Anonymous wrote:If no u-littles coaches are developing good young players in the dmv, but the so-called top academies are taking players from the dmv, then something is missing

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Anonymous wrote:Jesus H Christ. This thread is just so freaking tiresome.

It's the same for and against, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Is the DC United Academy operating as a top academy should? IMO, definitely not. Does it make sense for some players to attend? Absolutely.

I have posted several times before and have an ok decent knowledge of DCU. At this point, I don't care anymore if I'm sharing too much, but my nephew is on the DCU U18 team. He was recruited to play this year at the academy after playing for a local MLSN squad. He thought it was a great option for him to get exposed to a different environment. To be transparent, he is committed to play college soccer at a B10 school.

In talking to his Mom, is it the greatest? No. He avoided the school charges by completing his senior year with his home district via their online option. He's commuting back home but has a place to stay with friends in the Loudoun area. Overall, in speaking with him, it's been a plus in his development.

My DD plays with the sister of a current DCU player. Speaking with their parents was transparent and useful as my nephew was making a decision to play at DCU. We also know through acquaintances a current MLS player who played at both at DCU and their academy in what seems like forever ago. Listening to his experiences was valuable as well for making decisions.

Our local club has placed quite a few players into MLS Academies - it is telling though that many have not gone to DCU but others clubs. A top ACC freshmen in men's soccer has his younger brothers at Philly Union and those guys were developed here locally and did not go to DCU. There two other young men, IIRC at Philly that are doing quite well.

I don't think that this post will shut the debate down, but I hope folks realize that everything and everyone have their place.

I suspect Union actively scouts here since they know many of the top players avoid DCU.

It is it improbable or impossible that all the so-called top players in the dmv have parents that are sending them away at 12, 13, 14 years old to live elsewhere to pursue soccer in large numbers? Just using a little logic and critical, rational thinking

Also impressive that so many top quality players at u-littles exist in the dmv that we're exporting them in droves and there's room for them all at other academies

Sounds fantastic and fictional to me

Look, I hate naming names, but I'm not in the DMV, but in the Richmond area. Richmond United has been successful in sending multiple kids to Philly Union and they are doing really well. Additionally, they have placed young men at other clubs as well. Why haven't they gone to DCU? Wyatt Holt is a top player at Charlotte that came through Richmond. Mateo Gallegos and Samuel Diaz Gallego both at are Philly along with twins Kai and Grant Simmonds. Why aren't they at DCU?

Probably because the academy isn't up to snuff.

By your attempted reasoning, kids from Pennsylvania and Delaware who went to Red Bulls instead of Philly is a scientific conclusion that Philadelphia Union isn't a good enough academy

I don't want to be the A-hole who says provide me with names of kids that went to Red Bulls v. Philly Union...so, yeah, your argument may have just a modicum of merit. I do think the point is a valid one of why are kids essentially in the backyard of DCU not going to DCU? Why doesn't DCU pull the semi-local kids from the Richmond area into their academy?

Why do Philadelphia kids go to Red Bulls?

Why do New Jersey and New York kids go to Philadelphia Union?

Because people are making choices about what system suits their child the best and what system gives them the most opportunities. And the clubs are also making choices about the kids. But the big difference is that these two clubs are very competitive to get into and if you're in the Philly or ny metro, they are both options because they are both that good and the homestay option is available and at Union YSC is literally light years ahead of any program at DCU. And the pool of kids in those metro areas is very big especially in the NYC/NY metro. They just have lots of kids to choose from. So maybe going to Philly is less competitive in some instances. What it all shows is that when you're talking about really good academies, there are strategic calculations being made. When you're talking about the bad academies like DCU, you're just managing a bad choice. Why kids don't chose to transfer to DCU despite DCU wanting them.

I like to look past the rhetoric and campaign speeches to actual end results on any topic

Based on the make-up of the US National Youth Teams, I don't see any academies light years ahead of any. Just the same few with political clout that always get some selections
The US Men's national team also doesn't reflect these imaginary magic carpet rides being sold here

Sensible people would agree some organizations are better financed and run than others. That's a global scenario.

No need for the excessive exaggerations that aren't rooted in reality

There are so many factors that you can’t control in development. What I can say is that there were a few Philly Union 2013’s that were light years ahead ANY DMV 2013’s I have seen. I have seen most of the top ones. Now, if those kids never grow or decide to take up girls or the PS5 more than football, than they will not continue to develop. However, they had players with all three factors: speed, technical ability and most importantly, IQ. They knew when to pass and when to dribble at only 11-12. That is coaching and development.

Many of our kids are forced to try to win by making bad footballing decisions in P2P or lose by making the right play to kids who are just not that into football, even on A teams. Those Philly kids are practicing and playing with each other at the most crucial times for technical development: before age 14. Once puberty hits, who knows what will happen but that have it right early. If you have the technical acumen early, you can layer on tactical to develop quality, sellable players.

I understand DCU does not care but I have one shot to help a young kid who is on the ball at least 15-20 hours a week maximize his potential. So yes, I am interested in the best coaches who will teach the technical details. I only know of 3 in the DMV I trust so I assume there has to be more that I am unaware of.

If you think you can learn everything solo in the backyard without the benefit of live, fast bullets, I am afraid to say that that is probably why you are only at the DCU academy and not somewhere else. Yes, it is lame, but iron sharpens iron. In the younger age groups, SYC has the talent collection right but they don’t have a clue how to develop a technical player which is why their players drop off at the older ages. It is these U Little years so many of you make fun of that determines the foundation of a professional footballer. So who develops players?

