Nike Premier Cup

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else impressed by PDA 09’s performance at Nike Premier Cup? Two wins against elite European academies.

[Anonymous]

Not particularly. Our top academy teams are very competitive with Europe’s. Our kids just choose different pathways and FIFA article 19 makes it harder our boys to go to Europe when they commit to a US club / academy.

Our youth national teams do very well in international play as well. Just our youth choose different pathways and it drops off in the seniors.

Part of that is that becoming an EPL player requires a certain amount of exposure and luck, as well as skill. And being on this side of the pond makes it harder for lightning to strike.

[Anonymous]

I have not seen anything about this. Is it boys or girls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not seen anything about this. Is it boys or girls?

It’s girls.

[Anonymous]

Tomorrow I believe they are playing a Brazilian team.

[Anonymous]

How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

Players here don’t have to worry about college recruiting if they go pro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

That isn't necessarily true. Not every kid in an academy "makes it." Plenty are dropped from one or more academies. There are European and Latin American players who come to the U.S. to play and get an education. On the women's side you may have heard of Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly. Both played collegiate soccer in America.

In England, WSL players aren't making a lot of money. The lower level players even less or are part time players. It behooves them to get an education. A good number come to play in America for colleges. They have to be recruited. They can't just show up and say "Here I am. When do we start?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

That isn't necessarily true. Not every kid in an academy "makes it." Plenty are dropped from one or more academies. There are European and Latin American players who come to the U.S. to play and get an education. On the women's side you may have heard of Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly. Both played collegiate soccer in America.

In England, WSL players aren't making a lot of money. The lower level players even less or are part time players. It behooves them to get an education. A good number come to play in America for colleges. They have to be recruited. They can't just show up and say "Here I am. When do we start?"

lol England didn't establish a fully professional women's league until 2018. This is when Europe started to professionalize women’s soccer. Look at what they have done in 5-6 years! Bronze and Daly did not have a professional options in the UK at 18.

WSL average salary is 48,000 pound or $61,800. Average salary for a woman in the UK 18-20 is 20,000 pounds, 22-29 is 29,000 pounds. NWSL is $65,000 but does not include health insurance, housing or transportation. The 12 team WSL revenues for 2024 $86.2 million compared to $112 million for the 14 team NWSL. A good chunk of that is fees paid for the new teams. Though the WSL is much more profitable because they use the same facilities as the parent club.

Also there is the women’s champions league. The players get bonus based on their performance. Take Arsenal for example. Next year if they win all their group stage games and the final the team receives €1,195,000. The women Euros 2025 pay out is at the same level as for UEFA EURO 2020, i.e. a total of €331 million. That is 3 x the women’s World Cup pay out just for Europe! Money is driving the women’s European game.

European women playing in college in the US are not their professional academy players. Most are the ones who have been told they do not have what it takes to be a professional player. That starts to happen at 14-15 years old. They are still on average much much better vs the US players. NCAA men’s and women’s soccer is a huge step down from Europe in terms or speed of play, soccer IQ, coaching, development, technical skills and competitiveness.

European coaches select players with high technical skills and soccer IQ as opposed to the US selecting on size and athleticism. The US coaches are trying to win at u9-u15 while the European coaches are looking to develop a professional player by 18-20 years. By u15 the US system is done with a player and the focus is getting in to college. In Europe the selection and development is just starting.

[Anonymous]

Anyone that starts their post with lol is an imbecile.

You are on long winded but don't say much worthwhile. To say European coaches all look for one thing is a fallacy. Different coaches have different styles and look for players who will fit their systems. Diego Simione looks for different types of players than Pep Guardiola who looks for different types of players than Enzo Maresca.
Alicia Window came up through Manchester City's girls academy. She made at least one league appearance before gong to play at George Washington University. Alecia Russo and Lotte Wubben-Moy are good enough to be regulars for their club teams and their national team. Deyna Castellanos plays professionally, now in the NWSL, she played at Florida State and is a Venezuelan international.


Women from other countries who either are dropped from a club's academy or aren't superstars often do come to America to play and get an education as do men. They often aren't superstars but good enough to keep most this board's precious bestest soccer players ever off of teams, especially NCAA Division I men's teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

That isn't necessarily true. Not every kid in an academy "makes it." Plenty are dropped from one or more academies. There are European and Latin American players who come to the U.S. to play and get an education. On the women's side you may have heard of Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly. Both played collegiate soccer in America.

In England, WSL players aren't making a lot of money. The lower level players even less or are part time players. It behooves them to get an education. A good number come to play in America for colleges. They have to be recruited. They can't just show up and say "Here I am. When do we start?"

lol England didn't establish a fully professional women's league until 2018. This is when Europe started to professionalize women’s soccer. Look at what they have done in 5-6 years! Bronze and Daly did not have a professional options in the UK at 18.

