Anonymous
01/31/2025 14:19
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-hartman-on-the-new-homegrown-rules/id1611865497?i=1000577479814
Randomly came across this podcast from 2022. Start at the 6 min mark, he briefly touches on DCU. Youth sports analyst. Pretty much says what was said in previous posts.
TLDR: DCUA sucks at scouting. Talent rich area and outside academies come and scoop up players.
I disagree. They don't suck at scouting. The DMV has a rare set up of some very competitive soccer communities. A lot of the players want to continue to play in high school and many have scholarships linked to it. It's not lack of scouting- it comes down to personal choices that parents and players are making. For some the move to academy is an easy answer. Others have a lot of other things to factor in. The talented Baltimore pool has to decide if the amount of travel works for their families. Same with the VA families that are from Richmond. It's a big commitment and not everyone is in the position to just accept and have to make decisions that work best for them.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 12:47
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?
I don't think so. He has already been announced internally. Externally not yet.
He has a huge job ahead of him. But at least he has some experience running an academy at this level and USL level and also scouting talent. Previous director just didn't have the experience and that was obvious. He did what he could and was capable of.
What he doesn't have experience in is DMV soccer politics which is a beast in and of itself, the problems at DCU which are deep, and running an academy with very little resources available to him.
Hope he can change things around.
The DMV Politics is probably the biggest reason why the academy is at the level that it is. Unsure if all true but player selection is/was based on a lot connection and in back alley/under the table agreement. Talented players whose family has to network is at a disadvantage.
Could you provide an example of how a kid not worthy of being selected to DC United would make the team?
This question is for educational purposes 😀
Jeopardy Think Music 🎶 still going
Anonymous
01/31/2025 08:45
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?
I don't think so. He has already been announced internally. Externally not yet.
He has a huge job ahead of him. But at least he has some experience running an academy at this level and USL level and also scouting talent. Previous director just didn't have the experience and that was obvious. He did what he could and was capable of.
What he doesn't have experience in is DMV soccer politics which is a beast in and of itself, the problems at DCU which are deep, and running an academy with very little resources available to him.
Hope he can change things around.
The DMV Politics is probably the biggest reason why the academy is at the level that it is. Unsure if all true but player selection is/was based on a lot connection and in back alley/under the table agreement. Talented players whose family has to network is at a disadvantage.
Could you provide an example of how a kid not worthy of being selected to DC United would make the team?
This question is for educational purposes 😀
Anonymous
01/31/2025 08:43
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?
I don't think so. He has already been announced internally. Externally not yet.
He has a huge job ahead of him. But at least he has some experience running an academy at this level and USL level and also scouting talent. Previous director just didn't have the experience and that was obvious. He did what he could and was capable of.
What he doesn't have experience in is DMV soccer politics which is a beast in and of itself, the problems at DCU which are deep, and running an academy with very little resources available to him.
Hope he can change things around.
The DMV Politics is probably the biggest reason why the academy is at the level that it is. Unsure if all true but player selection is/was based on a lot connection and in back alley/under the table agreement. Talented players whose family has to network is at a disadvantage.
Agree with this.
You have to get people into DCU that have no connections to the soccer establishment in our area to change things around. Scouting maybe most importantly. If scouts are part of the good ole boy network or have been in the past it is a breeding ground for political plays, which we have clearly seen in terms of the selections in the last few years. Of course many kids are there because they deserve it. Some, politics played a big role.
They tried an outsider as director last time but underestimated how his lack of experience at the level would play out especially given how savvy legacy clubs are in our area. This time they hired an outsider again but didn't make that same mistake. He has a great deal of relevant experience and I'm sure the new director will have views on scouting and the player profile and maybe we will see some changes.
What's the player profile criterion being used by the dc scouting department?
Anonymous
01/31/2025 08:39
Subject: Re: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:you heard it here first, 2011 half players on cut list 2010 handful new doc on the move. kids will be giving choices stay as practice squad or out the door. start shopping around boys
Name your source.
Dr Seuss
Anonymous
01/31/2025 08:32
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?
I don't think so. He has already been announced internally. Externally not yet.