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Anonymous wrote:Jesus H Christ. This thread is just so freaking tiresome.

It's the same for and against, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Is the DC United Academy operating as a top academy should? IMO, definitely not. Does it make sense for some players to attend? Absolutely.

I have posted several times before and have an ok decent knowledge of DCU. At this point, I don't care anymore if I'm sharing too much, but my nephew is on the DCU U18 team. He was recruited to play this year at the academy after playing for a local MLSN squad. He thought it was a great option for him to get exposed to a different environment. To be transparent, he is committed to play college soccer at a B10 school.

In talking to his Mom, is it the greatest? No. He avoided the school charges by completing his senior year with his home district via their online option. He's commuting back home but has a place to stay with friends in the Loudoun area. Overall, in speaking with him, it's been a plus in his development.

My DD plays with the sister of a current DCU player. Speaking with their parents was transparent and useful as my nephew was making a decision to play at DCU. We also know through acquaintances a current MLS player who played at both at DCU and their academy in what seems like forever ago. Listening to his experiences was valuable as well for making decisions.

Our local club has placed quite a few players into MLS Academies - it is telling though that many have not gone to DCU but others clubs. A top ACC freshmen in men's soccer has his younger brothers at Philly Union and those guys were developed here locally and did not go to DCU. There two other young men, IIRC at Philly that are doing quite well.

I don't think that this post will shut the debate down, but I hope folks realize that everything and everyone have their place.

I suspect Union actively scouts here since they know many of the top players avoid DCU.

It is it improbable or impossible that all the so-called top players in the dmv have parents that are sending them away at 12, 13, 14 years old to live elsewhere to pursue soccer in large numbers? Just using a little logic and critical, rational thinking

Also impressive that so many top quality players at u-littles exist in the dmv that we're exporting them in droves and there's room for them all at other academies

Sounds fantastic and fictional to me

Look, I hate naming names, but I'm not in the DMV, but in the Richmond area. Richmond United has been successful in sending multiple kids to Philly Union and they are doing really well. Additionally, they have placed young men at other clubs as well. Why haven't they gone to DCU? Wyatt Holt is a top player at Charlotte that came through Richmond. Mateo Gallegos and Samuel Diaz Gallego both at are Philly along with twins Kai and Grant Simmonds. Why aren't they at DCU?

Probably because the academy isn't up to snuff.

By your attempted reasoning, kids from Pennsylvania and Delaware who went to Red Bulls instead of Philly is a scientific conclusion that Philadelphia Union isn't a good enough academy

I don't want to be the A-hole who says provide me with names of kids that went to Red Bulls v. Philly Union...so, yeah, your argument may have just a modicum of merit. I do think the point is a valid one of why are kids essentially in the backyard of DCU not going to DCU? Why doesn't DCU pull the semi-local kids from the Richmond area into their academy?

Why do Philadelphia kids go to Red Bulls?

Why do New Jersey and New York kids go to Philadelphia Union?

Because people are making choices about what system suits their child the best and what system gives them the most opportunities. And the clubs are also making choices about the kids. But the big difference is that these two clubs are very competitive to get into and if you're in the Philly or ny metro, they are both options because they are both that good and the homestay option is available and at Union YSC is literally light years ahead of any program at DCU. And the pool of kids in those metro areas is very big especially in the NYC/NY metro. They just have lots of kids to choose from. So maybe going to Philly is less competitive in some instances. What it all shows is that when you're talking about really good academies, there are strategic calculations being made. When you're talking about the bad academies like DCU, you're just managing a bad choice. Why kids don't chose to transfer to DCU despite DCU wanting them.

I like to look past the rhetoric and campaign speeches to actual end results on any topic

Based on the make-up of the US National Youth Teams, I don't see any academies light years ahead of any. Just the same few with political clout that always get some selections
The US Men's national team also doesn't reflect these imaginary magic carpet rides being sold here

Sensible people would agree some organizations are better financed and run than others. That's a global scenario.

No need for the excessive exaggerations that aren't rooted in reality

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Anonymous wrote:Jesus H Christ. This thread is just so freaking tiresome.

It's the same for and against, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Is the DC United Academy operating as a top academy should? IMO, definitely not. Does it make sense for some players to attend? Absolutely.

I have posted several times before and have an ok decent knowledge of DCU. At this point, I don't care anymore if I'm sharing too much, but my nephew is on the DCU U18 team. He was recruited to play this year at the academy after playing for a local MLSN squad. He thought it was a great option for him to get exposed to a different environment. To be transparent, he is committed to play college soccer at a B10 school.

In talking to his Mom, is it the greatest? No. He avoided the school charges by completing his senior year with his home district via their online option. He's commuting back home but has a place to stay with friends in the Loudoun area. Overall, in speaking with him, it's been a plus in his development.

My DD plays with the sister of a current DCU player. Speaking with their parents was transparent and useful as my nephew was making a decision to play at DCU. We also know through acquaintances a current MLS player who played at both at DCU and their academy in what seems like forever ago. Listening to his experiences was valuable as well for making decisions.

Our local club has placed quite a few players into MLS Academies - it is telling though that many have not gone to DCU but others clubs. A top ACC freshmen in men's soccer has his younger brothers at Philly Union and those guys were developed here locally and did not go to DCU. There two other young men, IIRC at Philly that are doing quite well.

