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Major League Soccer is starting to see more and more benefits from its teams academy programs. While D.C. United's Andy Najar and the Los Angeles Galaxy's Tristan Bowen play key roles for their teams, other MLS squads are joining the race to bring up homegrown talent.
The Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids both signed their first homegrown players this week, with the Fire unveiling midfielder Victor Pineda (pictured) today and the Rapids introducing midfielder Davy Armstrong on Monday.
D.C. United, the first team to have two academy players play for the first team, continued to be among the league's leader in developing talent after adding U.S. Under-20 midfielder Conor Shanosky to the squad on Monday. Shanosky joins fellow academy products Najar and goalkeeper Bill Hamid on the D.C. roster.
A long-time U.S. youth national team prospect, Pineda has been recently called up by the U.S. Under-18 national team. Shanosky impressed on the recent Under-20 national team that won the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland.
None of the signings are eligible to play in MLS in 2010, but can train with their clubs and become eligible in 2011.
This current wave of signings come two weeks after FC Dallas signed three academy products to professional contracts. Ruben Luna, Victor Ulloa and Moises Fernandez joined Bryan Leyva on the team's books, making FC Dallas the first team to have four homegrown players sign professional contracts.
The recent flurry of academy player signings is sure to put pressure on teams throughout MLS to identify and develop talent as quickly as teams such as D.C., FC Dallas, Chicago and the New York Red Bulls.
While it won't get as much publicity as the influx of Designated Players coming into MLS, the wave of homegrown player signings as arguably just as important a sign for a growing league that desperately needs to grow its talent pool.
What do you think of this news? Eager to see more youngsters making impacts like Najar and Bowen? Hoping your team brings up academy players soon?
Share your thoughts below.
Whoa–DCU has five players who are from the DC United Academy on the team roster. Graye has started 13 matches, Najar 17 and Hamid only 6 but is probably the starting GK the rest of the year the way things look. Andrew Quinn is the 3rd string GK and of course Conor Shanosky was just signed. But Quinn, Najar, Graye and Najar have all been on the roster since opening day. People tend to miss Graye and Quinn as academy players but that’s b/c they were in the academy early so they weren’t eligible for DCU to sign directly (ala Najar, etc.). So Graye was drafted and Quinn was signed as a FA after the superdraft. But all 5 are long-term DC United Academy players.
(SBI-Joe, the distinction is that Najar, Hamid and Shanosky were elite young prospects signed through the MLS homegrown player designation. They weren’t just players who were in the academy at some point, and were either very late draft picks or not drafted at all. The idea with the homegrown player track is that these are elite players who are signing up as pros at a young age. Not really fair to try and group guys like Graye and Quinn with guys like Najar and Hamid.)
Ben, I agree relegation will never happen here it the US because the people that are fronting the money don’t want to do it. The nice thing about relegation is ther is always something to play for, which is the is the one big the MLS is missing. If they can find another way to make every game count even if a team won’t make the playoffs that is what is needed. The other thing that needs to change is the idea that certain palyers because of their financial draw are guaranteed starters. Everybody should be playing for a starting position on the team, nobodys job should be safe. That creates that constant push.
The problem is if they decide to stay all the way through college, by the time they get their pro career going it is too late.
No, you’re right, hockey’s youth set-up is probably the closest to soccer youth set-up.
The best players head up to Canada to play in the junior leagues, while college is more of a “Last Chance U” before being drafted into the NHL. T
The teams draft these guys at 16-18 but keep them in the juniors or farm league team until their ready for the big time.
You sound like you’re talking about baseball. Here’s the mistake people make about expansion and MLS: if MLS adds 5 more teams tomorrow but doubles the salary gap, the talent level of the league won’t drop or stay even, it will INCREASE.
Every year, the talent coming out of youth leagues and colleges is going up. In a down economy, while MLS isn’t competitive with Europe, it’s no longer a case where we’re the cheapest league around and can’t hand on to good talent. What has more impact on the talent level in MLS is NOT expansion, but rather whether we sign talented players like Jack McInernery or retain difference-makers like Landon Donovan. The US talent pool isn’t where I’d like it to be. But it’s broader and deeper now than it was 4 years ago. And that’s WITH expansion of multiple teams. And we can say the same thing again in 4 more years.
Luna is; I think he was in the 18 Saturday.
TFC academy team plays in the CSL, which is the almost equivalent of PDL, except that the other teams are semi-pro, and there’s no age restriction, so they’re playing against men week-in, week-out.
