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Post by guerillaman on Jun 23, 2019 9:29:45 GMT -5
I follow Soccerhouse on twitter and one of his recent tweets caught my attention -- It seems Atlanta United's academy doesn't care about winning........unless they win...... AU's 17s the past 2 years won and lost in the finals for the academy playoffs -- did not get out of group play this year. This years squad just isn't as strong as in the past and I'd are argue many more special individual players on UFA then AU. I do know a few kids turned them down for next season as well to stay at UFA. Even with TA taking them over mid season, they got way to may ties vs wins and just never turned the corner. The 19s won the southeast division in year 1 (2016-2017) and entered the playoffs with the number 1 seed. Didn't get out of group play Won the southeast division in year 2 (2017-2018) and didn't get out of group play. Same was true this year, they tied first game and then lost next 2 - they brought a few of their USL players with them as well, so it wasn't a light roster. The 19s seem to historically whip on the teams in the southeast and teams that they clearly just have more talent then, but when matched up against squads on an equal talent level -- they lose. Is it coaching? Is it we don't care about results? Is it we don't care about the team but the individual? Do they not care about the playoffs? If not what's the point of even playing? Do you see any of the current homegrowns ever having an impact with the first team? Goslin? Castro? Carleton? Conway? Okonkwo? Kunga? Either way -- Concorde and UFA making it to the quarterfinals is an impressive accomplishment -- Soccerhouse worded it in a tweet, given the current landscape of youth soccer, its very impressive to have 2 teams from the ATL still alive. Granted -- the next games will be very difficult for both. |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jun 23, 2019 9:51:17 GMT -5
The AU 19s conceded 10 goals in the DA playoffs, that total is 2nd worse, the worst was Crew SC academy with 11.
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Post by GameOfThrow-ins on Jun 23, 2019 10:24:14 GMT -5
While some think MLS academies want to create their own league or DA tier for better competition, the truth is playing non-MLS sides is a no-win situation for them. This is a reason they play kids up AND down all over the place - so it won’t seem like they’re focused on results (unless they win something, of course). It’s only going to get worse for MLS academy sides with monopolized geographic recruitment areas going away as early as this summer and the new requirement that all players must sign solidarity agreements will keep the truly talented (and smart) players away so their prospects of playing abroad do not get impacted by it.
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Post by blu on Jun 24, 2019 6:54:05 GMT -5
I don't follow the AU academy but it sounds like the other teams have been playing as a group all year and AU tried to insert some good players into their lineup. Takes time for teams to gel and understand each other, perhaps that is what happened.
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Post by justwatching on Jun 24, 2019 7:39:24 GMT -5
Focusing training for players to be individual good players hinders your chances to have a superior team. Even with the best players (assuming ATL United has the overall better players in the area) if not trained to be a good team they won't beat a well coached team that plays as a team and has been together consistently. I know I have talked to TA and even right after they won the U16/U17 National Title he said that was nice but he could care less if they won another one. He emphasized developing the individual not a team, which I agree with  . |
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Post by soccerdaddy on Jun 24, 2019 10:58:11 GMT -5
Focusing training for players to be individual good players hinders your chances to have a superior team. Even with the best players (assuming ATL United has the overall better players in the area) if not trained to be a good team they won't beat a well coached team that plays as a team and has been together consistently. I know I have talked to TA and even right after they won the U16/U17 National Title he said that was nice but he could care less if they won another one. He emphasized developing the individual not a team, which I agree with . That explains it 😃 |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jun 24, 2019 11:15:46 GMT -5
individuals also need to learn how to play with a team, that is a lost art in the modern US soccer development culture.
you can have both and focus on a larger player pool vs just 1 or 2 at u17 etc.
allow the late bloomer to blossom...
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Post by GameOfThrow-ins on Jun 24, 2019 11:59:52 GMT -5
Focusing training for players to be individual good players hinders your chances to have a superior team. Even with the best players (assuming ATL United has the overall better players in the area) if not trained to be a good team they won't beat a well coached team that plays as a team and has been together consistently. I know I have talked to TA and even right after they won the U16/U17 National Title he said that was nice but he could care less if they won another one. He emphasized developing the individual not a team, which I agree with . The problem is that they don’t focus on “the” individual, they focus on 1 or 2 individuals. They know which 1 or 2, but they make all the players think they are the 1 or 2. This is becoming quite obvious to the parents and will result in more players leaving/rejecting AU to find better development opportunities elsewhere. |
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Post by justwatching on Jun 24, 2019 13:35:01 GMT -5
Focusing training for players to be individual good players hinders your chances to have a superior team. Even with the best players (assuming ATL United has the overall better players in the area) if not trained to be a good team they won't beat a well coached team that plays as a team and has been together consistently. I know I have talked to TA and even right after they won the U16/U17 National Title he said that was nice but he could care less if they won another one. He emphasized developing the individual not a team, which I agree with . The problem is that they don’t focus on “the” individual, they focus on 1 or 2 individuals. They know which 1 or 2, but they make all the players think they are the 1 or 2. This is becoming quite obvious to the parents and will result in more players leaving/rejecting AU to find better development opportunities elsewhere. I assume you have a player there that is not part of the 1 or 2 players they see as potential pro players? Do you think the training provided and resources available to the other players outside of the 1 or 2 are above what a kid gets/has access to at another area academy? Or do you think those pools of players are serviced equally or better at a non-MLS academy? |
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Post by GameOfThrow-ins on Jun 24, 2019 13:47:35 GMT -5
I don’t have a player there. I have players on teams with kids that were previously there. Some were cut, some elected to leave, but the story was the same.