I don't think that this post will shut the debate down, but I hope folks realize that everything and everyone have their place.

I suspect Union actively scouts here since they know many of the top players avoid DCU.

It is it improbable or impossible that all the so-called top players in the dmv have parents that are sending them away at 12, 13, 14 years old to live elsewhere to pursue soccer in large numbers? Just using a little logic and critical, rational thinking

Also impressive that so many top quality players at u-littles exist in the dmv that we're exporting them in droves and there's room for them all at other academies

Sounds fantastic and fictional to me

Look, I hate naming names, but I'm not in the DMV, but in the Richmond area. Richmond United has been successful in sending multiple kids to Philly Union and they are doing really well. Additionally, they have placed young men at other clubs as well. Why haven't they gone to DCU? Wyatt Holt is a top player at Charlotte that came through Richmond. Mateo Gallegos and Samuel Diaz Gallego both at are Philly along with twins Kai and Grant Simmonds. Why aren't they at DCU?

Probably because the academy isn't up to snuff.

By your attempted reasoning, kids from Pennsylvania and Delaware who went to Red Bulls instead of Philly is a scientific conclusion that Philadelphia Union isn't a good enough academy

I don't want to be the A-hole who says provide me with names of kids that went to Red Bulls v. Philly Union...so, yeah, your argument may have just a modicum of merit. I do think the point is a valid one of why are kids essentially in the backyard of DCU not going to DCU? Why doesn't DCU pull the semi-local kids from the Richmond area into their academy?

Why do Philadelphia kids go to Red Bulls?

Why do New Jersey and New York kids go to Philadelphia Union?

Because people are making choices about what system suits their child the best and what system gives them the most opportunities. And the clubs are also making choices about the kids. But the big difference is that these two clubs are very competitive to get into and if you're in the Philly or ny metro, they are both options because they are both that good and the homestay option is available and at Union YSC is literally light years ahead of any program at DCU. And the pool of kids in those metro areas is very big especially in the NYC/NY metro. They just have lots of kids to choose from. So maybe going to Philly is less competitive in some instances. What it all shows is that when you're talking about really good academies, there are strategic calculations being made. When you're talking about the bad academies like DCU, you're just managing a bad choice. Why kids don't chose to transfer to DCU despite DCU wanting them.

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Anonymous wrote:The truth is DCU isn't a credible academy in the MLS academy landscape. It is FAR behind the best academies and not even really on par with the worst considering it doesn't have its own facilities and makes many of their players and families pay money to participate. No teaching methodology, no consistent results and leadership that gives no craps about the academy. Recipe for failure and DCUs academy is in fact failing. Overall, just not a good place to be.

Every academy doesn't have players in final USYNT camps. DCU has representation.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

DCU has players in the Premier League.
All other academies don't.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

All other academies aren't selling players regularly and consistently to top leagues.
So how is DC far behind them?

This is like saying Messi and Benteke are the same because they are both past their prime players playing in the MLS. Or that Tottenham is the same quality club as Wrexham because neither club has won the premier league. Or that the MLS is just as good as the Belgian league because neither has produced Ballon d'or winners. Or that Ajax and La Masia academies are the same as Philly Union because they all have boarding houses and full campuses for their academies. It has already been proven, over and over, that your line of logic fails miserably in this regard.

DCU is behind almost every other MLS academy in the country because of some very simple facts:

It doesn't own a facility for the academy and isnt investing in one. Every other MLS academy has its own facility and most are planning to build bigger ones

It doesn't have enough personnel to run a credible academy. DCU has 9 people dedicated to football in the academy. NINE. And most of them aren't full time employees Many of the MLS academies in this country just have more people focused on development. And they pay them more than DCU does which attracts better developers

It has poor scouting and recruiting. With one scout to cover a vast amount of territory, many talents are overlooked. Couple this with the fact that the primary scouting methodology is word of mouth not proactive scouting and you see why the DCU rosters don't always have the top kids.

It doesn't properly invest in the academy. Other academies are investing tens of millions of dollars in their academies. DCU doesnt invest in the academy and only tries to keep it running so the MLS doesnt take action against them.

Every other MLS academy in the US has a second team to further develop their players. DCU does not have this. This alone puts them way behind other Academies and has caused other MLS academies to petition the league to take DCUs homegrown territory rights away because it doesn't provide a real pro pathway to its players so why should they get to protect those players from systems that actually have a legit pro pathway.

DCUs academy doesn't consistently produce players for the first team. It has been years since an academy product has played real minutes for the first team.

DCU has no grassroots program to cultivate young players No real rationale needed. This fact stands on its own.

DCU has an inferior methodology and system. You can see this every week when the teams play real academies. DCU always looks behind and unorganized

The academy itself is unorganized and unprofessional. This is clear from how they communicate with the external world, their own players and families and their own staff.

Local clubs have more infrastructure and more to offer local players. With good academies, the delta between what they are offering and what a local club is offering is massive.

DCUs reputation on a national level is far behind the best academies. This is just known and uncontroverted. On an international level DCUs academy is no where.

Some of the best players from this region in the last years have actually left DCU or decided not to go to DCU for better environments after they either saw first hand what the program is about or because they already knew DCU was poor and didn't want to involve themselves with the operation.

Could write a lot more and much more is offered on this thread in the pages before. You just have to read it.

