That would be nice. I seem to remember hearing that the limit was 5 games as justification for why Danny Acosta didn't spend more time with the Monarchs in 2015. Speaking of Ledezma, he's been called into U20 YNT camp, along with Glady Mendoza and David Ochoa. Tab apparently likes him a lot. He'll have a good shot at making the U20 WC roster if he's played at CM, as Durkin and Adams are unlikely to be available. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...-to-honduras-for-two-matches-vs-los-catrachos
Last report is that Booth was acquiring an Italian passport and signing with Bayern Munich. It's been quiet on that front for a few months, but I assume that's still happening.
Good question. He was listed as "Unattached" on the most recent U19 YNT roster. He's not playing with RSL academy teams or Bayern academy teams. Maybe he's training in Germany under the radar a bit? My best guess is that he's just spending time with the YNTs for a bit while working through the passport process. Hasn't been any solid news for a while.
Nice article from Sam Stejskal writing on MLS Soccer's website about competition between clubs for academy prospects.
Long form piece about Richie Ledezma. Seems ever more likely that we may need to fight to sign Ledezma, similar to Booth.
can't wait to have to buy him back from a big club like we did Lennon and will likely have/get to do with Booth
And now Brian Sciaretta interviews Sebastian Soto. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when RSL talks over homegrown contracts. If we lose Booth, Soto, and Ledezma in the span of a year, that's awful. "I’ll always have my heart with RSL but in the end of the day it’s whatever makes the most sense for me and my career.”
if only we had some way to combat this... Then of course, there is Real Salt Lake where he has been the standout of the Development Academy. He is still not signed to a homegrown deal and there is a chance that as he continues to rise internationally at the youth levels, European or Mexican teams could swoop in.
There was a really good thread on twitter I read the other day about how European clubs view "young" players vs how the US does. The user handle is @Kephern_Fuller. Go check it out. Biggest takeaway from there that relates to here: "...the difference between US youth compared to EU... can't believe at 18 we call them kids... our youth are 4 years behind in maturity in most cases"
Three RSL-AZ players on the latest U18 YNT roster - Erwin Martinez, Luis Arriaga, and Julian Vasquez. This looks like a B team for Namazi to find a few players who can contribute, not his first-choice squad. I believe it's the first YNT involvement for Martinez and Vasquez, and Arriaga's first involvement in a while.
In 2007 (can’t believe it’s been this long) one of my sons and I were on our way to the BayArena in Leverkusen to witness a match. On the long walk from the banhof to the stadium we took time to watch several youth matches. The matches were completely different than what we were used to ( my son was a Utah youth player at the time ). The Bundesliga game was different from MLS in that it was quickly up and down throughout the match. There were no slow build ups. I realize that I have diverged from the topic. However,I think the nugget is that in the USA we about 4 years behind European, and I assume, South American maturity. The root cause is, IMO, our focus on “winning” at the youth level as opposed to skill development.
Red alert. Ledezma trialing with PSV Eindhoven: Morgen twee nieuwe gezichten bij Jong #PSV, dat het oefenseizoen om 13.00 opent op De Herdgang, tegen Jong FC Utrecht. Naast Charaf Taoualy (19) is ook Amerikaans jeugdinternational Richard Ledezma (17) van de partij. Beide spelers hopen een contract te verdienen.— Rik Elfrink (@RikElfrink) July 6, 2018
In less sad news, 4 RSL academy players made the best XI at the end of the year. It's the usual suspects - Ledezma, Soto, Ochoa, and Mendoza. And finally, the best of the west! Say hello to your West Conference Best XI ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/e0QhtFfNFX— Development Academy (@ussoccer_da) July 8, 2018 It doesn't look like any of the 4 are on the cusp of first-team deals, however. Mendoza tore his ACL and will likely miss his freshman year. Soto is pretty set on going to Berkeley at least one season, Ledezma has a foot out the door, and Ochoa is the youngest of the 4.
RSL's homegrowns are getting a lot of playing time but none of them are under the age of 20. Why haven't they signed any '98 or '99s? It's like all they did was just sign players from the team that made it to the final of the GA Cup a few years ago.
well RSL's roster is full and we don't have a second team to go out signing these players... wait, what was that?
And there goes Soto: CONFIRMED: Sebastian Soto was on trial with Borussia Monchengladbach last month, scored a goal in a U19 friendly. https://t.co/mOJq9IYY5r— scuffed (@scuffedpod) July 11, 2018 Brian Sciaretta's follow up tweet says he's working with Rob Moore as an agent, which means he's headed to Europe.
I hope he makes it at BMG but it sucks that RSL is losing these young talented players. They need to start offering the players more money or something.