Anonymous
Post 02/18/2026 11:18     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Man, Montgomery County just keeps getting worse and worse.


they are struggling with money. and that is coming down the academy where development stalls compare to other academies


Is this the gummies and opioids comments section?

Montgomery County is getting worse on the soccer forum
What league are they in?
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2026 10:52     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:Man, Montgomery County just keeps getting worse and worse.


they are struggling with money. and that is coming down the academy where development stalls compare to other academies
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 21:11     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Man, Montgomery County just keeps getting worse and worse.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 20:14     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:38     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?


Because he's probably done with or close to done with his Peak Height Velocity just by his age. Do some players grow a bit more at 17 or 18? Yes. But usually not much. Actually for him, growing taller would probably hurt his game because he relies so much on his lower center of gravity. So let's say he grows one or two more inches in the next year and he's 5'9. He won't be much different. The tell tale sign that he was an early bloomer was his early muscular density and strength. Again, a man playing with teenagers or even a year up will be dominant. Not saying he isn't a good player. I'm just saying that the hype on him is WAY too much for the player he actually is and for the player he is likely to become. There are players around his same age playing for the first teams of Arsenal and Liverpool and actually playing minutes and having impact. Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha respectively. Arsenal is the best team in the Prem. Philly is a good team in the MLS. Big difference. Dowman is the youngest 2009 you can be born on dec 31. Already worth 20 mil. Sullivan isn't worth 4 mil. The market really doesn't lie.


No horse in this race, but I took a quick look at Max Dowman. Holy Cow! He seems like a unicorn type player. What I found interesting in reading his wiki was that he started playing at his hometown club but he joined the Arsenal program in 2015 when he was 6! Yeah, you have great players, then you have generational talents. I have no idea if Dowman is a generational talent, but he is certainly on that track.


Why when you see Americans talking about CS is the best youth player in the world, with no understanding of what else is out there, you just have to laugh.


Even look at Lennart Karl at Bayern. He's 17 and starting games and having impact in the champions league for Bayern Munich. Same physical profile as CS and practically same age. But we are to believe CS is going to go to city from the MLS and have this type of impact when he isn't even having impact or even regularly starting all the games in the MLS?? Yeah right...he is a good player but like was said in a previous post, his peak is now and when put up against men, he isn't impactful. Even in the MLS. I'm not gambling on a player like that.


Thanks for sharing. Reading and watching some highlights of young Lennart Karl. Quite the talent. Yeah, I get it what folks are saying when comparing CS to these guys at top flight European clubs. It's not comparable at all. Clearly much higher quality for sure with these young European players.


There is no comparison between European development and US development in soccer. They aren't in the same stratosphere. So imagine if you go to a terrible academy like DCU what your chances are?? Very slim. Are chances slim everywhere? Of course. But you want to increase your chances of success by putting the player in environments that are conducive to their development. DCU is not one of those environments.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 09:49     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?


Because he's probably done with or close to done with his Peak Height Velocity just by his age. Do some players grow a bit more at 17 or 18? Yes. But usually not much. Actually for him, growing taller would probably hurt his game because he relies so much on his lower center of gravity. So let's say he grows one or two more inches in the next year and he's 5'9. He won't be much different. The tell tale sign that he was an early bloomer was his early muscular density and strength. Again, a man playing with teenagers or even a year up will be dominant. Not saying he isn't a good player. I'm just saying that the hype on him is WAY too much for the player he actually is and for the player he is likely to become. There are players around his same age playing for the first teams of Arsenal and Liverpool and actually playing minutes and having impact. Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha respectively. Arsenal is the best team in the Prem. Philly is a good team in the MLS. Big difference. Dowman is the youngest 2009 you can be born on dec 31. Already worth 20 mil. Sullivan isn't worth 4 mil. The market really doesn't lie.


No horse in this race, but I took a quick look at Max Dowman. Holy Cow! He seems like a unicorn type player. What I found interesting in reading his wiki was that he started playing at his hometown club but he joined the Arsenal program in 2015 when he was 6! Yeah, you have great players, then you have generational talents. I have no idea if Dowman is a generational talent, but he is certainly on that track.


Why when you see Americans talking about CS is the best youth player in the world, with no understanding of what else is out there, you just have to laugh.


