Achilles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:based on my experience with Achilles the post above is very accurate. Possession without a purpose. Kids do not understand soccer at all. They even cannot produce good 3v3 team because there is a scoring part not only possession.

To what Achilles 3v3 teams are you referring? Do clubs produce 3v3 teams?

Clubs do not. But they play 3v3 a lot during Achilles practices (and it is good). but kids from the other mls next/encl teams win 3v3 competitions in the DC Area. because they know how to play forward and find goals.

[Anonymous]

Tiki Taka without a purpose then?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:based on my experience with Achilles the post above is very accurate. Possession without a purpose. Kids do not understand soccer at all. They even cannot produce good 3v3 team because there is a scoring part not only possession.

To what Achilles 3v3 teams are you referring? Do clubs produce 3v3 teams?

Clubs do not. But they play 3v3 a lot during Achilles practices (and it is good). but kids from the other mls next/encl teams win 3v3 competitions in the DC Area. because they know how to play forward and find goals.

Not commenting on the rest of this, but a group of Achilles 2010s won Alexandria 3v3 live 2009/2010 age group this year and 2021 and were runners up in 2022.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:based on my experience with Achilles the post above is very accurate. Possession without a purpose. Kids do not understand soccer at all. They even cannot produce good 3v3 team because there is a scoring part not only possession.

To what Achilles 3v3 teams are you referring? Do clubs produce 3v3 teams?

Clubs do not. But they play 3v3 a lot during Achilles practices (and it is good). but kids from the other mls next/encl teams win 3v3 competitions in the DC Area. because they know how to play forward and find goals.

Not commenting on the rest of this, but a group of Achilles 2010s won Alexandria 3v3 live 2009/2010 age group this year and 2021 and were runners up in 2022.

https://soccer.exposureevents.com/199217/3v3-live-alexandria/teams/achilles-fc-2010?divisionteamid=3069343

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tiki Taka without a purpose then?!

Exactly. I do agree with the philosophy that at the youth level results are secondary to technical development. But ultimately there is a lot more to the game than just possession — like creating goals and preventing goals. And those are areas that are entirely ignored at Achilles. If Achilles had impressive college placement — one could justify consistent poor win-loss results.l (which ultimately take a toll on player morale). But their placement to the college ranks is startlingly weak. So, while they preach the gospel of possession and tika taka futbol — there is no “there” there. It’s a road to nowhere. Hysterically, they cite (on the college placement page on their website) a player as being “the best dribbler in DC” (although in fairness this player is the only one that looks like an Achilles product that landed at solid college program). But that is Achilles in a nutshell. Last time I checked — there’s no award for being the best dribbler or juggler or whatever 🤣🤣.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tiki Taka without a purpose then?!

Exactly. I do agree with the philosophy that at the youth level results are secondary to technical development. But ultimately there is a lot more to the game than just possession — like creating goals and preventing goals. And those are areas that are entirely ignored at Achilles. If Achilles had impressive college placement — one could justify consistent poor win-loss results.l (which ultimately take a toll on player morale). But their placement to the college ranks is startlingly weak. So, while they preach the gospel of possession and tika taka futbol — there is no “there” there. It’s a road to nowhere. Hysterically, they cite (on the college placement page on their website) a player as being “the best dribbler in DC” (although in fairness this player is the only one that looks like an Achilles product that landed at solid college program). But that is Achilles in a nutshell. Last time I checked — there’s no award for being the best dribbler or juggler or whatever 🤣🤣.

I'm not trying to carry water for Achilles here. I know they have their drawbacks (I'm the "has it's good and bad" and Alexandria 3v3 results poster). But, some of these criticisms are over-the-top and unfair. What are the expectations, that they'll be placing multiple kids in Div. 1 every year? Youth National Team? They're a small club run by one guy, with a coaching staff of about 5 or 6. In their immediate area, only Bethesda has clearly more successful teams.

There are 3 players from last year's Achilles U13 team currently playing at MLS academies. Several of their 2009s have also gone to MLS academies. Not many clubs can say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tiki Taka without a purpose then?!

Exactly. I do agree with the philosophy that at the youth level results are secondary to technical development. But ultimately there is a lot more to the game than just possession — like creating goals and preventing goals. And those are areas that are entirely ignored at Achilles. If Achilles had impressive college placement — one could justify consistent poor win-loss results.l (which ultimately take a toll on player morale). But their placement to the college ranks is startlingly weak. So, while they preach the gospel of possession and tika taka futbol — there is no “there” there. It’s a road to nowhere. Hysterically, they cite (on the college placement page on their website) a player as being “the best dribbler in DC” (although in fairness this player is the only one that looks like an Achilles product that landed at solid college program). But that is Achilles in a nutshell. Last time I checked — there’s no award for being the best dribbler or juggler or whatever 🤣🤣.

I'm not trying to carry water for Achilles here. I know they have their drawbacks (I'm the "has it's good and bad" and Alexandria 3v3 results poster). But, some of these criticisms are over-the-top and unfair. What are the expectations, that they'll be placing multiple kids in Div. 1 every year? Youth National Team? They're a small club run by one guy, with a coaching staff of about 5 or 6. In their immediate area, only Bethesda has clearly more successful teams.

There are 3 players from last year's Achilles U13 team currently playing at MLS academies. Several of their 2009s have also gone to MLS academies. Not many clubs can say that.

