Point being if you are signed to a contract in America at 16 or 17, it will be harder to check out opportunities abroad. If JT had been at FCD on a USL deal, it is highly unlikely he would now be in an EPL set up. This is a case by case basis, but if a kid has aspirations of being in Europe, then why sign a deal in the USL at 16? That takes it out of your hands and puts it in someone else's hands. Its' hard to go on trials in Europe when you are sticking around in Frisco playing in the USL. For example, a kid at FCD now at age 16, that has no MLS or NTXSC deal can go over to Europe as much as they want, go on trials and check things out at their leasure. FCD says they don't like it but can't stop it. There are agents all over the place that will set these deals up for kids with no cost and you don't have to sign with the agent either. The kid can then have deals waiting for him in Europe at 18 or earlier if he has a passport. Perhaps this is what Che is doing. Same can be said for kids at Solar at Texans. There are other Solar kids in Europe right now on trial as well. Its not specific to FCD per se, but the fact kids are signing young in the US and giving up control of their pathway. If they need the money, or don't want to get to Europe ASAP, that fine. But if they do, then why sign? Let's see what Johnathan Gomez does. It looks like his brother now has contacts in Europe so perhaps Johnathan goes on trial next. If he signs with FCD that takes away that opportunity for him to decide where and when he will go and who he will sign with. Add to the fact as much willingness as FCD has shown to signing their own academy players, have any of them gone onto the biggest stages? Clint mentioned they have 36 HG signings in total but I count one that is in Europe in Chris Richards, and he wasn't really an FCD guy. If you count Mckennie that is 2 players out of 37 that got to Europe and a big league. That may change with Pax and Roberts, but no reason so far to think signing a USL deal or even MLS deal with FCD is a launching pad. Time will tell.
Inter Miami is sending their newly-formed U17/18 team to compete in the K-League U-17 championship. https://www.intermiamicf.com/inter-miami-cf-academy-to-play-international-tournament-in-south-korea/ There are some names in here that some of us who follow USSDA closely will recognize: Noah Allen ('04) -- Has been with Weston FC and received a couple of YNT call-ups. Kai Thomas ('02) -- With NYCFC for the last two years, but started with Weston FC as a youngster. NYCFC usually played him at RCB. Nico Diaz ('02) -- With Orlando City since 2016. From what I saw at GA Cup, I liked his game as a support striker. Edison Azcona ('03) -- With Orlando City, YNT call-ups. Andres Cardenas ('02) -- Weston FC kid, YNT call-ups (usually mentioned as the best Florida player in his class). Nicolas Pereira ('03) - Weston FC, YNT call-ups. It looks like they picked up two of the better Kendall SC strikers too (Brian Hernandez ('02), Alexander Lozano ('03). Assuming some of these guys will be joining Inter Miami's academy full-time for USSDA, I think we can safely say that they'll have no problem scooping up the best talent in South Florida.
We need MLS clubs to start their own academies. Next we need them to have USL teams to bridge the gap to the 1st team. When a quality prospect signs a HG contract, rabble!
If this was in regard to my comment above, I agree. Why would we want our top prospects to sign HG contracts? Let the average players sign USL and HG deals if they want and work their way up to a big league. Let the top guys go straight there. Jao Felix is worth 20 million. best young player from Portugal. Pax Pomykal makes 95K a year. Best young player from US. Main difference is the leagues. I make no bones about thinking our top guys should be in Europe. Edit to add if Uly Llanez and Mendez are making 10million a year at age 21 or 22 in La Liga, or Bundesliga or EPL is there anyone that will say they should have signed a HG deal for LAG at age 17?
Are you assuming that MLS teams will not be willing to sell their young players after a couple of years as a standout in MLS? I think the league has turned this corner in many respects. From the boom of young players getting minutes to the commissioner stating that it is a selling league to the new rules that protect teams from losing prospects for nothing to the fact that Adams was sold and others like Pomykal and Efra are being lined up for big moves, I think MLS should be viewed through a new lens that is much more youth player friendly than it was a couple of years ago. That doesn't mean that DC is going to sell Durkin for peanuts, but there has to be a new narrative about how MLS is handling the youth based on recent trends.
I don’t buy what Rodriguez is selling. He mentioned nothing about the ‘01 and ‘02 age groups. If they don’t have talent in those age groups, it’s because they’ve done a bad job with recruiting and developing players. There are plenty of good players in those age groups from that area. It is bad for development in this country every season and age group where an MLS academy does not have an academy team. There are certain perks that come with an MLS academy that you won’t get loading up Sockers FC with the best Chicago area U-19 players for next season. It might not be catastrophic to not have a U-19 team for one season, but this shows Chicago’s lack of ambition in producing academy players. Their idea is to get rid of an age group that they’ve done a bad job with recruiting and developing and then talk a good game in the media when backlash comes. Rodriguez tries to say they’ll field a U-16 team, so there’s no lack of players in their academy lost, but their U-16 team doesn’t play in the DA and U-16 teams are less valuable than U-19 teams. Most of the U-16 players in the academies that have U-16 teams are players that are age eligible for the U-17’s, but not good enough to play for the U-17’s. Chicago has one of the worst academies in MLS, so this U-16 team likely won’t have many players with talent. Rodriguez also didn’t say that they’ll make an investment in a U-16 team beyond this season.
Heard FCD told the author of the article directly that Che will start season on U-17. Seems Toledo's best days might be behind him (considering he barely played in playoffs and looked a bit sketchy when he did) so it might be prudent to bring Che up for the U-19 competition. .
