I would like to know how MLS youth teams are recruiting players and which city is getting the very "best" in the city? What cities do the MLS teams automatically get the best kids and what cities do not?
MLS academy are getting the best player by offering cost free spots in there Development Academy teams. It's simple, free vs. not free. There might be some loyality with some club coaches but ultimately in these economic conditions, the low to non-costs are winning out.
The Dallas Texans are doing the same thing this year so I am wondering how this will play out. I think Colorado Rush and the Chicago Magic are doing the same to compete.
a lot of teams are doing it but just not publisized. Solar SC is picking up the the club fees but travel costs is still on the parents. Ultimately, local clubs can't compete with Pro trainers and facilities.
The Colorado Rapids sure aren't. I am always amazed at how good the Colorado Rush and Real Colorado. FC Dallas has a good team, but as mentioned earlier the Dallas Texans can still compete. Chicago Fire have a good team, but Sockers and Magic are still great teams. Eventually the MLS academies will win out, but it is not going to happen right away. Most academies have been free for maybe 2 years now. I'd give it another 3 years.
Pretty easy to see for yourself just look at US soccer site: http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/Development-Academy/Academy.aspx Most MLS teams are pretty good, but to date have not been as successful as the best non-MLS teams. It is not that surprising as many are pretty recent start-ups and some like Galaxy and New England are barely a year old. Big exception is Colorado which is in the bottom 10%. Where MLS dominates is the USL super20 where every Semi-final team in the playoffs was from MLS.
If MLS academies are already forcing some unaffiliated youth programs to lower fees, that's great news. Even if MLS academies become very efficient, they'll never be able to cover the vast expanse of youth soccer in the US. We need the unaffiliated clubs and the fact that some are already becoming more affordable is good. The results shouldn't matter that much. Of course you don't want to see MLS teams getting totally pasted, but part of the point of the MLS academy system is to create a system where priority #1 is developing players, not winning youth tournaments. So MLS teams not dominating could mean that they are shifting away from the "youth tourny trophies" paradigm of US youth soccer and that's a good thing. It could also mean that unaffiliated club have players who are just as good as those in MLS academies. It's far too early to know.
You are correct. Smart parents will put their kids where the best coaches are. Is the MLS getting the best youth academy coaches? In Houston, they are not.
Gerson Mayen played with the Arsenal youth academy in Altaloma, CA before he joined Chivas USA's youth academy. There are other players as well. I am guessing it depends how far are youth players with the dream of playing pro will take it.
What academies are starting to get the "best" players in the area and taking them from other select clubs?
The only way MLS Academy's will be something to leave your club and play for is when, the USSF/MLS makes a "Major League Soccer Academy". I think that in order for more players to come through the youth systems, the MLS should create a Major League Soccer Academy that would consist of MLS academies, and USL academies equalling up to 40 teams (upon 2012) in the league, and being divided into an A,B,C, and D divisions each consisting of 10 teams that are closey in range (example Toronto FC, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, Columbus Crew, New England, New York Red Bulls, FC New York, Harrisburg City Islanders, Philadelphia Union, and other) thats JUST FOR EXAMPLE! All teams play each other in the group twice and play 5 nter-group fixtures, producing 23 games a season.The winners of each group go into a play-off format like winner of A vs. winner of C, and B vs D. Teams would also play in the SUM cup. I just think this would expose youth players a little bit more, giving them the chance to sign for the First team, or even if they are not deemed to be ready they can go University. This format would create and give a more competitive level of having the best players wanting to playing for professional clubs to showcase their talent in the best youth division in North America. Instead of having proffessional youth teams, playing academy teams, or random club teams.
The Development Academy hardly plays "random club teams" One of those "random club teams" that FC Dallas plays in their Academy division is Dallas Texans who has two players who played in the US U-20 World Cup game vs Cameroon today (Dillon Powers and Jared Jeffrey).
"academy teams, or random club teams" they fall under that statement. Not random. However, what im trying to say is that these players should be in the MLS academy systems. So its a not a question of are they getting the best? It shouldnt be that theres a few players from MLS academy programs. Look at the US-17 squad, and look at all the MLS Academy players there is
That's like saying we have the tallest midgets compared to anyone else. Canada's U-17's got trounced by everyone at the CONCACAF U-17 Championships
theres that red-white-and blue pride AGAIN....instead of looking at what im really trying to say. 4-2 is not trounced. Wasnt that the score of the USA- CAN game pretty horrible that Canada can produce player the way they do considering the fact that the population is a smaller then the state of California, but thats not the point. Its about the academies
Only one problem. Many MLS teams are not among the best. The Rapids teams are actually among the worst. There are many US non-Academy teams better than Rapids. Anyone from Colorado know why their teams have been so poor? Teams like NE had an excuse that they were just starting up last year. The Rapids have been in the program since the beginning.
FCD Juniors just had 2 kids go pro. (Alex Molano and Bryan Levya) And have several kids involved in YNT's (London Woodberry). That should help in the recruiting process.
Thats why I was saying this problem needs to be rectified. Whats the purpose of the SUM Cup, when its possible theres an academy team that can beat a proffessional academy team....doesnt sound right.
Dallas Texans have had quite a few kids go pro also along with a lot of kids on the YNT. Some kids also got to go to ManU to go train. Why should my kid join the FC Dallas Academy when the Dallas Texans have just if good of one if not better?