Slamo Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I'm not sure if the development program matters when it comes to the three Philly players I've named. All three of them got regular minutes with Philly's first team (which is equal to the best "development" any MLS team could possibly offer), and McInerney is also competing with the US U-20 side. If we're talking about academy level players, then I'd agree with you that Vancouver's set up is far superior (Philly's "academy" is a joke), but the three I listed are playing and training with the first team, and will only get more playing time this year. Yeah, the top three aren't really comparable at this point, but the Caps certainly have more depth and if we go to the u18 level then the Caps become superior to anyone. I would venture to opine that the Caps have been developing their MLS club for five years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKottonmouthed1555362307 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I'm not sure if the development program matters when it comes to the three Philly players I've named. All three of them got regular minutes with Philly's first team (which is equal to the best "development" any MLS team could possibly offer), and McInerney is also competing with the US U-20 side. If we're talking about academy level players, then I'd agree with you that Vancouver's set up is far superior (Philly's "academy" is a joke), but the three I listed are playing and training with the first team, and will only get more playing time this year. yeah, no if it was a choice of our 3 or there 3 for next season, easily it's Philly's cause of how much farther they are all along. I don't think there's any acutal reason to compare it like that as it's completley one way. The only fair way to actually compare them is to look at it in like 5 year window, it's clearly Philly if you look at it present time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Yeah, the top three aren't really comparable at this point, but the Caps certainly have more depth and if we go to the u18 level then the Caps become superior to anyone. I would venture to opine that the Caps have been developing their MLS club for five years now. Again, I think you guys are really underestimating the level of talent in places like Dallas and Chicago. I've no doubt that Vancouver's academy is among the elite already, but there is literally no evidence to show that they are better than the best ones in MLS. (I haven't forgotten the Dallas Cup tournament from a couple of years ago, but a couple of years is a long time in development terms and it's dangerous to place complete faith in results of a short tourney like that.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slamo Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Again, I think you guys are really underestimating the level of talent in places like Dallas and Chicago. I've no doubt that Vancouver's academy is among the elite already, but there is literally no evidence to show that they are better than the best ones in MLS. (I haven't forgotten the Dallas Cup tournament from a couple of years ago, but a couple of years is a long time in development terms and it's dangerous to place complete faith in results of a short tourney like that.) Time will only tell and it is only a matter of opinion...I think the biggest advantage for Dallas is the support of US Soccer - Canada is sorely lacking - so to look at say Danny Garcia versus Russel Tiebert or Bryce Alderson - basically the Caps are on their own and as such they are forced to play the young fellows against much older players to get the appropriate competition. Whereas Garcia can play in U18 leagues and get supplemental training with US soccer. I think, and as you say there is no evidence - but the level of loyalty to the Caps will be much higher as a result. Garcia may end up in Mexico or Europe or even South America whereas having 100% of your development bound to one club will have advantage of loyalty down the line, which we have seen in the past. Who knows how the reserve league and the development of other academy programs will play out though. I would venture though, that is why they took Salgado as opposed to Nagbe...building some club loyalty is easier with teenagers. I'm not really underestimating the talent - personally I just have a hard time seeing some of the young players in these academies as Dallas or Chicago players. I sincerely hope that changes as I am not a big fan of drafting players etc and would love to see club models and abolish the superdraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Slamo. I do agree with you in some respects. IE, if a club has a player in the youth system that is it. They can take that player. They can move as many in, or none in, as they see fit. They can choose to draft or not choose to draft as they see fit. However, with the country the size that it is there are always going to be MANY kids that dont' get into an academy due to geography, but will end up at a university - an example might be Will Bruin. I don't know where he was raised, but since he was at Indiana let's assume Indiana for arguments sake. No MLS team nearby thus no chance to play in an Academy. Thus Will Bruins only route to MLS is through the draft, and the league is better off for it. But, if a club like Vancouver can bring 15 year olds into their residence from anywhere, really, and develop them. Then if they can't find anyone better in the draft, then skip the draft and bring in the residency kid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 "I've always loved to play and I've always wanted to be as good as I could be," Omar said in his typical matter-of-fact way, as if his passion for the sport is a common thing. Soon he was playing with boys a year or two older than him, always dominating, always a prolific goal scorer. ... on the field he's a great competitor, always striving to be the best, not only for himself but for his team. He pushes them to do the best. "When he showed up, he became an instant leader of the group. He made them a better team." If he had been a football or basketball player, Omar would have gone on to high school and by age 15 would have been courted by every NCAA power that mattered. "When he got to Chivas, the other kids were stronger and bigger," Eduardo Salgado recalled. "When he left 18 months later, Omar was a lot bigger, a lot stronger than the other kids. He said the reason was that after practice, he'd go to the gym every day for another hour and a half. Then he would go to bed early." "But every time we challenged him against better opponents, he's raised his level." Thomas Rongen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Do you model your game after any other player? I think I could be like Ibrahimovic from Milan. He's tall. He can score; and he's very skillful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmcmurph Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Do you model your game after any other player? I think I could be like Ibrahimovic from Milan. He's tall. He can score; and he's very skillful. We can only hope he turns out anywhere near that good but time will tell. There are similarities. Both are tall and lean but despite their height are not the lumbering giants. ZI is very agile (I love the flying karate kicks to score), quick and great touch on the ball. Got to love Zlatan's reasoning for coming back on defense so much "if I do that then I can get on my teammates who aren't doing it". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youllneverwalkalone Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Marc Weber reporting that the always reliable Daily Mirror claim that Arsenal are trailing Salgado. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Arsenal will trail any youngster from somewhere other than England! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKottonmouthed1555362307 Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Arsenal will trail any youngster from somewhere other than England! If he was French he'd already be at Emirates. Though I was suprised Wenger didn't scoop up Eden Hazard yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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