CrewJrs v FCDelco in game [R]

Try explaining to your wives why the Crew is on ONN while the Crew U-19s are on FSC. I just did, unsuccessfully.

Flipped over just in time.

 

I can't believe I'm watching this game. Oh well, I got nothing going on this Saturday.

So who are our stars in the game to watch that may one day have a chance to make it on the Crew in the future???

 

Those kits still give me chills. In 50 years when the Crew decide to change their look to a more retro feel, that's the shirt they'll emulate.

 

What kits are they wearing?

 

Hardly. They just blast the ball up field.

I've not seen either team put together more than 2 passes.

 

Has to be the kits.

 

Congrats to the U-19 National Champs.

Although, can't say that I saw any player on the team that I thought, "wow."

Barson was good, Luban had moments, Luthy looks solid. That's about it. I didn't see any Najar/Bowen performance though.

 

Yes, they won the title but I'm with Eggy. Nothing impressive from them except for the defensive play with 15 seconds to go in the match. Luthy looks solid in goal but the field players couldn't string a few passes together.

I actually watched the U20 Women's World Cup Germany-North Korea match this afternoon and Popp, #11 for Germany had a better shot than most of these guys. The combination play by the German ladies to get out of tough spaces was much more coordinated than either team tonight.

 

Some players from tonight's game who may have a future at the next level-

Andy Lubahn(F #10- Erie, PA) didn't have a great game but still looked great on the ball. Hes a crafty left-footed attacker with plenty of pace. He'd been offered a professional contract in Belgium before he committed to Wake Forest. He played with the U20 Nats when he was a U16. He'll be a pro in a few years.

Justin Luthy(GK- Dublin Jerome/PSA) was extremely solid. He was a former PSA member and hes had very good coaching for the last 6 years or so and continues to be an overall solid goalkeeper. He could still have a bright future ahead of him. He is still at Boston College and is currently in the U20 Player pool.

Matt Wiet(D #17- Worthington Kilbourne) had an overall pretty good game. Hes one of the nicest kids you'll ever meet and has a monster throw-in. He started just about every game at Indiana last year as a Freshman but had transferred to UCLA.

Chad Barson(D #2- Olentangy) continues to be a very solid defender on the right side. He is calm on the ball and always seems to come through in the clutch. His service provided the assist and his last-second clearance preserved the win. He started at Akron this past year and has been involved with Youth National teams. I'd be very surprised if he wasn't playing professional soccer in 2 years.

Brandon Silva(M #5- Worthington Kilbourne) had a pretty solid game but I'd be surprised if he played after college. He was redshirted at Akron last year and has transferred to Bowling Green.

Tyler Pollock(F #20- Beavercreek) surprised me tonight. He looked pretty good out there and I never had thought he was a great player. He was very strong up top. Hes currently at Butler.

Eric Stevenson(M #19- Worthington Christian) had a very good game and has played very well throughout this team's run. He was VERY good in HS and I hoped he would end up at a good D1 school and he ended up signing for Akron. He redshirted last year and I thought that his size might not work out at Akron even though he is tremendously skilled. Hopefully he can carry this success into next year and earn some PT at Akron.

Ben Speas (M) didn't play with the team tonight (not sure if he was there or not though he is on the roster- I'll find out tomorrow) but is another guy who could have a future at the next level. Hes very skillful and a great attacker. He started for Akron during the 2nd half of their season and had a great NCAA tournament.

 

I read it as a poorly worded way of saying "we have some guys on the u-19's that are as good as our senior roster players were at this age"

 

So they are on par as Chris Leech, Troy Perkings, and Danny O were when they were 18?

 

And Stammler and Rolfe... and others. The bad news is that I would hope that they would be better. Don't we aspire for each generation to better than the prior one - until it's humanly impossible to do so? I would think that research into better training methods, more experienced technical trainers, over-seas camps, nutrition, etc, would mean that players coming through the youth system now would be better than players that did the same even 10 years ago.

 

Actually that's a pretty good point that I didn't really think about when I first read that post. While it's not a complete bust if they turn out to be middle level journeymen in the league, you really hope for more when looking at youth national teamers being backed by a really good MLS teams' organization.

Great, now I'm depressed. Thanks a lot lol

 

Sorry. Now go get yourself a beer and you'll feel better.

 

As long as soccer is looked at as the 4th or 5th most popular sport this will always be the case wont it? You can't compare the European athletes to our players. Although the game is way better then it was when indoor was the best we had, we need to be honest with ourselves. The best athletes in this country aren't playing soccer 9 times out of 10.

 

I'm not comparing with Europeans. I'm comparing within our own. Do you believe that the caliber of play in MLS is better than 10 years ago? If so, being at the same level than players 10 years ago means that a regular becomes a role player, and a part-timer becomes a bench player. If these players are equal to where the previous generation was at the same point in time, have we made any progress?

 

Congrads for a huge accomplishment. I followed my girls for years at the club level and to win a National Championship is a superb accomplishment.

 

I'm going to go ahead and guess that of that roster, at least 3 players will be playing professional soccer after college. The most likely 3 would be Lubahn, Barson, and Speas IMO, but Wiet could develop into a very good player at UCLA and Luthy could continue to grow at BC. Lubahn and Luthy have had talks with teams overseas in the past, Barson has captained youth national teams, and Speas has played on youth national teams. If these guys don't get drafted in MLS(which I'd guess the first 3 will and the last 2 may not), the Crew would almost certainly give these guys trials, having seen what they could do already. I know Barson has practiced with the Crew before.

 

At the youth level its probably 3rd most popular group sport. I ould say Football, basketball then soccer before the rest.....