We need the current trend of youth players without Euro passports signing early and getting minutes early to continue, while the best players with euro passports go to Europe. Pomykal isn’t a fair example because he was a late bloomer (comparatively), but also this trend of kids signing hg deals just started in the last year plus. But a player like KHF isn’t doing his development any favors by playing centerback against 15-17 year olds when his level is clearly at least on par with the talent in the USL. MLS needs to make money off of these kids, and reinvesting it, and the kids are better served by getting pro minutes.
I think that is still TBD. Leaning the right way, yes. Concern is why put your future in someone elses hands to let you go to Europe when you can make that decision for yourself at age 18? Caveat is this only applies to guys getting good deals in Europe at 18 or with good clubs. For example Gio Reyna going to Dortmund instead of signing with his DAD's club in the US. He could have easily signed with NYCFC, played a few years then been sold but instead chose to go straight over. If we could see the future and knew Johnathan Gomez would have a deal at Dortmund or Schalke at 18 if he doesn't sign a USL deal with NTXSC, or is stuck at NTXSC and FCD until he is 21 or 22 if he does sign, which would be better? I would prefer he go to Europe as young as possible and learn the trade over there.
Toledo's an odd case, right? He already graduated high school and is taking a "gap year" to play for FCD prior to college. And its not like he's taking a year off of New Hampshire Community College. He's committed to Colombia! He's putting Colombia on hold to play another FCD U19 year. I dont' get it. But hey, more power to 'em. Brandon Terwege did this, and I'm not sure it benefited him. [Of course Brandon had big issues at UCLA as well.] I suspect that Che will start with the U17s, but will be with the U19s by the end of the season.
At some point I think you have to ask why Rodriguez still has a job. And since he does still have a job, then you have to ask yourself if he’s really the problem. Chicago is literally the laughing stock of the league and yet they keep not changing anything. I can’t help but think this is an awful owner issue and not a GM one. Edit: *Not just a GM one
i dont think weve ever adequately got an answer to how mls feels about bailing the fire out of their lease and having them basically throw youth development in the trash as payback. either the don is being made to look like a fool or he is fine with this garbage owner
I agree. FCD seems to be more accepting of players trialing and training abroad. I think players and their families are also more open and less afraid to reveal their opportunities to FCD as well. Much different than a couple years ago after the McKinnie incident.
The main difference between Felix and Pomykal is not the leagues. There's a mile of quality difference between the two. No doubt Paxton is being underpaid right now, but since he's six months in to being a quality professional player, maybe we should let this play out?
Training Comp helps with that as FCD gets paid either way. Probably less if the kids does not sign the HG deal, but still something. You find your own deal in Europe, we still get ours. That works.
Pomykal is not Feliz for sure but he is arguably the best in the US at his age. The difference in pay for best player in the country is arguably attributed to difference in La Liga and MLS.
I think it was common knowledge that the DA was dropping the U12 age group starting this season. This article explains it further. U.S. Soccer Development Academy drops U-12 programming ahead of 2019-20 season— SoccerWire (@TheSoccerWire) August 9, 2019
Lots of folks who have access to sports attorneys have said that it will be heavy lifting for MLS to retroactively attach training compensation to their academy players. Also, it will be interesting to see where the MLS players association comes down (if at all) on training and solidarity fees/payments in their new collective bargaining agreement.
Of course I can't answer your question about spending a couple of years at FCD and going to Europe as a first team player with lots of first team experience in MLS at 21 vs. going to Europe into a youth team without any experience against adults at age 18, but we can look at a very similar situation that is unfolding right now. JT Tomkinson offers an interesting case study for this. Would he be better off in the youth setup of Norwich, or would he be better off in the professional setup in Dallas?
My thought, Norwich ten times out of ten. He is playing with the U19s this year and the U23s next year. Is that better than NTXSC? Same with Gio Reyna at Dortmund, Uly and Mendez etc. All better off over there. Look at Keaton Parks. He went straight over, had his chance at a big league in Europe and is no worse for where and back in MLS doing great. JT, Uly, Mendez or Gio could always come back to USL or MLS if Europe doesn't work out.
Pomykal isn't even the best American in his age group -- he's just likely the best playing in MLS. Felix is a star -- if Pomykal were as good as Felix, he'd have a $120M transfer and make the big bucks in Europe. Instead he's a nicely promising player playing very well but not transformative ball in the US for the last six months. Joao Felix put up 20 goals and 11 assists across all competitions and showed the skillset to make you think it wasn't a fluke. It's not comparable. I expect Paxton to renegotiate for more salary if he stays, or to move. He's not even a full year into being a capable player -- at this point of Felix's career, he was making a lot less, I am sure. I'm not saying players shouldn't head to Europe -- if you are good, there's more money there. But this ... this is not a valuable comparison.
Good luck to @ramtheballer aka "PG County Pit Bull" as he heads to the U15 Columbus Crew Academy. Shout out to @bethesdascnews for continuing to produce quality players. #DMVgotBallers #RepDMV Keep a close 👀 on him... @USAprospects @zlebmada @travismclark @DMVSoccerDotCom pic.twitter.com/DjSBLL5ctg— GusFooty (@gustavmdterp) August 9, 2019
I'm just not sure if there is a clear cut advantage one way or the other unless we are talking about a Bundesliga club that has shown a commitment to youth or a place like Ajax, Benfica, etc. (or if we are talking about a clearly world class player). I certainly wouldn't put it at 10 out of 10 times Norwich is the best choice for a prospect over MLS though. Is playing for Norwich 19s better than NTXSC? Is playing for their 23s better than playing for FCD? Personally, I don't think so. Back to JT, is there even an option here? As far as we know, FCD might not rate him as a prospect, and that's not even an option for him. I don't know anything about Norwich's youth setup, so I'm not sure if this is accurate or completely off base, but I don't think it's far fetched at all to think that FCD could have better youth teams than Norwich.