because of the Fire.

Fire is providing good opportunities for these players. The more they do the better for the soccer in Chicago.