💯

Stiven Jimenez, Chris Applewhite are just two examples (there are more) who are both pros now and deliberately left this area to play for better academies because they knew DCU was not going to be the best environment for their development. Both grew up here and played for local DMV clubs.

Thank you for these. If possible, can you share more? It looks like they both played for Arlington. I am not trying to argue about DCU merits. I am simply looking for successful kids who came out of the DMV to see what they were doing at my son's age and network with the people who helped develop these kids. I was only aware of Parades and Yow who play my son's position. Akinmboni is a defender and completely different with his physical profile.

Here are a few names that I know of personally. And this is just off the top of my head. If I really did research I could find more.

These players are all from the DMV and either never stepped foot in DCU or were in DCU for a short period of time (even when they had younger ages and a longer pathway): All reached professional soccer either in the MLs or overseas. All could have chosen DCU for extended periods of time.but didn't.

Aaron Heard (Leverkusen)
Jack Sullivan (Colorado Rapids)
Gabe Segal (Houston Dynamo)
Jeremy Ebobisse (LAFC)
Gideon Zelalem (Arsenal and NYCFC)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Asteras Tripolis)
Byang Kayo (OH Leuven)
Joe Gyau (Dortmund, Hoffenheim, FC Cincy and several other clubs)

There are also several younger kids (u14-u17) in top European academies from the DMV that will make waves very soon as well.

If you're genuinely interested like your post says, here you are. Many of these players had coaches that are still around the DMV. If you're the PP masquerading as someone else thinking there are no other players to list, you feel about as dumb as your post right about now. 👍

An overwhelming amount of these players played for Bethesda. Are there any other coaches still there that developed any of these players? Other than Philip Gyau, are there any other coaches with the history of developing players left over there?

Nope. All of them gone. Only a few decent coaches left on the boys side.

Philip Gyau and Paul Torres coach at Next Star. Ask them which club and coaches are good at development. It’s useless to have a coach that knows how to develop but not have a club willing to support that development.

Next Star has created an environment where several good players go to their training to hangout together

They don't take bad news bears or average players and make them elite

The only one that can make a player elite is themselves. A coach and club can facilitate that. But its on the player to want it.

Only parents of players who don’t want it (or don’t have the mentality) or have parents who want it more says stuff like PP.

Move on, find a coach that’s a better fit for ur player

What does any of that have to do with several already top level for their clubs players go to Next Star to train with other top level players?

Is that not the truth?

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Anonymous wrote:One dub across three age groups this weekend. AGAIN. DCU is just not in the same class as other Academies. Chicago Fire didn't even bring their best kids to play DCU. Mostly younger kids in the one game DCU won. And for the people saying winning and losing doesn't matter, you're right. It really doesn't. But losing ad winning does matter when you aren't learning anything and that is what is happening at DCU. So much talent, so little investment in that talent.

The reality

The one thing I've definitely learned from this political thread is that apparently every team that comes to play dcu brings their weakest players and players playing up

per the poster who they all seem to share their roster with lol

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Anonymous wrote:Jesus H Christ. This thread is just so freaking tiresome.

It's the same for and against, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Is the DC United Academy operating as a top academy should? IMO, definitely not. Does it make sense for some players to attend? Absolutely.

I have posted several times before and have an ok decent knowledge of DCU. At this point, I don't care anymore if I'm sharing too much, but my nephew is on the DCU U18 team. He was recruited to play this year at the academy after playing for a local MLSN squad. He thought it was a great option for him to get exposed to a different environment. To be transparent, he is committed to play college soccer at a B10 school.

In talking to his Mom, is it the greatest? No. He avoided the school charges by completing his senior year with his home district via their online option. He's commuting back home but has a place to stay with friends in the Loudoun area. Overall, in speaking with him, it's been a plus in his development.

My DD plays with the sister of a current DCU player. Speaking with their parents was transparent and useful as my nephew was making a decision to play at DCU. We also know through acquaintances a current MLS player who played at both at DCU and their academy in what seems like forever ago. Listening to his experiences was valuable as well for making decisions.

Our local club has placed quite a few players into MLS Academies - it is telling though that many have not gone to DCU but others clubs. A top ACC freshmen in men's soccer has his younger brothers at Philly Union and those guys were developed here locally and did not go to DCU. There two other young men, IIRC at Philly that are doing quite well.

I don't think that this post will shut the debate down, but I hope folks realize that everything and everyone have their place.

I suspect Union actively scouts here since they know many of the top players avoid DCU.

It is it improbable or impossible that all the so-called top players in the dmv have parents that are sending them away at 12, 13, 14 years old to live elsewhere to pursue soccer in large numbers? Just using a little logic and critical, rational thinking

Also impressive that so many top quality players at u-littles exist in the dmv that we're exporting them in droves and there's room for them all at other academies

Sounds fantastic and fictional to me

Look, I hate naming names, but I'm not in the DMV, but in the Richmond area. Richmond United has been successful in sending multiple kids to Philly Union and they are doing really well. Additionally, they have placed young men at other clubs as well. Why haven't they gone to DCU? Wyatt Holt is a top player at Charlotte that came through Richmond. Mateo Gallegos and Samuel Diaz Gallego both at are Philly along with twins Kai and Grant Simmonds. Why aren't they at DCU?

Probably because the academy isn't up to snuff.

