Enough on this topic. Again congratulations to the SSM Boys U18s. You made MN proud. Good luck next year!
----------------
Congratulations to the Shattuck U18 boys for a great run at the National Tournament! Finishing 2nd behind repeat champions Andromeda of North Texas. They are the first MN boys team since the early 90s to qualify for nationals.
Results:
ANDROMEDA 90 (NTX) 2 - 2 T
MPS MCLEAN FC (VA) 2 - 1 W
CISCO TOROS (AZ) 2 - 0 W
FINAL ANDROMEDA 3 SSM 0
168 comments:
U18 Final: Andromeda 3, SSM 0
Nice run by SSM. Congrats!
Good job to the MN boys and to the SSM parents who have invested a lot of money to give us a national recognition - remember we are always proud of a MN team especially MN boys. We will celebrate your achievements for years to come.
Glad to see a team with boys from 1 metro area defeated the nationally recruited team.
SSM's success will help other MN boys teams believe they can compete, regardless of SSMs player source. Congrats SSM for setting the bar high!
10:50-- You are a sad, sick person. Let it go already. Welcome to the future of youth soccer. Either embrace it or continue on a miserable life full of whining and complaints.
11:33,
The future of youth soccer is recruiting kids nationally and giving them $35,000 scholarships?
ROFLMFAO!
You really think anyone believes THAT is the future of youth soccer?
You're totally insane.
Shattuck had an exception senior class, which produced exceptional results. One of their top 2 players is a MN kid (Bunburry). They will have a significant drop off next year as the classes behind them are nowhere near as competative. I would not be surprised to see them struggle to get out of MN at U18 next year.
That is funny, I think 1/3 of that U18 team are current U17s...#12 and 21 will be back, did you see that video clip at Shattuck at the Natl's, its sick!!
Congratulations to the MN boys!
“Welcome to the future of youth soccer. Either embrace it or continue on a miserable life full of whining and complaints.” Yeap, those are our only two choices.
Alternatively, we could work for something like this, http://www.andromedasc.com/ . You can even say they are more successful than SSM. They have an academy program and won both the U18 & U17 National Championship. Now that is accomplishment!
Andromeda has outstanding coaching and player development.
anon 7:25,
Care to elaborate?
Who do you know there and what is their program like?
What are they doing that Minnesota clubs aren't?
North Texas won 7 of the 12 National Championships. I guess Dallas is the hottest spot. CA only one won. Region 2 only won one. Eclipse 17's girls lost in kicks.
pro soccer in dallas changed lots of things. D1, good climate, good sports town, good migrant soccer population, is a good quality to have.
I think the key work in 12:05's post is "pro." I'm not sure what to call what we have here.
We have the Thunder. Just below the MLS.
A. MN blokes defend any MN high school player who goes to a D1 program. That player doesn't even need to get playing time. They only need to be rostered. Chances are, they'll quit the D1 program before 4 years or they'll transfer to a DIII school back home.
B. MN blokes rip the Thunder. The Thunder is filled with players who were D1 studs (all-conference, 4-year starters, Hermann finalists, etc.). Very few MN players will ever be good enough to play for the Thunder. The Thunder isn't AC Milan, but their players are very talented. I was a pretty good MN player but I wouldn't be able to play with those guys.
Minivan driving soccer mommies and soccer daddies continue to confuse me with their logic.
if it wasn't for the minivan driving soccer mommies and daddies, their wouldn't be much soccer in the US. they are the biggest pool of volunteers and supporters you will find as well as organizers and administrators. Every part of society (even the soccer parents) have their bad eggs but do nor condemn all for the shortcomings of a few.
Brazil doesn't need the minivans. Unfortunately for around here, we probably do.
Minivan Mommy Daddy Coalition: You're only as strong as your weakest link.
Wow, I am not sure where the rant defending the Thunder came from. The Thunder has a lot of potential and for the first time in the past 4 years I am think they have a very good outlook. The new owner seem to be taking a very hands on approach in getting involved in youth soccer as well as working to provide a quality product.
North Texas does seem to have the working formula thou and it does not included private boarding school recruits from around the world it does include development of talent. In order for MN to do well in Regional’s and at Nationals we need to develop talent not just cherry pick it. When Bangu started several years ago that was my complaint against them is they did not develop their talent they cherry picked it. Now they are developing their talent and working hard to develop a larger pool of players. While none of my kids plays for Minnesota Thunder/Bangu/Wings, I cannot help but feel that their consolidation is a good thing for soccer in MN.
MINI DRIVING MOM :)
The Thunder rant was in response to 7:44 and the many other posts that degrade the Thunder.
I'm curious about the makeup of the Andromeda Texas U18 team.
- What percent of the Andromeda team has been on the Texas North ODP team in the last couple years?
- Is this a community team or a Dallas Select team? Certainly appears to be a North Texas select team.
A few weeks ago I made the post that other states pretty much send their ODP teams to regionals, yet we refuse to consolidate our top talent onto one team.
Eventually, MTA will be doing this.
- I Hate Minivans
it does help down in dfw when you have twice as many kids to work with, the soccer culture is much stronger, and it is a lot warmer than mn.
Why is the soccer culture much stronger in DFW?
Is it a product of the non-whi...I mean, migrant population?
12:42 - not necessarily and the term "migrant" is a very poor choice of words. North Texas has been cranking out much higher level soccer far longer than MN has. Everything is a progression and their developemntal cycle is probably at least 5-7 years ahead of ours.
Can we please not go there? It isn't necessary...