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Post by GameOfThrow-ins on Jun 24, 2019 14:13:07 GMT -5
At the end of the day it’s probably like any other top team, with maybe an exception or two. If you’re player 1-11 it’s all good, if you’re player 12-18 your decision is tougher.
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Post by soccernotfootball on Jun 24, 2019 14:48:30 GMT -5
Even if an AU kid doesn't become pro, I'm betting the access the player gets to training, facilities, other intangibles (coaching contacts, college prep, financial seminars, etc.) is much greater than the non-MLS academies. And if the kid wants to play in college, the AU experience will look good on paper. IMO.
(not to mention, AU is picking up most of the tab)
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Post by GameOfThrow-ins on Jun 24, 2019 15:29:04 GMT -5
Only to mention, AU is picking up the tab. There are 4-5 better places/coaches for everyone but the superstars at AU. Let me make it clear: They. Don’t. Care. About. You. Not only that, as I’ve said before, the real talent would not sign solidarity agreement, and will go with best coach until FIFA allows them to go abroad. Period. MLS DA should have a monopoly in the playoffs - nope, they’re a minority. TA is a joke.
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Post by ilove8amgames on Jun 24, 2019 19:33:26 GMT -5
I do have a kid at AU. There is no question it is worth the experience. And, my kid is not the 1 or 2. But to be honest, he gets same training, attention, and opportunities as the 1 or 2. The 1 or 2 does play up more frequently, but it is because those kids are physical freaks and have the talent to match it.
But AU does give late bloomers chance to grow. You have to have sick talent and dedication. If you have that and are dedicated, AU will invest in you.
Have you all noticed how many kids get Div 1 scholarships? 13 last year (I recall). And they routinely place kids in the Ivys. Let's be honest. The 1 and 2 will not be 1st team pros. Even the best 1 or 2's ever to come out of AU is still not starting or playing for the first team.
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Post by GameOfThrow-ins on Jun 24, 2019 23:43:31 GMT -5
Thanks - great to hear positive experiences there! I think the AU academy will improve every year regardless of the knit-picky things I’ve mentioned - and a rising tide and all that makes the whole area better!
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Post by soccernotfootball on Jun 25, 2019 11:54:33 GMT -5
Only to mention, AU is picking up the tab. There are 4-5 better places/coaches for everyone but the superstars at AU. Let me make it clear: They. Don’t. Care. About. You. Not only that, as I’ve said before, the real talent would not sign solidarity agreement, and will go with best coach until FIFA allows them to go abroad. Period. MLS DA should have a monopoly in the playoffs - nope, they’re a minority. TA is a joke. While there may be truth in that... I would say NO club cares about you. If a player is lucky, he or she will find a coach or two over their youth career that truly cares for the kid. |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Jun 27, 2019 9:35:25 GMT -5
I have heard good and bad experiences at all clubs, AU included. As has been mentioned by others, "The Best" 1 or 2 players get all the glory on any team, AU included. With that said, the onus is always on the player to show well in all facets of the game and more importantly to keep showing well. With growth spurts and maturity, some players drop off, while some rise in skill set and the clubs turn their attention to those players. Through it all, what I have always found to be true is this. No coach will cut a really good player even when they are rude, disrespectful or break the law. We see it all the time in society, if you're a bawler, you can almost get away with murder.
Specifically to AU, it's a truly competitive environment. They are some of the best players around. AU makes an investment and would like a real chance at a return on their investment, ergo why if memory serves me right they don't cut players after year one. I believe someone once said that AU realizes that in a group of 4/5 teams within the Academy one maybe two could be a viable option for the Pro ranks. Plus we can't negate the level of exposure, opportunities and options you get from playing at AU. AU players get options of being scouted for the Nat'l Team, International Tournaments, health, nutrition, facilities, security, etc. Again all at $0 to the player or their families. Plus if you fail, you get a D-1 Scholarship out of it. Let's just say it's a hard offer to pass up for sure...
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Post by footballer on Jun 27, 2019 14:01:05 GMT -5
No coach will cut a really good player even when they are rude, disrespectful or break the law. We see it all the time in society, if you're a bawler, you can almost get away with murder. This is what most are led to believe. However, in reality, if you are not in the right clique or step on the wrong toes, you will pay for it in some way or at some point. "Bawlers" get cut all the time including Europe. Coach may just like other kids more. You are right, it's on the player to make an impact. AU is making an impact and doing a good job with resources, other could emulate that attitude |
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