By your attempted reasoning, kids from Pennsylvania and Delaware who went to Red Bulls instead of Philly is a scientific conclusion that Philadelphia Union isn't a good enough academy

I don't want to be the A-hole who says provide me with names of kids that went to Red Bulls v. Philly Union...so, yeah, your argument may have just a modicum of merit. I do think the point is a valid one of why are kids essentially in the backyard of DCU not going to DCU? Why doesn't DCU pull the semi-local kids from the Richmond area into their academy?

Why do Philadelphia kids go to Red Bulls?

Why do New Jersey and New York kids go to Philadelphia Union?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus H Christ. This thread is just so freaking tiresome.

It's the same for and against, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Is the DC United Academy operating as a top academy should? IMO, definitely not. Does it make sense for some players to attend? Absolutely.

I have posted several times before and have an ok decent knowledge of DCU. At this point, I don't care anymore if I'm sharing too much, but my nephew is on the DCU U18 team. He was recruited to play this year at the academy after playing for a local MLSN squad. He thought it was a great option for him to get exposed to a different environment. To be transparent, he is committed to play college soccer at a B10 school.

In talking to his Mom, is it the greatest? No. He avoided the school charges by completing his senior year with his home district via their online option. He's commuting back home but has a place to stay with friends in the Loudoun area. Overall, in speaking with him, it's been a plus in his development.

My DD plays with the sister of a current DCU player. Speaking with their parents was transparent and useful as my nephew was making a decision to play at DCU. We also know through acquaintances a current MLS player who played at both at DCU and their academy in what seems like forever ago. Listening to his experiences was valuable as well for making decisions.

Our local club has placed quite a few players into MLS Academies - it is telling though that many have not gone to DCU but others clubs. A top ACC freshmen in men's soccer has his younger brothers at Philly Union and those guys were developed here locally and did not go to DCU. There two other young men, IIRC at Philly that are doing quite well.

I don't think that this post will shut the debate down, but I hope folks realize that everything and everyone have their place.

I suspect Union actively scouts here since they know many of the top players avoid DCU.

It is it improbable or impossible that all the so-called top players in the dmv have parents that are sending them away at 12, 13, 14 years old to live elsewhere to pursue soccer in large numbers? Just using a little logic and critical, rational thinking

Also impressive that so many top quality players at u-littles exist in the dmv that we're exporting them in droves and there's room for them all at other academies

Sounds fantastic and fictional to me

Look, I hate naming names, but I'm not in the DMV, but in the Richmond area. Richmond United has been successful in sending multiple kids to Philly Union and they are doing really well. Additionally, they have placed young men at other clubs as well. Why haven't they gone to DCU? Wyatt Holt is a top player at Charlotte that came through Richmond. Mateo Gallegos and Samuel Diaz Gallego both at are Philly along with twins Kai and Grant Simmonds. Why aren't they at DCU?

Probably because the academy isn't up to snuff.

By your attempted reasoning, kids from Pennsylvania and Delaware who went to Red Bulls instead of Philly is a scientific conclusion that Philadelphia Union isn't a good enough academy

I don't want to be the A-hole who says provide me with names of kids that went to Red Bulls v. Philly Union...so, yeah, your argument may have just a modicum of merit. I do think the point is a valid one of why are kids essentially in the backyard of DCU not going to DCU? Why doesn't DCU pull the semi-local kids from the Richmond area into their academy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus H Christ. This thread is just so freaking tiresome.

It's the same for and against, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Is the DC United Academy operating as a top academy should? IMO, definitely not. Does it make sense for some players to attend? Absolutely.

I have posted several times before and have an ok decent knowledge of DCU. At this point, I don't care anymore if I'm sharing too much, but my nephew is on the DCU U18 team. He was recruited to play this year at the academy after playing for a local MLSN squad. He thought it was a great option for him to get exposed to a different environment. To be transparent, he is committed to play college soccer at a B10 school.

In talking to his Mom, is it the greatest? No. He avoided the school charges by completing his senior year with his home district via their online option. He's commuting back home but has a place to stay with friends in the Loudoun area. Overall, in speaking with him, it's been a plus in his development.

My DD plays with the sister of a current DCU player. Speaking with their parents was transparent and useful as my nephew was making a decision to play at DCU. We also know through acquaintances a current MLS player who played at both at DCU and their academy in what seems like forever ago. Listening to his experiences was valuable as well for making decisions.

Our local club has placed quite a few players into MLS Academies - it is telling though that many have not gone to DCU but others clubs. A top ACC freshmen in men's soccer has his younger brothers at Philly Union and those guys were developed here locally and did not go to DCU. There two other young men, IIRC at Philly that are doing quite well.

I don't think that this post will shut the debate down, but I hope folks realize that everything and everyone have their place.

I suspect Union actively scouts here since they know many of the top players avoid DCU.

It is it improbable or impossible that all the so-called top players in the dmv have parents that are sending them away at 12, 13, 14 years old to live elsewhere to pursue soccer in large numbers? Just using a little logic and critical, rational thinking

Also impressive that so many top quality players at u-littles exist in the dmv that we're exporting them in droves and there's room for them all at other academies

Sounds fantastic and fictional to me

Nobody said droves of kids are leaving the DMV. Droves of kids aren't academy level anyway. But top players have left and are leaving the DMV to go to better academies because DCU is so bad. This is just a fact. If you chose to ignore this fact that is on you.

Who designates a player as top, objectively, and it's agreed to by all trained, licensed and certified professionals?

