The Fire has had the message that they are doing a youth movement, and seems that way with the most recent signings. My question is, how does everyone feel that the signings seem to be mostly international signings as of late and not continue to build within through the academy as Dallas, Philly, and and others have done? I'm not saying it's a bad thing (as long as they pan out)...but just curious if there is a preference how we are getting these young guys on the team.
What is wrong with the academy? I heard Cattenoy came in a few years ago and changed things a bit. Also heard last year's U17 academy team as really good, and good enough to sign 5 HGs last year. Just curious if you can elaborate what needs to get clean up.
Oh, I’m just speculating that after a decade of Hauptman and now a change of ownership, they’ll be revamping things and until they do they will not rely on the academy as much.
Also, no in-house USL options to give these guys minutes (and probably won't be happening until they can get a SSS). Madison and Indy were fine, but probably not as good of a setup as North Texas or NYRB2.
Some general observations from a guy who isn't close to the inner workings of the Academy: - we've had a grand total of 2 HGP become impact players. vast majority have been bit players or busts. so, long term fans are pretty salty there. - given its population base, the floor for Academy teams should be good. expectations and results should be high - signing 5 new HGPs in a year is a shit-ton (Slonina frenzy!, lol). - I'm pretty comfortable that the new regime is going to cultivate the Academy well. Was that a big priority in their first year. No, and rightfully so. - I hope that the braintrust regards the Academy as another source of prospects, and plans to utilize it going forward. As to it becoming the primary source? No chance, IMO. But a significant conduit? Yes, eventually. - NRod/Cakes took a scalpel to the Academy a few years ago
Totally agree. The question is, is the cost of international unknowns worth it versus the cost of cultivating homegrown talent. Look at Aliseda for example...this has been a pretty costly experiment thus far, and his talent shown so far has not been worth what he is being paid.
The fact that there are two other DA clubs in the metro competing with the Fire, and those two are located closer to the traditional youth soccer hotbeds of the Chicago suburbs doesn't help things.
Not going to criticize the braintrust and Joe for going for it. More of the same, please. Are there going to be misses? Sure, goes with the territory. WRT Aliseda, key thing is "so far."
It doesn't, but the list of pros coming out of those 2 clubs over the past 10 years isn't voluminous. Humungous difference between good college player and MLS player (in the top 18, anyway).
Circling back...it's a given that the vast majority of 17-20 yo international prospects are going to be unknowns to not only casual fans, but 95%+ of fanatics too. I'm happy that our scouting department is more than an intern with a crappy PC and Youtube. And then there's the issue of would you rather roll with young, "unknown" players or over the hill, name guys? Obviously, it isn't an exclusive-or, but I'm wholly in favor of a pretty heavy weighting to the kids approach.
I'm not giving up on Aliseda yet -- I think there's a chance he's a contributor not worth a DP spot though articles say he signed through 2023 -- anyone know if any of the later years are option years?
Chicago Fire’s signing of Jhon Jader Duran isn’t just a move for the future. It’s the result of a burgeoning scouting department. ($): https://www.chicagotribune.com/spor...0210113-5z5ua4txlrcvrbvuqttf3jv63u-story.html money quote: “Sebastian is a database,” Heitz said. Sebastian Pelzer, Technical Director.
QFT. After all our years of suffering, it's flipping wonderful to have a committed owner with very deep pockets.
Agreed. I have no idea if Heitz is or isn't going to be a bust, but Mansueto's investments are refreshing.
My man crush on our owner is expanding: https://www.chicagotribune.com/spor...0210114-sy3ohmx7bbhshf6bkmqkhmy3lu-story.html
I've been saying for years to jags like ironyouknowwho that the problem with Andy's cheapness (insolvency?) wasn't a lack of DPs, it was the lack of investment in everything else - the areas that don't have a freaking salary cap are where the owner can make a difference. Any MLS team can finagle an extra DP.
Did I miss something guys? Why do we not have a first round draft pick despite our crappiness last season? https://apple.news/A8nujRXOeSeuerRxBt3bwyw
We traded it for gam money. Chicago Fire FC Acquires $125,000 in General Allocation Money from Colorado Rapids | Chicago Fire FC
College soccer didn't even happen this year. The talent well from the draft gets drier every year but this especially looks to be true this time around.
In all sports the not so smart organizations always call drafts crap shoots the smart ones don't, they pick the right guys that can help.