|
Post by Futsal Gawdess on Mar 28, 2018 14:56:00 GMT -5
With the MNT playing recently, I thought this was an interesting article on the fact that Tim Weah is first player born in 2000s to play for U.S. men's national soccer team Tim Weah US Men's National TeamCARY, N.C. (AP) — Tim Weah ran onto the field wearing bright orange boots, the first player born in the 2000s to play for the United States. "This is what I've been waiting for my whole life," said the 18-year-old, the son of Liberian President George Weah, the 1995 FIFA Player of the Year. "I'm really appreciative of the chance that the coaching staff has given me, and I'm hoping that I get more call-ups." Weah debuted in the 86th minute, Bobby Wood scored on a penalty kick and the U.S. beat Paraguay 1-0 in a friendly Tuesday night for its first win in three games under interim coach Dave Sarachan. Weah entered in the 86th minute and was pulled down three minutes later by Derlin Gonzalez. Weah made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain on March 3, less than two weeks after his birthday. He played alongside American midfielder Darlington Nagbe, whose father Joe was Liberia's captain and a teammate of George Weah on the national team. Midfielder Marky Delgado and forward Andrija Novakovich — whose family drove 16 hours from Wisconsin for the game — also made their U.S. debuts. Sarachan has given three players debuts in each game since taking over for Bruce Arena, who quit in November after the U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup.
|
|
|
Post by fridge on Mar 29, 2018 10:14:56 GMT -5
This post triggered some thoughts during the aftermath hand wringing of the USMNT not qualifying for the World Cup.
If the average age for a USMNT player is 27, he was born in 1990 and went through U15-18 in 2005-08. DA did not start until 2007. At that time it had 15/16 and 17/18. So, the EARLIEST players coming out of the new system were 1992. I would argue, it takes a few years for any new league to get up and running. So, a fairer measure would be say the 1995 or 96 birth years received the training/development DA intended on implementing. These kids would just be turning 21 and the pipe line is obvously younger.
And so, I would argue that the results of the DA experiment will be known now over the next 8-10 years. The hand wringing for the 2017 USMNT failure requires reflections of what the federation was doing from 1997-2007.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on this theory.
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by gaprospects on Mar 29, 2018 11:14:47 GMT -5
This post triggered some thoughts during the aftermath hand wringing of the USMNT not qualifying for the World Cup. If the average age for a USMNT player is 27, he was born in 1990 and went through U15-18 in 2005-08. DA did not start until 2007. At that time it had 15/16 and 17/18. So, the EARLIEST players coming out of the new system were 1992. I would argue, it takes a few years for any new league to get up and running. So, a fairer measure would be say the 1995 or 96 birth years received the training/development DA intended on implementing. These kids would just be turning 21 and the pipe line is obvously younger. And so, I would argue that the results of the DA experiment will be known now over the next 8-10 years. The hand wringing for the 2017 USMNT failure requires reflections of what the federation was doing from 1997-2007. I'd love to hear some thoughts on this theory. Thanks. This is what I've been saying for some time, people blaming the USMNT's qualifying failure on the DA are either not giving the system long enough to prove itself, or they have a pre-determined anti-USSF agenda (there's a lot of those people). Now, there is a real void of national team-quality players from birth years 1994-1996, when the DA was young and not operating as smoothly as it is now. But 1997-2000 is a very deep player pool, with a lot of DA-trained players breaking through or having already broken through in either MLS or abroad (especially an uptick in European-based players). Look at Pulisic (98), McKennie (98), Adams (99), Weah (00), Sargent (00). And that's only the ones who are breaking through on the senior national team stage as teens, there are lots of others at those ages who will come good with more seasoning. What will be a true test of the DA will be 2022-2026. In 2022, the 2004 age group, which was the first one to take advantage of the DA expansion down to the U12 age group, will be turning 18 and will have certain players breaking through professionally and maybe even the national team stage. These players will be the longest-tenured DA kids ever and theoretically should be the most well-trained. If those kids can be as good or better than the teens we have breaking through now, we'll be in good shape player-wise for a long time.
|
|
|
Post by Futsal Gawdess on Mar 29, 2018 12:47:25 GMT -5
The lucky 2005s who were lucky enough to play with the 2004s during the U12 year will be the longest tenured DA players in history, because the 2004s lost a year with the age mandate.
|
|
|
Post by soccerdaddy on Mar 29, 2018 14:20:11 GMT -5
That’s OK, they were in ODP ;-)
|
|
|
Post by Soccerhouse on Mar 29, 2018 17:26:20 GMT -5
I agree and disagree - at a lot of clubs there is very little difference between DA and what used to be the top team in the age group besides a patch on the sleeve - same coaches same resources same fields they train on. Yes - different balls and some times different competition.
What will make everything better is true competition - Atlanta united needs true competition in this city with another free to play system. Everyone wants to be there and they are lieing if they tell you otherwise. Some realize after they have been there - it’s not right for them, but everyone wants a taste. Not sure if that will ever happen though, would require a mega club with directors willing to not make 200,000 a year. Would be great to see super talented kids remain with the UFA and Concordes and to be given the incentive to remain. UFA could create something super special with their nice complexes and future growth and complexes. Embrace it and create your own player pathway!!
|
|
|
Post by Futsal Gawdess on Mar 29, 2018 18:22:33 GMT -5
I was just discussing this with other parents yesterday during practice. I wish US Soccer would just handle the travel portion. I truly believe that would change the landscape of things. Much as we don't like to say it, the travel cost is a factor. I believe most families who already pay for regular academy fees can take on the added burden of increased fees for DA. The travel portion is where the separation begins.
|
|