Or is it the measurement of social media presence?

saying the word fact repeatedly isn't a qualifier for actual facts btw

Who designates them as a top player? The top academys that snatch them up lol.

good to know in the soccer world connections, politics and who you know is no longer at play

it's only about the best of the best strictly on neutral merit hahaha

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The truth is DCU isn't a credible academy in the MLS academy landscape. It is FAR behind the best academies and not even really on par with the worst considering it doesn't have its own facilities and makes many of their players and families pay money to participate. No teaching methodology, no consistent results and leadership that gives no craps about the academy. Recipe for failure and DCUs academy is in fact failing. Overall, just not a good place to be.

Every academy doesn't have players in final USYNT camps. DCU has representation.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

DCU has players in the Premier League.
All other academies don't.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

All other academies aren't selling players regularly and consistently to top leagues.
So how is DC far behind them?

This is like saying Messi and Benteke are the same because they are both past their prime players playing in the MLS. Or that Tottenham is the same quality club as Wrexham because neither club has won the premier league. Or that the MLS is just as good as the Belgian league because neither has produced Ballon d'or winners. Or that Ajax and La Masia academies are the same as Philly Union because they all have boarding houses and full campuses for their academies. It has already been proven, over and over, that your line of logic fails miserably in this regard.

DCU is behind almost every other MLS academy in the country because of some very simple facts:

It doesn't own a facility for the academy and isnt investing in one. Every other MLS academy has its own facility and most are planning to build bigger ones

It doesn't have enough personnel to run a credible academy. DCU has 9 people dedicated to football in the academy. NINE. And most of them aren't full time employees Many of the MLS academies in this country just have more people focused on development. And they pay them more than DCU does which attracts better developers

It has poor scouting and recruiting. With one scout to cover a vast amount of territory, many talents are overlooked. Couple this with the fact that the primary scouting methodology is word of mouth not proactive scouting and you see why the DCU rosters don't always have the top kids.

It doesn't properly invest in the academy. Other academies are investing tens of millions of dollars in their academies. DCU doesnt invest in the academy and only tries to keep it running so the MLS doesnt take action against them.

Every other MLS academy in the US has a second team to further develop their players. DCU does not have this. This alone puts them way behind other Academies and has caused other MLS academies to petition the league to take DCUs homegrown territory rights away because it doesn't provide a real pro pathway to its players so why should they get to protect those players from systems that actually have a legit pro pathway.

DCUs academy doesn't consistently produce players for the first team. It has been years since an academy product has played real minutes for the first team.

DCU has no grassroots program to cultivate young players No real rationale needed. This fact stands on its own.

DCU has an inferior methodology and system. You can see this every week when the teams play real academies. DCU always looks behind and unorganized

The academy itself is unorganized and unprofessional. This is clear from how they communicate with the external world, their own players and families and their own staff.

Local clubs have more infrastructure and more to offer local players. With good academies, the delta between what they are offering and what a local club is offering is massive.

DCUs reputation on a national level is far behind the best academies. This is just known and uncontroverted. On an international level DCUs academy is no where.

Some of the best players from this region in the last years have actually left DCU or decided not to go to DCU for better environments after they either saw first hand what the program is about or because they already knew DCU was poor and didn't want to involve themselves with the operation.

Could write a lot more and much more is offered on this thread in the pages before. You just have to read it.

💯

Stiven Jimenez, Chris Applewhite are just two examples (there are more) who are both pros now and deliberately left this area to play for better academies because they knew DCU was not going to be the best environment for their development. Both grew up here and played for local DMV clubs.

Thank you for these. If possible, can you share more? It looks like they both played for Arlington. I am not trying to argue about DCU merits. I am simply looking for successful kids who came out of the DMV to see what they were doing at my son's age and network with the people who helped develop these kids. I was only aware of Parades and Yow who play my son's position. Akinmboni is a defender and completely different with his physical profile.

Here are a few names that I know of personally. And this is just off the top of my head. If I really did research I could find more.

These players are all from the DMV and either never stepped foot in DCU or were in DCU for a short period of time (even when they had younger ages and a longer pathway): All reached professional soccer either in the MLs or overseas. All could have chosen DCU for extended periods of time.but didn't.

Aaron Heard (Leverkusen)
Jack Sullivan (Colorado Rapids)
Gabe Segal (Houston Dynamo)
Jeremy Ebobisse (LAFC)
Gideon Zelalem (Arsenal and NYCFC)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Asteras Tripolis)
Byang Kayo (OH Leuven)
Joe Gyau (Dortmund, Hoffenheim, FC Cincy and several other clubs)

There are also several younger kids (u14-u17) in top European academies from the DMV that will make waves very soon as well.

If you're genuinely interested like your post says, here you are. Many of these players had coaches that are still around the DMV. If you're the PP masquerading as someone else thinking there are no other players to list, you feel about as dumb as your post right about now. 👍

An overwhelming amount of these players played for Bethesda. Are there any other coaches still there that developed any of these players? Other than Philip Gyau, are there any other coaches with the history of developing players left over there?

Nope. All of them gone. Only a few decent coaches left on the boys side.

Philip Gyau and Paul Torres coach at Next Star. Ask them which club and coaches are good at development. It’s useless to have a coach that knows how to develop but not have a club willing to support that development.

Next Star has created an environment where several good players go to their training to hangout together

They don't take bad news bears or average players and make them elite

The only one that can make a player elite is themselves. A coach and club can facilitate that. But its on the player to want it.

Only parents of players who don’t want it (or don’t have the mentality) or have parents who want it more says stuff like PP.