He has a huge job ahead of him. But at least he has some experience running an academy at this level and USL level and also scouting talent. Previous director just didn't have the experience and that was obvious. He did what he could and was capable of.
What he doesn't have experience in is DMV soccer politics which is a beast in and of itself, the problems at DCU which are deep, and running an academy with very little resources available to him.
Hope he can change things around.
The DMV Politics is probably the biggest reason why the academy is at the level that it is. Unsure if all true but player selection is/was based on a lot connection and in back alley/under the table agreement. Talented players whose family has to network is at a disadvantage.
What's the politics?
Who are the dmv soccer political insiders and how do parents get on the right side of the dcua politics?
Anonymous
01/31/2025 08:23
Subject: Re: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:you heard it here first, 2011 half players on cut list 2010 handful new doc on the move. kids will be giving choices stay as practice squad or out the door. start shopping around boys
That will stir things up during ID sessions at the non-Academy MLS clubs
Anonymous
01/31/2025 08:13
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Politics? My therapist said we need facts, truths and verifiable data.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 08:09
Subject: Re: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:you heard it here first, 2011 half players on cut list 2010 handful new doc on the move. kids will be giving choices stay as practice squad or out the door. start shopping around boys
Name your source.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 07:55
Subject: Re: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
you heard it here first, 2011 half players on cut list 2010 handful new doc on the move. kids will be giving choices stay as practice squad or out the door. start shopping around boys
Anonymous
01/31/2025 07:50
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?
I don't think so. He has already been announced internally. Externally not yet.
He has a huge job ahead of him. But at least he has some experience running an academy at this level and USL level and also scouting talent. Previous director just didn't have the experience and that was obvious. He did what he could and was capable of.
What he doesn't have experience in is DMV soccer politics which is a beast in and of itself, the problems at DCU which are deep, and running an academy with very little resources available to him.
Hope he can change things around.
The DMV Politics is probably the biggest reason why the academy is at the level that it is. Unsure if all true but player selection is/was based on a lot connection and in back alley/under the table agreement. Talented players whose family has to network is at a disadvantage.
Agree with this.
You have to get people into DCU that have no connections to the soccer establishment in our area to change things around. Scouting maybe most importantly. If scouts are part of the good ole boy network or have been in the past it is a breeding ground for political plays, which we have clearly seen in terms of the selections in the last few years. Of course many kids are there because they deserve it. Some, politics played a big role.
They tried an outsider as director last time but underestimated how his lack of experience at the level would play out especially given how savvy legacy clubs are in our area. This time they hired an outsider again but didn't make that same mistake. He has a great deal of relevant experience and I'm sure the new director will have views on scouting and the player profile and maybe we will see some changes.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 07:01
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?
I don't think so. He has already been announced internally. Externally not yet.
He has a huge job ahead of him. But at least he has some experience running an academy at this level and USL level and also scouting talent. Previous director just didn't have the experience and that was obvious. He did what he could and was capable of.
What he doesn't have experience in is DMV soccer politics which is a beast in and of itself, the problems at DCU which are deep, and running an academy with very little resources available to him.
Hope he can change things around.
The DMV Politics is probably the biggest reason why the academy is at the level that it is. Unsure if all true but player selection is/was based on a lot connection and in back alley/under the table agreement. Talented players whose family has to network is at a disadvantage.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 04:46
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Also, the new director has experience with the current GM ot DCU who also came from Nashville. Would think that this helps.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 04:42
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?
I don't think so. He has already been announced internally. Externally not yet.
He has a huge job ahead of him. But at least he has some experience running an academy at this level and USL level and also scouting talent. Previous director just didn't have the experience and that was obvious. He did what he could and was capable of.
What he doesn't have experience in is DMV soccer politics which is a beast in and of itself, the problems at DCU which are deep, and running an academy with very little resources available to him.
Hope he can change things around.
Anonymous
01/30/2025 13:04
Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not
Anonymous wrote:Did anybody else get fired at the academy, or are we waiting until Friday for the big reveal?
was it announced somewhere that there will be an announcement on Friday?