Even look at Lennart Karl at Bayern. He's 17 and starting games and having impact in the champions league for Bayern Munich. Same physical profile as CS and practically same age. But we are to believe CS is going to go to city from the MLS and have this type of impact when he isn't even having impact or even regularly starting all the games in the MLS?? Yeah right...he is a good player but like was said in a previous post, his peak is now and when put up against men, he isn't impactful. Even in the MLS. I'm not gambling on a player like that.


Thanks for sharing. Reading and watching some highlights of young Lennart Karl. Quite the talent. Yeah, I get it what folks are saying when comparing CS to these guys at top flight European clubs. It's not comparable at all. Clearly much higher quality for sure with these young European players.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 07:03     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

And DCU will never be in this type of conversation because it just doesn't have the capability of producing this type of player. The academy isn't sophisticated enough, doesn't have enough quality coaches and trainers, and it doesn't have the vision or money to invest in real player development. Why it is the laughingstock of MLS academies.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 06:49     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?


Because he's probably done with or close to done with his Peak Height Velocity just by his age. Do some players grow a bit more at 17 or 18? Yes. But usually not much. Actually for him, growing taller would probably hurt his game because he relies so much on his lower center of gravity. So let's say he grows one or two more inches in the next year and he's 5'9. He won't be much different. The tell tale sign that he was an early bloomer was his early muscular density and strength. Again, a man playing with teenagers or even a year up will be dominant. Not saying he isn't a good player. I'm just saying that the hype on him is WAY too much for the player he actually is and for the player he is likely to become. There are players around his same age playing for the first teams of Arsenal and Liverpool and actually playing minutes and having impact. Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha respectively. Arsenal is the best team in the Prem. Philly is a good team in the MLS. Big difference. Dowman is the youngest 2009 you can be born on dec 31. Already worth 20 mil. Sullivan isn't worth 4 mil. The market really doesn't lie.


No horse in this race, but I took a quick look at Max Dowman. Holy Cow! He seems like a unicorn type player. What I found interesting in reading his wiki was that he started playing at his hometown club but he joined the Arsenal program in 2015 when he was 6! Yeah, you have great players, then you have generational talents. I have no idea if Dowman is a generational talent, but he is certainly on that track.


Why when you see Americans talking about CS is the best youth player in the world, with no understanding of what else is out there, you just have to laugh.


Even look at Lennart Karl at Bayern. He's 17 and starting games and having impact in the champions league for Bayern Munich. Same physical profile as CS and practically same age. But we are to believe CS is going to go to city from the MLS and have this type of impact when he isn't even having impact or even regularly starting all the games in the MLS?? Yeah right...he is a good player but like was said in a previous post, his peak is now and when put up against men, he isn't impactful. Even in the MLS. I'm not gambling on a player like that.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 13:34     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?


Because he's probably done with or close to done with his Peak Height Velocity just by his age. Do some players grow a bit more at 17 or 18? Yes. But usually not much. Actually for him, growing taller would probably hurt his game because he relies so much on his lower center of gravity. So let's say he grows one or two more inches in the next year and he's 5'9. He won't be much different. The tell tale sign that he was an early bloomer was his early muscular density and strength. Again, a man playing with teenagers or even a year up will be dominant. Not saying he isn't a good player. I'm just saying that the hype on him is WAY too much for the player he actually is and for the player he is likely to become. There are players around his same age playing for the first teams of Arsenal and Liverpool and actually playing minutes and having impact. Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha respectively. Arsenal is the best team in the Prem. Philly is a good team in the MLS. Big difference. Dowman is the youngest 2009 you can be born on dec 31. Already worth 20 mil. Sullivan isn't worth 4 mil. The market really doesn't lie.


No horse in this race, but I took a quick look at Max Dowman. Holy Cow! He seems like a unicorn type player. What I found interesting in reading his wiki was that he started playing at his hometown club but he joined the Arsenal program in 2015 when he was 6! Yeah, you have great players, then you have generational talents. I have no idea if Dowman is a generational talent, but he is certainly on that track.


Why when you see Americans talking about CS is the best youth player in the world, with no understanding of what else is out there, you just have to laugh.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 13:32     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, I think people here are asking the wrong question. Whether DC United is a good academy or not is irrelevant. Is YOUR PLAYER a good fit and does he have all that is required to become a professional soccer player? Dedication, passion, commitment, maturity, hunger for success, coachability, parents who don't cloud his mindset with negativism and pessimism (bad mouthing academies , clubs and coaches). Developing a player is not only about only the player but the whole package. Parents who are too involved can ruin the future of a great player. I have seen it here in the DMV. If you are an excellent soccer player you will excel anywhere. The blaming game takes you nowhere. I hear it all the time parents blaming the club, blaming the coach, blaming the other players, blaming, blaming.