Move on, find a coach that’s a better fit for ur player

What does any of that have to do with several already top level for their clubs players go to Next Star to train with other top level players?

Is that not the truth?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The truth is DCU isn't a credible academy in the MLS academy landscape. It is FAR behind the best academies and not even really on par with the worst considering it doesn't have its own facilities and makes many of their players and families pay money to participate. No teaching methodology, no consistent results and leadership that gives no craps about the academy. Recipe for failure and DCUs academy is in fact failing. Overall, just not a good place to be.

Every academy doesn't have players in final USYNT camps. DCU has representation.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

DCU has players in the Premier League.
All other academies don't.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

All other academies aren't selling players regularly and consistently to top leagues.
So how is DC far behind them?

This is like saying Messi and Benteke are the same because they are both past their prime players playing in the MLS. Or that Tottenham is the same quality club as Wrexham because neither club has won the premier league. Or that the MLS is just as good as the Belgian league because neither has produced Ballon d'or winners. Or that Ajax and La Masia academies are the same as Philly Union because they all have boarding houses and full campuses for their academies. It has already been proven, over and over, that your line of logic fails miserably in this regard.

DCU is behind almost every other MLS academy in the country because of some very simple facts:

It doesn't own a facility for the academy and isnt investing in one. Every other MLS academy has its own facility and most are planning to build bigger ones

It doesn't have enough personnel to run a credible academy. DCU has 9 people dedicated to football in the academy. NINE. And most of them aren't full time employees Many of the MLS academies in this country just have more people focused on development. And they pay them more than DCU does which attracts better developers

It has poor scouting and recruiting. With one scout to cover a vast amount of territory, many talents are overlooked. Couple this with the fact that the primary scouting methodology is word of mouth not proactive scouting and you see why the DCU rosters don't always have the top kids.

It doesn't properly invest in the academy. Other academies are investing tens of millions of dollars in their academies. DCU doesnt invest in the academy and only tries to keep it running so the MLS doesnt take action against them.

Every other MLS academy in the US has a second team to further develop their players. DCU does not have this. This alone puts them way behind other Academies and has caused other MLS academies to petition the league to take DCUs homegrown territory rights away because it doesn't provide a real pro pathway to its players so why should they get to protect those players from systems that actually have a legit pro pathway.

DCUs academy doesn't consistently produce players for the first team. It has been years since an academy product has played real minutes for the first team.

DCU has no grassroots program to cultivate young players No real rationale needed. This fact stands on its own.

DCU has an inferior methodology and system. You can see this every week when the teams play real academies. DCU always looks behind and unorganized

The academy itself is unorganized and unprofessional. This is clear from how they communicate with the external world, their own players and families and their own staff.

Local clubs have more infrastructure and more to offer local players. With good academies, the delta between what they are offering and what a local club is offering is massive.

DCUs reputation on a national level is far behind the best academies. This is just known and uncontroverted. On an international level DCUs academy is no where.

Some of the best players from this region in the last years have actually left DCU or decided not to go to DCU for better environments after they either saw first hand what the program is about or because they already knew DCU was poor and didn't want to involve themselves with the operation.

Could write a lot more and much more is offered on this thread in the pages before. You just have to read it.

💯

Stiven Jimenez, Chris Applewhite are just two examples (there are more) who are both pros now and deliberately left this area to play for better academies because they knew DCU was not going to be the best environment for their development. Both grew up here and played for local DMV clubs.

Thank you for these. If possible, can you share more? It looks like they both played for Arlington. I am not trying to argue about DCU merits. I am simply looking for successful kids who came out of the DMV to see what they were doing at my son's age and network with the people who helped develop these kids. I was only aware of Parades and Yow who play my son's position. Akinmboni is a defender and completely different with his physical profile.

Here are a few names that I know of personally. And this is just off the top of my head. If I really did research I could find more.

These players are all from the DMV and either never stepped foot in DCU or were in DCU for a short period of time (even when they had younger ages and a longer pathway): All reached professional soccer either in the MLs or overseas. All could have chosen DCU for extended periods of time.but didn't.

Aaron Heard (Leverkusen)
Jack Sullivan (Colorado Rapids)
Gabe Segal (Houston Dynamo)
Jeremy Ebobisse (LAFC)
Gideon Zelalem (Arsenal and NYCFC)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Asteras Tripolis)
Byang Kayo (OH Leuven)
Joe Gyau (Dortmund, Hoffenheim, FC Cincy and several other clubs)

There are also several younger kids (u14-u17) in top European academies from the DMV that will make waves very soon as well.

If you're genuinely interested like your post says, here you are. Many of these players had coaches that are still around the DMV. If you're the PP masquerading as someone else thinking there are no other players to list, you feel about as dumb as your post right about now. 👍

An overwhelming amount of these players played for Bethesda. Are there any other coaches still there that developed any of these players? Other than Philip Gyau, are there any other coaches with the history of developing players left over there?

Nope. All of them gone. Only a few decent coaches left on the boys side.

Philip Gyau and Paul Torres coach at Next Star. Ask them which club and coaches are good at development. It’s useless to have a coach that knows how to develop but not have a club willing to support that development.

Next Star has created an environment where several good players go to their training to hangout together

They don't take bad news bears or average players and make them elite

The only one that can make a player elite is themselves. A coach and club can facilitate that. But its on the player to want it.

Only parents of players who don’t want it (or don’t have the mentality) or have parents who want it more says stuff like PP.

