With surprise winners at last years Boy's finals, who are some of the favorites coming into this fall season? Who are some of the top players in the metro area?
I am not a Maple Grove resident, but I think they will have a VERY strong team this year. As well as a goalie. Top 4 Class AA - Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley and Burnsville.
In Class A - Totino Grace, Minnhaha Academy, the rest is just a crap shoot.
I am not a Maple Grove resident, but I think they will have a VERY strong team this year. As well as a goalie. Top 4 Class AA - Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley and Burnsville.
In Class A - Totino Grace, Minnhaha Academy, the rest is just a crap shoot.
Jefferson is not losing anyone worth while and they are getting kids who were unable to play last year and they will have 8 premier players along with a bunch of solid C1 players
12:04 - just can it if you can't provide an answer. 8:07 asked a question and you gave the reply of a 6 year old or hormonally challenged teenage punk. I'm assuming you must go to Jefferson then...
Midnight...are all those premier players used to playing together? The pre-season practice time is essentially worthless, so if they can't gel in a week and a half, premier or not, it's a tough start. I'm not trying to belittle them, I'm just wondering.
C3 team, funny you would consider that an insult since that is what Jefferson's teams have been made up with lately.
OK, Jefferson has some premier players. What age groups? If they were all 17s this past summer, then that is a good start. I'm really curious about which team, since BYSC hasn't had a competative team for 3 or 4 years. The good player go elsewhere and they can't seem to get any quality coaches. And, MN premier has really tailed off with several clubs top teams not even playing in the league anymore.
no i have friends that go there..and hormonally challenged....what are u talking about jefferson has like 3 kids from u17 bangu and like 5 from different u16 premier teams
Having watch Boys HS soccer for the past few years, here is my obseveration for sucess. 1) HS Coach who can motivate players to work together and forget their egos. 2) Players who are selfless and understand the game and work hard. 3) Solid Athletics.
Does the team need a surplus of premier players? NO, in fact alot of the time their ego's just get in the way. I would say having a player who thinks he has a run a Mr. Soccer also hurts the teams chances of sucess. I don't mean for this to sound like a slam on the premier players but I would think last years results should prove to everyone, that HS soccer is a team game. Good TEAMS win, individuals super stars lose.
You are very correct on #1-#3, however, having a superstar as a #4 item doesn't hurt. Wayzata wasn't so bad the last couple of years with CM. Jefferson wasn't so bad in 04 with JS - Just to name a couple teams. A lot of the metro teams getting to state ride their stars.
Interesting Observation re: Jefferson:
2007 Coach: Current MN Thunder head coach 2008 Coach: Current MN Lightning head coach
So yes, something has changed since last year. Their coach from their championship season is returning after a 2-year hiatus.
Storlien coached many Jefferson teams that weren't loaded with top notch players. Go back and look at the won-loss records over the years if you have doubts. He assumed the role of AD at Jefferson a few years ago and at that time dropped the soccer coaching job from his plate. Now that he has the AD job down pat it makes sense for him to strp back into the role.
Mr. Storlien might have an MO of only wanting to coach top notch players. More power to him. After coaching for 2 decades and coaching a lot of low level teams to be successful, why would he want to spend his time coaching a lot of the filth out there. He put in his time coaching U13 C2 teams back in those early days at Jefferson.
Regardless, the above mentioned reasons for his hiatus are accurate.
We're lucky he's stuck around in MN this long. He could coach any D1 College program he wants. And he could have done so even 10 years ago.
Would Coach K be willing to coach anyone other than Duke?
Maybe a team of LeBron, Kobe, Melo, Wade, Kidd, etc. He has an MO of only wanting to coach quality players. He can't coach the lousy players. He can't coach the skills. He's only a defensive-minded tactician. He's no good ;-)
I give Danny credit he completed his 2nd Masters degree and is one of the only coaches who is current on his A License, most people let it go and don't keep up. By the way the rumor is he is helping Gramenz starting next week with the Thunder. Not sure he could have gone to the D1 thing or that he would want it, my guess he is a lifer in Bloomington.
Storlien was willing to coach a merged team of Bangu/SuperEagles last season but backed out when they didnt come together or get academy status,he would of had time then though,funny stuff on here,lots of Bangu gloss.
anon 3:38 Storlien doesn't teach in the summer so he has much more free time to coach teams. You guys really should get a clue before sounding silly all the time.
It's a good thing this blog exists for all the bashers to vent their anger and hate otherwise they would be kicking their dogs or worse yet, their wives and kids. So much pent up hate, anger and jealousy all over a kid's game. It just isn't healthy.
its not a summer team, club soccer is from November to Regionals or hopefully Nationals. I heard he wanted to coach in the US Dev Academy and when it did not happen it was something to give up for him. Not sure if that is right or wrong but I would like to coach a team like that too.
Agreed you cannot be get mad at a coach for taking a couple years off when he needs a small break from soccer and why no come back when the Jaguars are going to be really.
You just re-enforced the problem with Storlien as a coach. He won't waste his time developing players or taking anything but the best players. He is opportunistic and exploits the situation for his own ego.
Would Coach K waste his time developing a bunch of players who might play college ball? No, he'll work on developing LeBron and Kobe to try to win gold.
Should a top MN soccer coach waste his time developing U14 CC players who might play high school ball? No, he'll work on developing Bangu/SuperEagle teams to see if they can win a National Title and get college scholarships.
Why is it that only the bad players need "developing?" Even the top U17 players in MN need a lot of work. And why should good coaches who have put in their time be expected to coach those bad players?
I would be proud to have a coach as great as storlien and if it is true that Jefferson has that much talent they could be an early favorite to make it to the dome
anon 6:29, You're wrong about developing players. Do you think it stops at age 16? At age 17? Don't you think players develop after those ages? Don't they still develop while in college? Or even in the pros? Maybe you shoukd ask a few of the players who have played for Storlien and ask if he helped develop their game? Those players cold teach you quite a bit and may help you avoid making inane posts again on this blog.
We all like to do what we're good at in our careers. DS is good at developing players tactically and psychologically. You can't do a whole lot tactically and psychologically with players that have no technical ability, like the typical teenage MN player. The more technically skilled your players are, the more you can do with them tactically and psychologically. That may be why DS seeks higher level players.
Do you think Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena could coach players technically? Yeah right. Elite 10-yr-olds can show those two old-timers moves they couldn't dream of. Top level coaches don't do technical stuff. They don't waste their time with bad players who aren't technically developed.
Lightning Fan is spot on. Development never stops as it's an ongoing process. The most critical piece is getting the players when they're young and giving them the skills they need so they can develop to the next stage. Without the basic building blocks it's hard to move to the next level of development. I think we're finally starting to see the light here in Minnesota with high level coaches working with the kids at U7-U10 instead of the typical old Minnesota way of having mom & dad coaches work with the kids and then hand them off to a more experienced coach as they get older. Other states were far ahead of us in this regard until the last 4-5 years. We've made major advancements in player development over the past few years. Hopefully it continues.
Jefferson will be average at best. They have no notable players, just role players. If they finish in the top half of the Lake, it will be a tribute to Storlien's abilities.
You obviously don't have a clue who is on Jefferson... to say they only have role players is a joke. Please please come and watch so you can eat your words!!!
As more and more young people with stronger technical backgrounds move into coaching and while more of the old-timers move out, naturally our coaching will improve. Evolution.
The most frustrating thing is hearing parents complain about coaching. Today's coaches are a product of yesterday's coaches (aka today's parents). That's why the curve of coaching improvement in MN has slowly become more steep over the years, resulting in "major advancements in the past few years."
Do the Evolution: 1980s Coaches: former baseball players, good people managers 1990s Coaches: ok tactically, weak technically 2000s Coaches: good tactically, better technically 2010's Coaches: good tactically, good technically
The US top coach, Bob Bradley, played soccer when we were far worse than we are now.
Everyone understands what you are trying to say but once again... why wouldn't you take the best players when you are going to have good chance of going somewhere.
Storlien said he never develops players. ????????? I played for him and I think we spent more time getting better and less time focusing on winning. It made me mad sometimes.
If you took the 3players from Holkers team that live in Bloomington and put them on the bloomington team, they would be a solid team same with the 4 U16players
That's a big "IF"...that's been happening for years in Bloomington. They've never been able to keep their local players and they've never done anything to fix it. Bloomington could be a club like Valley United and Prairie United. Very poor management has been happening in Bloomington for 20 years. I think the dueling High Schools in the club might lead to a lot of their problems.
No one is dueling... Kennedy has never been good. But yeah Bloomington needs to change something so this does not keep happening year after year with a club that is struggling
If playing on Holkers U17 team is a recipe for success, then I'd pick Edina to be playing late in the fall with their two Bangu U17s and a strong cast of supporting players groomed by ESC.