DFW has warm weather most of the year. They play a fall and spring season out doors, as 12:14 mentioned they have a much larger population to work with, I'd have to check, but I bet their High School league doesn't block them from playing the sport for their club while they are playing for their HS. But I think that the population thing is the top advantage. The majority of the top clubs are all in large population centers.
To 12:13 (aka I Hate Minivans"):
The idea has been floated several times over recent years. At least at one time several years back, the objections boiled down to these themes (in no particular order):
- CCs believed that none of their kids would ever have a prayer of making such a team;
- "Elite" clubs believed they would have their top talent creamed by the state, leaving them with little chance to succeed outside Minnesota;
- MYSA did not want to have to deal with choosing a coaching staff (and, therefore, PO a significant number of other coaches/DOCs along the way);
- Accusations of favoritism and back-room deals on player selection would have a good chance of ending up in litigation;
- Who pays and how do you cover the costs for those players who cannot afford to pay full freight;
- and so on.
Today's situation is a lot different compared to back then (No MTA or SSM at that time). But the one constant would seem to be that there would be a lot of reservations about MYSA trying to assemble and manage a team of that type on an ongoing basis without starting a civil war in the soccer community.
1:06, I would even say 7 to 10 years....
SSM. 1/3 may be 17s and 16s. However, their starting and standout players are all seniors, except 1. They will have difficulty filling the shoes of the players they lost.
I can't remember if it was in the blog by the Andromeda player or in the video....but somewhere (I think a couple of times) it is mentioned that there were 8 players on thier squad that had been there "since the beginning". They got an "influx" of talent a couple years ago that "put them over the edge" as far as being a National power.
So, not sure that the talent you saw on the field was "developed" by Andromeda (while some certainly was- but not all). It is pretty obvious from many suuper-clubs across the USA that cherry pickig is not an exclusive Bangu evil.
SSMSouthCampus
My brother's son is in the Andromeda Academy. They live just outside of Plano.
I visit every few years. I've been to the Academy.It is an outstanding soccer complex. There are 10-15 fields,meeting rooms etc..etc..It is modeled after European clubs. We don't have anything like it here (yet).
Their two top priorities which all coaches must adhere to.
1.development of players at all ages. Any coach who makes winning his #1 priority is removed.
2.They insist on making the accademy family friendly.
Here we make winning the number 1 priority like State cup at the expense of development because it sells.Our priorities are just the opposite of Andromedas and that is why we will never achieve the type of success they have.Our coaches love to tell you averything THEY have won which you've seen numerous times on this blog.
Until we change our coaching philosophy don't expect much improvement at the national level.The name of the game is development and you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Coaches....forget all the excuses about the kids commitment etc....it's all about coaching philosophy and hard work.
Here is another one no one seems to be talking about...Rush...There are 2 Idaho Rush players that travel all the time to play with another out of state Rush team. I just heard a little bit about it yesterday. Rush has like 5-7 state clubs and they can move players around at will. I know for a fact that there is a club in VA, KS, CO, ID, NM. I didnt check, but the CO Rush U18G team won the USYSA, I didnt check the roster, but?? I have zero problems with what the Rush is trying to do. Now, Im sure someone with little to no time will go and check the Girls 18 roster and let us all know that in fact the roster was all girls from CO. I think it would be great for a player from the KS Rush that is a standout player being able to play with other standouts from other Rush clubs. Sota people are so short sighted. Its easy to cry foul.
Coaching Philosophy and Hard Work go a long way, but players playing on their own goes a lot further. That's what it's all about. It rests on the players, not the coaches.
I'm 12:42. My comment was poking fun of 12:05 for introducing us to the term. Particularly after people on this blog previously got upset about the term "non-white" being used to describe the talented MN group of boys being selected for the region pool.
So, now after Texas wins the title, it's the weather that causes our football shortcomings. First it was the coaches. Now it's the climate.
Minivans just can't figure it out. Our shortcomings are a result of the minivans (aka parents) that don't have a clue about football and it's the players who are unwilling to give up Nintendo. "Migrant" populations (used in jest) have minivans who know the game and players who get out and play on their own.
2:31 - who ever said it was Sota people? my kids don't play for bangu and i have issues with the rosters. who did ssm beat at state cup?
What happens when FC Delco wins it next year as they often do? We'll scratch off climate. Maybe then the minivans will say we're too white-collar in Minneapolis to develop national championship team.
The thing is, most the minivans on here don't even know what we're talking about because they're clueless to anything outside MN.
Anon 2:52
Why do you insist only seeing color and ethnicity?
When the little bigot used the "non-white" adjective it wasn't in the context of a players soccer ability or that were were in the ODP pool.
It was used to say that "most of the non-white" players were 2-3 years older than the teams they played with, in other words labeling most of these boys liars and cheaters.
That is bigotry when you label "most" ethnic players as liars and cheaters.
Poor Luis, the migrant loser. He still can't get over a comment made three weeks ago that was intentionally overstated to re-enforce a point, which deals with the pain-staking process EVERYONE has to go through to legitimize a kid's date of birth for State Cup, all because bunch of kids come from places that don't record how old they are and therefore they're declared the age that fits where they'd be in school. Amazing how these kids all rise to the top of the ODP pools and lead teams of wimpy pre-pubescent 13-year-olds to State Cup titles. Amazing how they're always playing STRIKER too. Amazing how these teams always play the long ball too. I'm not taking the Jimmy the Greek racist stance that they're
"engineered" for athletics. I'm just saying most --- er, I mean SOME -- are obviously not the age their papers say they are. That's it.
Now, Luis, go away. Go get a legitimate job and start paying taxes like the rest of us.
heh heh. Good one, Luis.