Playing soccer at a professional level is NOT EASY but it is possible. DC United or LA Galaxy or Philadelphia Union is not going to do that for you. It is up to YOU. These academies give you the tools, venue, mentoring , and environment to help you get to that goal but the rest is up to you.

Stop blaming DC United Academy.


I agree with most of this. Here is where I disagree: almost ALL high level pros at some point or another come through an academy system. It is the proven way a player becomes a pro. One of the only ways. If your academy gives no craps about you as a player then your chances of making it decrease. Case in point...DCU. Of course the player has responsibility and a lot of it. As do the parents to your point. But when you're in an academy for 5 out of 7 days a week minimum, the academeis also have responsibility. DCU doesn't take this responsibility seriously. Why I can't take them seriously.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 13:27     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?


Because he's probably done with or close to done with his Peak Height Velocity just by his age. Do some players grow a bit more at 17 or 18? Yes. But usually not much. Actually for him, growing taller would probably hurt his game because he relies so much on his lower center of gravity. So let's say he grows one or two more inches in the next year and he's 5'9. He won't be much different. The tell tale sign that he was an early bloomer was his early muscular density and strength. Again, a man playing with teenagers or even a year up will be dominant. Not saying he isn't a good player. I'm just saying that the hype on him is WAY too much for the player he actually is and for the player he is likely to become. There are players around his same age playing for the first teams of Arsenal and Liverpool and actually playing minutes and having impact. Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha respectively. Arsenal is the best team in the Prem. Philly is a good team in the MLS. Big difference. Dowman is the youngest 2009 you can be born on dec 31. Already worth 20 mil. Sullivan isn't worth 4 mil. The market really doesn't lie.


No horse in this race, but I took a quick look at Max Dowman. Holy Cow! He seems like a unicorn type player. What I found interesting in reading his wiki was that he started playing at his hometown club but he joined the Arsenal program in 2015 when he was 6! Yeah, you have great players, then you have generational talents. I have no idea if Dowman is a generational talent, but he is certainly on that track.


Dowman is closer to a generational talent than CS. Time will tell how far they each go but dowman is on a way different and far more likely trajectory.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 13:10     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?


Because he's probably done with or close to done with his Peak Height Velocity just by his age. Do some players grow a bit more at 17 or 18? Yes. But usually not much. Actually for him, growing taller would probably hurt his game because he relies so much on his lower center of gravity. So let's say he grows one or two more inches in the next year and he's 5'9. He won't be much different. The tell tale sign that he was an early bloomer was his early muscular density and strength. Again, a man playing with teenagers or even a year up will be dominant. Not saying he isn't a good player. I'm just saying that the hype on him is WAY too much for the player he actually is and for the player he is likely to become. There are players around his same age playing for the first teams of Arsenal and Liverpool and actually playing minutes and having impact. Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha respectively. Arsenal is the best team in the Prem. Philly is a good team in the MLS. Big difference. Dowman is the youngest 2009 you can be born on dec 31. Already worth 20 mil. Sullivan isn't worth 4 mil. The market really doesn't lie.


No horse in this race, but I took a quick look at Max Dowman. Holy Cow! He seems like a unicorn type player. What I found interesting in reading his wiki was that he started playing at his hometown club but he joined the Arsenal program in 2015 when he was 6! Yeah, you have great players, then you have generational talents. I have no idea if Dowman is a generational talent, but he is certainly on that track.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 12:44     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

In my opinion, I think people here are asking the wrong question. Whether DC United is a good academy or not is irrelevant. Is YOUR PLAYER a good fit and does he have all that is required to become a professional soccer player? Dedication, passion, commitment, maturity, hunger for success, coachability, parents who don't cloud his mindset with negativism and pessimism (bad mouthing academies , clubs and coaches). Developing a player is not only about only the player but the whole package. Parents who are too involved can ruin the future of a great player. I have seen it here in the DMV. If you are an excellent soccer player you will excel anywhere. The blaming game takes you nowhere. I hear it all the time parents blaming the club, blaming the coach, blaming the other players, blaming, blaming.

Playing soccer at a professional level is NOT EASY but it is possible. DC United or LA Galaxy or Philadelphia Union is not going to do that for you. It is up to YOU. These academies give you the tools, venue, mentoring , and environment to help you get to that goal but the rest is up to you.