Move on, find a coach that’s a better fit for ur player

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The truth is DCU isn't a credible academy in the MLS academy landscape. It is FAR behind the best academies and not even really on par with the worst considering it doesn't have its own facilities and makes many of their players and families pay money to participate. No teaching methodology, no consistent results and leadership that gives no craps about the academy. Recipe for failure and DCUs academy is in fact failing. Overall, just not a good place to be.

Every academy doesn't have players in final USYNT camps. DCU has representation.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

DCU has players in the Premier League.
All other academies don't.
So how are they far behind all other academies?

All other academies aren't selling players regularly and consistently to top leagues.
So how is DC far behind them?

This is like saying Messi and Benteke are the same because they are both past their prime players playing in the MLS. Or that Tottenham is the same quality club as Wrexham because neither club has won the premier league. Or that the MLS is just as good as the Belgian league because neither has produced Ballon d'or winners. Or that Ajax and La Masia academies are the same as Philly Union because they all have boarding houses and full campuses for their academies. It has already been proven, over and over, that your line of logic fails miserably in this regard.

DCU is behind almost every other MLS academy in the country because of some very simple facts:

It doesn't own a facility for the academy and isnt investing in one. Every other MLS academy has its own facility and most are planning to build bigger ones

It doesn't have enough personnel to run a credible academy. DCU has 9 people dedicated to football in the academy. NINE. And most of them aren't full time employees Many of the MLS academies in this country just have more people focused on development. And they pay them more than DCU does which attracts better developers

It has poor scouting and recruiting. With one scout to cover a vast amount of territory, many talents are overlooked. Couple this with the fact that the primary scouting methodology is word of mouth not proactive scouting and you see why the DCU rosters don't always have the top kids.

It doesn't properly invest in the academy. Other academies are investing tens of millions of dollars in their academies. DCU doesnt invest in the academy and only tries to keep it running so the MLS doesnt take action against them.

Every other MLS academy in the US has a second team to further develop their players. DCU does not have this. This alone puts them way behind other Academies and has caused other MLS academies to petition the league to take DCUs homegrown territory rights away because it doesn't provide a real pro pathway to its players so why should they get to protect those players from systems that actually have a legit pro pathway.

DCUs academy doesn't consistently produce players for the first team. It has been years since an academy product has played real minutes for the first team.

DCU has no grassroots program to cultivate young players No real rationale needed. This fact stands on its own.

DCU has an inferior methodology and system. You can see this every week when the teams play real academies. DCU always looks behind and unorganized

The academy itself is unorganized and unprofessional. This is clear from how they communicate with the external world, their own players and families and their own staff.

Local clubs have more infrastructure and more to offer local players. With good academies, the delta between what they are offering and what a local club is offering is massive.

DCUs reputation on a national level is far behind the best academies. This is just known and uncontroverted. On an international level DCUs academy is no where.

Some of the best players from this region in the last years have actually left DCU or decided not to go to DCU for better environments after they either saw first hand what the program is about or because they already knew DCU was poor and didn't want to involve themselves with the operation.

Could write a lot more and much more is offered on this thread in the pages before. You just have to read it.

💯

Stiven Jimenez, Chris Applewhite are just two examples (there are more) who are both pros now and deliberately left this area to play for better academies because they knew DCU was not going to be the best environment for their development. Both grew up here and played for local DMV clubs.

Thank you for these. If possible, can you share more? It looks like they both played for Arlington. I am not trying to argue about DCU merits. I am simply looking for successful kids who came out of the DMV to see what they were doing at my son's age and network with the people who helped develop these kids. I was only aware of Parades and Yow who play my son's position. Akinmboni is a defender and completely different with his physical profile.

Here are a few names that I know of personally. And this is just off the top of my head. If I really did research I could find more.

These players are all from the DMV and either never stepped foot in DCU or were in DCU for a short period of time (even when they had younger ages and a longer pathway): All reached professional soccer either in the MLs or overseas. All could have chosen DCU for extended periods of time.but didn't.

Aaron Heard (Leverkusen)
Jack Sullivan (Colorado Rapids)
Gabe Segal (Houston Dynamo)
Jeremy Ebobisse (LAFC)
Gideon Zelalem (Arsenal and NYCFC)
Nicholas Gioacchini (Asteras Tripolis)
Byang Kayo (OH Leuven)
Joe Gyau (Dortmund, Hoffenheim, FC Cincy and several other clubs)

There are also several younger kids (u14-u17) in top European academies from the DMV that will make waves very soon as well.

If you're genuinely interested like your post says, here you are. Many of these players had coaches that are still around the DMV. If you're the PP masquerading as someone else thinking there are no other players to list, you feel about as dumb as your post right about now. 👍

An overwhelming amount of these players played for Bethesda. Are there any other coaches still there that developed any of these players? Other than Philip Gyau, are there any other coaches with the history of developing players left over there?

Nope. All of them gone. Only a few decent coaches left on the boys side.

Philip Gyau and Paul Torres coach at Next Star. Ask them which club and coaches are good at development. It’s useless to have a coach that knows how to develop but not have a club willing to support that development.

Next Star has created an environment where several good players go to their training to hangout together

They don't take bad news bears or average players and make them elite

The only one that can make a player elite is themselves. A coach and club can facilitate that. But its on the player to want it.

Only parents of players who don’t want it (or don’t have the mentality) or have parents who want it more says stuff like PP.

Move on, find a coach that’s a better fit for ur player