DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
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Anonymous
what's the profile? |
Anonymous
Generally speaking, with some exceptions, physically mature kids that can be classified as early bloomers. Why a lot of the DCU teams are really good at u14 and start to fade quickly after that. DCU has known that as a system it can't teach the kids so they have resorted to just trying to be bigger, faster and stronger which they also know will win games in the short term. But as most know, this only gets your so far. Maybe the new director changes this player profile and the development methodology but that is still to be seen. If you have a smaller kid in DCUs system, it is very hard for them to get on the ball because it is in the air so much for bigger kids to run on it. If you play in the back or on the wing, DCU could be ok if you value touch rate. In the middle, DCUs style of play is a travesty. And because the kids aren't being taught how to share the ball efficiently, the touch rate overall at DCU isn't great. You'll see a lot of running hard but also a lot of really poor decisions, over dribbling and long balls. The player profile almost guarantees this. |
Anonymous
Agree with this. Not a DCU hater - wish them the best since they are our local MLS Academy. Not saying it’s good or bad but DCU does seem to have a type. Big, fast and strong, but not necessarily skilled. Couple of examples are the striker from 2011 Brave last year and the striker from 2012 Arlington this year. Again, wish these players all the best but there really does appear to be a profile DCU likes. |
Anonymous
And if you follow this profile all the way to who makes the pro team it also fits. DCU academy players that do make it to the pros (which is extremely rare) are usually wingers or defenders (center backs) Primarily speed and size dominant positions. In the modern game speed is definitely important. You have to have baseline speed to be a pro and there is no question about that. Try chasing down Haaland with no wheels. Just won't happen. Where DCU messes up is that they give size more weight than speed in how they recruit and this is an error in scouting philosophy and methodology. Size is important in two positions, goalie and center back. Everywhere else you can be small but you need a combination of skill and power (not necessarily top speed). You cant be a small center back or goalie. It just doesn't work. Also, playing centrally in the midfield or up top requires way more game IQ and understanding/reading of the game. This needs to be taught and DCU doesn't have the track record of teaching this. Just getting big kids and letting them run isn't going to do it. |
Anonymous
Just curious - how do you know which 2012 made the team for next season? Is roster posted anywhere (other than in social kids’ IG)? My kid wasn’t selected but interested to see for sure. |
Anonymous
| And this player profile is what plagues the entire US system. Why Panama can field a team to beat us. Footballers will always beat out athletes and runners. |
Anonymous
Unless your kid was given an offer, or you know others that have been given offers, you won't know for sure. They usually don't post the rosters and for 2012 I think they have given offers to who they want already. Everyone else who they have contacted and not given an offer to could be option if someone doesn't accept. Even then, chances are very slim. ID days are to string the on the fence kids and parents along until everyone they want accepts... |
Anonymous
Is it really to string along people or to keep their options open? It seems like they were pretty candid about the purpose of the session a few weeks ago (a few spots left to fill). |
Anonymous
My DS local mlsnext club played against DCU twice this season and I saw their U14's and U15's from the sidelines upclose Saying they have a type and profile of only big players is flat-out not true. Both teams clearly and obviously have all types and sizes with several small players playing up Not sure what agenda PP is on |
Anonymous
Do we really think it’s okay to call kids out so specifically? These are still little kids. 12/13 years old and calling them unskilled. Pretty low. |
Anonymous
This is legit. I think though, they will definitely take players they see as projects based on size and physical attributes. This is true of Red Bulls as well. |
Anonymous
Look at it how you want. what are they going to say, these kids in the ID sessions we already know aren't good enough but we need to keep them in the mix as a contingency plan? They say they have a few spots to fill so the optics are better and they keep people hanging on so they don't commit elsewhere. It's about DCUs options not the players. |
Anonymous
No one said there aren't all sizes and types at DCU. Just that they prefer bigger and faster kids. |
Anonymous
Across the board and averaged out, multiple local mlsnext u14 and u15 teams are bigger than dcu My ds fears the sizes of SYC and Bethesda for example more than he does dcu |
Anonymous
Because they selected other kids over yours doesn't create a reality from the picture you're trying to paint The truth is they have all types and sizes on their teams and people who have actually seen the teams know this |