At BYSC, a lot of the player selection in the past has involved maintaining balance between Jefferson and Kennedy, which has resulted in weak teams, which leads to top players leaving the club, which leads to relegation, and so on and so forth. In that sense, the dueling high schools may have an effect.
They also have a problem with competing with the successful Bloomington hockey programs. There may not be any answer to this.
MG - Bangu U17 GK, 3 or 4 U17 Premier CDA players, 2 - U17 Premier Wing Players. + State Tournament Experience.
Champlin - 4 U17 CDA Premier Players, 2 U17 Wings Premier Players, one U16 SE player, Liberian & Somalia Community (genetically enhanced players), ton of U17 C1 Players, Great Coach
EDP - 12 EDP U17 Premier Players
LKV - ?
Tonka - ?
Hmm, Jefferson you think your going to be amazing because you have four players? Wow! Ok it is official Bloomington has a water problem, that cause its resident to become delusional.
I'm not sure where to put this. The Boys Regional thread has been shut down. I can't believe no one has commented on SSM U18 Boys making it to the National finals.... Pretty impressive for a fairly new program.
4 players my but... 8primier plays and a great goalie along with 3 or 4 c1 players. Lakeville is a good summer team but the only reason they are good is because it is all the old bangu kids who quit or got cut from the team. All three of those teams will be really good but you have to put jefferson on that list
Lakeville only a good summer team??? Have fun on J.V. this year.
Final Season Poll: Week of October 6, 2007
1. Anoka (1) 2. Lakeville North (4) 3. Apple Valley (2) 4. Wayzata (3) 5. Eden Prairie (5) 6. St. Louis Park (7) 7. Hill Murray (6) 8. Minneapolis Southwest (9) 9. Osseo (10) 10. Edina (-)
Yeah whoever this is just knows that i am going to destroy your team and i hope you play for lakeville, you already proved your summer team is not very good. Congrats you made it to the semi finals of a terrible soccer state. Congrats one of your high school teams was not too bad last year. Congrats you will get killed by Jefferson... Unlucky
socmom, SSM should be able to compete nationally. They recruit nationally. They even recruit internationally. Given those advantages which they have over other USYS teams/clubs they should be able to beat most team that recruit primarily from 1 metro area wouldn't you think?
Soccermom Quite honestly, I don't think many consider SSM a MN team. It is a team with few MN boys on it. It is kind of like IL & VA state gettig excited because they have a couple of players on the team. Yes, I know they have six players from MN, so what they have 14 from all over the country.
anon 7:07 - they are a MN team and we have to accept it or get over it. The team's address is MN, they played in the MN state cup and went through the same process everyone did go through. The national stage does not care if half of your players were recruited from outside US as long as they meet the criteria. Does it make any difference if a premiere team brought in players from overseas to play? How do we know the roster of the other teams? How do we know if the other teams all have players from Texas or not? Get over it. They are representing the state of MN and quit the provincial thinking. If any other team was fortunate to have players from overseas, they will gladly roster them. congrats to my fellow Cannuck boy Teal!
eto, Get over it. The vast majority of the SSM players have addresses far from Minnesota. Anyone calling this a Minnesota team has a vested interest in SSM as much as they'll try to deny it. They must have been terribly outcoached to allow a team with players from only 1 metro area beat their nationally recruited side by a 3-0 score.
SSM is great and congrats to the U18 team for their 2nd place efforts. I expect SSM to continue to do great things for those dedicated and elite young players.
However, SSM is not a MN team. MN should still embrace them and SSM can represent MN in tournaments if they want, but SSM is a national select team, not a MN team.
But who cares what they are? It's just kids playing football.
ZERO No one cares on the MN BOYS HS THREAD about SSM. It has nothing to do with us. They are an elitist boarding school in the southern part of the state that does not compete in Minnesota High School Sports. I would embrace them a whole lot more if they could figure out how to accurately post on this blog and not infect everything on the blog the constant "me, me, and me" comments.
I'd avoid throwing the term "elitist" around to freely. Sit at a game at Edina, Mtka, Wayzata, Woodbury, Stillwater and a few more and you'll run into plently of people that show elitist characteristics and attitudes. SSM is certainly an unique situation in MN but probably not much different from other boarding schools around the country. They have their focus and their crowd and more power to them if that's what they want. I wonder if they take this much heat for their hockey program?
I don't know, I think they probably would if their posting on a MN HS BOYS Hockey thread. I'd don't care if they need to brag. Just do it in the appropriate place.
That might be an over statement.. Its not as if the whole Jaguar team is going to play Division 1 but you can for sure be expecting a big crowd at a couple of their games. Especially Edina
Why does everyone think Jefferson is going to do something this year... Unless Danny finds away to utilize all the talent this year got be easily forgotten
Jefferson might have good years occasionally, but they won't be Hopkins BBall.
Bloomington doesn't have the youth program that EP, AV and Stillwater have. They don't even have a youth system to compare with Woodbury, Minnetonka/Wayzata, Edina, Rosemount, Lakeville, Eagan and Rochester. I wonder how many of this year's roster will have played on BYSC this summer. Jefferson has also become a small AA school.
Plymouth(Wings) has the best youth system out there....so one would think armstrong would be great this year and years to come...but well see if they even come close to beating a team as good as Jefferson
Why so much talk about jefferson? The struggled to win 1 game 2 years agoand struggled to go 500 last year. So what makes everyone think that jefferson will do something this year!!!!..please someone tell me. this blog is to share comments and thoughts on different high schools....Its not for jefferson high school players screw around and mess up the whole point of this blog....so get off if your trying to brag about your school.
We will not know who is talking all this trash and whoever it is on that Jefferson team better be able to back it up... I will die laughing if you guys choke and have a terrible season but i hope the best for you:) But my favorite it win it all this year is St. Louis Park even though they lost so many players they are still returning a lot or EP if they really have 12 kids that played preimer league summer team that should very easily carry over into high school ball. And now i am going to have to watch the Jefferson EP game if they play and at this moment i don't even think that would be a good game.
1. Anoka - until they're beaten. 2. Eden Prairie - always strong. 3. Stillwater - always strong. 4. Wayzata - lost a lot. 5. White Bear Lake - should be good. 6. Lakeville North - should be good. 7. Armstrong - rising. 8. Apple Valley - always strong. 9. Hill Murray - will be alright. 10. Mpls South - sleeper.
Keep an eye on Rosemount. A.V. always a contender in the rankings early, however a rebuiling year for them drops them off the top ten in early September. No doubt E.P. University will be strong, and Jefferson, click your heals three times.
E.P. - Along with there abundance of premier players, which sometimes don't mean didly, they have so many more kids particpating. In many cases e.p. will turn kids away. On the other hand many schools aren't nearly deep and strugggle to field some teams. Shugs and Cody...What schools?
as stated earlier - EP will be strong with talent. Their weakness will be an unproven goalie and the fact they are required to play a man-marking system all over the field.
They did not have those barriers in premier league this summer when they won the league.
Rodrigo Galvan. Hands down Mr. Soccer. If this goes to someone else it is because the media and coaching community is ill informed. He is ridiculous - best player in the region at his age at ODP, best player on Holker's team by far...no one can touch this kid. St. Paul Humboldt might win a few games.
Yeah seriously if anyone who is looking at this does not know Rodrigo Galvan he one of the best players in the Nation and is the most creative soccer player i have ever seen. college/pro anywhere
I'm a little confused how people could be down on Apple Valley, they have 9 players on the Valley United U-16 team that won the Premier League this summer, and Scanlon gets those players to play hard and finds a way to make average players become exceptional role players
CO or RG Mr. Soccer. Sure they are in the running. But their abilities are being drastically overstated. Mr. Soccer is more than soccer talent, the person must also be a solid citizen (are either either?...I don't know them personally.)
RG "one of the best players in the nation?" Absolutley no way! More MN people hyped on a player that can cut the ball. He was a very average player at the regional tournament. Maybe you should all become ODP coaches.
Antonio Baldelli. Guest student athlete from Italy. This man boy makes your choices look like kids.Fantastic skills and tough as nails. He can run by you or over you. Guarantee you won't get up.Somebody will be very lucky.
RG was the best player on a Bangu team that just barely didn't advance at Regionals. I find it hard to believe he was "average" at that tournament. More MN people who don't like players with flare and a little self-confidence. Even if it was a case of RG just being able to cut the ball, he certainly made a lot of MN boys look stupid while doing so.
Let me guess who 12:52 is who knocks "a player who can cut the ball."
Male. White American. Between 40-55 years old. Maybe played low level soccer in high school, but thinks it was a high level.
Agree with 12:52 You need to do more than just cut the ball. Look at all the recipents in the past several years and what do they have in common? You've drank to much cool aid from one program. BTW - Do you work at Valley Fair. Pretty good guesses on the profile.
