U15 USMNT Camp

Congrats to the local boys and Texas boys that got the call up! Represent!

http://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs/youth-boys/thirty-six-players-called-to-u-s-u-15-boys-national-team-camp-2/

Link to SoccerWire

1 of the names on there shocks me (yet doesn't shock me)

dfwsoccerdad wrote:1 of the names on there shocks me (yet doesn't shock me)

?? Which of the two ?

Interesting who they did/didn't pick from FCD. It underscores how subjective it all is. I do hear good things about the player they did pick.

3 players from Lonestar is a strong showing from them. I read something about Lonestar beefing up their coaching (I think that was at U16 and U18). Seems like they are on an upswing.

The Gaines kid from Lonestar is the truth. I believe, his brother is McKinzie whom recently signed with Wolfsburg.

I could argue that a few FCD players should supplant some of the other Texas boys, but maybe the scouts were looking for something specific.

No doubt that FCD has many good players that could have been on the list. It is very tough to narrow down the players in a country this big to just 36 at this age. Some players have hit puberty and are 6 foot, 160 lbs and others are still 5 foot 95 lbs. A lot will change in the next couple of years and it ought to get clearer who the standouts are. But there are many factors at play including what competition there is in certain positions, style of play the coach is looking for, etc.

Good to see Texas got a decent representation instead of being overlooked as happened many times in the past.

the more interesting thing to witness is if and how many of these boys end up being involved in us national team at u23 or beyond. history doesn't bode well for that scenario

True, but kudos to the boys selected because it is not easy to be top of the tree at any age.....

davito wrote:True, but kudos to the boys selected because it is not easy to be top of the tree at any age.....

please pass my pruning analogy along to the US scouting staff. while shaping the fruit tree early is advised. equally important to stimulate growth is Pruning. you can't identify and "lock away" talent in bradenton fl for 2 years and go win the u17 world cup lol

http://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/successful-tree-pruning
• Survival

First, a tree needs pruning to help it survive after planting. In digging, a bare-root trees’ roots have been disturbed. The trees have lost many of their tiny feeder roots, which are needed to absorb moisture and nutrients, but the top is still its full size! This imbalance can cause tree growth to be weak and slow.

• Stimulation

In addition, cutting the tree back stimulates stronger, more vigorous, growth from the remaining buds. After a single growing season, a pruned tree will be bigger than a matching unpruned tree.

• Shaping

The natural shape of a fruit tree is not always the best for maximum fruit production. It’s best to start the shaping process as early as possible, particularly to balance the top portion with the root system.

soccerdadrandy wrote:you can't identify and "lock away" talent in bradenton fl for 2 years and go win the u17 world cup lol

Excellent tree analogy SDR

There is a tendency for national associations to follow this lock away approach. In England it was Lilleshall and now St Georges Park. In France, Clairefontaine. They get some successes but plenty more talent bubbles up elsewhere over time. A really good system needs to foster talent from clubs all over the country.

Soccer27 wrote:

dfwsoccerdad wrote:1 of the names on there shocks me (yet doesn't shock me)

?? Which of the two ?

I cannot put the kid's name out there but we have played him numerous times over the years and he really doesn't impress me.

Haven't seen him play since the DC, so MAYBE he is not the player we remember??? My first thought was HUH, but then I realized that this is an age where 6 months can produce growth/ maturation that is hard to comprehend... Either way, CONGRATS to those called up!!!

tpitty wrote:The Gaines kid from Lonestar is the truth. I believe, his brother is McKinzie .

Never was a fan of McKinzie. He was big, fast and strong, but didn't know how to play soccer. He does have explosive speed and can be deadly at distance. That style of play works as long as your the fastest guy on the pitch. Maybe the Germans can teach him the game. Or maybe he'll be another American bust with a mediocre career overseas.


I haven't seen his younger brother play, but will have to go on your word that he is the truth.

soccerdadrandy wrote:the more interesting thing to witness is if and how many of these boys end up being involved in us national team at u23 or beyond. history doesn't bode well for that scenario

Well, in fairness, the US national team consists of folks from a very wide age range (18-mid30s). So when they pick 35 kids at one age, the odds of any one of these kids being involved in 7-10 years with the senior national team is very very low. Even if they are identifying the right kids. You factor in physical changes from 8-9th grade until early 20s, and subjectivity, and if they get one of 35 they are probably beating the curve.

finish1 wrote:

tpitty wrote:The Gaines kid from Lonestar is the truth. I believe, his brother is McKinzie .