One thing almost everyone agrees on. Achilles has some good players.
That's not what the critiques are about.
It's about what's being done with/to these good players.

btw, the exceptional players would be exceptional anywhere

[Anonymous]

most of 2010 kids are "stolen" from Bethesda at U12 age. Just curious what happened to kids(2010) who were developed by Achilles in U10 U11 and one day were replaced when it was time to u12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tiki Taka without a purpose then?!

Exactly. I do agree with the philosophy that at the youth level results are secondary to technical development. But ultimately there is a lot more to the game than just possession — like creating goals and preventing goals. And those are areas that are entirely ignored at Achilles. If Achilles had impressive college placement — one could justify consistent poor win-loss results.l (which ultimately take a toll on player morale). But their placement to the college ranks is startlingly weak. So, while they preach the gospel of possession and tika taka futbol — there is no “there” there. It’s a road to nowhere. Hysterically, they cite (on the college placement page on their website) a player as being “the best dribbler in DC” (although in fairness this player is the only one that looks like an Achilles product that landed at solid college program). But that is Achilles in a nutshell. Last time I checked — there’s no award for being the best dribbler or juggler or whatever 🤣🤣.

I'm not trying to carry water for Achilles here. I know they have their drawbacks (I'm the "has it's good and bad" and Alexandria 3v3 results poster). But, some of these criticisms are over-the-top and unfair. What are the expectations, that they'll be placing multiple kids in Div. 1 every year? Youth National Team? They're a small club run by one guy, with a coaching staff of about 5 or 6. In their immediate area, only Bethesda has clearly more successful teams.

There are 3 players from last year's Achilles U13 team currently playing at MLS academies. Several of their 2009s have also gone to MLS academies. Not many clubs can say that.

One expectation would be an absence of constant consistent toxic verbal abuse of kids.
Recorded many times, so please don't try to defend.

[Anonymous]

favorites are allowed to abuse other kids with the coach. I saw that many times. It is a bonus to stay in the club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tiki Taka without a purpose then?!

Exactly. I do agree with the philosophy that at the youth level results are secondary to technical development. But ultimately there is a lot more to the game than just possession — like creating goals and preventing goals. And those are areas that are entirely ignored at Achilles. If Achilles had impressive college placement — one could justify consistent poor win-loss results.l (which ultimately take a toll on player morale). But their placement to the college ranks is startlingly weak. So, while they preach the gospel of possession and tika taka futbol — there is no “there” there. It’s a road to nowhere. Hysterically, they cite (on the college placement page on their website) a player as being “the best dribbler in DC” (although in fairness this player is the only one that looks like an Achilles product that landed at solid college program). But that is Achilles in a nutshell. Last time I checked — there’s no award for being the best dribbler or juggler or whatever 🤣🤣.

Teams can't score if you have possession. They need the ball.
So based on all the lopsided defeats regularly, I call BS on the 'possession superiority'

[Anonymous]

OK. Cool. The three of you win. Balanced opinions lose. Your bias is transparent and unwavering.

For the anti-Achilles-anonymous-internet-warrior-for-justice-for-the-kids, please temper your accusations of abuse. There are plenty of parents who choose to have their kids play and develop at Achilles. You've even stepped it up to accusing those kids of abuse. Many of the kids at Achilles, including 2010s, have been with Achilles for years. You're denigrating their choices and now accusing their kids of abuse.

Further, no 2010 kids were replaced. And no kids were "stolen" from Bethesda. The parents of talented children decided Achilles was the best place for their kids to develop instead of Bethesda. (other top kids from that Bethesda team went to Paragon. Were they stolen or did their parents also think Bethesda wasn't a good fit?)

The moving targets are exhausting. When Achilles develop kids for at least two years and they move to MLS Academies they were just exceptional players that Achilles had? Not to mention ones that were there longer? If that was the case, "exceptional" players could be anywhere. Club would be irrelevant. You're talking out of both sides of your mouth when you criticize them for not having college commits but don't give them credit for placing kids at MLS academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK. Cool. The three of you win. Balanced opinions lose. Your bias is transparent and unwavering.

For the anti-Achilles-anonymous-internet-warrior-for-justice-for-the-kids, please temper your accusations of abuse. There are plenty of parents who choose to have their kids play and develop at Achilles. You've even stepped it up to accusing those kids of abuse. Many of the kids at Achilles, including 2010s, have been with Achilles for years. You're denigrating their choices and now accusing their kids of abuse.

Further, no 2010 kids were replaced. And no kids were "stolen" from Bethesda. The parents of talented children decided Achilles was the best place for their kids to develop instead of Bethesda. (other top kids from that Bethesda team went to Paragon. Were they stolen or did their parents also think Bethesda wasn't a good fit?)

The moving targets are exhausting. When Achilles develop kids for at least two years and they move to MLS Academies they were just exceptional players that Achilles had? Not to mention ones that were there longer? If that was the case, "exceptional" players could be anywhere. Club would be irrelevant. You're talking out of both sides of your mouth when you criticize them for not having college commits but don't give them credit for placing kids at MLS academies.

Some solid points here re: college placement and MLS Academies. In my opinion, the prior posters aren't denigrating anyone's decision-making -- that's a bit much. You make your own decisions, and you own them, and if they work for you -- great (and don't worry what's said by random people on the internet). This is an internet forum -- so you're going to get the extremes. None of these clubs are perfect -- that's for sure.

[Anonymous]

Are the rabid anti Achilles posters the reason the soccer forum lost its anonymity and basically died on the vine? I guess they are so lacking in restraint and decorum they’d rather ruin it for everybody than try to show some self control.

[Anonymous]

Also, want to add that as a parent new to soccer, I have found a lot of useful info in this forum and would hate to see it shut down again.