WSL average salary is 48,000 pound or $61,800. Average salary for a woman in the UK 18-20 is 20,000 pounds, 22-29 is 29,000 pounds. NWSL is $65,000 but does not include health insurance, housing or transportation. The 12 team WSL revenues for 2024 $86.2 million compared to $112 million for the 14 team NWSL. A good chunk of that is fees paid for the new teams. Though the WSL is much more profitable because they use the same facilities as the parent club.

Also there is the women’s champions league. The players get bonus based on their performance. Take Arsenal for example. Next year if they win all their group stage games and the final the team receives €1,195,000. The women Euros 2025 pay out is at the same level as for UEFA EURO 2020, i.e. a total of €331 million. That is 3 x the women’s World Cup pay out just for Europe! Money is driving the women’s European game.

European women playing in college in the US are not their professional academy players. Most are the ones who have been told they do not have what it takes to be a professional player. That starts to happen at 14-15 years old. They are still on average much much better vs the US players. NCAA men’s and women’s soccer is a huge step down from Europe in terms or speed of play, soccer IQ, coaching, development, technical skills and competitiveness.

European coaches select players with high technical skills and soccer IQ as opposed to the US selecting on size and athleticism. The US coaches are trying to win at u9-u15 while the European coaches are looking to develop a professional player by 18-20 years. By u15 the US system is done with a player and the focus is getting in to college. In Europe the selection and development is just starting.

Some facts…

But a lot of opinion.

Comparing professionals to college players is sort of silly.

European players that come to the US to play college are the same skill level as US players playing college…surprise!

Professionals, US or European (or Asian, or Africa, or Latin…) are largely faster, better technically, and have a higher soccer IQ than college players (not to mention the styles between pros and college largely different)…surprise again!!

Lots of illogic as well…European coaches “select” premade talent…while US coaches just focus on winning (with zero talent?!)…so no coaches are ever developing talent?! Wow!

At 15 development just begins in Europe, but in the US…where apparently no development happened because the focus was on winning only…the coaches? And/or players? Are only focused on college, because apparently colleges don't want players that were of high technical or high soccer iq…college coach’s also only want to win?

The Europhilia (or maybe Urophilia?) of some
American soccer parents is insane.

The US women’s youth national teams do exceptionally well in international competition…i guess that’s the “don’t develop, but win” coaching for you. Probably also explains why the European “select developed talent” then wait until they’re 15 to re?develop them for the pros? (What’s after youth career in Europe for the 99% who don’t go pro?) approach of European coaches is also highly competitive internationally….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not particularly. Our top academy teams are very competitive with Europe’s. Our kids just choose different pathways and FIFA article 19 makes it harder our boys to go to Europe when they commit to a US club / academy.

Our youth national teams do very well in international play as well. Just our youth choose different pathways and it drops off in the seniors.

Part of that is that becoming an EPL player requires a certain amount of exposure and luck, as well as skill. And being on this side of the pond makes it harder for lightning to strike.

The success of our youth teams are primarily because of physicality.
Once technical and especially high tactical IQ is required at older and senior levels, well you see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

That isn't necessarily true. Not every kid in an academy "makes it." Plenty are dropped from one or more academies. There are European and Latin American players who come to the U.S. to play and get an education. On the women's side you may have heard of Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly. Both played collegiate soccer in America.

In England, WSL players aren't making a lot of money. The lower level players even less or are part time players. It behooves them to get an education. A good number come to play in America for colleges. They have to be recruited. They can't just show up and say "Here I am. When do we start?"

lol England didn't establish a fully professional women's league until 2018. This is when Europe started to professionalize women’s soccer. Look at what they have done in 5-6 years! Bronze and Daly did not have a professional options in the UK at 18.

WSL average salary is 48,000 pound or $61,800. Average salary for a woman in the UK 18-20 is 20,000 pounds, 22-29 is 29,000 pounds. NWSL is $65,000 but does not include health insurance, housing or transportation. The 12 team WSL revenues for 2024 $86.2 million compared to $112 million for the 14 team NWSL. A good chunk of that is fees paid for the new teams. Though the WSL is much more profitable because they use the same facilities as the parent club.

Also there is the women’s champions league. The players get bonus based on their performance. Take Arsenal for example. Next year if they win all their group stage games and the final the team receives €1,195,000. The women Euros 2025 pay out is at the same level as for UEFA EURO 2020, i.e. a total of €331 million. That is 3 x the women’s World Cup pay out just for Europe! Money is driving the women’s European game.

