|
Post by rifle on Mar 12, 2024 17:07:56 GMT -5
Ah. Exactly what I was worried about. Just hoping things were different now. They could be different now but CF is a destination club. Lots of players on lots of teams at lots of levels. I’m sure they’ll be happy to take your money and they definitely have high performing teams. My kid went to a tryout one year (it was probably 2017ish so not recent) and got moved around during the night - but no feedback at all so he went somewhere else for day two. I’ve seen some very low level teams wearing the same CF shirt, so some people definitely get a “destination club experience” that isn’t quite what they wished for. This isn’t sour grapes or intended to dissuade you. I just know that if they don’t know you before you arrive, chances are slim to get the hand of god necessary to be placed on a top team. My kid wasn’t in that category so it was mainly a learning experience.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 12, 2024 12:22:25 GMT -5
Hi All, I'm sure this has been asked in the past but I could not find anything. Can anybody share their thoughts on the club? I have a couple of boys who plays academy and deciding on changing clubs at the end of the season. How's the communication and culture? Do the coaches ever put new kids on the top black and white teams or do new kids automatically start in the lower levels? Any thoughts or comments are appreciated! If this is your idea and nobody (kids, parents, other) from CF has reached out to you - prepare to be very disappointed with how tryouts go. They’ll run a big event and the coaches will talk to each other and move a handful of players around. Then many will be offered a spot on a team of unknown level.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 11, 2024 16:45:43 GMT -5
Good grief
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 11, 2024 6:42:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 9, 2024 9:20:20 GMT -5
Sounds like you’re doing the right things waiting to see coach assignments and well positioned to lock in some options before tryouts. Thats a desirable place to be before tryouts.
(And I know.. I’m being “captain obvious is obvious”)
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 8, 2024 17:28:12 GMT -5
I can see why some MLS operators (they’re not clubs) choose not to have an academy. That’s a lot of expenses.
I also do not misunderstand the Wrexham success follows an enormous truckload of money showing up. When you can earn $750k for a tweet.. it definitely helps.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 8, 2024 13:53:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 8, 2024 13:52:25 GMT -5
It depends on the club. Some clubs would rather bring in the new revenue than try to be better. I've seen clubs cut half a team in favor of new players that were lesser players. And some of the players cut were definitely top (almost full game minutes, top goal contributors, etc.) There were no reasons to be nervous. And the "new" team's records typically show you did bring in lesser players. If only we had true competition and communication. The only reason to have overlapping tryouts is to limit access and prevent players from leaving. By the time tryouts come around, no player should question where they stand – but coaches rarely communicate. You've had a player for a whole season (sometimes you've had them for 2 or 3). That player should know if they are in, on the bubble, or out. But if you give a player access to decide for themselves, you may lose revenue. Instead - leave them questioning. Bring in new players. Then, on the second or third night of tryouts - tell them they are cut and need to accept a spot on your lower team. Then you've added revenue! "It's all about development" lol. The best club I've seen handle the process is NASA Tophat. (From the outside looking in and hearing from ppl in the club.) They seem to favor their players over new ones (promoting from within and keeping theirs if all things are equal) and players typically know where they stand before tryouts. I've also heard they will help a player find a spot if they plan to cut them. Clubs have zero loyalty to players but expect that loyalty to be given to the club. dirty little secret.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 8, 2024 13:49:23 GMT -5
For youth soccer, I remember, and understand the problems, but I miss Classic 1, Classic 2, Classic 3, etc. The current system of everyone on the boy's side trying to be elite, but not realizing none of them are elite until they turn 17/18 and ask themselves, what have I been doing all this for? Some hold out a little longer but after freshman year of college, most of them are like, yep time to move on with life. On the adult side, what is the point of leagues like USL? Our second division behind MLS is college. That is how we do it in America. May not be right, may not be perfect, but we should just embrace it and stop stressing. With an open pyramid we could have multiple levels (and regions of course) of professional teams. College soccer would be the consolation prize. Are you not inspired by Welcome to Wrexham?
