Couldn't find an appropriate thread to talk about this kid, so thought we might as well start a new one. I just think we're gonna be talking about him for quite a while. A few weeks ago we learned from TDS and other sources a while ago that Raheem Taylor-Parkes of the US U14 national team (and Brandon FC in Florida) had a trial/training session at Arsenal. Now according to TDS, http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club...spects:-arsenal-eyes-u14-bnt-forward_aid24306 “Raheem has done very well for himself at Arsenal,” Wallen told TopDrawerSoccer.com over email. “He has proven to the technical staff that he can play among their best U15 players, and even standout in certain areas. “His pace and general enthusiasm are his biggest assets, and all parties agree that a young player with Raheem's natural ability would benefit tremendously from early exposure to the elite European environment.” The U.S. youth international is obviously thrilled with the prospect and the feedback he received from the club’s coaches.“The technical staff said they liked my technical ability, speed, and aptitude to learn from the coaches,” Taylor-Parkes said. “Arsenal and Pro-Goals Sports are trying to work out a deal to keep me there on a permanent basis.” Oh, and just to make you unneccessarily nervous..............the kid was born in Canada, and his mother is Jamaican. Obviously a case of a kid that in theory could play for multiple national teams.
Yeah he cant stay in england without EU passport and parents move to England. Plus u can only sign a contract outside country origin when 18yrs. Sorry to redundant.
The most important thing I have learned in this thread is not to hire delonproductions for my soccer video needs.
It seems Raheem Taylor-Parkes was called to Canada's U-17 team: http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-m17-heads-to-usa-panama-for-november-camp-p152598 Looks like a quality player that Canada desperately needs.
As a Canadian supporter, it's nice to see. As a Canadian supporter, we acknowledge anyone with real talent will turn their back on us when a better option comes along, they always do. In any event, our youth teams are very strong now.
I mean, 8 of the 22 players on that U17 roster play on mediocre (Montreal) to poor (Vancouver) U16 DA teams. Maybe I'm being a little too nice to Montreal and a little to harsh on Vancouver given the difference in strength of schedule, but nothing about that roster screams very strong. If 8 of the 22 players on the US roster were from Cal Odyssey and Seacoast United I'd feel the same.
Youth team(s). Not singular, plural. In any event, I think this youth team will perform well. No one is very concerned at how well their clubs are doing in the USSDA. That's not an indication of overall individual skill as we have often seen. Kianz Gonzales Froese plays for the "poor" WhiteCaps. He regularly started u23 pdl games for the club this year and had a training stint with Mainz in Germany last year. I'd take him over most players from "good" USSDA teams. Hopefully they can emulate our other youth teams who play for crap teams and either beat or tie the U.S.
Youth team(s). Not singular, plural. In any event, I think this youth team will perform well. No one is very concerned at how well their clubs are doing in the USSDA. That's not an indication of overall individual skill as we have often seen. Kianz Gonzales Froese plays for the "poor" WhiteCaps. He regularly started u23 pdl games for the club this year and had a training stint with Mainz in Germany last year. I'd take him over most players from "good" USSDA teams. Hopefully they can emulate players for our other youth teams who play for crap teams and have beaten or drawn the U.S over the last 1-2 years with different age levels.
It seems RTP is now playing for TFC academy and was just at another Canadian national team youth camp.
Interesting tug of war going on. Seems like he's recently accepting both US AND Canadian callups to their national youth camps, now its a tug of war between Toronto's MLS professional fulltime residential academy vs. USSF Bradenton Federation residential youth academy. Which one do you pick?
This kid aside, I'm more bothered that the USSF is continuing throwing money at the residency program. That said, if they're gonna do it, I hope they leave kids with MLS academies there and just focus on non-MLS academy kids, particularly those who aren't from MLS markets. If they want to load up on kids from the Southeast and St. Louis and the border areas and the upper Midwest, fine. But leave the kids who have a chance to be in a pro set-up alone.
For the chance to gain international success - the USA, by a country mile. For the chance to play a prominent role in a program pretty quickly - Canada. The CSA technical director recently said the new initiative at the CSA is to have youth players play 90 international games before reaching the senior team. However, the TFC academy is really, really nice. They have the nicest facilities in MLS, and is a pretty good program Recently, two former TFC academy players signed pro contracts with EPL and Laliga teams (obviously the senior team is a whole different story). Who knows, RTP probably has family in both places, and his family might be the determinative factor.
MLS academy because the ceiling is higher that residency and you get to live a normal life and develop. If he is good he will train with olders which will challenge him. No need to enter residency 2 years before WC. ask wesley wade he will give scoops on that.
For those players that's coming from an inferior training environment Residency is a viable alternative. If you have any opportunity to play and train with professionals, it's a no brainer. And, you are right two years away from WC and he's already in a professional environment no need to rush into Coach Williams tutelage. If he's that good he should be invited to a majority of the international trips and then be part of the mix in the last semester before WC.