12:52 Alright you have never seen him play if you do not think he should be on the national team... I went down to ODP camp with Rodrigo Galvan and he had 3 goals and 3 assists and is without a doubt the best player in the region and to say that he was an average player at regional camp.. you are just showing everyone how clueless you are. Go watch him play before you judge and your mind about him will change the first time he touches the ball
3:36 why are u talking about cool and valley fair....why would u ever agree with 12:52 im sure rodrigo will destroy profession soccer after his full ride to madison is over....
Whoever is commenting on Rodrigo saying he is not good... just stop. Its not funny! We all know he is one of the Best soccer players that Minnesota has ever had and if you have never seen him play, don't talk about him!!!!
- a person who is counteractive to the growth of football in MN due to blindness of anything outside their community club. - a person who shuns coaches for not developing creative players, but at the same time shuns high level, flashy players, often labeling them as "a player who can only cut the ball." - a person who despises Bangu, Wings, Thunder, MTA, ODP, SSM, and any other upper level training program, often labeling those groups as "elitists."
9:02 what are does that even mean all he can do is cut the ball??? Cause i hope that has a different meaning cause he is the best soccer player i have ever played with, played against, of ever seen
Not ODP Camp, the regional tournament. Did you see him play? I did several times. He did nothing out of the ordinary. If were as good as you say, he wouldn't waste his time going to college, he would be heading over seas...get off his jock and live your own life.
12:43...What team do you play for? This would explain why your are so biased toward this player. It will be interesting to see how he does this fall with limited talent around him. Two marks on him defensivly will frustrate and render him ineffective.
2:43 - your post kind of defeats your argument. If it takes two marks for the player, doesn't that mean he must be very good to require that much attention?
12:43 How can you say he did nothing out of the ordinary... he had a goal from 45yards out and was apart of every attacking chance that the Minnesota team had. He had another goal from 30 out. Oh yeah and good point about not going to college... Its such a good idea not to get a free education!!! Teil Bunbury is not going straight to pro even though he has had several offers, he is doing this because he is a smart kid and knows he will go pro in a couple years. After next years summer soccer season when everyone knows who Rodrigo Galvan is he will be getting offers from pro teams but knows he need to get a little stronger... Any one (other than YOU!!!!) Who has seen him play know that his skill is way past what he would need for professional soccer
"Get a little stronger." - as though guys like DeMarcus Beasley, Cesc Fabregas, Freddie Adu, etc. are real strong. Of course those guys are elite athletes, but strength has little to do with it. Speed kills.
"Two marks on him." - this just doesn't happen. Never do two players man mark one player. Teams may focus on a player. And a talent may keep the ball for so long that 4 players end up trying to take it from him, but that's his own fault for not passing sooner. But at Humboldt, where RG's supporting cast is probably awful, teams probably ought to shadow him with 5 players.
If any player (Thierry Henry, Ronaldo) were strictly double teamed, I'd certainly hope his teammates would capitalize. You never see two players man marking one player because they would capitalize at higher levels (probably not at Humboldt).
"Render him useless and ineffective." - if a player is drawing the marks of two players, he is being more useful and effective than any other player on the field and his teammates better pull their heads out.
4:17 how can you say Freddie Adu is an elite athlete? the kid was famous for a year and now he has done nothing special since. and there are no elite athletes in the MLS. and dont tell me beckham is an elite athlete, he is now 33 years old and is not as good as when he was with real madrid or manchester united.
Rodrigo is going full ride to Madison!!!!!!! Is that not going somewhere????? Your stupidity is pissing me off... I would bet money that your kid is Ryan McCarthy.. that kid is not good!! He has great skill but he is stupid kinda like you. And Rodrigo would be better on the field if they Triple teamed him before your terrible Eden Prairie son. How does your son follow Rodrigo, Bangu did not play eden prairie once... Your son should be proud if he is good enough to follow Rodrigo on a leash, but my guess is that he is not. :( Bummer Dude
Sorry pal, I'm only in my 30s played D1 soccer and also semi-pro (USL) for a number of year. RG is a good player, but you look like an idiot riding his jock...or is that riding your own jock. Nothing anyone says about him on this blog will change his playing ability. Your childish hype is only hurting his chances for Mr. Soccer, so shut your damn mouth if you want to help him. Teal will only play 1 year, or 1 semester in college, then he will be off to Europe.
For those who don't know, hold over camp at ODP is not what is used to be. Many players are already identified through USSF academy designation. Take a look at the national team rosters, most of the kids under 18 are from USSF academy teams, not Regional ODP teams.
7:54- u16 arsenal super eagles played u17ep in the final of the wings tounament and it was a close game they have maybe one star player that is a four foot midget that thinks he is hot shit named something like shane. bangu has a whole roster full of great players and great players that can play together so saying that ep was more of a complete package than that of bangu is a joke.
8:28 who cares how old you are. and how the hell does talking on this blog hurt his chances of mr. soccer? its not who is a more popular soccer player its the best soccer player in the state and RG is one of them. but since you played D1 and played in the USL you must know everything about soccer right?
Lets just stop talking about Rodrigo and wait until the season is over to see if he is any good. He is obviously very good against the best players. Lets wait until the end of the high school soccer season where the real soccer players are
Just in case RG messes up, blows knee or something, I would like to mention some other candidates.
For AA Dula Fadis, Jouvanny Santibanez, Ablert Sims, Brent Kalman, Abdi Hassan, Henry Robson, Spencer Duhame (sp?), Jeffery Webster, (2 players from EP #40 & #16), Tyler Heaps.
Class A Ryan MacArther, Paul Yonga, Micahel Coborn, Rodrigo Galvan, Joe Laue, Tips Jackley, Evan Odean, Badal Ali, Austin Dressen, Dan Kilen, Ryan Fuchs
This list is a combination of ODP Pool, Region II Pool Players, MN All State Teams, as well as watching State Cup games. The great thing about this time of year is that anything is still possible.
I sure there are more and it would be interesting to hear about them. If we could all reframe from childishly slamming them or shamelessly promoting them, it could actually be an interesting and educational discussion.
I hope I'm never the player that is so bad that I am relegated to man-marking Rodrigo. The sarcasm is never seen on this blog. Players that have to man-mark in high school are typically players who can't do anything else.
Freddie Adu hasn't done anything? Obviously he isn't Pele or Cristiano, but he's making millions in Europe. Not bad for a teenager. MN people continue to confuse me. Freddie would run circles around anyone in MN. He's an elite athlete.
Tomass, speed encompasses speed of play. DeMarcus, Freddie and Cesc all have top speed of play. None of those guys are very strong. Most top level soccer players have very strong legs and core. I don't think RG needs to develop anymore upper body strength. He's already stronger than Cesc.
For myself, Diego, of course I was strong at my hulking 138 lbs. But I'm also the greatest player ever. Pele can eat my...
Maradona, I usually agree with or at least appreciate what you have to write. But think twice before ever putting Fabregas and "speed kills" in the same passage. Fabregas is regarded as one of the slowest players on the arsenal squad by the other arsenal players. His genius is not speed or strength. His genius has to do with his talent, shockingly enough. He is proof that you can play at the very highest levels without having world class speed or physical strength. Think about players like Fabregas, Riquelme, Cantona, Gascoigne (chubby as he was), Molby (even chubbier than gazza), Litmanen (always seemed to move in slow motion but god was he a player) and others. These players hardly were the swiftest or fittest players, but they were insanely talented. I would add Maradona to this list but I have to think that he had the entire package -- extreme talent accompanied by extreme speed and strength (hence why he is considered the best or one of the two best in history). The importance of talent seems to wholly escape MN and Region II soccer, perhaps even American soccer by and large. I see the so-called great coaches around here trying to get their kids to run run run around like little muppets on crack, and these kids, while they have "great honest work rate," have never experienced a truly creative moment with the ball, and it is why they will never unlock the hardest puzzles this game has to offer.
Speed of play is only partially related with how fast one runs. It has almost everything to do with how fast one thinks and one's technical and physical ability to execute one's thoughts.
9:38, Great post. I did error. While Cesc won't run by Ashley Cole, his speed of play is top notch. Cesc is just another example of a great player who is tiny and probably can't curl a milk carton.
Regarding players that run like little muppets, well, at least those players can man-mark the talented players. I think that's why many coaches run players so much. Most older players are at a point where their only hope is to outrun a talented player.
Another Definition for minivan: - a person who thinks high school soccer is the culmination of the a year or career.
Rodrigo is a good player, I would put him in the top 10 H.S. players in the state. He has an amazing shot (yes it is proffesional like in its power and acuracy). His basic skills and first touch are usualy flawless and he is quick. His down side is that he is not getting any bigger and he becomes much less effective when you make him have to play some defense. I have watched him take a Humbolt team that could barely get the ball out of its half and turn it into a conference champion. He is a great pick to win class A Mr soccer if Humbolt can have another great year, but I think he is going to need a strong performance or 2 against some suburban teams.