European women playing in college in the US are not their professional academy players. Most are the ones who have been told they do not have what it takes to be a professional player. That starts to happen at 14-15 years old. They are still on average much much better vs the US players. NCAA men’s and women’s soccer is a huge step down from Europe in terms or speed of play, soccer IQ, coaching, development, technical skills and competitiveness.

European coaches select players with high technical skills and soccer IQ as opposed to the US selecting on size and athleticism. The US coaches are trying to win at u9-u15 while the European coaches are looking to develop a professional player by 18-20 years. By u15 the US system is done with a player and the focus is getting in to college. In Europe the selection and development is just starting.

Some facts…

But a lot of opinion.

Comparing professionals to college players is sort of silly.

European players that come to the US to play college are the same skill level as US players playing college…surprise!

Professionals, US or European (or Asian, or Africa, or Latin…) are largely faster, better technically, and have a higher soccer IQ than college players (not to mention the styles between pros and college largely different)…surprise again!!

Lots of illogic as well…European coaches “select” premade talent…while US coaches just focus on winning (with zero talent?!)…so no coaches are ever developing talent?! Wow!

At 15 development just begins in Europe, but in the US…where apparently no development happened because the focus was on winning only…the coaches? And/or players? Are only focused on college, because apparently colleges don't want players that were of high technical or high soccer iq…college coach’s also only want to win?

The Europhilia (or maybe Urophilia?) of some
American soccer parents is insane.

The US women’s youth national teams do exceptionally well in international competition…i guess that’s the “don’t develop, but win” coaching for you. Probably also explains why the European “select developed talent” then wait until they’re 15 to re?develop them for the pros? (What’s after youth career in Europe for the 99% who don’t go pro?) approach of European coaches is also highly competitive internationally….

Majority of the England and European Men's National teams have over 90% of players who started at U8 and U9 in professional academies.
Who's waiting till kids turn 15 to start development?

If you're starting at 15 for Pro ambitions your race is over before it started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

That isn't necessarily true. Not every kid in an academy "makes it." Plenty are dropped from one or more academies. There are European and Latin American players who come to the U.S. to play and get an education. On the women's side you may have heard of Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly. Both played collegiate soccer in America.

In England, WSL players aren't making a lot of money. The lower level players even less or are part time players. It behooves them to get an education. A good number come to play in America for colleges. They have to be recruited. They can't just show up and say "Here I am. When do we start?"

lol England didn't establish a fully professional women's league until 2018. This is when Europe started to professionalize women’s soccer. Look at what they have done in 5-6 years! Bronze and Daly did not have a professional options in the UK at 18.

WSL average salary is 48,000 pound or $61,800. Average salary for a woman in the UK 18-20 is 20,000 pounds, 22-29 is 29,000 pounds. NWSL is $65,000 but does not include health insurance, housing or transportation. The 12 team WSL revenues for 2024 $86.2 million compared to $112 million for the 14 team NWSL. A good chunk of that is fees paid for the new teams. Though the WSL is much more profitable because they use the same facilities as the parent club.

Also there is the women’s champions league. The players get bonus based on their performance. Take Arsenal for example. Next year if they win all their group stage games and the final the team receives €1,195,000. The women Euros 2025 pay out is at the same level as for UEFA EURO 2020, i.e. a total of €331 million. That is 3 x the women’s World Cup pay out just for Europe! Money is driving the women’s European game.

European women playing in college in the US are not their professional academy players. Most are the ones who have been told they do not have what it takes to be a professional player. That starts to happen at 14-15 years old. They are still on average much much better vs the US players. NCAA men’s and women’s soccer is a huge step down from Europe in terms or speed of play, soccer IQ, coaching, development, technical skills and competitiveness.

European coaches select players with high technical skills and soccer IQ as opposed to the US selecting on size and athleticism. The US coaches are trying to win at u9-u15 while the European coaches are looking to develop a professional player by 18-20 years. By u15 the US system is done with a player and the focus is getting in to college. In Europe the selection and development is just starting.

Some facts…

But a lot of opinion.

Comparing professionals to college players is sort of silly.

European players that come to the US to play college are the same skill level as US players playing college…surprise!

Professionals, US or European (or Asian, or Africa, or Latin…) are largely faster, better technically, and have a higher soccer IQ than college players (not to mention the styles between pros and college largely different)…surprise again!!

Lots of illogic as well…European coaches “select” premade talent…while US coaches just focus on winning (with zero talent?!)…so no coaches are ever developing talent?! Wow!

At 15 development just begins in Europe, but in the US…where apparently no development happened because the focus was on winning only…the coaches? And/or players? Are only focused on college, because apparently colleges don't want players that were of high technical or high soccer iq…college coach’s also only want to win?

