With the signing of Nelson Akwari I started thinking about Project 40. Is it working? Who has graduated from Pro 40 and is making a mark in the league? How is the current crop of Pro 40 players? Also, they call it Project 40 as it is supposed to be for the 40 best players but with the roster limitations it is almost impossible for there to be 40 Pro 40 players in the league. To help the discussion I went on MLSnet and got the current list of Pro 40 players (however accurate it really is). Chicago Fire – Craig Capano Kelly Gray Miguel Saavedra Columbus Crew – Edson Buddle Kyle Martino DC United – Justin Mapp Santino Quaranta NY/NJ Metro Stars – Brad Davis Martin Klinger Nelson Akwari NE Revolution - Shaker Asad Nick Downing Colorado Rapids – Kyle Beckerman Chris Carrieri Seth Trembly Dallas Burn – D.J. Countess Ed Johnson Jordon Stone Kansas City Wizards – Jose Burciaga, Jr. LA Galaxy – Isaias Bardales, Jr. San Jose Earthquakes – Devin Barclay
I've seen all of those players except the guy on the Galaxy (who he?). I'd say it's working quite well, actually. It just needs to be expanded via reserve squads. They are working on it.
Well, define success for P-40. How many players should graduate to full roster status for the program to be successful?
For this discussion why don't we say that success is like beauty - it's in the eyes of the beholder. By that I mean if you think it's a success say so and tell why.
The present crop of Dallas P-40's is pretty strong -- Ed Johnson, DJ Countess, and Jordan Stone all look like they'll become solid MLS players down the road. In the past, though, we haven't exactly had stellar P-40 players on the Burn. Serg Daniv is the only Burn P-40 graduate I'm aware of, and he's never exactly been on everyone's wish list. Other former Burn P-40's include Esmundo Rodriguez (whereabouts unknown) and Miguel Saavedra (now a P-40 with the Fire).
For a truer measure let's start by looking at P40 graduates that recently have represented the US in Korea: From the Fire: Josh Wolff, DaMarcus Beasley Can anyone else chime in with former P40s from their teams?
NE Revolution: Only graduate I know of is Rusty Pierce and although he hasn't been on the national team he is a quality starter in MLS and is improving. I say this even though I think he's a dirty hack.
Injured....probably out the rest of the season. He's the only player on the roster who hasn't stepped on the pitch this season.
Anybody who gets into the Florida camp is a P-40 right? Well Landon Donovan was there and I can't think any greater barometer fo success. Don't forget, we have 14 year old Freddy Adu there. I think P-40 wanted to finf the best soccer players entering high school and then train them year-round and let them goto the school at the same time.
Are you refering to the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida? A lot of P-40 players have trained there at one time or another, but certainly not all players at the academy are P-40.
Scott Bower who is on the injured reserve for the Quakes is P-40 until the end of this season. Then more than likely will be cut or traded. Bobby Convey was P-40.
Here's a link with some info on Project 40's history: http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/default.sps?iTeamID=253
The Galaxy have usually made a mess out of their Pro-40 acquisitions. The list includes Jose Botello, Marvin Quijano, and Isaias "Chi" Bardales Jr.(the jury is still out on him). We did have a kid who showed promise though, but I don't know what became of him. There was a rumor that the player and family did not like Sigi very much. I think his name was DaMarcus Beasley.
Question: how is it decided which P-40 players go to which teams? Draft? Scouting? Central allocation? BTW: As to DMB, I thought the problem was that his family is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and did not want their youngster that far (Los Angeles) from home. Where did you hear that the problem was Sigi?
Brian West and Bobby Convey were P-40s and they are regular starters for their team. I think it is too early to tell if the program is successful or not. Give it till 2010 then we will see.
P-40s go to the team that drafts them now, either through the SuperDraft or one of those weighted lotteries. But the MLS can dictate which team gets a player depending on their age. If a high schooler, a team has to show they have a set-up for living and schooling in place for the player in question. And usually the team has to be close to the player's home town also. If it's a college aged P-40 in question then any team can take him.
I wish I could remember where I read about the Beasley's displeasure with Sigi, but a lot of it stemmed from Sigi's treatment of Jamar when he was coaching the U-20's. I think I read it on a now-defunct internet website.
so far P-40 is producing results. Here at DC Convey and Quaranta are in the program and are bonafide starters and Mapp looks promising as well. With the Bradenton Academy that is for the U-17 team and is run by the Federation, not MLS. Though most of those players go on to sign P-40 contracts. LD was not a P-40 because he signed with Bayer, but the rest of the players on that team were P-40's or went to college. It was a better situation for the players when they had the P-40 team in the A League, but since that was disbanded they sit the bench. Though that is still alot better for their development than playing in college.