If we drive 2 hours north of DC we will find an academy that is consistently selling players to top international clubs? There are multiple professional academies in and around London. They are not all the same in terms of success in producing professional players, facilities, revenue etc Every academy can't be the top academy. |
Correct. DCUA is not a top academy. |
And? Which one is and why? Do you have the revenue numbers for players sold and can list the top academies players currently playing professional football globally? |
Wrong. Achilles FC has a player on the U16 Team. The only one from the DMV. |
Do you? |
They not a top club. Haven't made the MLS playoffs since 2019 or won a championship since 2004. Flows down to the academy. Maybe resources aren't there. That's why it is interesting that Richmond has kids from two different academies on the USYNT. Why didn't DC recruit them in their own backyard. I don't think residential schooling is the main reason. |
| Did anyone from DCU made it? |
I don't think that I am spilling the tea here, but perhaps the perceived issues with DC United Academy made there way down to Richmond and there is notion that it's not the best place to grow and develop? One of the best players to come out of the Richmond area in the last few years is Chris Durkin and he went through the DCUA program and signed a homegrown contract with DCU. Currently playing at St. Louis City. Maybe his experiences weren't always the best there and that may have something to do with Richmond's players going elsewhere. Just food for thought. |
Nope |
Interesting point. |
| Well, maybe, just maybe, Richmond does have the best 1 or 2 players in the state and NoVa has the best 3-100 players in the state. And sometimes that's the difference between pro or even D1 and D3. |
What are the issues with the DC Academy that didn't stop players from being there then being recruited by top tier clubs in Europe? How does a player from Richmond not going to DCU counteract players from DCU going Pro and to top colleges? |
| And how quickly we forget about Kevin Paredes, Griffin Yow etc. |
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I don't think it does at all. There will be positives and negatives with any club, academy, etc. |