VPjr Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I found this on the CSL website.... http://www.canadiansoccerleague.ca/news_archive.php?news_id=134164 I hope alot of top youth players in Southern Ontario see this. I've made it clear that I believe the CSL is where the best 17's and 18's (and older) should be developing their talents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 quote:Originally posted by VPjr ...the CSL is where the best 17's and 18's (and older) should be developing their talents. Are you joking? The BEST 17's and 18's should be playing for professional teams in a full-time professional league. The CSL would have to be fourth or fifth choice for a player at that age looking for a career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.T. Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Which league(s) would that be ted? - MLS? who just dropped it's reserve league - Overseas? - a non-starter as unless you have some special status, international transfers aren't allowed under the age of 18... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 quote:Originally posted by ted Are you joking? The BEST 17's and 18's should be playing for professional teams in a full-time professional league. The CSL would have to be fourth or fifth choice for a player at that age looking for a career. the BEST 17's and 18's should be playing at the highest level possible.... We only have 3 full time professional teams in Canada. As L.T. notes, MLS has cut back its reserve program and there is no proof that TFC's Academy is significantly better than any of the best local community club programs at this time. The Whitecaps program is excellent but its small and could never absorb all the best players from Southern ONTARIO (which is the geographic area I was focusing on). Impact doesn't yet have a youth academy, although I'm sure it will be top quality when it comes to fruition. For now, the best young players in the Impact system play in the CSL. As L.T. also pointed out, Not everyone can go overseas at such a young age. Too many players don't qualify and it requires a very mature player to thrive overseas. Leaving home before the age of 18 is not for everyone. If MLS, USL or Overseas are not in the cards, a top 17 or 18 year old with professional (not NCAA) ambitions should be looking to play with the top programs in CSL because they will enjoy good coaching and high level game competition. I might concede that PDL is as good as CSL but the season is so shockingly short so that hurts PDL in my mind. In my opinion, the level of play in NCAA is far too inconsistent. I'm not at all convinced that NCAA is a better development stream than CSL. In Ontario, CSL is a better level than senior amateur soccer (IMO) although the top senior amateur sides are of a good quality but there is huge disparity. U18 age group soccer is clearly inferior than CSL, OSL, NCAA or PDL Provincial all star teams aren't the answer either what else is there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Well, I guess I have a very different definition of "best". As this is a national team forum I generally assume "best" means a player who is likely to earn a regular spot on our national team. So yes, European leagues, MLS and even USL come before the CSL as the appropriate target for the "best" 17 and 18 year-olds. A 17 or 18 year-old playing a full season for a CSL team is highly unlikely to ever play for the national team as they would be unlikely to possess the skill or ambition required to be a full-time professional footballer. It's possible, but even the USL would be a better place for their professional development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 ^ Ted, I won't argue that Europe, MLS or USL would be the 1st choice for the creme de la creme of young soccer players. However, realistically, how many players might get an opportunity? In North America, the reality is that most USL and MLS squads do not put much emphasis on youth player development. Whitecaps are a huge exception but they are just 1 club and they have a limited number of spots. The vast majority of players don't make the jump to professional soccer until they are 17-18 years old. Not many do what Edgar, DeGuzman and some others have done, which is leave home at 14,15, 16 (or younger) to persue pro soccer. Most leave much older. What I'm suggesting is that the best 17's and 18's in Ontario (who have not already left for a fully professional opportunity) should play a year or two in CSL to get them ready for the rigours of fully professional soccer. Remember, you don't have to start your Pro Career at 17 or 18 to have a hope at the national team. Look at guys like Ornoch and Jakovich, both of whom are now getting called into our MNT and who both started their pro careers in their early 20's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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