But who cares if he wins Mr. Soccer. Top football minds know RG is a top player regardless of what happens this fall. Mr. Soccer isn't a validation of that. HS football means nothing because you have a few great players playing on teams filled with poo (i.e. Humboldt). So who cares if a suburban team can put 3 players on one stud to take him out of the game? That's basically a joke on the suburban team for "running around like muppets" to stop said stud. That's not how it would be at a higher level where said stud has teammates that are worth a darn.
maradona. freddie is only makin 2 million from benfica but to bad he is on loan to AS Monaco FC so i dont think he is making to much. also anyone from the USL, D1 or the worst teams in europe would run circles around anyone from MN so saying that since freddie is an elite athlete is a bit over exagerated. also ANYONE from europe can run circles arounds anyone in mn does that make them a "ELITE" athlete. so before you start writing stuff thinking your hot .... get your facts straight
Actually, those who you think are arm chair coaches might very well have coached against you.
Work ethic and size do matter. But that isn't the end of the analysis if you are trying to develop great players.
That is unless your idea of success is simply wins at the high school level against other teams for which work ethic and size are the exclusive priorities. In that event, enjoy your milieu. The game will be as ugly as you want it to be (and it really has been some difficult stuff to watch over the years), but at least your kids will work hard.
You know what is really fun to watch? Check out some of the younger teams emerging out of developmental soccer these days. Clubs like bangu, mpls united, wings, psa, blackhawks, st croix, st paul united and eden prairie as some examples. You are starting to see some little artists emerge from these clubs -- kids who play the game brilliantly and better than we have ever seen before in this state. Soon enough I am sure there will be coaches screaming at them to release the ball and run harder, or telling them that they are of no use because they lack size and speed, but they are fun to watch and have so much promise in the meantime.
Not many people in the world are going to run circles around Freddy Adu... He could for sure play in Europe, not in the champions league but many teams would die to have because of his elite athletic ability and skill. But this page is about high school soccer so lets try to stay on topic
Obviously Eden Prairie is going to be good with 12 seniors that play on their summer premier team, but is that summer team still a premier team if you take away all the talent that they got from other cities??? How good will they be without all those players???
12:31, You're dumb. $2 million for a 19 year-old American citizen. Not bad. And $2 million is millions, as Maradona said.
Freddie is elite. It's valid to say he'd run circles around anyone in MN because it's the same MN people who talk about how impressive XY High is but then try to cut Freddie down. It's contradicting. I honestly think Freddie could play XY High one v eleven and make it a game.
Minnesota soccer is in the dark ages. We play TRACK soccer. No skill. It's boot ball Bunky.Coaches don't know what the heck SPEED OF PLAY is. They wouldn't recognize a player who has it.Rather than working on skills we're gonna run Nationals until we burn rubber.
If your kid wants to work on skills you're going to have to send him to some out of state camps.
Hey---For those who don't want to get involved with the whole MTA thing, and are looking to make a change, check out the Arsenal tryouts on Sunday at Northwood Park. The SE boys (will be U17 next year) just landed a new a new head coach and are looking to add some additional competitive players . Check out: www.arsenalmn.com
st. paul central has a bunch of talented players this year. I was playing with a bunch of them the other night and they're really technically sound and smart players... not just ball hogs.
SE team needed a change after 4 years under same coach. Will retain many players and will lose some through 'attrition." Kids wanting to do other stuff besides soccer, etc.
Would be a great opportunity for some talented players looking for a change!
i heard that blackhawks are going to fall appart...but i am shocked from all of thier tallent they didnt even win state cup and they lost some league games. poor coaching?
I would say they just got unlucky sometimes, the biggest surprise to me was how well Valley did in league, they have one player that plays ODP and yet they were able to win the premier league, I know a lot of people just look at state cup results as everything that matters in a season and they got unlucky there not to win some games, but responded well after that
kareems a good player....and the region pool isnt just a simple thing to make...lay off him hes most likely better than you or your son...so i wouldnt comment
Blackhawks 16s had good coaching and a few very talented players but not near enough overall talent and depth to be top team in state. The talent will consolidate more this year as they move to U17s...don't know with which club just yet.
The U16 (to be U17) group is so messed up. There is so much talent at that age group but the teams are all over the map:
- Rumors of SE falling apart. - Rumors of Blackhawks falling apart. - Valley playing same old Valley style. - Wings being relegated, players leaving to chase success.
This age needs to get a clue because they could win nationals.
I thought this was a H.S. thread, the summer season is over. The club teams will not play a worthwhile game for another six months or more. I would just like to here some more about the H.S. season. Lets just start with the favorites for each conference, any takers?
Regarding SE falling apart, in one year, SE went from perennial State Cup champs to not advancing out of group stage. That doesn't appear to be a team on the rise.
Did they have quality numbers at tryouts or just numbers?
1,557 comments:
1 – 200 of 1557 Newer› Newest»I will take Eden Prairie. A lot of kids will be out and they are always in the top couple teams in the best league in the state.
They need an experienced goalie and for their HS coach not to run a man-marking system all over the field.
Other than those two barriers, I would pick them hands down to be at the dome and have a chance at the ship ;-) But I am very biased.
biased toward?
I'm biased for the support I have for the EP men's HS team.
I am not a Maple Grove resident, but I think they will have a VERY strong team this year. As well as a goalie. Top 4 Class AA - Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley and Burnsville.
In Class A - Totino Grace, Minnhaha Academy, the rest is just a crap shoot.
I am not a Maple Grove resident, but I think they will have a VERY strong team this year. As well as a goalie. Top 4 Class AA - Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley and Burnsville.
In Class A - Totino Grace, Minnhaha Academy, the rest is just a crap shoot.
Minnihaha Academy...haha. Then have been a very average Class A team for a long time. What is changing this year?
watch Jefferson kill all these teams.....im not from there but they will dominate..anybody know players from there..there stacked
Minniahaha has Quinn Nelson before switched school he was at jefferson and they would have just been that much better
Jefferson was terrible last year. What changed.
What players are out there who are worth watching??
Jefferson is not losing anyone worth while and they are getting kids who were unable to play last year and they will have 8 premier players along with a bunch of solid C1 players
so what up 8:07 what do u know about soccer...obviously nothing you probably dont play and if u do your on some sort of c3 team
12:04 - just can it if you can't provide an answer. 8:07 asked a question and you gave the reply of a 6 year old or hormonally challenged teenage punk. I'm assuming you must go to Jefferson then...
Midnight...are all those premier players used to playing together? The pre-season practice time is essentially worthless, so if they can't gel in a week and a half, premier or not, it's a tough start. I'm not trying to belittle them, I'm just wondering.
C3 team, funny you would consider that an insult since that is what Jefferson's teams have been made up with lately.
OK, Jefferson has some premier players. What age groups? If they were all 17s this past summer, then that is a good start. I'm really curious about which team, since BYSC hasn't had a competative team for 3 or 4 years. The good player go elsewhere and they can't seem to get any quality coaches. And, MN premier has really tailed off with several clubs top teams not even playing in the league anymore.
no i have friends that go there..and hormonally challenged....what are u talking about jefferson has like 3 kids from u17 bangu and like 5 from different u16 premier teams
Having watch Boys HS soccer for the past few years, here is my obseveration for sucess.
1) HS Coach who can motivate players to work together and forget their egos.
2) Players who are selfless and understand the game and work hard.
3) Solid Athletics.
Does the team need a surplus of premier players? NO, in fact alot of the time their ego's just get in the way. I would say having a player who thinks he has a run a Mr. Soccer also hurts the teams chances of sucess. I don't mean for this to sound like a slam on the premier players but I would think last years results should prove to everyone, that HS soccer is a team game. Good TEAMS win, individuals super stars lose.
Word 10:16
You are very correct on #1-#3, however, having a superstar as a #4 item doesn't hurt. Wayzata wasn't so bad the last couple of years with CM. Jefferson wasn't so bad in 04 with JS - Just to name a couple teams. A lot of the metro teams getting to state ride their stars.
Interesting Observation re: Jefferson:
2007 Coach: Current MN Thunder head coach
2008 Coach: Current MN Lightning head coach
So yes, something has changed since last year. Their coach from their championship season is returning after a 2-year hiatus.
anon 11:21 am The only way Mr Storlien would agree to coach a team is if it's loaded with top notch players. That's his MO.
Storlien coached many Jefferson teams that weren't loaded with top notch players. Go back and look at the won-loss records over the years if you have doubts.
He assumed the role of AD at Jefferson a few years ago and at that time dropped the soccer coaching job from his plate.
Now that he has the AD job down pat it makes sense for him to strp back into the role.
The reason for Storlien not coaching the past couple of years was because he was getting his masters degree and thought it would be too much.
Sorry, not enough sleep.
Anon 10:16
Sorry, not enough sleep.
Anon 10:16
Mr. Storlien might have an MO of only wanting to coach top notch players. More power to him. After coaching for 2 decades and coaching a lot of low level teams to be successful, why would he want to spend his time coaching a lot of the filth out there. He put in his time coaching U13 C2 teams back in those early days at Jefferson.