Never was a fan of McKinzie. He was big, fast and strong, but didn't know how to play soccer. He does have explosive speed and can be deadly at distance. That style of play works as long as your the fastest guy on the pitch. Maybe the Germans can teach him the game. Or maybe he'll be another American bust with a mediocre career overseas.


I haven't seen his younger brother play, but will have to go on your word that he is the truth.

Saw this comment the other day about Mckinzie: "Gaines having a huge impact in his first games here in Germany, definitely one of the best players in this year's league. Already 5 goals in only 7 games and several assists. Really outstanding player."

Hopefully that holds up for him.

hanallalone wrote: I realized that this is an age where 6 months can produce growth/ maturation that is hard to comprehend

If you see the Lonestars team play you will see growth and maturation that is hard to comprehend. Those young men are big!

tpitty wrote:

finish1 wrote:

tpitty wrote:The Gaines kid from Lonestar is the truth. I believe, his brother is McKinzie .

Never was a fan of McKinzie. He was big, fast and strong, but didn't know how to play soccer. He does have explosive speed and can be deadly at distance. That style of play works as long as your the fastest guy on the pitch. Maybe the Germans can teach him the game. Or maybe he'll be another American bust with a mediocre career overseas.


I haven't seen his younger brother play, but will have to go on your word that he is the truth.

Saw this comment the other day about Mckinzie: "Gaines having a huge impact in his first games here in Germany, definitely one of the best players in this year's league. Already 5 goals in only 7 games and several assists. Really outstanding player."

Hopefully that holds up for him.

Wow, it almost sounds like he's ready for the first team! I have a pretty good track record and may be wrong on this one, but he's a lot like Brek Shea in terms of power, speed and distance. I was lambasted for calling Brek out and was reminded of my miscalculation when he was subsequently called up to the USMNT. I'll stand by my observation.

finish1 wrote:

tpitty wrote:

finish1 wrote:

tpitty wrote:The Gaines kid from Lonestar is the truth. I believe, his brother is McKinzie .

Never was a fan of McKinzie. He was big, fast and strong, but didn't know how to play soccer. He does have explosive speed and can be deadly at distance. That style of play works as long as your the fastest guy on the pitch. Maybe the Germans can teach him the game. Or maybe he'll be another American bust with a mediocre career overseas.


I haven't seen his younger brother play, but will have to go on your word that he is the truth.

Saw this comment the other day about Mckinzie: "Gaines having a huge impact in his first games here in Germany, definitely one of the best players in this year's league. Already 5 goals in only 7 games and several assists. Really outstanding player."

Hopefully that holds up for him.

Wow, it almost sounds like he's ready for the first team! I have a pretty good track record and may be wrong on this one, but he's a lot like Brek Shea in terms of power, speed and distance. I was lambasted for calling Brek out and was reminded of my miscalculation when he was subsequently called up to the USMNT.  I'll stand by my observation.

Definitely not knocking your observation, you have a higher chance of being right about a player not making it than being wrong. Just pointing out what is happening. Since you mentioned the first team, he actually got another first team call up today.

https://twitter.com/VfLWolfsburg_EN/status/796359921122021376

Cool stuff.

Yes, and lots of people were pointing out what was happening with Brek at the time.

I'm not playing the odds, because, naturally, they are heavy in favor of not making it. My opinion is based on specifics, not odds.

If the mechanics aren't there, pure size and speed can only get you so far.

I'm interested in how you get called up for the team? Do you have a play pre academy or academy or odp to get exposure and get your names called up or something like that?

can someone please explain and help me understand

dfwsoccerdad wrote:

Soccer27 wrote:

dfwsoccerdad wrote:1 of the names on there shocks me (yet doesn't shock me)

?? Which of the two ?

I cannot put the kid's name out there but we have played him numerous times over the years and he really doesn't impress me.

i think that kids are selected from DA showcases and the DA league games (possibly with a little politicking from coaches and/or clubs)

History shows that nearly all players selected are from DA teams except the occasional player at PSG, Ajax etc.

There are local "Training Centers" held around the country throughout the year. Dallas area has several a year. The majority of kids invited to those Training Centers come from the DA but not all. The Training Centers are a way to get a closer look at a wider pool (about 30 players per location and multiple locations so hundreds nationwide) of potential players for the eventual national team pool (about 35 players).

I am not exactly sure how invitation works but it is basically based on scouting during games and coach recommendations.

There is more info about the training centers at the following link.

http://www.ussoccerda.com/training-centers