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 8, 2024 12:48:01 GMT -5
I'm not an expert on English soccer but I have lived there so I know about the culture. Even the lower level teams have fans. People go to the games. It's so much fun! If a player is good on a lower level team, they have a chance to get noticed by a higher level team and given a better opportunity. I looked up the pyramid there and it looks like in the top 4 levels (Premier League, Championship, 1, 2) there are 92 clubs! This is in a country of 60M people. So it seems like the chance of playing professional soccer there is much bigger than in the US. Here we have 26 US teams in the MLS in a country of 330M. England chance of playing pro: (92*18)/30M = 0.00552% (18 is roster size, not sure if that's correct. Population half, as men only) USA chance of playing pro: (26*18)/165M = 0.00028% So around a 20 times bigger chance in England! This is simplified and not taking into account international players. No. You’re wrong. They can’t have fans at lower levels, they don’t have big enough stadiums. And the supporters all have to abandon their team when a club is relegated, according to MLS “journalists” (marketing).
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 8, 2024 4:41:31 GMT -5
MLS actively suppressing and interrupting the growth of other “lower” organizations with aspirations to compete professionally is The problem.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 7, 2024 21:56:37 GMT -5
I think it all depends. Is the player on the top quarter of the roster or the bottom half? Top players get opportunities at tryout time. Bottom players get nervous. I like this comment and am going to steal it and tell it to parents. It is simply the truth. Tryouts were always the worst week when I had a kid playing club soccer. Met a lot of friends along the way though.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 7, 2024 18:13:12 GMT -5
I think it all depends. Is the player on the top quarter of the roster or the bottom half? Top players get opportunities at tryout time. Bottom players get nervous.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 6, 2024 20:41:13 GMT -5
Posting this study Alexi Lalas quoted on his show. Pretty interesting and staggering stats. Key Findings The share of US playing time in MLS has: Decreased 43.58% since the first season of MLS Decreased 29.53% in the last decade. runrepeat.com/us-players-mls IMO this frankly puts it all in perspective of just how behind soccer development is in the US compared to other countries over the last 10 years. There is a tremendous downward trend in the development of professional players in our own domestic professional league that reflects on everyone in the dysfunctional pyramid, including youth, amateur, lower division leagues, colleges, US Soccer Federation, MLS, etc. Everyone… I think it is because they want to put behinds in seats. Look at Inter Miami. They went from small crowds to sellouts. AU does the same thing. They have brought in the International players with few from their academy. Academy kids don't put behinds in seats. A well known older International player will. It is a proven recipe, no doubt. But lining these washed up old stars for one or two more laps .. alongside (mostly) defenders and other players earning ninety grand creates a JV league while Saturday and Sunday mornings we get to watch open systems showcase clubs that actually had to achieve something to get there and stay there. There is no comparison. Twenty five years in and all MLS has done is create a hedge for NFL owners, with some real estate opportunity on the side. Focus on the fans. Not the owners.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 6, 2024 17:40:26 GMT -5
Agree somewhat…but MLS is still viewed abroad as the retirement home for older players who can’t cut it in Europe any longer. If/when that trend reverses, MLS will be a 1st tier league…until then, we are the geriatric league. For me, it’s hard to watch an MLS game after watching an EPL game. I hope it gets better. And for what it’s worth, I still buy ATL UTD tickets and am a supporter…although the last few seasons have been painful at best. MLS won’t catch EPL for another decade or two at best depending on when the spending caps come off. It’s already jumped the second tier leagues in Europe and is close to Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. China was, and Saudi Arabia is, the real retirement league with an unsustainable model. To somewhat circle back to the original point, five years ago every kid on my older son’s team dreamed of making it to AU but now my youngest and all his friends see US players playing for bigger clubs in Europe and see that’s a possibility (not realistic, but kids can dream). by what metric? And don’t tell me stadium value!
