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Post by Soccerhouse on Jun 7, 2017 9:34:44 GMT -5
Any truth to rumors of Atlanta United keeping a 2002 team with kids to keep them in the "system" ?
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Post by bill02381 on Jun 7, 2017 9:46:57 GMT -5
100% true. They will be playing national league instead of in the DA.
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Post by gaprospects on Jun 7, 2017 10:07:45 GMT -5
It looks likely. The website lists a standalone U16 team as part of the academy. www.atlutd.com/academy/open-id-tryoutsI would expect a handful of 02's to go straight into the U17 DA team, since right now they don't have nearly enough 01's to fill a whole roster. An 02 team gives AU a pool of potential DP's for the U17's, plus it gives them more room to take in players from teams like the GAU 02's. With USL coming soon, AU is going to start promoting their best players through their system much more quickly, so I'd expect the players rostered on this new National League team will get plenty of chances to play with the DA team.
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Post by infoguy on Jun 7, 2017 10:30:59 GMT -5
USL?
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Post by gaprospects on Jun 7, 2017 11:33:12 GMT -5
USL is a professional league below MLS in the pyramid (if you can call it a pyramid). It is made up of 30 teams, 12 of which are the reserve teams of MLS clubs. The expectation is that Atlanta United intends to create a reserve team in this league, most likely starting next season. MLS teams generally have four types of players on these USL reserve rosters: 1) First team players who aren't getting playing time in MLS and need minutes 2) Regular professional players, usually recent college graduates or guys who have been playing in the lower levels in the US for some time 3) Their own academy products who are signed to professional contracts, but don't have room for in the first team (yet) 4) Current academy players who are on "academy contracts," which allow the player to get professional experience without ending their NCAA eligibility The expectation is that AU will be taking their most promising kids from their U17 and U19 teams and signing them to either pro deals or academy deals with this USL team. This will trickle down through the academy, leaving more opportunities for U17 players to play up with the 19's, and in turn, chances for NL 02's to play with the U17's.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Jun 7, 2017 16:14:06 GMT -5
From what I hear it is true and so is the goal of owning and running a USL team. Ultimately, the goal is to go away from the restrictive DA format and follow the likes of Toronto FC where they have a Youth Academy at every age that is free to play both DA and non DA teams.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jun 7, 2017 16:57:36 GMT -5
Seems to make a ton of sense, and given the early success of both the 2 older age groups and the fact they are bringing in kids from the entire southeast, not sure how many non MLS clubs will be able to keep up. I think you will see teams give them a game here or there, by packing it in, but they will consistently overwhelm most of the southeast teams by sure athleticism and talent regardless of tactics.
If people haven't not seen or witnessed high level youth soccer in person, I highly recommend you do -- it puts a lot of things in perspective, a lot!! You can observed players that are truly special vs just average. Not saying all the players at the highest age groups are truly special and I'm not saying all the others are average, but most have a unique combination of size and speed, and pure athleticism that make them extremely difficult to deal with.
Very few players have it all when it comes to the complete package of (i'm sure I've left off a few) soccer iq technical ability quick feet tactical awareness athleticism speed quickness physicality and/or physical presence (size) work ethic coachable
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Jun 8, 2017 9:49:43 GMT -5
Sticking with AU, I'm curious as to where the boys that were not "retained" end up? Will they go to their previous soccer homes or will they coalesce at one club? In the case of the 2003s it would be great if they all chose to tryout at UFA/CF and build a team that would take on the new 2003s for AU much like the 2002s for GA United did this past season.
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Post by footballer on Jun 8, 2017 10:36:14 GMT -5
Sticking with AU, I'm curious as to where the boys that were not "retained" end up? Will they go to their previous soccer homes or will they coalesce at one club? In the case of the 2003s it would be great if they all chose to tryout at UFA/CF and build a team that would take on the new 2003s for AU much like the 2002s for GA United did this past season. They will probably go to the closest club....They all probably do not live within the same zipcode....some may avoid DA entirely because they feel that they regressed playing DA.
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Post by sleepdreamlivesoccer on Jun 8, 2017 10:46:24 GMT -5
Will be interesting -- I know the word has spread throughout the soccer community about how many 2003s were cut from AU. Many were not happy with the coaching they received on that team from what I hear.
But, I've also heard the same was true for the GA United 2003s. Many were not happy with the coaching there as well, and from what I've heard they are blowing that team up as well as they transition to UFA.
Will be very interesting to see where the GA United 2002s land -- how many end up at Atlanta United on the 01/02 team, how many on just the non-DA 02 team, and how many on the UFA 02 team. And I'm sure a few went to concorde as well to tryout for their 01/02 DA team.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jun 8, 2017 19:23:22 GMT -5
How does it work for the showcases - do kids typically blow them off if They have been cut from the team at tryouts?
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