Compare To Europe !

Discussion in 'College & Amateur Soccer' started by European16, Mar 3, 2006.

  1. European16

    European16 New Member

    May 30, 2004
    Koln
    What league in Europe would you compare D1 college soccer in America to?

    i think
    -Germanys 3rd league
    -Belgium?holland - 2nd league ?
    nordic coutries?
     
  2. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Too much variance in the level of play in DI soccer to make an accurate comparison.

    I'd venture to say the ACC or Big Ten is a lot closer to the levels you mentioned than, say, the Atlantic Sun or America East etc. conferences.

    I'd say the better college programs are on about the level of the reserve teams of the Championship League in England. However, the Euro teams have a lot more depth and better quality from top to bottom, though some of the college teams might have one or two players who are better than most of the reserve level and lower division players.
     
  3. European16

    European16 New Member

    May 30, 2004
    Koln
    ya good point

    so what would you compare the "ACS" to ?
     
  4. finalball

    finalball New Member

    Jan 17, 2006
    College players are allowed 144 days to train and compete (25 games). Compared to an unlimited amount of games and training in europe.

    There is no comparison.
     
  5. European16

    European16 New Member

    May 30, 2004
    Koln
    so what, you can still compare:rolleyes:
     
  6. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    It's "ACC". If I had to pick a league for comparison, it would probably be mid-League 1 in England, or lower.
     
  7. ohyeah

    ohyeah New Member

    Nov 10, 2005
    ARE you high?? --not one college team in the USA that compares to any level in the UK---not even Conference........if the best D1 college team play a mid level Conference team they would lose 4-0, or worse...................
     
  8. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    Mid League 1 or lower for the ACC is a fair comparison. I don't think the likes of Tranmere, Swindon, Yeovil, Hartlepool and MK Dons would routinely steamroll most of the ACC.
     
  9. SHAFC

    SHAFC New Member

    Dec 27, 2005
    IMO - The good D1 teams would compare with lower level Academy teams. In other words, good D1 teams would be worthy opponents for "Tranmere's, Swindon's, Yeovil's, Hartlepool's and MK Dons' Academy or youth teams. That's comparing like with like.

    Saying that D1 teams could compete against fully fledged professionals (even at the lower level) in England :eek: shows a lack of understanding of the level of play .... but that's just my opinion
     
  10. DixieDean

    DixieDean New Member

    Jun 4, 2004
    Nassau, Bahamas
    Reading this post makes me think you've never actually seen conference level football. Players at NCAA d1 schools are there because of age and for an education. Players in the conference and below are there for one reason: they aren't very good.
     
  11. European16

    European16 New Member

    May 30, 2004
    Koln
    i no that but theres a divion called the ACS too.

    i dont know but D1 schools could keep in like austrias 2nd league i think...?
     
  12. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    Perhaps, but I don't think so, especially if you're talking about ACC programs and comparing overall regimens. These are teams with a preponderance of players in the 19-21 year old range (older than League 1 academy players), who are mentally and athletically more mature, are bigger on average, and with far better facilities and physical training regimens.

    Add to it that these are teams that are optimized to play 20 plus (very physical) games in basically 10 weeks, with most games over a two day weekend span, which is a significantly more aggressive schedule than the aforesaid League 1 teams are even capable of (they need 3 days/week just to dry out).

    Oh, and for what it's worth, you might also might compare the number of former D1 college players now in MLS, and on the USMNT (in the FIFA Top 10 last I looked), against the number of League 1 players currently playing for England.
     
  13. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    Never heard of it.
     
  14. SHAFC

    SHAFC New Member

    Dec 27, 2005
    You make some very valid points. Older players (mentally/athletically more mature), more aggressive schedule, better facilities .... agreed. they need 3 days/week just to dry out :rolleyes: I don't know what you mean (cough, cough)

    Maybe if I rephrase my statement and say 'the Academy teams would be worthy opponents for the D1 teams' ... would you buy that?

    The former D1 in MLS/USMNT statement is a little lost on me. Most of the better players are going to go from high school to D1 colleges; the best then go on to the MLS and then of course ultimately play for the national team.
    BTW I happen to believe England are better than USMNT, so you may know where I'm going with this. I can't think of any League One players that play for the England team, but how many ex-D1 college players would be good enough to play for England? In my book a couple of keepers, but that's it. (Cue lots of stick ;) )

    Back to my original point, Academy X versus NCAA D1 X would be a decent match.
     
  15. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Not in Division I.

    There are two conferences abbreviated ASC, the Atlantic Soccer Conference and the Atlantic Sun Conference, but none whose initials are ACS.

    For the record, neither of the ASCs are anywhere near the level of European leagues mentioned above. Very few, if any, pro prospects in these conferences and the teams don't tend to do much on a national stage in college soccer. I wouldn't expect them to compare to favorably to a Euro league, even a low one.