1.3.3.2 PROOF OF AGE
a. According to US Youth Soccer Rule 204: proof of age shall consist of a birth certificate, a Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (DD Form 1173) issued by the uniformed services of the United States, or birth registration issued by an appropriate government agency, board of health records, passport, alien registration card issued by the United States government, a certificate issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service attesting to age, a current driver’s license, or a certification of a United States citizen born abroad issued by the appropriate government agency. Hospital, baptismal or religious certificates will not be accepted.
This stuff is all uncalled for. Im glad that someone has time to look up a non-issue. Sleep Well
BNG/WNG/Thunder announced U17 top coach. Holker yet he was the '92 ODP coach. Just wait till he announces his U17 team. If like last year kids that were not at try out made his team.
MTA has nothing to do with ODP, remember. MYSA cut ties with MTA.
He was the U17 coach this year. Why wouldn't he be a top candidate for next year? Not a bad deal for Augsburg either. Pretty smart of him to monopolize the top 2 U17 teams in MN. He's letting his coaching do the recruiting for him. That's smart and confident.
Tryouts? When you're the top team, who cares about tryouts? Does Freddie Adu have to show up to USA tryouts? At older ages, tryouts are just a CYA move that CC's are forced to make. It's pretty dumb to form a team strictly based off of a couple tryouts.
Here's a lesson to players who think they should make the top select team: Do ODP.
Holker will do what he wants to do. No big deal.
11:27
MYSA did not cut ties with Minnesota Thunder Academy. They chose not to renew their sponsorship of the Minnesota Lightning and Thunder Teams. MTA teams will still be able to play in the MYSA league.
Shattuck will have a drop off in talent this upcoming year?
That's funny because with many players injured and playing up for the U18s, the 17s managed to tie and then beat the U17 Andromeda boys out of their bracket in Dallas Cup. Andromeda had a full healthy squad, with some additional help from friends on the national team.. Funny isn't it?
Oh yeah and the U17 Andromeda boys were national champions this year..that is totally ridiculous..
I would love to see Shattuck get Rodrigo for next year to help him get a college scholarship.
Shattuck will be VERY GOOD next year, not as good as this year though, period. They have good players in the 17s, they do not have an equivalent of Bunbury, Asante Samuel, or Chris Sutton.
IF they still play USYS their chances of winning it all will be just as good, as USYS on the boys side continues to weaken with the arrival of the US Development Academy. If they go to the Academy, they aren't gonna win anything, but they'll compete just fine.
Typical Minnasoda excuses. The Land of 10,000 excuses. We laugh at you.
ANDROMEDA
o rodrigo is already going full ride to madison.
andromeda....get off of the MN soccer blog please....
9:09 - There's no such thing as a full ride. Only single year, renewable scholarships. And with only 9.9 scholarships available to men's soccer, almost no one gets a full scholarship.
9:11 - you really aren't that gullible are you?
Real National-championship caliber teams are not as childish as most are here in MN.
9:09 That is why he is sooooo good!!! Think it through!!!
rodrigo is the sickest player in mn hands down
The operative word maybe "sickest" :)
sorry best player.....you dont need to waste a comment by correcting my word choice...get a life.
Why when you so obviously don't. Lighten up, go outside. Develop a life outside RG.
He's good, he'll have the opportunity to show all of us how good he is. But if he goes to Shattuck, he won't be Mr. Soccer.
quit riding the guys jock...do you have man love or something for this guy...get outside and ride your bike or take cold shower!
good one im going to go take a cold shower
He wasn't correcting your word choice. Get a life outside of your man/boy crush, get the education your are obviously lacking and let RG's playing do the talking.
9:18 your life doesnt sound any better your on a blog. so shut the hell up and let the person write what he wants to.
street news..new kid just moved from Missouri. U16 will be trying out for BNG. I hear he is really good. will be attending Edina and the family is all about soccer. No need to mention names but if you plan to go to BNG tryouts look for new kid. He will shine.
This is a SSM thread.....
u16 this coming year or will he be a u17..is he trying out for the thunder academy?
he will be a U17 next year. he dominated MO leagues.
Unfortunatley RG will not go to Shattuck he will be stuck at Humbolt. His ODP play is good enough to get him some offers, but Shattuck could realy help him in the academic area, Humbolt can not teach him the time management and life skills he will need to make it to college. He would be a great pick up for Shattuck but they have not shown him any interest to my knowledge.
RG - proper noun
A very average-good player. Jock ridden by fellow players with man-love. Most likely to not progress like many before him. Will not play D1 soccer or pro because he is not willing to work hard. Only ODP play, against non-USSF academy players, is anything to talk about. Still 30 minutes of good play, over 3 days of games, does not equal a career.
o your comment was so funny you decided to put it on both blogs....get a life
pathetic
Your mama
Will there be any surprises at the Olympics? Or should we expect to see Argentina, Brazil, Holland, Italy in the semis?
Any chance for China, USA, or any of the African teams to shock?
I think USA got a nice draw, but I think they'll be too weak in the back to get past the quarters. Who knows? Adu, Rogers and Bradley can make things happen. I think Adu will shine and I hope Feilhaber returns to form.
Ronaldinho will be fun to watch against these young boys. But of course, my country will win gold.
#10
- What is Dax McCarty doing on the US squad? He's terrible and will never play on the senior team. I think it must be a courtesy/political selection.
- What does McBride think he's doing? I hope he doesn't steal minutes from our young guns up top.
