NYCFC announced that they will be creating an entire academy league with their 11 youth affiliate teams. This seems like it has the potential to be huge for them and will help distinguish themselves from the red bulls. Thoughts? Link: NYCFC Academy League
Much of it will depend on how they execute, but I am expecting big things from this set-up! With such a massive population in the tri-state metro area, the opportunity is massive. We have seen such a low amount of quality talent coming from this region, hopefully this type of set-up will change that.
That's.....a pretty brilliant idea. More smart decisions like this moving forward, and less ridiculous, silly, boneheaded ones would do them a world of good.
At the age groups they're talking about (9-11) what does running your own league buy you in terms of development? Easier to keep an on eye the teams?
We can talk about their stadium issues and Lampard, but the one thing I've been confident about NYCFC is their commitment to youth development. Something different and needed for MLS and American soccer overall. Ferran Soriano is the Global Technical Director for CFG and I'd expect some very high level coaches (and teaching for NYCFC's affiliate coaches) for NYCFC's academy when it's launched.
Not just keeping an eye on the teams, but also tying a large pool of players to the NYCFC USDA team rather than leaving them "in the wild" where the Red Bulls could potentially grab them.
Well, if they do it right, it will allow them to partner with established organizations who know their communities. If NYCFC provides additional support such as financial, travel and access to world-class coaching and training of coaches, this could make this a great foundation to a youth academy, which will likely incorporate the more elite players from this league. Had they not set this system up, these organizations likely would have been competing with NYCFC instead of cooperating.
I understand the need for having affiliates, that's not what's new here, tons of teams have various affiliates. The new thing in this announcement is that all the affiliates are playing in a new league together, and that's what i'm trying to figure out what that actually means.
It sounds like they're trying to create not just one academy, but many. http://www.nycfc.com/post/2015/02/0...ce-ground-breaking-youth-development-league-1 I get the feeling nycfc has more control over the day to days of these teams than a typical affiliation would bring.
Pretty much. But it will also have some pretty big benefits for NYCFC. While the cream of the crop will likely go to MCFC, there are going to be a lot of players below MCFC level of play, but still in NYCFC's.
wouldn't that have been the case for any youth players in the NYCFC pool? MLS embracing a dream of being AA isn't exactly new with this.
Except of course when MLS becomes a top league in the world by 2024 (or whatever it's supposed to be) and this academy will encompass the Man City youth pool.
I'd imagine it would be easier for kids in this academy system to eventually sign with MLS rather than to get the necessary WPs and such to sign with MCFC. This is good business for all involved (hopefully).