Regardless, the above mentioned reasons for his hiatus are accurate.
We're lucky he's stuck around in MN this long. He could coach any D1 College program he wants. And he could have done so even 10 years ago.
Would Coach K be willing to coach anyone other than Duke?
Maybe a team of LeBron, Kobe, Melo, Wade, Kidd, etc. He has an MO of only wanting to coach quality players. He can't coach the lousy players. He can't coach the skills. He's only a defensive-minded tactician. He's no good ;-)
I give Danny credit he completed his 2nd Masters degree and is one of the only coaches who is current on his A License, most people let it go and don't keep up. By the way the rumor is he is helping Gramenz starting next week with the Thunder. Not sure he could have gone to the D1 thing or that he would want it, my guess he is a lifer in Bloomington.
Storlien was willing to coach a merged team of Bangu/SuperEagles last season but backed out when they didnt come together or get academy status,he would of had time then though,funny stuff on here,lots of Bangu gloss.
Bangu/SuperEagles: Summer Team
Bangu U17 Girls: Summer Team
Jefferson HS: Fall/School Team
Big difference with scheduling for an AD/Teacher/Masters Student/Lightning Coach.
Great coach(Danny Storlien)+ Great players(jefferson)= State Championship
anon 3:38
Storlien doesn't teach in the summer so he has much more free time to coach teams.
You guys really should get a clue before sounding silly all the time.
It's a good thing this blog exists for all the bashers to vent their anger and hate otherwise they would be kicking their dogs or worse yet, their wives and kids.
So much pent up hate, anger and jealousy all over a kid's game.
It just isn't healthy.
its not a summer team, club soccer is from November to Regionals or hopefully Nationals. I heard he wanted to coach in the US Dev Academy and when it did not happen it was something to give up for him. Not sure if that is right or wrong but I would like to coach a team like that too.
Agreed you cannot be get mad at a coach for taking a couple years off when he needs a small break from soccer and why no come back when the Jaguars are going to be really.
good!!!!!!
Yeah, what coaching license does Coach K (Duke) have? That's right coaching licenses don't mean a damn thing.
You just re-enforced the problem with Storlien as a coach. He won't waste his time developing players or taking anything but the best players. He is opportunistic and exploits the situation for his own ego.
When you have a good shot at going somewhere why wouldn't you take the best players... this obviously is not a rebuilding year at Jefferson
Would Coach K waste his time developing a bunch of players who might play college ball? No, he'll work on developing LeBron and Kobe to try to win gold.
Should a top MN soccer coach waste his time developing U14 CC players who might play high school ball? No, he'll work on developing Bangu/SuperEagle teams to see if they can win a National Title and get college scholarships.
Why is it that only the bad players need "developing?" Even the top U17 players in MN need a lot of work. And why should good coaches who have put in their time be expected to coach those bad players?
The fact is that many, many coaches could have the same success as Storlien with consolidated talent. Look at Shattuck U18s...at nationals.
I would be proud to have a coach as great as storlien and if it is true that Jefferson has that much talent they could be an early favorite to make it to the dome
DS said it...."I don't develop players".
The BLUE are favored to take it all this year. They are an outstanding team.
anon 6:29,
You're wrong about developing players. Do you think it stops at age 16? At age 17?
Don't you think players develop after those ages? Don't they still develop while in college?
Or even in the pros?
Maybe you shoukd ask a few of the players who have played for Storlien and ask if he helped develop their game?
Those players cold teach you quite a bit and may help you avoid making inane posts again on this blog.
We all like to do what we're good at in our careers. DS is good at developing players tactically and psychologically. You can't do a whole lot tactically and psychologically with players that have no technical ability, like the typical teenage MN player. The more technically skilled your players are, the more you can do with them tactically and psychologically. That may be why DS seeks higher level players.
Do you think Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena could coach players technically? Yeah right. Elite 10-yr-olds can show those two old-timers moves they couldn't dream of. Top level coaches don't do technical stuff. They don't waste their time with bad players who aren't technically developed.
Lightning Fan
Who is the blue? Jefferson?
Lightning Fan is spot on.
Development never stops as it's an ongoing process.
The most critical piece is getting the players when they're young and giving them the skills they need so they can develop to the next stage. Without the basic building blocks it's hard to move to the next level of development.
I think we're finally starting to see the light here in Minnesota with high level coaches working with the kids at U7-U10 instead of the typical old Minnesota way of having mom & dad coaches work with the kids and then hand them off to a more experienced coach as they get older.
Other states were far ahead of us in this regard until the last 4-5 years.
We've made major advancements in player development over the past few years.
Hopefully it continues.
Jefferson will be average at best. They have no notable players, just role players. If they finish in the top half of the Lake, it will be a tribute to Storlien's abilities.
You obviously don't have a clue who is on Jefferson... to say they only have role players is a joke. Please please come and watch so you can eat your words!!!
As more and more young people with stronger technical backgrounds move into coaching and while more of the old-timers move out, naturally our coaching will improve. Evolution.
The most frustrating thing is hearing parents complain about coaching. Today's coaches are a product of yesterday's coaches (aka today's parents). That's why the curve of coaching improvement in MN has slowly become more steep over the years, resulting in "major advancements in the past few years."
Do the Evolution:
1980s Coaches: former baseball players, good people managers
1990s Coaches: ok tactically, weak technically
2000s Coaches: good tactically, better technically
2010's Coaches: good tactically, good technically
The US top coach, Bob Bradley, played soccer when we were far worse than we are now.
anon 6:29...That's a quote from Mr Storlien.
anon 9:29.....so you are already making excuses for Mr Storlien.
If it isn't about developing technical skills what are parents writing the checks for???
Everyone understands what you are trying to say but once again... why wouldn't you take the best players when you are going to have good chance of going somewhere.
Jefferson soccer player
Jefferson has three players that play for Holker
they will be a good team but AV and EP might be better in the Lake.
Storlien said he never develops players. ?????????
I played for him and I think we spent more time getting better and less time focusing on winning. It made me mad sometimes.
9:53 You are the master of the obvious. Everybody knows development never stops. That was the point of the post about Mr Storlien.
11:44.... yup he said it.
Do you know the difference between skill development and tactical development? There is a difference.
Adding to the 3 players that play for holkers U17 team their are 4priemer Juniors.. that would be sad if this team was anywhere close to average
It's interesting that there has been so much attention given to Jefferson while Bloomington Youth Soccer Club is pretty much an afterthought.
Why in such a large community with some soccer interest does the youth club struggle so much?
If you took the 3players from Holkers team that live in Bloomington and put them on the bloomington team, they would be a solid team same with the 4 U16players
That's a big "IF"...that's been happening for years in Bloomington. They've never been able to keep their local players and they've never done anything to fix it. Bloomington could be a club like Valley United and Prairie United. Very poor management has been happening in Bloomington for 20 years. I think the dueling High Schools in the club might lead to a lot of their problems.
No one is dueling... Kennedy has never been good. But yeah Bloomington needs to change something so this does not keep happening year after year with a club that is struggling
If playing on Holkers U17 team is a recipe for success, then I'd pick Edina to be playing late in the fall with their two Bangu U17s and a strong cast of supporting players groomed by ESC.
At BYSC, a lot of the player selection in the past has involved maintaining balance between Jefferson and Kennedy, which has resulted in weak teams, which leads to top players leaving the club, which leads to relegation, and so on and so forth. In that sense, the dueling high schools may have an effect.
They also have a problem with competing with the successful Bloomington hockey programs. There may not be any answer to this.
MG - Bangu U17 GK, 3 or 4 U17 Premier CDA players, 2 - U17 Premier Wing Players. + State Tournament Experience.
Champlin - 4 U17 CDA Premier Players, 2 U17 Wings Premier Players, one U16 SE player, Liberian & Somalia Community (genetically enhanced players), ton of U17 C1 Players, Great Coach
EDP - 12 EDP U17 Premier Players
LKV - ?
Tonka - ?
Hmm, Jefferson you think your going to be amazing because you have four players? Wow! Ok it is official Bloomington has a water problem, that cause its resident to become delusional.
I'm not sure where to put this.
The Boys Regional thread has been shut down.
I can't believe no one has commented on SSM U18 Boys making it to the National finals....
Pretty impressive for a fairly new program.
4 players my but... 8primier plays and a great goalie along with 3 or 4 c1 players. Lakeville is a good summer team but the only reason they are good is because it is all the old bangu kids who quit or got cut from the team. All three of those teams will be really good but you have to put jefferson on that list
Lakeville only a good summer team??? Have fun on J.V. this year.