I think the good people at The Onion have been reading our blog.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/local_idiot_to_post_comment_on
Mama Mia what are you talking about? Every team is allowed 2 over 23 players. Thus- McBride and Guzan. He wont be stealing any minutes. Ever. He earned all of the minutes by being the best striker in an american uniform for the past 10 years. That is why they selected him. Dax McCarty was a last minute pick up because someone else was injured. What do you mean courtesy/political selection? This isnt youth soccer its the olympics!!!
They certainly have some solid players. Should be an interesting tournament to watch although their form in the pre-tournament friendlies worries me a lot.
-Sam
LOL!! THAT IS AWSOME.!
LOL!!! THATS AWESOME!
as for the onion article... agreed.
-Sam
Sam,
It's okay that McBride is rostered as the youngsters can learn from that class act of a player. However, it's time for the US to move on. McBride won't be playing for the senior team anymore, so why does he need minutes? I just hope McBride doesn't steal valuable minutes from Adu, Altidore and Davies in these international games. Those young strikers need experience so they can develop for the senior team. Project 2010, right? I hope the US doesn't lose sight of the bigger picture. This shouldn't be about Olympic gold, it needs to be about SA 2010.
Playing McBride in this tournament is like Arena playing Agoos and Reyna. Virginia politics certainly had something to do with those picks.
Dax McCarty will never play for the senior team. Again, it's time to cut ties and move on. Don't waste a roster spot on someone who has no senior team potential. That's a courtesy pick because he plays hard and has come up through the US system.
Chris Albright and Ben Olsen are a couple other guys who benefited from the Bruce Arena politics. It's a joke. I hope Bradley doesn't play those same Arena games.
Reyna-Agoos-Olsen-Albright, you don't think politics has anything to do with the MNT?
I could dribble circles around any one of those guys.
Politics is involved in every level of ODP from U13 thru the national teams. Surprise,surprise.
I dont know if you guys have noticed but arena isnt the coach anymore.
Beyond that...Bradley isn't the coach in the olympics either...These are the U-23's, Nowak is the coach.
Notice the line from Maradona, "I hope Bradley doesn't play those same Arena games."
I certainly hope US Soccer is working together with the MNT and Olympic team. I doubt Nowak or Bradley has complete control over their rosters. All of these teams (MNT, U23, U20, U17, etc) and games need to be looked at as development for the World Cup. For that reason, McBride shouldn't be playing over Adu and Altidore. McBride is done. Time to move on to the younger, more talented players.
figures a guy with the name "jeff agoos" (possibly the only calamity worse than FRANKIE HEJDUK) in U.S. soccer history would have that opinion. Lets get this through all the thick skulls...
THE OLYMPICS IS SOMETHING YOU TRY TO WIN, NOT A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR THE NEXT WORLD CUP.
sigh.
YES! I'm new to this blog. For a minute I was thinking that what should be very relevant and interesting place to discuss is actually full of morons who dont know anything until 3:08 posted. Thank you sir.
-Sam
Tell that to those U23 players who are battling to make the World Cup roster.
People don't care about football Olympic gold. Just ask Barcelona F.C. how much they care about their players winning gold for my homeland.
Olympics = State Tournament (it's fun, but who cares)
World Cup = State Cup (it's what you play for)
DM
U.S. loses to Norway..WHO??? NORWAY!
U.S.ranked 31st.
Tells you all you need to know about coaches and coaching philosophy in the U.S..
What it tells you 4:13 is that the U.S. WNT is masquerading as a national team without Abby Wambach. Unless the remainder of the side brings it up a notch or three, things are not looking good.
When the coach is quoted as telling his team that they played 17 good minutes of soccer in a 90 minute match, there is nowhere to go but up.
Way to go my favorite futbol Lenas
Mange Takk Norsk
Norway for gold!
hey 4:13...
1) the US WOMEN lost to Norway, the men opened with a 1-0 win over Japan this morning
2) Norway's women are one of the best teams in the world
3) its the US MEN that are ranked 31st
tells us all we need to know about the opinions and philosophy of the bloggers in here eh?
.... wait for it... MORON
Maradona, you're wrong, period. Though I won't call you a moron, at least your opinion is based on some form of logic, however misguided.
Olympic football is a stage for young footballers. Of course it's neat to win gold for your country and it certainly brings a lot of joy to underdog countries like Nigeria when they win. Last night, Freddie told me he cares more about the exposure, experience and development than winning gold. But obviously, winning gold would help him accomplish those things.
However, generally speaking, nobody cares. If it truly mattered, do you think FIFA and UEFA would allow 4 Asia teams to be in the 16 team field? FIFA and UEFA don't care so that's why they allow that.
And, I'm never wrong, period. I'm the greatest footballer ever. Viva mi hermanos de Argentina!
Now...back to my coke...
#10
10"14 master of the obvious
Everybody on this blog knows it's the men ranked 31st.
We're talkin men and women U.S. soccer.
Figured a brainiac like you would be able to figure that out.
One and half years old I predicted that SSM soccer would do the same as their hockey program and compete for a national championship. I was ridiculed and chided that this was not going to happen even as they got to the U.S. Club finals with both the boys and girls program last year. I also stated that despite all the negative chatter and banter about the programs shortfalls that the program would be an added benefit to minnesota scene with the quality faclities, coaches and players in close proximity to twin cities. Now the naysayers try to point out that SSM is not a minnesota product because several of the players werent born and raised in minnesota. Thank you SSM for investing the time and money in your program and a least some of Minnesota soccer parents appreciate the commitment you made and will continue to strive to bring another option for soccer development in the state of minnesota.
I apologize for being completely off topic.