    Here's a link with a list of all 23 NCAA DI men's soccer conferences.

    http://soccerratings.com/
     
  16. European16

    European16 New Member

    May 30, 2004
    Koln
    oops thats what i ment, sorry:)

    well i dont know Longwood University is actually pretty good in that conference. They only lost 2-0 to North Carolina.

    how good can switzerlands, austrias and belgiums 2nd leagues be?
     
  17. ossieend

    ossieend New Member

    Apr 3, 2005
    derby u.k.
    Surely D1 college teams have to be compared with academy teams in places like England. The parallel being age. Tell me are many of the coaches ar D1 teams former pros in the leagues in Europe and SA? Because that's the playing experience of academy coaches over here. Our kids have the advantages of working pretty closely 'ish' with top pros at their clubs. However, considering some of the stories in the papers this may be a distraction from the job of becoming a player.
    All things considered, the only comparison which is fair is between D1 and academy players of similar ages. Also bear in mind that certain proteges eg. Adu or Nyatanga are playing first team soccer whilst still in their mid teens.
     
  18. numerista

    numerista New Member

    Mar 21, 2004
    In case you missed Dsocc's post, the ages are not parallel.

    When guys arrive in D1 from abroad, such as Joe Vide from 1860 Munich, Brian Mascarenhas from Spurs, the kid at Penn from PSG, these are players who have already finished academy soccer. What's more, a kid like Vide must've been one of the best players in 1860's academy, because they offered him a pro contract.

    The idea like 1860's academy team is comparable to UVa? It's laughable.
     
  19. ohyeah

    ohyeah New Member

    Nov 10, 2005
    What?--I have not only seen Conference I had a trial--I also played D1 and played and started for 4 years........Conference is light years ahead of D1--I stand by my statement and challenge any person to prove otherewise.....by the way the arguement that if you play Conference you are not good is insane-they are paid pros---are players in A or Double A baseball no good as well?---think before you type...........
     
  20. MrSangster

    MrSangster Member

    Feb 16, 1999
    Duxbury,MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
  21. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    I'd throw in Paul Stalteri, who played at Clemson before winning the double with Werder Bremen and is now with Tottenham.

    And ex-Evansville star David Weir is the Everton captain and played in a World Cup for Scotland.

    And while he didn't play for England, ex-Howard GK Shaka Hislop was called up by the English for a couple of friendlies. After the snub, he eventually accepted a call-up from T&T and he'll play for them in the WC this summer.

    The high end of talent on the college teams is what separates it from lower division sides. Sure, players 9-10-11 on a lower level English team are probably better than players 9-11 on a good D-I team.

    But the best players on the likes of UCLA, Maryland, Indiana or Virginia are better than the top players on the lower division sides.
     
  22. finalball

    finalball New Member

    Jan 17, 2006
    A better and more relevant question would be, "What level/league in Europe would you compare the MLS too?"

    A full MLS side would absolutely spank any ACC squad if both were in mid-season form.
     
  23. SHAFC

    SHAFC New Member

    Dec 27, 2005
    (At the risk of going off on a tangent from the original question).

    I think Claudio Reyna is the pick of the bunch (3) you mentioned (afterall, he is a bit of a 'Mr.College Soccer'. Didn't he win just about every college award imaginable?).

    Anyway, who would he play infront of for the English national team?

    For what it's worth, I rate Claudio Reyna as a very good player.
     
  24. warthogfutbal

    warthogfutbal New Member

    Mar 2, 2006
    I don't think you can compare - too many variables to be factored in.

    But I'll offer this, more so from my nephew's point of view.

    England’s League 2 has 24 teams in it.

    In January I saw Peterborough vs Bury, 4-1 Peterborough was the final result. Peterborough was by far the stronger side. Peterborough is currently 6th; Bury is currently 18th. My teenage nephew plays regularly for Bury this season. According to the relatives, the disparity in league play is significant.

    This same teenage nephew played sporadically in the PDL during 2003 & 2004, from which he received offers to play D1 ACC.

    I’m familiar with ACC D1 programs. The disparity in conference play is evident, and there is disparity within each program player to player. The disparity is based on (IMO) a lack of depth in individual skill and experience, more so when you get past the top 5 players per team, ACC wide, at least that's my perception. No disrespect intended.

    Personally, I don’t see any current or past ACC D1 program standing up to the likes of a Bury over a full season – maybe over an abbreviated season the results would be less predictable, more favourable to an NCAA based side.

    I think finalball’s comment,
    A better and more relevant question would be, "What level/league in Europe would you compare the MLS too?" would lead to a more fairer or balanced device to measure levels of competition.
     
  25. European16

    European16 New Member

    May 30, 2004
    Koln
    so your saying some D1 teams could do "OK" in some weaker leagues in Europe?
     

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