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Post by Soccerhouse on Sept 10, 2020 13:40:39 GMT -5
Sorry, I can't dig it up right now, but was talking with a friend last week when Atlanta United announced all the academy players for the 2020-2021 season.
Is it true not a single UFA player moved over to AU this season? I recall also not seeing a UFA logo on the announcement.
Not trying to create something that isn't there but I'll say it --- are AU and UFA not on good terms? It's interesting because I know Concorde leadership wasn't on good terms, yet Concorde seems to be the better pipeline to AU.
Another subject, but I've never bought into the Atlanta United youth partner club idea.
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Post by cleansheet on Sept 10, 2020 13:54:33 GMT -5
Sorry, I can't dig it up right now, but was talking with a friend last week when Atlanta United announced all the academy players for the 2020-2021 season. Is it true not a single UFA player moved over to AU this season? I recall also not seeing a UFA logo on the announcement. Not trying to create something that isn't there but I'll say it --- are AU and UFA not on good terms? It's interesting because I know Concorde leadership wasn't on good terms, yet Concorde seems to be the better pipeline to AU. Another subject, but I've never bought into the Atlanta United youth partner club idea. AU logo is still on UFA’s home page. |
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Post by allthingsoccer on Sept 10, 2020 23:24:12 GMT -5
Its going to get harder and harder as the years go by. You are going to find its going to be very positional recruitment. No more 7-10 player age group cuts.
At the beginning, I think it was a way for clubs to say a direct line to AU. Now that AU had RDS, its pretty much a branding thing. I'm sure AU will always give credit to local club when they take one even if they are not part of the program or not.
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Post by bogan on Sept 11, 2020 5:45:17 GMT -5
Its going to get harder and harder as the years go by. You are going to find its going to be very positional recruitment. No more 7-10 player age group cuts. At the beginning, I think it was a way for clubs to say a direct line to AU. Now that AU had RDS, its pretty much a branding thing. I'm sure AU will always give credit to local club when they take one even if they are not part of the program or not. I think it’s always been a branding thing. The academies here in the states as in England and elsewhere serve as a way to grow up more die hard fans who will support the club financially through attendance and merchandise sales. It gives a club those local connections. It’s funny, when we were in Germany, I wore an Atlanta United jersey and there were more than a few people who recognized the club. I must say though, the quality of those German academies really surprised me...probably shouldn’t have, but did. |
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Post by allthingsoccer on Sept 11, 2020 7:24:31 GMT -5
Its going to get harder and harder as the years go by. You are going to find its going to be very positional recruitment. No more 7-10 player age group cuts. At the beginning, I think it was a way for clubs to say a direct line to AU. Now that AU had RDS, its pretty much a branding thing. I'm sure AU will always give credit to local club when they take one even if they are not part of the program or not. I think it’s always been a branding thing. The academies here in the states as in England and elsewhere serve as a way to grow up more die hard fans who will support the club financially through attendance and merchandise sales. It gives a club those local connections. It’s funny, when we were in Germany, I wore an Atlanta United jersey and there were more than a few people who recognized the club. I must say though, the quality of those German academies really surprised me...probably shouldn’t have, but did. Is its great to see the power of reach already. I have friends in Australia and they have a pretty big watch party for the games. My family in Brazil know of AU. Imagine 10 yes from now how far that brand reach will go. |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Sept 11, 2020 8:12:45 GMT -5
Sorry, I can't dig it up right now, but was talking with a friend last week when Atlanta United announced all the academy players for the 2020-2021 season. Is it true not a single UFA player moved over to AU this season? I recall also not seeing a UFA logo on the announcement. Not trying to create something that isn't there but I'll say it --- are AU and UFA not on good terms? It's interesting because I know Concorde leadership wasn't on good terms, yet Concorde seems to be the better pipeline to AU. Another subject, but I've never bought into the Atlanta United youth partner club idea. Sadly, I too noticed that my UFA did not send over a single new player in the 12 thru 19 age group this year. Now, there are former UFA players who are currently at AU, we even just had one sign as a HG: Morales. But with the loss of solid coaches on the boys side like Ryan Maurer, Daniel "Guti" Gutierrez, Roberto Sidbaja, Sergio Magana, Rich Mealey, Tom Wilson and too many others to mention. That is a big "Brain Drain" on the club. We do have some young up and comers like Sam Helliwell and Jorge 'Tato' Tragodara, plus old stalwarts like Robin Dixon who are left with rebuilding the boys program again. But till they bring in the talent and get things going, folks will leave for other 'pipeline' clubs in the hopes of being scouted for college and AU... Soccer 4 Skills, Skills 4 Life |
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Post by DunwoodySoccerDad on Sept 11, 2020 8:47:27 GMT -5
Sorry, I can't dig it up right now, but was talking with a friend last week when Atlanta United announced all the academy players for the 2020-2021 season. Is it true not a single UFA player moved over to AU this season? I recall also not seeing a UFA logo on the announcement. Not trying to create something that isn't there but I'll say it --- are AU and UFA not on good terms? It's interesting because I know Concorde leadership wasn't on good terms, yet Concorde seems to be the better pipeline to AU. Another subject, but I've never bought into the Atlanta United youth partner club idea. Sadly, I too noticed that my UFA did not send over a single new player in the 12 thru 19 age group this year. Now, there are former UFA players who are currently at AU, we even just had one sign as a HG: Morales. But with the loss of solid coaches on the boys side like Ryan Maurer, Daniel "Guti" Gutierrez, Roberto Sidbaja, Sergio Magana, Rich Mealey, Tom Wilson and too many others to mention. That is a big "Brain Drain" on the club. We do have some young up and comers like Sam Helliwell and Jorge 'Tato' Tragodara, plus old stalwarts like Robin Dixon who are left with rebuilding the boys program again. But till they bring in the talent and get things going, folks will leave for other 'pipeline' clubs in the hopes of being scouted for college and AU... Soccer 4 Skills, Skills 4 Life Sam is awesome - glad he was named Boys Academy Director recently. He was literally the first person I ever talked to at UFA 4 or 5 years ago. I'm much more in tune with the girls' side at UFA and they sorely need to rebuild the talent/depth there and add another good coach to replace Sergio. I've been impressed so far with Jeremy McNeill, who came over from GSA this year, and am hopeful his presence and Renata's leadership will lead to a bright future for the girls at Norcross. |
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Post by guerillaman on Sept 11, 2020 9:12:42 GMT -5
Yea -- seems very odd -- UFA has what I would argue is the top former DA coaching staff and now top ECNL coaching staff in the city.
Velko, Dan Dawson, Jason Smith, and Dixon -- everyone of the teams build from the back and play a high quality style of soccer. Extremely well coached sides.
There are many gems on these teams, 1-3 players on each team that are great players. I'm sure it's similar to other local clubs - many gems.
Hopefully UFA keeps retaining talent and attracts new players from local clubs etc -- these coaches are good.
Whatever -- in the long run, UFA is better off retaining top players than losing them. Selfish yes, but if AU doesn't show any interest in some of these kids -- their fudgeing loss.
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Post by flix on Sept 11, 2020 9:22:55 GMT -5
Just because there were no UFA players means some didn’t accept the invite to join. A lot of people don’t want to make that drive from way up north to Marietta. I know specifically of one kid from UFA that declined because his parents didn’t want to drive
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