Final Season Poll: Week of October 6, 2007
1. Anoka (1)
2. Lakeville North (4)
3. Apple Valley (2)
4. Wayzata (3)
5. Eden Prairie (5)
6. St. Louis Park (7)
7. Hill Murray (6)
8. Minneapolis Southwest (9)
9. Osseo (10)
10. Edina (-)
he said lakeville is a good summer team not only a good summer team...and why would he have fun on jv....you dont make sense
Yeah whoever this is just knows that i am going to destroy your team and i hope you play for lakeville, you already proved your summer team is not very good. Congrats you made it to the semi finals of a terrible soccer state. Congrats one of your high school teams was not too bad last year. Congrats you will get killed by Jefferson... Unlucky
socmom,
SSM should be able to compete nationally.
They recruit nationally.
They even recruit internationally.
Given those advantages which they have over other USYS teams/clubs they should be able to beat most team that recruit primarily from 1 metro area wouldn't you think?
Looks like we have a few HS boys bragging up their sides...gotta love that school spirit!
Soccermom
Quite honestly, I don't think many consider SSM a MN team. It is a team with few MN boys on it. It is kind of like IL & VA state gettig excited because they have a couple of players on the team. Yes, I know they have six players from MN, so what they have 14 from all over the country.
socmom, do you think that SSM thinks they are representing the State of MN at Nationals? I didn't think so :)
Well they are and just cause they are not all from minnesota they are still taking the trophy back
I edina has a good coach this year they might be able to beat a Jefferson type team
if*
Yeah Edina is set for a good run... Go Edina!!!!
anon 7:07 - they are a MN team and we have to accept it or get over it. The team's address is MN, they played in the MN state cup and went through the same process everyone did go through. The national stage does not care if half of your players were recruited from outside US as long as they meet the criteria. Does it make any difference if a premiere team brought in players from overseas to play? How do we know the roster of the other teams? How do we know if the other teams all have players from Texas or not? Get over it. They are representing the state of MN and quit the provincial thinking. If any other team was fortunate to have players from overseas, they will gladly roster them. congrats to my fellow Cannuck boy Teal!
eto,
Get over it.
The vast majority of the SSM players have addresses far from Minnesota.
Anyone calling this a Minnesota team has a vested interest in SSM as much as they'll try to deny it.
They must have been terribly outcoached to allow a team with players from only 1 metro area beat their nationally recruited side by a 3-0 score.
Class A will probably be between Totino and Benilde. Benilde wont be a powerhouse but has an incredibly easy section and will probably go to state.
eto
Have you consider starting a elitist soccer blog?
This thread is MN Boys HS Soccer. What does that have to do with SSM? The comments posted here should tell you really how much NO ONE CARES!!
Yeah seriously put that in the category that it belongs... no one clicks high school and want to see shattuck
Although Blake graduated 2-3 key players, they should make another serious run in Class A as they return most of their team.
SSM is great and congrats to the U18 team for their 2nd place efforts. I expect SSM to continue to do great things for those dedicated and elite young players.
However, SSM is not a MN team. MN should still embrace them and SSM can represent MN in tournaments if they want, but SSM is a national select team, not a MN team.
But who cares what they are? It's just kids playing football.
Love,
Zero Connection to SSM
ZERO
No one cares on the MN BOYS HS THREAD about SSM. It has nothing to do with us. They are an elitist boarding school in the southern part of the state that does not compete in Minnesota High School Sports. I would embrace them a whole lot more if they could figure out how to accurately post on this blog and not infect everything on the blog the constant "me, me, and me" comments.
I'd avoid throwing the term "elitist" around to freely. Sit at a game at Edina, Mtka, Wayzata, Woodbury, Stillwater and a few more and you'll run into plently of people that show elitist characteristics and attitudes. SSM is certainly an unique situation in MN but probably not much different from other boarding schools around the country. They have their focus and their crowd and more power to them if that's what they want. I wonder if they take this much heat for their hockey program?
I don't know, I think they probably would if their posting on a MN HS BOYS Hockey thread. I'd don't care if they need to brag. Just do it in the appropriate place.
How will St.Louis Park be this year?
SLP - I just know that goalkeeping will be extremely solid, if he can learn how to tie his shoes. ;-)
The Jags will soon be in soccer what Hopkins is to basketball.
That might be an over statement.. Its not as if the whole Jaguar team is going to play Division 1 but you can for sure be expecting a big crowd at a couple of their games. Especially Edina
Why does everyone think Jefferson is going to do something this year... Unless Danny finds away to utilize all the talent this year got be easily forgotten
Danny Storlien is the best coach in the state whoever just wrote that needs to look at his history
1055 that was cash
Jefferson might have good years occasionally, but they won't be Hopkins BBall.
Bloomington doesn't have the youth program that EP, AV and Stillwater have. They don't even have a youth system to compare with Woodbury, Minnetonka/Wayzata, Edina, Rosemount, Lakeville, Eagan and Rochester. I wonder how many of this year's roster will have played on BYSC this summer. Jefferson has also become a small AA school.
- Darn Elitist
Jefferson boys will be good but not top 10 material.
They will have a tough road to get to state.
Danny Storlien for PRESIDENT!!!
Plymouth(Wings) has the best youth system out there....so one would think armstrong would be great this year and years to come...but well see if they even come close to beating a team as good as Jefferson
Why so much talk about jefferson? The struggled to win 1 game 2 years agoand struggled to go 500 last year. So what makes everyone think that jefferson will do something this year!!!!..please someone tell me. this blog is to share comments and thoughts on different high schools....Its not for jefferson high school players screw around and mess up the whole point of this blog....so get off if your trying to brag about your school.
We will not know who is talking all this trash and whoever it is on that Jefferson team better be able to back it up... I will die laughing if you guys choke and have a terrible season but i hope the best for you:) But my favorite it win it all this year is St. Louis Park even though they lost so many players they are still returning a lot or EP if they really have 12 kids that played preimer league summer team that should very easily carry over into high school ball. And now i am going to have to watch the Jefferson EP game if they play and at this moment i don't even think that would be a good game.
Sorry Jefferson
Rankings have been tabulated.
1. Anoka - until they're beaten.
2. Eden Prairie - always strong.
3. Stillwater - always strong.
4. Wayzata - lost a lot.
5. White Bear Lake - should be good.
6. Lakeville North - should be good.
7. Armstrong - rising.
8. Apple Valley - always strong.
9. Hill Murray - will be alright.
10. Mpls South - sleeper.
Who are the early favorites for Mr. Soccer this year?? Both class A and AA?
Keep an eye on Rosemount. A.V. always a contender in the rankings early, however a rebuiling year for them drops them off the top ten in early September. No doubt E.P. University will be strong, and Jefferson, click your heals three times.
shugs is a contender for mr. soccer
Someone please explain why people think ep is going to be good this year?
They have 12preimer player from their summer team... they can't be bad
cody = mr. soccer
Other than Shugs...??? Who are the favorites for Mr. Soccer?
E.P. - Along with there abundance of premier players, which sometimes don't mean didly, they have so many more kids particpating. In many cases e.p. will turn kids away. On the other hand many schools aren't nearly deep and strugggle to field some teams. Shugs and Cody...What schools?
Is Cody the GK identified by West Ham?
as stated earlier - EP will be strong with talent.
Their weakness will be an unproven goalie and the fact they are required to play a man-marking system all over the field.
They did not have those barriers in premier league this summer when they won the league.
Edina will also bring a lot of talent.
Yeah i think so Cody is crazy good
I heard Bloomington Jefferson's Junior Varsity team is going undefeated.. What do you think about that?
whitney brown..osseo...sick....cody o..jefferson......possibly going pro.....already been scouted by liverpool and small teams in europe.
Rodrigo Galvan. Hands down Mr. Soccer. If this goes to someone else it is because the media and coaching community is ill informed. He is ridiculous - best player in the region at his age at ODP, best player on Holker's team by far...no one can touch this kid. St. Paul Humboldt might win a few games.
was cody the same gk who played for bangu against edina in the state cup final? didn't edina win that game in pk's?
No bangu has only lost one state final for that team and that was to the kickers in U12 or U13
Yeah seriously if anyone who is looking at this does not know Rodrigo Galvan he one of the best players in the Nation and is the most creative soccer player i have ever seen. college/pro anywhere
if anything RG has a great PR staff
I'm a little confused how people could be down on Apple Valley, they have 9 players on the Valley United U-16 team that won the Premier League this summer, and Scanlon gets those players to play hard and finds a way to make average players become exceptional role players
CO or RG Mr. Soccer. Sure they are in the running. But their abilities are being drastically overstated. Mr. Soccer is more than soccer talent, the person must also be a solid citizen (are either either?...I don't know them personally.)
RG "one of the best players in the nation?" Absolutley no way! More MN people hyped on a player that can cut the ball. He was a very average player at the regional tournament. Maybe you should all become ODP coaches.
Antonio Baldelli. Guest student athlete from Italy. This man boy makes your choices look like kids.Fantastic skills and tough as nails. He can run by you or over you. Guarantee you won't get up.Somebody will be very lucky.
