U23s will scrimmage in NJ: http://oceancityfc.com/home/916112.html Saturday, May 21 when they welcome Major League Soccer's D.C. United as they will field their Under-23 team in an exhibition game at Carey Stadium in Ocean City, NJ. The U-23 squad, while consisting of mostly senior academy members, is a talented group of youth players and can often include MLS players who are looking to return to form or seeking more time on the pitch. This matchup won't be the first time the Nor’easters will face off against the U-23’s from D.C. Last year, the two teams split the season series with the home team winning each game. United won the season opener on their home turf 3-1 on May 23, while the Nor'easters got revenge with a 2-1 home win on July 12.
I put this over in the in-season discussion thread (where any discussion should probably actually take place), but if someone's just interested in the academy and won't see it over there, I'll put it here (and it might piss of a mod as a bonus) 740943802211401728 is not a valid tweet id
That's good news about Durkin because I thought he was going overseas to play. I really liked what I saw of him in the surveillance camera footage of preseason. I think he played center and right back.
Maybe you didn't read the quote. "The club has not made a formal offer but is keeping close tabs on him, multiple sources said. Durkin is also eyeing opportunities in Europe. Any trial overseas would have to coordinate with his U-17 schedule. No trips are scheduled at the moment and there is no timetable for him to turn pro." The only news is... dc united want to sign a good player that could be a hgp for them. It's not really news. I presume they are somewhat interested in anyone good that they can claim as a hgp.
If he wants to go to anywhere else, why would he sign with DCU? That would cut down on his options a lot if he starts to play for DC and then garners a transfer fee. Right now, he's a free agent who can sign anywhere. Unless he really wants to play first team games and he thinks DC is the way to get that. I don't know much about him, but I'm not sure he's that good that he'd be ready to start in MLS any time soon, particularly for Olsen who isn't the quickest to start really young guys. He has done it, but it's not like this is FC Dallas.
Yeah the matter of signing young players in the MLS system is finely balanced. Sign them and waste a little bit of money for a few years if they don't pan out, or miss out on a substantial payday or a great player. And the player faces a similar dilemma. MLS needs to be in a position to provide a platform for a kid like this to say, hey, if I'm not a star, I can make a respectable living for a while and not turn over my whole life for nothing-- but, if I do make it big, MLS gives me a platform to make that move later. If MLS doesn't position itself that way to young players, they will run for Europe to take their chances on reserve teams.
I read it. I was under the impression a European signing was imminent, so this bit of news is indeed news to me. This is a highly rated player. If he does in fact train with United this summer, expect them to sign him if he's not going to Europe. I suspect he plays a lot in 2017, like Kitchen.
Are you sure he isn't HG eligible? He played several years in the Academy. In any event, he has some creativity that DCU could use.
Looks like a secondary assist to me, or maybe none at all in the stat book. http://www.soccerwire.com/blog-post...ws-absurdities-of-club-vs-high-school-battle/ Boehm usually knows what he's talking about on this type of thing (and everything really). "(I’m highly confident, though not certain, that Mendes has already logged sufficient “training units” for D.C. to be eligible to sign him as a Homegrown, though those rights will expire if he does not return to the club in some capacity, most likely as a PDL player, in the months and years ahead.)"
DC reportedly about to sign Durkin. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news.../d-c-united-to-sign-16-year-old-chris-durkin/
I'm pretty sure he has no interest in signing with dcu. I hope he doesn't. Don't want Ben anywhere near him
He did sign... Wondering though since he'll be loaned out for a while with the U-17s and at the U-17 WC if this idea isn't in the back of our minds... http://sbisoccer.com/2016/06/report-fc-dallas-homegrown-zendejas-sold-to-chivas
Mendes signed with DC? I haven't seen/heard that anywhere, but Durkin did, and played in the USOC game vs. Ft. Lauderdale.
Its nice to see people trying to be creative, but this is a better assist in Northern VA 6A high school soccer; http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2485212/highlights/57472d22842eb22858f7539d
I was out of town last week when I saw this so sorry if it was posted somewhere else already and I didn't see it. Part 1 of a long Q&A with DCU Academy Director Nolan Sheldon: http://www.soccerwire.com/news/pro/...-sheldon-on-homegrowns-and-much-more/?loc=psw Part 2 supposed to run later this week...