Preacademy impact on Classic League

by Laimport 9/14/2011, 3:14 pm

Any regulars on this forum have any ideas or answers to these questions:

1. Roughly how many 98 club players went pre academy? (Obviously some 99 club players are now 98 pre)
2. What club teams, by division have had to be "rebuilt"?
3. Were the majority of "best players" from D1 teams?

Is the remaining 'top talent' spread out amongst all 3 divisions?

Finally, how many top players remained with their club teams and opted out of PA?

Any info is appreciated...

by Ibystander 9/14/2011, 4:00 pm

Laimport wrote:Any regulars on this forum have any ideas or answers to these questions:

1. Roughly how many 98 club players went pre academy? (Obviously some 99 club players are now 98 pre)
2. What club teams, by division have had to be "rebuilt"?
3. Were the majority of "best players" from D1 teams?

Is the remaining 'top talent' spread out amongst all 3 divisions?

Finally, how many top players remained with their club teams and opted out of PA?

Any info is appreciated...

Would you like that in a nutshell? Lol. I am impatiently waiting for the answers to pour in! Laughing

by TxHunter 9/14/2011, 4:06 pm

I will play....this is my observations....

There was a tremendous amount of movement in all divisions. You can start by looking at Premier League - it took 9 returning players from the previous years roster to even be eligible to play Premier league. You have FCD/Andro, Real Madrid, Tigres, and Pumas playing in the league from North Texas. Pumas were promoted from D2 last year and the top four from 2010/2011 season were Solar, Solar Red (Gone), Tigres and Andromeda. The Pumas playing premier league was definately a surprise - shows the amount of turnover.

I will take a guess that somewhere between 40 to 50 98 players are playing on the 97 or 98 PreAcademy rosters for the four clubs. The balance of the PA teams are made up of 99 players for the 98 PA.

From what I have seen the large majority of players came from the D1 teams who made the PA (don't know much about Andromeda FC). I don't believe the "top talent" is spread amongst all three divisions. I think you have good players in all divisions, but the majority of the top players are still playing in Classic 1, much more paying in Classic 2 vs Classic 3.

I think very few opted out of PA - at least those that attended the tryouts accepted spots if they were offered. There are a few players that did not tryout for the PA that could have made it and chose to stay with their present teams.

The position most affected by PA is the forwards. I have not seen the big, fast, strong forwards on the teams this year - I am guessing they have all been taken by the PA teams.

by Laimport 9/14/2011, 6:06 pm

First, thanks.
I'm new to the North Texas/DFW scene. I'm from an area where the top players aren't all on the top teams. Of course, that's why it has always been tough for teams from less soccer populous areas to compete with the big Texas clubs.

Although Florida is now producing high caliber players and teams.

I've always struggled with whether putting players into highly structured leagues and 'superteams' was beneficial to the individual player...long term. Especially below 15 or 16.

I'm also curious as to what the PA teams are offering. More training? How much more? 3 days a week. 4,5? What's the emphasis on? Technique? Tactics? or collecting silverware?

I'm all for more training and giving the more ambitious players an opportunity to maximize their potential. (Does anyone really believe that 2 or 3 training sessions a week is going to develop elite players?)