I don’t disagree with that, but getting an angry teen into a u16 setup is one thing but promising full national team caps to an even a supremely gifted 17yo defender is something else and would mark an incredible recruiting escalation
Of course we have media spewing this nonsense.... Re: Araujo: Playing with the U-23 team when you're 17 is about as fast-tracked as you can get by a federation. Even more so than playing for the U-20 team while playing up an age group. It's July. He was on a major US YNT roster in June. I can't justify calling that"ignored" https://t.co/BZeHQovLvL— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) July 31, 2019
Brian is right, this is happening with pomykal too. It’s a broader failure to adapt to changing times that’s exacerbated when you have dual nationals being courted by regimes that get that
I don't think anyone is talking about full national team caps on either side. Nothing has leaked about Mexico promising anything. All we know is he hasn't heard from Egg or anyone on the senior side. He has heard from Mexico's Earnie Stewart. We continue to hear "ALL IS WELL", like we didn't just see something kinda similar happen with Jon Gonzalez two years ago. The fact he ain't great now is beside the point. If the kid wants to play for Mexico, he can come out and say that. But the fact not one person from US Soccer senior side has even touched base with him is ridiculous. Some of you want to compare a few convos/texts to promising someone 15 years of starting gigs, MB style. I've heard some say "ohhh, if he wants to leave, leave, there's nothing a text can do!" But if you follow any college recruiting, texts and convos are basically the entire sales pitch (minus the obvious illegal payments). Kids this age are fragile, and you need to develop relationships. In my opinion, Egg and his staff should be reaching out to basically every young talent in the pool. These guys coach like 3 months out of the year, if that. I don't care if he's playing up an age group, or was with the U23s. It takes 5 minutes a week to let this kid know you're following him, and that you're interested in his development. It's unreal that this keeps on happening (and apparently Mexico is working on Llanez now too?).
Yep, was just referencing those tweets in my last post. The amount of time defending coaches for not sending a text is unbelievable. People are comparing this to cutting off a pinky finger. OHHHHH, a text, it won't do anything, it's not important, if he doesn't want the US team let him go! It's a freaking text! It's a 5 minute phone call! How lazy are we? I don't care if he switches anyway, as long as effort is put in to making these kids feel like they are connected to the senior program!
The arrogance is incredible. It is like that dont realize we arent that good at this sport and need every bit of help we can get. You obviously know how these types of arguments morph when something happens. That tweet could easily swap Jona Gonzalez a couple of years ago. "He is definitely with us" to "we dont need him, we have Tyler Adams". Of course, TA gets injured and we are stuck with Bradley in the GC because the only other option on the bench is Trapp.
"Well, I've been on the U-15, U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams, but since I'm 18 now and haven't gotten a phone call from the USMNT head coach, I think I'll go with the country of my parents' birth because USSoccer clearly doesn't want me."
What about someone who has said he's open to representing us or Mexico, and has only heard from Mexico? You, and others obsessed with the extraordinary efforts required to text and place a phone call, don't get that these guys aren't "firmly entrenched" in anything. They have options, and are open to exploring them. They are also teenagers. Can you name one successful college program that refuses to recruit?
Can you name one successful (or unsuccessful, I don't care which) college program that has U-15,-17, and -20 teams to initiate, train and draw players from before they get to college?
True, such an amazing recruiting move that 3 months later he says "nobody has reached out to me from the US Senior team, I'm open to playing for either country".
If 3 months later, Araujo is cool with switching then he wasn't all that committed. I could understand Gonzalez switching to get a chance to go to the '18 WC, though. The Alvarez and Aruajo situations come across as being that of involving players who weren't all that committed to the US program in the first place. I'll only be annoyed if they go on to become UCL ballers.
Great reason to switch with another major tournament coming up. A 17 y/o didn't get to play in the U20 World Cup. I hope he doesn't feel that entitled.
You are recruiting a generation that can't put their phones down for 10 minutes. They are also in constant contact with everyone they know in the world. Not taking advantage of this is pretty foolish, if true.
Don't bring logic into this! Anyways, if I recall correctly, emotion does play into decisions by very young men. But that was a long time ago for me, so maybe the memory fails. But it makes sense to take a little time to stroke young egos, reassure them, groom them, get them excited, grow their attachments... especially if the cost is low.
Except this happens ALL the freaking time in college sports. You recruit till the final LOI is signed and the prospect is locked in PERIOD. They are 18, exactly, and they are just like College Football and Basketball Prospects. They expect to be shown love, they expect to not be taken for granted, and it costs <expletive> NOTHING to do this, and it can cost an absolute ton not to do it. Can we get this through our heads yet. Guys keep acting like its the freaking 1990's. It isn't, it's 2020 in a couple freaking months. Get w/the program. You trust the way these fools do things? These idiots couldn't figure out how to finish in fourth place in a two team race. We already know Rongen flat out lied about visits, the same idiot who cost us Subotic, we already know that we have loads of people not even attending Allianza showcases via Rothernberg's freaking son, by decree. Now we've got visits and conversations w/top officials for Mexico going on with multiple starters on our quarterfinalist U20 team and our most talented U17 as well, and while the roof's collapsing all around us we keep getting, "all fine, nothing to see here," drivel like it's some ridiculous sketch out of Monty Python or Airplane. Pick up the damn phone and use it, clowns.
I sense that a few posters are stretching my and others' (@Sebsasour, specifically) comments that have f*ck all to do with cell phones and texting and anything like that as a defense of the lack of sending a simple text message on the regular. I haven't said shit about that. I think you and others are right about the texts and whatnot. It's so frickin' easy to do, just do it. Earnie and Gregg and Gregg's however many assistants surely aren't too busy studying film and discussing tactics and figuring out who to scout in person to do some basic low-level communication regularly with a few dozen (at most) young up-and-comers.
It's very simple, and it comes down to two camps - 1. One group thinks we should do as much as possible to keep all talented players committed to our program, which includes electronic communication if necessary. 2. The other group thinks these kids should be committed to us, and if they aren't, c'est la vie, and good riddance. Anything the US program has already done (calling a player up to U20 WC) is enough, despite said player implying he isn't too happy without anyone talking to him, and saying that he's open to either team. Obviously, i think Group 2 has a real weird idea of things, but if the USSF can do no wrong in their minds (and literally can't do any better in this case), that's not going to change.
I think it's less about method of communication but rather that the dual prospect feels at least as welcome and wanted by our program at all times as compared to other programs. In this particular instance, Mexico raised the bar by having their Executive Director visit the Galaxy and talk to eligible players. If that's the bar, then Earnie should be doing the same. Quite frankly, I don't see a lot of effort required as I assume he watches a lot of games in person. On the other hand, I have no idea what Earnie actually does.