RG was the best player on a Bangu team that just barely didn't advance at Regionals. I find it hard to believe he was "average" at that tournament. More MN people who don't like players with flare and a little self-confidence. Even if it was a case of RG just being able to cut the ball, he certainly made a lot of MN boys look stupid while doing so.
Let me guess who 12:52 is who knocks "a player who can cut the ball."
Male.
White American.
Between 40-55 years old.
Maybe played low level soccer in high school, but thinks it was a high level.
Agree with 12:52 You need to do more than just cut the ball. Look at all the recipents in the past several years and what do they have in common? You've drank to much cool aid from one program. BTW - Do you work at Valley Fair. Pretty good guesses on the profile.
does anyone know who is getting this antonio kid.....jefferson doesnt need him but other schools might
12:52 Alright you have never seen him play if you do not think he should be on the national team... I went down to ODP camp with Rodrigo Galvan and he had 3 goals and 3 assists and is without a doubt the best player in the region and to say that he was an average player at regional camp.. you are just showing everyone how clueless you are. Go watch him play before you judge and your mind about him will change the first time he touches the ball
3:36 why are u talking about cool and valley fair....why would u ever agree with 12:52 im sure rodrigo will destroy profession soccer after his full ride to madison is over....
Whoever is commenting on Rodrigo saying he is not good... just stop. Its not funny! We all know he is one of the Best soccer players that Minnesota has ever had and if you have never seen him play, don't talk about him!!!!
But all he can do is cut the ball!
Once again, those minivans are being stupid.
minivan [sok-er-mom]
-noun
- a person who is counteractive to the growth of football in MN due to blindness of anything outside their community club.
- a person who shuns coaches for not developing creative players, but at the same time shuns high level, flashy players, often labeling them as "a player who can only cut the ball."
- a person who despises Bangu, Wings, Thunder, MTA, ODP, SSM, and any other upper level training program, often labeling those groups as "elitists."
9:02 what are does that even mean all he can do is cut the ball??? Cause i hope that has a different meaning cause he is the best soccer player i have ever played with, played against, of ever seen
Ask 12:52.
9:02 is mocking 12:52.
I think they refer to a player who dribbles a lot as "a player who can only cut the ball."
Another entry for "minivan":
- a person who thinks Cristiano Ronaldo is "a player who can only cut the ball."
Baldelli's kid sister Sophia may also come to the USA with him. She is also a very good player.They both have been trained to play an indirect style.
Not ODP Camp, the regional tournament. Did you see him play? I did several times. He did nothing out of the ordinary. If were as good as you say, he wouldn't waste his time going to college, he would be heading over seas...get off his jock and live your own life.
who is this Baldelli kid going to play for?
12:43...What team do you play for? This would explain why your are so biased toward this player. It will be interesting to see how he does this fall with limited talent around him. Two marks on him defensivly will frustrate and render him ineffective.
2:43 - your post kind of defeats your argument. If it takes two marks for the player, doesn't that mean he must be very good to require that much attention?
12:43 How can you say he did nothing out of the ordinary... he had a goal from 45yards out and was apart of every attacking chance that the Minnesota team had. He had another goal from 30 out. Oh yeah and good point about not going to college... Its such a good idea not to get a free education!!! Teil Bunbury is not going straight to pro even though he has had several offers, he is doing this because he is a smart kid and knows he will go pro in a couple years. After next years summer soccer season when everyone knows who Rodrigo Galvan is he will be getting offers from pro teams but knows he need to get a little stronger... Any one (other than YOU!!!!) Who has seen him play know that his skill is way past what he would need for professional soccer
More classic MN comments, it just never ends:
"Get a little stronger." - as though guys like DeMarcus Beasley, Cesc Fabregas, Freddie Adu, etc. are real strong. Of course those guys are elite athletes, but strength has little to do with it. Speed kills.
"Two marks on him." - this just doesn't happen. Never do two players man mark one player. Teams may focus on a player. And a talent may keep the ball for so long that 4 players end up trying to take it from him, but that's his own fault for not passing sooner. But at Humboldt, where RG's supporting cast is probably awful, teams probably ought to shadow him with 5 players.
If any player (Thierry Henry, Ronaldo) were strictly double teamed, I'd certainly hope his teammates would capitalize. You never see two players man marking one player because they would capitalize at higher levels (probably not at Humboldt).
"Render him useless and ineffective." - if a player is drawing the marks of two players, he is being more useful and effective than any other player on the field and his teammates better pull their heads out.
And until Rodrigo does actually go somewhere and do something....to put it in your own words, "shut your mouth".
My kid is better than Rodrigo because we can double-team him and render him useless while my kid plays for EP and will never be man-marked by anyone.
But wait, my kid is one of the players forced to follow Rodrigo around like he has me on a leash. Yay.
That sounds fun.
there are no outstanding kids on the ep team so your kid is probably trash
4:17 how can you say Freddie Adu is an elite athlete? the kid was famous for a year and now he has done nothing special since. and there are no elite athletes in the MLS. and dont tell me beckham is an elite athlete, he is now 33 years old and is not as good as when he was with real madrid or manchester united.
maradona - I absolutely agree with you that speed kills, but at the pro level you can not dismiss the need for strength.
A great degree of players at the pro level have speed, but those that can add the strength will have a longer more productive career.
Heck your namesake, as fast as he was had far superior strength than all those players you mentioned combined.
Also being able to play at speed is a far greater asset than just having speed.
Rodrigo is going full ride to Madison!!!!!!! Is that not going somewhere????? Your stupidity is pissing me off... I would bet money that your kid is Ryan McCarthy.. that kid is not good!! He has great skill but he is stupid kinda like you. And Rodrigo would be better on the field if they Triple teamed him before your terrible Eden Prairie son. How does your son follow Rodrigo, Bangu did not play eden prairie once... Your son should be proud if he is good enough to follow Rodrigo on a leash, but my guess is that he is not.
:( Bummer Dude
Humboldt - 2008 State Champions!!! R.G. for Vice President
7:48pm Take a pill, and get back to updating your teams stats. E.P. was a more complete package than that of the mighty Bangu.
Rodrigo to Madison Community College?
Sorry pal, I'm only in my 30s played D1 soccer and also semi-pro (USL) for a number of year. RG is a good player, but you look like an idiot riding his jock...or is that riding your own jock. Nothing anyone says about him on this blog will change his playing ability. Your childish hype is only hurting his chances for Mr. Soccer, so shut your damn mouth if you want to help him. Teal will only play 1 year, or 1 semester in college, then he will be off to Europe.
For those who don't know, hold over camp at ODP is not what is used to be. Many players are already identified through USSF academy designation. Take a look at the national team rosters, most of the kids under 18 are from USSF academy teams, not Regional ODP teams.
7:54-
u16 arsenal super eagles played u17ep in the final of the wings tounament and it was a close game they have maybe one star player that is a four foot midget that thinks he is hot shit named something like shane. bangu has a whole roster full of great players and great players that can play together so saying that ep was more of a complete package than that of bangu is a joke.
8:28 who cares how old you are. and how the hell does talking on this blog hurt his chances of mr. soccer? its not who is a more popular soccer player its the best soccer player in the state and RG is one of them. but since you played D1 and played in the USL you must know everything about soccer right?
ryan mccarthy is terrible
What about Jefferson this year...i hear they have alot of talent and are already expected to be a really good team.
Round and round and round we go...where it stops, nobody knows!
8:28 I bet Mr. Hype could get R.G's autograph if we wanted one.
anon 1004 probably the most rational comment made thus far.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha Yeah it was joke... half the comments on this blog are about Jefferson.
Lets just stop talking about Rodrigo and wait until the season is over to see if he is any good. He is obviously very good against the best players. Lets wait until the end of the high school soccer season where the real soccer players are
yeah jeffersons got a great chance to win the whole thing...they are an early favorite......
Just in case RG messes up, blows knee or something, I would like to mention some other candidates.
For AA
Dula Fadis, Jouvanny Santibanez, Ablert Sims, Brent Kalman, Abdi Hassan, Henry Robson, Spencer Duhame (sp?), Jeffery Webster, (2 players from EP #40 & #16), Tyler Heaps.
Class A
Ryan MacArther, Paul Yonga, Micahel Coborn, Rodrigo Galvan, Joe Laue, Tips Jackley, Evan Odean, Badal Ali, Austin Dressen, Dan Kilen, Ryan Fuchs
This list is a combination of ODP Pool, Region II Pool Players, MN All State Teams, as well as watching State Cup games. The great thing about this time of year is that anything is still possible.
I sure there are more and it would be interesting to hear about them. If we could all reframe from childishly slamming them or shamelessly promoting them, it could actually be an interesting and educational discussion.
I hope I'm never the player that is so bad that I am relegated to man-marking Rodrigo. The sarcasm is never seen on this blog. Players that have to man-mark in high school are typically players who can't do anything else.
