With the 2020-2021 academy season reaching it’s conclusion we now move to the off-season and prospect movement window Kicking this off is u17 MLS Next playoffs golden boot winner CJ Olney is moving from PDA to Philadelphia Union. CJ won the golden boot while playing up an age group as a 2006 and scored the best goal of the playoffs that I saw in person. CJ can play as a 10 or winger and surely will be part of the YNT pool when they resume full strength camps
A very recognizable name from many years ago on this forum amongst the STL coaches. Their new academy director comes from VFB Stuttgart. You're looking at STL CITY's first Academy coaching hires 💪Our coaches will play a huge role in building our best-in-class system, and developing our U16 & U17 kids as we approach our first @MLSNEXT academy season this fall.🔗 https://t.co/ln7fqsFN5J pic.twitter.com/s01Ozb5d12— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) July 15, 2021
Bryce Jamison, the 2006 who scored the two absolute bangers in the Atlanta “ga cup”, is moving from Atlanta United to Barca AZ for the upcoming season
MLS Academies raided SoCal 07s. Austin FC: Oliver Holt GK from SD Surf, Kian Concepcion from Albion and Finley O'Mahony from SDSC. Houston Dynamo: Ezekiel Soto (Murrieta Surf). RSL: Anthony Ramirez (SDSC) and Ty Rinker (SDSC) Philadelphia Union: Diego Rocio (SDSC) LAG picked up a third 2007 GK, Michael Gale from Albion. Rumor: 2006 GKs Donovan Palorames and Tai Christianson and 2005 Noah Livingston are no longer at LAFC.
If I’m not mistaken, Donovan is a 2004. I also think Tai is going to Irvine Strikers, which is moving from ECNL to MLS Next.
Yeah... you right. My bad, I retyped that part like 6 times so it didn't sound like kids were cut or got angry or whatever... tried to come up with the most neutral I could... haha
Strikers have recruited well across all age groups. Took players from other ECNL teams with them as they move into the MLS Next. I expect them to be in either side of 3-5th in each of their age groups.
My predictions for the 2007s/U15 with notes from their 20-21 season. 1. LAFC: 10-0, including a 5-2 win over LAG. 56 GF, 8 GA 2. Phili: 8-0, 29 GF, 8 GA, Question Mark: did not face the other MLS team in their division (NYRB) in 20-21 but have also strengthened. 3. NYRB: 9-1, 39 GF, 5 GA. 4. LAG, 8-1-1, 44 GF, 15 GA. 9-1-1 with a tournament loss to SDSC 3-2 and PK win over Strikers. 5 FC Dallas: 9-0-2, 33 GF, 7GA including 7-1 over Austin FC and 3-1 over Solar. 6 Sacramento Republic FC: 6-0 2nd in their division on points (less games), below #13 De Anza who they beat 3-1. 29 GF, 3 GA 7 Solar Soccer Club 7-2-2, including 3-1 loss to Dallas 8 Austin FC: 6-4-3, 20 GF, 19 GA, losses to Solar and Dallas FC. Added several new players. 9. : Atlanta United: 8-0-1, 33GF, 11 GA 10. De Anza Force: 7-1-1. 34 GF, 5 GA 11: Inter Miami: 8-1-1. 2-1 loss to Atlanta. 43 GF, 9 GA 12: Cincinnati FC: Note: They have some good results with some decent teams in that division... Chicago Fire, Indiana, St. Louis... seems like that there are challenging games and parity in the MidAmerica results.
FWIW - Charlotte FC has been announcing their academy players and about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of them are coming from Raleigh and NC FC. I can't speak to the quality of any of them, but NC FC (formerly CASL) is one of the better long-standing academies in the southeast and Charlotte FC is able to come in and pilfer a chunk of them with no track record. It shows just the pull of MLS that players would rather commute 2+ hours to play for an MLS Academy than a quality established Academy in the area.
Another headliner academy player move, 2006 midfielder Morris Spaltenstein has left LA Galaxy and joined LAFC. Morris has had some injury issues and physically is a late bloomer but in my opinion is one of the biggest 2006 talents in LA currently
It looks like NCFC is going to begin to seriously recruit outside of the triangle. (I’d imagine to make up for Charlotte FC recruiting out of their academy.) NCFC Youth launches Homestay Program for 2021-2022 NCFC Academy, the program to be the first of its kind in @USLLeagueOne!Full release | https://t.co/eA3vZsxx5c pic.twitter.com/22WiV5QCSA— NCFC Youth (@NCFC_Youth) July 29, 2021
More of this please. The more we can continue to have clubs take this seriously the more players who have a shot at a professional career.
I was always curious about the Homestay Program, but it is fairly simple to set-up as long as you can get the families into the program. Here is Charlotte FC program. The Benefits Monthly stipend of $500-$700 per player 2 tickets per match when the club begins MLS play in 2022 Academic and educational support for every homestay player Connection with Charlotte FC The Expectation The family will welcome the player into their home and coordinate with the player’s family as needed to ensure a smooth transition. The player will have his own room that includes a bed, a desk and chair, sufficient storage space, an internet connection, smoke detector in or by the player’s bedroom, linens/blankets/pillows/towels, laundry facility with detergent, and a bathroom (can be shared) with ample space for toiletries Nutrition is a very important part of these young athletes’ life. The host family will provide balanced meals along with healthy snack options. Nutrition guidelines and support is offered to the host families by the Academy Performance Staff Transportation to and from school, practices and the airport on travel weekends will be provided by the host family. Host families should expect players to practice at least four days a week, and to have games most weekends. (If the player has his own car, it is his responsibility for maintenance, gas and insurance). **Note – you may still apply and be considered if you cannot provide full transportation.** The program is a 10-month commitment, which runs from August through June. Players will return home during winter, easter and summer breaks
.@HolocherPaul, formerly from Quakes Academy, is building quite a team over there at the Dynamo Academy. I'm expecting to see some big results from his work over the next few years. Getting his youngsters engaged heavily in futsal is going to pay off over the next decade, too. https://t.co/Tit2XO3dvM— JMoore Quakes (@JmooreQuakes) August 2, 2021 cmon houston start producing
Houston’s academy is getting better. They still have not integrated academy players well to the first team though. I think Memo Rodriguez is the only one so far.
Indeed. They're making a lot of strides. They're coming. Austin will be coming. Should be fun times down in Texas. Still need that last step of first team integration. .......................and I don't think they've used RGV like we were hoping they would. I was hoping they'd really identify and develop kids in the RGV, an untapped region.
Holocher and the Dynamo are laying the foundation for a real step up in quality. Beyond Futsal they've spent a lot of time integrating the "Soccer Starts at Home" program that Tom Byer presented in Japan. They're getting school districts and other organizations to join the program, which gets parents to work with very young kids with a small ball before they participate in group play (ages 2-5) so that they've already gained some comfort on the ball. We should see the fruits of this program in 5-10 years.