For the record and contrary to statements apparently made by Greg Koker (spelling?):
ARSENAL FC SUPER EAGLES U17 ARE NOT DEFUNCT AS A TEAM.
Tryouts were held last weekend and the team consists of 90% (confirmed) players from the core team that have had national success over the last several years.
It is obvious that the MN Thunder U17 Elite team will benefit by starting such a rumor in order to rip quality players from the Super Eagles. Sadly, they don't feel thay can attract SE players without using dirty tactics.
The MYSA has a U17 Premier team in the Super Eagles that can seriously deflate the hyped up expecations of the Thunder Elite in 2009.
ARSENAL FC SUPER EAGLES U17 WILL BE GREAT AMBASSADORS FOR MINNESOTA SOCCER THROUGH SKILL AND SPORTSMANSHIP. We will leave the dirty tactics to others.
First, a team that played in the National League and was the only team to not win a game in that League says nothing of any national reptation. A league that was impacted and watered down tremendously by the Youth Development Academies.
Second, the team could not compete in the 2008 Midwest Regional League Premier Division, did not get out of group play at State Cup and lost their group to a former Classic 1 team. Purported to be a weak team via comments on this blog.
Third, anyone who states this team has any sportsmanship should look at the record, the team has had the most cards in State Cup, Regional, and MRL play the last three years by numbers twice that of any other club, yes, club not team. Coaches outside Minnesota at such events get a good laugh at their coach's calamity on the sidelines, they show no sportmanship and should not be in the technical area because technically they can not coach. They can send skillful players on the field who can get results without much leadership.
Finally, their past years accomplishments will be difficult to garner a Premier slot with MYSA but that's fine their new club preident has figured the only way they can play Premier is to start their own league. Minnesota U17 teams your invited to participate in the "US Club Soccer U17 Boys Super Eagles Premier League".
To the 9/8/08 12:43pm poster:
Have you tried Preparation H? It will certainly help you condition.
That's really funny.
I love to see people who are infatuated with teams other than their own get humilitated.
Anon 12:43 - AFC SE approved to play Premier in 2009.
In a unanimous decision, the MYSA DOC granted AFC-SE U17B Premier status for 2009.
12:43 - So, "difficult to garner" a premier spot... WRONG!
MN Premier Soccer League at U17's... Only goes to U14's... WRONG again!
Not much credibility for the rest of your post.
Why would MYSA reverse a decision they already made? What did the SE do to change their minds? Win a couple of games? When.
Why was Yonga, Whitney & others at the Thunder tryouts today. Hmmm could be that they know the team is done. They cannot provide the exposure or support for the players in this very important year. The only ones that will be left on the SE team are those who can't make any other premier team.
JY is no longer the coach of SE anyway. And you can probably guess that wherever he lands, so will several of his kids.
The last two people who posted are simpletons who have no idea what has been going on with the SE these last few months.
Could in-breeding have anything to do with it?
It doesn't matter what happens with SE players this year, MYSA Prem or not. Next year all the top players will be with MTA for U18 US Soccer Dev Acdm.
yep 612.
No 1215 in-breeding has nothing to do with it. Unless you are knowledgable on that topic.
Pathetic. A couple of SE parents believing that writing on this blog will make their team better. 12:43 was all facts. Time for you to move on. 1 or 2 years of youth team success does not make your child or you a soccer icon. Your team will be an average MYSA premier team. If they play the MRL at the premier level, they will go winless. Their top remaining 3 or 4 players will be at the Bangu-Thunder-Wings academy or will be at Blackhawks.
Did anyone see the highlights of the U18 Chamionship with SSM on TV? I think it was Saturday.
It looked like SSM was totally out played. I was surprised. It didn't look to be a very skilled game. Their only offense was a boot ball to, ?Omosegbon?.
I know it was a high level game, I was just disappointed that it just seemed like ever high school game I've ever seen. Boot n scoot.
Is MTA really using dirty tactics to attract players to their U17 team?
Recruiting is fine, but as long as it isn't the so-called "negative recruiting" by talking smack about other teams.
come on mama mia, give it a break!
listen to all the anti talk being said about that club on this site by parents.
Anti-talk on this blog is different than negative recruiting directly towards players.
MTA shouldn't have to do negative recruiting. They should just sell what they do and that should attract players. Clubs and coaches at all levels should take the high road by strictly selling their program rather than bad mouthing their competitors.
Hey, anyone want to talk about SSM playing in the Nationals? Did anyone else see the highlights on Fox Soccer? I know they are truely hated, but...the thread is titled "MN Farbault U18 Boys 2nd at Regionals".
anon 9/8 2:52
So you are an expert and have a lot of experience with Preparation H. How did you become such an expert?
SSM had a great U18 team and has a great thing going. We're lucky to have them in MN and I hope they continue to play games and scrimmage against other MN teams. It's too bad they didn't win it. It shows how good you have to be to win U18 Nationals when SSM is as focused as they are to have not won it. Between MTA and SSM, MN soccer is getting a huge boost.
What else is there to be said by a bunch of people who didn't see the game?
How about Freddie Adu? He's terrific and an "elite" athlete as was previously debated on here. He always has been terrific but has often gotten the short end of the stick. He shouldn't be fighting for playing time, we should be building around him.
I am sure I stated that I did not see the game. I watched the highlights on Fox Sports. I am willing to say that the highlights did not reflect what really happen on the field. However, all I keep hearing is how lucky we are in MN to have them in the state. Does not really say much or even help start an intelligent discussion.
From what followed on your post the best I can say is at least, you are consistent with your philosophy of entitlement. I think that attitude is the problem with USA Soccer. Too many youth feel entitled to be successful, and not enough of them realize it will take sacrifice and hard work.
