Reply to Bethesda (MLS Next) vs Achilles FC (MLS Next) vs Baltimore Armour vs Alexandria (MLS Next) vs SYC (MLS Next) experience

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Achilles parent here and it is weird to read the comments about the club on this thread.

I truly believe that Achilles is simply a different thing from the other MLS Next clubs, with which I also have some experience with my other children.  And that's why you get these very polarizing comments.

First, Achilles does not have a full set of teams in every age group (i.e., MLS Next, lower leagues, recreation, etc.).  It mainly is focused on MLS Next.

Second, it is run by one person - Sal Caccavale.  Either you buy into him and his philosophy of coaching or you don't and you are not at the club.  I can say that in my experience the kids/parents love him and are extremely loyal.  (That said, of course you are going to have players that are not playing, claims of favoritism, and all of the other emotional baggage that goes into youth soccer and people will leave unhappy.)

Third, the club has a lot of ex-DC United players because, in my opinion, they value the possession-based playing style, which lets them demonstrate the full range of their skills.  That style leads to a lot of losses at the younger age groups, and then it pays off at the older levels.  Take a look at the MLS Next Fest results from last week - Achilles U17 and U19 teams had 5 wins, 0 losses, and 1 tie.

Finally, like any youth soccer team, Achilles can be beat by sheer athleticism and drive.  For example, it often, but not always, has trouble matching up with Bethesda (one of the best clubs in the country to be fair).  But the question, as with all youth sports, is how much you value development versus results.  That's not a knock on Bethesda, just an explanation as to why Achilles' best players do not leave just because Bethesda wins more games.

Anyway, that's more than my two cents, but I wanted to offer some real perspective here for any parents who are trying to sort through the various local clubs and land on this thread.[/quote]

Every team beats Achilles in MLS Next 
In lopsided fashion. Consistently

That tells you any development, if any, is small and shortsighted 
It also tells you the players are not exposed to good coaching. 
Maybe decent group training, but definitely not good box to box coaching [/quote]

First, have you experienced their coaching?  I don't think you know what you are talking about and you don't have a clue what a quality coach is if you have.  We are with Potomac because it is more convenient for us because, well, we live in Potomac.  However, there aren't many coaches in the DMV with better coaches with actual high level playing experience.

Second, they are recruiting from 1/4 of the talent pool of Alexandria, Bethesda, SYC, etc.  I think it would actually be embarrassing for the other entities with 2-3 decades head start and much large talent pools to choose from.  They are nestled in DC and, no shade to DC players, there aren't alot of elite players coming up through DC Soccer.

Third, as the Achilles parent said, you default to wins and losses and it is sad that you simply aren't aware enough to learn about development to make an informed decision.  It is okay to say that you don't want to join Achilles because of Sal's temperament.  That's fine.  But when you spew this winning nonsense over development, you expose why the DMV is considered soft and weak in the elite soccer circles.[/quote]

Never met anyone high in the US Soccer hierarchy that considers the DMV soft and weak with talent [/quote]

You have not had any heart to hearts with NY/PA/NJ coaches then.

If you are talking high up, then no.  My rebuttal would be then why does NJ/PA outnumber us in USMNT players?  
[/quote]

If NJ/PA has more youth players in the USYNT age groups, how does that make a conclusion that the DMV is soft and weak?

California having more than Florida makes Florida weak?[/quote]

Do you really think your kid is strong? Do you even know what is tough?

You have not watched and played enough soccer in multiple environments to have a valid discussion.  There is a reason Alexandria and SYC travel up there to play for league play.  Ownership is the first step to change.[/quote]

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