Freddie Adu hasn't done anything? Obviously he isn't Pele or Cristiano, but he's making millions in Europe. Not bad for a teenager. MN people continue to confuse me. Freddie would run circles around anyone in MN. He's an elite athlete.
Tomass, speed encompasses speed of play. DeMarcus, Freddie and Cesc all have top speed of play. None of those guys are very strong. Most top level soccer players have very strong legs and core. I don't think RG needs to develop anymore upper body strength. He's already stronger than Cesc.
For myself, Diego, of course I was strong at my hulking 138 lbs. But I'm also the greatest player ever. Pele can eat my...
Maradona, I usually agree with or at least appreciate what you have to write. But think twice before ever putting Fabregas and "speed kills" in the same passage. Fabregas is regarded as one of the slowest players on the arsenal squad by the other arsenal players. His genius is not speed or strength. His genius has to do with his talent, shockingly enough. He is proof that you can play at the very highest levels without having world class speed or physical strength. Think about players like Fabregas, Riquelme, Cantona, Gascoigne (chubby as he was), Molby (even chubbier than gazza), Litmanen (always seemed to move in slow motion but god was he a player) and others. These players hardly were the swiftest or fittest players, but they were insanely talented. I would add Maradona to this list but I have to think that he had the entire package -- extreme talent accompanied by extreme speed and strength (hence why he is considered the best or one of the two best in history). The importance of talent seems to wholly escape MN and Region II soccer, perhaps even American soccer by and large. I see the so-called great coaches around here trying to get their kids to run run run around like little muppets on crack, and these kids, while they have "great honest work rate," have never experienced a truly creative moment with the ball, and it is why they will never unlock the hardest puzzles this game has to offer.
Speed of play is only partially related with how fast one runs. It has almost everything to do with how fast one thinks and one's technical and physical ability to execute one's thoughts.
9:38,
Great post. I did error. While Cesc won't run by Ashley Cole, his speed of play is top notch. Cesc is just another example of a great player who is tiny and probably can't curl a milk carton.
Regarding players that run like little muppets, well, at least those players can man-mark the talented players. I think that's why many coaches run players so much. Most older players are at a point where their only hope is to outrun a talented player.
Another Definition for minivan:
- a person who thinks high school soccer is the culmination of the a year or career.
Diego
P.S. I was the total package. Still am.
Rodrigo is a good player, I would put him in the top 10 H.S. players in the state. He has an amazing shot (yes it is proffesional like in its power and acuracy). His basic skills and first touch are usualy flawless and he is quick. His down side is that he is not getting any bigger and he becomes much less effective when you make him have to play some defense. I have watched him take a Humbolt team that could barely get the ball out of its half and turn it into a conference champion. He is a great pick to win class A Mr soccer if Humbolt can have another great year, but I think he is going to need a strong performance or 2 against some suburban teams.
But who cares if he wins Mr. Soccer. Top football minds know RG is a top player regardless of what happens this fall. Mr. Soccer isn't a validation of that. HS football means nothing because you have a few great players playing on teams filled with poo (i.e. Humboldt). So who cares if a suburban team can put 3 players on one stud to take him out of the game? That's basically a joke on the suburban team for "running around like muppets" to stop said stud. That's not how it would be at a higher level where said stud has teammates that are worth a darn.
HS football is just for shiz and gigglez.
A lot of arm chair coaches. Work ethic and size is an issue, or doesn't that matter at the high school level?
maradona.
freddie is only makin 2 million from benfica but to bad he is on loan to AS Monaco FC so i dont think he is making to much. also anyone from the USL, D1 or the worst teams in europe would run circles around anyone from MN so saying that since freddie is an elite athlete is a bit over exagerated. also ANYONE from europe can run circles arounds anyone in mn does that make them a "ELITE" athlete. so before you start writing stuff thinking your hot .... get your facts straight
Actually, those who you think are arm chair coaches might very well have coached against you.
Work ethic and size do matter. But that isn't the end of the analysis if you are trying to develop great players.
That is unless your idea of success is simply wins at the high school level against other teams for which work ethic and size are the exclusive priorities. In that event, enjoy your milieu. The game will be as ugly as you want it to be (and it really has been some difficult stuff to watch over the years), but at least your kids will work hard.
You know what is really fun to watch? Check out some of the younger teams emerging out of developmental soccer these days. Clubs like bangu, mpls united, wings, psa, blackhawks, st croix, st paul united and eden prairie as some examples. You are starting to see some little artists emerge from these clubs -- kids who play the game brilliantly and better than we have ever seen before in this state. Soon enough I am sure there will be coaches screaming at them to release the ball and run harder, or telling them that they are of no use because they lack size and speed, but they are fun to watch and have so much promise in the meantime.
Not many people in the world are going to run circles around Freddy Adu... He could for sure play in Europe, not in the champions league but many teams would die to have because of his elite athletic ability and skill. But this page is about high school soccer so lets try to stay on topic
Obviously Eden Prairie is going to be good with 12 seniors that play on their summer premier team, but is that summer team still a premier team if you take away all the talent that they got from other cities???
How good will they be without all those players???
12:31,
You're dumb. $2 million for a 19 year-old American citizen. Not bad. And $2 million is millions, as Maradona said.
Freddie is elite. It's valid to say he'd run circles around anyone in MN because it's the same MN people who talk about how impressive XY High is but then try to cut Freddie down. It's contradicting. I honestly think Freddie could play XY High one v eleven and make it a game.
Who's dumb now?
Minnesota soccer is in the dark ages. We play TRACK soccer. No skill. It's boot ball Bunky.Coaches don't know what the heck SPEED OF PLAY is. They wouldn't recognize a player who has it.Rather than working on skills we're gonna run Nationals until we burn rubber.
If your kid wants to work on skills you're going to have to send him to some out of state camps.
Hey---For those who don't want to get involved with the whole MTA thing, and are looking to make a change, check out the Arsenal tryouts on Sunday at Northwood Park. The SE boys (will be U17 next year) just landed a new a new head coach and are looking to add some additional competitive players . Check out: www.arsenalmn.com
or if you want to play for a very good team where everyone doesn't hate each other Valley u-17 boys tryouts monday 5:30 at eastview high school
rodrigo galvin= greatest player to touch the pitch...will win mr universe
if cody goes pro i am the next cristiano
vally united coaches are tools
VU must still be sore that the SE beat them in State Cup.
No need to diss each other any more than that--no one came out to badmouth them, just let people know about tryouts is all.
st. paul central has a bunch of talented players this year. I was playing with a bunch of them the other night and they're really technically sound and smart players... not just ball hogs.
St Paul Central...LOL.
What happened to Yonga, why isn't he going to coach the SE anymore, are they going to keep their players, anyone have any info?
i heard gil is leaving vally united and playing for shokapee. so vally wont be to good with out him
SE team needed a change after 4 years under same coach. Will retain many players and will lose some through 'attrition." Kids wanting to do other stuff besides soccer, etc.
Would be a great opportunity for some talented players looking for a change!
I heard that a decent amount of the SE players were going to be going to the blackhawks to play, is paul yonga still going to stay with the SE?
i heard that blackhawks are going to fall appart...but i am shocked from all of thier tallent they didnt even win state cup and they lost some league games. poor coaching?
Don't know about paul Yonga, but the other rumor is just that, a rumor...no one is moving to blackhawks.
Heard that the ponytail kid on blackhawks (coach's son didn't make the regional pool...
I would say they just got unlucky sometimes, the biggest surprise to me was how well Valley did in league, they have one player that plays ODP and yet they were able to win the premier league, I know a lot of people just look at state cup results as everything that matters in a season and they got unlucky there not to win some games, but responded well after that
kareems a good player....and the region pool isnt just a simple thing to make...lay off him hes most likely better than you or your son...so i wouldnt comment
Blackhawks 16s had good coaching and a few very talented players but not near enough overall talent and depth to be top team in state.
The talent will consolidate more this year as they move to U17s...don't know with which club just yet.
Jefferson is an outstanding team and is the favorite to win it all this year.
The U16 (to be U17) group is so messed up. There is so much talent at that age group but the teams are all over the map:
- Rumors of SE falling apart.
- Rumors of Blackhawks falling apart.
- Valley playing same old Valley style.
- Wings being relegated, players leaving to chase success.
This age needs to get a clue because they could win nationals.
I thought this was a H.S. thread, the summer season is over. The club teams will not play a worthwhile game for another six months or more. I would just like to here some more about the H.S. season. Lets just start with the favorites for each conference, any takers?
Speak for yourself, the SE aren't falling apart! I can't speak regarding the other teams.
Judging by the attendance at SE's tryouts, I doubt that this team is falling apart.
Any report on SE try-outs and any new guys that showed up from other current premier teams or key players that may have been missing from try-outs?
i think this sweeney kid will be a big hit this year
Regarding SE falling apart, in one year, SE went from perennial State Cup champs to not advancing out of group stage. That doesn't appear to be a team on the rise.
Did they have quality numbers at tryouts or just numbers?
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