Why doesn't Feddie Adu need to be fighting for playing time? I wonder if the very sense of entitlement I spoke about is the very reason he is on the bench.
I agree that SSM has done well. And MN should be proud. But I think it was a one year anomoly. You can't compare them yet to the success that Bangu has had, or with the very likely success MTA will have.
Yes, they will be a strong side next year. Better than any HS team, by far. I don't know if they will win State Cup though. They lost 4 or 5 game-changing players. They still are loaded with talent, but if they advance to regionals, they will struggle to get out of their group.
All I can say about SSM and having success this year is, US Development Academy. Without that they would have never come close to winning the region. Let's address SSM in two years if they get accepted to the USSF academy, that will be the real test on their success. Until then, this years success has an astrick next to it like Barry Bonds home run record.
Let's avoid comparing the success of a high school team to the illegal activities of a stat obsessed professional. Let time play out, see how they do and if they fall on their faces next year, you can say they had one good year. If they do well again, we can conclude that they have something going there. No astrick necessary. They played the games, they won the games up to the National Championship. Don't belittle that accomplishment for them.
The Tsunami Sota girls were national runner-ups for 2 consecutive years in 2002 and 2003.
Nice to see another Minnesota team has achieved that level of success.
Amen 730. 756, I think there was a Burnsville team in the 1980's that went to the national championships too.
the youth soccer landscape has changed so much in the last 5 years with all the mega teams and now the USSF Academy.
When do Bangu and SSM become part of USSF Academy?
Summer 2009? Or in 2010?
Does this disqualify all their teams from State Cup or just the age groups involved in the Academy?
Bangu no longer exists (you can stop snickering). MTA will probably get USSF Academy provisional status in 2010 meaning they go everywhere, no one comes here until they prove they can hack it at that level. From what I've heard, SSM is not expected to get USSF Academy status any time soon, but I've heard they will enter with MTA as well. Only the U16 and U18 boys teams that are involved in the USSF academy program would be prohibited from taking part in State Cup. All other teams in MTA would still play as they do now.
Look at you, Chicago Magic has been to the USYSA Nationals at least with one age group for ever, the Magic and even the Sockers didnt even had a team there this year, can you say then, they are falling on there face??
Give it a rest!!
Figure of speach 10:46. Switch to decaf. I was defending SSM.
People keep saying SSM was a one-hit-wonder and that they are losing all these key players.
Isn't it very possible that new players will be entering SSM this year? Especially after drawing attention to themselves with the U18 success?
Or are the rosters at SSM closed at some point? Seems to me like they'll just reload and likely get stronger over the years.
Heck, if I was a top senior footballer in high school who didn't have any friends and I wanted to play D1 college football and if I had the resources, SSM sounds kind of cool.
Whether SSM is a one hit wonder or not, is beside the point. The game on Fox Soccer showed SSM playing a boot and scoot game. As a coach, with unlimited training opportunities as well as unlimited training support I would have thought they could play a higher quality game. It does not speak well for the progress of their program. Especially, when they are beat by a team, which from all reports actually developed most of their talent. Those contrasts in the development and playing styles seem to me something US Youth Soccer and coaches would notice.
Coaches scouting a game notice the success, talent, and athleticism of the players, not the system of play of the coach.
The SSM players are doing very well by college and ODP coaches.
Right on 12:39..College coaches are not recruiting a team, they are recruiting a player(s)..Funny, isnt one of the SSM boys at Notre Dame as we speak. I think 2 players on the Texas team also went to ND. mmmmmmmm? I can also tell you that the likes of UCLA is recruiting another male player(s) as well. You still dont get it do you, its not about the winning everything you go to. The College Coaches know what type of training these kids (both genders) are getting up there. And while we are on it, yet again, its not just about soccer. Time Management, Studies, etc..When you sit in a College Coaches office and they ask the player what SSM is like, and the kids respond, the coach tells them that they are going to be well prepped to becoming a freshman at college. Its not just about soccer.
12:09 thinks he's smart but is an idiot.
All kind of teams play kickball. The EPL has been known for their kickball forever. Maybe in the Fox highlights, the only excitement came from playing kickball. Maybe while SSM was down a goal (or 2 and 3) they began to play very direct as most 18-year-olds would do.
While SSM may have played Andromeda in a kickball contest, they still beat everyone in MN and their collection of players is better than any other collection of players in MN. So if your possession football is so brilliant, why wasn't it able to beat SSM?
Shouldn't SSM be able to beat teams comprised of all MN players when they can pull players in from anywhere? I have no problem with them doing that but don't understand the braggadocio that some of their supporters seem to gain from winning a state cup that they should be expected to win.
SSM had an exceptionally talented group of U18's this year who were recruited from dozens of states.
State Cup 2009 will be a different story and their U18 team won't win State Cup again even with their players being from several states.
i disagree with you 2:30...there are MORE haters on this site than Shattuck Braggadocio going on.
If you don't think the SSM boys U-18 are favoured for next year...well, your drinking the wrong water.
Fact, Shattuck boys will be ready when State Cup comes around. Fact!
Ok, its a FACT. But the FACTS are unless SSM does some MAJOR recruiting, (not developing) they may lose face at State Cup. I don't know how many people are going to be impress with their development program after that.
I haven't watched the Nigeria game yet, but as was discussed back on Aug 6, why in the world did Dax McCarty play. I see he got in the game and then Nigeria scored shortly after. I think this is probably the end of international play for that scrawny, uncreative, unathletic, give-away machine. Thank heavens. I hope Mike Bradley and Dax aren't buddies, which would probably get him on the senior team.
