More speculation on Llanez: USAprospects @USAprospects 5h5 hours ago Have to think Llanez is the top '01 in @ussoccer_acad at moment. Wonder if a call in to the US U17 pool is near. It'd be well deserved In reply to Anxious Bastard USAprospects @USAprospects 5h5 hours ago @tomrl1994 @ussoccer_acad yea but I've been told he's obviously not closed the door
Looks like LAFC are making some moves to get their USSDA team up and running http://www.angelsonparade.com/2017/...ademy-fully-built-out-by-next-fall-ussda-boys
Don't know where to put this, so I'll try in here. Former Vancouver Whitecaps USSDA standout Sam Adekugbe has been in the starting lineup lately for #2nd place Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion in league play. He hasn't really gotten a sniff with the Whitecaps (just like other former USSDA legends like Marco Bustos) but seems to have found his feet while on loan after some injury problems.
Sorry, I don't know the score. Check out @LAGalaxyAcademy's Tweet: Our @LAGalaxyAcademy 18s/16s battled against the USMNT for two 70 minutes games. @LAGalaxy @gyasinho @SebLletget post game. pic.twitter.com/sk8vtonGk6— LA Galaxy Academy (@LAGalaxyAcademy) January 18, 2017
I find this story kinda interesting. Kid wanted to play high school soccer, so played for FCD "Premier" teams (which is one level below the academy). He got a scholarship to Tulsa, and is supposedly pretty good. “I think in the next few years we're going to have a player that may come back and be a professional at FC Dallas that maybe didn't go through our Academy, but did play within our club,” Dymond said. “I don't see him right now being ready, by any means, but over the next four years he has the athletic ability to be able to be successful in MLS.” The move from @FCDallasYouth to @TulsaMSoccer isn’t the only move @hunter_hasler is making this Fall. #DTID https://t.co/mYwMkIfhOA— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) January 28, 2017
EEEEfus................ 77 seniors across @FCDallasYouth are set to sign National Letters of Intent to play college soccer Wed., a program-high. Incredible. #FCDNSD— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) January 31, 2017
I like the fact that they're having these U12/U13 futsal competitions down in Texas. Our youngest Academy sides took Houston by storm this weekend! #DTID https://t.co/SfvivuJljI— FC Dallas Youth (@FCDallasYouth) January 30, 2017
They're happening all over the country, wherever there's a DA league in those age groups. http://www.ussoccerda.com/20170120-five-things-to-know-development-academy-winter-futsal-showcase
The #NYCFC academy adds 4️⃣ levels of competition https://t.co/BQBGw1Jrwl— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) February 4, 2017
Minnesota United DA: https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/clu...sota-united-announces-academy-launch_aid41424
Interview with DA director, Jared Micklos: https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/how-the-das-expansion-saw-the-light_aid41431
Check out @3four3's Tweet: Our boy @leosepulveda01, 15yo, starts and goes full 90 with @LAGalaxyII. Easy. The kids are ready. https://t.co/0kivOiMzY1— 3four3 (@3four3) February 26, 2017 This is good. Granted, we have to tune out Kleiban's hyper-enthusiasm, but this seems to fit with the new regime's philosophy. Sepulveda is a '01 who attended the recent U16 camp.
I'm pretty sure he captains the U-16's. Don't know much other than he's a CB, and hasn't looked good in the highlights I've watched.
I haven't watched him enough to form a solid opinion, but it's clear that the Gals have upped their commitment in providing good opportunities for their DA players. Between 10-12 U16 players (along with U14 E. Alvarez) have been consistently playing up with the U18s, and several players have had time with Los Dos. This is how it should be with MLS DAs.
Hopefully this is the last game Cannon plays with the U18s. I get it. They don't have any more pre-season games, and want to give Reggie playing time, etc. He's a first team player now that's already played at the NCAA level. Solar is really coming on strong now, and is really a nice option for kids that don't want to go "whole hog" into the development academy. Had an alumnus selected in the first round of the MLS draft. Regan Dunk at #13 to RSL. And, of course, the have one of the top "class of 2019" prospects in Blaine Ferri (if not THE top prospect). Dallas Texans also had a first round pick in Brandon Aubrey, who went to TFC at #21. By the way, Walker Hume (FCD's 2nd round pick that they recently signed to a contract) played for much-maligned Classics Elite. Good. We need more players being developed in San Antonio. And we need some new blood in defense for when we secede.
Check out @SamMcDowell11's Tweet: Gianluca Busio, 14, is training with #SportingKC today. He was featured in my academy story earlier this month:https://t.co/dWLYeku8Sg— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) March 2, 2017 Things won't happen overnight. However, this is another example of the continuing maturation of the DA, esp. by many of the MLS teams.
Red Bull's expanding their academy affiliates by the looks http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post...-platform-addition-six-full-time-rds-regional
I love reading these stories. Other MLS teams are definitely reading this as well, and the competitive nature of the business will continue to spur innovation and development.
Here's the story about how the Revs are establishing a national network of affiliates to compensate for a relative lack of talent in New England in order to stay competitive among the rising ambition of their fellow MLS clubs:
News: The New England Revolution suspended top academy prospect Justin Rennicks for training at a Bundesliga club. https://t.co/3gsItTK8Zg— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) March 3, 2017
At first I was all irritated about this. But then I realized that I needed to appreciate this as something that is such a pure, distilled version of the Revs. It's art.
RSL leaving Casa Grande after this season. Would guess they move to the Frontier Division. "The Arizona-based academy program–including Vasquez’ staff–will relocate to Utah late Summer 2017, with an anticipated December 2017 move for RSL and Monarchs from Rio Tinto Stadium to the Herriman campus. Additionally, the campus would house a 5,000-seat stadium for Real Monarchs’ regular-season games, a future NWSL women’s team, and local college/high school use, amongst other programming. The Herriman campus will also be the site of a 300-student “STEM” charter school (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math; although we joke about the “S” standing for Soccer) for local boys and girls, including the club’s academy players. Dormitory-style housing is planned for the academy teams, which will grow to three next year when the U-14 class is added." http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/201...17/03/03/real-salt-lake-mls-ambition-rankings
I'd imagine it will be a lot easier, from a logistical standpoint, to give U18 academy kids a cup of coffee (or more) with the USL squad.
It would be smart for another MLS Team to latch onto the Casa Grande Academy. It has been good to Real Salt Lake. It doesn't work as well with clubs that have USL Teams although you could run parallel program. A team like Minn United who are just starting out or some of the less ambitious academy clubs like Houston, etc. could get some more legs out of it. Not like Glad was from Utah and RSL sent him down to AZ. He relocated to go to RSL-AZ. Others could do the same. In a lot of respects it is better than relocating to Kansas City and staying with a host family like Gianluco Busio and juggling attending the local HS as well.