The Europhilia (or maybe Urophilia?) of some
American soccer parents is insane.

The US women’s youth national teams do exceptionally well in international competition…i guess that’s the “don’t develop, but win” coaching for you. Probably also explains why the European “select developed talent” then wait until they’re 15 to re?develop them for the pros? (What’s after youth career in Europe for the 99% who don’t go pro?) approach of European coaches is also highly competitive internationally….

Majority of the England and European Men's National teams have over 90% of players who started at U8 and U9 in professional academies.
Who's waiting till kids turn 15 to start development?

If you're starting at 15 for Pro ambitions your race is over before it started.

What do you know about being a pro athlete? Also what do you know about pro academies?

[Anonymous]

[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of the PDA players are going pro at 16-17-18-19?

The players at the European academies can sign anytime and start training full-time with professional players as soon as they sign. They don't have to worry about all the college recruiting BS.

That isn't necessarily true. Not every kid in an academy "makes it." Plenty are dropped from one or more academies. There are European and Latin American players who come to the U.S. to play and get an education. On the women's side you may have heard of Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly. Both played collegiate soccer in America.

In England, WSL players aren't making a lot of money. The lower level players even less or are part time players. It behooves them to get an education. A good number come to play in America for colleges. They have to be recruited. They can't just show up and say "Here I am. When do we start?"

lol England didn't establish a fully professional women's league until 2018. This is when Europe started to professionalize women’s soccer. Look at what they have done in 5-6 years! Bronze and Daly did not have a professional options in the UK at 18.

WSL average salary is 48,000 pound or $61,800. Average salary for a woman in the UK 18-20 is 20,000 pounds, 22-29 is 29,000 pounds. NWSL is $65,000 but does not include health insurance, housing or transportation. The 12 team WSL revenues for 2024 $86.2 million compared to $112 million for the 14 team NWSL. A good chunk of that is fees paid for the new teams. Though the WSL is much more profitable because they use the same facilities as the parent club.

Also there is the women’s champions league. The players get bonus based on their performance. Take Arsenal for example. Next year if they win all their group stage games and the final the team receives €1,195,000. The women Euros 2025 pay out is at the same level as for UEFA EURO 2020, i.e. a total of €331 million. That is 3 x the women’s World Cup pay out just for Europe! Money is driving the women’s European game.

European women playing in college in the US are not their professional academy players. Most are the ones who have been told they do not have what it takes to be a professional player. That starts to happen at 14-15 years old. They are still on average much much better vs the US players. NCAA men’s and women’s soccer is a huge step down from Europe in terms or speed of play, soccer IQ, coaching, development, technical skills and competitiveness.

European coaches select players with high technical skills and soccer IQ as opposed to the US selecting on size and athleticism. The US coaches are trying to win at u9-u15 while the European coaches are looking to develop a professional player by 18-20 years. By u15 the US system is done with a player and the focus is getting in to college. In Europe the selection and development is just starting.

Some facts…

But a lot of opinion.

Comparing professionals to college players is sort of silly.

European players that come to the US to play college are the same skill level as US players playing college…surprise!

Professionals, US or European (or Asian, or Africa, or Latin…) are largely faster, better technically, and have a higher soccer IQ than college players (not to mention the styles between pros and college largely different)…surprise again!!

Lots of illogic as well…European coaches “select” premade talent…while US coaches just focus on winning (with zero talent?!)…so no coaches are ever developing talent?! Wow!

At 15 development just begins in Europe, but in the US…where apparently no development happened because the focus was on winning only…the coaches? And/or players? Are only focused on college, because apparently colleges don't want players that were of high technical or high soccer iq…college coach’s also only want to win?

The Europhilia (or maybe Urophilia?) of some
American soccer parents is insane.

The US women’s youth national teams do exceptionally well in international competition…i guess that’s the “don’t develop, but win” coaching for you. Probably also explains why the European “select developed talent” then wait until they’re 15 to re?develop them for the pros? (What’s after youth career in Europe for the 99% who don’t go pro?) approach of European coaches is also highly competitive internationally….

Majority of the England and European Men's National teams have over 90% of players who started at U8 and U9 in professional academies.
Who's waiting till kids turn 15 to start development?

If you're starting at 15 for Pro ambitions your race is over before it started.

What do you know about being a pro athlete? Also what do you know about pro academies?

Not the PP, but they are right if they are talking about soccer. U15 is too late to start pro ambitions because the true top talent is already playing in the best academies. Other sports such as American football or basketball, can still achieve pro status starting at U15. The professional pathway is different for those sports.