Also worth noting is Freddie's performance. The US can't win without that little devlish bugger. I said that elite athlete would shine. I think Freddie will have a good year in Europe. I hope the US will insert him into the MNT starting lineup ASAP. His time is now.
Anon 8/11, do you still think Freddie needs to fight for playing time? Let him play. Let him develop. Let him carry the US.
There are also 2 of the TX players at UW-Milwaukee (1 of their stars)...what is your point. I agree with previous that SSM will have a huge drop off next year.
10:42 you when you say they [SSM] will be "ready", do you mean they will show up for the games on time? If you are confident then say they will win it. I say they will not win U18 state cup next year!
I watched all the USA matches and althougth I am no Dax supporter I would say he didn't do anything to hurt the team in his limited minutes. He provided a lift in energy- as any sub should do but after playing a man down for the entire game it was too little too late. The person I am disappointed with is Orozco. Certainly anyone who has played the game has taken a cheapshot or two but how can you even be mad at a guy only 3 minutes into the game. just rediculious. I was a little disappointed when they subbed altidore off. I thought he would have been the most likely candidate to steal a goal in a game like this mornings. Feilhaber was not great. I expect to see him in scandanavia or israel soon.
As far as SSM is concerned I say well done. They won 30 games against stiff competition. People point out that they dont "develop" their own players- they just recruit but I see a lot of the same in the premier league. How many MN u18 premier teams are the same group of kids that were on the squad at u14 or even 16. Watch any team that is religated and you will see at least their top 5 guys go to other premier squads. MN clubs dont develop their talent anymore than SSM does- they just pass it around depending on who is in the league at the moment. Of course there is an exception or two. also if any of you compare the soccer programs in MN right now with any objectivity (something most posters here lack) you will find that SSM has really got something started. They have produced, and will continue to produce young men who are better prepared academically, physically, and emotionally than their traditional high school peers for the rigor of the college season/experience. Of course their success will vary from year to year as with any program but they are tops in the area at the moment. The only real question is if MTA can match them in the future.
-Sam
i have to somewhat disagree there are a few teams that still develop their own players, the Valley u-17 boys have the ten original players still that were on the Valley u-10 team, and a couple of the other teams in that age stayed together, PSA/Arsenal, Westside, `these teams have obviously had to add players and have some change over since age ten but for the most part these teams have stayed the same and developed their own players, and stayed very successful. i would say that is a great testament to the coaches and players for sticking with it and playing so great together
LOL Sam MTA will never catch SSM. They can develop all they want but when one side has players from all over the country while the other is limited to players from one metro area you can't seriously think they will compete. SSM may have an off recruiting year here and there but on balance they will win and win easily here.
13/8 11:09- "of course there is an exception or two."
14/8/ 7:27- I think you are right that SSM will continue to do well but I think recruiting there is probably a much tougher sell than most people realize.
Obstacles include:
1. leaving home
2. cost to families- even if they offer the student a scholarship it still costs a lot to fly home to virginia on holiday.
3. academic rigor- some kids may not cut it
4. Academy programs in the players home town- i.e. chicago, dallas etc.
5. Diversity- or lack of... I now SSM is diverse in terms of nationalities represented but what about economic diversity. The wings have often prospered from unearthing an immigrant or two- Ibrahim and others who generally perform among the best in the MN Premier league. Does SSM have a realistic chance of getting these types of players?
When you take those five items into consideration SSM's potential player pool seems a lot smaller.
The program appeals to me now- I'm not sure it would have been an easy decision when I was 14
-Sam
Sam,
We may disagree about the worthless Dax McCarty, but great stuff in your last two posts. I completely agree. Who are you? You know your stuff.
SSM is great. But I doubt I would have left my friends behind and gone there as a teenager.
I would agree about Valley United. They do a nice job of keeping players. However, they seem to have a cap on their development and progress whereas I think SSM and MTA will be able to compete much better nationally.
#10
I dont understand, people keep saying that SSM doesnt develop, they just recruit. MMMMMM? So SSM doesnt develop any players then, they just go there and play??? I didnt know once you reach a certain age you dont have to develop any longer. How shallow.
14/8/08 11:13- I think people are refering to the fact that SSM takes kids who are already becoming elite athletes for their age group (around age 14+) and make a team by cherry picking the best guys around as oppossed to Valley united or Tonka or whoever that starts with 10 kids from the same neighborhood as a rec team and develops/plays together for 8 years. You can put it in the same drawer as the criticism TC area high school hockey programs took (before MSHSL stopped it) by going the open enrollment route and "stealing" the star players who were developed by smaller rural youth hockey programs. It gets back to the nostalgic ideal that kids should grow up playing with their pals for the love of the game and all that. Which is really very nice but the fact is the landscape has changed and that doesnt happen anymore.
Maradona, im no Dax lover- i just dont hate him quite as passionately as you :)
I am a regular minnesotan. I played. Now I coach. It isnt really in my interest to say where though- coaches need to be part politician these days and I am not sure I will be able to hold my tongue all the time.
-Sam
Damm those who cherry pick!
Damm the US MNT for cherry picking Freddie Adu from Ghana and then from his Maryland Youth team. Freddie should have stayed in the Maryland youth system until he was 18. MNT doesn't develop players. They cherry pick!
Damm FC Barcelona for cherry picking me from Boca Juniors. Boca developed me. I had nothing to do with it. Barcelona is only a cherry picker of elite athletes like myself. They have no good coaches and they are just a bunch of salespeople who are only in it to win championships. They take no pride in developing their own players. Damm them!