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 6, 2024 17:34:21 GMT -5
Totally agree with Futsal Gawdess 100% true .We've received multiple reports from concerned parents about recent changes in policies, including requests for parents to cover expenses for international trips. There is also growing conversation around the program's emphasis on physical measurements, notably in relation to height peak velocity (HPV), and how these factors influence team selection. While the intent behind these measurements is not always transparent, it's understood that they play a significant role in decisions at the end of each season.Moreover, there are observations and discussions about the apparent emphasis on size and race, as seen through team compositions from 2009 to 2011. These practices have raised questions about the inclusivity and fairness of the selection process.The Future Program and its management, particularly noted are the actions and decisions attributed to the head scout, Michael Lynch, have been a point of contention. It seems there is a need for a more transparent and inclusive dialogue between the program administrators and the parents to address these concerns comprehensively do you really think Inclusivity and Parents have anything to do with team selection in a pro team’s Academy? I lean (duh) pretty liberal..not cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs liberal.. but to me that sounds.. absurd
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 6, 2024 6:17:24 GMT -5
It’s all about development. Sarcasm font on? but of course
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 5, 2024 21:44:54 GMT -5
If we are going to play the percentages game what’s the percentage increase of American’s in top six European leagues in the same time frames? By the way I am 100% in agreement with the premise of terrible development in this country but on the other hand, I do think it shows growth of MLS that they are now getting players that are no longer insulted or embarrassed to play in this country. I would like to know that number. I suspect it is flat or just barely higher. Until there is an open pyramid, MLS will keep it stagnant. Or “parity”. Same thing.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 5, 2024 18:25:32 GMT -5
Yep. Guys like Barco making it happen. Or falling down a lot and then going back home.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 5, 2024 18:23:55 GMT -5
It’s all about development.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 3, 2024 20:33:31 GMT -5
Has anything been won by AU academy since the U15/16 DA national championship in 2017?
..won by Georgia United’s team and staff having been newly folded into Atlanta United
Edit: I see the post directly above mine stating a recent championship. I had not heard about that.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Mar 1, 2024 18:29:58 GMT -5
Question what drug did Messi need to play? and why was he taking it? Maybe Diego Maradona would have been a better example he was just on coke and drinking lol. I have to assume most of all top euro league players are taking some kind of PED. They're running marathons+ 5 days a week year round. Pogba is just one who recently "got caught" Yeah those six mile marathons are not easy.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 29, 2024 16:58:39 GMT -5
There is no question that athleticism matters. NOBODY says it doesn’t. It could even be the key factor that separates CR7 and Messi from other simply “great” players. At the highest level, for the most part the athletes are all technically gifted, mentally gifted and extremely hard working and dedicated to their craft. The .01% athletes (like the guys named above) have all those attributes AND they are athletic freaks.
If AU thinks it’s a cheat code to only select “big” .. then I guess they just aren’t up to the task of developing players.
Related?….. I would love to know what Kevin Kratz thinks of AU academy. After growing up in Germany and playing professionally then playing and then coaching for AU and then leaving to direct Roswell Soccer Club.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 29, 2024 6:24:40 GMT -5
Was it always just about Tony? His connections and knowledge of the area? Gone now that he is? AUFC just another MLS tentacle without him connecting your kids to a once memorable club? I’m a little surprised that Tony hasn’t exactly found success coaching men’s college soccer. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_AnnanHas some stats
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 28, 2024 22:06:57 GMT -5
Emma Hayes has her work cut out for her. I will be watching with interest. Particularly regarding player selection and playing style.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 28, 2024 22:03:37 GMT -5
Like most things MLS..
All hat and no cattle.
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 28, 2024 17:58:14 GMT -5
Did US players at national level get worse? Did the wrong players get picked? Did? Did US coaching get worse? Did the women's game worldwide just catch up? Whatever your reason, the answer to all of these is that we need a better system in the US. Bingo
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 28, 2024 6:45:07 GMT -5
Remember when Miggy and Josef came along to AU? And they celebrated wins by saying “I want to give everything for this crest” while pointing at their shirt? That seems to be a South American CLUB mindset. I wonder what they’d say after playing in MLS for a season or more. We don’t have clubs. Here is a nice explainer for why this matters open.spotify.com/episode/09cUfMSvW0M8OUew4PmGbX?si=f3JC8z9SSyq2hFrOcrf62A
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 27, 2024 20:14:56 GMT -5
Cero a dos has a crappy ring to it, doesn’t it?
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Feb 27, 2024 20:12:56 GMT -5
Fear not. There is a growing feeling that AAU basketball is failing American kids too. Players from around the world are starting to do better in the NBA than those AAU players identified early as “stars”. Wow, really? Why do you think that is? Youth basketball is getting broken too? Pay to play is poison, perhaps?
|
|