1. The debate over who has the most is silly and doesn’t mean alot. For instance, DC United certainly has Najar and Hamid (and the recently signed Shanosky). They also have Andrew Quinn (3rd string GK) and Jordan Graye (outside back who’s started most of the season). But the reason they weren’t counted as “academy signings” is b/c they were eligible to be signed directly from DCU’s academy ala Hamid, Najar, etc. So instead Graye was drafted in the MLS “Superdraft” and Quinn was signed as a free agent. But both Quinn and Graye were long-time DCU academy players but weren’t eligible to be signed until the rule change last year. But that fact that DCU has 5 players (3 of whom started double figures in games this year) doesn’t mean alot–last time I checked, you don’t win any trophies b/c you have the most academy signings on your roster or getting PT. No, the real reward for academy signings is: (a) budget/roster savings and (b) it should provide a competitive advantage down the road.
2. Academy signings don’t count on the roster. Not sure but I think they’re also cap exempt.
3. One impact is for the upcoming expansion draft. Unless the rules chance, academy players (like P-40 players) have been exempt from the draft. So a club with a lot of academy and P-40 players can effectively reduce the number exposed to Portland, et al. unless those players are “extra” on the roster.
You might even split the MLS into 4 regions and add a reserve regional tournament with PDL entry or something.
But here’s the rub: superstars you have fror a while and get almost free and then sell for mucho $$ capture the imagination of the fans and the youths. Gotta have those, too.
I agree that as long as NCAA is taken somewhat seriously, they will provide a very useful sorting for MLS, though.
A comprehensive look would be great, from the health of the USDA, to PDL, to USL/NASL/WTFE, USSF D2, and the NCAA rules changes + MLS rules changes! Development beat writers, where are you?
Don’t count against roster slots for some period.
This is exactly what we need to happen here in the US. Build up our academies with good talent and get some international face time.
Or getting Houston to average 18,000 a game.
Well, I might point out that the sports, baseball and soccer, have two slightly different histories in the US. As for Moneyball, I haven’t read it, so my comments are uninformed, but it seems like one of those faddish books in the Gladwellian zeitgeist. Would moneyball predict Henry’s explosion at Arsenal after Juventus? What is the old saying: there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics. Or something like that.
And hopefully start cashing in when these guys are prime commodities. Not that this is just a boon to outgoing transfers, but the more developed this becomes, the more likely MLS teams will start to make a little coin on transfer fees. Most of our guys aren’t making the jump until mid 20’s.
If this development continues we’ll hopefully see some ridiculous prices start jumping across the pond when these guys make moves. Obviously the main goal isn’t to sell, but in some cases we will hopefully see better moves.
That is what worries me somewhat, the seemingly restive expansion, as if adding new teams was the only kind of expansion. A focus on quality and depth would be a more welcome “expansion” to me.
Oh especially with this last class- Opara, Sean Johnson, Ream… all making immediate impacts. (unlike Gil or McInerney)
I do think that using both works the best. One should not replace the other. But with the Academy system in place, it’s nice for those clubs to be able to promote and keep their own. The Fire for YEARS saw players from their PDL team go to other MLS clubs.
Agreed, hopefully that idea comes to light. I think the league has stabilized to the point where they can make these decisions. I’m sure it will all work out. Especially with the league growing to eighteen clubs in only seven months.
I hear what you are saying, soccer is different, but then again baseball is really that only sport that has both ( maybe hockey, dk )
They don’t have a college soccer draft south of the border or in Europe that I know of.
There are enough MLS successes in the last two years alone to show they can handle the jump to pros.
What happens in baseball is: my friends kid gets signed for a $1 million bonus and then never gets past AA ball. The Orieles would have been better off spending the money on someone like the Sounder’s Zakuani ( and many, many others ), who you were pretty certain was able to play after being studs in college.
I like that idea for the reserve league. No reason to spend money on flying from NY to LA for a reserve match, even if the MLS goes to a single table format, the reserves should preserve the conferences.
Should reduce the travel costs and help academy products and reserves stay sharp during the season, overall making the league younger and essentially progress the talent level of our players.
I have to agree with you on the relegation thing, American fans would have a long adaption period to the thought of their team being relegated. Even if there is relegation at some point here it wil be unlikely during my time period, The relegation the MLS has is the best 8 teams qualify for the championship and everyone else will have to wait till next year. The Reserve League should be reintroduced next year with reserves playing only fellow conference teams.
I think what works in baseball isn’t entirely true for soccer. The college game for soccer is quite different- thus not necessarily the best preparation for the rigors of professional sports.