Damm SSM for cherry picking!
That's how ridiculous the cherry picking argument sounds. Yes, it's frustrating to lose top players that you've developed. Maybe the other players should work harder and get better so it doesn't matter if you lose your top player(s).
Diego
YES! Exactly
IMHO the cherry picking comments are somewhat off the point. SSM cherry pick away, good luck, happy hunting etc...But when you get the cherries, in order to stay at a consistant high level you have to develop the cherries. Especially, if you expect to continue to get the cherries.
From what I saw of the game on Fox Soccer the SSM game was very similar to a U13 game with the one lone young stud. Granted it was highlights, but I expected a more evolved game than what I saw.
Purely for discussion purposes, how would you compare the development of 2007-08 Bangu U17 team, also cherry pickers :), to the development of 2007-08 SSM U18team? It may not be a fair comparison, but I think it could promote a interesting discusion.
Bangu U17 won big things last March, but they didn't advance at Regions. So they are just like many other select teams MN has had. I guess they didn't develop.
SSM U18 got 2nd place at Nationals and previously tied the champion. That's the furthest a MN Boys team has gone in a long while.
Both teams were great and played high level soccer for their ages. SSM was better.
Yes, yes SSM has gone the farthest. I wouldn't say that Bangu U17 didn't develop, I would say they perhaps did not have the depth of a talent pool that SSM did.
SSM did go a long way competitively, but did they develop a long way from the end of last year to the end of this year? Is it that Bangu U17 had a lot farther to go, which is why it is more noticable. Or is it that their coach is use to working with less talent and is able to pull the most out of his talent?
Yes, yes SSM has gone the farthest. I wouldn't say that Bangu U17 didn't develop, I would say they perhaps did not have the depth of a talent pool that SSM did.
SSM did go a long way competitively, but did they develop a long way from the end of last year to the end of this year? Is it that Bangu U17 had a lot farther to go, which is why it is more noticable. Or is it that their coach is use to working with less talent and is able to pull the most out of his talent?
Spin it any way that makes you feel better.
The bottom line is Minnesota doesn't produce winners and never will as long as the coaches ego is their number one priority. Won-lost record is much more important than player development.
Anon 11:20-
Agree and I would add:
As long as parents and players continue to confuse winning "records" with development...
There is no hope.
Amen..........
Will agree with previous posts up to U15. After that winning does start to matter.
Why does winning start to matter?? Last I checked, College scouts are scouting & recruiting players, NOT teams?? For example, just look at the class of 09 girls coming out of Shattuck. They didnt win State Cup last year while playing up, but look at the list of players and what schools they will be heading to next year.
Unless your playing to win to get your club or team ranked, does it really matter. Now, traveling is another matter thou. You gotta travel to be scouted.
Ummm, last time I check the team needs to be ranked and have a reputation in order for the scouts to take a look.
For example at CSK had lots of colleges there, but most were watching the upper level teams. CDA & Wings played. Which was too bad for CDA they had smoked Wings several times, and did so again. Wings players have had many more contacts and did a much better job in getting those players exposed due to the club organization and the club reputation. CDA a much better team, with much better talent received a lot less exposure at CSK and through out the year. A perfect example of what a club/reputation will do for you.
Duh if you do not win at plder ages you will not be able to get into the high level showcases that D1 coaches attend.
It is amusing to hear parents of teams that have not even reached U13 yet trumpet their teams accomplishments. They are convinced it is important. Coaches also will do this and sacrifice development for early results so thst they can grow their program and keep these parents happy.
When was the last time you heard a proffesional athelete say,-well I dont care wether I win or lose today I just want to develope-.
Its the same way with a 14-18 year olds, they want to win something.
Hopefully a team or individual can develope while also winning.Most kids will never play another game after club and H.S. are over, so what is so bad about winning.
Wether a kid will succeed in the high levels of soccer basically comes down to god given ability, self discipline, and luck.
Again...
Nothing wrong with winning.
Bangu would not have developed their reputation with a lineup of loosing teams.
Just don't confuse winning with true player development.
When your winning kid gets to college (or not) and you realize he / she is not really that evolved, your winning club record will be no help.
Win away but keep it in perspective and don't be seduced by the team or club records.
Being the "best" in MN doesn't translate into being effective at the next level.
Again, unless you are an ODP player, your club team needs to be successful or you will not be able to get into the tournaments you need to to showcase your talent for college coaches. It is that simple. If you want to play D1 college soccer you need to be seen.
No you don't. You need to contact that D1 coach and tell him/her you want go to school there and play soccer there.
It helps to be seen at showcase events, but you don't NEED to be there. I played 4 years D1 outside of the midwest. I wasn't seen at a showcase event.
Bottom line, be a good player and market yourself.
1154 is an exception if true, 947 is the rule. It is true though that you will need to contact the coaches in most cases.
Don't assume you will get any help from the club coaches as they have their own agenda. You the parent have to take charge of your kids recruiting process.
anon 11:17
the whole team of u17 chicago wind girls got scholarships to depaul. so yes whole teams sometime do get recruited
BS. Whole teams do not go to one school...not enough room on the roster. Quit with the BS MN-exaggeration, MN-over hyping...why don't you mention RG in the same paragraph?
Bangu has done more to develop players than any other club in Minnesota history. No question about it.
When will you CC loosers realize that you've lost the battle by trying to focus on bad-mouthing Bangu and SSM.
You should have focused on enhancing the development opportunties at your own club, getting better coaches, focusing on the kids, not your own pathetic egos. All you've done is tried to build a perceived club compentency by writting about it on a blog.
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