Stop blaming DC United Academy.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 12:23     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?


Because he's probably done with or close to done with his Peak Height Velocity just by his age. Do some players grow a bit more at 17 or 18? Yes. But usually not much. Actually for him, growing taller would probably hurt his game because he relies so much on his lower center of gravity. So let's say he grows one or two more inches in the next year and he's 5'9. He won't be much different. The tell tale sign that he was an early bloomer was his early muscular density and strength. Again, a man playing with teenagers or even a year up will be dominant. Not saying he isn't a good player. I'm just saying that the hype on him is WAY too much for the player he actually is and for the player he is likely to become. There are players around his same age playing for the first teams of Arsenal and Liverpool and actually playing minutes and having impact. Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha respectively. Arsenal is the best team in the Prem. Philly is a good team in the MLS. Big difference. Dowman is the youngest 2009 you can be born on dec 31. Already worth 20 mil. Sullivan isn't worth 4 mil. The market really doesn't lie.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 11:41     Subject: DC United Academy - aa strong academy or not

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And locking yourself to one club at 14, when you're still developing is dumb. City has more players in his position than he will ever beat out for a spot. On the first team and in the academy


So 14 year olds at academies in Europe are locked into multiple clubs?


They can sign wherever suits them best. They dont have to go to a pre selected club when they turn 18.


True, no 14 year old or their parents in their right mind wants to go to a club like Manchester City at 18

Career suicide in a horrible low performing low budget organization in a small time league


Again, spoken like someone who doesn't know sh#t about football realities and being a professional. Next year cavan will be 18. Who will be his competition at City in positions he can realistically play? Phil foden, Bernardo silva, Cherki, Jeremy Doku. 🤣 NO CHANCE he is beating out those players for a roster spot and there is probably no chance he is making the bench either. So much talent at City in those positions. And if you have followed city's academy, they have a strong pipeline at central midfield and wing as well. You're doing what most Americans do when it comes to football and that is chase names and perceived prestige, but completely overlook what is the absolute best move for the player. It is the same thing everyone does with DCU.

Cavan Sullivan is not an impact player in the MLS and more likely than not he will continue to be an average MLS player for this season. You think moving to Manchester City is the right move for a player like that??? But unfortunately he doesn't have a choice because the clubs agreed on his move already. Yeah it sounds nice to go to man city for philly Union and for the player but the move to city is not smart at this point in his career. He just isn't ready for it. It would be better for his career and development as a player to go to a smaller club, have them absolutely NEED him and work his way up from there without the expectations of man city looming. But Union and likely his agency (who gets paid when the player gets paid)wanted to try and monetize him as quickly as possible which I understand but this doesn't mean that any of it was the absolutebbest for him as a player.

To me, career suicide, at least in Europe, is not too far off. He will go to Europe and to one of the most high profile clubs in the world with tons of expectations, with no chance of cracking into the first team because there is too much roster depth there FAR better than him, and with hardly any high-level experience under his belt coming from the MLS. They will loan him some place else in the city ecosystem where he will play and HAVE to perform because they will need him and most likely be exposed because again, he is coming from the MLS and barely having impact there. If the loan stint doesn't work in a lower league/team that won't be good for his reputation and he will go back to city they will maybe loan him out again and if it doesn't work then, he will mostly likely be back in the MLS after two years "at Manchester City".

Being at a big club like city isn't great for a player in his situation that is not an impact player right away. Cavan Sullivan is the player he is going to be, NOW. He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be. And that player is an average player in the MLS who was previously dominating kids in the youth system because he was physically more mature than everyone else at an early age. No way I'm signing that player up for a rollercoaster at City where they can minimize him in seconds with superior talent from all over the world. I wouldn't sign my player up for that both for his development and his mentality.

So yes, no way I would want to be at City with this backdrop. Not with a player with his profile. If he was still growing physically, and maturing physically and there was upside potential there, I may think differently. But he is a classic early developer and those players rarely hit.


I think this post is pretty well reasoned and largely correct. But I question the early developer part. "He's not growing, not going to get faster or much stronger because he's already got his man muscles, so you're looking at the player he will be." The argument hinges largely on this and I wonder why you think this is true. He's listed as 5'7", his older brother is 5'11" and his dad looks to be about 6'1." Obviously I don't know about his mom's family or his genetics generally, but then how do you?