Look across the pond or south of our border and this is how it is done. Develop technique, touch, and (hopefully) loyalty at a young age, and keep your stable of players (on the cheap) fresh.
Or you can just be Man City and buy everything.
A lot of the youth players go off and play with the youth national teams alot.
If they are too old for youth teams then they should be able to help contribute, be loaned to 2nd division, get some experience with USOC, SuperLiga, summer exhibitions.
After they are a little older a team can decide whether it is too their benefit to keep them. Really if a 23 y.o. who has been with the team for a couple of years still looks not like a help to the team he should be waived and he can play in 2nd div or what have you.
Like Sigi Schmid said, after a couple of years and the player has had a chance to mature physically and mentally, you know whether he is going to grow into a valuable player or not. Don’t have to hold on to them until they’re 25.
This is a future of soccer in the US. A reserve league would be nice, but if the academies can be scouting good young talent and developing the talent into MLS starters, it will be a huge success. It gives MLS teams a chance to develop their own style of play as well. I’m still of the opinion that their are untapped reservoirs of soccer skill in this country, but it requires a commitment like these academies to identify and nurture it.
There will never be relegation in this country. It came about in Europe for various historical reasons and I see no need to adopt it. It appears to me as a relic used to appease fans of smaller clubs and nostalgics. It would make sense for Newcastle to always be in the Premiership, but instead they are threatened with dropping down, losing money for both themselves and others.
Good news. I think MLS has enough room for homegrown players AND DPs, not to mention other foreign talent.
Toront FC looks to be signing two of their own sooner than later .
Doniel Henry, & Nicholas Lindsay
Davy Armstrong is elgible for this season and so is Ruben Luna of FC Dallas I believe.
I will be in a big descrepancy minority here, but it will never happen that the acedemy players catch up to the college draft players. Using the colleges to figure out who is going to be great just makes sense for MLS teams…and is working great, btw.
Just not gonna happen, IMHO.
Am I the only one that read Moneyball ?
Ives, Can you explain the MLS rule modifications that came in this year to make it easier for MLS teams to bring these players onto their senior rosters.
no
FCD is showing 29 players on their roster. I believe the homegrown may not count against roster spots.
It is going to be beneficial for the league if teams can continue to develop and sign homegrown players. The reserve league will likely return next season providing a platform for these young players to get quality games. The recent rule changes by the NCAA and DA will also benefit youth devleopment initiatives for American soccer. All in all this is very positve and I hope these players find success.
NOT!!!!!
Minor League Soccer….. Major League Soccer should buy Second Division and USL2 and PDL
Start a minor league setup with promotion and relegation
The Article states Pineda is available for selection Wednesday, not sure about the rest.
Other then locking up these players now, what’s the advantage to a club to sign them? Do they count normal against the salary cup in the year they play for the first team? Can they play in Concacaf games if they’ve been turned in on that roster?
Yeah, I happen to have that cough too. Hopefully MLS HQ will catch it too.
DC has two guys that start (albeit on a terrible team). That to me is more impressive.
Like this alot, this is what Man U and Barca do, develop their own young talent and promote them to the firt team.
What they said. FC Dallas was first to 3. Although I do think that DC has played more academy players in MLS games. Levya saw a few minutes this year, but apart from he and Bowen I think DC is the only club to play academy players this season. Still, good to see.
That should be “Moises Hernandez and Victor Ulloa are eligible next year.”
why? and see what happens because of it.
This really is huge. If MLS clubs can start nabbing kids around 15-16 years old, before their interest in the sport fades off, and give them a bit of hope and a bit of the glamorous side it would be fantastic. THIS is how we start getting our Country to develop players who at 23-26 years old are in their prime.
Great progress for a 20 year old league.
expand the rosters to 28-30 players first!
Whoa – FC Dallas signed three Homegrown Players more than two weeks ago, Ives, giving them a total of four. Ruben Luna and Bryan Leyva are on the current roster, and Moises Hernandez are eligible next year.
No offense to DC United, but credit where credit’s due, eh?
(SBI-That was my mistake. I was on vacation when that went down and I’m pretty amazed at how little publicity that triple signing got. At least outside of Dallas anyway.)
I really think MLS teams need to enter PDL squads that can be used as a reserve team. Add the 16 game PDL schedule with a home and away with the reserve league within each conference and you have 32 games a season to give these young players to develop into quality first teamers.
first
RESERVE LEAGUE (COUGH COUGH)